The United Nations in Afghanistan called on Thursday for the de facto Taliban authorities to lift restrictions barring women national staff from entering its premises.

The Security Council meets in emergency session at the top of the hour to discuss Israel’s strike on the capital of Qatar, Doha, which targeted Hamas’ political leadership on Tuesday. The UN political affairs chief is set to brief ambassadors, with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani due to take part – a sign of the diplomatic shockwaves being felt throughout the region and beyond. Follow our live UN meetings coverage here.

UNITED NATIONS, September 10 (IPS) - Over the past week, Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation has deteriorated significantly following the August 31 earthquake, which measured over 6.0 in magnitude and caused an immense loss of life and widespread destruction of critical infrastructure. Compounded by the nation’s fragile economy, severe shortages of essential resources, and persistent access challenges, humanitarian organizations have found it increasingly difficult to reach vulnerable communities—especially women and children.

UNITED NATIONS, September 10 (IPS) - Global military spending has been on the rise for more than 20 years, and in 2024, it surged across all five global regions in the world to reach a record high of USD 2.7 trillion. Yet, such growth has come at the cost of diverting financial resources away from sustainable development efforts, which the United Nations and its chief warn puts pressure on an “already strained financial context.”

KATHMANDU, September 10 (IPS) - Nepal entered into a new era of constitutional and political crisis after deadly protests by the deeply frustrated young generation (Gen-Z). Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on Tuesday after protests grew out of control.

The UN Secretary-General is closely monitoring reports that Russian drones violated Polish airspace overnight into Wednesday, resulting in damage to some residential areas.

School meals are a crucial way out of poverty into “a new world of learning and opportunity,” according to the World Food Programme (WFP) executive director Cindy McCain.

The death toll from Nepal’s youth-led anti-corruption protests has climbed to 30, with political uncertainty continuing on Wednesday – day three of a dramatic crisis that forced the resignation of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and left government buildings in flames across the capital and beyond.

More than 720,000 people commit suicide every year and many more attempt it. Now the head of the UN’s World Health Organization (WHO) is calling for “shifting the narrative” on the issue “to challenge harmful myths, reduce stigma and foster compassionate conversations.”

The UN and humanitarian partners warned on Wednesday that nearly one million civilians in Gaza City who have been told to leave by the Israeli military have nowhere safe to go.