Here’s why the Gaza war is ‘consistent with genocide’, according to UN body

The UN has released a report on the first nine months of Israel’s war on Gaza where it accuses Israel of genocide by ‘using starvation as a method of war and inflicting collective punishment on the Palestinian population’.

Why the UN blacklists the Israel Defense Forces for harming children

The United Nations has added the Israeli military to a global list of offenders that have committed violations against children. The list aims to shame parties to conflicts in the hope of pushing them to implement measures to protect children. Palestinian militant groups Hamas and the Islamic Jihad have also been added to the list.

UN chief condemns latest attacks on Ukraine which leave 30+ dead

Fresh airstrikes on Gaza as UN says 150,000 Gazans have nowhere to go

The United Nations is warning that 150,000 people in Gaza have nowhere to go, as Israel widens its air and ground offensive against Hamas — which has been classified a terror group by many countries. Dozens of people — mostly women and children — were killed in a new wave of Israeli airstrikes overnight.

UN: Earth on track to warm by nearly 3C without aggressive actions

The United Nations has warned the Earth is on track to warm by almost 3 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. That's despite pledges from many countries to cut emissions. A new report from the UN's Environment Programme says current promises to mitigate global warming are no longer feasible or credible - highlighting how emissions increased again last year. It says drastic climate action is now needed to limit climate change and its impacts around the world.

Anti- UN protests turn deadly in DR Congo

 

War in Ukraine is impacting global food security

 

According to the UN, up to one-third of Ukraine’s crops may be lost this year because of the Russian invasion. Ukraine is a big producer of wheat, corn and cooking oil. With food prices skyrocketing, many countries are fearing a looming famine.

UN condemns Taliban crackdown: Do they care?

 

The US wrapped up its military presence in Afghanistan weeks ago, only to see the Taliban return to power. Now Washington has stopped inbound flights carrying evacuees after discovering that some new arrivals in the US had measles. T

Afghans protesters reportedly killed during Taliban crackdown on demonstrations, says UN

 

The UN’s rights spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, received reports of house-to-house searches for Afghan demonstrators during the Taliban’s violent crackdown on protests against their rule that has already led to four documented deaths.

The UN has said Taliban officers used live ammunition – reportedly fired into the air – whips and batons to break up demonstrations and have since formally banned protests against the regime

Is it too late to save our planet?

 

UN scientific panel issues strongest warning yet on our warming planet.

A “code red for humanity” and a “wake-up call” for the world.

They are just some of the reactions to the biggest UN climate change review since 2013.

Is Myanmar 'whitewashing' the Rohingya crisis?

Former US diplomat accuses members of Rohingya advisory panel of being a 'cheerleading squad' for the government.

Frustration over Myanmar's handling of the Rohingya crisis has boiled over into an argument between Aung San Suu Kyi and her former friend, now critic, Bill Richardson.

The former US ambassador to the UN resigned from an advisory panel set-up by the government after accusing members of trying to 'whitewash' the crisis.

And in his resignation letter, Richardson accused members of being a 'cheerleading squad' for the government.

Officials reacted by accusing Richardson of having his own agenda.

Why is the US squeezing the UN?

The US is cutting the UN's budget by more than a quarter of a billion dollars

$285m. That's the amount expected to be slashed from the UN's operating budget next year.

The US says it negotiated the cut, to eliminate what it calls "inefficiency and overspending" by the organisation.

The move comes after a tense week for the UN. The General Assembly voted to condemn the US decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital and move its embassy there.

How can world leaders end Yemen's crisis?

UN issues warning millions could die in Yemen if the Saudi-led coalition does not lift its blockade.

"Millions will die" - that is the stark warning from the UN humanitarian chief over the crisis in Yemen. Out of sight and out of mind for most of the world, millions of children, mothers and fathers are struggling to find food.

Now the UN warns that Yemen could face the largest famine the world has seen for many decades. It is urging the Saudi-led coalition to end its devastating blockade and allow aid into the country.

How relevant is the United Nations?

World leaders gather in New York for the 72nd UN General Assembly.

Once again world leaders are gathering together to discuss combatting global conflicts and humanitarian crises.

Myanmar, North Korea, Syria, and Iran will be high on an agenda that is clouded and complicated by the vast differences and various opinions of the 193 member states.

Since 1945, the UN has been on the forefront and the frontline of many global hotspots.

But 72 years later, some, including the United States, are calling for the organisation to be reformed.

North Korea: Are we on the brink of war?

We debate how likely war between N Korea and the US is, who's to blame for the latest crisis and how to de-escalate.

"Fire and fury like the world has never seen" was Donald Trump's promise should North Korea issue any more threats towards the United States.

Yet this week, Kim Jong Un's government threatened the US with "the greatest pain and suffering it has ever gone through in its entire history" if the United Nationsimposed new sanctions.

Only hours later, the UN Security Council unanimously approved the toughest ever sanctions on North Korea. So, how close are we to an all-out nuclear war? Or is there a viable diplomatic solution to this crisis?

Does the United Nations need a makeover?

World leaders gather in New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly.

Leaders from the UN's 193 member states are in New York for the annual meeting of the UN's General Assembly.

It is an opportunity to set out their agenda for the upcoming session.

And there is a lot to do this year, including finding a replacement for outgoing UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon.

But as has been the case in recent years, the war in Syria will take centre stage, along with the refugee crisis and climate change.

Are UN peacekeeping operations in trouble?

International defense ministers are meeting in the UK to discuss ways to improve UN peacekeeping missions.

The United Nations has more than 100,000 peacekeepers, serving in 16 missions on four continents.

Their goal is to protect civilians, maintain peace and security.

But their operations have caused controversy, including allegations of sexual abuse.

Demand for peacekeepers in conflict zones continues to rise and the UN is struggling to keep up.

Twelve months after world leaders pledged to strengthen and modernise peacekeeping operations, Britain is hosting a follow-up to see where things stand.

Defense ministers from more than 70 countries flew to London to discuss how to improve operations.

Who's responsible for child slavery?

This year's World Day Against Child Labour is focusing on children working in supply chains.

Almost one in 10 children wakes up each morning and goes to work. These children slave away in factories and fields, and as maids and sex workers.

United Nations declarations specifically guarantee the rights of a child to be protected from economic exploitation. But vague laws, or sometimes a complete lack of legislation, mean that millions of children find themselves at work when they should be at school - often in hazardous conditions.

At least 168 million children around the world work, with more than half of them in dangerous conditions, according to the International Labour Organization.

Almost 80 million children are working in the Asia-Pacific region. That's equivalent to the entire population of Turkey. And one in five children in Sub-Saharan Africa has a job. That's almost 60 million children.

Are UN reforms enough to end sex abuse scandal? (video)

The UN registered 99 sex abuse complaints against its peacekeeping forces in 2015 - a sharp rise from the year before.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called sexual abuse by UN peacekeepers "a cancer in our system".

The UN received 99 sexual abuse complaints against its staff in 2015 - a sharp increase from the 80 allegations the year before.

The report lists allegations against UN military and police personnel from 21 different countries.

Most of them are from African countries, but there are also allegations against staff from several European nations and Canada.

UN staff accused of sexual abuse are rarely prosecuted. Human rights campaigners say that has contributed to a sense of impunity.

The report calls for the UN general assembly and troop-contributing members to allow prosecutions inside the countries where the crimes take place, as well as the creation of a DNA registry of all peacekeepers.

Does the Israeli occupation fuel 'extremism'?

We speak to Israeli Deputy FM Tzipi Hotovely, and ask a Syrian opposition political adviser about the UN peace talks

Ban Ki-moon and the Israeli government are at odds after the United Nations secretary-general criticised the Israeli occupation in an address to the Security Council last week.

Ban said it was "human nature" for Palestinians to react to the occupation, specifically pointing to settlement building as a "provocative" action. The remarks elicited strong criticism from the Israeli government, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accusing the UN chief of "encouraging terror".

In this week's UpFront, Mehdi Hasan speaks to Tzipi Hotovely, Israel's deputy foreign minister, the country's top diplomat, about Ban's remarks.

The Reality Check points to US President Barack Obama's national security record as proof that despite many criticisms, he is more of a hawk than a dove.

In Arena, we ask a senior political adviser to the Syrian opposition about the collapse of UN-sponsored talks and what it will take to bring peace to the country.