United Nations

Cooling La Niña May Return in Coming Months

The cooling La Niña weather phenomenon may return between September and November, but even if it does, temperatures are nonetheless expected to be above average, the United Nations said Tuesday. La Niña is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that cools surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean. It brings ...

UNIFIL Exit: Organizing the Withdrawal of 10,000 Peacekeepers from Southern Lebanon

On August 28, the UN Security Council voted to end the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) on December 31, 2026. After nearly half a century of presence in southern Lebanon, the 10,000 peacekeepers will be required to withdraw in 2027. The operation will be complex – logistically, militarily and diplomatically. How ...

Raggi: State Monopoly on Arms Is a “Historic Step” Toward Sovereignty

Lebanon has reaffirmed its determination to strengthen ties with Gulf states and fully restore national sovereignty, Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi said in an interview published Monday by the Emirati daily Al-Ittihad. He highlighted the government’s recent decision to grant the state exclusive control over weapons, describing it as a ...

Visa Refusal for Palestinians at UN, EU Urges Washington to "Reconsider"

The European Union on Saturday urged the United States to "reconsider" its decision to deny visas to Palestinian officials planning to attend next month’s United Nations General Assembly in New York. "We strongly call for this decision to be reconsidered, in light of international law," said EU foreign policy chief Kaja ...

France Says US Should not Deny Palestinians Access to UN Summit

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Saturday there should be no restrictions on access to next month's UN General Assembly, after the United States said it would deny visas to members of the Palestinian Authority. "A UN General Assembly meeting... should not be subject to any restrictions on access," Barrot said at a meeting of EU ...

Europeans Tell Iran Offer on Table to Avoid Sanctions

European powers said Friday they were ready to drop a new sanctions push on Iran if it addresses concerns on its nuclear program over the next month, but Tehran denounced the offer as insincere. Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, triggered the so-called "snapback" mechanism the previous day to reinstate UN sanctions on Tehran for ...

Cholera Outbreaks Worsening, Spreading to 31 Countries: WHO

The global cholera situation is worsening, with outbreaks across 31 countries and a surging fatality rate, the World Health Organization said Friday. "Given the scale, severity, and interconnected nature of these outbreaks, the risk of further spread within and between countries is considered very high," it said. The UN health agency said the ...

US to Refuse Visas to Palestinian Officials at UN Summit on State

The United States said Friday it will deny visas to members of the Palestinian Authority to attend next month's UN General Assembly, where France is leading a push to recognize a Palestinian state. The extraordinary step further aligns President Donald Trump's administration with Israel's government, which adamantly rejects a Palestinian state ...

Iranian Nuclear Issue: Moscow and Beijing Express Concerns Over EU Ultimatum

Following the European decision to trigger the mechanism that could reinstate international sanctions against Iran within a month—a move set to be reviewed Friday by the UN Security Council, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-president, Kaja Kallas said Friday, “Western countries now have 30 days to find ...

Lebanon Welcomes UN Decision on UNIFIL Mandate

President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam welcomed on Thursday the United Nations Security Council’s decision to extend the mandate of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) until December 31, 2026. President Aoun thanked all 15 Security Council members for their unanimous support, singling out France as penholder ...

UN Security Council Votes for Lebanon Peacekeepers to Leave in 2027

The Security Council voted Thursday for UN peacekeepers to leave Lebanon in 2027, allowing one final extension after pressure from Israel and its US ally to end the nearly 50-year-old force. Israel hailed the termination of the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and urged the Beirut government to exert its authority after an Israeli ...

Algeria President Replaces Prime Minister

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Thursday removed his prime minister, Nadir Larbaoui, according to a statement that provided no reason for the decision. Larbaoui, a former lawyer, held the post since November 2023 following a diplomatic career that saw him represent Algeria as ambassador to several countries as well as to the United ...