Increasing attacks on democracy and multilateralism mean European unity is critical to avoiding another "cold war," says United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "At this time of great anxiety and geopolitical disorder we need multilateralism more than ever," Guterres says.

Members of the United Nations Security Council this week voted to renew sanctions and an arms embargo against South Sudan, with 10 countries voting in favor of the resolution. Representatives from South Africa, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Russia and China abstained from voting.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has evacuated 149 Eritrean, Somali, Sudanese and Ethiopian refugees in need of food and medical treatment from Libya to Rome, Italy. Close to half of the evacuees -- who had spent months in Libyan detention centers -- were children, the UNHCR reports.

The United Nations Population Fund has condemned the gang rape of a 9-year-old girl in Somalia and is is urging local officials to investigate the crime promptly. UNFPA Representative Anders Thomsen says Somali officials should ensure protections for women and girls are in place.

A conference began today in Beira, Mozambique, to seek pledges of around $3.2 billion to assist with recovery from Cyclones Kenneth and Idai. The World Bank, the United Nations and the EU contributed to an assessment that supports the amount being requested.

Humanitarian law must be respected even amid anti-terrorism combat, says United Nations special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen. UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore is urging all parties in the conflict to maintain protections for children, schools and hospitals as violence intensifies in the Syrian city of Idlib.

PODCAST: Peace, prosperity? We've never had it so good, Steven Pinker tells UN

"UN Correspondent Chat: Sherwin Bryce-Pease, South African Broadcast Corporation"

Issued #today is a new UN stamp featuring the late #KofiAnnan (1938-2018), who served as 7th #UNSG from 1997-2006. His native #Ghana, in nominating Mr. Annan, deemed him a proud son of #Africa who was sensitive to the problems faced by developing countries bit.ly/2Qz6lSV
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