News | Latest Breaking News Stories & Headlines

The online survey, carried out by Deloitte, was completed by 30,364 people from the United Nations and its agencies

One in three UN employees sexually harassed - survey

A third of United Nations employees have reported experiencing sexual harassment at the world body over the last two years, according to the findings of the first survey on such misconduct.

World • 16 Jan 19

Nicholas Haysom is a South African lawyer and experienced diplomat

Top United Nations envoy ordered to leave Somalia

Somalia's government has ordered the leading United Nations envoy to the country to leave, accusing him of "deliberately interfering with the country's sovereignty."

World • 02 Jan 19

The Palestinians would have to secure nine votes from the 15 members and no veto from any of the five permanent members

Israel vows to block Palestine's UN membership bid

Israel has vowed to work with the United States to block a bid by the Palestinians for full membership in the United Nations.

World • 27 Dec 18

Migrants are seen waiting in a queue to enter a tent of the Spanish Red Cross after their arrival at the Port of Malaga in Spain

UN members adopt global migration pact

UN members have adopted a deal aimed at improving the way world copes with rising migration, but almost 30 countries stayed away from the ceremony in Morocco.

World • 10 Dec 18

68.5 million people around the world have been forced from home

What is the UN Migration Pact?

The UN Migration Pact is the first major attempt to coordinate a global approach to tackle the migrant situation but it has been a long, diving and troublesome road to get there.

World • 10 Dec 18

The UN agency for information & communication technologies said by the end of 2018 51.2% of people around the world will be using the Internet

More than half of global population now online - UN

Some 3.9 billion people are now using the Internet, meaning that for the first time more than half of the global population is online, the United Nations said today.

Business • 07 Dec 18

The talks in Stockholm are expected to last around a week

Breakthrough unlikely at Yemeni talks, UN source says

A breakthrough to achieve peace in Yemen is unlikely to be achieved at talks planned for this week in Sweden, according to a United Nations source close to the talks.

World • 04 Dec 18

Worldwide delegations take part in the UN COP24 Climate Change Conference today

Act now or risk disaster, UN climate summit hears

Representatives from nearly 200 countries began crunch UN climate talks in Poland today against a backdrop of dire environmental warnings and a call for action against the "urgent threats" posed by climate change.

World • 02 Dec 18

UN aid chief Mark Lowcock said 'Yemen is on the brink of a major catastrophe'

Yemen on brink of 'major catastrophe' - UN

The UN has warned that Yemen was "on the brink of a major catastrophe", as the world body pushes for peace talks in the impoverished and war-torn country.

World • 01 Dec 18

Ukrainian naval tugboat and small artillery vessel in the Kerch Strait yesterday

Ukraine approves martial law after Russia seizes ships

Ukraine has imposed martial law for 30 days in parts of the country most vulnerable to an attack from Russia after President Petro Poroshenko warned of the "extremely serious" threat of a land invasion.

World • 26 Nov 18

A member of the Yemeni pro-government forces in Hodeidah, Yemen

UN envoy to Yemen arrives in Red Sea city of Hodeidah

The United Nations special envoy to Yemen has arrived in the Red Seaport city of Hodeidah, an area which has become the focus of the war between the Iran-aligned Houthi group and pro-government forces.

World • 23 Nov 18

Erik Solheim had been at the helm of the Nairobi-based UN Environment Programme (UNEP) since June 2016

UN environment chief quits over travel expenses outcry

UN environment chief Erik Solheim has resigned after an audit questioning his huge travel expenses triggered an outcry, UN officials said.

World • 20 Nov 18

Nóirín O'Sullivan joined the gardaí in June 1981 and had more than 36 years of service at the time of her retirement

Nóirín O'Sullivan appointed to UN role

Former Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan has been appointed as the United Nations' Assistant Secretary-General for Safety and Security.

Ireland • 31 Oct 18

Myanmar police patrol a Rohingya camp on the border with Bangladesh

UN: 'Ongoing genocide' against Myanmar's Rohingya

A genocide is still under way against Myanmar's Rohingya muslims, a UN team has said as it presented a report at the Security Council calling for the matter to be referred to the International Criminal Court.

World • 25 Oct 18

Climate report is a frightening reality-check

Analysis and Comment • 08 Oct 18

Iran was bracing for a fresh set of sanctions this month

US ordered to lift sanctions on 'humanitarian' goods

The top court of the United Nations has ordered the US to halt sanctions on 'humanitarian' goods to Iran.

Iran • 03 Oct 18

Research will look at the impacts of global warming of 1.5ºC above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission routes

Climate change experts gather to finalise major report

Experts in climate change from all over the world are gathering in South Korea to finalise a significant report on the impact of global warming of 1.5ºC.

Environment • 01 Oct 18

Ri Yong-ho told the UN that without any trust in the US, North Korea would not unilaterally disarm themselves

N Korea says sanctions deepening its mistrust in US

North Korea's foreign minister has told the United Nations that continued sanctions are deepening its mistrust in the United States, and there was no way the country would give up its nuclear weapons unilaterally under such circumstances.

World • 29 Sep 18

Jacinda Ardern spoke at the launch of the annual Climate Week event

New Zealand's 'first baby' attends UN summit

New Zealand's prime minister, who garnered international attention for giving birth while in office, turned heads by bringing her three-month-old daughter into the UN assembly hall yesterday.

Jacinda Ardern • 25 Sep 18

Leo Varadkar delivering his address at the United Nations

Taoiseach hails Good Friday Agreement in UN speech

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has told the United Nations that the Good Friday Agreement brought peace to Britain and Ireland after decades of bitter violence.

United Nations • 24 Sep 18

Diabetes was reported as one of the diseases which combined to kill 12.5m people worldwide in 2016

Most nations 'will likely fail' chronic disease targets

More than half of all countries will likely fail to hit the UN target of reducing premature deaths from a quartet of chronic diseases by a third before 2030, researchers have said.

Health • 21 Sep 18

Turkey's President Erdogan says if action is not taken to halt an attack on Idlib 'the entire world stands to pay the price'

'Absolutely essential' to avoid battle in Idlib - UN

The United Nations' Secretary-General has appealed to Russia, Iran and Turkey to "spare no effort to find solutions that protect civilians" in Syria's Idlib.

World • 11 Sep 18

El Nino is triggered by periodic warming in the eastern Pacific Ocean which can trigger drought in some regions, heavy rain in others

Warning over 70% chance of El Nino event this year

An El Nino event that could disrupt global weather is likely by the end of what has already been a hot year, the United Nations has said.

El Nino • 10 Sep 18

Millions will be caught in Idlib crossfire - Egeland

The United Nations' senior adviser on Syria, Jan Egeland, has said that nearly three million civilians will be caught in the crossfire if an offensive is launched on Idlib.

World • 07 Sep 18

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Russia's President Vladimir Putin

Tehran summit expected to seal fate of Syria's Idlib

The presidents of Iran, Russia and Turkey will meet on Friday in Tehran for a summit expected to shape the future of Idlib province, home to Syria's last major rebel bastion.

Syria • 05 Sep 18