United Methodists begin to reverse longstanding anti-LGBTQ policies
Charlotte, North Carolina, US AP United Methodist delegates began making historic changes in their policies on sexuality on Tuesday – voting without debate to reverse a series of anti-LGBTQ policies. The delegates voted to delete mandatory penalties for conducting same-sex marriages and to remove their denomination’s bans on considering LGBTQ candidates for ministry and on […]
UN raises over $US600 million to boost aid to Ethiopia
Geneva, Switzerland Reuters The United Nations on Tuesday received financial pledges for about two-thirds of the $US1 billion it was seeking to raise to boost humanitarian aid to Ethiopia, which has been hit by conflict, drought and floods. A UN-hosted pledging event, organised along with the governments of Ethiopia and the United Kingdom and held […]
Arizona county faces ‘homelessness on steroids’ as migrant shelter funds run out
Washington DC/Tucson, Arizona Reuters An Arizona migrant shelter that has housed thousands of asylum seekers plans to halt most operations in two weeks when funding from Washington runs out, a problem for towns along the border where officials fear a surge in homelessness and extra costs. Arizona’s Pima County, which borders Mexico, has said that […]
Zelenskiy urges leaders to send arms as “artificial” shortage helps Putin
Munich, Germany Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged allies at a global security conference on Saturday to plug an “artificial” shortage of weapons that is giving Russian forces the upper hand on the battlefield and said stalled US aid was imperative. Addressing the gathering of politicians, diplomats and military officials from around the world, who […]
UN urges reversal of funding pause for Palestinian agency, vows accountability with staffers
Doha, Qatar/Geneva, Switzerland Reuters UN officials urged countries to reconsider a pause in funding for the UN agency for Palestinians on Sunday, pledging that any staff found involved in Hamas’ attack on Israel would be punished and warning that aid for some two million people in Gaza was at stake. At least nine countries, including […]
Analysis – UN nature deal can help wildlife as long as countries deliver
Montreal, Canada Reuters A new conservation deal adopted this week at the UN summit in Montreal puts the world on a strong track to halt the rapid decline in nature – but only if wealthy nations deliver enough funding and all countries prioritise conservation. Goals set out in the agreement, known as the Kunming-Montreal Global […]
UN aid chief wants 25 per cent more money in 2023, no famine in Somalia yet
New York, US Reuters The United Nations will ask for 25 per cent more money in 2023 to fund humanitarian aid operations globally, the UN aid chief told a Reuters NEXT event on Wednesday, where he also warned that while famine would not yet be declared in Somalia, people were already dying there of hunger. […]
UN refugee boss warns of ‘severe cuts’ without immediate new funding
Geneva, Switzerland Reuters The UN refugee agency will have to make “severe cuts” unless it gets extra funding soon, its chief said on Monday, warning cuts could lead to more malnutrition and child marriages as well as unrest in some of the world’s poorest regions. The war in Ukraine has sent millions fleeing, and there […]
Pakistan out of money for flood recovery, UN boosts aid request- minister
Islamabad, Pakistan Reuters Pakistan is out of money to spend on recovery from devastating floods, its climate change minister said on Tuesday, urging prompt international help at the UN launch of an aid appeal as funds needed by the country were ramped up five-fold. The United Nations revised up its humanitarian aid appeal for Pakistan […]
Rohingya crisis fund is “well short of needs” – UN refugee agency
Reuters An appeal to help Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh is “well short of needs”, the United Nations refugee agency, UNHCR, said on Tuesday, as refugees called on donors not to forget the crisis ahead of the fifth anniversary of their exodus from Myanmar. More than a million Rohingya are living in squalid camps in southern […]