Latest United Nations News

Israel seizes Gaza's vital Rafah crossing, but the US says it isn't the full invasion many fear

May. 07, 2024 23:02 PM EDT

CAIRO (AP) — Israeli troops seized control of Gaza’s vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday in what the White House described as a limited operation, as fears mount of a full-scale invasion of the southern city and talks with Hamas over a cease-fire and hostage release remain on a knife’s...

Soccer fans now have a day to celebrate the world's most popular sport -- May 25

May. 07, 2024 22:39 PM EDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Soccer fans around the world will now have a day to celebrate the world's most popular sport every year – May 25. The United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution Tuesday proclaiming May 25 as World Football Day. The sport is called football outside...

The Latest | Israel forces block Gaza's Rafah border crossing. UN says it's running out of fuel

May. 07, 2024 22:10 PM EDT

Israeli forces have seized the Gaza side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, pressing their offensive into the southern city on Tuesday. The closed border means U.N. humanitarian teams in Gaza will run out of diesel fuel by Wednesday, a senior humanitarian official said, leaving them unable to...

Iran and the UN nuclear agency are still discussing how to implement a 2023 deal on inspections

May. 07, 2024 13:48 PM EDT

JERUSALEM (AP) — Iran and the United Nations' nuclear watchdog are still negotiating over how to implement a deal struck last year to expand inspections of the Islamic Republic's rapidly advancing atomic program, officials said Tuesday. The acknowledgment by the International...

Russia defends veto of UN resolution to prohibit nukes in outer space, urges vote to ban all weapons

May. 06, 2024 20:40 PM EDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Russia on Monday defended its veto of a U.N. resolution urging all nations to prevent a nuclear arms race in outer space, challenging the U.S., Japan and their Western allies to support Moscow’s rival resolution calling for a ban on all weapons in space “for all time.”...

The UN says there's 'full-blown famine' in northern Gaza. What does that mean?

May. 06, 2024 13:07 PM EDT

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The head of the United Nations World Food Program says northern Gaza has entered “full-blown famine” after nearly seven months of war between Israel and Hamas. But a formal, and highly sensitive, famine declaration faces the complications of politics and of confirming...

The UN nuclear watchdog chief travels to Iran as its monitoring remains hampered

May. 06, 2024 10:19 AM EDT

JERUSALEM (AP) — The head of the United Nations' atomic watchdog traveled Monday to Iran, where his agency faces increasing difficulty in monitoring the Islamic Republic's rapidly advancing nuclear program as tensions remain high in the wider Middle East over the Israel-Hamas war. ...

South Sudan removes newly imposed taxes that had triggered suspension of UN food airdrops

May. 04, 2024 16:46 PM EDT

JUNA, South Sudan (AP) — Following an appeal from the United Nations, South Sudan removed recently imposed taxes and fees that had triggered suspension of U.N. food airdrops. Thousands of people in the country depend on aid from the outside. The U.N. earlier this week urged South...

The UN warns Sudan's warring parties that Darfur risks starvation and death if aid isn't allowed in

May. 04, 2024 01:59 AM EDT

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations food agency warned Sudan’s warring parties Friday that there is a serious risk of widespread starvation and death in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan if they don’t allow humanitarian aid into the vast western region. Leni Kinzli, the World...

A senior UN official says northern Gaza is now in 'full-blown famine'

May. 03, 2024 22:01 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — A top U.N. official said Friday that hard-hit northern Gaza was now in “full-blown famine" after more than six months of war between Israel and Hamas and severe Israeli restrictions on food deliveries to the Palestinian territory. Cindy McCain, the American...