Photo UN/M. Elias The UN General Assembly meets to discuss the economic, trade and financial embargo imposed by the United States against Cuba. Top news of the day | Tuesday: development, Ebola, Cuba, police UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: almost half of the goals set within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals are being implemented too slowly, the death toll from Ebola in DR Congo has exceeded 500, the General Assembly discussed US sanctions against Cuba, the fifth Police Chiefs Summit opens at the UN.
Sustainable Development Goals
Since 2015, when the Sustainable Development Agenda was adopted, billions of people have gained access to clean water, electricity, health care and the internet. However, without urgent additional efforts, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will not be achieved by 2030. This is stated in the new edition of the annual UN report. Only 36 percent of targets for which data are available are on track or showing moderate progress. Almost half of the goals set are being implemented too slowly, and for 15 percent of them the situation has even worsened compared to the level of 2015.
Ebola outbreak
Ebola fever, caused by the Bundibugyo virus, continues to spread in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), while the true extent of the outbreak remains unknown. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned about this on Tuesday. As of July 4, the country’s authorities had recorded 1,561 confirmed cases of the disease, including 506 deaths. Another 254 people have recovered. More than 10 thousand people who had contact with the sick are under observation.
The situation in Cuba
At the initiative of Cuba, the UN General Assembly met on Tuesday for a special meeting dedicated to US sanctions against the island state. Despite the objections of the United States due to the fact that the General Assembly had already discussed this topic during the current session, the majority of member states supported the debate. Speaking at the meeting, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla said that the humanitarian consequences of the sanctions are increasing, and their result is systematic violations of the rights of the entire Cuban people.
Police Chiefs’ Summit
The fifth Police Chiefs’ Summit opened today at UN headquarters in New York. Over the course of two days, ministers, heads of state police services and representatives of regional and international law enforcement organizations will discuss issues of strengthening peace and security, as well as the role of national police and UN police units in responding to global challenges. As noted by the Organization, the summit is designed to strengthen support for the nearly 4,500 UN police officers from 77 countries participating in peacekeeping operations, and also increase the efficiency of their work.