News headlines
What’s UNDOF? Why UN peacekeepers patrol the Israel-Syria border
- UN News
More than 1,100 UN peacekeepers are currently deployed in the Golan, a demilitarised zone along the Israel-Syria border at what is a tense and dangerous time in the history of the region. But, why are the Blue Helmets there?
UN relocates non-critical staff from North Kivu, DR Congo
- UN News
The UN is temporarily relocating non-essential staff from Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Saturday without interrupting its operations in the country at a time heightened security concerns.
‘The Closure of Meta’s US Fact-Checking Programme Is a Major Setback in the Fight Against Disinformation’
- Inter Press Service
Jan 24 (IPS) - CIVICUS speaks with Olivia Sohr about the challenges of disinformation and the consequences of the closure of Meta’s fact-checking programme in the USA. Olivia is the Director of Impact and New Initiatives at Chequeado, an Argentine civil society organisation working since 2010 to improve the quality of public debate through fact-checking, combating disinformation, promoting access to information and open data.
Report Exposes Silent Global Emergency as More Crises-Affected Children Need Urgent Education Support
- Inter Press Service
NEW YORK & NAIROBI, Jan 24 (IPS) - A report released today on the International Day of Education sounds alarm as the number of school-aged children in crisis worldwide requiring urgent support to access quality education reaches a staggering 234 million—an estimated increase of 35 million over the past three years fueled by intensifying armed conflict, forced displacements, more frequent and severe weather and climatic events, and other crises.
How Artificial Intelligence Will Affect Asia’s Economies
- Inter Press Service
WASHINGTON DC, Jan 24 (IPS) - Asia-Pacific’s economies are likely to experience labor market shifts because of artificial intelligence (AI), with advanced economies being affected more. About half of all jobs in the region’s advanced economies are exposed to AI, compared to only about a quarter in emerging market and developing economies.
Should King Baudouin, DRC’s Last Sovereign, Be Beatified?
- Inter Press Service
GOMA, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jan 24 (IPS) - During his visit to the Kingdom of Belgium in September 2024, Pope Francis was full of praise for King Baudouin, who ruled Belgium for more than 40 years.
World News in Brief: More UN staffers detained in Yemen, education hit by climate crisis, Nigeria aid plan
- UN News
The UN has suspended all official movements by its teams into and out of Houthi-held areas of Yemen, after more UN staffers were detained on Thursday.
Human rights expert welcomes clemency for Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier
- UN News
The UN independent expert on the rights of Indigenous Peoples on Thursday welcomed the decision by outgoing US President Joe Biden to grant clemency to Leonard Peltier, an Indigenous leader who has spent nearly 50 years in prison under controversial circumstances.
UN rights office raises alarm over escalating violence in occupied West Bank
- UN News
The UN human rights office, OHCHR, on Friday expressed grave concerns over escalating violence in the Jenin area of the occupied West Bank, condemning the use of “unlawful lethal force” by Israeli security forces.
DR Congo emergency: Fears that regional capital Goma faces attack
- UN News
Intensifying hostilities in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo involving the non-state armed group M23 have caused further mass displacement in the mineral-rich region, with fears that the regional capital Goma could come under attack, UN agencies warned on Friday.