Barbados is experiencing longer lifespans and fewer births—but what does this mean for our jobs, pensions, healthcare, and the very fabric of society?

Hear insights from Professor Dwayne Devonish, Chief Labour Officer Wayne Sobers, and BARP President Marilyn Rice-Bowen as they unpack the challenges and opportunities ahead.

INSIDER'S REPORT | WE ARE LIVING LONGER | THE EFFECTS OF A DEMOGRAPHIC REVOLUTION

Syria is working hard to turn the page on its dismal human rights record under the former Assad regime – allowing the UN rights office (OHCHR) access to the country following years of freezing officials out.

Though the country remains fragile, the resilience of its people – and the political will to change shown by transitional authorities – is helping society move on from decades of repression and 13 years of devastating conflict.

The return of OHCHR to Damascus is “essential” to supporting a rights-based vision for a “new Syria”, said Mohammad Al Nsour, Chief of the Office’s Middle East and North Africa Section, speaking to UN News’s Ezzat El-Ferri. 

Audio credit: Ezzat El-Ferri, UN News 

Syria opens ‘new chapter’ on human rights

• Ukrainians brace for another winter of hardship amid Russian invasion: OCHA
• UN deminers appeal for greater support to slow deadly legacy from world’s conflicts
• Gaza: As fragile ceasefire holds, aid teams continue vital work, WHO says

Audio credit: Daniel Johnson, UN News

UN News Today 03 December 2025 - Ukraine, UN deminers appeal, Gaza aid

Catch up on information you might have missed during the week.

This week's programme features:
1.	🎁 Holiday tips for shoppers from The Barbados Police Service
2.	👀 Learn about the importance of routine eye screening for children.  See more at https://youtu.be/9jRUk-UJG0M?si=J4VxiU6V60UoURus 
3.	🏛️  Parliament highlights: The Attorney General tables the Criminal Records (Rehabilitation of Offenders) (Amendment) Bill 2025

This Week’s In Case You Missed It Opportunities - December 3 – 9:
🤖 Want to get into Robotics and Coding? Register for the Barbados Community College's Introduction to Robotics Certificate Course! For details, email ComputerStudies@bcc.edu.bb or call 426-2858 Ext. 5265.


IN CASE YOU MISSED IT DECEMBER 3 - 9 (2025)

Scorching temperatures across the Arab region - marked by intense and longer-lasting heatwaves -  are pushing society to the limits, the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said on Thursday. "It is simply too hot to handle,” said WMO chief Celeste Saulo, launching the agency's first State of the Climate in the Arab Region report.
Claire Ransom, Associate Scientific Officer at WMO’s Climate Monitoring & Policy Section, stressed that extreme heat is only of many extreme weather threats. “Dust storms, severe flooding, and other climate extremes placed immense pressure on communities all across the region in 2024, disrupting lives and impacting millions of people,” she told UN News.
There is progress, however, with nearly 60 per cent of Arab countries now deploying multi-hazard early warning systems. Many are prioritizing water security strategies to cope with the mounting climate risks, Ms. Ransom continued.

Arab Region Extreme Weather report: WMO's Claire Ransom

• Sudan: UN rights chief Türk condemns spiralling conflict in Kordofans
• Malaria control faces biggest threat from growing drug resistance: WHO
• Arab region pushed to limits by climate extremes: WMO

Audio credit: Daniel Johnson, UN News


UN News Today 04 December 2025 - Sudan horrors multiply, Malaria update, Arab world climate crisis

More than two years of conflict in Sudan have brought mass displacement, widespread hunger, the destruction of entire cities, and an end to the rule-of-law. 

Despite limited access – especially to the killing fields of Darfur – UN human rights office, OHCHR, continues to document violations, support humanitarian response efforts, and amplify the voices of victims, women, youth, and those displaced.

Ahead of Human Rights Day on 10 December, UN News’s Abdelmonem Makki spoke to the top OHCHR official in Sudan, Li Fung, who described a country enduring one of the world’s gravest humanitarian and human rights emergencies.

Audio credit: Abdelmonem Makki, UN News

‘Human rights for Sudanese ‘must be upheld’

• Syria one year after government change - UN rights office warns of ongoing killings and abuses 
• Mozambique displacement crisis deepens as attacks intensify and aid supplies run low, UN reports 
• South-East Asia: Climate disasters disrupt schooling for more than 4 million children, UNICEF says 

Audio credit: Katy Dartford, UN News 

UN News Today 05 December 2025 - Syria, Mozambique, climate disasters

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, spoke out on Monday after Israeli officials allegedly forced their way into its headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem and lowered the UN flag.
Here's UNRWA spokesperson Jonathan Fowler speaking to UN News (AI transcript, check against delivery): "Today we've seen a blatant disregard of Israel's obligation as a United Nations member state to protect and respect the inviolability of UN premises. So basically what happened was early this morning, Israeli police, accompanied by municipal officials, forced their way into the UNRWA compound in East Jerusalem. They came in with motorbikes. as well as trucks and forklifts, and they cut all communications. 
"They subsequently seized furniture, IT equipment and other property. And indeed, they actually pulled down the UN flag from the tower in the compound and they replaced it with an Israeli flag. This comes in the wake of months of months of harassment that included arson attacks in 2024, hateful demonstrations and intimidation outside the compound. And these were supported by a large scale disinformation campaign. 
"And in addition, anti-UNRWA legislation that was passed by the Israeli parliament in breach of Israel's international obligations. And as a result of this, UNRWA personnel were actually forced to vacate this compound at the beginning of this year. However, whatever action that's taken domestically, this compound retains its status as a UN premises. I really want to emphasize that. And it's immune from any form of interference. Now, the State of Israel is party to the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations. That convention is crystal clear. It says that UN premises are inviolable. In other words, they're immune from search and seizure, and it also protects UN property and assets. 
"Now, the International Court of Justice has also underscored this, most recently in its advisory opinion that was issued in October. to say that Israel has to cooperate with UNRWA and other UN agencies. It's a matter of international law that there can be no exceptions to this. So to allow this to happen, I mean, it represents a new challenge to international law. It's something that's extremely dangerous anywhere that the UN is present across the world. So not just in Israeli territory or occupy Israel, the occupied Palestinian territory, but also, anywhere around the world where this should not be allowed to stand. And we would really, really urge the Israeli authorities to rethink this because this kind of thing is extremely dangerous at the global level." 
 

UNRWA-compound-searched-Jonathan Fowler

For many survivors of human trafficking, support often ends too soon. With limited resources and systems that fail to provide long-term care, many are thrown out of the system — left without proper trauma support or recognition beyond their stories. 

Mother, activist, and human trafficking survivor Malaika Oringo is determined to change that. As the founder of Footprint to Freedom, a survivor-led non-profit dedicated to empowering and reintegrating trafficking survivors, she advocates for survivor voices to be at the heart of policymaking and government action.

In a conversation with UN News, Ms. Oringo reflects on her personal journey — how she overcame trauma, reclaimed her voice, and continues to inspire change through her tireless advocacy. 

Charlotte Frantz began by asking her what drives the trafficking of people.

Audio credit: Charlotte Frantz, UN News


From victims to changemakers: Providing support to human trafficking survivors

• Sudan: WHO chief Tedros deplores 'senseless attacks' on civilians in South Kordofan 
• Humanitarians launch $33 billion appeal for 2026 
• UNRWA condemns search of Jerusalem headquarters by Israeli officials

Audio credit: Daniel Johnson, UN News

UN News Today 08 December 2025 - Sudan, humanitarian appeal, UNRWA's Jerusalem headquarters

The Barbados Government Information Service has been established since 1958 as the Barbados Government's public relations and information arm.   This dynamic channel profiles Barbadian people, places and programmes which make up this Caribbean island surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.  We hope you enjoy and feel free to comment.  We want to hear from you.

INSIDER'S REPORT | WE ARE LIVING LONGER | THE EFFECTS OF A DEMOGRAPHIC REVOLUTION

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