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Micheál Martin speaking at the UN Assembly in New York

Martin urges UN to act on Covid, conflict and climate

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has told the United Nations General Assembly that the climate crisis threatens our very existence on the planet.

Ireland • 25 Sep 21

Daily life in Kabul as the UN warns basic services threatened to collapse 'completely'

UN warns of 'humanitarian catastrophe' in Afghanistan

The UN Security Council has adopted a resolution requiring the Taliban to honour its commitment to let people freely leave Afghanistan.

World • 31 Aug 21

A woman passes by a beauty salon in Kabul, where photos of women have been covered in black pain

UN rights chief fears for women, girls in Afghanistan

The UN rights chief has voiced grave concern at the situation in Afghanistan under the Taliban, urging them to honour commitments to respect the rights of women and girls.

World • 24 Aug 21

Boris Johnson and Joe Biden 'resolved to continue working closely together' (File)

Biden, Johnson agree to hold G7 summit on Afghanistan

US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson discussed Afghanistan yesterday and announced a virtual summit of the G7 leaders on the crisis, the White House has said.

World • 18 Aug 21

The IPCC report found that Arctic ice is shrinking and sea levels are rising

Report warns climate change is 'widespread, rapid'

Climate change is widespread, rapid and intensifying, according to an influential UN report released this morning.

World • 09 Aug 21

Wildfires have produced a record amount of carbon emissions Yakutia, Siberia

Apocalyptic fire and rain as UN climate report looms

Where once the scientific community said that it was difficult to say climate change was responsible for individual weather incidents, scientists are increasingly finding that events like heatwaves and extreme rain are influenced by human-induced climate change.

Analysis and Comment • 07 Aug 21

The UN's International Labour Organization said the labour market crisis created by the pandemic was far from over

Pandemic plunges 100 million more workers into poverty

The Covid-19 pandemic has pushed over 100 million more workers into poverty, the UN said today, after working hours plummeted and access to good quality jobs evaporated.

Business • 02 Jun 21

Protesters hold homemade shields as they prepare to face off against security forces in the city of Yangon

'The repression must stop,' envoy on Myanmar tells UN

The United Nations special envoy on Myanmar has demanded an end to the military's "repression" of protesters, appealing to the Security Council to act on the "desperate pleas" from the country.

World • 05 Mar 21

An Israeli bulldozer during demolition of a Bedouin encampment in the north of the occupied West Bank

Ireland joins UN calls for Israel to stop demolitions

The United Nations, Ireland, and four other European members of the Security Council have called on Israel to stop demolitions of Bedouin settlements in the Jordan Valley.

Israel • 27 Feb 21

A wounded man on a stretcher after police and military opened fire on protesters in Mandalay yesterday

UN condemns use of 'deadly force' in Myanmar

A lethal attack on anti-coup protesters in Myanmar sparked fresh UN condemnation of the country's new military regime, as mourners held a funeral for a young woman who has become a national symbol of resistance to the junta.

Antonio Guterres • 21 Feb 21

The UN Human Rights Council's next session will starts on 22 February through to 23 March

US to 're-engage' with UN rights council

The United States is to "re-engage" with the UN Human Rights Council, nearly three years after former president Donald Trump's administration withdrew.

US • 08 Feb 21

Children play near tents as a woman cooks outdoors at a makeshift camp for the displaced

UN urges US to reverse Yemen decision over famine fears

The United States must cancel its decision to classify Yemen's Houthi rebels as "terrorists" to avoid the risk of a famine not seen for decades, a senior United Nations official has told the Security Council.

World • 14 Jan 21

The UN flag is to fly at Leinster House for the duration of Ireland's term on the Security Council

UN flag to fly at Leinster House to mark Irish role

The United Nations flag is to fly in Leinster House to mark Ireland's new role on the UN Security Council which begins tomorrow.

Politics • 31 Dec 20

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani (R) meeting with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Mariano Grossi (L) in Tehran

Iran allows UN access to alleged nuclear sites

Iran has agreed to allow the UN watchdog the access it has requested to two alleged nuclear sites, as the head of the agency ended his first visit to Tehran.

World • 26 Aug 20

A US federal officer is pictured during protests in Portland

UN rights body urges US to rein in police at protests

US police and security forces must not use disproportionate force against protesters and journalists in US cities including Portland or detain them unlawfully, the United Nations human rights office has said.

US • 24 Jul 20

The flag will fly for the duration of Ireland's term on the security council

United Nations flag to fly over Leinster House

The United Nations flag will fly over Leinster House to mark Ireland's successful election to the United Nations Security Council.

Politics • 20 Jul 20

A Bosnian Muslim woman, survivor of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre, at a memorial just outside Srebrenica today, 25 years after the killings

Bosnians commemorate Srebrenica as more victims buried

Bosnians today commemorated the massacre of about 8,000 Muslim men and boys in Srebrenica, marking the 25th anniversary of killings that shocked the world.

World • 11 Jul 20

Syrian protesters in Idlib carry placards expressing their opposition to regime ally Russia's attempt to reduce cross-border aid

Russia, China veto extension of Syrian cross-border aid

Russia and China have vetoed a UN Security Council resolution to prolong cross-border humanitarian aid to war-torn Syria, the authorisation for which expires later in the day, diplomats have said.

World • 10 Jul 20

Germany prohibited conversion therapy on children last month, but worldwide, only a handful of countries have nationwide bans

UN urges countries to ban conversion therapy

A top UN expert has urged global governments to ban the "degrading" practise known as conversion therapy, which aims to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.

World • 01 Jun 20

The first troops arrive in Ireland on 21 June with a second contingent returning eight days later.

Peacekeepers' families welcome June return date

After weeks of uncertainty, soldiers and their families have welcomed the news that Irish peacekeeping troops currently in Lebanon will return home towards the end of June.

Ireland • 22 May 20

Warning of multiple famines of 'biblical proportions'

The head of the United Nations' food agency has warned that, as the world is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, it is also "on the brink of a hunger pandemic" that could lead to "multiple famines of biblical proportions" within a few months.

Coronavirus • 22 Apr 20

Leo Varadkar will not visit New York as originally planned, given a shortening of his US trip due to to coronavirus

Irish UN event in NYC to go ahead without Taoiseach

An event in New York planned as part Ireland's campaign for a seat on the UN Security Council, is expected to go ahead tomorrow without Taoiseach Leo Varadkar.

US • 09 Mar 20

Cyprus had requested to participate as an observer to the conference in Geneva

Turkey blocks Cyprus from world disarmament conference

Turkey has blocked a request from Cyprus to participate as an observer at the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva, amid growing tensions between the two countries.

World • 21 Jan 20

A man and a boy react after police fired tear gas during clashes outside the refugee camp of Moria

UN calls for transfer of migrants from Greek camp

The UN has called for the immediate transfer of migrants from an overcrowded Greek refugee camp on the island of Lesbos after a deadly fire at the camp there sparked riots.

Europe • 30 Sep 19

'More people will see this selfie than hear my speech'

Before starting his first address before the United Nations General Assembly, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele asked the audience to hold on a second, took out his phone, and snapped a selfie.

News • 27 Sep 19