Beginning of Ramadan 2026 - UN Chief Message | United Nations

Secretary-General’s video message on the occasion of the beginning of Ramadan. ---------------- For Muslims around the world, the holy month of Ramadan is a sacred period of reflection and prayer. Ramadan also represents a noble vision of hope and peace. But for too many members of the human family, this vision remains distant. From Afghanistan to Yemen, from Gaza to Sudan and beyond, people are suffering the horrors of conflict, hunger, displacement, discrimination and more. In these difficult and divided times, let us heed Ramadan’s enduring message. To bridge divides. To deliver help and hope to those who are suffering. And to safeguard the rights and dignity of every person. Every year, I pay a special solidarity visit to a Muslim community and join in the fast. And every year I come away heartened by Ramadan’s spirit of peace and compassion. May this Holy Month inspire us to work as one to build a more peaceful, generous and just world for all people. Ramadan Kareem.


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Why peace begins with people, not power, with Bintou Keita | UN ‘Awake at Night’ podcast teaser

Bintou Keita knows instinctively that some moments call for a more human response than words alone can offer. Once, at a ceremony to mark the end of the devastating Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone, she found herself hesitating to deliver her pre-prepared statement to a grief-stricken crowd. “I have my statement, but I can't deliver [it] because there's something else I have to do before. And in that moment, what came to me was humming, so I did it. And at that moment, the tears - my own, the tears in the audience - came out. These people were grieving, were still mourning.” Bintou Keita has retired after 36 years with the UN, most recently the Secretary-General’s Special Representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and head of the peacekeeping mission there. In this episode, she reflects on times when peacekeepers saved thousands of lives, on hopes for a people reeling from decades of violence, and shares why she learned to never say never again. Listen to more Awake at Night episodes: https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwoDFQJEq_0b6hu1e8oxsch9W0D7vkNqt #podcast #UnitedNations #AwakeAtNight #Peacekeeping 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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Jill Zarin, “The Real Housewives of New York City,” has been fired from the E! reunion series

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New study on political violence against lawmakers - Press Conference | United Nations

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), the global organization of parliaments, will present the findings of a major new study on political violence against lawmakers by the public, both online and off. Presented by IPU Secretary General Martin Chungong with IPU Human Rights Manager Mr. Rogier Huizenga. Moderated by the Permanent Observer of the IPU at the UN Paddy Torsney. Drawing on a survey of hundreds of parliamentarians worldwide, and in-depth case studies in Argentina, Benin, Italy, Malaysia and the Netherlands, the research reveals what kind of intimidation legislators face, where and against whom it occurs, and how hostility from the public harms not only the elected representatives themselves but democracy a whole. The report will be discussed at the 2026 Parliamentary Hearing at the United Nations on Thursday, 12 February 2026 - Friday, 13 February 2026 in co-hosted by the President of the General Assembly. ----- 71 percent of lawmakers globally report having experienced violence from the public, “whether online or offline or both,” according to a new report on political violence against parliamentarians issued by the Inter-Parliamentary Union. Martin Chungong, Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union speaking at United Nations Headquarters in New York outlined findings from the report entitled When the Public Turns Hostile: Political Violence Against Parliamentarians, which examines rising intimidation and harassment of elected representatives by members of the public. He said, “violence is heavily concentrated online, with between 65 and 70 percent of MPs in the five countries reporting online abuse.” The report draws on a survey of hundreds of parliamentarians and five in-depth country case studies in Argentina, Benin, Italy, Malaysia, and the Netherlands. “The most common forms of public intimidation reported by the Members of Parliament are insults and degrading language, the spread of false or misleading information, and threats,” Chungong said. “Most respondents believe that the situation is deteriorating. In Argentina and the Netherlands, eight out of ten MPs, up to 80 percent, reported an increase in violence over the past five years.” He added, “Online violence is frequently triggered by elections, high-profile legislative debates or polarizing political or cultural issues.” According to the findings, “Women are more affected than men. 76 percent of women MPs across the case studies presented in this report reported exposure to violence, compared to 68 percent of men.” Referring to the United States, Chungong said, “When we look at the situation in the United States, which then are revealing, we see that the phenomenon is very acute, where we are seeing more attacks against politicians and even their families.” He cited an arson attack targeting Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, an assault on the husband of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and a recent physical attack on Congresswoman Ilhan Omar during a town hall event. Chungong warned, “This phenomenon has the potential to impact negatively on democracy.” He said increasing public hostility has “serious consequences, not only for the safety and well-being of the individual lawmakers, but also for the functioning of Parliament and the quality of democratic debate.” “Many lawmakers we surveyed report that they are self-censoring online, being more careful about what they say in public,” he added. The IPU, headquartered in Geneva, is convening its annual Parliamentary Hearing this week at UN Headquarters in New York, co-organized with the Office of the President of the General Assembly. The meeting is expected to bring together around 250 participants, including approximately 150 Members of Parliament from around the world.


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Plankton – Invisible Climate Guardians | United Nations

Anthéa Bourhis, an AI and plankton imaging analyst, collects plankton from the depths of the Mediterranean Sea and brings the samples back to the Villefranche Oceanography Lab (LOV) for storage and imaging. Plankton sustain life on Earth: phytoplankton have produced more than half the oxygen we breathe, and zooplankton form the foundation of the marine food chain. Climate change threatens this fragile world, making research on plankton more important than ever. Today, February 11 marks the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.


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British woman K*lled by her own father in Texas after heated Trump argument turns deadly.

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South Sudan: Sharp escalation of violence - Under-UN Chief | United Nations

UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix stated, “The trends we are currently observing are clear: the presence of UNMISS continues to matter a lot.” Addressing the Security Council about South Sudan, Lacroix said, “Political deadlock among the main signatories to the Revitalized Peace Agreement continues to drive heightened tensions, manifesting in armed confrontations in many parts of the country. In recent weeks, we have witnessed a sharp escalation of violence, particularly in Jonglei, with clashes between Government and opposition forces. Both sides claim to be acting in self-defense, while at the same time preparing for the possibility of large-scale hostilities.” He continued, “The reports of aerial bombardments, inflammatory rhetoric, mass displacements and severe restrictions on humanitarian access observed in Jonglei are of great concern. Communities that remember all too well the violence of 2013 and 2016 are again on the move – over 280.000 people displaced from fighting in Jonglei alone as per government sources.” He highlighted, “South Sudan remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for humanitarian workers. In 2025, 350 attacks on humanitarian staff and facilities were recorded, up from 255 the previous year. Despite government assurances, partners report persistent access constraints, particularly to opposition-held areas. These constraints are unfolding amid the country’s worst cholera outbreak, with over 98,000 reported cases since the outbreak began in September 2024.” He said, “Amid these rising needs, the cost reduction measures have already resulted in significant operational capacity constraints to deliver fully on mandated tasks. For example, protection patrols have been reduced by up to 40 per cent where Force deployment is decreasing and by up to 70 per cent in areas where bases have closed. Long-duration ground patrols have dropped from three or four per month to one or two. Around 40 human rights monitoring missions have been cancelled. Areas where bases have closed are seeing increased tensions and clashes.” He stressed, “Today, the situation in Akobo shows the difficult balance we face. Although the base is scheduled for closure by March under the reduction plan, escalating fighting in Jonglei required the Mission to send reinforcements instead.” He concluded, “The trends we are currently observing are clear: the presence of UNMISS continues to matter a lot. It matters to the people that we protect, it matters to our humanitarian partners that we assist, and it matters to the peace process that we actively support and engage in.”


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Arab Group on Middle East - Media Stakeout | United Nations

Informal comments to the media by the Arab Group on the situation in the Middle East.


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AI for Good: How the UN Is Using Artificial Intelligence

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming our world by providing unique opportunities for advancement, while at the same time presenting new challenges for humankind. Across United Nations system, AI is helping to improve efficiency and advance the Sustainable Development Goals by: ➡️ Anticipating food insecurity before crises emerge ➡️ Enabling faster, more effective humanitarian responses ➡️ Protecting our oceans ➡️ Creating opportunities for fairer work


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#Gaza: Maternal and newborn health

The health situation of women and children in the Gaza Strip continues to deteriorate amid the ongoing collapse of the healthcare system and the worsening mass displacement. The UN Population Fund (UNFPA) is supporting maternal and newborn health services and providing essential supplies.


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UN Peacekeeping Police Strengthen Election Security Worldwide - Briefing | United Nations

“United Nations Police advisers and mentors are critical to the planning of public order management during electoral cycles,” UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations said. Addressing the Security Council about the police components of UN peace operations, Lacroix said, “United Nations Police play a crucial role in supporting political processes, strengthening host-State police and other law enforcement institutions, and helping increase trust between communities and the host State.” Also addressing the Council, UN Police Adviser Faisal Shahkar, said, “Mis and disinformation campaigns have increasingly targeted our missions, complicating our engagement with communities and eroding trust with host State institutions. In response, the United Nations Police has expanded its community outreach mechanisms, enhanced cooperation with mission strategic communications teams, and strengthened local dialogue platforms to reinforce confidence in our presence.” Police Commissioner of United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Mamouna Ouédraogo said, “Protection of civilians remains central to our mandate. Through daily engagement with communities, traditional leaders, civil society, and police counterparts, UNPOL contributes to enhancing early warning, preventing violence, and strengthening community trust in security institutions. Special emphasis is placed on displacement-affected areas, where insecurity exposes civilians, especially women and children.” Police Commissioner with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan Meinolf Schlotmann said, “The political and security environment remains volatile underscoring the importance of an agile, integrated Peacekeeping Mission with unrestricted freedom of movement under the Status of Forces Agreement. Within this context, UNPOL’s approach is to protect today, while helping build a police service that can protect tomorrow.”


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