News headlines in January 2025, page 8

BULAWAYO, Jan 23 (IPS) - Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, carries his frustration as visibly as he carries his passport.

The UN chief on Thursday expressed alarm over a renewed offensive by M23 rebels in recent days in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) which is taking a “devastating toll” on civilians.

The ceasefire and hostage release deal in Gaza is providing a critical window of relief for Palestinians in the war-torn enclave, as UN agencies ramp up the delivery of life-saving humanitarian assistance.

In a rare moment of cautious optimism, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher addressed the Security Council on the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza on Thursday, emphasizing the plight of children who have borne the brunt of the conflict.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has taken an historic step towards addressing the “unacceptable” systemic repression of Afghan women, girls and LGBTQI+ individuals by the Taliban.

The United Nations and the League of Arab States are deepening their collaboration to tackle critical peace and security challenges in the Middle East and beyond, a senior UN political affairs official told the Security Council on Thursday.

The Security Council met on Thursday afternoon in New York to discuss the life-threatening dangers faced by Palestinian children – thousands of whom have been killed during the war in Gaza. UN relief chief Tom Fletcher said a whole generation had been traumatised but the ceasefire has "significantly improved" humanitarian aid operations. Join us for live coverage as well as updates from our colleagues on the ground throughout the region. App users can follow here.

The country of Georgia has been certified malaria-free following a nearly century-long fight to combat the disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Thursday.

CAPE TOWN, Jan 22 (IPS) - It was a solemn ceremony on a bright sunny day on the southern tip of Africa, in Cape Town’s company gardens, amid the grass wooden structures that stand out. The 1,700 carefully constructed brown wooden carvings are standing in a line. These structures represent a new Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) memorial, which honors the contribution of the hundreds of Black South African military laborers of the First World War. The CWGC remembers the fallen soldiers of both World Wars equally with this first permanent redress tribute.

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 22 (IPS) - The global plastics negotiation process, launched in 2022 under a resolution by the UN Environment Assembly, represents an unprecedented effort to combat the escalating plastic pollution crisis.