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Gaza: UNICEF mourns seven children killed queuing for water

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Gaza: UNICEF mourns seven children killed queuing for water

The incident occurred in central Gaza on Sunday, according to media reports, which said that four other people also lost their lives due to the Israeli airstrike. 

The Israeli military said it had been targeting a terrorist but a “technical error” saw the munition stray off course.

Uphold protection of children

UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell noted that the incident came just days after several women and children were killed while lining up for nutritional supplies.

The Israeli authorities must urgently review the rules of engagement and ensure full compliance with international humanitarian law, notably the protection of civilians, including children,” she wrote in a statement posted on X.

The UN has repeatedly deplored the killing of Palestinians seeking food aid amid the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, where food security experts have warned that the entire population is not getting enough to eat.

Stockpiles of food available

Meanwhile, “truckloads of food and medical supplies are waiting in warehouses” just outside the enclave, UN Palestine refugee agency UNRWA said in a tweet.

It included a quote from one of its health workers who said that “in the past, I only saw such cases of malnutrition in textbooks and documentaries.  Today, I am treating them face to face in the health centre.”

UNRWA appealed for starvation of civilians to stop and for the siege to be lifted.  

Let the UN, including UNRWA, do its lifesaving work,” the tweet said.

West Bank annexation ‘well underway’

Separately, UNRWA also highlighted the situation of Palestinians in the occupied West Bank against the backdrop of the war in Gaza.

Agency chief Philippe Lazzarini told an international conference in Switzerland on Monday that “annexation is well underway.”

UNRWA said “this is not just destruction: it is part of systematic forced displacement, a violation of international law, and a form of collective punishment.”

In January, Israeli forces launched operations in Tulkarm and Jenin in the West Bank, which UNRWA has previously said are the most extensive in two decades.

Humanitarians reported last week that the operations are causing massive destruction and displacement while attacks by Israeli settlers have intensified.

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UN-backed labour standards at risk as tariff uncertainty grows

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UN-backed labour standards at risk as tariff uncertainty grows

Threatened or actual tariff increases are largely focused on taxing imports into the United States and will make the products made by factories outside the country more expensive – a situation which may drive down demand.

The ILO’s Better Work programme, a partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), has supported garment factories, many of which export their products to the United States.

The ILO’s Sara Park explained to UN News what could happen next.

Sara Park: Better Work currently operates in the garment, textile and footwear sector in 13 countries around the world.

It was set up 24 years ago in Cambodia to monitor the working conditions in garment factories and since then has focused on improvement and capacity building of factories and our constituencies in the sector, for example occupational safety and health.

There are other elements that support the sector to promote social dialogue, safe and decent work which includes fair wages and working hours. The programme has also helped build productivity in those sectors.

UN News: How is the ILO involved?

Sara Park: The ILO is a tripartite organization, so we work with governments, employers, the unions who represent workers, usually Ministries of Labour, but also with ministries of trade or commerce because the programme focuses on exports.

© Better Work/Aron Simeneh

A worker at a factory in Ethiopia carries out an inspection on fire safety equipment.

But what maybe makes us different from other projects is that we have a very close collaboration with major brands from the US, UK, Europe and Japan to promote responsible business practices.

UN News: How successful has this programme been?

Sara Park: Our studies show that at the factory level we’ve made significant impact, for example by increasing wages and supporting gender-equality related issues, women’s empowerment and women getting more supervisory roles.

Over the quarter of a century of its existence, Better Work has lifted millions of people out of poverty and reduced the environmental impact of the apparel sector by creating decent work in sustainable enterprises.

It’s still hard for unions as freedom of association remains a big challenge.

A woman works at a Better Work-affiliated factory in Viet Nam.

A woman works at a Better Work-affiliated factory in Viet Nam.

If you’re trying to develop a whole industry and make it competitive, it takes years if not decades; however, we have seen improvements in the factories where we work.

Better Work-enrolled factories have also reported an increase in orders from buyers.

UN News: So, this is good for business as well?

Sara Park: This is good for business, and productivity in individual factories. Governments also tell us that the programme supports confidence and thus growth of the industry as a whole in participating countries.

Garment employees work on a production line of an exporting clothing plant in Jordan.

© Better Work/Marcel Crozet

Garment employees work on a production line of an exporting clothing plant in Jordan.

UN News: How has Better Work been affected by recent global changes in development funding?

Sara Park: As we know from recent developments, the US Government has cut funding and that has affected our programmes in Haiti and Jordan, which were almost fully funded by the US. The other countries have not been affected, as we are lucky to have very diverse funding.

UN News: Why is the ILO’s ongoing support needed once the relationship between factory and the buyer is set up?

Sara Park: The buyers, which are often well-known companies, require a sustainable way of monitoring working conditions to ensure they are in compliance with international labour standards; this is important to eliminate risk from the buyers’ perspective.

The Better Work programme supports improvements in factories, by conducting assessments, advisory and learning sessions and helps all parties to better understand compliance with the standards. It also works with governments, workers and employers to build capacity.

Workers take their lunch break at a garment factory in Indonesia.

© Better Work/Feri Latief

Workers take their lunch break at a garment factory in Indonesia.

UN News: Currently there is widespread uncertainty about tariffs, the taxing of imported goods particularly into the United States. How is the garment sector impacted?

Sara Park: At the moment, we don’t know what the impact will be. Governments are monitoring the situation. Employers and, of course, the unions are worried.

It is extremely challenging for factories as uncertainty means they cannot plan even for the short term, as they don’t know what orders they will have. They are also concerned about paying workers.

Better Work-enrolled factories are providing primarily jobs in the formal sector; if they close, then those jobs may move to the informal sector where workers have fewer protections.

In countries like Jordan for example, migrants make up the majority of the workforce in the garment industry, most of them come from South and Southeast Asia.

UN News: How is this uncertainty impacting investment in the global garment industry?

Sara Park: During periods of crisis or uncertainty, investment generally pauses. One concern is that factories stop investing in improving working conditions, which could affect occupational safety and health.

For example, heat stress is a serious issue. Recently, in Pakistan temperatures reached 50 degrees Celsius so action needs to be taken to protect workers. This may not happen if investment dries up.

UN News: What would you say to a garment worker who was worried about his or her job?

Sara Park: We understand this is a worry for many workers. Yet the work of the ILO is continuing to ensure that workers are protected and the ILO remains in those countries and is committed to improving conditions for all workers across different sectors.

We will continue to promote social dialogue because that’s how improvements can be made at factory, sectoral and national level.

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Which urges the deployment of the first prevention of HIV prolonged action

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The injectable Lénacapavir – Len, to be short – is a very effective antiretroviral alternative with prolonged action to daily oral pills and other shorter action options, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

“While a HIV vaccine remains elusive, Lénacapavir is the next best thing: a long -lasting antiretroviral shown in trials to prevent almost all HIV infections among people at risk”, “ said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Managing Director.

Advantage of the test kit

WHO support for injectable drugs is important because HIV prevention efforts are stagnating around the world.

To facilitate the reception of the injection near his home, the United Nations agency also recommends the use of rapid test kits for the diseaseIn contrast to “complex and costly procedures”.

According to the agency, 1.3 million people contracted HIV in 2024; The most affected people were sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs, people in prisons and children and adolescents.

“Who is committed to working with countries and partners to ensure that this innovation reaches communities so quickly and safely,” insisted Tedros, in the comments during the 13th International AIDS Society conference (IAS 2025) on HIV Science, in Kigali, Rwanda.

The recommendation for Len also complies with the American health authorities who approved it in June.

Call for implementation

Although access to LEN injection remains limited today outside of clinical trials, which has urged governments, donors and partners to integrate the “immediately” in the national HIV prevention programs.

Other HIV prevention options supported by WHO include daily oral tablets, an injectable cabogravir – which is injected once every two months – and the vaginal ring of Dapivirin, as part of an increasing number of tools to end the HIV epidemic.

Financing dilemma

In the middle of Massive financing cuts on global effort to put an end to HIV – including the main program of the American government launched in 2003, Pepfar, focusing on the fight against disease in Africa – which has also published new Operational guidance On how to maintain priority HIV services.

“We have the tools and knowledge necessary to put an end to aid … What we need now is the daring implementation of these recommendations, based on equity and fueled by communities”, ” said Dr. Meg Doherty, director of the HIV department, hepatitis and IST programs, director of science, research, evidence and health quality.

HIV remains a major global public health problem.

At the end of 2024, around 40.8 million people lived with HIV with around 65% in Africa. About 630,000 people died of HIV in the world and around 1.3 million people have acquired HIV, including 120,000 children.

More positively, access to HIV drugs continues to develop, with 31.6 million people receiving treatment in 2024, compared to 30.3 million a year earlier. Without antiretroviral drugs, the HIV virus attacks the body’s immune system, ultimately leading to the start of AIDS.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

EU and Indonesia agree to new economic partnership

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EU and Indonesia agree to new economic partnership

A new Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has been agreed on between the EU and Indonesia. The agreement will promote trade and investment, foster inclusive and sustainable growth, and strengthen supply chains. CEPA will also support cooperation on critical raw materials.

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EU and Indonesia agree to new economic partnership

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EU and Indonesia agree to new economic partnership

A new Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) has been agreed on between the EU and Indonesia. The agreement will promote trade and investment, foster inclusive and sustainable growth, and strengthen supply chains. CEPA will also support cooperation on critical raw materials. Source link

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Media advisory – Foreign Affairs Council of 15 July 2025

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Media advisory – Foreign Affairs Council of 15 July 2025

Main agenda items, approximate timing, public sessions and press opportunities.

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Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the alignment of certain countries concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia’s actions destabilising the situation in Ukraine

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EU and Indonesia agree to new economic partnership

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Opening remarks by President António Costa at the meeting with President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto

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Media advisory – Foreign Affairs Council of 15 July 2025

European Council President António Costa met with the President of Indonesia Prabowo Subianto in Brussels. In his opening remarks, he highlighted that the trade agreement will deepen our exchanges and build a strategic partnership that reflects our shared objectives.

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Sustained labor standards not sustained as price uncertainty increases

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The threatened or real rate increases are largely focused on taxation of imports to the United States and will make products made by factories outside the country more expensive-a situation that could lower demand.

THE Ilo‘s Best work Program, a partnership with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) supported clothing factories, many of which export their products to the United States.

The Sara Park of the ILO explained to UN News Which could then happen.

Sara Park: Better Work currently operates in the clothing, textiles and shoes in 13 countries around the world.

It was created 24 years ago in Cambodia to monitor working conditions in clothing factories and has since focused on improving and strengthening the capacities of factories and our constituencies in the sector, for example safety and health at work.

There are other elements that support the sector to promote social dialogue, safe and decent work that includes fair wages and working hours. The program has also contributed to strengthening productivity in these sectors.

UN news: How is the ILO involved?

Sara Park: The ILO is a tripartite organization, so we work with governments, employers, unions that represent workers, generally the ministries of labor, but also with the Ministries of Commerce or Commerce because the program focuses on exports.

© Best Work / Aron Simeneh

A worker of a factory in Ethiopia performs an inspection on fire safety equipment.

But what makes us different from other projects is that we have a very close collaboration with the major brands of the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and Japan to promote responsible commercial practices.

UN news: To what extent did this program succeed?

Sara Park: Our studies show that at the factory level, we have had a significant impact, for example by increasing wages and supporting problems related to gender equality, the empowerment of women and women obtaining more roles of supervision.

During the quarter -century of its existence, better work withdrew millions of people from poverty and reduced the environmental impact of the clothing sector by creating decent work in sustainable companies.

It is always difficult for unions because freedom of association remains a great challenge.

A woman works in a better factory affiliated with work at Viet Nam.

If you try to develop an entire industry and make it competitive, it takes years, even decades; However, we have seen improvements in the factories where we work.

Better factories registered at work also reported an increase in buyers’ orders.

UN news: So, is it good for business too?

Sara Park: It’s good for business and productivity in individual factories. Governments also tell us that the program supports confidence and therefore the growth of industry as a whole in participating countries.

© Better Work / Marcel Crozet

Clothing employees work on a production chain of an export clothing plant in Jordan.

UN news: How has better work been affected by recent world changes in development financing?

Sara Park: As we know by recent developments, the US government has reduced funding and affected our programs in Haiti and Jordan, which was almost entirely funded by the United States. The other countries have not been affected because we are fortunate to have very diverse funding.

UN news: Why is the continuous support of the ILO necessary once the relationship between the factory and the buyer is configured?

Sara Park: Buyers, who are often well -known companies, need a sustainable means of monitoring working conditions to ensure that they comply with international labor standards; This is important to eliminate the risks from the point of view of buyers.

The Better Work program supports improvements in factories, by performing assessments, advisory and learning sessions and helps all parties to better understand compliance with standards. He also works with governments, workers and employers to strengthen capacity.

© Best Work / Feri Latift

Workers take their lunch break in an Indonesia clothing factory.

UN news: Currently, there is generalized uncertainty about prices, the imposition of imported goods, especially in the United States. How is the clothing sector affected?

Sara Park: For the moment, we do not know what the impact will be. Governments monitor the situation. Employers and, of course, unions are worried.

It is extremely difficult for factories, because uncertainty means that they cannot plan even in the short term, because they do not know what orders they will have. They are also concerned about the payment of workers.

Better factories registered at work mainly provide jobs in the formal sector; If they close, these jobs can go through the informal sector where workers have fewer protections.

In countries like Jordan, for example, migrants constitute the majority of the workforce in the clothing industry, most of them come from South and Southeast Asia.

UN news: How does this uncertainty have an impact on investment in the world clothing industry?

Sara Park: During periods of crisis or uncertainty, the investment generally stops. One of the concerns is that factories stop investing in improving working conditions, which could affect safety and health at work.

For example, thermal stress is a serious problem. Recently, in Pakistan, temperatures have reached 50 degrees Celsius, it is necessary to take measures to protect workers. This may not happen if the investment dries up.

UN news: How about a worker of the clothes who worried about his work?

Sara Park: We understand that this is a concern for many workers. However, the work of the ILO continues to ensure that workers are protected and that the ILO remains in these countries and undertakes to improve the conditions of all workers in different sectors.

We will continue to promote social dialogue, because this is how improvements can be made at the factory, the sector and national.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com

United Nations Forum to highlight health, gender equality, oceans, in a critical attempt to achieve development objectives

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2025 High -level political forumor HLPF follows two recent United Nations successful conferences focused on vital development issues: one in June in Nice, France, dedicated to the protection of the oceansand another maintained Seville, Spain, was focused on the financing of sustainable initiatives.

The Seville meeting ended with a appeal to action: to urgently approach the enormous $ 4,000 billion in annual financing funding necessary to reach the SDGs. He also highlighted the urgent need for investment and in -depth reform of the global financial system.

Held under the auspices of the UN Economic and social council (Ecosoc), the forum take place From July 14 to 23 at the UN headquarters in New York.

Here are five key elements to know about this year’s forum:

1. It is a question of accelerating the action

HLPF is the main United Nations platform to follow global progress Sustainable development objectives. It meets each year to review the efforts of countries, share solutions and put pressure for more rapid measures to achieve the objectives of 2030

THE 2025 Forum Subject under the theme:

Advance sustainable, inclusive, scientific solutions based on evidence for 2030 agenda For sustainable development and its sustainable development goals leaving no one behind.

This reflects a growing emergency feeling. With the 2030 deadline quickly approaching, the forum will focus on practical and data -oriented strategies to fill the implementation gaps – in particular in the face of the global crisis that meets, including climate change, inequality and economic instability.

The 17 sustainable development objectives are all interconnected, for example progress on ODD 2 to end hunger are closely linked to health and education progress.

2. Five SDGs under the spotlight

Each year, the HLPF performs in -depth examinations on selected objectives. In 2025, the emphasis will be placed on::

ODD 3: Good health and well-being

Odd 5: gender equality

ODD 8: Decent work and economic growth

SDG 14: Life underwater

SDG 17: partnerships for objectives

These objectives cover a wide range of questions – public health and gender equity with economic resilience and marine conservation.

The ODD 17, which is examined each year, underlines the importance of revitalizing global partnerships and improving the means of implementation – including funding, that the nations signed up last month in Seville.

© Unicef / Tired Bak Mejlvang

3. Countries will share their progress, voluntarily

A characteristic of the HLPF is the voluntary national journals (VNR)-self-assessment of the Member States on their progress towards the SDGs. In 2025, dozens of countries should present their VNRs, providing information on the persistent achievements and challenges.

These criticisms promote transparency, peer learning and responsibility. They also provide a platform to civil society and other stakeholders to engage directly with governments on development priorities.

VNR Labs – Interactive sessions focused on national criticism – Create a space for dialogue, innovation and collaboration

4. These are not only governments

Although the HLPF is an intergovernmental platform of the United Nations, it brings together a diversified range of votes, in particular young groups, local authorities, indigenous peoples, NGOs, academics, private sector and agencies of the United Nations system.

A rich program of secondary events, exhibitions and round tables. This inclusive approach reflects the spirit of the 2030 program, which recognizes that sustainable development is a universal and shared company.

A wide view of the opening of the high -level 2023 political forum on sustainable development convened under the auspices of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), held in the general assembly room.

5 – 4 – 3 – 2 – 1 The final countdown

With only five years to deliver the 2030 program, the HLPF 2025 marks a critical inflection point.

It is more than an annual recording. This year’s session arrives at a time when science, solidarity and urgent action must converge. It will help set the tone for the next summit of sustainable development objectives in 2027, where world leaders will take stock of collective progress and determine the final push around 2030.

What is happening now – at this time limit of two thirds – will shape whether the SDGs will make a global promise or will become a missed opportunity.

Originally published at Almouwatin.com