In a speech in London, the Oscar winner and UN special envoy for refugees urges the international community to respond to Europe’s refugee crisis
LONDON, UK (May 17, 2016) — UN special envoy Angelina Jolie Pitt urged the international community on Monday, May 16 to respond to Europe’s worst refugee crisis since World War II with generosity and not the “politics of fear.” Continue reading Migrant crisis needs generosity, not fear
The Vienna conference is being co-chaired by the United States and Italy. More than 20 top diplomats are set to attend the meeting.
VIENNA, Austria (May 16, 2016) — World powers said Monday, May 16, they supported the lifting of an arms embargo on Libya and were ready to supply weapons to the country’s new unity government to help it fight the growing threat posed by the Islamic State group. Continue reading World powers ready to arm Libya in fight against ISIS
WHO also discovers that air quality is generally improving in Europe and North America, but worsening in the Middle East and Southeast Asia
GENEVA, Switzerland (May 12, 2016) — Over 80% of the world’s city dwellers breathe poor quality air, increasing their risk of lung cancer and other life-threatening diseases, a new World Health Organization (WHO) report warned Thursday, May 12. Continue reading 80% of world’s city dwellers breathing bad air
An IT company addresses the UN Security Council for the first time to tackle jihadists’ use of technology ‘to spread violence, to destroy, and to kill’
UNITED NATIONS, USA (May 12, 2016) — Microsoft told the United Nations on Wednesday, May 11, that technology companies can do more to combat digital terror, but warned there was no single solution to prevent terrorists from using the web. Continue reading Microsoft tells UN more can be done to combat digital terror
The Kenyan government decides to shut down the Dadaab refugee camp over security concerns
NAIROBI, Kenya (May 12, 2016) — Kenya said Wednesday, May 11, it had set aside $10 million to help fund the closing of the world’s largest refugee camp, home to around 350,000 mostly Somali refugees, citing security fears. Continue reading Kenya earmarks $10M to close world’s largest refugee camp
The attacks come as the Iraqi government is locked in a political crisis
BAGHDAD, Iraq (May 12, 2016) — Three car bombs in Baghdad, including a huge blast at a market in a Shiite area, killed at least 94 people on Wednesday, May 11, the bloodiest day in the Iraqi capital this year. Continue reading 94 dead in triple Baghdad car bombings claimed by ISIS
Hoesung Lee, head of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, voices hope in battle against 2°C increase in warming but warns of ‘phenomenal’ costs
May 12, 2016 — The head of the United Nations climate science panel has declared it is still possible to avoid a dangerous 2°C increase in global warming – despite more than a dozen record hot years since 2000. But the costs could be “phenomenal”, he said. Continue reading It’s not too late to avoid dangerous temperature rise
China’s take on the Climate Action summit in Washington, DC.
May 6, 2016 — UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Thursday urged the world’s nations to “take climate action to the next level,” two weeks after 175 governments signed the historic Paris Agreement on climate change in New York. Continue reading Time to take climate action to next level, UN chief
Approaching the problem of climate change with a sense of urgency
May 6, 2016 — If the world’s governments, particularly those in developing countries, continue to increase their reliance on coal and other fossil fuels, “we are finished.”
That was the sobering assessment of World Bank Group President Dr. Jim Yong Kim during his opening statement Thursday at the World Climate Summit in Washington. Continue reading Governments, business leaders urge action on climate change
As relieved civilians went out onto the streets after two weeks of heavy fighting in the divided city, others were attacked further west
ALEPPO, Syria (May 6, 2016) — Air strikes killed at least 28 civilians Thursday, May 5, in a camp for the displaced in northern Syria near the Turkish border as a 48-hour ceasefire took hold in Aleppo. Continue reading Air strikes on Syria displaced camp kill 28