Amid Sudan’s humanitarian crisis, Chad shows ‘act of solidarity’

That’s according to UN human rights chief Volker Türk, who had discussions with over 40 leaders of Sudanese civil society in Northern State’s capital, Dongola, this week.  “But these representatives have also found the solution,” Mr. Türk said in a video on X. “There needs to be an all-out effort, both within Sudan and by the […]

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Statement by Commissioner Lahbib on the demolition of the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem

I condemn the Israeli decision to forcibly enter and demolish the United Nations Sheikh Jarrah compound held by United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) located in East Jerusalem. I urge the Israeli authorities to halt such action, which is in violation of Israel’s obligations resulting from the […]

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New anti-racism strategy pushes for equality for all

  Over the past five years, the EU has made progress in tackling racism, particularly by breaking down barriers created by racial discrimination and by integrating anti-racism efforts throughout all relevant EU policies. But problems persist. And a recent EU survey reveals that two in three citizens still view racial discrimination as a widespread issue in their countries. The European Commission has now […]

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A new blow for UNRWA as headquarters in East Jerusalem ‘set on fire’

It comes after Israeli authorities “stormed and demolished” buildings in the compound last week, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini said. “Allowing this unprecedented destruction is the latest attack on the UN in the ongoing attempt to dismantle the status of Palestine Refugees in the Occupied Palestinian Territory and erase their history,” Mr. Lazzarini said. In a […]

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Rising hunger and displacement pose growing economic risk, UN tells Davos

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) has reported that an estimated 318 million people worldwide now face crisis levels of hunger or worse, with hundreds of thousands already experiencing famine-like conditions. It cautioned that deep funding shortfalls are forcing it to cut rations and scale back assistance at a time of surging needs. Current forecasts […]

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UN says Gaza crisis remains dire, children hardest hit

Briefing reporters in New York, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric described the situation as still “dire” for hundreds of thousands of families across the Strip who remain in urgent need. UN health partners have expanded basic services in recent days. As part of a catch-up vaccination campaign launched last week, more than 6,000 children under three […]

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From family farm to climate tech: How one Kenyan woman is helping farmers outsmart drought

In Kenya, agriculture employs up to 75 per cent of the population, but farmers’ livelihoods are being threatened by a changing climate and the loss of productive land, which is impacting the whole of Africa. As droughts and extreme weather events in the East African nation increase in frequency and intensity, Maryanne Gichanga believes innovation […]

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Commission announces €1.9 billion humanitarian aid budget for 2026

The European Commission has announced its initial €1.9 billion humanitarian aid budget for 2026, at a time when 239 million people need assistance and major donors are cutting funding. Commissioner for equality, preparedness and crisis management, Hadja Lahbib, brings this commitment to Davos today, seeking to mobilise private sector finance and innovative solutions that can complement […]

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From deepfakes to grooming: UN warns of escalating AI threats to children

Cosmas Zavazava, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) – one of the key agencies that drafted the statement, which includes guidelines and recommendations – catalogues a dizzying array of ways that children are targeted.  This extends from grooming to deepfakes, the embedding of harmful features, cyberbullying and inappropriate content: […]

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World News in Brief: Deadly shipwrecks in the Mediterranean, Duterte trial update, final hostage remains recovered in Gaza, FAO boosts farming in Haiti

In Lampedusa, Italy, three deaths have been confirmed following a search and rescue operation involving a boat that departed from Sfax, Tunisia. Survivors from the same operation reported that another boat departed from the same location and at the same time as theirs but never arrived. Separately, reports indicate that at least 51 people are […]

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