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Global perspective Human stories

‘Slavery is not a thing of the past’: UN supports call for reparations

Slavery is not just a thing of the past. Its effects continue to be felt in systemic inequality and racism. This was reiterated on Monday by the UN Committee against Racial Discrimination (CERD) as the world marks the International Day of People of African Descent. 

31 August 2026

‘Every step towards disarmament matters,’ nuclear testing survivors warn

He was born without arms, a legacy of four decades of nuclear explosions at the Semipalatinsk test site in his native Kazakhstan.

31 August 2026

Nepal flooding deaths surpass 900 as needs climb

The confirmed death toll from Nepal’s catastrophic floods has surged to 903, with more than 4,200 still missing as rescue crews and humanitarian workers battle blocked highways to reach the hardest-hit areas, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Monday.

31 August 2026

‘The lake is our life’: Protecting a shared lifeline in Uganda

On the shores of Nkondo, in Uganda’s Kikuube district, the day begins before sunrise. Fishers enter the lake to fish, while families around Lake Albert rely on its waters for food, income and daily survival.

30 August 2026

Rising seas, rising stakes: What increasing sea levels mean to humanity

The ocean is rising faster now than at any point in recorded history. The impacts are already being felt and the threats are growing.

29 August 2026

‘Immense impact’ of Nepal flood disaster highlighted as casualties mount

The impact of the deadly flood in Nepal has been described as “immense” as the authorities there confirm that 538 bodies have been recovered from the disaster-stricken area.

28 August 2026

Risks of child recruitment by armed groups rise in post-quake Colombia

The recent earthquake in Colombia could increase the risk of child recruitment by armed groups in Chocó and Valle del Cauca, where thousands of children remain out of school in areas already affected by conflict, the UN warned on Friday.

28 August 2026

WHO reports more than 3,200 attacks on Ukraine’s healthcare system since full-scale invasion

Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, 3,205 attacks on healthcare facilities have been carried out, World Health Organization (WHO) Representative for Ukraine Jarno Habicht reported on Friday following fresh overnight strikes.

28 August 2026

Security Council LIVE: Deadly gang attacks spike in Haiti

Following a deadly spate of gang attacks on civilians in Haiti and amid reports of illicit weapons slipping into the Caribbean country, the Security Council has called an emergency meeting at 3pm (local time) to hear and discuss the latest developments. UN News app users can follow our coverage here.

28 August 2026

As the Himalayas melt, deadly floods become the new normal

A day before a wall of ice, rock and muddy water tore through Himalayan valleys along the Nepal-China border, Dipesh Chapagain was discussing with a colleague just how devastating such a disaster could be.

28 August 2026