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Workers walk past a billboard showing an illustration of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup mascot 'La'eeb' in the Qatari capital Doha

Unpaid wages top complaint of Qatar migrant workers: UN

Unpaid wages dominate a growing number of complaints by migrant workers in Qatar, the UN labour agency has said, less than 20 days before the football World Cup begins.

World • 01 Nov 22

95-97% of the population in Afghanistan now lives below the poverty line, the UN says

UN worried about 'dramatic collapse' of Afghan economy

Afghanistan's formal economy has suffered a "catastrophic collapse" since the Taliban came to power, wiping out in less than a year what had taken 10 years to build, the United Nations has said.

Business • 06 Oct 22

Mr Lavrov defended referendums in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine

Lavrov accuses West of 'Russophobia' at United Nations

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov bitterly criticized Western nations over the Ukraine war, telling the United Nations that the US and its allies sought to "destroy" his country.

World • 24 Sep 22

The report found that the number of people - mainly women and girls - stuck in forced marriages had risen by a full 6.6 million since the last global estimates in 2016 (Stock image | Posed by model)

50 million people stuck in 'modern slavery' - UN

Around 50 million people around the world are trapped in forced labour or forced marriage, the UN has said, warning that their ranks had swelled dramatically in recent years.

World • 12 Sep 22

A resumption of grain exports from Ukrainian ports has contributed to improved supply prospects, the UN said

World food price index falls for fifth month in August

The United Nations food agency's world price index fell for a fifth month in a row in August, further from all-time highs hit earlier this year, as a resumption of grain exports from Ukrainian ports contributed to improved supply prospects.

Business • 02 Sep 22

Saudi Arabia (capital Riyadh is pictured here) jailed Salma Al-Shehab for 34 years

UN asks Saudi Arabia to free woman jailed over tweets

The United Nations voiced outrage today at a Saudi court decision to sentence a woman to 34 years behind bars for tweets critical of the government, demanding she be released.

World • 19 Aug 22

Military from the UN mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo attend a ceremony for peacekeepers who died during violent protests last July

Air Corps plane 'in the air' on way home from DR Congo

An Air Corps plane and its crew are on the way back to Ireland after a military operation to repatriate equipment from the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to the Department of Defence.

Defence Forces • 18 Aug 22

Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov (L), UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres (C-L), Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (C-R) and Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar (R)

Ukraine and Russia sign grain export deal

Russia and Ukraine have signed a landmark deal with the United Nations and Turkey on resuming grain shipments that could ease a global food crisis in which millions face hunger.

World • 22 Jul 22

World's population is growing at its slowest pace since 1950 (stock image)

UN forecasts world population to hit 8bn this year

The world's population is expected to reach eight billion on 15 November, the UN forecast in a report that said India will surpass China as the most populous country on earth in 2023.

World • 11 Jul 22

The 'Institutional resilience and innovative responses to the Covid-19 pandemic' award is recognition from the UN on Public Service Day

Irish programme to reduce poverty receives UN award

The United Nations has awarded the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme a Public Service Award.

Ireland • 23 Jun 22

A severely malnourished two-year-old girl is fed via a tube in Banadir Maternity and Children Hospital in Mogadishu

350,000 Somalian children at risk of death from hunger

The United Nations has predicted that 350,000 children in Somalia could die from hunger by the end of the summer.

World • 14 Jun 22

Michelle Bachelet will wrap up her four-year mandate at the end of August

UN rights chief Bachelet will not seek second term

UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet has said she will not seek a second term, ending months of speculation amid growing criticism of her lax stance on rights abuses in China.

World • 13 Jun 22

It is estimated that spending by G20 countries - which includes large emerging economies - was $120 billion in 2020

Richest 20 nations urged to lead on nature protection

The world's 20 richest nations should more than double their annual spending to protect and restore nature to $285 billion by 2050, the United Nations and donors said today.

Business • 27 Jan 22

The UN is now projecting a significant deficit in working hours in 2022 compared to before Covid-19 emerged

Pandemic still taking heavy toll on jobs - UN

The Covid-19 crisis is continuing to hit jobs hard around the world, the United Nations said today, warning it could take years for employment levels to reach pre-pandemic levels.

Business • 17 Jan 22

The statement will be delivered during an interactive meeting of the UNHRC

Victims to raise Troubles 'amnesty' concerns with UN

Opposition to a British government plan to ban future prosecutions related to the Troubles in Northern Ireland is to be raised with the UN Human Rights Council.

Ulster • 16 Sep 21

Protesters blocked a major road in Cambridge in order to highlight climate change, pic: Getty

What's in the climate report and what happens next?

A new UN report has warned it is "unequivocal" that human activity is warming the planet, with the impacts of climate change already being felt around the world.

World • 09 Aug 21

Sex-selective practices leading to fewer girls being born

5m fewer girls to be born over next 10 years - study

An estimated 4.7 million fewer girls are expected to be born globally in the next ten years because of sex-selective practices in countries with a cultural preference for male offspring, research showed.

World • 03 Aug 21

Global displacement from war, crises doubles in decade

The number of people forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution and human rights abuses has doubled in the past decade to over 82 million at the end of last year, according to the UN Refugee Agency.

World • 18 Jun 21

Ethiopian refugees from Tigray region wait in line to receive aid at the Um Rakuba refugee camp in Sudan

Blocking of humanitarian aid in Ethiopia denounced

The World Food Programme has denounced the blocking of humanitarian convoys by armed groups in Ethiopia's Tigray region, where four million people face a food crisis, including 350,000 risking famine.

World • 10 Jun 21

Israel said this morning its 'continuing wave of strikes' had in the past 24 hours struck over 90 targets across Gaza

UN chief warns of 'uncontainable crisis' in Middle East

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has pleaded for an immediate end to deadly Israeli-Palestinian violence, warning a Security Council meeting that the fighting could plunge the region into an "uncontainable" crisis.

World • 16 May 21

The Tunisian coast guard had so far recovered 21 bodies (file pic)

At least 40 migrants drown in shipwreck off Tunisia

At least 40 migrants have drowned in a shipwreck off Tunisia as they tried to cross the Mediterranean to Italy, United Nations and Tunisian officials said.

World • 16 Apr 21

H&M has around 45 direct suppliers in Myanmar

H&M pauses placing new orders in Myanmar

Sweden's H&M, the world's second-biggest fashion retailer, said it was shocked by the use of deadly force against protesters in Myanmar and that it had paused placing orders in the country.

Business • 08 Mar 21

Dubai's royal family says Latifa is being 'cared for at home'

UN waiting for proof Dubai's Princess Latifa is alive

The UN has said it was yet to see evidence from the United Arab Emirates that Dubai's Sheikha Latifa was still alive, a fortnight after seeking proof.

World • 05 Mar 21

Also since the coup more than 1,700 people have been "arbitrarily" arrested and detained

UN tells Myanmar army to 'stop murdering' protesters

Defiant anti-coup protesters have returned to the streets across Myanmar after the deadliest day of the junta's crackdown, as the United Nations called on the military to "stop murdering" civilians.

World • 04 Mar 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