United Nations Secretary-general Antonio Guterres

Pahalgam attack: UN chief urges India, Pakistan to show 'maximum restraint'

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is following the situation between India and Pakistan very closely and with very great concern and appeals to both governments to exercise maximum restraint and ensure no further deterioration, his spokesperson said. We were very clear in our condemnation of the terror attack that occurred in Jammu and Kashmir, on the 22nd, two days ago, which killed a large number of civilians, Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said at the daily press briefing Thursday. Dujarric was responding to a question on whether Guterres has had any contact with the governments of India and Pakistan amid escalating tensions in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 civilians were killed. He said Guterres has not had any direct contact, but I can tell you he's obviously following the situation very closely and with very great concern. The secretary-general very much" appeals to both the governments of India and Pakistan to exercise maximu

UN chief announces 'UN80 Initiative' to boost efficiencies amid uncertainty

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has announced a new initiative aimed at improving efficiencies at the 80-year-old world organisation and making it more cost-effective, as he voiced concern over shrinking resources and liquidity crisis amid an environment of "uncertainty and unpredictability". The UN80 Initiative' will come up with proposals in areas of rapidly identifying efficiencies and improvements in the way the UN works; thoroughly reviewing implementation of all mandates given to the UN by member states, which have significantly increased in recent years and a strategic review of deeper, more structural changes and programme realignment in the UN system. Our world is facing challenges on every front. Since the United Nations reflects that world in all its aspects, we feel it in all our work. These are times of intense uncertainty and unpredictability, Guterres said here on Wednesday in his remarks to announce the initiative. Guterres has appointed a dedicated internal ta

'All will lose', warns UN chief Antonio Guterres amidst growing trade war

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has warned that "all will lose" when countries get into trade wars, against the backdrop of tariff wars unleashed by the Trump administration. "I think we live in a global economy. Everything is interlinked. And obviously, one of the great advantages of having a situation of free trade is to create the conditions for all countries to benefit. When we enter into a trade war, I believe all will lose," Guterres said here on Wednesday. He was responding to a question on the growing global trade war. US President Donald Trump, in his second term in the White House, has said America will impose reciprocal tariffs on nations that charge high levies on US goods. The Trump administration's global tariffs on steel and aluminum have come into effect, prompting the European Union (EU) and Canada to also announce levies on US products. The administration has also announced tariff on imports from Canada, Mexico and China. In a retaliatory action, these ...

UN Secretary General honours Indian peacekeeper Brigadier General Jha

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has paid tributes to Brigadier General Amitabh Jha of India, who was serving with the UNDOF at Golan Heights, and said he will be remembered for his leadership and unwavering commitment to United Nations peacekeeping. Brigadier Jha was serving as Deputy Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) from April 2023 and had recently served as acting Force Commander of UNDOF in complex circumstances, following the fall of the Assad Government in Syria. He will be remembered for his leadership and unwavering commitment to United Nations peacekeeping, including in the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUSCO) as a Military Observer from 2005 to 2006, a statement by the spokesman for Guterres said late on Tuesday. The Secretary-General extends his heartfelt condolences to Brigadier General Jha's family and to the Government of India for their loss, the statement ...

Will not give up on calls for urgent ceasefire in Gaza, Lebanon: UN chief

On October 7, as the attack by Hamas on Israel completed one year, Guterres said that it is a day for the global community to condemn the 'abhorrent acts of Hamas'

Gandhi believed non-violence as most powerful weapon available: UN chief

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres underscored Mahatma Gandhi's message of non-violence, peace and equality as he voiced deep concern over a world "bristling with violence" and conflicts raging from Ukraine to the Middle East. On the International Day of non-violence, we commemorate the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi and reaffirm the values to which he dedicated his life: equality, respect, peace and justice, Guterres said in his message for the day, commemorating Gandhi's birthday on October 2. Voicing concern that the world today is bristling with violence, Guterres said across the globe, conflicts are raging. From Ukraine to Sudan, the Middle East and far beyond, war is creating a hellscape of destruction, destitution and fear. Inequality and climate chaos are undermining the foundations of peace. And hate whipped up online is spilling over onto the streets, he said. The UN chief underscored that Gandhi believed non-violence was the greatest force available to humanity, more ...

UAE joins final UN SG's Critical Energy Transition Minerals panel in Kenya

During last meeting, panel members stressed importance of forming stronger foundations, focusing on international cooperation to achieve mutual and collective benefits with respect to mining industry

UN Chief calls for parliamentary election in B'desh, urges govt's inclusion

Bangladesh is experiencing a volatile political situation, after Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of Prime Minister on August 5 amid mounting protests

UN chief pushes for Security Council reforms, permanent seat for Africa

In a high-level debate on Monday, United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, addressing Security Council said that the composition of the UNSC has failed to keep pace with a changing world

UN unveils 'Global Principles' to combat online misinformation, hate speech

The UN chief Antonio Guterres said the threats to information integrity are not new but are now spreading at unprecedented speeds due to digital platforms and AI

Energy firms are 'godfathers of climate chaos', should be taxed more: UN

UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres called Wednesday for a windfall tax on profits of fossil fuel companies to help pay for the fight against global warming, calling them the godfathers of climate chaos. Guterres spoke in a bid to revive the world's focus on climate change at a time when elections, inflation and conflict in places like Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan have seized the spotlight. In a speech timed for World Environment Day, the UN chief drew on new data and projections to make a case against Big Oil. The European Union's Copernicus service, a global reference for tracking world temperatures, said that last month was the hottest May ever, marking the 12th straight monthly record high. The service cited an average surface air temperature of 15.9 Celsius (60.6 Fahrenheit) last month or 1.52 degrees Celsius higher than the estimated May average before industrial times. The burning of fossil fuels oil, gas and coal is the main contributor to global warming caused by human ...

Indian official takes over as spl rep of UN chief for disaster risk cut

A top Indian official, Kamal Kishore, has started his term as a special representative of UN chief Antonio Guterres for disaster risk reduction. On March 28, Kishore, 55, was appointed by Guterres as his special representative for disaster risk reduction. Kishore was earlier with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). He succeeds Mami Mizutori of Japan at the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR). The UNDRR welcomed on May 20 the arrival of Kishore, who started his term as the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Head of UNDRR, the office said in a statement on Thursday. Kishore said that the UNDRR plays an important role in drawing together global efforts to reduce disaster risks in the face of increasing vulnerabilities, and said he was looking forward to building on the progress made to date. "UNDRR's ambition matches the scale of the problem," he said. He commended the leadership of the .

UN Secretary General Guterres following Pak polls situation very closely

In the wake of the general elections in Pakistan, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is following the situation in the country very closely and has urged the authorities and political leaders to refrain from violence and avoid actions that could increase tensions. Stephane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, made these remarks at the daily press briefing here on Monday. On the elections in Pakistan, I can tell you that he is indeed following the situation very closely and continuing to monitor the situation following the general elections, Dujarric said while responding to a question on the Secretary-General's reaction to the outcome of last week's election in Pakistan. Guterres calls for resolving all issues and disputes through the established legal frameworks and for human rights and the rule of law to be fully respected in the interest of the people of Pakistan. The Secretary-General urges the authorities, and political leaders to maintain a calm atmosphere and

UN Chief Guterres to organise 2nd meeting of special envoys for Afghanistan

Meanwhile, the Taliban has called for the invitation of its representatives to the meeting of the special envoy

Gaza now 'uninhabitable' due to Israel-Hamas war: UN humanitarian chief

The U.N. humanitarian chief described Gaza on Friday as uninhabitable three months into Israel's war with Hamas, warning that famine was looming and a public health disaster unfolding. In a grim assessment of the devastating impact of Israel's military response to the horrific Hamas attacks on October 7, Martin Griffiths said that Gaza's 2.3 million people face daily threats to their very existence while the world just watches. He said tens of thousands of people, mostly women and children, have been killed or injured, families are sleeping in the open as temperatures plummet, and areas where Palestinians were told to relocate have been bombed. People are facing the highest levels of food insecurity ever recorded (and) famine is around the corner, Griffiths said. The few partially functioning hospitals are overwhelmed and critically short of supplies, medical facilities are under relentless attack, infectious diseases are spreading, and amidst the chaos some 180 Palestinian women ar

Violence against women a horrific violation of human rights, says Guterres

November 25 is observed as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Concerned on reports of seizure of India-bound vessel by Houthis: Guterres

The UN Secretary-General is following with "deep concern" reports of the seizure of a vessel by the Houthis in the Red Sea that was reportedly en route between Turkiye and India, a spokesperson said. On Sunday, a British-owned and Japanese-operated ship named "Galaxy Leader" was seized near Hodeida, Yemen, while sailing for India, according to the vessel's operator, NYK Line. The vehicle carrier had 25 crew members who were taken hostage by Yemen's Houthi rebels. The NYK said in a press release that it "organised a crisis management centre at its head office to gather information and manage this incident". "As the vessel's charterer, we are prioritising the safety of the 25 crew members," the NYK said. "I was asked about the incident that took place in the Red Sea concerning the ship, and I can tell you that while the circumstances around the incident remain unclear, we are following with deep concern reports of the seizure by the Houthis of a vessel flying the flag of the Bahamas

Deeply shocked: Antonio Guterres on UN-run schools attacked in Gaza

He added by saying that several women and children who were seeking shelter in the UNRWA schools there have been reportedly killed or suffered serious injuries

Int'l humanitarian law no a la carte menu, can't be applied selectively: UN

He reiterated his call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and humanitarian access to be granted consistently to meet the urgent needs created by the catastrophe unfolding in Gaza

Protection of civilians is paramount: UN chief amid Israel-Hamas conflict

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday said that the protection of civilians is "paramount" and added that the laws of war establish clear rules to protect the life of humans and respect humanitarian concerns.Taking to X, Guterres stated, "The protection of civilians is paramount. The Laws of War establish clear rules to protect human life and respect humanitarian concerns. Those laws cannot be contorted for the sake of expedience."Guterres, who is in Nepal on a four-day visit, offered condolences to the families of the 10 Nepali students killed in Hamas attacks on Israel. He wished for the safe return of Bipin Joshi, a Nepali citizen who is missing. He called for "immediate and unconditional release" of all hostages in Gaza.In a post shared on X, Antonio Guterres stated, "I thank the government of Nepal for inviting me to the country. I offer my condolences to the families of the 10 Nepali students killed in the terror attacks by Hamas in Israel & my best ..