Former astronaut Scott Kelly appointed UN Champion for Space A former American astronaut whose year-long journey in space captivated people worldwide will now help the United Nations to promote space as a tool for achieving sustainable development. Scott Kelly, who retired from the US space agency, NASA, in April, was on Sunday appointed United Nations [...]

Authorities in Mali are being urged by the UN to defuse tensions that may arise before and after the holding of local elections on 20 November. The polls have been rescheduled three times. A UN-brokered peace deal was signed in June 2015 between the government and Tuareg-led rebels to end years of fighting in the [...]

Parties in Yemen have agreed to resume a cessation of hostilities for an initial period of 48 hours, the UN special envoy in the country has confirmed. Since 2014, clashes between government forces and Houthi rebels have led to the death of around 10,000 people. The truce is expected to re-enter into force on Saturday [...]

African migrants sent home more than US$65 billion last year; a figure that is projected to hit US$80 billion by 2020, according to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The UN agency believes the continent's 26,000-plus post offices can serve as an important channel for that money to reach loved ones, particularly those living [...]

It's necessary to "cling to every little sign of hope" in South Sudan as the country continues to suffer civil unrest and insecurity; that's the view of the head of UNMISS, the UN peacekeeping mission there. The country, which gained its independence in 2011 has suffered from conflict for almost three years. Thousands of people [...]

Worldwide about 400,000 work-related deaths take place due to poor sanitation and hygiene, according to a representative from the International Labour Organisation (ILO). People who work in agriculture, mining, transport or the maritime sector often struggle because of the absence of toilets. Carlos Crespo-Carrion of the ILO also explains how many catch infectious diseases from [...]

Although women's economic participation benefits society, they continue to face barriers in the labour market such as gender wage gaps and legal restrictions. That's according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which recently hosted a panel discussion exploring ways to advance women's economic empowerment and equality. Nyaradzayi Gumbonzvanda is chair of the International Board at [...]

Mediterranean deaths spike "six times higher than 12 months ago" An estimated 365 people are missing, presumed dead, after at least six Mediterranean sea crossings ended in disaster just this week, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has said. The agency's Leonard Doyle said the development means that the death toll for migrants so far [...]

Listen to a bulletin of news and features from United Nations Radio, with Jocelyne Sambira and Matthew Wells. Today: African Union-led peace operations call for "sustainable" financing And … displaced people from the Iraqi city of Mosul have faced "numbing degradation" at hands of ISIL    

"Predictable and sustainable" financing is needed to sustain African Union-led peace operations over the long term, the UN Security Council has heard. That's the message delivered by Ambassador Tete Antonio, Permanent Observer of the African Union or AU. The UN and AU often team up to deploy "boots on the ground" in hot spots like [...]