Name: BUILDING THE FUTURE OF FARMING PART 1 by gisbarbados
Duration: 4 min 10 s
Description: Minister of Training and Tertiary Education, Sandra Husbands, speaks about why the Government of Barbados is working to transform agriculture into a modern, tech-savvy, opportunity-rich industry for students, farmers, and agri-entrepreneurs alike.

“Sevilla is a moment in time. It is really the beginning, not the end of the process,” says one of the senior UN officials helping Member States navigate high-stakes negotiations ahead of a landmark conference on sustainable development in Spain later this month.

Shari Spiegel is Director of Financing for Sustainable Development at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA).

She told UN News’s Matt Wells that the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development aims to address a staggering $4 trillion gap in global financing. Countries reached agreement this week on an outcome document that sets out critical reforms.

Audio credit: Matt Wells, UN News

Nobody wants to give up on financing sustainable development, top official says

As the United Nations marks its 80th anniversary, the Organization is undertaking a wide-ranging reform effort aimed at strengthening how it delivers for people around the world. 

The UN80 Initiative seeks to make the UN more nimble, efficient and responsive — at a time when global needs are rising and trust in multilateral institutions is being tested.

To better understand what’s behind the initiative and where it’s headed, UN News’ Laura Quiñones spoke with Guy Ryder, the UN’s Under-Secretary-General for Policy and Chair of the UN80 Task Force.

Audio credit: Laura Quiñones, UN News

Why the UN80 initiative matters for multilateralism: A conversation with UN Policy chief Guy Ryder

Secretary-General's remarks to the Security Council Open Debate on the Threats to International Peace and Security, on 20 June 2025.

CLIP: Secretary-General's remarks to the Security Council Open Debate on the Threats to International Peace and Security

Women’s rights in Afghanistan have taken a hard hit since the Taliban returned to power nearly four years ago.

The country now has the second largest gender gap in the world, according to UN Women’s 2024 Afghanistan Gender Index, which shows a 76 per cent disparity between women and men when it comes to health, education, financial inclusion and decision-making.

Afghan journalist Zahra Nader has been forced to flee her homeland twice to escape Taliban rule.

She told UN News’s Nancy Sarkis that everyone has the responsibility to raise awareness about “the most severe women's rights crisis of our time” and to ensure that those living in “gender apartheid” in Afghanistan have a voice.

Audio duration:
Photo caption: Zahra Nader alongside an African Union representative during a 2022 UN Security Council meeting on Strengthening Women's Resilience and Leadership.
Photo credit: UN Photo

Afghan refugee journalist highlights severe restrictions on women’s rights

• Iran-Israel crisis: Diplomatic push for peace shifts up a gear
• Gazans are dying from lack of food and medicine: UNICEF 
• WHO warns of a health financing emergency 

Audio credit: Daniel Johnson, UN News
Music composed and produced by Joachim Harris. All rights reserved

UN News Today 20 June 2025 - Iran-Israel crisis, Gaza, health financing emergency

Minister of Training and Tertiary Education, Sandra Husbands, speaks about why the Government of Barbados is working to transform agriculture into a modern, tech-savvy, opportunity-rich industry for students, farmers, and agri-entrepreneurs alike.

BUILDING THE FUTURE OF FARMING PART 1

Violence and destruction caused by the unfolding crisis in Iran and Israel could reach “unimaginable levels” unless there’s a return to diplomacy, the head of the UN-backed nuclear watchdog warned on Monday.

“The global non-proliferation regime that has underpinned international security for more than half a century could crumble and fall,” added Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Addressing growing international concerns following the weekend’s US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, Mr. Grossi confirmed that off-site radiation levels remain stable at the three affected sites.

But he cautioned against complacency. “Armed attacks on nuclear facilities should never take place,” he insisted, warning they could lead to radioactive releases with grave consequences beyond national borders.

Providing an update on the Fordow facility, which was targeted by US ground-penetrating “bunker-busters”, Mr. Grossi noted that no one is currently in a position to fully assess the underground damage. “Significant damage is expected to have occurred,” he noted, citing the the sensitivity of the equipment used to enrich uranium.

In a call for immediate access, Mr. Grossi urged all parties to allow IAEA experts already present in Iran to enter the affected sites and assess conditions.
“The stakes are high and doing nothing is the riskiest move of all,” Mr. Grossi stressed.

IAEA chief: Iran-Israel conflict could shatter global nuclear safeguards

• Iran-Israel crisis: Nuclear watchdog chief urges access to damaged sites 
• Risk of genocide in Sudan still very high, warns top UN official tells HR Council 
• DR Congo crisis must not be forgotten, insists OCHA chief 

Daniel Johnson, UN News  
Music composed and produced by Joachim Harris. All rights reserved. 

UN News Today 23 June 2025 - Iran-Israel crisis, risk of genocide in Sudan, DR Congo update

Once a teenager without legal status or access to education, Madiha Ali Changezi spoke as a living example of what refugee resettlement can achieve. Now a qualified refugee and human rights lawyer in New Zealand, Ms. Changezi began by recalling her own displacement at the age of 14 — and the limbo that followed. 

“I grew up invisible to the world(...)without rights, opportunities, or safety,” Ms. Changezi said.

That all changed in 2018, when her family was offered resettlement to New Zealand — a decision she said gave her back dignity, hope, and a future.

UNHCR estimates that 2.5 million refugees will require resettlement next year, a decrease from the 2.9 million estimated for 2025. While this marks a shift — mainly due to changed conditions in Syria that are allowing for some voluntary returns — the figure remains historically high.

Resettlement changed her life. Now she’s fighting for others to have the same chance: UNHCR

• Iran-Israel crisis: concerns over political prisoners in Tehran's Evin prison 
• Gaza: At least 410 Palestinians killed by IDF at private aid hubs
• 2.5 million refugees need resettlement, says UNHCR 

Audio credit: Daniel Johnson, UN News 
Music composed and produced by Joachim Harris. All rights reserved 


UN News Today 24 June 2025 - Iran-Israel crisis, Gaza update, refugees' resettlement

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BUILDING THE FUTURE OF FARMING PART 1

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