UN Interviews
UN News interviews a wide range of people from senior news-making officials at Headquarters in New York, to advocates and beneficiaries from across the world who have a stake in helping the UN go about its often life-saving work in the field.
Episodes
Global collaboration key to safeguard Holocaust memory in the digital age
As Holocaust remembrance increasingly moves into digital spaces shaped by artificial intelligence, virtual worlds and interactive media, experts are calling for stronger global coordination to ensure ethical, sustainable and responsible memory work.Speaking at UN Headquarters around International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Professor Victoria Grace Richardson-Walden stressed that no single institut
In Ukraine, ‘the battlespace has become a lot deeper, a lot wider and a lot more lethal’
As drones, artificial intelligence and new weapons transform modern warfare, Ukraine has become one of the world's most mine-contaminated countries, creating new dangers for civilians while threatening global food security and recovery. In an interview with UN News, Paul Heslop, Chief Mine Action Adviser at the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine, explains how drones have fundamen
Ukraine: ‘Another night of horror for families’, UNICEF says
A night of heavy strikes across Kyiv has left children and families facing widespread destruction, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Ukraine.At least 20 people are now reported to have been killed in the Kyiv attacks. UNICEF is also deeply saddened by reports of a seven-year-old girl killed in the Dnipro region on Thursday.Speaking to UN News’s Evgeniya Kleshcheva after visiting some
Synthetic street drugs ‘becoming more diverse but also more dangerous’
As synthetic drugs spread into new markets and traffickers develop increasingly potent substances, the global drug landscape is becoming more complex, unpredictable and dangerous, the 2026 World Drug Report reveals.In an exclusive interview with UN News, Chloé Carpentier, lead researcher on the report by the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), warned that powerful new synthetic opioids, per
Venezuela: Humanitarian needs will continue long after rescue efforts, says OCHA
Five days after two deadly earthquakes struck north-central Venezuela, the UN says the emergency is far from over. With search-and-rescue operations continuing, Vanessa May, Head of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in the stricken South American nation, told UN News’s Victoria Fernandez that families who have lost their homes and loved ones will need
Venezuela: Beneath the rubble, the search continues
Following the earthquakes in Venezuela, teams from 27 countries continue searching for people trapped beneath the rubble. From La Guaira, the most affected region, families describe the agonizing wait, while the United Nations coordinates the response and expands assistance for those who have lost their homes.
Aid cuts leave women and girls increasingly vulnerable in Palestine
Women and girls in Gaza and the West Bank continue to face severe challenges due to conflict and displacement, while funding cuts have undermined access to healthcare and protection services.The UN agency responsible for maternal and reproductive healthcare, UNFPA, is warning that humanitarian needs remain immense, with services for mothers and babies under growing strain.Nestor Owomuhangi, the ag
HIV/AIDS: ‘The worst epidemic the world has ever seen’
A new generation of HIV prevention tools could help reshape the global response to the virus which has led to the deaths of over 44 million worldwide – but without sustained funding, political commitment and community leadership, millions more risk being left behind.Ahead of next week’s High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS, Mandeep Dhaliwal, Director of the Prosperity and Well-being Hub at the UN Develo
Eat well, waste less: Practical steps for sustainable eating
Sustainability in the kitchen is increasingly seen not just as a trend, but as a necessity shaped by economic pressures and changing consumer expectations.Chef Jaume Biarnés, a former member of the world-renowned El Bulli restaurant team in Spain, and now Director of the Yondu Culinary Studio in New York, believes that sustainability is integral to modern cookingHe told Liudmila Blagonravova from
Tackling the ‘manosphere’ and its chilling effect on women and girls
Hate speech is an unavoidable menace today – particularly so for women and girls – on and offline. The abuse they face is increasingly fuelled by so-called “manosphere” online influencers.Their posts primarily target young men and boys to promote a warped view of masculinity, usually by promoting rigid gender roles and misogyny.To mark the International Day for Countering Hate Speech on 18 Ju
Where does the UN80 initiative stand now - and what comes next?
Since its launch in March 2025, the UN80 initiative has moved into a decisive phase. Guy Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy, joins UN News's Laura Quinones to discuss what has changed, what results are already emerging, and how the United Nations is working to become more effective at a time of growing financial and political pressure.
‘Where is the justice?’, ask Lebanon’s children caught up in war
In Lebanon, UN teams and partners are dealing with a country in flames as the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) appealed on Wednesday for a “sustained cessation of hostilities”.As thousands of families continue to be displaced and uprooted by the violence between Hezbollah fighters and the Israeli military since March, UN News’s Daniel Johnson discussed the impact on children with Marcoluigi C
Stronger global cooperation crucial as criminal networks evolve: UN anti-crime chief
Global cooperation is essential as criminal networks become more complex, sophisticated and interconnected, according to the new Executive Director of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Director-General of the UN Office at Vienna, Monica Juma, who took office last month.Speaking to UN News’s Ezzat El-Ferri, the former Kenyan national security adviser said no single country, r
Displaced women and girls in Lebanon face growing risks as conflict drags on
Four months of escalating violence and displacement in Lebanon are having a severe impact on women and girls.According to the UN reproductive health agency, UNFPA, more than 1.4 million people are now displaced across the country – over 20 per cent of the population – including an estimated 16,000 pregnant women. Meanwhile, damage to health facilities is limiting access to essential maternal and r
Yemen: ‘It shouldn’t be controversial to save the life of a woman who could be your mother’
Funding cuts to health programmes are directly affecting women and girls in Yemen, according to the country head of the UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA).Francesco Galtieri has been visiting UN Headquarters in New York this week to plead the case for more funds, in a country where more than 60 per cent of health infrastructure has been destroyed during well over a decade of brutal w
Human rights: Global Alliance aims to amplify victims’ voices, drive change
Human rights are "part of our DNA," according to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk, who is championing a new Global Alliance at a time of rising conflicts, growing inequalities and mounting climate pressures.The initiative aims to bring together governments, civil society, businesses, academics and communities to place human rights at the centre of decision-making ahead of the
South Ukraine security adviser: ‘We see the tears, emotions and stress’
Security personnel supporting UN operations in South Ukraine are navigating rapidly shifting frontlines and difficult choices to help humanitarians reach communities affected by the war – all while balancing operational risks with urgent needs on the ground.Olga Scripovscaia, Area Security Adviser with the UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) based in Odesa, told UN News in an exclusive in
Ebola response in DR Congo: It’s all about trust, and teamwork
Health workers responding to the Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo are working closely with local communities, recognising that trust is as critical as testing and treatment, to stop the disease in its tracks.Dr Marie-Roseline Belizaire, Africa’s Emergencies Director for the World Health Organization (WHO) told UN News in an exclusive interview this week that response teams ar
We must ‘show up’ and take risks: Military gender advocate award winner
Major Abhilasha Barak, an Indian peacekeeper serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), has been named this year’s Military Gender Advocate of the Year.She was recognised for her outstanding leadership in promoting gender-responsive peacekeeping and advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda during her deployment with the frontline mission since June 2025 – which has se
Children caught in the crossfire: UN envoy calls for end to war in Ukraine
Children in Ukraine have spent years living with air raid sirens, disrupted education and the daily uncertainty of war. Many are forced to learn online or in underground classrooms as communities adapt to the realities of a prolonged conflict.During recent visits to Ukraine and the Russian Federation, the UN’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, Vanessa Frazier, met children, f
The plastic we can’t see is changing the ocean
Each year, 52 million tonnes of plastic waste enter the ocean, contributing to an estimated 24 trillion microplastic particles, which have a devastating impact on the marine environment.They do not fully biodegrade, lingering indefinitely while causing deadly wildlife entanglement, toxic ingestion, and habitat destruction. Plastics also release harmful chemicals into the water, introduci
What happens when AI learns to lie?
Science Forward, the podcast of the UN Secretary-General’s Scientific Advisory Board, features world-leading scientists, and explores today’s challenges, from AI and biotechnology to climate and health.In the very first episode of Science Forward, Board member Yoshua Bengio and AI policy expert Charlotte Stix unpack the growing risks of deceptive AI with hosts Julia Bhattacharjee and Adam Day, to
Ebola update: WHO on the ground to help contain outbreak
Over the weekend, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak caused by the Bundibugyo virus in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Uganda a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.As of Saturday, 16 May, health authorities had recorded eight laboratory-confirmed cases, 246 suspected cases and 80 suspected deaths in Ituri province in eastern DRC.Uganda also
War photographer Giles Clarke: We mustn’t turn away from Sudan’s suffering
It’s hard to come up with new ways to describe the massive humanitarian emergency that is still unfolding in Sudan because of the war.A staggering 33 million people need help and later today, UN-backed food insecurity experts are expected to warn once again that hunger is on the rise again and famine is a real risk in 14 areas of the devastated country.Although it is extremely difficult and danger
‘One word – stop’: Artist Sandy Walker on Hiroshima, memory and the role of art
Eighty years after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, artist Sandy Walker believes art still has the power to transform people’s perceptions. Speaking to UN News at United Nations Headquarters, Mr. Walker reflected on the influence of Hiroshima survivor and writer Tamiki Hara, whose final work, My Deepest Desire, inspired a series of ink drawings that now accompany a new edition of the tex
UN victims’ rights advocate urges survivors to ‘come forward’
The United Nations Victims’ Rights Advocate, Najla Nassif Palma, has urged survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse by UN personnel to “come forward”, while calling for stronger action across the UN system and for Member States to put victims’ rights first.Her office works to ensure victims “have a voice, assistance and justice”. The mandate was established by Secretary-General António Guterres
Press freedom: Journalists face rising risks
World Press Freedom Day, officially observed on Sunday, arrives this year under the theme Shaping a Future at Peace, a message that feels especially urgent as the number of journalists killed in conflict zones continues to rise.According to the UN education and culture organization, UNESCO, which monitors press freedom, 93 journalists were killed in 2025 alone – 60 of them in conflict zones.S
NASA engineer inspires girls to reach beyond gravity
NASA aerospace engineer Alinda Mashiku was born in New York then moved to Tanzania as a young girl, where she dreamed of becoming an astronaut – but reaching for the stars seemed almost an impossibility. Today, as a Program Manager with the US space agency, she helps ensure that satellites avoid collisions in orbit, contributing to the safety and sustainability of pioneering space missions su
80 years on, it’s ‘hard to explain’ why the UN never had a woman at the helm: General Assembly President
As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock highlights a striking gap in its leadership: the continued absence of a woman Secretary-General.For an institution founded on principles of equality, human rights, and inclusion, this omission is becoming harder to defend. Ms. Baerbock argues that the issue is not merely symbolic, but central to the UN’s
Afghanistan faces mounting strain as refugee returns surge, displacement deepens
Afghanistan is seeing a sharp rise in refugees heading home, with more than 2.8 million people coming back from Iran and Pakistan in 2025 alone, according to UN estimates.That brings the total number of returnees since September 2023 to over three million. The surge has seen the population rise by more than 10 per cent, adding pressure to already limited infrastructure and fragile public services.
Battling for survival on the climate frontline, Tuvalu faces up to physical erasure
Tuvalu, a low-lying Pacific island nation, is on the frontline of the climate crisis, with rising sea levels threatening to submerge much of its territory by the end of the century.Many of its citizens are already planning for an uncertain future. In 2025, more than 90 per cent applied for a visa pathway offering residency in Australia. Earlier, in 2022, the government launched a “digital nat
Strait of Hormuz: ‘Immediate’ solution needed to restore fertilizer supply, says UN taskforce chief
Unless a solution can be found immediately to allow fertilizers through the Strait of Hormuz in time for planting season, there’s going to be a “very significant and severe” food crisis which will hit the poorest countries and their citizens hardest.That’s according to Jorge Moreira da Silva, Executive Director of the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS), which provides infrastr
Middle East war: UNESCO grants ‘enhanced protection’ to 39 heritage sites in danger
Since the outbreak of the Middle East war on 28 February, sites of major cultural importance across Israel, Iran and Lebanon have come under threat.At the request of the Lebanese Government, the UN education and cultural agency, UNESCO, has placed 39 World Heritage sites under so-called “enhanced protection”- a special status aimed at safeguarding cultural heritage during times of conflict.To expl
Pace of transitional justice in Syria brings hope, but strong stigma remains
Syria has made “remarkable progress” on transitional justice in just one year, says one UN legal expert, raising hope, while also warning that powerful social stigma continues to prevent many survivors of conflict-related sexual violence from coming forward.Sofia Candeias, from the UN Team of Experts on the Rule of Law and Sexual Violence in Conflict, told UN News that new institutions and reforms
Deadly Lebanon strikes overwhelm entire health system, as casualties surge
A massive wave of Israeli airstrikes struck Lebanon on Wednesday – despite the US-Iran ceasefire declared hours earlier – killing 254 people and injuring 1,165 others, according to local authorities. Strikes hit densely populated areas, including Beirut, with no warning, leaving many still trapped under rubble. Hospitals are overwhelmed, facing mass casualties and critical shortages of s
Lebanon situation ‘critical’, senior UN official warns
The ceasefire between the US and Iran has brought no respite to civilians in Lebanon, where deadly Israeli strikes intensified across the country on Wednesday, dramatically worsening the humanitarian situation. Repeated escalations in violence over recent weeks have significantly increased humanitarian needs, raising concerns about whether aid agencies can keep up with demand.Blerta Aliko, th
Rwanda after the genocide against the Tutsi: ‘We recreated a new country’
For over three decades Rwanda has been recovering from the almost unimaginable horror of the 1994 genocide against the Tutsi.On Tuesday the UN commemorated the systematic crimes committed there – in which more than one million people were killed – with ceremonies held at several of its offices around the world.The event was attended by survivors of the massacre, senior UN officials and repres
‘Every day there’s new contamination’: Mine clearing in Ukraine
More than 130,000 square kilometres of Ukrainian territory are believed to have been contaminated by landmines and unexploded ordnance since the full-scale Russian invasion of the country in 2022.As the Government, with the support of the United Nations, attempts to clear the land, fresh mines continue to be laid in the shifting frontline regions.Ahead of the International Day for Mine Awareness a
Landmine danger grows faster than it can be contained
Over 20 per cent of Ukraine is contaminated by landmines, which are becoming more dangerous and more difficult to clear.Anti-personnel mines are now being deployed remotely by artillery, rockets, helicopters and drones, while some of the most sophisticated devices can launch projectiles at targets after detecting movement. Paul Heslop, head of the UN Mine Action Service in Ukraine, is warning
UN warns of rising evictions and settler violence in Occupied Palestinian Territory
The United Nations human rights office (OHCHR) has warned of a sharp rise in the eviction of Palestinian families, particularly around Jerusalem’s Old City.According to Ajith Sunghay, OHCHR’s top official in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, evictions have intensified since the 7 October attacks of 2023, shifting from isolated incidents to more coordinated actions – some reportedly organized via
UNIFIL reaffirms commitment after peacekeeper killed in southern Lebanon
A UN peacekeeper has been killed, and another critically injured after a projectile hit the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) base near Adchit Al Qusayer in southern Lebanon on Sunday.The mission’s spokesperson Kandice Ardiel spoke to UN News’ Nancy Sarkis and said an investigation is underway, with no confirmed responsibility so far.The incident comes amid escalating violence along the Blue Li
Middle East conflict raises fears of growing water crisis
There is no escaping the fact that the war in the Middle East has triggered a global energy crisis.But could it also spark a water crisis? After fuel, water is emerging as a strategic and critical target.The Middle East is one of the driest regions in the world and desalination – turning seawater into drinking water – is vital for people and agriculture across Israel and the Gulf countries. Any at
Strait of Hormuz tensions threaten global oil and gas supply, lifesaving aid
Ongoing war in the Middle East, along with ongoing attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, has underscored just how vulnerable maritime routes are – and the potentially deadly consequences for those needing lifesaving assistance, the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has warned.Trade and energy markets are already feeling the strain, with potentially severe consequences - particularly for develop
Happiness in the digital age: Why connection matters more than ever
As the world marks the International Day of Happiness on 20 March, researchers warn that in an increasingly digital and uncertain world, young people’s well-being is shaped as much by social connection as by the economic headwinds they face. Dr Robert Waldinger of Harvard University – who leads one of the longest-running studies in history focused on human well-being – emphasises t
Gulf crisis impact spreads; families in Nepal are feeling the pressure
How is the Middle East crisis affecting countries far beyond the region?In Nepal, more than 1.7 million migrant workers are employed across Gulf countries, and remittances form a vital part of the economy. Disruptions to travel, rising costs and growing insecurity are already having a major impact.UN News’s Vibhu Mishra spoke with Numan Özcan, the International Labour Organization (ILO) Country Di
Afghans pushed ‘from one crisis into another’ as regional instability worsens humanitarian crisis
Afghans are being pushed from crisis to crisis as instability across the region deepens an already severe humanitarian emergency, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) has warned.In an interview with UN News, spokesperson Babar Baloch said many returning from neighbouring countries are not finding safety, but instead facing bombardment from Pakistan, displacement and growing hunger.Women and girls are amo
Lebanon’s children want their childhood back: UNICEF
After three weeks of escalating violence in Lebanon, children are paying the highest price. More than 830,000 people have been displaced – including around 290,000 children – with many forced to flee their homes in panic as Israeli airstrikes continue.According to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), many families fled with nothing - no clothes, toys or schoolbooks - spending hours trapped in traffic
Collective effort to eradicate Islamophobia, key for creating peace: UN Special Envoy
Rising Islamophobia is a serious global concern that requires a collective international response focused on education and combating misinformation about Islam, says the UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia. Speaking to UN News ahead of the International Day to counter the scourge marked on 15 March, Miguel Moratinos warned that incidents are increasing in several regions, particularly in
Children and families bear the brunt as violence and displacement rise in Lebanon
Lebanon is facing a “perfect storm of unpredictable challenges” as escalating conflict, mass displacement and shrinking humanitarian resources collide, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in the country, Imran Riza, told UN News. Mr. Riza described a rapidly deteriorating situation in which civilians, particularly children, are paying the highest price.In just over a week
Gazans still living ‘hand-to-mouth’ in enclave: WFP
The UN World Food Programme – WFP – has spoken of its relief that the closure of a key crossing point for aid and commercial supplies to Gaza has reopened after being shut, when Israeli and US bombs began hitting Iran.Speaking from Jerusalem, WFP’s Country Director in Palestine, Shaun Hughes, described how chronic constraints on aid delivery have kept humanitarian assistance at a “hand-to-mouth” l
‘Deteriorating’ conditions in Strait of Hormuz: 3,000 ships, 20,000 seafarers stranded in Middle East
The crucial Strait of Hormuz global shipping corridor marking the entrance to the Persian Gulf, is essentially closed due to the threat of strikes from Iran and elsewhere After a tugboat assisting another vessel in the strait this morning was struck killing at least four seafarers, the Secretary-General of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), Arsenio Dominguez, told UN News on
UN preparing for likely surge of Afghan returnees as humanitarian needs deepen
UN agencies are preparing to support Afghans who may return from Iran in the coming months amid rising regional tensions, a senior UN official has told UN News.Georgette Gagnon, Officer-in-Charge of the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), said agencies including the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and the International Organization for Migration, IOM, are preparing assistance at border crossin
Lebanon: peacekeepers highlight Israeli incursions across Blue Line
Deadly violence has erupted once again across Lebanon and Israel, following the bombing of Iran by Israeli and US forces.Mass displacement in Lebanon has resulted, as thousands of people in Beirut and elsewhere flee airstrikes targeting Hezbollah militants, according to the UN peacekeeping mission in the country (UNIFIL). Speaking from southern Lebanon, UNIFIL’s Tilak Pokharel said families,
‘We need peace’: Women and girls in Ukraine suffer daily impact of war
As Ukraine entered its fifth year of full-scale invasion, millions of people are struggling every day to keep the lights on, cook and heat their homes amid extreme winter conditions.This fourth winter has been particularly harsh with 65 per cent of Ukraine's energy generation capacity methodically destroyed.Women and children are bearing the brunt of energy blackouts, which undermine their safety,
‘Doing better with less’: How WFP is tackling hunger in a volatile world
As global hunger surges to historic highs, with around 300 million people facing acute food insecurity, the World Food Programme is turning to technology, partnerships, and internal reforms to deliver aid faster and more effectively.This involves expanding school meal programmes, strengthening collaboration with countries, and using Artificial Intelligence to predict crises and target assistance,&
Global housing crisis deepens as climate change worsens insecurity
Nearly three billion people around the world do not have adequate housing, and the crisis is no longer limited to developing countries. Cities across Europe and North America are also facing growing affordability challenges, says UN-Habitat Executive Director Anacláudia Rossbach.Speaking to UN News’s Anshu Sharma in New Delhi, she told us poverty and inequality remain the main causes of the crisis
Indian AI prodigy urges youth to ‘be as human as possible.’
At just 16 years of age, Raul John Aju already has a formidable stack of achievements under his belt.The teenager from the Indian state of Kerala runs his own company creating artificial intelligence tools, advises governments on how to use the tech, and teaches students how to engage with it in their professional and personal lives.His prodigious activities have earned him the moniker “AI Kid of
First ever peacekeeping operation evolves, as Middle East conflicts shift
Set up in May 1948, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, UNTSO was the first ever peacekeeping operation established by the UN. In an interview with UN News, Major General Patrick Gauchat, Head of Mission and Chief of Staff, explained the mission has evolved since it was first established to monitor ceasefires and support peace agreements in the aftermath of world war. Work
Burundian refugee returns from Tanzania raise protection concerns, UNHCR warns
As repatriation efforts for Burundian refugees from Tanzania accelerate, concerns are growing over reports of coercive measures, shelter demolitions and mistreatment during the return process, amid warnings that some refugees may still need international protection.Bahia Egeh, External Relations Officer with the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, stressed that returns under the tripartite agreement with Bu
Inclusive AI key to transforming agriculture, says UN agriculture fund
As artificial intelligence reshapes global agriculture, questions remain about who truly benefits from this technological shift.In this interview with Anshu Sharma from UN News, Brenda Gunde, Global Lead for ICT4D (Information Communication Technology for Development) at the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), explains how emerging digital tools can support smallholder farmers,
Small-scale AI solutions are the answer to developing world challenges, says World Bank
According to the World Bank, the real AI revolution in developing countries isn’t coming from flashy mega‑models, but from small, low‑cost tools that solve local problems.Mahesh Uttamchandani, the organisation’s Regional Practice Director for Digital and AI inEast Asia and Pacific and South Asia, sat down with Anshu Sharma from UN News during the India AI Impact Summit, and explained that these sy
AI developers risk creating ‘Frankenstein’s monster,’ warns UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
As the India AI Impact Summit, the first of its kind in the Global South, enters its final days, UN News has been talking to some of the senior UN officials who have made the trip to New Delhi.One of them is Volker Türk, the High Commissioner for Human Rights, who has been meeting with world leaders and the heads of technology companies.When he sat down with our colleague Anshu Sharma, Mr. Tü
Sudan: No school or safety for children uprooted by war
In Sudan, the conflict between the national army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has plunged the country into widespread bloodshed and humanitarian catastrophe. The devastating civil war began in April 2023 and is expanding beyond the western Darfur region into central Kordofan, taking its toll on civilians and particularly the most vulnerable, including children.Eva Hinds, Sp
‘Involve all of humanity in AI opportunities’: UN senior tech official
India’s AI Impact Summit – the first of its kind in the Global South – is underway in New Delhi, and the United Nations has a significant presence at the event, with over 30 side events planned over the week.The main message from the UN is that access to, and development of, AI tools ne eds to be democratised beyond the handful of major economies that are currently driving the technology.Amandeep
As Rafah crossing reopens, Gazans mull ongoing lack of relief
Since the declaration of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on 10 October 2025, the United Nations’ main concern has been — and remains — the urgent scaling up of humanitarian aid.And while the long-awaited reopening of the Rafah crossing at the start of this month raised hopes, it has also been marked by delays and reports of mistreatment of Palestinians, according to aid organizations, with no s
As political polarisation grows, so to does violence against MPs
Politics used to be a battle over competing ideas, but now it’s become a very real fight “between identities”: that’s according to Valentina Grippo, an Italian Member of Parliament and delegate to the UN-affiliated Inter-Parliamentary Union, or IPU, which met at UN Headquarters this week in New York. A majority of MPs worldwide are facing threats and abuse from voters, according to a ne
‘Behind every statistic is a stolen childhood,’ warns UN envoy
As wars drag on across continents and conflicts grow more complex, children continue to bear the heaviest and most heartbreaking cost.Marking 30 years since the United Nations first established its mandate to protect children caught in war, Vanessa Frazier, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Children and Armed Conflict, is sounding the alarm, and calling for renewed global com
In the DR Congo, UN supports national police to protect civilians
The head of the police component of the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO), Mamouma Ouédraogo – appointed late last year – was at UN Headquarters in the past few days, taking part in the Police Week.The gathering reunites senior police officers from peacekeeping operations and staffers from the UN’s special political missions. In an interview with UN New
Children still bearing the brunt of Russian attacks on Ukraine
Ukraine is facing one of its most severe winters since the war began, with attacks on critical infrastructure leaving hundreds of thousands of families without heating or electricity as temperatures fall below minus 20 degrees Celsius.Speaking to UN News, UNICEF’s Chief of Field Operations in Ukraine, Kenan Madi, warned that children continue to bear the brunt of the crisis, particularly in major
From silence to strength: Catherine Mootian’s fight to end FGM in Kenya
Catherine Mootian was just twelve years old when she underwent female genital mutilation (FGM), a moment that changed her life forever.Growing up in Kenya’s Maasai community, she was told the cut marked her transition into womanhood. But years later, that painful experience became the driving force behind her mission to protect other girls from the same fate.Today, Ms. Mootian is the founder and e
MONUSCO prepares to support ceasefire between DRC and M23 rebels
The UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, MONUSCO, says it is ready to support a ceasefire between the Congolese authorities and the M23 armed group, following an announcement by Qatar that it will deploy a first monitoring team under the Doha peace initiative.M23, also known as the March 23 Movement, is an armed group operating in eastern DRC that has seized key towns,
UN Police Division readying to ‘achieve more’ with less amid ongoing cash crunch
As the UN system continues to grapple with financial constraints, international police officers serving at peacekeeping missions are responding to the challenge.The UN Police Division is making plans to deploy smaller specialised teams in some field settings, where necessary, who will still “achieve more” despite their reduced numbers. That’s according to UN Police Adviser Faisal Shahkar, who
Kenya’s cervical cancer plan brings new hope for rural girls
Kenya’s national action plan to eliminate cervical cancer by 2030 offers renewed hope for girls and women in rural communities, where access to prevention and care has often been limited. Aligned with World Health Organization (WHO)’s targets, the plan focuses on free vaccines to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection – which can lead to various cancers including cervical cancer –
WHO urges healthier school food to shape lifelong eating habits
The World Health Organization (WHO) says that improving the nutritional quality of food served in schools can help children develop healthier eating habits for life.Last week, the UN health agency released its first-ever global, evidence-based guidelines outlining policies and practical interventions to help schools provide healthier food and drink options.Katrin Engelhardt, a scientist at WHO who
Harnessing the power of youth for educational transformation
With young people under 30 making up more than half the global population - and over 272 million children and youth still out of school – their participation in education reform is becoming increasingly vital. Yet stark inequalities remain – in the poorest countries, 36 per cent of children and youth are out of school compared to just 3 per cent in the richest.Ahead of the UN International Da
Community engagement key to keeping peace in disputed Abyei: UN commander
The Acting Head of the UN peacekeeping force in the disputed territory of Abyei (UNISFA), Major General Robert Yaw Affram, has underscored the fragile security situation in the disputed Abyei region bordering Sudan and South Sudan, describing it as “volatile” and lacking State institutions, while stressing the stabilising role played by UN peacekeepers.Speaking to UN News’s Khaled Mohamed, Ma
Brazilian ‘agrihoods’ offer blueprint for nature friendly cities
A new UN report on global climate finance highlights a stark mismatch: trillions of dollars support activities that harm nature, while only a small share goes to initiatives that protect and restore it. The study argues that investing in nature makes strong economic sense, given the mounting risks of a rapidly warming planet.In Brazil, one promising example is the rise of UN Environment Progr
UNMISS Commander reinforces UN’s vital role protecting civilians
During his three-and-a-half-year tenure leading the UN peacekeeping mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), Force Commander Lieutenant General Mohan Subramanian has overseen efforts that have helped save an estimated 162,000 lives.The mission tackles a wide range of issues – from armed insurgency and the impacts of climate change, to economic insecurity and other pressing humanitarian concerns.While chal
Honouring Roma voices on Holocaust Remembrance Day
On Holocaust Remembrance Day, the UN in New York marked a historic first, with the presentation of testimony from a Ukrainian Roma researcher and advocate during the annual commemoration.Nataliia Tomenko is a youth advocate and expert on Romani history, and Deputy Director of Ukraine’s Youth Agency for the Advocacy of Roma Culture.She presented a video account by her grandmother, Halyna Tomenko, a
‘We need to dismantle the myths’ surrounding AI in education
Predictions that artificial intelligence will largely replace teachers in classrooms are proving to be overstated, according to the UN education agency, UNESCO.In fact, UNESCO estimates that an additional 44 million teachers will be needed worldwide by 2030.That does not mean the agency dismisses the potential of AI. On the contrary, it says the advanced technology could help transform education s
Recommended
Raíces - El Podcast de la Dra María Velasco
Artículos de Abre la Biblia
ANA DE LAS TEJAS VERDES - Libros
Supreme Court Decision Syllabus (SCOTUS Podcast)
the JustPod
Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast
The Daily
Doctor Zhivago Slow Read
Conspiracy Files with Paige Carter
This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von
The Theory of Psychoanalysis - Carl Jung
A Life Engineered
