UN report exposes torture, rape in Southeast Asia’s multi-billion-dollar scam centres
Behind the staggering profits lies what the report calls a “litany of abuse” affecting hundreds of thousands of people from at least 66 countries. Many were lured abroad by promises…
‘Alarming increase’ in recruitment of children into gangs in Haiti
The big pictureThe Caribbean nation is in the grip of a deepening security, humanitarian and governance crisis.Armed gangs control large swathes of the capital Port-au-Prince and beyond, displacing families and…
Science-led governance of AI can help power sustainable development: Guterres
“Guided by science, we can transform AI from a source of uncertainty into a reliable engine for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” he said. He urged the international community to build a future “where…
UNICEF calls for release of children detained during Iran protests
The unrest erupted in late December 2025 in cities across Iran over soaring inflation, rising food prices and the collapse of the national currency, resulting in a deadly and widespread…
Artists face steep income decline due to AI, UNESCO finds
The latest edition of Re|Shaping Policies for Creativity, UNESCO’s flagship monitoring report covering more than 120 countries, warns that generative AI is projected to drive significant income losses for artists…
From India, Guterres calls for $3 billion fund to ensure AI benefits all
António Guterres highlighted the need to build skills, data capacity, affordable computing power and inclusive ecosystems.He expressed concern that without investment many countries will be “logged out” of the AI age. …
Decades of gains overshadowed as Asia-Pacific falls behind on sustainable development targets
The Asia and the Pacific SDG Progress Report 2026, released by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) on Wednesday, finds that at the current…
Floods, drought and insecurity drive acute hunger for 7.5 million in Pakistan
At the top end, in the period from last December to March 2026 around 1.25 million people will be in ‘emergency’ levels of acute food insecurity, characterised by large food gaps and high levels of acute malnutrition - the Integrated Food…
Epstein files: ‘No one is too wealthy or too powerful to be above the law’; rights experts demand accountability
In a statement on Monday, the independent experts – who serve in their individual capacities under mandates from the UN Human Rights Council and are not UN staff – warned…
Sudan crisis: UN agency launches $1.6 billion appeal to support refugees in seven countries
The 2026 Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) aims to deliver lifesaving assistance this year to 5.9 million people across seven neighbouring countries: the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya, South Sudan and Uganda. The plan will continue to prioritize aid for roughly 470,000 new refugees who are expected to cross…
