Policy and Rights

Ukraine, Afghanistan & other topics - Daily Press Briefing final

**Secretary-General’s Travel The Secretary-General is in Lviv, where he has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The two were later joined by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for a trilateral meeting. In his remarks to the press just now, the Secretary-General reiterated that the United Nations will go on working in full solidarity with the Ukrainian people to mobilize all of our capacities and resources — alongside our national partners — to continue to provide humanita...

WHO Director-General's opening remarks at the COVID-19 media briefing final

Almost 7,500 cases were reported last week, a 20% increase over the previous week, which was also 20% more than the week before. Almost all cases are being reported from Europe and the Americas, and almost all cases continue to be reported among men who have sex with men, underscoring the importance for all countries to design and deliver services and information tailored to these communities that protect health, human rights and dignity. The primary focus for all countries must be to ensur...

one year since the Taliban takeover

Tenth Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

UKRAINE I want to start off with a note and a clarification on Ukraine. As you may have seen in the past few days, there have been repeated comments by various Russian officials accusing the United Nations Secretariat of having either cancelled or blocked a visit by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. I want to clarify a few points. First, the IAEA is a specialized agency that acts in full independence in deciding how to implement its specif...

Ukraine ZAPORIZHZHIA power plant

SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRAVELS The Secretary-General has arrived in the Republic of Korea. Tomorrow he will meet President Yoon Suk Yeol, as well as the Minister of Foreign Affairs. And earlier today in an interview in Ulaanbaatar he expressed his gratitude to the Government and the people of Mongolia for their hospitality and for their support for the UN’s work, as well as the country’s commitment to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. ZAPORIZHZHIA In a statement this morning, the S...

United Nations South Sudan, Mali, Grains & other topics

SOUTH SUDAN The UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) joins the South Sudanese Government in expressing grave concern over reports that four officers from the rebel South Sudan People’s Movement/Army (SSPM/A) have been summarily executed in Mayom County, Unity State, in the north of the country. The executions, which took place on 7 August, were allegedly in response to a 22 July attack by the SSPM/A on the Mayom County Commissioner. Nicholas Haysom, the Secretary-General’s Special Representa...

Security Council Media Stakeout and Israel and Palestine Voilent Weekend Final 8 August 2022

SECRETARY-GENERAL/TRIP The Secretary-General arrived in Ulaanbaatar, today – the capital of Mongolia today. This is his second stop during this current trip. As you know, Mongolia is a nuclear weapon free zone, and has also been an important interlocutor of the United Nations in relation to the situation on the Korean Peninsula. The issue of the Peninsula will come up in discussions the Secretary-General will have on his current trip. He will then go to the Republic of Korea. Earlier today in...

Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland on support for wineries and other businesses final

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland holds a news conference in Grand Pré, Nova Scotia, after touring a local winery. She discusses her government's record on helping small businesses and highlights a $166 million investment in Canada’s wine sector that was previously announced in the 2022 federal budget. Liberal MP Kody Blois (Kings–Hants) and Hanspeter Stutz (owner and president of Domaine de Grand Pré) also take part in the event. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreake...

United Nations Black Sea Grain Initiative, Syria and nuclear weapons final

SECRETARY-GENERAL’S TRAVEL The Secretary-General arrived in Hiroshima, in Japan, a few hours ago, where he will take part tomorrow in the Peace Memorial Ceremony. At the ceremony, he will reiterate his call on world leaders to urgently eliminate stockpiles of nuclear weapons. He will also meet a group of surviving victims of the atomic bombs, known as the hibakusha, in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Mr. Guterres will also participate in a dialogue with young activists. Later, he will move on to ...

We must show that we can put the world on a better path UN Chief final

UN chief said that “Every day we wait leads us closer to a global breakdown – both physical and political. But while the problems before us are unprecedented, they are not insurmountable.” Briefing today (4 Aug) on the progress in the implementation of recommendations contained in the report on “Our Common Agenda”, Secretary-General António Guterres said that global shocks are “unabated and growing.” “Business as usual will almost certainly guarantee a future of constant crises and devastat...

Defence Minister Anita Anand announces Canada will help train Ukrainian soldiers final

Defence Minister Anita Anand announced the plan on Thursday, saying up to 225 Canadian Armed Forces members will eventually be based in Britain for an initial period of four months. There they will work alongside counterparts from Britain, the Netherlands and New Zealand in training Ukrainian soldiers on the basics of soldiering. “Training missions like this, assisting our allies and our partners when they are under attack, is what we do,” Anand said during a virtual news conference. “It is...

Post-secondary education expanding for students on the Westshore final

Join Premier John Horgan; Anne Kang, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills Training; Mitzi Dean, MLA for Esquimalt-Metchosin; and others for an announcement about expanding post-secondary education for students on the Westshore. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

Ukraine- Global Crisis Response Group final

Briefing by António Guterres, UN Secretary-General and the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Secretary-General Rebeca Grynspan to introduce the third report of the Global Crisis Response Group. Earlier this year, the Secretary-General launched this series of reports to examine the impact of the war in Ukraine on food, fuel and finance sectors. Secretary-General António Guterres today (3 Aug) urged governments to tax oil and gas companies' “excessive profits” and said it was “im...

Ukraine, Democratic Republic of the Congo & other topics - final

SG TRIP ANNOUNCEMENT The Secretary-General will be heading to Japan, where he will take part in the Peace Memorial Ceremony in Hiroshima, held on 6 August every year. The ceremony aims to console the souls of those lost to the atomic bombing, as well as to pray for the realization of lasting world peace. The Secretary-General will honour the victims of the bombings, commemorate all victims of the second world war, and reiterate his call to world leaders to urgently eliminate stockpiles of n...

Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons- Tenth Review Conference final

Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons- Tenth Review Conference final Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

President of the Security Council China on Programme of work final

Hybrid press briefing by Ambassador Zhang Jun, Permanent Representative of China and President of the Security Council for August. Asked about a possible visit by the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun said, “our position is firm. Our determination is firm. We will do whatever we can to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity. I hope the US government officials understand that well.” Speaking today (01 Aug) in ...

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi holds weekly news briefing on the Chips Bill final

Congress passes bipartisan $280 billion bill aimed at challenging China’s dominance in chip manufacturing A bill authorizing $280 billion to boost the country’s manufacturing and technological competitiveness against China is one step closer to becoming a law. The legislation, called CHIPS and Science Act, Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

Adopting Resolution 2647 (2022), Security Council Extends Libya Support Mission’s Mandate for Three Months final

Adopting resolution 2647 (2022) (to be issued as document S/RES/2647) by a vote of 12 in favour to none against, with three abstentions (Gabon, Ghana, Kenya), the Council reiterated its decision that UNSMIL should be led by a Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Tripoli and called on the Secretary-General to promptly appoint the same. Through the text, the Council also called on the relevant Libyan institutions and authorities to implement confidence-building measures to create...

Ukraine's grain is ready to go but the mine are explosive final

The goal over the next four months is to get some 20 million tons of grain out of three Ukrainian sea ports blocked since Russia's Feb. 24 invasion. That provides time for about four to five large bulk carriers per day to transport grain from the ports to millions of impoverished people worldwide facing hunger. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

Conservative MPs comment on N

On Parliament Hill, Conservative MPs Raquel Dancho, Stephen Ellis and Rick Perkins hold a news conference ahead of the House of Commons public safety committee's first meeting on alleged political interference in the investigation of the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting. The committee is examining whether former Public Safety Minister Bill Blair and the Prime Minister's Office exerted political pressure on RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki to release details about the investigation into the mass s...

Palestine: Violence must stop, Tensions mounting - Security Council Briefing | United Nations

Briefing by Lynn Hastings, Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process and UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, on the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question. The Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Lynn Hastings said, “immediate steps to reverse negative trends and to support the Palestinian people are essential. The violence must stop. The tensions that have been mou...

Pope Francis delivers apology during visit to former residential school (w: English interpretation) final

I humbly beg forgiveness for the evil committed by so many Christians against the Indigenous Peoples. Pope Francis Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

Media briefing on monkeypox with Dr Tedros final

A month ago, I convened the Emergency Committee under the International Health Regulations to assess whether the multi-country monkeypox outbreak represented a public health emergency of international concern. At that meeting, while differing views were expressed, the committee resolved by consensus that the outbreak did not represent a public health emergency of international concern. At the time, 3040 cases of monkeypox had been reported to WHO, from 47 countries. Since then, the outbrea...

PM Trudeau on N.S. clean power, Europe's reliance on Russian energy, Hockey Canada

In Halifax, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces an investment of up to $255 million for clean energy projects in the province. He is joined by Sean Fraser (federal minister of immigration and MP for Central Nova, Nova Scotia), Kody Blois (MP for Kings-Hants, Nova Scotia) and Chief Sidney Peters (Glooscap First Nation). The prime minister responds to questions from reporters about Canada's potential to help wean Europe off of its reliance on Russian energy and his government’s decision to ...

Yemen, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea & other topics - UN Daily Press Briefing final

Highlights: - Secretary-General - Yemen - Lebanon - Sri Lanka Papua New Guinea - Climate/Sustainable Development Goals - World Food Programme Transport Training Centre SECRETARY-GENERAL The Secretary-General, António Guterres, will travel to Istanbul, Türkiye, this evening as part of his efforts to ensure full global access to Ukraine’s food products and Russian food and fertilizer. YEMEN The Special Envoy for Yemen, Hans Grundberg, has intensified his engagements with the parties to...

World report on the health of refugees & migrants & other global health issues final

One in every 8 people on our planet is a refugee or migrant, and the numbers are growing. With conflicts, climate change, growing inequality, and global emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic, more and more people will be on the move. Like anyone else, refugees and migrants have the right to the highest attainable standard of health. But the health needs of refugees and migrants are often neglected or unaddressed in the countries they pass through, or settle in. They face multiple...

Children leaving armed groups need our full support to heal final

Children leaving armed groups need our full support to heal. They need medical care, to be reunited with their families, and have opportunities to learn. Most importantly, communities need to be supported to welcome them. Children leaving armed groups are seen as a threat and more work needs to be done to help people understand their needs and what they have been through. In addition to this, there is a big gap in opportunities for children and young people leaving armed groups. They need to ...

PM Trudeau on oceans protection, turbines decision, Hockey Canada final

Canadians are proud of our oceans. With the longest coastline in the world, marine and coastal areas are essential to our livelihoods and our economy right across the country. Since it was launched in 2016, the Oceans Protection Plan has strengthened protections for our coasts and wildlife, improved marine traffic and incident management, and advanced partnerships with Indigenous communities. The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced the next phase of Canada’s Oceans Protection Pla...

Moment for Nature, Heatwaves & other topics final

World Must Steer Humanity to Path of Living in Harmony with Planet, Says Secretary-General, at General Assembly Nature Debate Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

B.C. receiving over $870M in federal funding for disaster recovery amid current wildfires

Bill Blair, the federal minister of emergency preparedness, and Mike Farnworth, the British Columbia minister of public safety, speak with reporters in Vancouver. The news conference follows the fifth and final meeting of the committee of federal and B.C. ministers on disaster response and climate resilience, which was struck in November 2021 to coordinate responses to extreme weather events in the province. Minister Blair announces that the federal government will be delivering advance payme...

Columbia Peace Process update from the United Nations Security Council final

Briefing the Security Council today (14 Jul) the Special Representative for the Secretary-General in Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, said that while there are reasons for encouragement, “violence continues against communities, leaders and former combatants” and called for their security to be guaranteed through the Peace Agreement. Ruiz Massieu said, “it saddens me to have to inform you about the killing of four more former combatants since the Secretary-General´s report was published two wee...

PM Justin Trudeau on EV battery plant investment, health care, interest rate hike final

In Kingston, Ont., Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces a partnership with Umicore, a materials technology and recycling company, to bring a facility for the production of electric vehicle batteries to the province. The new net-zero facility will be built in Loyalist Township and is expected to create 1,000 jobs during its construction and hundreds of permanent positions. He is joined by François-Philippe Champagne (federal minister of innovation, science and industry), Vic Fedeli (Ontario...

Syria- Security Council Adopted Resolution Re-authorising Cross-border Humanitarian Aid final

The Security Council adopted a resolution re-authorising cross-border humanitarian aid deliveries through the Bab al-Hawa crossing on the Syrian-Turkish border for an additional six months, until 10 January 2023. The resolution had 12 votes in favor, no votes against, and three abstentions: the United States, United Kingdom, and France. The draft was produced by the humanitarian penholders on Syria, Ireland and Norway. The vote followed intense, difficult negotiations, said Geraldine Byrne...

Council of the Federation Closing news conference Premiers of Canada on Healthcare final

Canada's Premiers came together in Victoria for their first in-person meeting in over two years, to emphasize the urgent need for a new, sustainable health care funding partnership for Canadians. As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has intensified the pre-existing fractures in our health systems' foundations, we are at a critical point for the sustainability of our health care services. Canadians cannot wait any longer. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/...

Russian deputy comments after they VETOed resolution by Ireland and Norway on Syria - UNSC Stakeout final

The Security Council today failed to reauthorize use of the Bab al-Hawa border crossing for the delivery of humanitarian aid into Syria, unable to pass either of two competing resolutions that would have kept open a critical lifeline to more than 4.1 million people in the country’s north-west, many of whom were forcibly displaced by violence during the 11-year war. The first draft resolution — submitted by Norway and Ireland — was defeated owing to the veto cast by the Russian Federation in ...

President Biden Delivers Remarks on Protecting Access to Reproductive Health Care Services final

President Biden issue an executive order to help the way for Women's Reproductive Rights and ask all women to show for a election and vote Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

British Columbia Update on COVID-19 fall vaccinations final

People in B.C. can look ahead to their next COVID-19 vaccine dose with the Province announcing a fall booster program as the next step in its COVID-19 immunization plan. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

WHO-AUDIO_Emergencies_Coronavirus_and_Monkey_Pox_Press_Conference_14JUN2022 final

On COVID-19, globally reported cases have increased nearly 30% over the past two weeks. Four out of six of the WHO sub-regions saw cases increase in the last week. In Europe and America, BA.4 and BA.5 are driving waves. In countries like India a new sub lineage of BA.2.75 has also been detected, which we’re following. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

UN:EU Retreat, Mali, Central African Republic & other topics - Daily Press Briefing final

UN/EU Retreat, Mali, Central African Republic & other topics - Daily Press Briefing final.mp3 Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

National Chief RoseAnne Archibald reacts to her suspension as she addresses AFN general assembly final

Assembly of First Nations National Chief RoseAnne Archibald delivers remarks in Vancouver as the AFN holds its 2022 annual general assembly. Her remarks come as the assembly is set to debate resolutions concerning her suspension from the role of national chief. The AFN's executive committee and national board of directors suspended Archibald with pay on June 17, 2022, pending the outcome of an investigation into four complaints made against her by staff members. The suspension came one day af...

Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland speaks with reporters in Brampton Ont final

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland holds a news conference in Brampton, Ontario, after touring a local trucking facility. She is joined by Liberal MPs Shafqat Ali (Brampton Centre), Ruby Sahota (Brampton North), Maninder Sidhu (Brampton East) and Sonia Sidhu (Brampton South), Tanvir Singh (operations manager, KJS Transport Inc.) and Bob Punia (Ontario Dump Truck Association). She responds to questions on a new Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives’ study that says the Bank of Canada’s ...

MALI, UNMISS, UKRAINE & other topics - UN Daily Press Briefing final

HIGH-LEVEL POLITICAL FORUM The High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development began this morning under the theme of “Building back better from the coronavirus disease while advancing the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.” This afternoon, the Forum will review the implementation of sustainable development goal 17 on partnerships. The Forum will address financing a robust crisis response and investing in the Sustainable Development Goals, mobilizing an...

Brazil President of the Security Council for July on the Programme of work final

Ambassador Ronaldo Costa Filho, Permanent Representative of Brazil and President of the Security Council for July on the programme of work of the Security Council in July 2022. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

Deputy PM Chrystia Freeland on inflation, gas prices, COVID-19, Canada Day protests

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland speaks with reporters while visiting an automotive parts manufacturer in Newmarket, Ontario. She highlights measures from the federal government's recently announced plan to minimize the effect of rising inflation. Responding to questions from reporters, she comments on Ontario Premier Doug Ford's call for her government to temporarily lower gas taxes in order to provide more relief from gas prices. She is also asked about Canada's COVID-19 situation an...

WHO-AUDIO_Emergencies_Coronavirus_Press_Conference_June 29 2022

in light of the decision by the US Supreme Court overturning the ‘Roe v Wade’, I want to reaffirm WHO’s position. All women should have the right to choose when it comes to their bodies and health. Full stop. Safe abortion IS health care. It saves lives. Restricting it drives women and girls towards unsafe abortions; resulting in complications, even death. The evidence is irrefutable. Limiting access to safe abortion costs lives and has a major impact particularly on women from the poore...

British Columbia Ongoing opioid litigation announcement

Opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma (Canada) (Purdue Canada) has agreed to a first of its kind settlement in Canada resulting from B.C.-led efforts to recover health-care costs related to the sale and marketing of opioid-based pain medicines. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

New temporary assistance for Ukrainian citizens

Eligibility for hardship assistance is based on need and can be as much as $935 per month (single person), as much as $1,770 per month (family of four), as much as $1,358.50 per month (single person with a disability) and as much as $2,193.50 per month (family of four, one adult is a person with a disability). Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

United Nation Syria, Yemen, Sudan:Ethiopia & other topics

SYRIA The UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Syria, Imran Riza, said today that humanitarian needs are unprecedented. Today, 14.6 million men, women and children require aid, which is an increase of 1.2 million people from 2021 and the highest level since the crisis began. The rapid rise is driven by a deepening economic crisis, ongoing displacement, continued fighting in some parts of the country and climate shocks. More than 90 per cent of Syrians are currently estimated to live...

PM Justin Trudeau reacts to U

Speaking briefly with reporters in Kigali, Rwanda, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly react to the United States Supreme Court's decision overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling on abortion rights. Trudeau and Joly are in Kigali attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.

United Nations Afghanistan recent earthquake

Security Council briefing by Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, on the situation in Afghanistan. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/policy-and-rights--3339563/support.