In a landmark move towards ending statelessness, Thailand’s cabinet has approved an accelerated pathway to permanent residency and nationality for nearly half a million stateless people, marking one of the region’s most significant citizenship initiatives.
The decision announced on Friday will benefit 335,000 longtime residents and members of officially recognized minority ethnic groups, along with approximately 142,000 of their children born in Thailand.
‘Historic development’
“This is a historic development,” said Ms. Hai Kyung Jun, UN refugee agency (UNHCR) Bureau Director for Asia and the Pacific. The measure is expected to dramatically reduce statelessness, addressing the situation of the majority of nearly 600,000 people currently registered as stateless in the country.
Thailand’s commitment to eradicating statelessness has positioned the Government as a leader in addressing this humanitarian challenge, the agency said.
The country recently pledged at the Global Refugee Forum 2023 to resolve statelessness and was among the founding members of the Global Alliance to End Stateless, an initiative launched by UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, in Geneva last month.
The nation has also been actively involved in the Get Every One in the Picture campaign, from UN regional commission ESCAP, which promotes the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics Decade across Asia and the Pacific, due to end this year.
UNHCR has expressed its commitment to continue working closely with the Royal Thai Government on the implementation of this groundbreaking decision and to ending statelessness overall.
The missile, launched on 31 October at approximately 7:11am local time, reportedly flew for 1 hour and 26 minutes, covered approximately 1,000 kilometres, reaching an altitude of over 7,000 kilometres before landing in the sea.
“The DPRK described this latest launch as a ‘very crucial test’ that ‘updated the recent records of the strategic missile capability of the DPRK’,” Khaled Khiari, Assistant Secretary-General for Asia at the UN Department of Political Affairs, told ambassadors.
“The Hwasong-19 sets new records in terms of flight duration and altitude and is the second solid-fuel ICBM developed by the DPRK which does not need to undergo fuelling prior to launch. It is reported to be larger than its predecessor, the Hwasong-18, and may be capable of carrying larger warheads or even multiple warheads.”
This latest test marks the 11th intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch by DPRK – more commonly known as North Korea – since announcing a new five-year military expansion plan in 2021.
Diplomatic engagement vital
Mr. Khiari noted that the launch also posed “serious risks” to international civil aviation and maritime traffic, with the potential for unintended incidents, as North Korea had issued no safety alerts.
“The DPRK’s launch of yet another ICBM is of serious concern and represents a grave threat to regional stability,” he stated, noting that despite numerous meetings of the Security Council in 2023 and 2024, the country “has not heeded calls to refrain from further launches.”
Secretary-General António Guterres also condemned the missile launch, urging the country to de-escalate and comply with international resolutions. He stressed that diplomatic engagement remains the “only pathway to sustainable peace and the complete and verifiable denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.”
Uphold non-proliferation regime
Mr. Khiari also expressed concern about growing tensions on the Korean Peninsula, warning that DPRK’s “persistent pursuit” of nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes – in violation of Security Council resolutions – continues to undermine the global nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation regime.
“There is a crucial need for practical measures to reduce tensions and reverse this dangerous trajectory,” he said, urging Member States to foster an environment conducive to dialogue and cooperation.
Concluding his briefing, Mr. Khiari said that the UN and its partners stand ready to assist DPRK in addressing the basic needs of its people.
He urged the country to facilitate the full return of the UN Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team which leads the humanitarian effort.
Assistant Secretary-General Khiari briefing the Security Council.
Hold DPRK accountable: United States
US Ambassador and Alternate Permanent Representative Robert Wood described the missile launches by DPRK as a “direct violation” of multiple UN Security Council resolutions, with each launch allowing Pyongyang to further advance its weapons programmes.
“These are unacceptable attempts to undermine global peace and security and make us all less safe. This Council has the responsibility to hold the DPRK accountable,” he said.
“Yet we are here again today because two members of this Council – China and Russia – have repeatedly shielded the DPRK, contributing to the normalization of these tests and emboldening the DPRK to further violate this Council’s sanctions and resolutions.”
He alleged that “Russia’s willingness to openly violate this Council’s sanctions resolutions and to jeopardize international peace and security knows no bounds – as Russia, is unlawfully training DPRK soldiers in its territory.”
He claimed that DPRK has sent “around 10,000” soldiers to Russia, adding that these troops are not yet seen to have been deployed into combat against Ukraine’s forces, “but we expect them to do so in the coming days.”
“If these troops engage in combat or combat support operations against Ukraine, they would render themselves legitimate military targets,” he noted.
Japan: Missiles ‘more threatening than ever’
Japan’s Ambassador Yamazaki Kazuyuki “strongly urged” DPRK not to conduct further launches, to immediately and fully comply with all relevant Security Council resolutions, and to engage in diplomacy and accept the repeated offers of dialogue.
The most recent ICBM landed around only 200 kilometres from the Japanese island of Hokkaido, and was “more threatening than ever” due to its trajectory and flight time, he said.
“This launch has deteriorated the not only regional but entire global security situation even further, and has brought the gravest threat yet from North Korea to all citizens of the region and beyond,” he added.
Ambassador Yamazaki said increased military cooperation between Russia and North Korea poses a great concern to the international community.
He noted the lawlessness of Russia’s “procurement of ballistic missiles from North Korea, as well as the training of North Korean soldiers, both of which constitute serious violations of relevant Security Council resolutions.”
He added that DPRK’s “involvement in Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine would constitute a grave violation of international law, including the UN Charter.”
Republic of Korea: Missiles are a distraction
Joonkook Hwang, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea, recalled the Security Council meeting last week and the ignoring by Pyongyang of the “repeated calls” for restraint.
“North Korea launched another ICBM right after our meeting last Wednesday,” he said, adding: “its intention could be to distract the world’s attention from its troops in Russia, demonstrate themselves as larger than life, or gain diplomatic leverage amid the US presidential election.”
Questioning how could an “impoverished pariah regime” continue to develop its ballistic missile programme despite “rigorous” sanctions regime imposed by the Security Council, he emphasized the presence of “large loopholes” that enable DPRK’s access to the equipment, materials and technology necessary to advance its weapons of mass destruction (WMD) programmes.
He also warned of the challenges facing the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT).
“Once the NPT regime begins to erode and ultimately collapses, it will be extremely difficult to restore it,” he said, adding:
“The repercussion will have a deep and lasting impact on international peace and security, and Permanent Members of the Security Council will not be immune to it either.”
China: Prioritize peace and stability
China’s Ambassador Fu Cong said that the current situation on the Korean Peninsula “remains tense” with growing antagonism that is not in the interest of any party.
“China calls on all parties to bear in mind the overall peace and stability on the Peninsula and the world at large, exercise calm and restraint, and avoid intensifying and escalating tensions,” he said.
He noted that the longstanding issue of the Korea Peninsula is in essence a security issue, with its root cases stemming from the vestiges of the Cold War and lack of mutual trust between the US and DPRK.
“It is imperative for all parties to take a rational and pragmatic approach and work to build mutual trust,” Ambassador Fu said.
He added that the US, while claiming that it seeks to uphold the international non-proliferation regime and denuclearize the Peninsula, “has continued to increase the deployment of its strategic forces…and even transferred weapons-grade, highly enriched uranium to a non-nuclear weapon state under AUKUS nuclear submarine cooperation framework.”
“These moves are tantamount to pushing the threat to the doorstep of China and other countries in the region, seriously jeopardising regional security and upsetting the strategic security balance,” he said.
Russia: The west only seeks to demonize DPRK
Anna Evstigneeva, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of Russia said that the “collective West is methodically using” the Security Council to present Pyongyang as being responsible for the deteriorating situation on the Peninsula.
“We did not expect nor did we hear anything new from the group of countries that requested today’s meeting,” she said, adding that the “aim of convening the meeting is the same every time – to make yet another step towards demonizing the DPRK.”
She said that it would be “interesting” to hear from those that requested the meeting if even one of these meetings had any impact on resolving the Peninsula’s problems, of if they have even made one constructive proposal or launching dialogue.
“The answer is obvious to everyone in this Chamber.”
She added that the “real motives” of those that requested the meeting was for creating a negative information backdrop around Pyongyang and keeping afloat ineffective sanctions measures and justifying aggressive steps by the US and their allies in the region.
Song Kim, DPRK Ambassador and Permanent Representative, said that the missile test conducted on 31 October by his country, within the area around the Korean Peninsula, did not have “the slightest” impact on security of neighbouring countries.
He said the present meeting of the Security Council, convened at the request of the US, runs contrary to the spirit of the UN Charter of state sovereignty and non-interference in domestic affairs. It also sets the example of “extreme double standards”.
“I resolutely denounce the holding of another unlawful meeting by UN Security Council infringing upon the sovereign right of the DPRK at the instigation of the US and its followers,” he said.
“Like all strategic weapons tests we have conducted so far, the test launching of the ICBM Hwasong-19 is an exercise of the just and legitimate right to self-defence to reliably safeguard the security of our State as well as peace of the region involved against escalating reckless nuclear war threats of hostile forces,” he added.
Ambassador Kim further noted that “some countries” speak of violation of Security Council resolutions at every opportunity as a “cure-all prescription,” adding however that these resolutions are “nothing but illegal documents” going totally against the principle of the sovereign equality of the UN Charter.
After enduring 12 typhoons this year, including two back-to-back storms in less than a month, communities across the Philippines are bracing for more extreme weather.
Typhoons Kristine and Leon caused widespread damage in the Philippines, leaving thousands of families and children without access to safe water and sanitation facilities.
The 11th and 12th tropical cyclones to hit the country this year affected at least 4.2 million individuals – approximately 1.3 million of them children – and displaced over 300,000.
Worsening water and sanitation crisis
The recent typhoons have exacerbated pre-existing fragilities where access to safe water and sanitation services was already limited. In some communities, open defecation has been reported with facilities washed away, raising concerns about disease outbreaks.
“We can’t emphasise enough the importance of lifesaving supplies during and after an emergency,” said UNICEF Representative to the Philippines Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov.
“We are working with our partners to provide water, sanitation and hygiene supplies to affected families and children to ensure their access to critical measures against the spread of diseases,” she stressed.
Since October 31, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and partners have distributed 2,950 hygiene and water kits to families in the hardest-hit provinces of Camarines Sur and Albay in the Bicol Region.
An additional 350 kits will be delivered in the coming days through partnerships with Action Against Hunger and Plan International Pilipinas.
Education disrupted
The Department of Education estimates that at least 500 schools in the Bicol Region need urgent assistance, with the recent typhoons disrupting learning for 20 million children nationwide.
“UNICEF strongly urges that schools remain dedicated to education and not used as evacuation centres so that children continue to have a stable learning environment,” said UNICEF Philippines Education Chief, Akihiro Fushimi.
In collaboration with local education authorities, UNICEF is set to provide educational supplies to 14,594 learners and 765 teachers in 25 schools and five Community Development Centres.
“Ensuring that children’s learning is not disrupted is a priority for UNICEF,” Mr. Fushimi further emphasised, highlighting the importance of providing children with a sense of normalcy amid the chaos.
A season of uncertainty
The Philippines, already Southeast Asia’s most disaster-prone country, faces increasingly frequent and severe weather events due to climate change.
With storms Marce and Nika impacting many of the same regions last weekend and a new weather system forming that could become Tropical Storm Ofel, recovery efforts are under immense strain.
Despite these challenges, the government has ramped up its response, while UNICEF and its partners continue to support communities with critical resources and interventions.
UN Resident Coordinator in the Philippines Gustavo González recently explained in a blog on the growing risk posed by natural hazards for UN News: “As we see, the exposure to disasters and the vulnerability to climate change have compelled Filipinos to cultivate a unique sense of resilience. The ‘saving lives’ spirit is widely spread within local communities.”
“As Filipinos frequently say, ‘as long as there is life, there is hope,’” he added.
Terrorist fighters with ISIL/Da’esh invaded Iraq’s second city of Mosul in 2014, destroying centuries-old landmarks in a bid to erase its history and impose a bleak and repressive future on the nearly two million people who lived there.
Now, with UN support, Mosul has risen from the ashes of war and its historic monuments which had been reduced to rubble, dot the skyline once again.
The devastating nine-month-long battle to liberate the city from the terrorist group killed 10,000 civilians, leaving it in ruins.
In less than seven years, reconstruction has revitalised the city, with robust support from UN agencies and international partners, like Japan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the European Union.
UNESCO
The Al-Nouri Mosque in Mosul was severely damaged in 2017 during the occupation by ISIL.
International cooperation builds lasting legacy
The intensity of the fighting between the terrorists and Iraqi ground forces – supported by US-led coalition airstrikes – left many priceless buildings completely or partially destroyed, including the famous 12th century Al-Nouri Mosque.
UN agencies forged action plans with local authorities and international partners to rebuild the war-torn city.
Teams tackled the enormous challenges, from recycling rubble and removing unexploded bombs, to rebuilding classrooms and centuries-old landmarks while re-energising the Moslawi spirit.
The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) joined those efforts in 2018, with a budget of $115 million and 15 partners, including the UAE and the European Union.
The Revive the Spirit of Mosul project drafted plans to resurrect historic landmarks, classrooms and homes alongside the vibrant essence of a reborn city.
The Al-Nouri Mosque complex in Mosul is due to be rebuilt with support from UNESCO.
Blueprints amid the rubble
The rebuilding plans unfolded at a steady pace.
To document the dramatic transformation, young Iraqi filmmakers set out to track the recovery in a UNESCO-supported video series.
Its 48 episodes captured the human dimension of the city’s rejuvenation, telling the poignant stories of Moslawis alongside their hopes and dreams for their beloved city.
An UNMAS team in war-torn Mosul, Iraq, searches for and clears explosives in the rubble.
Safety comes first
When a conflict ends, unexploded remnants of war must be safely removed as they pose deadly threats long after the guns go silent.
First, safety was ensured for civilians returning to their neighbourhoods.
To address those dangers, a UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) team was deployed to search for and clear unexploded ordnance among the rubble.
Dealing with 8 million tonnes of debris
To deal with an estimated seven to eight million tonnes of debris created by the battle for Mosul, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) joined forces in 2021 with local authorities to establish the city’s first debris recycling centre.
“By processing the rubble to produce quality materials that can be used in reconstruction efforts, creating much needed job opportunities for returnees and cleaning-up the urban environment, this initiative practically illustrates how humanitarian needs and sustainable development goals can be addressed in a joint manner,” Dr. Jassim Humadi, Iraq’s Deputy Environment Minister, said at the time.
The local population welcomed the project.
“Young people in our village view debris recycling as a golden chance in terms of job creation, which additionally, by clearing the rubble, is allowing us to return and rebuild our homes,” added Mijbel Mar’i, a 24-year-old day labourer.
Workers repair part of the Al-Nouri Mosque in Mosul.
‘Watching my city come back to life’
“When I saw the minaret rise again, it was like watching my city come back to life,” said Omar, a young architect.
He was among several local experts that helped meticulously piece together its fragments.
Over 45,000 original bricks have been recovered from Al-Nouri Mosque and Al-Hadba Minaret and cleaned and catalogued for the reconstruction of the latter.
UN agencies also led projects to rebuild education institutions and other civilian infrastructure damaged or destroyed.
The newly rehabilitated Central Library at Mosul University, Iraq’s second-largest university that serves more than 50,000 students, was officially reopened in 2022 by the UN Development Programme (UNDP).
But, reviving Mosul goes beyond bricks and mortar.
UNICEF/Jennifer Sparks
Girls at a primary school in west Mosul, Iraq. (file)
By 2021, damaged or levelled schools were being rebuilt, and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) supported psychosocial training activities for teachers, including at Al Huda Primary School in west Mosul.
UNESCO trained over 5,000 educators and parents in preventing violent extremism, supporting more than 120,000 students.
Moslawis are now free to enjoy their culture and passions, from music to sports, like the Mosul Girls Football Club, founded in 2021 by the Sustainable Peace Foundation with UN migration agency (IOM) support.
In helping to revive the “spirit” of Mosul, UNESCO has demonstrated that culture can play an essential role in post-conflict reconstruction and the promotion of peace.
One of the most enduring mysteries in United Nations history – the 1961 plane crash that killed Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld and all on board as he sought to broker peace in the Congo – will linger on, with a new assessment announced on Friday suggesting that “specific and crucial” information continues to be withheld by a handful of Member States.
Mr. Hammarskjöld served as Secretary-General from April 1953 until his death aged 56, when the chartered Douglas DC6 aircraft he was travelling in with others, registered as SE-BDY, crashed shortly after midnight on 17-18 September 1961, near Ndola, then in Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia).
He was en route to negotiate a ceasefire between UN peacekeepers and separatists from the breakaway Congolese region of Katanga, and possibly even a peace agreement encompassing the whole of newly independent Congo.
Fourteen of the 15 passengers died on impact, and the sole survivor succumbed to their injuries a few days later.
An initial inquiry by Rhodesian authorities reportedly attributed the crash to pilot error but the finding was disputed.
Eyewitness accounts suggested several scenarios, that “more than one aircraft” – possibly a jet – was observed in the air, “SE-BDY was on fire before it crashed”, and/or “SE-BDY was fired upon or otherwise actively engaged” by another aircraft.
General Assembly action
Over the years, the UN General Assembly has mandated a series of inquiries into the death of Mr. Hammarskjöld and those of his party. The most recent, in December 2022, was led by Mohamed Chande Othman, former Chief Justice of Tanzania, with the formal title of “Eminent Person”.
Mr. Othman also led several previous investigations into the fateful crash and the events surrounding it.
On the first day of his second term, Secretary-General Hammarskjöld (back of car, at right) leaves UN Headquarters on the way to the luncheon at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in his honour, hosted by New York City Mayor Robert Wagner.
Significant new information
According to the UN’s Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq, “significant new information” has been submitted to the inquiry for this latest update.
This included probable intercepts by Member States of communications related to the crash, the capacity of Katanga’s armed forces, or others, to mount an attack on SE-BDY and the involvement of foreign paramilitary or intelligence personnel in the area at the time.
It also included additional new information relevant to the context and surrounding events of 1961.
“At this juncture, [Mr. Othman] assesses it to remain plausible that an external attack or threat was a cause of the crash. [He] notes that the alternative hypotheses that appear to remain available are that the crash resulted from sabotage or unintentional human error,” Mr. Haq said.
Documents almost certainly withheld
However, Mr. Othman assesses so far that it is “almost certain” specific, crucial and so far undisclosed information exists in the archives of Member States, Mr. Haq said.
He noted that Mr. Othman has not received, to date, specific responses to his queries from some Member States believed to be holding useful information.
“The Secretary-General has personally followed up on [Mr. Othman’s] outstanding requests for information and calls upon Member States to release any relevant records in their possession,” Mr. Haq added.
“With significant progress having been made, the Secretary-General calls on all of us to renew our resolve and commitment to pursue the full truth of what happened on that fateful night in 1961.”
UN Photo/Yutaka Nagata
View of the field at Ndola, Zambia, where the plane carrying Mr. Hammarskjöld and his party crashed the night of 17-18 September, 1961; the site is marked by a cairn.
‘An extraordinary man’
Appointed at just 47 years old, Dag Hammarskjöld of Sweden remains the youngest UN Secretary-General.
Widely regarded as a visionary diplomat and reformer, Mr. Hammarskjöld is credited with strengthening the role of the newly established UN during a period of intense global tensions, including the drive to decolonise Africa and Asia.
“Hammarskjöld was not usually a companionable man, but he was certainly an extraordinary one, and we were all prepared – indeed anxious – to serve him without question to the limit of our powers and endurance,” Sir Brian Urquhart, a former senior UN official, remarked.
His leadership was pivotal during the tumultuous events of 1956. He led a ceasefire mission to the Middle East and continued through the Suez crisis, where he helped negotiate the withdrawal of foreign forces from Egypt and oversaw the deployment of the Organization’s first emergency peacekeeping mission, the UN Emergency Force.
Mr. Hammarskjöld was known for his integrity and dedication to public service, earning the Nobel Peace Prize “for developing the UN into an effective and constructive international organization capable of giving life to the principles and aims expressed in the UN Charter”.
He is the only Nobel Peace Prize Laureate to have been awarded the distinction posthumously.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres reiterated in a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday that his country’s on-going invasion of Ukraine violates the United Nations Charter and international law.
Their meeting took place on Thursday, in Kazan, Russia, the venue for the 16th BRICS Summit.
In a post on social media platform X, Mr. Guterres wrote on Friday that during the meeting, he had emphasized to President Putin the illegality of the Russian invasion.
“I reiterated the points I made in the Summit session,” Mr. Guterres said.
The BRICS group was founded by Brazil, Russia, India and China in 2006 – with South Africa joining in 2010 – and has since expanded to a bloc of nations which collectively represents nearly half of the world’s population.
Addressing the Summit on Thursday, the Secretary-General highlighted the need for peace in Ukraine, “a just peace in line with the UN Charter, international law and General Assembly resolutions.”
He also emphasized the importance of upholding everywhere the values of the UN Charter, the rule of law, and the principles of sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of States.
In his meeting with Mr. Putin, Secretary-General Guterres also expressed his strong support for the establishment of an agreement for safe navigation in the Black Sea, which an essential avenue for global food security.
“The Secretary-General expressed his belief that establishing freedom of navigation in the Black Sea is of paramount importance for Ukraine, the Russian Federation and for the world’s food and energy security,” according to a readout of the meeting issued by the Mr. Guterres’ spokesperson.
“He fully supports the continuation of negotiations in this regard and expresses his deep appreciation for the work being done by Türkiye,” the readout added.
Transport of agricultural goods, in particular grain from Ukraine and other ports on the Black Sea, as well as fertilizers have been severely affected since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, jeopardizing food security and skyrocketing prices globally.
Brokered by the UN and Türkiye in July 2022, the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the subsequent parallel accord between UN and Russia were crucial in restoring trade in the vital commodities.
At a news briefing in New York on Friday, a UN spokesperson addressed questions about Secretary-General António Guterres’ meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite an active International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant against the Russian leader.
UN Deputy Spokesperson, Farhan Haq, said that any engagement between UN officials and individuals under indictment is based strictly on operational necessity.
“There are very clear operational issues that we have to deal with,” Mr. Haq explained, referring to the readout from the meeting and noted concerns about the war in Ukraine and safe navigation in the Black Sea.
“These are all reasons for having a meeting such as this, again, under strict conditions in terms of dealing with operational matters, while you have to deal with indicted personnel.”
A record number of oral statements are expected to be presented to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) as highly awaited public hearings on States’ legal obligations with respect to climate change got underway on Monday.
The hearings are part of the process towards the court issuing an advisory opinion, which will clarify States’ legal obligations under international law and the consequences for breaching them.
They are scheduled to take place from 2 December until 13 December in the Hague, Netherlands.
Here are five things you need to know about the historic proceedings:
1.What are the hearings about?
The hearings broadly concern the obligations of States with respect to climate change and the legal consequences of these obligations. They are significant because they represent the international community’s efforts to come up with a legal framework for addressing climate change.
More simply put, the court is being asked to provide clarity on international law with respect to climate change. The legal advice it provides may in turn influence any multilateral processes involving climate action.
The two central questions asked of the court are as follows:
1.What are the obligations of States under international law to ensure the protection of the climate system and other parts of the environment from anthropogenic [human caused] emissions of greenhouse gases for States and for present and future generations;
2.What are the legal consequences under these obligations for States where they, by their acts and omissions, have caused significant harm to the climate system and other parts of the environment, with respect to:
a. States, including, in particular, small island developing States, which due to their geographical circumstances and level of development, are injured or specifically affected by, or are particularly vulnerable to, the adverse effects of climate change?
b. Peoples and individuals of the present and future generations affected by the adverse effects of climate change?
Children in a Pacific Island stand in an area heavily affected by sea level rise and coastal erosion.
2.How did this case come to the ICJ?
In September 2021, the Pacific island of Vanuatu announced its intention to seek an advisory opinion from the ICJ on climate change. It explained that this initiative, which had been pushed for by the youth group Pacific Island Students Fighting Climate Change, was necessitated by its vulnerability and that of other small island developing States to climate change and the need for increased action to address the global climate crisis.
Vanuatu then lobbied other countries to support this initiative and formed the core group of UN Member States to take the initiative forward in the General Assembly.
The discussions within the core group led to the development of resolution A/RES/77/276, which was eventually adopted by the General Assembly on 29 March 2023. A total of 132 countries co-sponsored the resolution.
The request was transmitted to the court by the UN Secretary-General in a letter dated 12 April 2023.
3.Who is authorised to request advisory opinions and what happens next?
Advisory proceedings are only open to five organs of the United Nations and 16 specialised agencies of the UN. While the UN General Assembly and Security Council may request advisory opinions on “any legal question”, the other UN organs and specialised agencies can only do so with respect to “legal questions arising within the scope of their activities”. The majority of advisory opinions have been requested by the UN General Assembly.
As a rule, organizations and States authorised to participate in the proceedings submit written statements, followed by written comments on the other statements submitted if the court considers it necessary.
The court will decide whether to hold oral proceedings, after which the advisory opinion is delivered following a sitting of the court.
4.Why is this case so significant?
This case is the largest ever seen by the world court, with 91 written statements filed with the court’s registry alongside 62 written comments on these statements submitted by the court’s extended deadline of 15 August 2024.
A similar record number of 97 States and eleven international organizations are scheduled to participate in the oral proceedings. These hearings are a chance for countries and organizations to elaborate on their written statements and testify directly.
The proceedings have particular importance for the small island developing States which initially pushed for the opinion. Significantly, they are taking place just one week after developing nations criticised a deal at COP29 to provide $300 billion a year in climate finance by 2035, calling the agreement “insulting” and arguing it did not give them the vital resources they require to truly address the complexities of the climate crisis.
“We are literally sinking,” one representative said following COP29, pointing out the agreement highlighted “what a very different boat our vulnerable countries are in, compared to the developed countries”.
With small island developing States already facing some of the worst impacts of climate change, these hearings are vital to establish a stronger framework of accountability that sets clear international legal obligations for climate action.
UN Photo
The towers and gables of the Peace Palace, home of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.
5.What effect can an advisory opinion have?
Unlike judgments in contentious cases, the court’s advisory opinions are not binding. They clarify legal questions. The requesting organ, agency or organization – the General Assembly in this particular case – remains free to decide, as it sees fit, what effect to give to these opinions.
However, while not binding, advisory opinions have “an authoritative value and cannot be neglected”, according to the ICJ Registrar in a recent interview with UN News. They carry great moral authority by what is considered the world’s highest court and the principal judicial body of the UN.
This opinion on climate change can help inform subsequent judicial proceedings such as domestic cases, influence the diplomatic process and will likely be cited in thousands of climate-driven lawsuits around the world, including those where small island States are seeking compensation from developed nations for historic climate damage, according to one media source.
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has stated that such an opinion will help the General Assembly, the United Nations and Member States to “take the bolder and stronger climate action that our world so desperately needs”.
“It could also guide the actions and conduct of States in their relations with each other, as well as towards their own citizens. This is essential,” he emphasised.
The Albanese government is progressing work to implement a total ban on the use of adverse genetic test results in life insurance underwriting.
Consultation is now open on the legislative design and technical details including the definition of a genetic test, enforcement of the ban, and implementation.
Genetic research is constantly evolving. The consultation is to ensure this legislation captures the intent of the Government’s decision and does not have unintended consequences.
The Government’s decision to introduce a total ban is world leading and work is underway to legislate the ban as soon as practicable. Delivering this reform requires consideration of technical details of the legislation, which aren’t easily adapted from other jurisdictional laws.
Where countries have adopted some form of ban on life insurers using genetic tests, they have defined ‘genetic test’ for the purposes of their own regime, which vary in complexity and specificity.
The Albanese government is committed to providing Australians with the confidence to undergo potentially life‑saving genetic testing without fear of it affecting their life insurance.
The Government encourages all interested parties to make a submission. The consultation paper can be found on the Treasury website.
The government will release exposure draft legislation ahead of introduction to Parliament.
Although far away from home, Chinese tourist Ye Manning and her family could still feel the familiar Spring Festival vibes on their trip to Japan, as they came across red street banners and shopping window decorations there in tribute to the traditional Chinese holiday.
Attracted by the convenient visa application process and convenient transportation services to this neighboring country, the family traveled to Japanese cities including Tokyo and Osaka, and enjoyed local cuisine, scenic spots and pop culture during the Spring Festival holiday, which ran from Jan. 28 to Feb. 4 this year.
Noting the presence of Spring Festival elements in Japan, Ye was quoted in an article by China Youth Daily as saying: “These details not only arouse a sense of belonging for Chinese tourists away from home during the holiday, but also mirror how far the Spring Festival culture has spread around the world.”
Like Ye, post-1990 generation youth Zhang Yu also chose to spend the Spring Festival outside China, traveling to the resort island of Phuket in Thailand with his family. As a delightful surprise during this trip, another international tourist hailing from Europe greeted Zhang and wished him a “Happy Spring Festival.”
“At that time, I felt this holiday also being celebrated in a foreign country, and that really touched my heart,” said Zhang.
Against the backdrop of China’s inbound travel boom during the holiday, which saw a proliferation of “China Travel” content shared by international tourists on social media platforms, many Chinese people opted for outbound trips to overseas destinations in pursuit of diversified, cross-cultural experiences for the traditional holiday.
According to China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA), during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday, border inspection authorities across the country handled over 14 million entries and exits by domestic and international travelers, up 6.3 percent year on year. Among these, about 7.7 million entry-exit trips were made by Chinese mainland residents, up 5 percent year on year.
According to Chinese online travel platform Qunar, Chinese tourists visited more than 2,100 overseas cities during the Spring Festival holiday this year, a surge of 50 percent compared with 2024.
Data from another online travel platform, Trip.com, showed that Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore were among the most popular outbound destinations for Chinese travelers during the 2025 Spring Festival holiday.
In particular, Japan stood out among short-distance overseas travel destinations as total tourism orders for trips to Japan had doubled compared to last year’s figure during the holiday season. As for long-haul travel, the most sought-after destinations such as the United States, Spain, Italy and France saw an increase of 53 percent, 82 percent, 56 percent and 50 percent in tourism orders, respectively, according to Trip.com.
“With the recovery of the global tourism market, Chinese tourists continue to expand the radius of their trips during the Spring Festival,” said the China Youth Daily article. “From tropical Southeast Asian islands to ancient European towns and bustling North American cities, Chinese travelers can be found everywhere.”
This year’s Spring Festival, which marked the start of the Year of Snake, was the first since its inscription on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. With the Chinese New Year becoming a festival celebrated worldwide, nearly 20 countries have designated the Spring Festival as an official holiday, while Spring Festival customs are celebrated in almost 200 countries and regions across the globe.
Attributable to Otago Coastal Area Commander, Inspector Marty Gray:
The man being sought by Police in Clutha for firearms offending has been located deceased.
Police, including specialist squads supporting local staff, have been at a rural property overnight working to resolve the matter safely.
The incident began about 9am on Tuesday, when Police began working to locate a person of interest in relation to alleged firearms offending in the Clutha area.
This morning, Police made entry to the house around 10:15am and the man was located by officers inside, deceased.
His death will be referred to the Coroner and Police will assist the Coroner with those inquiries.
The man’s family are being supported at this very difficult time.
While this is not the outcome Police would have hoped for, I want to thank the frontline staff and specialist teams for their hard work in responding diligently to this very lengthy incident.
This week, France hosted an AI Action Summit in Paris to discuss burning questions around artificial intelligence (AI), such as how people can trust AI technologies and how the world can govern them.
Sixty countries, including France, China, India, Japan, Australia and Canada, signed a declaration for “inclusive and sustainable” AI. The United Kingdom and United States notably refused to sign, with the UK saying the statement failed to address global governance and national security adequately, and US Vice President JD Vance criticising Europe’s “excessive regulation” of AI.
Last week, I attended the inaugural AI safety conference held by the International Association for Safe & Ethical AI, also in Paris, where I heard talks by AI luminaries Geoffrey Hinton, Yoshua Bengio, Anca Dragan, Margaret Mitchell, Max Tegmark, Kate Crawford, Joseph Stiglitz and Stuart Russell.
As I listened, I realised the disregard for AI safety concerns among governments and the public rests on a handful of comforting myths about AI that are no longer true – if they ever were.
1: Artificial general intelligence isn’t just science fiction
The most severe concerns about AI – that it could pose a threat to human existence – typically involve so-called artificial general intelligence (AGI). In theory, AGI will be far more advanced than current systems.
AGI systems will be able to learn, evolve and modify their own capabilities. They will be able to undertake tasks beyond those for which they were originally designed, and eventually surpass human intelligence.
AGI does not exist yet, and it is not certain it will ever be developed. Critics often dismiss AGI as something that belongs only in science fiction movies. As a result, the most critical risks are not taken seriously by some and are seen as fanciful by others.
However, many experts believe we are close to achieving AGI. Developers have suggested that, for the first time, they know what technical tasks are required to achieve the goal.
AGI will not stay solely in sci-fi forever. It will eventually be with us, and likely sooner than we think.
2: We already need to worry about current AI technologies
However, current AI technologies are already causing significant harm to humans and society. This includes through obvious mechanisms such as fatal road and aviation crashes, warfare, cyber incidents, and even encouraging suicide.
According to MIT’s AI Incident Tracker, the harms caused by current AI technologies are on the rise. There is a critical need to manage current AI technologies as well as those that might appear in future.
3: Contemporary AI technologies are ‘smarter’ than we think
A third myth is that current AI technologies are not actually that clever and hence are easy to control. This myth is most often seen when discussing the large language models (LLMs) behind chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini.
There is plenty of debate about exactly how to define intelligence and whether AI technologies truly are intelligent, but for practical purposes these are distracting side issues.
It is enough that AI systems behave in unexpected ways and create unforeseen risks.
Several AI chatbots appear to display surprising behaviours, such as attempts at ‘scheming’ to ensure their own preservation. Apollo Research
For example, existing AI technologies have been found to engage in behaviours that most people would not expect from non-intelligent entities. These include deceit, collusion, hacking, and even acting to ensure their own preservation.
Whether these behaviours are evidence of intelligence is a moot point. The behaviours may cause harm to humans either way.
What matters is that we have the controls in place to prevent harmful behaviour. The idea that “AI is dumb” isn’t helping anyone.
Last year the European Union’s AI Act, representing the world’s first AI law, was widely praised. It built on already established AI safety principles to provide guidance around AI safety and risk.
While regulation is crucial, it is not all that’s required to ensure AI is safe and beneficial. Regulation is only part of a complex network of controls required to keep AI safe.
These controls will also include codes of practice, standards, research, education and training, performance measurement and evaluation, procedures, security and privacy controls, incident reporting and learning systems, and more. The EU AI act is a step in the right direction, but a huge amount of work is still required to develop the appropriate mechanisms required to ensure it works.
5: It’s not just about the AI
The fifth and perhaps most entrenched myth centres around the idea that AI technologies themselves create risk.
AI technologies form one component of a broader “sociotechnical” system. There are many other essential components: humans, other technologies, data, artefacts, organisations, procedures and so on.
Safety depends on the behaviour of all these components and their interactions. This “systems thinking” philosophy demands a different approach to AI safety.
Instead of controlling the behaviour of individual components of the system, we need to manage interactions and emergent properties.
With AI agents on the rise – AI systems with more autonomy and the ability to carry out more tasks – the interactions between different AI technologies will become increasingly important.
At present, there has been little work examining these interactions and the risks that could arise in the broader sociotechnical system in which AI technologies are deployed. AI safety controls are required for all interactions within the system, not just the AI technologies themselves.
AI safety is arguably one of the most important challenges our societies face. To get anywhere in addressing it, we will need a shared understanding of what the risks really are.
Paul Salmon receives funding from the Australian Research Council.
Migrants who have been deported from the Dominican Republic to Haiti – the two Caribbean nations that share the island of Hispaniola – have been talking to the UN about the challenges of returning to a crisis-ridden country they barely know.
Mireille
Pregnant and exhausted and clutching a small bag with all that was left of her belongings, Mireille* stood under the relentless Haitian sun, not sure what to do next.
She had just been deported from the Dominican Republic, a country she had called home since she was eight years old.
Over the years she has seen Haiti, the land of her birth, overcome by gang violence as well as humanitarian, political and economic crises.
Mireille gazes through the protective bars at the GARR facility, reflecting on her journey back to Haiti.
“I was deported to a country I never lived in,” she said, filled with a mix of anger and despair.
The Dominican Republic had been her home for nearly three decades. It was where she built her life, forged relationships and created memories. But overnight, she became an outsider, stripped of her dignity and forced to return to a country she didn’t know.
Mireille’s ordeal began in the early hours of the morning, five days before she crossed the border into Haiti when she was taken to a crowded and uncomfortable detention center, where she stayed for several days before being transported to the border.
A deportation truck arrives at the Belladère border crossing between the Dominican Republic and Haiti.
“I arrived in Haiti feeling scared and unsure of what to do,” Mireille said. “I barely know this country, and I’m struggling to figure out where to start. It’s disorienting and difficult.”
Guerson and Roselène
Guerson and Roselène* had spent over a decade in the Dominican Republic, building their lives in Loma de Cabrera, not far from the border with Haiti.
Guerson worked as a mechanic at a small garage fixing cars, motorbikes, and agricultural equipment. His hands, often smeared with grease, were a source of pride. “People trusted me with their vehicles,” he said. “It was hard work, but I could provide for my family.”
Roselène, meanwhile, managed their modest home. She prepared meals and supplemented the family income by selling patés and fried plantains to neighbours.
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A simple life
Their daily life was simple but stable. Their son Kenson attended a local preschool, and Roselène spoke of her pride seeing him learn to write his name.
Then the Dominican authorities arrived. “My children didn’t understand,” said Guerson. “Kenson asked if we were going on a trip. I didn’t know how to answer him.”
The family was herded onto a truck “I held my baby so tightly. I was afraid we wouldn’t survive the journey,” Guerson recalled.
Crossing the border into Haiti felt like stepping into chaos.
The town of Ouanaminthe, already struggling with a sharp increase in deportations, lacked the capacity to respond to the growing crisis.
Families stood on dusty roads, clutching bags and children, unsure of where to go.
“We stood there for hours, lost,” Roselène said. “The children were hungry. I didn’t know how to comfort them because I had nothing left to give.”
Crisis country
Mireille, Guerson and Roselène are just three of the more than 200,000 Haitians who were forcibly repatriated to their homeland in 2024, some 97 per cent of them from the Dominican Republic.
Nearly 15,000 people were returned from across the border in the first two weeks of January alone.
Guerson (left) and Roselène are beginning a new life in Haiti.
Armed groups now control large parts of the country, including key roads in and out of the capital, Port-au-Prince.
The years of violence have displaced over 700,000 people, forcing families into precarious shelters including abandoned schools and churches. In these places, access to food, water and healthcare is limited, leaving many extremely vulnerable.
Nearly 5.5 million people, half of Haiti’s population, require humanitarian aid to survive.
Safety net across the border
Fortunately, when migrants cross over the border into Haiti, they are not alone.
The UN’s International Organization for Migration (IOM) works with the Support Group for the Repatriated and Refugees (Groupe d’Appui aux Rapatriés et Réfugiés, GARR) to ensure the returnees have access to a range of services to meet their immediate needs, including psychosocial support, health referrals, for example pre-natal care, and the distribution of basic items such as clothing, hygiene products, and toiletries.
Temporary accommodation is also available for the most vulnerable, so they can rest and take stock before moving forward with their lives.
IOM staff prepare to assist deported Haitians as they re-enter their home country.
For unaccompanied children, family reunifications are organised and in cases of gender-based violence, survivors are provided with specialised care.
IOM also works with the Office National de la Migration (ONM), Haiti’s government agency for migration.
ONM leads the registration process, ensuring that each individual is accounted for and works with IOM to assess vulnerabilities and provide individual assistance.
The future remains unclear for many returnees in a country where the vast majority of people struggle to get by on a daily basis.
Guerson and Roselène remain somewhat hopeful that they will return to the Dominican Republic someday. “In the meantime, I will find a way to work,” Guerson said softly, his words conveying uncertainty. “I do this for my children.”
*Names have been changed for their safety
Fact box:
The work of IOM as well as GARR and ONM is supported by international donors, including the European Union’s Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
UN independent human rights expertshave called forurgent international intervention in Myanmar as civilian deaths hit 6,000 since the military junta seized power in February 2021 following a coup, leading to mass civilian resistance and international condemnation.
“There are now 6,000 reminders that the international community is failing the people of Myanmar,” the Human Rights Council-appointed experts stated in a news release on Monday. “It is time for a change, starting with moving this disaster out of the shadows of international attention”.
‘Course correction’ needed
The experts called for an urgent “course correction” in the international response, emphasising that while targeted action has proven effective – with sanctions reducing the junta’s weapons procurement by one-third – current measures “remain grossly inadequate and lack the coordination and strategic targeting necessary to deliver the support the people of Myanmar need and deserve”.
They urged increased assistance for civil society organisations documenting abuses and delivering humanitarian aid.
“Governments and donors also need to significantly step up assistance to civil society organisations documenting human rights abuses, protecting civilian populations and delivery life-saving humanitarian aid”.
The experts revealed recent evidence demonstrates that coordinated international pressure can yield results.
“We know that international action makes a difference. We have documented it has reduced the junta’s access to weapons that its uses to attack civilians,” the experts said, following the publication of UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews’ ‘Billion Dollar Death Trade’ report.
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Brutal and inhumane violence
Since seizing power “thousands of lives have been cut short in indiscriminate attacks by the military, which often targets civilian homes and infrastructure”.
“Many victims have been tortured to death. Others have been subjected to acts tantamount to enforced disappearance before execution. Beheadings, dismemberment and the disfiguration of bodies are shockingly common,” the experts said.
According to credible reports, nearly 2,000 individuals have died in military custody, with 365 victims executed by headshots and 215 burned alive. The experts detailed how “unlawful killings by junta forces are common and characterised by their brutality and inhumanity”.
The military’s campaign of suppression extends beyond killings. Over 21,000 people have been arrested since the February 2021 coup remain in detention, with many held incommunicado. The experts expressed alarm at the widespread use of arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance to silence opposition.
“Many are held incommunicado and in many instances with their families and lawyers having no information on their fates or whereabouts,” they reported.
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Spurious election plan
The experts have strongly condemned the junta’s planned elections. “You cannot hold an election when you deposed a democratically elected Government in an unconstitutional coup and continue to arbitrary arrest, detain, disappear, torture and execute opposition leaders, nor when it is illegal for journalists to report the truth,” they stated.
“It is time for a change, starting with moving this disaster out of the shadows of international attention. It would be unconscionable to allow thousands more innocent lives to be lost when options for effective action by the international community remain on the table” they concluded.
Special Rapporteurs and other independent human rights experts work on a voluntary basis, are not UN staff and receive no salary for their work.
UN agencies are intensifying their response in Vanuatu after a 7.3 magnitude earthquake killed 12 people and injured over 200 earlier this week, with a second 6.1 magnitude tremor on Sunday further exacerbating the challenges for affected communities.
A state of emergency remains in effect across the island nation, and a seven-day dusk-to-dawn curfew in parts of Port Vila was scheduled to end on 24 December. Access road to the seaport is also reportedly blocked.
The second earthquake heightened concerns, with further updates on its impact, including on the reopening of Port Vila airport to commercial flights, still awaited.
Humanitarian needs
As of Saturday night (local time), over 80,000 people have been affected by Tuesday’s earthquake, with nearly 1,700 individuals temporarily displaced. Eleven evacuation centres are sheltering more than 1,200 people, while others are staying with host households.
Immediate needs include access to clean water, food and healthcare, as communities face rising risks of waterborne diseases.
Vanuatu earthquake Impact in Shefa province (as of 21 December 2024).
Coordinated response
In response to the escalating crisis, a humanitarian flight coordinated by the UN World Food Programme (WFP)’s Pacific Humanitarian Air Service (PHAS) landed in Port Vila on Saturday, delivering surge teams from UN agencies, huamnitarian partners and relief supplies.
Agencies including the World Health Organization (WHO), the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) are working alongside national authorities to support the response.
UNFPA has set up maternity tents at VCH, while UNICEF has established four tents to manage patient overflow and deployed child protection teams to support families and healthcare workers.
UNICEF also delivered bladder water tanks to VCH to ensure continued access to clean water.
WFP has deployed emergency telecommunications specialists to restore disrupted communication networks crucial for coordinating relief efforts. It is also working with the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and partners to assess food security needs.
Additionally, the UN Satellite Centre (UNOSAT) is conducting satellite-based damage assessments to guide resource allocation and prioritize affected areas.
Humanitarian partners, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), are also providing on-the-ground assistance alongside national response teams.
Timely response crucial
Alpha Bah, Director for WFP Pacific Multi-Country Office, based in Fiji, underscored the need for timely response for affected families.
“We are saddened by the loss of lives and destruction to property caused by this earthquake. This concerted effort is crucial to ensure that people affected by the earthquake receive timely and essential assistance,” he said.
“WFP is dedicated to supporting the NDMO and other national institutions, and we will continue to step up our efforts to bolster Vanuatu’s response in the face of this crisis.”
On Boxing Day – 26 December 2004, a 9.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Indonesia, unleashing a massive tsunami that swept across the Indian Ocean.
Waves as high as 51 meters (167 feet) inundated communities in Aceh, Indonesia, with flooding extending up to five kilometres (three miles) inland.
Thedevastationspread across Thailand, Sri Lanka, Maldives and India, with tsunami waves travelling at speeds of 800 kilometres per hour (500 miles per hour). The impacts extended to Somalia and Tanzania, and waves reached as far afield as Mexico, Chile and even the Arctic.
In addition to the lives lost, more than 1.7 million people were displaced, and the economic toll reached an estimated $10 billion. Children bore a particularly heavy toll, with thousands killed or orphaned.
A wake-up call for humanity
Philémon Yang, President of the UN General Assembly, described the tsunami as “the first global disaster of the 21st century and one of the most devastating in recent history.”
He urged nations to reaffirm their resolve to protect future generations and integrate disaster preparedness and resilience into sustainable development strategies.
“It really showed us how such low-frequency, high-impact hazards, can have impacts that will ripple across the entire global system and across multiple geographies,” he said.
Progress through global collaboration
The tragedy also catalysed unprecedented global collaboration.
“Following the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, it was evident that transboundary problems require solutions that reach across borders,” emphasised Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
In the two decades since the tragedy, working together the international community has made significant strides in disaster preparedness.
In 2005, nations convened under the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO (IOC-UNESCO) to establish the Indian Ocean Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (IOTWMS). Today, 27 national tsunami warning centers can issue alerts within minutes of seismic events.
Compared to just 25 per cent in 2004, over 75 per cent of coastal communities in high-risk areas now have access to tsunami early warning information, according to the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).
ESCAP Video | Trust Fund for Tsunami, Disaster and Climate Preparedness
Climate change amplifying risks
However, challenges have also grown more complex.
Climate change is amplifying the frequency and severity of water-related disasters, often cascading with and compounding geophysical events like earthquakes and volcanoes.
ESCAP estimates that 68 million people in 43 Asian and Pacific countries, along with $2.3 trillion in infrastructure along coasts, remain at significant risk. In the Indian Ocean basin alone, over 2,600 educational facilities, 1,200 ports, and 140 power plants are vulnerable.
We must do more
Mr. Kishore underscored the need for sustained awareness and preparation.
“We have to continue to keep the awareness of Tsunami risk high,” he said.
“It is crucial that we do not forget the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, and continue to do everything we can to protect ourselves, our children and our future generations from the impact of future tsunamis.”
Indian Ocean tsunami: Survivors recall the fateful day
More than 100 children under the age of five die every day in East Asia and the Pacific due to air pollution, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned in a new analysis released on Thursday, calling for urgent action to tackle the crisis.
The analysis underscores the devastating impact of toxic air on young lives, with air pollution now linked to nearly one in four deaths of under fives in the region.
Exposure begins in the womb, increasing risks of premature birth and low birth weight, and continues throughout childhood, impairing lung development, reducing cognitive function, and contributing to chronic diseases such as asthma and cardiovascular conditions.
“Every breath matters but for too many children every breath can bring harm,” said June Kunugi, UNICEF Regional Director for East Asia and the Pacific.
“The air they breathe, at a time when their bodies and minds are still developing, too often contains unhealthy levels of pollution that can comprise their growth, harm their lungs, and impair their cognitive development.”
Every child at risk
The report reveals that all 500 million children in the region live in countries with unhealthy air.
Over 325 million children are exposed to annual fine particulate matter (PM2.5) levels exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines by five times or more, while 373 million live in areas with dangerous levels of nitrogen dioxide, a gas emitted by vehicles and industrial processes.
Nearly half of PM2.5 pollution in the worst-affected countries comes from the burning of fossil fuels, biomass, and agricultural waste – also major contributors to climate change.
As extreme weather events worsen due to climate change, air pollution is expected to become an even greater threat, UNICEF warned.
Impacts beyond health
The impacts of the air pollution crisis go beyond health.
High pollution levels force school closures, disrupt learning, and increase medical expenses, straining already overwhelmed healthcare systems.
The World Bank estimates that in 2019, the economic cost of air pollution from PM2.5 in East Asia and the Pacific amounted to $2.5 trillion, or 9.3 percent of the region’s gross domestic product (GDP).
Students at a primary school in Bangkok wear masks during their morning lineup as air pollution levels soar.
Urgent call for action
In response to the “silent killer,” UNICEF called on governments, businesses, healthcare professionals, parents, and educators to take immediate steps to reduce air pollution and protect children’s health.
Governments must enforce stronger environmental policies, transition to clean energy sources, and implement air quality standards aligned with WHO guidelines, alongside, businesses should adopt cleaner technologies, reduce emissions, and ensure their practices prioritize child safety.
Parents and educators also have a crucial role in raising awareness, advocating for cleaner environments, and empowering young people to take action, UNICEF highlighted.
Solutions exist
Furthermore, UNICEF is collaborating with governments, businesses, and communities on multiple initiatives to reduce children’s exposure to air pollution.
These include pushing for stronger environmental regulations, improving air quality monitoring by installing affordable sensors and implementing programmes to reduce household air pollution, such as cleaner cooking stoves and better ventilation.
The agency is also working to strengthen healthcare systems to better diagnose and treat pollution-related illnesses and is supporting young people to become clean air advocates, raising awareness, and pushing for stronger policies.
“Addressing air pollution will lead to enormous improvements in children’s health, education, and well-being, with ripple effects across entire societies and economies,” Ms. Kunugi underscored.
“Solutions exist, and our collective future depends on implementing them.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday confirmed anoutbreak of Sudan virus disease in Uganda, which is part of the Ebola virus family.
Health authorities in Kampala confirmed that one patient has died – a nurse who had sought treatment at various other medical facilities after developing fever-like symptoms.
In response to the outbreak of the often deadly and infectious haemorrhagic fever which is transmitted through contact with bodily fluids and tissue, WHO is mobilising efforts to support national health authorities in swiftly containing and ending the outbreak.
Senior public health experts and staff from WHO’s country office are being deployed to support key outbreak response measures.
Additionally, WHO has allocated $1 million from its Contingency Fund for Emergencies to accelerate early action. Medical supplies, including personal protective equipment, are being readied for delivery from WHO’s Emergency Response Hub in Nairobi.
Race to develop a vaccine
Although there are no licensed vaccines for Sudan virus disease, WHO is coordinating with developers to deploy candidate vaccines once all necessary approvals are obtained.
Regarding the deceased man, no other health workers or patients have shown symptoms, said WHO.
A total of 45 contacts, including health workers and family members are under close monitoring. The identification of the case in a densely populated urban area necessitates a rapid and intense response, the agency stressed.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, welcomed the prompt outbreak declaration saying the agency was supporting the Government and partners “to scale up measures to quickly identify cases, isolate and provide care, curb the spread of the virus, and protect the population.
“Uganda’s robust expertise in responding to public health emergencies will be crucial in ending this outbreak effectively.”
There have been eight previous outbreaks of Sudan Ebola Virus Disease, with five in Uganda and three in Sudan. Uganda last reported an outbreak in 2022.
UN rights chief launches $500 million global appeal
The UN human rights chief on Thursday launched a $500 million funding appeal for 2025 to address a multitude of crises threatening to reverse decades of progress.
The appeal aims to support critical human rights efforts, including rights mainstreaming, advisory services and technical cooperation, alongside field offices of the UN human rights office, OHCHR.
It will also boost special trust funds, such as those supporting victims of torture, Indigenous Peoples, or those impacted by slavery.
Launching the appeal in Geneva, UN rights chief Volker Türk, reiterated the importance of these efforts: “During conflicts and in peacetime; in developing countries and advanced economies; from historic grievances to emerging risks – my Office is holding the line for humanity.
Low cost, high impact
“Human rights are a low-cost, high-impact investment to mobilize people for peace, security, and sustainable development; and to build social cohesion based on the contributions of every individual,” he added.
The appeal is in addition to the OHCHR’s regular budget of $238.5 million as part of UN’s overall budget that was approved in late December 2024. That amount is not sufficient to cover all of its mandated work and the requests for assistance it receives.
Mr. Türk underscored the need to ensure OHCHR has sufficient resources to carry out its vital work.
“I am very concerned that if we do not reach our funding targets in 2025, people who should otherwise be free, may remain in prison,” he said.
“Women and girls may lose out on opportunities, ignored by the world. Violations and abuses may go undocumented, leading to a lack of accountability and increased impunity. And human rights defenders may lose the little protection they have,” he warned.
Independent rights experts urge Thailand to end lèse-majesté prosecutions
A group of independent UN human rights experts condemned Thailand’s continued use of lèse-majesté laws to imprison activists and human rights defenders, calling for the repeal or significant revision of the country’s criminal code.
In a news release on Thursday, the experts – who are mandated and appointed by the Geneva-based Human Rights Council – warned that Article 112 of Thailand’s Criminal Code, which punishes criticism of the monarchy with up to 15 years in prison, violates international human rights standards.
Free speech rules
“Under international law, individuals have the right to criticise public officials, including a King, and to advocate peacefully for the reform of any public institution, including the monarchy,” the experts said.
They described the law as “harsh and vague”, highlighting that it grants excessive discretion to authorities and courts, leading to widespread misuse.
Since 2020, more than 270 people have been prosecuted under Article 112, many receiving lengthy consecutive sentences.
“Lèse-majesté laws have no place in a democratic country,” the experts said, warning that their use stifles political expression and silences activists, journalists, and opposition members.
They urged the Thai Government to amend the country’s criminal code to align with international human rights laws and called for an immediate moratorium on prosecutions and imprisonments under lèse-majesté laws.
Sakina Sani was married off when she was 12 years old amid conflict and food shortages in northern Nigeria. She became pregnant at 15 but miscarried and then had two children in rapid succession.
“I will never allow my daughter to go through what happened to me,” she told UNFPA, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency.
What happens when conflict displaces tens of thousands of people in hotspots like Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Ukraine, and women die every day in childbirth or pregnancy?
UNFPA is there, equipping displacement camps and medical personnel with lifesaving supplies.
When an earthquake tumbles whole city blocks, it puts contraceptives onto emergency relief convoys alongside kits for delivering babies and medicines to stop internal bleeding.
When a cyclone slashes through remote island communities, the agency sends contraceptives just as it sends sterile medical equipment, including condoms, oral and injectable contraceptives, contraceptives implants and intrauterine devices (IUDs).
Why? Because contraceptives are part of lifesaving humanitarian care.
This may be counterintuitive to some, but it is a settled fact in the eyes of medical science, humanitarian responders and women themselves.
Even outside emergency settings, having access to modern, safe contraceptives empowers women to make their own decisions about their fertility, which in turn reduces unintended pregnancies and unsafe abortions, improves health outcomes and lowers the risk of maternal and child mortality.
In short, family planning saves millions of lives. Here are some of the reasons why:
Even in the best circumstances, alarming proportions of women are unable to say no to sex, roughly one quarter of women, according to the most recent data.
In a humanitarian crisis, women experience about twice the rates of gender-based violence as well as the heightened risk of rape as a weapon of war and tool of genocide and the increased risk of intimate partner violence. All of this elevates their vulnerability to an unintended pregnancy.
While contraception is sometimes criticised – incorrectly – as a new medication, one that is unnatural or poorly understood, the truth is that they have existed for millennia. Condoms, for example, have been used for centuries.
When it comes to modern forms of contraception, they are among the most prescribed and well-studied medications in existence. Contraceptives have been investigated not just by pharmacologists and medical researchers, but also by healthcare economists, epidemiologists and policymakers, and the findings are conclusive: by preventing unintended pregnancy, contraceptives prevent women from dying.
How? Every pregnancy carries a risk, and pregnancies in crisis settings, where health systems are in tatters and medical care scarce, are particularly dangerous.
Lifesaving aid because babies don’t wait
What happens when a woman is ready to give birth after a hurricane or in a war zone?
In the crisis-addled DRC, a breakdown in healthcare infrastructure has led maternal mortality rates to soar, with three women dying every hour from pregnancy or childbirth complications.
“Many women in northwest Syria lose their lives while being transferred between hospitals in the absence of essential supplies for critical conditions,” Dr. Ikram Haboush, in Idlib, said.
Unintended pregnancies are also directly correlated with higher maternal mortality rates.
“That is why every public health programme designed to reduce the number of maternal deaths incorporates contraception as one of the pillars of action,” according to the experts who wrote UNFPA’s flagship annual publication, the State of the World’s Population Report, Seeing the unseen: The case of action in the neglected crisis of unintended pregnancy.
By preventing unintended pregnancy, contraceptives also reduce the incidence of maternal injuries and illness, stillbirth and neonatal death.
In 2023, UNFPA’s dedicated supplies partnership procured $136 million worth of contraceptives, which is estimated to have prevented nearly 10 million unintended pregnancies and over 200,000 maternal and newborn deaths. It is estimated these contraceptives also prevented nearly three million unsafe abortions.
Two community workers provide information about contraceptives in Bihar, India.
Preventing fatal illness, chronic ailments
Contraceptives like male and female condoms additionally save lives by decreasing the chances of contracting sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV.
Even a treatable STI can be life-threatening in settings with limited access to medical care, as is the case for women and girls in Haiti, for example, where widespread and relentless sexual violence has led to rising rates of unintended pregnancy as well as STIs, while the health system has all but collapsed.
Only around three per cent of survivors in Haiti report receiving post-rape treatment within 72 hours of being assaulted. This treatment includes emergency contraception to prevent pregnancy and post-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV transmission.
Contraceptives also treat ailments unrelated to sexual activity that are debilitating in even stable and secure circumstances like polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, dysmenorrhea and extremely heavy bleeding.
For women like Omaira Opikuko from Venezuela, there is no question that long-term contraception after her sixth delivery was lifesaving.
She suffered both haemorrhaging and a prolapsed uterus during her last labour.
“I was on the brink of death,” she said.
UN News/Daniel Dickinson
Two Thai peer educator high school students describe a range of available condoms.
Cost-effective humanitarian interventions
Family planning is cost effective.
In 2023, more than 50 countries that received UNFPA contraceptive supplies made collective savings of over $700 million through reduced healthcare costs for pregnancy, delivery and post-abortion care.
Numerous studies have shown that family planning is a critical investment for society, not only by averting unintended pregnancy and the maternal health problems that accompany it, but also by increasing education and employment gains among women.
In humanitarian settings, contraceptives are all the more critical, helping women and families survive and stabilise and leaving them better prepared to recover.
No one knows this better than survivors of humanitarian crises themselves
“There is a lot of demand for family planning services,” one emergency responder said in the immediate aftermath of a deadly cyclone.
Amid the world’s growing precarity, rising catastrophes and increasing displacements, these services are a light in the dark for women and girls around the world.
As Ms. Opikuko in Venezuela said, “I don’t want to be scared anymore.”
Nations around the world which are seeking practical solutions to peace and security, humanitarian and development issues are marking 30 years of collaboration with a specialized UN agency.
Despite immense security risks and logistical challenges, the agency worked with international partners to transport and eliminate hundreds of tonnes of chemical materials under strict deadlines. This mission drew praise from global leaders, illustrating how a UN body with the right expertise can help neutralize threats to international peace and security.
The devastating 2004 tsunami left Indonesian provinces Aceh and Nias in ruins. Amid overwhelming damage, UNOPS constructed 225 earthquake-resistant schools in the region, providing children with secure, modern learning environments. By combining engineering expertise, local labor, and a rapid implementation timeline, education was revitalized for communities that had lost so much.
UNOPS commitment to helping protect the environment was also highlighted through its work on the Montreal Protocol, the international treaty that led to the healing of the ozone layer. By providing technical guidance and project support, UNOPS helped countries transition to safer alternatives for nearly 100 chemicals that harm the ozone layer.
A newly installed tap in Mirtala Village, India provides a clean water supply
Bridging the gap between ambition and action
In any country coming out of conflict, rebuilding essential infrastructure can make the biggest difference. UNOPS remains committed to supporting countries in conflict – building on its recent work in Ukraine, Syria and Gaza, which has been practically reduced to rubble. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is still in its early stages, but UNOPS stands ready to support a coordinated UN reconstruction response.
From its beginnings as a small department to its evolution into a driving force for concrete action, the UNOPS journey is a testament to the power of resilience, innovation, and partnership. As global challenges multiply, the agency’s role in bridging the gap between humanitarian, developmental and environmental needs is an example of what the UN can achieve through determination, expertise, and a global commitment to improving lives worldwide.
Today, the office is committed to bridging the gap between ambitions and tangible action, building foundations for countries to recover and thrive, from constructing schools and hospitals, building roads that connect communities in remote areas, and strengthening health systems.
In 2025, as it marks its 30th anniversary, UNOPS is planning for the future, to ensure that it provides solutions where needs are greatest, with a focus on serving some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.
UN agencies on Tuesday offered a dire assessment of the global impact of deep cuts to grassroots humanitarian funding by the incoming US administration and reiterated calls for Washington to retain its position as a global aid leader.
The development follows the pause announced to billions of dollars of funding on 24 January by the US administration affecting “nearly all US foreign aid programmes, pending a 90-day review”, said Pio Smith from the UN’s sexual reproductive health agency, UNFPA, briefing journalists in Geneva.
‘Unwavering commitment’ to serve people in need
In a letter to all UN personnel released on Tuesday morning in New York, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he had responded to the executive order from US President Donald Trump with a call to “ensure the delivery of critical development and humanitarian activities”.
Mr. Guterres said the organization will remain actively engaged in assessing and mitigating the impact of the order.
“Now, more than ever, the work of the United Nations is crucial…Together, we will ensure that our organization continues to serve people in need around the world with unwavering commitment.”
Deadly consequences
Mr. Smith said that in response to the executive order, UNFPA “has suspended services funded by US grants that provide a lifeline for women and girls in crises, including in South Asia”.
The UNFPA Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific warned that between 2025 and 2028 in Afghanistan, the absence of US support will likely result in 1,200 additional maternal deaths and 109,000 additional unintended pregnancies.
Mr. Smith said the agency was seeking “more clarity” from the administration “as to why our programmes are being impacted, particularly those which we would hope would be exempt” on humanitarian grounds.
Meanwhile, the UN aid coordination agency OCHA, said that there have been no “layoffs or closing down access” in response to the executive orders.
Spokesperson Jens Laerke added that the agency’s country offices were “in close contact” with local US embassies to better understand how the situation will unfold.
He explained that the US Government funded around 47 per cent of the global humanitarian appeal across the world last year; “that gives you an indication of how much it matters when we are in the situation we are in right now, with the messaging we’re getting from the Government”.
The move follows the announcement that the new US administration has placed the country’s principal overseas development agency, USAID, under the authority of the Secretary of State.
Staff from the agency have been locked out of their offices, while the head of the newly-formed Department of Government Efficiency has accused USAID of criminal activity and a lack of accountability.
“Public name-calling won’t save any lives,” said OCHA’s Mr. Laerke, while Alessandra Vellucci, head of the UN Information Service at UN Geneva, highlighted the UN Secretary-General’s appeal for a relationship of trust with the Trump administration.
“We are looking at continuing this work together [and listening]…if there are criticisms, constructive criticism and points that we need to review,” she told reporters, underscoring the “decades-long relationship of mutual support” between the UN and the US.
USAID and UNICEF sign a partnership in 2024 to improve water and sanitation services across Iraq.
Retreat from Human Rights Council
At the same scheduled press encounter, a spokesperson for the UN Human Rights Council responded to news reports that President Trump plans to issue an executive order withdrawing the US from the 47-member world body.
The US was a member of the Council from 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024, meaning that since 1 January this year it has been an “observer State…like any of the 193 UN Member States that are not Council Members” explained spokesperson Pascal Sim:
“Any Observer State of the Council cannot technically withdraw from an intergovernmental body that is no longer part of.”
Preventable problems
Amid uncertainty about future US funding, UNFPA’s Mr. Smith underscored the immediate impact on at-risk individuals in the world’s poorest settings: “Women give birth alone in unsanitary conditions; the risk of obstetric fistula is heightened, newborns die from preventable causes; survivors of gender-based violence have nowhere to turn for medical or psychological support,” he said.
“We hope that the US Government will retain its position as a global leader in development and continue to work with UNFPA to alleviate the suffering of women and their families as a result of catastrophes they did not cause.”
Afghanistan emergency
UNFPA works across the world including in Afghanistan, where more than nine million people are expected to lose access to health and protection services because of the US funding crisis, it said.
This will impact nearly 600 mobile health teams, family health houses and counselling centres, whose work will be suspended, Mr. Smith explained.
“Every two hours, a mother dies from preventable pregnancy complications, making Afghanistan one of the deadliest countries in the world for women to give birth. Without UNFPA’s support, even more lives will be lost at a time when the rights of Afghan women and girls are already being torn to pieces.”
Pakistan, Bangladesh fall-out
In Pakistan, the UN agency warns that the US announcement will affect 1.7 million people, including 1.2 million Afghan refugees, who will be cut off from lifesaving sexual and reproductive health services, with the closure of over 60 health facilities.
In Bangladesh, nearly 600,000 people, including Rohingya refugees, face losing access to critical maternal and reproductive health services.
“This is not about statistics. This is about real lives. These are literally the world’s most vulnerable people,” Mr. Smith insisted.
In Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar refugee camp complex –where more than one million Rohingya refugees remain trapped in dire conditions – nearly half of all births now take place in health facilities, with UNFPA’s support.
“This progress is now at risk,” Mr. Smith continued, noting that the agency requires more than $308 million dollars this year to sustain essential services in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan.
Billions of people worldwide are set to benefit from enhanced safety online and in the physical world following the adoption of a legally binding treaty on cybercrime by the UN General Assembly.
Here are five key reasons why this landmark agreement matters for people everywhere:
A critical tool for a growing threat
In 2023, 67.4 per cent of the world’s population accessed the Internet, according to the World Bank. People rely on connectivity for tasks ranging from communication and shopping to advanced research and innovation.
However, this connectivity also exposes more than two-thirds of the global population to the dangers of cybercrime. For those on the wrong side of the digital divide, the lack of resilience further increases vulnerability once they get online.
Cybercriminals exploit digital systems using malware, ransomware, and hacking to steal money, data, and other valuable information. Information and communications technology (ICT) are also used to facilitate crimes such as drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, money laundering and fraud.
Regions like Southeast Asia have been described as “ground zero” for organized cybercrime operations, which are often highly sophisticated and coordinated. The threat is escalating, undermining economies, disrupting critical infrastructure, and eroding trust in digital systems.
Until now, there has been no globally negotiated convention on cybercrime. The new Convention against Cybercrime will enable faster, better-coordinated, and more effective responses, making both digital and physical worlds safer.
Unsplash/Jefferson Santos
Cybercrime poses a growing threat to global security, targeting individuals, businesses, and governments alike.
Around-the-clock cooperation
Investigating transnational crimes, whether online or offline, depends heavily on electronic evidence, which poses unique challenges for law enforcement.
One major challenge is the decentralized nature of data, networks, and service providers, with potential evidence often scattered across multiple jurisdictions. Additionally, electronic evidence must frequently be accessed quickly to prevent tampering or deletion through normal processes.
The Convention focuses on frameworks for accessing and exchanging electronic evidence, facilitating investigations and prosecutions.
States Parties will also benefit from a 24/7 network to boost international cooperation, enabling assistance with investigations, prosecutions, crime proceeds recovery, mutual legal assistance, and extradition.
Protecting children
Online platforms such as social media, chat apps and games offer anonymity that predators can exploit to groom, manipulate, or harm children.
The Convention is the first global treaty to specifically address sexual violence against children committed with information and communication technologies (ICT).
By criminalising these offenses, the Convention equips governments with stronger tools to protect children and bring perpetrators to justice.
Children are especially vulnerable to online exploitation, making it crucial to protect them in the digital world.
Responding to victims’ needs
Cybercrime affects people everywhere, and every victim deserves adequate support.
The Convention encourages States to provide victims with access to recovery services, compensation, restitution, and the removal of illicit content.
This support will be delivered according to each country’s domestic laws.
Improved prevention
Responding to cybercrime after it occurs is not enough. Preventing cybercrime requires robust investments in proactive measures, which the Convention against Cybercrime strongly emphasizes.
It urges States to develop comprehensive prevention strategies, including training for public and private sectors, offender rehabilitation and reintegration programmes, and support for victims.
With these measures, the Convention aims to reduce risks and manage threats effectively, fostering a safer digital environment for all.
Hopes are rising that, with the support of the United Nations, the architects of the brutal former regime of Bashar al Assad in Syria will eventually be held accountable for their crimes.
For years, UN human rights bodies have been documenting, monitoring and publishing reports on abuses, and bringing Syria’s dire human rights record to the world’s attention.
The fall of Bashar al Assad in December 2024 was largely greeted with euphoria by the Syrian people, but images of hundreds of people pouring into the notorious Sednaya Prison, desperately searching for friends or relatives, and testimony from former prisoners, recounting the sadism and torture they endured, was a vivid reminder of the atrocities committed under the former regime.
Since 2016, the International Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM), has been amassing a vast collection of evidence, aiming to ensure that those responsible are eventually held accountable.
In the eight years since, consistently denied access to Syria, they have had to work from outside the country.
However, everything changed after the rapid collapse of the regime. Just days later the head of the IIIM, Robert Petit, was able to travel to Syria where he met members of the de facto authorities. During this historic visit, he made a point of emphasizing the importance of preserving evidence before it’s lost forever.
UN News interviewed Mr. Petit from his offices in Geneva and began by asking him to describe the reactions of the Syrians he met during his visit.
This interview has been edited for clarity and length.
Robert Petit: It was a sobering and emotional time. I experienced a mix of hope and joy, as well as fear and anxiety, and a lot of sadness from the families of prisoners who had been killed.
But there was definitely a sense of change across the board. It’s my personal hope that the aspirations of Syrians will be fully realized with the help of the international community.
UN News: What was the purpose of your visit, and was it successful?
Robert Petit: As with most of the world, we were shocked at the speed with which the regime crumbled, although in hindsight we should have realized that the foundations were completely eroding for years.
We had to quickly start thinking about how to address this new situation: for the first time in eight years, we have the chance to really fulfill our mandate.
The main purpose of the visit was to start engaging diplomatically and explain to the new authorities what our role is and what we would like to do and get permission to do so. We found them to be receptive.
We formally requested permission to send teams to work and discharge our mandate in Syria. That was back on December 21. We’re still waiting for the answer. I have no reason to believe that we will not be granted permission. I think it’s a matter of processes rather than willingness, and we’re hoping that within days we will get that permission and then we will deploy as soon as we can.
Documents are piled up at a court house in Damascus, Syria, which was visited by the head of the IIIM, Robert Petit.
UN News: How hard was it to collect evidence during the years that you were denied access to the country?
Robert Petit: Syrian civil society and Syrians in general have, since March 2011, been the best documenters of their own victimization. They accumulated an enormous quantity of evidence of crimes, often at great risk the cost of their own lives.
Every year since we were created, we tried to access Syria. We could not get permission, but we developed close relationships with some of these civil society actors, media stakeholders and individuals who collected credible evidence, as did other institutions.
We accumulated over 284 terabytes of data over the years to build cases and support 16 different jurisdictions in prosecuting, investigating and prosecuting their own cases.
Now we potentially have access to a wealth of fresh evidence of crimes, and we’re hoping to be able to exploit that opportunity very soon.
UN News: During the Assad years, though, you had no guarantee that anyone would be brought to justice.
Robert Petit: Our mandate has been very clear from the beginning: prepare cases to support current and future jurisdiction. And that’s what we’ve been doing. There was always a hope that there was going to be some kind of tribunal, or comprehensive justice for the crimes in Syria. In anticipation of that, we have been building cases and we hope to build a wealth of understanding of the situation and the evidence that could support these cases.
At the same time, we’ve been supporting 16 jurisdictions all over the world prosecuting these cases, and I’m very happy to say that we have been able to support over almost 250 of those investigations and prosecutions and will continue to do so.
Soundcloud
UN News: During your trip you said there’s a small window of opportunity to secure sites and the material they hold. Why?
Robert Petit: Syria’s state apparatus functioned for years, so there will be a lot of evidence, but things go missing, they get destroyed and disappear. So, there is a time issue.
UN News: Are the de facto authorities in Syria helping you to secure evidence?
Robert Petit: We had messaging from the caretaker authorities that they were conscious of the importance of preserving all this evidence. The fact is that they have been in control for barely six weeks, so there are obviously a lot of competing priorities.
I think the situation in Damascus is relatively good in that a lot of the sites, the main ones at least, are secured. Outside of Damascus, I think the situation is a lot more fluid and probably worse.
UN News: When Volker Türk, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, visited Syria in January he called for fair, impartial justice in the wake of the end of the Assad regime. But he also said that the extent of atrocity crimes “beggars belief”. Do you personally think that justice rather than revenge, in a place where people have been so badly brutalized, is possible or likely?
Robert Petit: That’s for the Syrians to answer themselves and hopefully be heard and supported in what they will define as justice for them and for what they’ve suffered.
If people are given the hope that there will be in place a system that will deal fairly and transparently with at least those most responsible for the atrocities, it will give them hope and patience.
I think it is possible. I have worked in enough of these situations to know that a variety of things can be done to address these very complex situations, but it must be Syria-led, and they must have the support of the international community.
UN News: Do you envisage that criminal trials would take place in Syria at a national level or at an international level, for example at the International Criminal Court?
Robert Petit: Again, it will depend on what Syrians want. You’re talking about literally thousands of perpetrators, and a whole state apparatus dedicated to the commission of mass atrocities. It’s an incredible challenge to define what accountability means.
In my opinion, those most responsible, the architects of the system, must be held criminally accountability. For everyone else, the ways a post-conflict society tackles the issue varies.
Rwanda, for example, tried to use traditional forms of dispute resolution to try 1.2 million perpetrators over a decade. Others, like Cambodia, simply try to bury the past, and pretend it never happened.
The best solution is the one that Syrians will decide for themselves.
The first planned night closures of State Highway 2 Remutaka Hill for 2025 are coming up.
The route is set to be closed to traffic for five nights, 9 pm to 4 am, from Sunday, 23 February to Friday morning 28 February, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).
Mark Owen, Regional Manager Maintenance & Operations Wellington / Top of the South for NZTA, says the route has been kept open since last December to cater for the extra traffic from KiwiRail’s closure of the Wairarapa Line for upgrades and maintenance.
“Now the rail line is open, it’s crucial we make sure the road remains in good shape for the wetter winter months ahead.
“Our road crews will be hard at work carrying out resurfacing, sign replacement, clearing drainage, maintaining barriers and line marking as well as the remedial work to the slip on the Featherston side of the hill, where the Slow Vehicle Lane is currently closed,” Mr Owen says.
He says it is essential drivers are aware of the closures and are ready for them. As well as the closures in February, more are planned overnight in March, April, May and June.
Pahiatua Track, Saddle Road alternative, longer routes, or book to be escorted
“We do not want people to be caught out by these overnight closures, as the only alternative detours are via the Pahiatua Track or Saddle Road to the north – a much longer trip.
“Escorted crossings for drivers of light vehicles are available during closure nights but must be booked in advance and can be made on the NZTA website,” Mr Owen says.
“During this closure we are only able to accommodate one escorted crossing per direction each night due to significant resurfacing works.”
Mr Owen says full closures mean maintenance works can be finished faster and they are safer for road crews.
“A critical factor is far fewer vehicles use the route at night. Around 7,000 vehicles on average travel over the hill daily, but of this 300 or fewer travel at night.
“Night closures have a far lower impact on drivers than if the work was done under stop/go during the day. They really are the best option for this work,” he says.
Important information for Remutaka Hill closures
Escorted crossings for light vehicles are available during closure nights but must be booked in advance. We always communicate well before planned closures and provide contact details so bookings can be made.
Bookings are essential – drivers who turn up without one risk being turned away. If you have a genuine emergency on the night, the hill manager will decide how best to help you.
The escorted crossings are for light vehicles only. To keep our contractors safe, heavy vehicles cannot be accommodated.
Full access is always available for emergency services.
More information about planned maintenance closures for Remutaka Hill can be found here:
State Highway 2, Remutaka Hill, planned night closures. February – June 2025:
People travelling in and out of Hanmer Springs village next Monday night, 17 February, through to Tuesday morning, 18 February, will need to plan around a full night closure over the Waiau River bridge.
The bridge, at the start of SH7A off the Lewis Pass highway, will close at 9 pm and reopen at 5.30 am Tuesday morning.
Midnight opening
There will be an hour’s opening midnight to 1 am to let traffic through in both directions, says NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA).
Crews will be repairing the bridge deck. NZTA thanks all night-time drivers for working around this closure. Emergency vehicles will be allowed across at short notice.
Source: United States Senator for Alabama Tommy Tuberville
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) delivered a floor speech praising President Donald Trump’s recent implementation of reciprocal tariffs to ensure fairness and bolster our national security.
Read the speech below or watch the full speech here.
“I come to the floor today to talk to you about President Trump’s tariffs. The media is in full meltdown. They’re in a full meltdown mode after President Trump imposed duties and retaliatory tariffs this week on countries that have basically been ripping the United States of America off, and they’ve been doing it for decades. Apparently, globalists and Democrats are just fine with other countries imposing tariffs on the United States. But when it comes to President Trump trying to equalize it up, establish a level playing field for domestic producers, well, that’s a bridge too far.
If they have been paying attention to President Trump, they should [not be] remotely surprised. He campaigned on this platform three times and has been crystal clear on his intentions. Now, he is following through on his campaign promises. But in the corporate media, it seems to still be confused about all these tariffs. So, let me spell it out.
President Trump’s view on tariffs [are both] a negotiating tool to get other countries to do a few things that we ask them to do, a way to boost American manufacturing, and put American workers and businesses first, not last. President Trump has his work cut out for him after the disastrous four years for our small businesses and our corporations under the Biden administration. The Biden administration made it clear to our friends and foes alike that the globalist agenda would take precedent over the safety and well-being [of] the American people. It’s mind boggling. Thankfully, those days are over.
[The] American people gave President Donald J. Trump a clear mandate to restore our country’s superpower status and [to] put all Americans first, all businesses first. Everybody that does something in this country. And that starts, number one, with securing our borders. Like I’ve said many times, if you don’t have a border, you don’t have a country. And we have really struggled in the last four years. That is changing.
That’s why the Master Negotiator in Chief, President Donald Trump, threatened to impose 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada [in] just the last couple of weeks. Over the last four years, the Mexican government just basically turned a blind eye while caravans of illegal aliens overrun our borders—coming from Mexico, coming from Central America, all over the world—just overrunning our country. Thousands of women and children were trafficked, raped along the way. Drug cartels made an absolute fortune—absolute fortune. Not just with drugs, by the way, but for the payments of these illegals coming all the way through either Central America or South America to United States with a big, basically, tariff of their own, charging these people to come to the United States. Lawlessness had become the status quo under President Biden. Nobody cared. Democrats in this room, they didn’t care. They didn’t care what was going on. Let’s just let them all come in. Let’s let the drugs come in. We lose 300 people pretty much every few days to illegal drugs in this country with overdoses. But let’s [not] worry about that. Let’s just worry about controlling our country the way they wanted to. Well, it’s been a disaster.
Mexico showed zero signs of willingness to negotiate when President Trump took office. When he did take office [on] January 20th, they woke up real quick. President Trump correctly understands that Mexico’s economy is heavily dependent on the United States of America and the citizens of this country. In fact, more than 80% of Mexico’s exports come to the United States. 80% come here. And the American citizens buy those products […] Mexico’s economy would almost instantly feel the effects of a 25% tariff, leaving Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum no choice—no choice—but to come to the negotiating table under the master negotiator Donald Trump.
So that’s why he uses tariffs: to get his point across because people across the world take us for granted. As a result, within hours of President Trump’s announcement of the tariffs, Mexico caved. They saw real quick. Obviously, they’re not stupid. They agreed to help the United States secure the border and crack down on the cartels and the illegal drugs coming in—almost immediately. […] Our neighbor to the North also caved to President Trump after a 25% tariff was threatened on Canada. Not only are illicit drugs like fentanyl coming into our country from Mexico, but there are also about [a] 2000% increase in drugs coming across the border in 2023 and 2024 from Canada. A 2000% increase. In the last fiscal year alone, enough fentanyl was seized at the northern border to kill 9.8 million Americans. And to me, that would be a very serious problem. But do you think that Democrats cared? Nope. There was no action at all by the Biden administration on Canada. No action on Mexico. But thanks [to] President Trump’s leadership, our North American neighbors, from the North and South, are making changes now daily that will protect American citizens from deadly drugs, criminals, and human traffickers. The number one job of the President of the United States to protect the people in this country first, and that’s what President Trump’s doing.
In addition to using tariffs as a negotiating tool, President Trump also views tariffs as a way to write the wrongs of past, ineffective trade deals. That’s why this week he’s imposing a 25% tariff on all steel and aluminum imports, including those of Canada and Mexico. Contrary to what the media is telling you, this isn’t unprecedented. It’s not unusual. In fact, President Trump has helped shine a light on the fact that US exporters face higher tariffs [….] more than two-thirds of the time. We pay more tariffs than anybody. For example, among our major trading partners, [China applies higher tariffs on 85% of U.S. products and India on 90% of U.S. products]. Just think about that. We are paying tariffs on things coming in[to] this country, but when we send things out, we get the heck tariffed out of us from other countries. It’s not fair trade.
These exports, imbalances, don’t just impact bottom lines, they also discourage domestic production. We have got to produce more in this country. We have got to build more things in this country, and that’s what President Trump’s trying to do. If we don’t cut back on spending and start producing more in this country, this will not be the United States of America much longer because we will be bankrupt. And we’ll be reporting to somebody like China who is buying our treasury bills right and left…or they were.
One report conducted by the Department of Commerce in the first Trump administration found that excess production capacity, particularly China, has been a major factor in the decline of domestic aluminum production. Basically, we’re getting overwhelmed by aluminum from China that’s not near as good as what we make in this country.
President Trump built one of the strongest economies in modern history in his first term. Modern history. But the democrats failed to know that. So, they wanted to change it. And did they ever. [They] almost destroyed our economy. Jobs and wages were up when President Trump was in, inflation was down. Americans had more money in their pocket. And thanks to President Trump’s strategic tariffs, along with the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, companies were reshoring businesses back in the United States right and left. They were coming back because they could make profit. And that’s what it’s all about when you have a corporation. You gotta make a profit. And President Trump was able to, because of tariffs, make more money for manufacturing. […]
You had companies like Ford canceling plans to build in Mexico, back in President Trump’s first term, and instead opening one in Michigan. This turned out to be extremely important when COVID hit and we were forced to rely on goods manufactured right here in the United States. We found out pretty quick, just in [pharmaceutical] drugs alone, we make very little drugs in the United States. They’re made in India and China. They’ve got to come back here. We have to be self-sustaining.
Whether it’s our healthcare technologies, agriculture products, or steel, and aluminum, there’s no reason for us to depend on other countries. We are the number one country in this world, have been, and will be in the future in manufacturing production. America has some of the best and brightest manufacturers. Best and brightest producers, farmers, and businesses. We take second to none. And from a national security perspective, it is dangerous to be reliant on other countries who may not have the best interests of the United States in mind. You can’t blame them. They’re looking out for themselves first. Well, we need to do the same thing.
Not to mention the fact that US produces the cleanest steel in the world. You’d think the Democrats and the Climate Cult would at least be happy about that. Think about that. You know, President Trump just put tariffs on steel and aluminum. A lot of the steel and aluminum come in and, because of how they make it, is some of the dirtiest in the world. We make the cleanest, and why in the world would we want to import something that is going to be detrimental to our country? […]
The tariffs being imposed this week are an important step in President Trump’s plan to restore fairness to trade, boost domestic manufacturing, and put consumers and producers first. It’s about time. Three weeks into his presidency, President Trump is keeping his promises. President Trump’s strategic tariffs will strengthen and revitalize our nation’s economy, stop the flow of illicit drugs and illegal immigration, and make sure our trade deals are fair to both taxpayers and American manufacturers. America first! President Trump is utilizing every tool at his disposal as we speak, including tariffs, to usher in the Golden Age of the American Economy. We have to make that change. If we don’t, we will not survive as the number one country in the world. We will not regain that status and we will be losing our national security.”
Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, HELP, and Aging Committees.
Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti traveled to Indiana to visit Naval Surface Warfare Center (NSWC) Crane Division, located on Naval Support Activity (NSA) Crane to speak with Sailors, civilians, and elementary school students, and then visited Purdue University for a series of engagements with university leadership, research lab professors, and midshipmen, Feb. 10.
The visit enabled CNO to see and discuss key efforts that support her Navigation Plan for America’s Warfighting Navy to include the project 33 targets to operationally integrate robotic and autonomous systems, restore critical infrastructure, and recruit and retain talent, as well as elements of the NAVPLAN’s 5+4 related to building long-term warfighting advantage.
“Our Navy is the most powerful Navy in the world, but it doesn’t do anything without cutting-edge technology and the people who develop and operate it. For well over 80 years Crane, Indiana has been making a difference for the warfighter, and that was evident in everything I saw today,” said Franchetti. “You provide critical warfighting capability from readiness and modernization to the kinetic and non-kinetic effects we need to deter – and defeat – any adversary.”
At NSWC Crane, Franchetti recognized top performing Sailors and civilians, visited NSWC Crane’s Electromagnetic Warfare Center of Excellence, and received updates on the Submarine Launched Ballistic Missile Program, hypersonic programs, and microelectronics investments.
NSWC Crane has a STEM partnership with over 40 area schools, providing education opportunities to over 10,000 students annually, and CNO had the opportunity to engage with a group of elementary school students participating in the program.
“Being in the Navy is really fun, you can operate ships, submarines, and planes – from seabed to space, and work alongside Allies and partners to defend our nation,” Franchetti told the 4th grade students. “I joined the Navy for free college and to see the world, but I stayed for the mission and the teams we get to be a part of. With over 150 job specialties, there’s something for everyone. I hope you will think about joining our Navy team.”
At Purdue University, Franchetti met with academic leadership including Dr. Mung Chiang, Purdue University president and toured their Applied Research Institute laboratories where she learned about their research with hypersonics and reviewed their rapidly evolving additive manufacturing capabilities, toured their infrastructure and innovation laboratory, and observed simulated flight operations at Purdue’s UAS Research and Test Facility.
“I’m grateful for our research partnership and its focus on battlefield innovation,” said Franchetti. “The importance of our initiatives on advanced technology development such as hypersonics, microelectronics and energetics are critical to the future of our nation’s defense and directly contribute to my priorities of warfighting, warfighters and the foundation that supports them.”
CNO also met with Purdue University’s Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps unit, which hosts 102 midshipmen and 11 staff members, and she commended their decision to serve in America’s Warfighting Navy.
“Thank you for being part of NROTC, and for wanting to serve something greater than yourselves. You have an amazing opportunity in front of you,” Franchetti told the midshipmen. “Our Navy – Marine Corps team provides options to our Nation’s decision makers every day. From the Red Sea where we’ve been defending the free flow of commerce, protecting innocent mariners and our Allies and partners in the region – to the Indo-Pacific where we deter the PRC, your Navy is in high demand.”
For over eight decades, NSWC Crane has delivered innovative solutions and readiness to the Nation, with a focus on Electromagnetic warfare, Expeditionary warfare and Strategic Missions.
Two independent reviews are being undertaken to boost ACC’s performance and ensure it continues to deliver for New Zealanders, ACC Minister Andrew Bayly says. “ACC provides crucial support to injured Kiwis. It is the only no-fault accident compensation scheme like it in the world, and Kiwis should feel immensely proud of it,” Mr Bayly says. “But ACC faces challenges on multiple fronts and action is required to ensure its sustainability and longevity. “Over the last 10 years, ACC’s performance has steadily decreased. Costs are up, with levies struggling to keep up. Meanwhile, rehabilitation rates are down, slowing down people’s return to independence following an accident. “Clearly if this trend is left unabated, the viability of the scheme is at risk, saddling future generations with immense costs. A robust plan is required to improve ACC’s long-term financial sustainability without having to make large increases to levies. “That’s why the Government has commissioned two independent reviews to assess ACC’s performance and effectiveness:
A review of ACC’s operational performance, with a focus on case management. This is being led by actuarial firm Finity, who have significant experience with both accident compensation and private insurance schemes. A review of ACC’s investment strategy and how it manages the nearly $50 billion it invests. This is being led by investment consulting firm Willis Towers Watson, who have considerable global asset management experience.
“This will be the first external assurance review of ACC’s investment function. Reviewing ACC’s investment performance now ensures we are getting the best returns from the fund and that it can support ACC’s sustainability. “I have met with both review teams and have been clear about my expectation that they deliver actionable recommendations to improve ACC’s performance. “I will be holding ACC accountable to its fundamental purpose, which is to prevent injuries and get Kiwis back to independence as quickly as possible after an accident.” Notes to editors:
The terms of reference for the two reviews are attached. Progress reports on both reviews are expected by April 2025, with final reports expected to be delivered by June 2025.
The Green Party is urgently calling on the Government to prioritise long-term prosperity of our oceans in its consultation on the Fisheries Act.
“Our oceans are in a state of decline, continuing to put short-term profit before long-term sustainability will see the health of our ocean life wash away,” says Green Party’s Oceans and Fisheries spokesperson Teanau Tuiono.
“Minister Jones has stated ‘sustainability will always be the bottom line for fisheries management,’ but we have seen decisions from the Government completely contradict and undermine this. Today’s proposed changes seem to reward industry for overfishing, posing a significant threat to the sustainability and longevity of our oceans.
“If the Minister truly cared about sustainability he would ban bottom trawling and champion sustainable, adaptive fishing practices, which will increasingly be required in the context of climate change.
“If we want our oceans to thrive for generations to come we must commit to protecting more of our waters. We campaigned on doing exactly this by establishing a Healthy Oceans Act that would create a legally binding framework to protect at least 30 per cent of Aotearoa’s ocean by 2030.
“The crisis facing our ocean is growing more urgent by the day – and it is communities who depend on the moana for their livelihoods, including Māori and Pasifika communities, who will be impacted most of all. This Government needs to prioritise the sustainability of our oceans, which in turn prioritises long-term wellbeing of tangata whenua and tagata moana.
“It is high time the Government turned the tide on the exploitative and extractive fishing practices that have seen our ocean environment’s health decline and our fisheries be depleted.
“Our oceans are the lifeblood of Aotearoa. It is incumbent upon us to protect them, not only for their beauty, but for their essential role in sustaining life on our planet,” says Teanau Tuiono.
Half of Pacific children sometimes going without food is just one of many heartbreaking lowlights in the Salvation Army’s annual State of the Nation report.
“This devastating report shows just how far this country has gone backwards under this coalition of chaos,” Labour’s social development spokesperson Carmel Sepuloni said.
“While Government parties scrap with each other, our kids are going hungry, more people are living in cars and our best and brightest are leaving for Australia.
“Across most of the report’s indicators in the past year, outcomes have either worsened or not changed for children and youth.
“Homelessness is on the rise as the Government kicks families out of emergency housing without knowing where they all go, and next year the number of Kainga Ora homes in Auckland will go backwards.
“Unemployment is on the rise, with about 1 in 10 Māori and Pacific people unemployed while the Government chooses to give billions to landlords and tobacco companies, instead of helping struggling families.
“The Government is shamelessly boasting about growth, but the only growth we’re seeing is in the numbers of hungry, homeless and unemployed New Zealanders,” Carmel Sepuloni said.
The Albanese Labor Government is building Australia’s Future, today announcing regional Australia will continue to receive critical aviation services into the future.
The Albanese Government will work with the Administrators of Regional Express Holdings (Rex), as part of an upcoming competitive sale process, to ensure crucial regional aviation services continue beyond 30 June 2025.
We will work with shortlisted bidders on what support the Albanese Government may be able to provide to maximise the prospect of a successful sale.
Terms of Commonwealth support will be subject to negotiation, but will be conditional on commitments by bidders to provide an ongoing, reasonable level of service to regional and remote communities, the need to provide value for money to taxpayers and good governance.
The Government is not a bidder in the upcoming sale process and would like to see a successful market-led outcome. However, in the event there is no sale, the Albanese Government will undertake necessary work, in consultation with relevant state governments, on contingency options, including preparations necessary for potential Commonwealth acquisition.
The Albanese Government is also providing further support through a waiver of the “use it or lose it” test for Rex regional flight slots at Sydney Airport, which will ensure its access to those slots until 24 October 2026.
This comes on top of the Albanese Government providing a loan of up to $80 million to keep Rex’s vital regional routes operating until 30 June 2025, and acquiring $50 million of debt from Rex’s largest creditor, PAGAC Regulus Holdings Limited, earlier this year to ensure the airline could continue to operate.
These actions make clear the Government’s ongoing commitment to maintaining access to aviation services for regional and remote communities, and recognises the critical role of the Rex network to local economies.
The Albanese Labor Government will back regional aviation just like we back regional telecommunications because we know our great country towns deserve quality services and connectivity just like our cities.
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese:
“Regional Australians deserve access to quality and crucial regional aviation services.
“We are working collaboratively with the administrators of Rex to ensure that regional services continue beyond June 2025, including looking at what support the Commonwealth can provide.
“Regional Australians can be assured that our Government will continue to fight to ensure these regional airfares remain available.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Finance Katy Gallagher:
“The Albanese Government believes regional and remote communities deserve reliable, affordable and accessible air travel.
“That’s why we’re taking steps to ensure the best possible deal for the sale of Rex.
“Aviation services are essential for our regions, and our government is committed to seeing these services continue into the future.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:
“Regional Australians rely on these important services and the Albanese Government making sure communities outside capital cities aren’t shortchanged.
“When markets fail or struggle to deliver for regional communities the Government has a role to ensure people do not miss out on opportunities, education and critical connections.
“We are recognising that today and stepping in to keep these routes in the air.”
