United Nations

UN Security Council Urges Rapid Formation of Lebanon Government

The UN Security Council called Thursday for Lebanese leaders to rapidly form a new government, describing it as a "critical" step for stability in the war-battered country and region. In a statement adopted unanimously, the Council welcomed the January 9 election of President Joseph Aoun, who filled a role that was vacant for over two years, and ...

UN Chief Antonio Guterres in Lebanon on 'Solidarity Visit'

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrived in Lebanon Thursday on a "solidarity visit". He was greeted at the airport by caretaker Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib. "The Secretary-General has just arrived in Beirut for a solidarity visit to Lebanon," after a long-stalled presidential election and a devastating war between Hezbollah and ...

UN Rights Chief Says Transitional Justice 'Crucial' in Syria

United Nations rights chief Volker Turk on Wednesday said transitional justice was "crucial" for Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad, during the first-ever visit by someone in his post to the country. "Transitional justice is crucial as Syria moves forward," the UN high commissioner for human rights said. "Revenge ...

Blinken Proposes a Post-War Plan For Gaza, With a Role For The UN And The Palestinian Authority

On Tuesday, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken proposed sending an international security force to Gaza and placing the Palestinian territory under the responsibility of the UN, following the war with Hamas. As a ceasefire looks set to be signed after 15 months of war between Israel and the Palestinian movement that has left tens of thousands ...

Tensions Persist as Israeli Forces Remain Along Lebanon's Southern Border

With less than two weeks to go before the end of the ceasefire introduced on November 27, Israeli forces are still present in the areas along Lebanon's southern border. For the second consecutive day, the Israeli army continued its incursion into the villages of Mfaylha and Ras al-Dahr, west of Mays al-Jabal. Sweep operations are underway, ...

Iran, European Powers to Hold Nuclear Talks ahead of Trump Return

Iran is set to hold nuclear talks with France, Britain and Germany on Monday, just a week before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office. They are the second round of talks over Iran's nuclear programme in less than two months, following a discreet meeting held in Geneva, Switzerland, in November between Tehran and the three European powers, ...

Deadly Strikes in Gaza as a New Negotiation Round Starts in Qatar

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent a delegation of senior officials to Qatar for negotiations on a hostage release and Gaza ceasefire deal, which remains plagued by deadly clashes. Netanyahu held a meeting in Jerusalem with US president-elect Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, a representative of current US President ...

Guterres to Visit Lebanon Next Saturday

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres will visit Lebanon on Saturday to congratulate the new President of the Republic, General Joseph Aoun, and discuss the programs of UN agencies in the country. In a telephone call, Guterres welcomed the election of President Aoun and wished him success in his new functions. He also reaffirmed the ...

Lebanon Files Complaint to UN Security Council Over Israeli Violations

The Lebanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants, in coordination with the Ministry of Agriculture, has instructed on Friday Lebanon’s permanent mission to the United Nations in New York to file a formal complaint to the UN Security Council. The move comes in response to what Lebanon describes as continuous Israeli violations ...

UN Allocates $30 Million for Crisis Response in Lebanon

The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator for Lebanon, Imran Riza, announced on Friday the allocation of $30 million from the Lebanon Humanitarian Fund to address urgent needs arising from the recent escalation of hostilities. This funding aims to assist affected individuals, including displaced people and those returning to areas devastated by ...

Sudan: 3.2 Million Children at Risk of Severe Malnutrition Warns UNICEF

This year, 3.2 million children under the age of five are at risk of acute malnutrition in Sudan, an East African country devastated by a conflict between two warlords, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). "Among them, about 772,000 children are at risk of severe acute malnutrition," Eva Hinds, UNICEF Sudan's advocacy and ...

The Election of Joseph Aoun as President Applauded at Home

Reactions are pouring in following the election of General Joseph Aoun as President of the Republic on Thursday. Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, expressed his congratulations to Aoun on behalf of “the Lebanese nation and the Lebanese people,” underlining the critical circumstances that Lebanon is witnessing, particularly in the ...