News headlines
UNRWA chief: Ceasefire is the start, not the solution
- UN News

Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) on Friday welcomed the Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, pledging to scale up aid delivery across the stricken enclave once it comes into effect.
World News in Brief: Antisemitism action plan, DR Congo violence escalates, new migration movie, year of ‘peace and trust’
- UN News

The UN launched a new Action Plan on Friday that will enhance monitoring and response to antisemitism.
In Lebanon, Guterres highlights challenges and support for peacekeepers
- UN News

Continuing his high profile visit to Lebanon, UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Friday underscored the challenges faced by UN peacekeepers and reiterated the organization’s commitment to supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces.
Relentless crisis in Haiti: One in eight children internally displaced
- UN News

The humanitarian crisis in Haiti has reached a critical point, with one in eight children now internally displaced due to escalating violence fuelled by armed groups who continue to control most of the capital, according to the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Gaza ceasefire could boost aid deliveries to 600 trucks per day: WHO
- UN News

Amid reports that Israel’s security cabinet has given the green light to a ceasefire deal with Hamas, the UN World Health Organization (WHO) expressed cautious optimism on Friday over the potentially major boost to aid relief in the devastated enclave.
Sudan war becomes more deadly as ethnically motivated attacks rise
- UN News

The conflict in Sudan is taking an “even more dangerous turn for civilians”, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Friday.
Trillions in Dirty Money: How Hidden Loopholes Fuel Corruption and Inequality
- Inter Press Service

MADRID, Jan 16 (IPS) - It is no longer a secret that at major global summits there are more lobbyists than official delegates. There, they participate as ‘guests,’ and most of them work for big business corporations. Their goal? To deter the adoption of policies that conflict with their employers’ interests.
The Reckless and Dangerous Misogyny of Zuckerberg and Musk
- Inter Press Service

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Jan 16 (IPS) - In anticipation of Donald Trump’s inauguration his gold-studded Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago, is at the heart of political power games, where influential businessmen like Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk are positioning themselves as key players in his orbit.
Apparently unfazed by legal controversies and scandals, Trump is preparing for his return in collusion with already powerful men, who in their pursuit of personal gain and political influence reflect a disturbing trend of billionaire oligarchy merging with politics. A worrying development that might have significant consequences for the future of free speech and women’s rights.
Israel and Palestine Secure Ceasefire Agreement After 15 Months of Conflict
- Inter Press Service

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 16 (IPS) - A ceasefire agreement between the states of Israel and Palestine was reached on 15 January, 2025 , effectively putting an end to hostilities in the Gaza Strip. This comes after nearly 15 months of conflict, which has caused immense damage to Palestinian infrastructure, development, and civilian life. The three-phase plan proposed for the ceasefire agreement consists of the return of Israeli hostages, Palestinian refugees returning home, and the reconstruction of Gaza. Additionally, the ceasefire is expected to essentially put an end to the Israel-Hamas War and significantly mitigate the humanitarian crisis occurring in the Gaza Strip.
Farmer’s Bill: A Reprieve for U.S. Farmers Affected By PFAS
- Inter Press Service

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US, Jan 16 (IPS) - The use of fertilizers has been introduced in society to enrich soil and supply high-grade harvests for centuries. As time went on, humans have managed to develop new ways to reform this operation, and as such, have formed a lessened health risk fertilizer called “biosolids”.
Global Issues