Economic issues

The World Food Programme (WFP) warned today that Sudan risks becoming the world’s largest hunger crisis in recent history and the only place globally where famine has been confirmed today. WFP explains that nearly 1.7 million people across the country either face famine or are at risk of famine.

Following is the text of UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ video message for the eleventh Summit of the Developing-8 (D-8) Organization for Economic Cooperation, in Cairo today:

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to Parliament of Lesotho, in Maseru today:

Following are UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ remarks to G20 sherpas and finance sherpas, in Johannesburg, South Africa today:

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) concluded its seventy-ninth session today, approving four draft resolutions and two draft decisions on a range of topics, with a vote on a text taking up international tax cooperation.

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today approved 15 draft resolutions and various amendments, with texts ranging from international trade and communications technology to protecting global climate and women in development.

The Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today approved three draft resolutions, two by recorded votes, on entrepreneurship, small island developing States and a new international economic order.

In Sudan, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned today that access constraints there are hindering the ability to deliver supplies and protection to the most vulnerable communities, and effectively monitor the delivery of aid to ensure that it reaches the intended recipients.

As ongoing conflicts, economic volatility and gaping inequality shadow development prospects, regional commissions today highlighted in a joint meeting with the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) the urgent need to bridge digital gaps in sparking opportunity and driving innovation, with the Committee also discussing challenges hampering countries in special situations in a separate session.

While artificial intelligence (AI) and other innovations hold endless promise for driving prosperity and growth, the international community must urgently address the critical and widening digital gap between developed and developing countries, senior United Nations officials and Member States told the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) today as it took up information and communications technologies (ICTs) for sustainable development as well as globalization and interdependence.