The top UN emergency relief coordinator in the Philippines said on Thursday that his team is anxious to see the full evacuation of vulnerable citizens completed as the Taal volcano continues to erupt.

Sunday’s major eruption caused widespread destruction, and it’s feared that there could be a “catastrophic” eruption over the coming days or weeks, said humanitarian affairs coordination office OCHA’s team leader, Mark Bidder, talking to Julia Dean.

More than 100 wildfires are still raging across Australia, with record-breaking temperatures and drought contributing to the loss of more than six million hectares of land that is home to some of the most unique plants and animals in the world.  In an interview with UN News, John Scanlon, Special Envoy for the African Parks non-profit organization and former Secretary-General of CITES - the UN-backed Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species - said that the increasing threat to biodiversity must be “lifted up to the international agenda”.  

More than 100 wildfires are still raging across Australia, with record-breaking temperatures and drought contributing to the loss of more than six million hectares of land that is home to some of the most unique plants and animals in the world.  In an interview with UN News, John Scanlon, Special Envoy for the African Parks non-profit organization and former Secretary-General of CITES - the UN-backed Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species - said that the increasing threat to biodiversity must be “lifted up to the international agenda”.  

An Iraqi woman who was forced to marry as a teenager and denied access to formal education, is speaking up for victims of human rights abuses. 

Jamila Mahdi  spoke to Shirin Yaseen about her incredible journey, her work with Yazidi women victims of ISIL, and her hopes for an Iraq where everyone enjoys their human rights. 

An Iraqi woman who was forced to marry as a teenager and denied access to formal education, is speaking up for victims of human rights abuses. 

Jamila Mahdi  spoke to Shirin Yaseen about her incredible journey, her work with Yazidi women victims of ISIL, and her hopes for an Iraq where everyone enjoys their human rights. 

While nations continue to grapple with major global issues as the new year dawns, such as disarmament and climate change, there is reason to hope that they will work together to resolve the biggest threats to humanity. 

That’s the message from Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations in Geneva. 

In a wide-ranging interview recorded last year with UN News’s Daniel Johnson, Ms. Valovaya explains how she sees the geopolitical situation from her vantage point at the UN’s European headquarters. 

While nations continue to grapple with major global issues as the new year dawns, such as disarmament and climate change, there is reason to hope that they will work together to resolve the biggest threats to humanity. 

That’s the message from Tatiana Valovaya, Director-General of the United Nations in Geneva. 

In a wide-ranging interview recorded last year with UN News’s Daniel Johnson, Ms. Valovaya explains how she sees the geopolitical situation from her vantage point at the UN’s European headquarters. 

To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, the world must first address critical challenges affecting nature.   

That’s the opinion of Ola Elvestuen, president of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment.  

Mr. Elvestuen, who is Norway’s environment minister, spoke to Ben Malor and laid out the critical reasons why everyone must mobilize to protect the planet. 

To achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, the world must first address critical challenges affecting nature.   

That’s the opinion of Ola Elvestuen, president of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), the world’s highest-level decision-making body on the environment.  

Mr. Elvestuen, who is Norway’s environment minister, spoke to Ben Malor and laid out the critical reasons why everyone must mobilize to protect the planet. 

“Passion and story-telling” are two of the key ingredients to become a wine expert according to Michelle Gueydan, a certified sommelier based in New Orleans in the United States. Ms. Gueydan transitioned from politics to event management and then became one of the minority of female sommeliers currently working in the US. 

She spoke to the International Labour Organization (ILO) as part of a photography project to mark the centenary of the establishment of the UN agency. The project called “Dignity at Work: The American Experience” documents the working life of people across the United States. 

Kevin Cassidy, the Director of the ILO’s office for the United States, sat down with her during a tasting event at a wine bar in New Orleans.