The UN’s leading advocate for tobacco control has hailed as “historic” a decision by governments around the world to tackle illegal trade in the sector.  Dr Vera Luiza da Costa e Silva, who leads the Secretariat of the World Health Organization’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC), spoke with UN News’s Daniel Johnson.

What would a Ugandan teenager like to do if she got to run one of the UN’s key agencies for a day?

For this latest edition of our UN Gender Focus podcast, from UN News, you’re about to find out.

18-year-old Zahara had a tough upbringing, fending for herself as the youngest of six, finally battling her way to become a youth advocate for girls’ empowerment.

With the hybrid African Union/UN peacekeeping Mission in Darfur, UNAMID, preparing to drawn down by June 2020, key questions remain. Jumbe Omari Jumbe, has been speaking to the Mission’s Chief of Staff, Luk Mhlaba, in North Darfur, and asked him to outline UNAMID’s main achievements so far.

Challenges and needs of girls highlighted on International Day

UN Chief urges South East Asia to lead global warming fight

Saudi Arabia must halt air strikes in Yemen, says UN panel

With the hybrid African Union/UN peacekeeping Mission in Darfur, UNAMID, preparing to drawn down by June 2020, key questions remain. Jumbe Omari Jumbe, has been speaking to the Mission’s Chief of Staff, Luk Mhlaba, in North Darfur, and asked him to outline UNAMID’s main achievements so far.

‘Dramatic rise’ in economic losses due to disasters: UN agency

UN chief “deeply disturbed by execution of juvenile offenders

Almost 3,000 civilian deaths in Afghanistan this year

The 2017 Human Development Index covers 189 countries, including 10 Pacific Island States; the largest survey in the region to date.  In an interview for UN News, Matthew Johnson-Idan, Development Economist from UNDP Fiji, said the geography of the Pacific was unique, resulting in “some clear special challenges for this region”.

On a visit to the Colombian border, UN refugee agency chief, Filippo Grandi, said the international community must do more to aid thousands of Venezuelans leaving the country each day. Mr. Grandi spoke to the UN Information Centre’s Edith Girval.

Calls for probe into disappeared Saudi journalist

Colombian nationals held in ‘beyond monstrous’ conditions in Venezuela

Rohingya women change refugee camp life for the better

Cutting-edge digital tools, can help us to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and improve life for all.

But, if the right policies are not put in place, there is a real danger that these so-called “frontier technologies” will exacerbate inequality and destroy quality jobs, the UN is warning.

Conor Lennon from UN News interviews Hamid Rashid, Chief  of DESA’s Development Research Branch, to find out more.