Afghanistan: Blast kills 15 children in eastern province

An explosion has killed 15 children and injured another 20 people in the east Afghan province of Ghazni, officials and police sources say.

The reason for the explosion in the Gilan district is unclear with officials saying a bomb went off in the back of a rickshaw.

Conflict, floods and COVID-19 push South Sudanese into extreme hunger

Driven by insecurity, the effects of COVID-19, an on-going economic crisis, and the impact of flooding on livehoods, three UN agencies called on Friday for immediate humanitarian access to eastern South Sudan's Pibor county, where people are facing catastrophic levels of hunger.

The Food and Agriculture Organization, UN children's Fund, World Food Programme and other humanitarian aid organisations, are scaling up their responses to save lives and avert a total collapse of livelihoods in hard-to-reach areas.

WHO launches baseline report for Decade of Healthy Ageing

At least 14% of all people aged 60 years and over - more than 142 million people - are currently unable to meet all their basic daily needs according to the Baseline report for the Decade of Healthy Ageing, released by the World Health Organization today.

The Baseline report brings together data available for mesuring healthy ageing, defined by WHO as "the process of developing and maintaining the functional ability that enables well-being in older age.

Are world leaders on track to sort out the climate and nature crisis?

It's not too late to avoid the worst of climate change. With the global climate talks coming up in the UK next year, can we lead the world in taking real action now?

Five years ago in Paris, world leaders made history. In signing the Paris climate agreeement, 197 countries agreed to work together to sort out the climate crisis.

Denmark: Historic victory for women as law changes to recognise that sex without consent is rape

Responding to the passing of a bill in Denmark's Parliament today that, once law, will finally recognise that sex without consent is rape. 

Amnesty International’s Women’s Rights Researcher, Anna Błuś, said:

“This is a great day for women in Denmark as it consigns outdated and dangerous rape laws to the dustbin of history and helps to end pervasive stigma and endemic impunity for this crime."