23 October 2017 – Unless the international community integrates wildlife conservation with sustainable development, it will not be able to protect the remaining animal species on Earth, the head of a United Nations-backed environmental treaty today said at the opening of a wildlife conference in the Philippines.

&#8220Development without a regard for the environment is not sustainable. Their future is our future,&#8221 said the Executive Secretary of the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), Brandee Chambers, in a press conference on the opening day of the Twelfth Meeting of countries that have joined CMS.

The week-long event is being billed as &#8220the year’s largest wildlife conference,&#8221 and is for the first time being convened in Asia since the treaty was adopted in Germany in 1979.

More than 1,000 delegates from 120 countries are expected for the five-day conference that will focus on protecting some of the most vulnerable animals in the world, such as the whale shark, which is the world’s largest fish with a rapidly declining population due to fishing, illegal poaching, and other human activity.

Among other animals that the hundreds of governments, civil society and private sector representatives, and experts will discuss are ten species of vultures and the Steppe Eagle, which are threatened with extinction, and the giraffe, which is not safeguarded by any convention.

Participants are also expected to strengthen their work with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), to conserve African carnivores, such as the African lion, the cheetah, the leopard, and the African wild dog.

These proposals are among the 31 to discussed at the conference, affecting at least 35 different species.

The theme of this year’s conference is the &#8220Their Future is Our Future &#8211 Sustainable Development for Wildlife & People,&#8221 and links to the Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to alleviate poverty and hunger, while improving health and education, and protecting oceans and forests.

At today’s press conference, Mr. Chambers spoke alongside Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UN Environment, CITES Secretary General, John Scanlon, and UN Environment Goodwill Ambassadors, Nadya Hutagalung and Yann Arthus-Bertrand, along with the Philippines Department of Environment and Natural Resources Director, Roy Cimato.

&#8220Our wildlife is not an optional extra, but the basis upon which all our livelihoods and progress depend,&#8221 Mr. Chambers said in a press release later in the day.

23 October 2017 – The heads of the United Nations and the African Union have expressed their organizations’ commitment to assist Kenya in ensuring a credible and transparent process in the rerun of the recent presidential election.

In a joint statement issued Sunday by the two organizations, UN Secretary-General António Guterres and AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat urged all political actors, parties and their supporters to create conditions for a peaceful election and refrain from any act of violence.

On 1 September, the Supreme Court of Kenya nullified the August 2017 election and ordered the holding of a new one.

&#8220It is critical that all concerned work towards the preservation of calm and peace in the country,&#8221 the statement said.

The two leaders said that they continue to closely monitor developments in Kenya, in the light of the forthcoming election, calling on all stakeholders to cooperate with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the constitutionally-mandated body to conduct the election.

They stressed the need for the Kenyan security services to exercise restraint, use minimal force in performing their duties and respect the freedom and political liberties of all Kenyans.

21 October 2017 – Condemning &#8220in the strongest terms&#8221 the terrorist attack that took place Friday in Egypt’s El Wahat desert, the United Nations Security Council underlined the need to bring the perpetrators and sponsors of such &#8220reprehensible acts&#8221 to justice.

According to reports, more than 50 police personnel were killed and many injured.

&#8220Terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security,&#8221 reaffirmed the Security Council members in a press statement issued today.

&#8220Any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whomsoever committed,&#8221 they reiterated.

They also underlined the need for all UN Member States to combat by all means, in accordance with the UN Charter as well as other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts.

The Security Council members also expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the Government of Egypt, and they wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured.

21 October 2017 – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres met Friday with United States President Donald Trump and discussed, among others, tensions in the Korean Peninsula and the fight against terrorism.

According to a readout of the meeting, the Mr. Guterres and Mr. Trump discussed UN effectiveness and reform, as well as global issues of mutual concern, including Myanmar, the tensions in the Korean Peninsula, the situation in the wider Middle East, and the fight against global terrorism.

&#8220The two committed to work together to address these and other common challenges in the coming months,&#8221 the readout added.

The meeting was held on Friday, 20 October at the White House, Washington, D.C.

20 October 2017 – United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has strongly condemned today’s attacks at mosques in Afghanistan’s Kabul city and Ghor Province during Friday prayers.

“This week alone, hundreds of Afghan civilians going about their daily lives, including practicing their religious faith, have fallen victims to brutal acts of violence,” the Secretary-General said in a statement from his Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric.

Through the statement, Mr. Guterres emphasized that those responsible must be swiftly brought to justice.

“The cycle of violence must end and dialogue commence,” he said.

The Secretary-General also extended his deepest condolences to the families of the victims and wished a speedy recovery to those injured, while expressing his solidarity with the Afghan people and Government.