About: António Guterres
Under-pressure Taliban to meet EU in bid for ‘positive’ ties
The Taliban will hold face-to-face talks with European Union officials, the acting foreign minister said on Monday (11 October), in a diplomatic push by the hardline Islamists groping for international support.
UN ends Yemen war crimes probe in defeat for Western states
Bahrain, Russia and other members of the UN Human Rights Council pushed through a vote to shut down the body's war crimes investigations in Yemen, in a stinging defeat for Western states who sought to keep the mission going.
Donors pledge $1.1 billion for ‘collapsing’ Afghanistan
Donors have pledged more than $1.1 billion to help Afghanistan, where poverty and hunger have spiralled since the Islamist Taliban took power, and foreign aid has dried up, raising the spectre of a mass exodus.
UN seeks $600 million to avert Afghanistan humanitarian crisis
The United Nations is convening an aid conference in Geneva on Monday (13 September) in an effort to raise more than $600 million for Afghanistan, warning of a humanitarian crisis there following the Taliban takeover.
EU, UN, US condemn the coup d’état in Guinea
The EU, the UN and the United States on Sunday (5 September) condemned what appears to be a military coup d’état in Guinea.
Macron says France, Britain to propose Kabul safe zone to UN
France, Britain and Germany are working on a United Nations proposal aimed at establishing a safe zone in Kabul to allow safe passage for people trying to leave Afghanistan, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday (29 August).
Amnesty says migrants in Libyan camps forced to trade sex for clean water
Amnesty International said on Thursday (14 July) that migrants held in Libyan detention camps are subject to horrific sexual violence at the hands of guards, including being forced to barter sex for clean water, food and access to sanitation. The...
Success of climate change talks rests on finance, UN chief says
The success of international climate negotiations in November will depend on a breakthrough in financial contributions from rich countries, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday (24 June).
UN Security Council backs Guterres for second term
The United Nations Security Council backed Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday for a second term, recommending that the 193-member General Assembly appoint him for another five years starting 1 January 2022.
Israel-Hamas truce takes hold after 11 days of fighting
An Egyptian-mediated truce between Israel and Hamas took hold on Friday (21 May) after the worst violence in years, with US President Joe Biden pledging to salvage the devastated Gaza Strip and the United Nations urging renewed Israeli-Palestinian dialogue.
Germany urges end to Middle East violence as EU calls talks
German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Sunday (16 May) it is "imperative" for Israelis and Palestinians to stop fighting and resume talks ahead of an emergency meeting this week with his EU counterparts.
At least 68 killed in Afghan school blast, families bury victims
The death toll from a bomb attack outside a school in the Afghan capital Kabul has risen to 68, officials said, with doctors struggling to care for 165 injured victims and families searching desperately for missing children.
UN chief urges ‘be creative’ as Cyprus talks open
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Turkish and Greek Cypriot parties to "be creative" on Tuesday (27 April), hours before informal talks were set to begin on the island's future after a four-year hiatus.
‘Common ground’ elusive as Cyprus rivals head to Geneva
Four years after their last peace talks failed, rival Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders meet in Geneva next week to explore elusive “common ground” on the divided Mediterranean island. “We go to Geneva… steadfastly committed to resuming negotiations for...
Biden doubles US emissions cut target as summit lifts climate hopes
President Joe Biden on Thursday (22 April) doubled US ambitions on slashing greenhouse gas emissions, leading Japan and Canada at a summit in making new commitments that bring the world closer to limiting the worst climate change.
Veteran Chad leader Deby dies, the military take over
Chad's President Idriss Deby Itno has died reportedly in combat just a day after securing re-election, opening a period of uncertainty in a country that is a key strategic ally of the West in a troubled region.
UN chief calls to combat violence against women
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called Monday (15 March) to combat violence against women, at the start of the annual Commission on the Status of Women, which is expected to call for greater action against sexual harassment.
UN chief to host Cyprus meeting in April
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will convene an informal meeting in April involving Greece,Turkey and Britain to explore a possible end to deadlocked Cyprus peace talks, his spokesman said Wednesday (24 February).
UN urges global vaccine effort as Washington pays WHO dues
United Nations chief António Guterres said Wednesday (17 February) that the world "urgently needs a global vaccination plan" to stop wealthy countries leaving poorer nations behind in the coronavirus fightback.
UN-led talks elect Libyan transitional government, EU hails ‘milestone’
Libya embarked Saturday (6 February) on a new phase of its post-Gaddafi transition after an interim executive was selected to lead the country until December elections following a decade of chaos.
UN chief vows to rally global pressure to make sure Myanmar coup fails
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres pledged on Wednesday (3 February) to mobilize enough international pressure on Myanmar’s military “to make sure that this coup fails” as the UN Security Council tries to negotiate a statement on the crisis. The Myanmar...
Berlin agriculture conference highlights world hunger, climate change
An international conference of agriculture ministers in Berlin on Friday (22 January) focused on finding solutions in times of crisis, like the current pandemic and the subsequent humanitarian catastrophe, and called for combatting world hunger, climate change, and potential new pandemics. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Islamic State claims Baghdad twin bombing that killed 32, wounded 110
The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for a twin suicide bombing that killed 32 people and wounded 110 at a crowded market in central Baghdad on Thursday (21 January).