Rafah reopening offers lifeline for patients, but aid flow still far from enough

Briefing journalists in New York on Tuesday, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said UN relief chief Tom Fletcher welcomed the reopening but stressed that it must go beyond limited movements of people. “Rafah must function as a real humanitarian corridor so we can have a surge in aid deliveries,” Mr. Fletcher said, underlining that current access remains insufficient […]

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World News in Brief: Children at risk in South Sudan, Balochistan attacks, summit backs boost for undersea cable security

Clashes in Jonglei state since the start of 2026 have displaced at least 250,000 people, mainly in the north and centre of the state, cutting families off from lifesaving care in areas already suffering some of the highest malnutrition rates in the country. Deadly risks “We are extremely concerned for women and children impacted by these […]

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Renewed calls for two-State solution amid ‘perilously fragile’ conditions for Palestinians

Meeting at UN Headquarters in New York, the Committee elected Coly Seck, Senegal’s ambassador to the United Nations, as Chair. The Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People, established by the UN General Assembly in 1975, is mandated to support the realisation of the Palestinian people’s inalienable rights, including self-determination, […]

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Building healthy bridges towards peace: WHO launches $1 billion appeal

“This appeal is a call to stand with people living through conflict, displacement and disaster to give them not just services, but the confidence that the world has not turned its back on them,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. The 2026 appeal seeks to respond to 36 emergencies worldwide, including 14 “grade 3” crises […]

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UN peacekeeping patrols suspended along Lebanon-Israel Blue Line

The incident took place north of the Blue Line on Sunday morning and led to the suspension of more than a dozen UN peacekeeping activities for over nine hours, according to UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric. Toxicology tests “The IDF said that peacekeepers should stay clear of the area,” Mr. Dujarric told reporters in New York. […]

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Global health systems ‘at risk’ as funding cuts bite, warns WHO

This is occurring as the risk from pandemics, drug-resistant infections and fragile health services are on the rise, said the WHO Director-General. Addressing the WHO Executive Board in Geneva, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stressed the impact of workforce reductions last year due to “significant cuts to our funding,” which have had significant consequences. “Sudden and severe […]

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Gaza: Limited Rafah crossing reopening sparks hope – but also ‘massive trepidation’

The sole border point with Egypt is a lifeline to the world – including for thousands of severely ill or injured Palestinians who require medical treatment outside the enclave, where last October’s fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continues to hold.  The development comes, however, following reports of violence over the weekend, with the UN voicing concern over the killing of civilians and Israeli airstrikes.  ‘Competing dynamics’  “As we have seen so many times throughout this conflict, we’re seeing really […]

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From Cape Town to London, Deo Kato runs to challenge racism and reclaim the migration narrative

The 8,262-mile journey took him through 21 countries, transforming an extraordinary physical feat into a powerful act of activism, aimed at confronting racism and reshaping how migration is understood. Born in Uganda and raised in the United Kingdom, Deo first took up running to manage his health. Over time, that personal discipline grew into a […]

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Myanmar crisis deepens five years after coup, as military ballot entrenches repression

The people of Myanmar continue to suffer amid “widespread violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law,” as the cycle of impunity persists, the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a statement, on Friday, marking the anniversary. “The suffering of the people of Myanmar has deepened,” Farhan Haq, the UN Deputy […]

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Can workers compete with machines and stay relevant in the AI era?

Whether you are a “doomer” or a “boomer” on the subject, it’s impossible to ignore AI, which is seeping into every corner of our personal and professional lives. The UN has been banging the drum for a “people-first” approach to the subject for years now. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned the Security Council back in 2024 that the […]

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