Gaza explosion

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) report that the ongoing offensive on Gaza City has further intensified this Friday, increasing the damage to civilians and the facilities on which they depend to survive. Earlier that day, Israeli forces attacked a high-rise building that they say was used to execute attacks against them. Initial information collected by OCHA indicates that tents sheltering displaced people were damaged nearby. We are also concerned by the announcement that more high-rise buildings will be attacked soon.


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Papua New Guinea: 50 years of uninterrupted democracy - UN Chief's Presser | United Nations

United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres, concluded his 4-day visit to Papua New Guinea on 5 September 2025 with a final press conference alongside the Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Hon. James Marape. ------------------------------------ Before his departure from Papua New Guinea, the Secretary-General appealed once again for climate justice and emphasized the need for international financial systems reforms, so that developing countries can have a stronger voice. Speaking to reporters in Port Moresby, Guterres noted that with more than 800 languages, and very remote parts of the country with enormous challenges, Papua New Guinea is a country with 50 years of uninterrupted democracy. He said, “In a world where we see democratic values being put into question by countries with much less problems than Papua New Guinea, I must say that we should all be grateful for this remarkable example.” On climate justice, the UN chief called on the international community to “accept that there must be climate justice and that countries like Papua New Guinea must have all the support that was promised, in order to be able to address the needs of adaptation to build resilience and to protect its people and its country against the devastating impact of climate change.” He also reiterated the “absolutely” needed reforms of the international financial systems in order for developing countries like Papua New Guinea to have a much stronger voice and a much stronger influence in the way decisions are taken. Guterres said, “Papua New Guinea has enormous challenges, but because it is a middle-income country, it has no access to concessional funding.” “This is an injustice that must be corrected,” the Secretary-General continued, “My appeal to the international community is to correspond to the generosity of Papua New Guinea and its contribution to fight climate change with its wonderful forests and its ocean.”


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Nothing keeps me awake, everything keeps me going –Peter Hawkins| UN ‘Awake at Night’ podcast teaser

@unitednations ▶ https://youtu.be/-eC4uq2HNdU Nothing keeps me awake, everything keeps me going – Peter Hawkins | UN ‘Awake at Night’ podcast teaser ----- Every day, Peter Hawkins wakes up filled with determination to make a difference. As the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Yemen, he puts that boundless energy into helping young people survive one of the world’s most intractable humanitarian crises. “Despite serving in some of the most challenging and difficult places, I've been lucky,” he says. “I've loved my life. I have no regrets. Every day I wake up, I feel there's something I can do. There's things I enjoy. So nothing keeps me awake, everything keeps me going during the day.” After a decade of conflict and collapse, a new generation of Yemenis are yearning for a better tomorrow: “So the children sit there in these classrooms with no walls, no floors, no desks, and learn, and they're proud about what they learn. And they come to me and say, ‘Look, don't worry, we will continue to learn. But if you can give us desks, if you can fill up the walls and you can give us a floor and a blackboard, it will be even better.’” In this episode, Peter Hawkins reflects on the striking resilience of the people he serves, and shares how his upbringing in Ethiopia and service in Iraq taught him to never give up working for change. For him, the biggest challenge today is not so much about raising awareness, but about action. “It is so important to understand how one side of the world is so lucky and the other side of the world is still desperately poor, and how we bring those two together.”


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UN Secretary-General visits the forests of Papua New Guinea

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Nothing keeps me awake, everything keeps me going, with Peter Hawkins | UNICEF Yemen |Awake at Night

Every day, Peter Hawkins wakes up filled with determination to make a difference. As the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Yemen, he puts that boundless energy into helping young people survive one of the world’s most intractable humanitarian crises. “Despite serving in some of the most challenging and difficult places, I've been lucky,” he says. “I've loved my life. I have no regrets. Every day I wake up, I feel there's something I can do. There's things I enjoy. So nothing keeps me awake, everything keeps me going during the day.” After a decade of conflict and collapse, a new generation of Yemenis are yearning for a better tomorrow: “So the children sit there in these classrooms with no walls, no floors, no desks, and learn, and they're proud about what they learn. And they come to me and say, ‘Look, don't worry, we will continue to learn. But if you can give us desks, if you can fill up the walls and you can give us a floor and a blackboard, it will be even better.’” In this episode, Peter Hawkins reflects on the striking resilience of the people he serves, and shares how his upbringing in Ethiopia and service in Iraq taught him to never give up working for change. For him, the biggest challenge today is not so much about raising awareness, but about action. “It is so important to understand how one side of the world is so lucky and the other side of the world is still desperately poor, and how we bring those two together.” [00:00] Introduction [01:41] Impact of war on children [04:20] Reflections on resilience and decades of turmoil [06:07] The magic of Sana’a [08:42] Children’s determination to learn [12:39] The impact of reduced funding [15:18] Focusing on women and mothers [18:17] What keeps Peter going [19:54] Roots in Ethiopia [23:52] Raising awareness then and now [25:53] His parents’ influence [27:44] Why multilateralism still matters [29:54] A child’s unique identity [31:04] Memories from Mosul, Iraq [35:35] Life beyond work and hope for future generations [38:19] Closing remarks Listen to more Awake at Night episodes: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoDFQJEq_0b6hu1e8oxsch9W0D7vkNqt #podcast #unitednations #awakeatnight #UNICEF #Yemen About Awake at Night Hosted by Melissa Fleming, UN Under-Secretary-General for Global Communications, the podcast ‘Awake at Night’ is an in-depth interview series focusing on remarkable United Nations staff members who dedicate their career to helping people in parts of the world where they have the hardest lives – from war zones and displacement camps to areas hit by disasters and the devastation of climate change.


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Papua New Guinea: Forging a nation from diversity- UN Chief Briefing | United Nations

António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, deliver remarks at a meeting of the Parliament of Papua New Guinea. --------------------------------- The Secretary-General addressed the Papua New Guinea parliament during a special session to mark the country's 50th anniversary of independence. He told members of Parliament that for the past half century, the people of New Guinea have worked to have a single nation out of many traditions, many islands and many tongues. The country has undertaken the daunting task of forging a single nation from a profound diversity. It is a path that demands courage and vision, the Secretary general said, adding that the United Nations is proud to accompany Papua New Guinea on every step. On Climate, the Secretary-General commended Papua New Guinea’s bold climate action, highlighting that the island nation is home to seven percent of the world’s biodiversity, and some of the largest coral reefs and rainforests on the planet. Guterres reiterated, “We must be ever vigilant in safeguarding these crucial ecosystems, and you have made the case that national protection deserves global support. You have emphasized that climate change is a driver of poverty, and been a strong moral voice for climate finance.” The Secretary-General stressed that while climate finance is vital –– it is not sufficient on its own. Many developing countries are drowning in unsustainable debt, victims of inequalities built into the system. He said, “Today’s international financial architecture is unequal and unjust. We will keep pushing for meaningful reform to ensure the fair representation of developing countries; to take real action on debt relief; to triple the lending capacity of multilateral development banks; and to mobilize private capital at scale.” Guterres also emphasized Papua New Guinea’s vital step of speaking openly, of making commitments, and of forming the Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment. “Across politics, culture, and every sector, we must keep working to widen the doors of opportunity for women and girls in Papua New Guinea and in the world at large,” the UN chief stressed. He added, “Ensuring greater voice and representation of women is not only a matter of justice — it is a matter of national strength. Families thrive. Communities grow stronger. And institutions become more responsive when we uphold the rights of all.” The Secretary-General also met with the leaders of the Autonomous Bougainville government and met with Papua New Guinea's women leaders today.


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Sen. Roger Marshall says unless you're a homosexual man you don't have to worry about monkeypox

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First-ever UN Secretary-General to visit Papua New Guinea | United Nations

Arriving in Port Moresby this Tuesday, António Guterres said he was honoured to be the first UN Secretary-General to visit Papua New Guinea and to join in celebrating fifty years of the country’s independence. For the past five decades, he said, Papua New Guineans have taken on a profound task: to weave their breathtaking diversity into one people and one country that leaves no one behind. Papua New Guinea has long led the charge for climate justice, he said.  And as we approach the UN Climate Conference in Brazil later this fall, he added, the world must move faster to keep the 1.5 degrees limit alive and also to produce a credible path to achieve the $1.3 trillion dollar objective decided in Baku during the last Climate Conference.


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South Korea - Security Council President for September Programme of Work - Presser | United Nations

Briefing by Ambassador Sangjin Kim, Chargé d’affaires of the Republic of Korea to the United Nations and President of the Security Council for the month of September on the Council’s program of work for the month.


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China, Papua New Guinea, Yemen & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (02 September 2025)

Noon Briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General. Highlights: China Papua New Guinea Yemen Afghanistan Occupied Palestinian Territory Sudan Nigeria Myanmar New Resident Coordinators/Sudan and Bosnia and Herzegovina ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CHINA Over the long weekend, the Secretary-General was in Tianjin, in China, where he was invited to take part in the Shanghai Cooperation leaders’ summit. Speaking during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Plus session yesterday, the Secretary-General said that as we are moving towards a multipolar world, we need principled leadership to strengthen multilateralism, uphold the rule of law, and deliver for people – as reflected in the Pact for the Future. He added that the Shanghai Cooperation Organization is uniquely positioned to help shape a more peaceful, inclusive, and sustainable future. Turning to the situation in Ukraine, the Secretary-General told the leaders of the Summit it is past time for a ceasefire leading to a just, comprehensive and sustainable peace – in line with the UN Charter, international law, and relevant UN resolutions.  The Secretary-General also reiterated his call for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza; an immediate and unconditional release of all hostages; and unimpeded, safe and sustained humanitarian access. While there, the Secretary-General had several bilateral meetings, including with the President of China, the Secretary-General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the Prime Minister of Cambodia and the President of Iran. PAPUA NEW GUINEA The Secretary-General has now arrived in Papua New Guinea. Earlier today, he met the country’s Governor General, Bob Bofeng Dadae, as well as the Prime Minister, James Marape. Later in the day, during a press conference with the Prime Minister, the Secretary-General said he was honoured to be the first UN Secretary-General to visit Papua New Guinea and to join in celebrating fifty years of the country’s independence. For the past five decades, he said, Papua New Guineans have taken on a profound task: to weave their breathtaking diversity into one people, and one country that leaves no one behind. Papua New Guinea has long led the charge for climate justice, he said.  And as the UN Climate Conference in Brazil approaches, he added, the world must move faster to keep the 1.5 degrees limit alive and also to produce a credible path to achieve the $1.3 trillion dollar objective decided in Baku during the last Climate Conference. Tomorrow, the Secretary-General will address a special session of the Parliament to mark the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence. YEMEN In a statement issued over the weekend on Yemen, the Secretary-General strongly condemned the arbitrary detentions of UN personnel by the Houthi de-facto authorities in Yemen. He further condemned the forced entry into the premises of the World Food Programme (WFP), the seizure of UN property, and attempts to enter other UN premises in Sana’a. The total number of UN detained staff in this moment, after this latest action now stands at least at 18. This is in addition to the 23 colleagues already arbitrarily detained, some since 2021. You will recall that one of our colleagues died while being held by the Houthis and that took placein February of this year. The Secretary-General strongly reiterates his demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all those who have been detained, including all other personnel from the UN, international organizations, NGOs, civil society and diplomatic missions. UN personnel and from UN partners must never be targeted, they must never be arrested, and they must never be detained while carrying out their duties on behalf of the United Nations. Meanwhile, the UN Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, justconcluded a visit to Muscat, in Oman, where he met with senior Omani officials, as well as Ansar Allah chief negotiator Mohammed Abdelsalam, and representatives of the diplomatic community. In these meetings, Mr. Grundberg reiterated his strong condemnation of these detentions, stressingthat these detentions, as well as the forced entry into UN premises and taken of UN property by Ansar Allah, seriously endangers our ability to operate in Yemen and deliver much-needed assistance to the people of Yemen. He also emphasized that these actions put all UN staff and operations at risk and underscored the fundamental obligation to respect and protect the safety of our colleagues. Mr. Grundberg also expressed his deep concern over the continuous cycle of hostilities between Ansar Allah and Israel and its repercussions inside Yemen and for the wider region. Full Highlight: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=02%20September%202025


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Papua New Guinea: First UN Chief's visit - Press Conference | United Nations

Remarks to the press by Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres alongside Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, James Marape following a bilateral meeting. -------------------------- On Tuesday, 2 September, the UN Secretary-General arrived in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. At the invitation of Prime Minister James Marape, the Secretary-General takes part in events to mark the 50th anniversary of the Papua New Guinea’s independence. On Wednesday, 3 September, the Secretary-General is scheduled to deliver an address to the Parliament, during which he will highlight how in just 50 years, in a land of over 800 languages and countless traditions, the people of Papua New Guinea have undertaken the task of forging a nation from profound diversity, with a shared commitment to speak with one voice for peace, for dignity, and for progress. He will also emphasize that this is his first trip to the Pacific since the landmark advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – in which the region played a central role. You will recall that the opinion affirms that addressing the climate crisis is a legal obligation under international law. This will be the first visit to Papua New Guinea ever by a sitting UN Secretary-General.


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