News headlines
World News in Brief: Deaths and injuries mount in Ukraine, refugees from Sudan, Vanuatu quake response
- UN News
In Ukraine, the UN continues to provide aid and support to communities impacted by Russia’s full-scale invasion.
‘Dying hungry and in pain’: An increasingly likely outcome in Gaza
- UN News
The head of the UN aid coordination office in Gaza, Georgios Petropoulos, issued a harrowing update on the dire situation in the enclave on Thursday, describing it as "the most dangerous place on earth right now."
Staggering scale of Sudan crisis ‘demands sustained and urgent attention’
- UN News
A senior UN humanitarian official on Thursday issued an urgent plea for international support to alleviate the devastating toll of the ongoing war in Sudan, as millions remain in desperate need of aid and protection.
Reconstruction and vital repairs underway in Syria, as ‘security conditions’ permit
- UN News
Around 1.3 million Syrians have received food aid in the past three weeks across Syria from the UN and partners, as the restoration of key services begins in some of the relatively stable areas of the country.
Humanity’s fate can't be left to algorithms, UN chief tells Security Council
- UN News
The UN Secretary-General on Thursday urged the Security Council to act decisively to establish international guardrails for artificial intelligence (AI), warning that delays could heighten risks to global peace and security.
Syria’s new ‘flame of hope’ must not be extinguished: Guterres
- UN News
A flame of hope burns bright today in Syria – but if it’s not carefully managed by both Syrians themselves and the international community, it risks being extinguished.
Did Togo Reforms Entrench President Gnassingbé's Power?
- Inter Press Service
Dec 18 (IPS) - In May 2024, Togo's President Faure Gnassingbé signed a new constitution, transitioning the country from a presidential to a parliamentary system. Under this new framework, lawmakers are responsible for electing the president.
African Public Transport Struggles To Match Urban Growth
- Inter Press Service
BULAWAYO, Dec 18 (IPS) - As the population in African cities grows, governments are struggling to provide sustainable public transport solutions, conditions that have led to gridlock in major business districts.
New Legislation Outlaws Dissenters in Venezuela
- Inter Press Service
WASHINGTON, Dec 18 (IPS) - In Venezuela you can no longer say in public that the economic sanctions applied by the United States and other countries are appropriate, or even be suspected of considering any of the authorities illegitimate, because you can be sentenced to up to 30 years in prison and lose all your assets.
Israel Continues to Attack Gaza Amid Ceasefire Negotiations
- Inter Press Service
UNITED NATIONS, Dec 18 (IPS) - After 14 months of conflict between Israel and Palestine, talks of a ceasefire agreement have headed in a promising direction. The proposed agreement entails the release of hostages in Gaza, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Palestinian land, and a strategy for displaced Gazans to safely return to their homes in the northern region of the enclave. Despite both Israeli and Palestinian officials expressing optimism over this agreement, hostilities from the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) continue to endanger the lives and infrastructures of thousands of Gazans.