African societies have yet to understand what "autism" means according to Uganda's Ambassador to the UN. Richard Nduhuura said that generating awareness about autism across the continent, was an important step towards removing stigma surrounding it. The disorder affects the nervous system, making social interactions and verbal and non-verbal communications difficult. Priyanka Shankar spoke to [...]

The UN must be ready for change and address the global community's inability to prevent crises, the incoming Secretary-General told delegates and diplomats after taking the oath of office on Monday. Antonio Guterres was sworn-in as the ninth Secretary-General succeeding Ban Ki-moon who steps down after ten years on the job. The former Prime Minister [...]

Nearly four billion people are still not connected to the Internet, according to the UN's International Telecommunication Union (ITU). People in least-developed countries are the most affected, because very few technology companies are willing to invest in broadband access for rural areas, said Malcolm Johnson, the ITU's Deputy Secretary-General. Jorge Miyares spoke to him in [...]

The rapid loss of biodiversity across the world is putting sustainable development at risk according to a senior UN official working on the issue. Braulio Ferreira, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity says that the variety of life on Earth is essential to ensure food security as well as access to clean water [...]

Asteroids have been recognized by the UN as a "global concern" because of the potential destruction they could cause on Earth. That's according to Simonetta di Pippo, head of UN Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). The UN agency has proclaimed 30 June as the new International Asteroid Day, which will be observed for the [...]

The terrorist attacks carried out in Turkey’s commercial capital Istanbul have been condemned by the UN Secretary-General. Turkish police personnel were reportedly targeted in Saturday’s bombings in which dozens of people were killed and injured. Jocelyne Sambira reports. In a statement released by his Spokesperson, the UN chief offered his deepest sympathy and condolences to [...]

President Yahya Jammeh of The Gambia has been urged by the UN chief to “fully respect” the outcome of the Presidential election that took place on 1 December. Ban Ki-moon also called on all political actors and their supporters to do the same. He issued a statement on Saturday expressing his dismay over the outgoing [...]

  UN Secretary-General-designate Antรณnio Guterres has promised to make “human dignity the core of his work”. The former Prime Minister of Portugal and UN High Commissioner for Refugees made the remarks ahead of his swearing-ceremony on Monday. Jocelyne Sambira reports. In October this year, Antรณnio Guterres was nominated as the next United Nations Secretary-General in [...]

Climate change and global warming are the main challenges faced by communities living in the mountains of Nepal, according to a representative from the country's Mountaineering Association. Ang Tshering Sherpa said that temperature rises combined with the huge earthquake of April 2015, changed the course of rivers, adversely affecting the lives of many inhabitants in [...]

Aid access to Myanmar ruled out amid ongoing violence In Myanmar, violence is ongoing in Rakhine state and thousands of people have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh, the UN said on Friday. The information comes from the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR; it cited reports that some of the state's Muslim minority have been raped and killed, [...]