Global talks to protect biodiversity have restarted with a call for humanity to come together to “sustain life on the planet” and overcome a fight over funding that caused the previous meeting last year to end in disarray. More than two years after a landmark deal on biodiversity – including a pledge to protect 30 … Read moreUN biodiversity talks resume with dispute over funding topping the agenda
The United Nations high commissioner for refugees calls for “patience and vigilance” in returning Syrian refugees to Syria after the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. Filippo Grandi said in a statement on Monday that the process must be “voluntary” and “safe” as the situation in Syria remains “uncertain”. Grandi’s comments came after several European countries … Read moreUN urges patience as European countries suspend Syrian asylum decisions
Defence ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) countries have backed Ukraine’s “irreversible” path to NATO membership and expressed concern over threats to United Nations peacekeepers targeted by Israel in Lebanon. The one-day gathering in Naples on Saturday marks the G7’s first ministerial meeting dedicated to defence. Italy holds the G7’s rotating presidency for 2024 … Read moreG7 backs Ukraine NATO bid, raises concerns over UN peacekeepers in Lebanon
The United Nations human rights chief has said there had been an “extensive failure” by Russia to take adequate measures to protect civilians in Ukraine and that there were indications that Russian forces had committed war crimes. Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said on Tuesday that his office’s monitoring indicated “gross … Read moreUN rights chief: ‘Extensive failure’ by Russia to protect Ukraine civilians
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on world leaders to show unity in the face of Russia’s continued “aggression” in Ukraine, telling the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) that Moscow is “weaponising” food and energy. Speaking from the UN headquarters in New York for the first time since the conflict broke out last year, Zelenskyy … Read moreZelenskyy urges global unity against Russia in UN General Assembly speech
United Nations agencies have called for “urgent and decisive action” to be taken by the Europe Union to prevent further deaths in the Mediterranean following the presumed drowning of hundreds of people this week off the coast of Greece. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said in a statement on … Read moreUN agencies seek ‘decisive action’ from EU after Greece tragedy
The UN human rights chief has called for an expansion in search-and-rescue operations after an increase in the number of refugees and asylum seekers making risky attempts to cross the central Mediterranean to Europe. “We are seeing a steep increase in the number of desperate people putting their lives at grave risk,” the UN High … Read moreUN rights chief seeks help as Mediterranean refugee deaths surge