Somalia: UN official reports on electoral progress, ongoing security challenges
James Swan, acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM), briefed the Security Council in New York alongside Mohammed El-Amine Souef, Head of the AU Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS). The mandate…
Chagos Islands: UK’s last African colony returned to Mauritius
The agreement follows 13 rounds of talks that began in 2022 after Mauritian calls for sovereignty were recognised by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the UN General Assembly in 2019 and 2021. The world court, as the ICJ…
Victims of deadly Lebanon escalation describe fleeing ‘total destruction’
In the Lebanese capital, UN humanitarians reported “another night of strikes” and ongoing attacks, as aid workers continued trying to help all those in need. This was “despite their own families being displaced and searching for safety”, said the UN’s…
Lebanon: UN peacekeepers to stay the course amid escalating hostilities
Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, expressed deep alarm over the escalation in southern Lebanon and the impact on civilians, reiterating the need for a cessation of hostilities and negotiations to restore calm. “UNIFIL peacekeepers feel duty-bound to the…
Dockworkers join other unions in trying to fend off automation, or minimize impact
The massive port workers’ strike that has shut down all the major dockyards on the Eastern seaboard of the U.S. and the Gulf coast is highlighting a fear held by many workers: Eventually, we will be replaced by machines. The…
Alpine skiing, WMO join forces to raise climate change awareness
The International Ski and Snowboard Federation and the World Meteorological Organization have formed a new partnership focused on raising awareness about the impact of climate change on winter sports and tourism, they said on Thursday. Their partnership will also mark…
EU to vote on tariff hike for Chinese EVs as Germany fears retaliation
Vienna — The European Union is set to vote Friday on a massive tariff increase on Chinese electric vehicles that Germany fears could spark a trade war with Beijing. Reuters reported Wednesday that the measure already has enough votes to…
New NATO chief Rutte pledges alliance’s support for Ukraine in Kyiv visit
New NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said Thursday the alliance knows Ukraine has urgent needs in its fight against Russia’s invasion, as he visited Kyiv for talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Rutte told reporters it was important for him to…
Russian propaganda portrays Zelenskyy as supervillain
In the fictional world of Russia’s decadeslong disinformation campaign, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is a corrupt owner of multimillion-dollar villas, cars, yachts and other luxury goods purchased using the West’s financial aid, particularly the U.S. taxpayers’ money. He is also…
Far-right gains in Europe drive debate on migration, Ukraine aid
Europe looks set to toughen migration laws amid a surge in support for far-right parties across the continent. Austria’s Freedom Party – which campaigned on a platform of ending migration and opposing military aid for Ukraine – finished first in…