News

On Jan. 29, 2025, the Ministry of Health of Uganda officially declared an Ebola outbreak in Kampala, with 10 confirmed cases reported as of March. This marks the eighth Ebola outbreak in Uganda since 2000. The hemorrhagic virus is highly infectious and fatal, prompting public health officials to seek containment. During the 2022 Ebola outbreak, the country received $34 million in aid to implement infection surveillance and prevention protocols. This time, cuts to U.S. foreign aid have strained the country’s health budget, leaving medical professionals worried about whether the government can effectively combat this epidemic.

Over 100 leading figures, led by members of The Elders and the Future of Life Institute, have issued an open letter calling on world leaders to take a bold new approach to address ‘catastrophic’ risks to humanity.

The letter states that ‘long-view leadership’ is needed to tackle the ongoing impact and escalating risks of the climate and nature crisis, pandemics, nuclear weapons, and ungoverned AI. It also illustrates that millions of lives and livelihoods are already impacted by these threats and world leaders’ inaction and failure to cooperate will drive humanity toward ‘greater catastrophe’.

The Elders, including Mary Robinson, Ban Ki-moon, Graça Machel, Juan Manuel Santos, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, together with the president of the Future of Life Institute, Max Tegmark, have been joined by former leaders (including Gordon Brown), Nobel Laureates, scientific experts, youth activists, business leaders (including Richard Branson), philanthropists and influential figures from across public life (including Annie Lennox...

The following is a statement from The Elders, a group of independent global leaders working for peace, justice and human rights, founded by Nelson Mandela and chaired by Mary Robinson:

“The Elders condemn the horrendous terror attacks launched by Hamas on 7 October 2023, the killing of innocent civilians, the holding of hostages and the continued indiscriminate missile attacks on Israel. These are mass atrocities for which the perpetrators must be brought to justice, preferably in a court of law.

“We also condemn the Israeli government’s unacceptable collective punishment of the population of Gaza through siege, the scale of the military assault and its death toll, and the forcible transfer of civilians within the territory, as well as the continuing land and home incursions and demolitions in the West Bank and settler violence against Palestinian communities. These are not legitimate acts of self-defence: they are clear violations of international humanitarian law,...

The Elders today urged African leaders to intervene to stop the conflict in Ethiopia escalating into a regional crisis and an even worse humanitarian disaster.

The Elders reiterated their calls on the African Union and the Un Security Council to take urgent steps to address the humanitarian and human rights crises in Ethiopia, which threatens peace and security in the Horn of Africa as well as the lives of Ethiopians. It is now clear that African mediation at the highest level is needed to stop the fighting.

During their board visit to Addis Ababa in 2019 (when they met Prime Minister Abiy as well as Au representatives), the Elders supported the idea of African solutions to African problems. The Elders have publicly and privately backed Au Envoy Olusegun Obasanjo in his efforts to find the compromise needed by all parties to end the conflict. They believe he needs more active support...

Responding to the new report from the world’s foremost scientific authority on climate change – the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Ipcc) – Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders said:

“Leaders must show they understand the seriousness of the science and turn in stronger national commitments ahead of the COP26 climate talks this November. The big question leaders must reckon with in Glasgow is whether these plans add up to what is needed – and if not, how they will close the remaining gap.

“To those who seek to argue that it’s too hard, or too late, and so not worth trying – the report is a reminder that every fraction of a degree of warming really does matter. The level of climate ambition has never been greater than it is right now and there is still everything to fight for. Governments must do all they can to prevent the 1.5C window shutting.

The Elders today called on the Un Security Council and the African Union to take urgent steps to address the unfolding humanitarian and human rights crisis in Tigray, Ethiopia, which poses a clear threat to regional peace and security in the Horn of Africa.

With the Un’s Emergency Relief Coordinator declaring last week that there is famine in Tigray, The Elders urged all parties to the conflict, particularly Ethiopian and Eritrean defence forces, to stop impeding the ability of aid agencies to reach people in need.

Full, unhindered access and rapid scale-up of assistance are vital if a large-scale famine is to be avoided. The Un Security Council must now respond in line with Unsc Resolution 2417 and be clear that continued access violations will lead to appropriate actions against those responsible.

The Elders called on the Au to recognise the true gravity of the situation, and fulfil its mandate...

Eva Longoria, Ava DuVernay, Venus Williams and Netflix executive Bozoma Saint John are among the honorees for this year’s Care Impact Awards, celebrating the empowerment of women and girls, and the eradication of global poverty.

The Nov. 18 ceremony will be hosted by journalist Lisa Ling, and is set to feature an appearance from Hillary Clinton, who will reflect on the state of the world following the 2020 election.

“This year marks the 75th anniversary of Care and as we deal with the challenges of a global pandemic, Care is applying our 75 years of humanitarian experience to help those facing extreme poverty and hunger,” said Michelle Nunn, president and CEO of Care USA. “Despite these tremendous challenges, I remain hopeful that we will build back a stronger, more equitable future for all.”

The event will be live-streamed on Care’s Facebook page.

Longoria, a social justice advocate and prolific producer and director,...

The Elders have urged leaders to put multilateralism, solidarity and human rights at the heart of their response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and to prioritise the health and economic needs of poorer countries in the Global South in the coming weeks and months.

Preventing the emergence and spread of infectious disease is the pre-eminent example of a “global public good”, and merits unprecedented international cooperation by governments and policymakers. In a pandemic, no-one is safe until everyone is safe.

Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders and former Un High Commissioner for Human Rights, said:

“This terrible pandemic is a test of our common humanity. We can see how it is exacerbating existing profound socio-economic, racial and gender inequalities, both within and between countries. Only a coordinated multilateral response can deliver testing and a vaccine at scale, and only a renewed commitment to the values and institutions of the Un can...

The Elders have announced their first ever podcast initiative, exploring the need for empathetic and principled leadership in the time of Covid-19.

Finding Humanity is a joint podcast production of the Humanity Lab Foundation and Hueman Group Media for which The Elders will partner on four special edition episodes. The first Elders’ episode features an in-depth discussion between two former Un High Commissioners for Human Rights, Mary Robinson and Zeid Raad Al Hussein, and is released today, 15 May 2020.

Founded by Nelson Mandela in 2007, The Elders is a group of former world leaders dedicated to peace, justice and human rights. The Finding Humanity podcast collaboration is a first for the group, who hope to provoke new thinking about how we respond to Covid-19 and shape the global recovery.

In discussions recorded exclusively for the podcast, the Chair of The Elders and former President of Ireland, Mary Robinson, talks candidly to world...

The Elders today called on global leaders and citizens alike to root their response to the Covid-19 pandemic in humanitarian principles and solidarity to save lives, defend rights and protect the most vulnerable groups in society.

The following is a statement from The Elders:

The pandemic poses an unprecedented challenge for governments, heads of state and international institutions. As former leaders, we acknowledge the fearsomely complex political, moral and economic decisions those currently in office will have to take over the coming weeks and months.

We endorse the call of the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board for at least Us$ 8 billion to be immediately injected into critical funding gaps to support the Who’s emergency response, vaccine development, timely distribution of medical supplies and other critical measures.

The G7 statement of 16 March 2020 marks a welcome first step, with leaders pledging to do “whatever is necessary to ensure a strong global response...

Lori Sokol, PhD, Executive Director and Editor-in-Chief of Women’s eNews, has announced the Host, Honorary Gala Chair, and Honorary Gala Co-Chairs for the 20th annual 21 Leaders for the 21st Century Awards gala, which will take place on May 4th at Club 101 in New York City.

Cheryl Wills to Host 20th Annual Women's eNews 21 Leaders for the 21st Century Awards Gala

Cheryl Wills, Spectrum News NY1 Anchor NY1 Live at Ten, Host In Focus with Cheryl Wills, author, and past 21 Leaders for the 21st Century honoree, will host the gala for the first time. Loreen Arbus, president of The Loreen Arbus Foundation, The Goldenson-Arbus Foundation, and Loreen Arbus Productions, Inc., is Honorary Gala Chair. Gloria Joseph, philanthropist and journalist, and Suzanne Lerner, co-founder and president, Michael Stars, are Honorary Gala Co-Chairs. “All of these outstanding women have worked tirelessly for many years to make a difference in the lives of women and girls.

The Elders today called on all nuclear powers to take urgent steps towards nuclear disarmament, in the form of a “minimisation” agenda, to counter a dangerous rise in geopolitical tensions and distrust between states.

They warned that the entire architecture of international arms control and security treaties is at risk from the unilateral actions of powerful nuclear-armed states, particularly the United States and Russia regarding the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (Inf) Treaty.

The Elders will present a new initiative on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament to the Munich Security Conference on Saturday 16 February. They urge nuclear-armed states, particularly the five Permanent Members of the Un Security Council, to commit to a “minimisation” agenda that offers a realistic long-term path to the total elimination of nuclear weapons.

Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders, said:

“Nuclear weapons pose an existential threat to the future of humanity, and tensions between key powers are dangerously high.

The Elders announced this week with great pleasure that three new members have joined the group: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, former President of Liberia and Nobel Peace Laureate 2011; Juan Manuel Santos, former President of Colombia and Nobel Peace Laureate 2016; and Zeid Raad Al Hussein, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights 2014-18.

The new Elders will join the group in its second decade of campaigning for peace, justice and human rights. The Elders was founded in 2007 by Nelson Mandela, who charged the group with a mandate to “support courage where there is fear, foster agreement where this is conflict and inspire hope where there is despair.”

Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders, said:

“I am delighted to welcome three such esteemed new members to our group. Ellen, Juan Manuel and Zeid each bring valuable and distinctive perspectives on issues that are central to our work, from human rights and peacebuilding to...

The Elders have expressed deep concern at the worsening social and economic crisis in Zimbabwe amid reports of killings, arrests and intimidation of opposition and civil society figures and a shutdown of internet access.

Repression and violence would further erode trust in state authorities and imperil Zimbabwe’s much-needed transition towards a more inclusive, prosperous and sustainable future.

Zimbabwe’s leaders need to be extremely cautious in their use of the security services. The Elders expressed particular alarm at the use of live ammunition by police and security services in recent days, especially given the findings of the official commission of inquiry into the post-election violence of 1 August where six people were killed by live rounds in Harare.

Mary Robinson, Chair of The Elders, said:

“The Government of Zimbabwe has conspicuously failed to address economic problems in a way that protects the rights and livelihoods of ordinary citizens, including provision of fuel,...

Exclusive: Gold Star Films has optioned the story rights to Washington lobbyist K. Riva Levinson’s memoir, which Arsenal will represent for worldwide sales.

Gold Star Films co-chairman Joey Tufaro, whose producer credits include Kidnap and Maggie, will produce the project alongside Steven Brown.

Choosing The Hero: My Improbable Journey And The Rise Of Africa’s First Woman President recounts Levinson’s career across five continents and her role in helping Ellen Johnson Sirleaf get elected as president of Liberia.

Sirleaf, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, became the first elected woman to lead an African nation in November 2005. Wme is packaging the project.

“My sights are set on turning the book into a major feature film,” said Tufaro. “At its heart, this is a story of heroism and perseverance in the pursuit of a life with purpose. It’s about two women warriors who were able to change the fate of a country and its people...

Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia touched down in Africa on Monday afternoon, kicking off their tour of Liberia and Morocco to promote the Let Girls Learn initiative, aimed at helping young girls get a quality education. The Obamas were greeted by members of the Liberian traditional council and senior members of the Liberian government, before the first lady headed off to meet with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a vocal education advocate and the first elected female head of state in Africa. Obama then travelled to Kakata, Liberia, to visit Camp Glow (Girls Leading Our World), a girls' leadership...

Michelle Obama and daughters Sasha and Malia touched down in Africa on Monday afternoon, kicking off their tour of Liberia and Morocco to promote the Let Girls Learn initiative, aimed at helping young girls get a quality education. The Obamas were greeted by members of the Liberian traditional council and senior members of the Liberian government, before the first lady headed off to meet with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a vocal education advocate and the first elected female head of state in Africa. Obama then travelled to Kakata, Liberia, to visit Camp Glow (Girls Leading Our World), a girls' leadership...

Extending her support for the cause of educating a girl child, Freida Pinto is all set to make her voice heard this time in Liberia, Morocco and Spain with none other than the First Lady Michelle Obama.

Freida Pinto along with the First Lady, her daughters Sasha and Malia, their grandmother Marian Robinson - will travel to Liberia, Morocco and Spain at the end of June and into early July as part of the 'Let Girls Learn' initiative. Let Girls Learn is a government initiative aimed at helping girls obtain a quality education. The focus of the trip which includes Monrovia, Marrakesh and Madrid - is for them to speak to young girls about the importance of education and staying in school.

Starting with Liberia, Freida along with Michelle Obama will take part in a discussion which will cover the educational barriers girls face in the country. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will meet with Pinto and the First Lady. Next, in Morocco, Meryl Streep will be joining them along to discuss the challenges women in the African country deal with on a regular basis.

Michelle Obama and her daughters Sasha and Malia Obama are leaving dad behind, this summer, and heading overseas. The First Lady and her teenagers - along with grandmother Marian Robinson - will travel to Liberia, Morocco and Spain at the end of June and into early July as part of the Let Girls Learn initiative, the White House said in a press release, Wednesday. Throughout the trip - which includes stops in Monrovia, Marrakech and Madrid - Obama will speak to young girls about the importance of education and staying in school. First stopping in Liberia on June 27, Obama will...

The Global Citizen Festival had music and celebrities, but at the center of it all, was an important cause.

With an all-star lineup, the Global Citizen Festival in New York City last night was not just a music festival for fun.

In its third year, the festival in Central Park had a lineup including Beyonce, Jay Z, Carrie Underwood, No Doubt, Alicia Keys, The Roots and Tiesto.

While Beyonce and Jay Z ended their On The Run Tour, they performed together again to the excitement of the audience.

News: Beyonce and Jay Z's Emotional End to On The Run

Pregnant and stylish in heels, Underwood covered R.E.M's "Everybody Hurts."

Photos: Carrie Underwood Is The Most Adorable Pregnant Woman

No Doubt's Gwen Stefani was joined by Sting, and they sang "Message In a Bottle."

At the heart of all of these amazing performances was a cause to end extreme poverty.

News: [link=nm...

Despite doomsday being predicted for 21 December 2012, we're still here and ready for 2013. What does the new year hold and what key data will you need?

• More data journalism and data visualisations from the Guardian

What does 2013 have in store for us? Of course the year ahead will bring unexpected suprises and breaking news but some events are easier to mark in the calender, as we already have done here at the Guardian. Take a look below for just some of the events, announcements and anniversaries to look out for in 2013 and the key data sets you'll need.

January - rail fares rise by an average of 4.3%

Going back to work after the holidays can be tough but with the above inflation rail and tube fare increases which came into effect on the 2 January it just got that little bit worse for tens of thousands of commuters.

The cost of an...

Mads Brügger's "The Ambassador," out today in New York City, is a demonic documentary with angelic ambitions. A professional provocateur from Denmark whose last film exposed the inner workings of North Korea, Brügger purchased a Liberian ambassadorship on the black market (under the name Mads Cortzen), joined forces with a blood-diamond mining kingpin in war-torn Central African Republic and set about proving how horrifically easy it is to smuggle gems out of crippled countries and, in the process, rob the local populace blind. Using some hidden cameras but relying mostly on an in-plain-sight Canon 7D, he surreptitiously filmed his interactions with the many scoundrels eager to fleece him -- from shady brokers of diplomatic credentials to the "assistant" who counsels him to make a disastrous business deal. And he indulged in some exploitation of his own, hiring a village of Pygmies to staff up a matchstick factory that, to their eventual disappointment,...

HollywoodNews.com: The Nobel Women’s Initiative would like to sincerely thank you for your support over the past year — and thank you for the work you’ve done for peace and gender equality in your corner of the world. We pledge to continue to work alongside you to build on the momentum of some of the extraordinary events of this past year. And we continue to be deeply inspired by the incredibly brave and committed women activists that we meet all over the world. It is you who inspire and motivate us to work even harder for peace, justice and equality.

As we reflect on the year that has passed we have been moved by an ending, and a beginning. The death of Wangari Maathai was very difficult. But as we remember her extraordinary work and her perseverance until the end, our resolve to bring change strengthens yet again.

Dame Helen Mirren toasted the three female winners of the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize on Sunday, calling the award an "extraordinary moment in the history of women".

Mirren was joined by fellow actress Rosario Dawson to present the honours to Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, women's right activist Leymah Gbowee, and democracy campaigner Tawakkul Karman at an event in Oslo, Norway over the weekend.

The veteran star told reporters she was proud to be involved in the ceremony, but wishes more female laureates had been picked for the award since it was created in 1901.

She tells the Associated Press, "(It's) slightly shameful statistically that only 12 women have won it in 112 years, when you think how important women historically have always been, specifically in terms of peace... It is only a step on a journey that women are taking, and hopefully in 20, 30 years' time we will be looking at a very different scenario in the world.

"In my personal experience, wherever there was a force for the positive, for creativity, it was almost always led by women and they are doing it with no recognition and under very difficult circumstances. It is so important for all of us to realise that these movements start in very, very small ways."

The newest honourees boost the number of female recipients from 12 to 15.

London, Dec 12: Actress Helen Mirren, acknowledged it as "an extraordinary moment" when three women were honoured with the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize on Sunday night, but said it was "shameful" that very few women had ever been given the award, since its inception in 1901.

The 66-year-old hosted the Nobel Peace Prize concert in Norway along with American actress Rosario Dawson held in honour of this year's winners - Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, women's rights activist Leymah Gbowee, from Liberia, and democracy activist Tawakkul Karman, from Yemen.

Speaking before the event, she said the award marks an ''extraordinary.

When the news broke this morning that three women would share this year 2011 Nobel Peace Prize, we here at Tribeca were especially ecstatic. Two of the women honored today - Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Leymah Gbowee - were the subjects of the documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell, which was named Best Documentary Feature when it premiered at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival. The third winner is a pro-democracy campaigner from Yemen, Tawakkol Karman. All three were commended for "their non-violent struggle for the safety of women and for women's rights to full participation in peace-building work." Back in 2008, Elisabeth Donnelly interviewed Gini Reticker, who directed Pray the Devil Back to Hell in partnership with producer Abigail Disney. In light of today's news, we thought we would re-run the interview. The movie is quite powerful, and still relevant, as are the women's stories within. If you ...

Liberia boasts Africa's first female elected head of state. But it also has one of the highest rates of violence against women in the world. Here, Emma Thompson and her adopted son Tindy Agaba, a former child soldier, share their diaries of an intimate visit to the people and projects that are empowering the country's daughters

4 February

Tindy I left Garden City, Cairo, where I have been working with refugees, at 5am yesterday. Africa is a funny old world. To go to Liberia from Cairo one has to go to Europe first and then get a connecting flight back to Africa!

In the lounge at Brussels Airport, I bump into George Weah, the former AC Milan player and world footballer of the year who was also an ex-presidential aspirant in Liberia. He hasn't changed at all, except that his beard is becoming grey.

On our way from Liberia's airport to our hotel,...