United Nations

What Would Actually Set Off a Nuclear Disaster

Since the Israeli strikes on Iran’s Natanz nuclear site on June 13, one question has taken on new urgency: What exactly needs to be hit in a nuclear facility to trigger a radioactive or chemical leak? And more critically, did the recent strikes come dangerously close to that threshold? To assess the risk, we first need to understand what a ...

UN Refugee Chief Calls for Support to Syria to Facilitate Refugee Returns

UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on Friday urged the international community to support Syria’s recovery in order to speed up reconstruction and allow more refugees to return home, fourteen years after the start of the war. “I am here to appeal to the international community to provide more aid and support to the Syrian ...

Tehran Condemns ‘Betrayal’ After Israeli Strikes Amid Talks with the U.S

Iran's foreign minister on Friday condemned the Israeli attacks against the Islamic republic as a "betrayal" of diplomatic efforts with the US, saying Tehran and Washington had been due to craft a "promising agreement" on the Iranian nuclear programme. "We were attacked in the midst of an ongoing diplomatic process," Foreign Minister Abbas ...

Day 8 of the Israel-Iran Conflict: Key Developments and Current Status

Early on Friday, a missile launched by Iran struck near a technology hub in the southern Israeli city of Beersheba, igniting fires close to a building housing Microsoft’s offices. Emergency responders confirmed that five people suffered minor injuries and shared images on X showing vehicles ablaze at the scene. Israeli news outlets reported ...

Aoun Reaffirms Lebanon’s Support for UNIFIL to UN’s Lacroix

President Joseph Aoun reaffirmed Lebanon’s commitment to the continued presence of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in the south, during a meeting with UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix on Wednesday. During the meeting, Aoun underscored Lebanon’s dedication to implementing UN Security ...

Nuclear Flashpoint: Understanding the NPT in Today’s Geopolitical Climate

As Israeli strikes on Iranian targets intensify, Tehran is now threatening to withdraw from the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) – a cornerstone of the global nuclear order signed over half a century ago, yet still at the heart of today’s regional tensions. A Treaty Born in the Shadow of the Bomb The NPT was signed in ...

Syrian Refugees: Voluntary Return or Geopolitical Pressure?

The Lebanese government has renewed its focus on the issue of displaced Syrians, designating it a top national priority amid the mounting pressure the crisis places on the country’s economy and social systems. In recent weeks, it has collaborated with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and humanitarian partners to develop ...

UN Scales Back Global Aid Plan due to 'Deepest Funding Cuts Ever'

The United Nations on Monday said it was drastically scaling back its global humanitarian aid plans due to the "deepest funding cuts ever". The UN's humanitarian agency said in a statement that it was seeking $29 billion in funding compared to $44 billion requested in December, in a "hyper-prioritized" appeal. Under President Donald Trump, who ...

Israel-Iran Conflict: What We Know More than 24 Hours After it Started

Israel struck Iranian nuclear and military facilities with a barrage of missiles on Friday, killing several top officials and prompting a counter-attack by Iran. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel's attack on its arch-rival would last "as many days" as needed, and cited Israeli intelligence that Tehran was approaching the "point of no ...

Rights Group Says Israel Deporting Six Gaza Aid Boat Activists

An Israeli NGO representing activists detained aboard a boat attempting to breach Israel's blockade of Gaza said Thursday that six were being deported, including two who were already on planes. "After more than 72 hours in Israeli custody following the unlawful interception of the Madleen Freedom Flotilla in international waters... six volunteers ...

Global Forced Displacement Dips Slightly but Remains at Record Levels

The number of people forcibly displaced from their homes worldwide has dropped slightly from a record high but remains "untenably high," the United Nations said Thursday. A record 123.2 million people worldwide were forcibly displaced from their homes at the end of 2024, said UNHCR, the UN refugee agency. But that figure dropped to 122.1 million ...