UN鈥檚 Guterres issues year-end 鈥榬ed alert鈥� for a world divided

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres issues a year-end 鈥渞ed alert鈥� unless the world works to resolve its differences (Reuters)

UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday issued a year-end 鈥渞ed alert鈥� to a world he said faces the perils of inequality, nationalism, xenophobia and possibly even nuclear war unless it works to resolve its differences.
鈥淲hen I took office one year ago, I appealed for 2017 to be a year for peace,鈥� he said in his New Year鈥檚 message. 鈥淯nfortunately, in fundamental ways, the world has gone in reverse.
鈥淐onflicts have deepened and new dangers have emerged. Global anxieties about nuclear weapons are the highest since the Cold War,鈥� an allusion to the crisis over North Korea鈥檚 nuclear tests and missile firings.
鈥淐limate change is moving faster than we are. Inequalities are growing. We see horrific violations of human rights,鈥� said the former Portuguese prime minister, expressing concern as well over a rise in nationalism and xenophobia.
He suggested that the international community 鈥渃an settle conflicts, overcome hatred and defend shared values, but we can only do that together.鈥�
Guterres urged world leaders: 鈥淣arrow the gaps. Bridge the divides. Rebuild trust by bringing people together around common goals.鈥�
He concluded: 鈥淯nity is the path.鈥�