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☆ UN Security Council to hold first talks on AI risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, July 17 (Reuters) - The United Nations Security Council will hold its first formal discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) this week in New York, with Britain to call for an international dialogue about its impact on global peace and security. Governments around the world are considering how to mitigate the dangers of emerging AI technology, which could reshape the global economy and change the international security landscape. Britain holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council this month and has been seeking a global leadership role in AI regulation. In June, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres backed a proposal by some artificial intelligence executives for the creation of an international AI watchdog body like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Reporting by William James Editing by Alexandra HudsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: James, Antonio Guterres, William James, Alexandra Hudson Organizations: United Nations Security, UN Security, British, International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, Alexandra Hudson Our, Thomson Locations: New York, Britain, U.N

Talks over the renewal of a deal that allows Ukraine to export its grain across the Black Sea in wartime were set to go down to the wire again, as the United Nations waited on Sunday for a response from Russia on a proposal that could revive the agreement and help keep global grain prices stable. The Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, is one of the very few areas of wartime cooperation between Ukraine and Russia. It was first agreed in summer last year, allowing Ukraine to restart the export of millions of tons of grain from its ports on the Black Sea despite Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began in February. But Russia has repeatedly threatened to pull out of the agreement, which has only been renewed for short periods. The latest deadline for expiry is midnight Monday.

Persons: António Guterres, Vladimir V, Putin Organizations: United Nations, Initiative, United Locations: Ukraine, Russia, United Nations, Turkey

☆ Last ship leaves Ukraine port ahead of Black Sea grain-deal deadline
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

KYIV, July 16 (Reuters) - The last ship to travel under a U.N.-brokered deal that allows the safe Black Sea export of Ukrainian grain left the port of Odesa early on Sunday ahead of a deadline to extend the agreement, according to a Reuters witness and MarineTraffic.com. A United Nations spokesman said on Friday that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was waiting for a response from Russian President Vladimir Putin on a proposal to extend the deal. Russia has repeatedly threatened to quit the deal, brokered by the U.N. and Turkey in July 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Ukrainian officials did not immediately comment on whether the ship, the Turkish-flagged TQ Samsun, had left Odesa. Ukraine and Russia are among the world's top grain exporters.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Vladimir Putin, Putin, Cyril Ramaphosa, Iryna Nazarchuk, Dan Peleschuk, Barbara Lewis Organizations: United Nations, South, Thomson Locations: Russia, Moscow, Turkey, Ukraine, Turkish, Samsun, Odesa

☆ A landmark agricultural deal that guarantees food security for tens of millions is set to expire on Monday as Russia debates its renewal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( Amanda Macias | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Black Sea deal has allowed Ukraine to ship more than 30 million tons of produce from three major ports, helping to bring down global food prices down after they spiked following Russia's invasion. Last week, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin outlining proposals to salvage the deal. REUTERS/Nacho Doce Nacho Doce | ReutersBefore Russian troops poured over Ukraine's borders in late February 2022, Kyiv and Moscow accounted for almost a quarter of global grain exports. Those agricultural shipments came to a halt for nearly six months until representatives from Ukraine, Russia, the U.N. and Turkey agreed to establish a humanitarian sea corridor under the Black Sea Grain Initiative. One of Moscow's top demands though is for the Russian Agricultural Bank, or Rosselkhozbank, to return to the SWIFT banking system.

Persons: Akos Stiller, Antonio Guterres, Vladimir Putin, U.N, Stephane Dujarric, Putin, Sergei Lavrov, Sean Gallup, Sergey Lavrov, Lavrov, That's, SWIFT Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty Images WASHINGTON, Kremlin, REUTERS, Reuters, Russian, Food, Sea Initiative, Russian Agricultural Bank, Society, Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication Locations: Bicske, Hungary, Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Ukrainian, UN, Turkey, Odesa, Kyiv, Ukraine's, Afghanistan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen, Yuzhny, Moscow's

☆ Nearly half the world's population lives in countries where the government spends more on debt than education or healthcare
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Almost 40% of the developing world is in serious debt trouble, especially in Africa. In addition to the growing debts, developing countries are also facing higher interest rates. According to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, 3.3 billion people live in countries where the government spends more on debt interest payments than education or health. According to the UN report, countries facing "high levels of debt" more than doubled from 22 in 2011 to 59 in just 11 years. Another issue is that more and more debt in developing countries is held by private lenders who charge much higher interest rates.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Al Organizations: Service, UN Locations: Africa, Wall, Silicon, Al Jazeera, skyrocketing, Nigeria, States, Europe

☆ UN waits for Russian answer as Black Sea grain deal deadline looms
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Guterres wrote to Putin on Tuesday asking him to extend the Black Sea deal in return for connecting a subsidiary of Russia's Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) to the international payment system SWIFT, sources told Reuters. The last ship traveling under the Black Sea deal is loading its cargo at Ukraine's Odesa port. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday pushed for Russia to extend and expand the Black Sea deal, accusing Russia of using the agreement "as a weapon" by threatening to end it. To convince Russia to agree to the Black Sea deal, a three-year memorandum of understanding was struck in July 2022 under which U.N. officials agreed to help Russia get its food and fertilizer exports to foreign markets. The EU is considering connecting a Rosselkhozbank subsidiary to SWIFT to allow for grain and fertilizer transactions, sources familiar with discussions said on Wednesday.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Vladimir Putin, Guterres, Putin, SWIFT, We're, U.N, Stephane Dujarric, Tayyip Erdogan, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Michelle Nichols, Will Dunham Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United Nations, Russia's Agricultural Bank, Reuters, Kremlin, TASS, U.S, Ukraine, EU, SWIFT, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Moscow, Turkey, Jakarta, EU

☆ Putin says Russia may quit Black Sea grain deal if demands not met
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MOSCOW, July 13 (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Russia was set to withdraw from a deal allowing the export of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea unless its own demands are met, reaffirming Moscow's tough stance ahead of the deal's expiry next Monday. We will immediately rejoin this deal," Putin said. A Kremlin spokesman later clarified that Russia had not taken a final decision on whether to exit the grain deal. The United Nations and Turkey brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative with Russia and Ukraine in July 2022 to help alleviate a global food crisis that worsened after Moscow sent forces into Ukraine and blockaded Ukrainian ports. To convince Putin to agree to the deal, U.N. officials also agreed to help Russia get its food and fertilizer exports to foreign markets - something Moscow says they have failed to do.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Antonio Guterres, SWIFT, Gareth Jones, David Evans, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Russia, United Nations, Kremlin, United, Reuters, European Union, Russian Agriculture Bank, Thomson Locations: MOSCOW, Russian, Russia, United Nations, Turkey, Ukraine, Moscow, Ukrainian

☆ EU helping UN, Turkey in bid to extend Black Sea grain deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

A Kremlin spokesman later said that Russia had not taken a final decision on whether to exit the grain deal. The European Commission's priority is to ensure that Ukrainian grain can reach the world market and it calls on all parties to extend the Black Sea deal, a European Union spokesperson in Brussels said on Thursday. Russia has threatened to ditch the Black Sea grain deal because several demands to dispatch its own grain and fertilizer abroad have not been met. The last ship traveling under the Black Sea agreement is currently loading its cargo at the Ukrainian port of Odesa ahead of the Monday deadline. Britain has also "worked very closely with the City of London to enable a very complex payment system" for Russian grain, Britain's U.N. ambassador, Barbara Woodward, has said.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Vladimir Putin, SWIFT, Guterres, Putin, Ursula von der Leyen, Putin's, U.N, Barbara Woodward, Woodward, Michelle Nichols, Foo Yun Chee, Angus MacSwan, Leslie Adler Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, European Commission, United, Black, European Union, Russian Agricultural Bank, Reuters, United Nations, Kremlin, JPMorgan Chase &, reassurances, U.S ., The United Nations, African Export, Import Bank, City, Thomson Locations: United Nations, Turkey, Ukraine, Russia, Ukrainian, EU, U.N, Moscow, Brussels, Russian, Odesa, Africa, Britain, London

☆ Global public debt hits record $92 trillion, UN report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Jorgelina Do Rosario | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, July 12 (Reuters) - Global public debt surged to a record $92 trillion in 2022 as governments borrowed to counter crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, with the burden being felt acutely by developing countries, a United Nations report said. Developing countries owe almost 30% of the global public debt, of which 70% is represented by China, India and Brazil. Fifty-nine developing countries face a debt-to-GDP ratio above 60% - a threshold indicating high levels of debt. Private creditors, such as bondholders and banks, represent 62% of developing countries' total external public debt. Reporting by Jorgelina do Rosario, additional reporting by Michelle Nichols at the United Nations, editing by Karin Strohecker and Sharon SingletonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Jorgelina, Michelle Nichols, Karin Strohecker, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Global, United, UN, United Nations, Monetary Fund, Group, Thomson Locations: United Nations, China, India, Brazil, Africa, America, Paris, Rosario

☆ UN asks Putin to extend Black Sea grain deal in return for SWIFT access -sources
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Russia has threatened to ditch the grain deal, which expires on Monday, because several demands to dispatch its own grain and fertilizer abroad have not been met. The last two ships traveling under the Black Sea agreement are currently loading cargoes at the Ukrainian port of Odesa ahead of the deadline. A key demand by Moscow is the reconnection of the Russian agricultural bank Rosselkhozbank to the SWIFT international payment network. Guterres has proposed to Putin that Russia allow the Black Sea grain deal to continue for several months, giving the EU time to connect a Rosselkhozbank subsidiary to SWIFT, two of those sources familiar with discussions told Reuters. The United Nations and Turkey brokered the Black Sea Grain Initiative with Russia and Ukraine in July 2022 to help alleviate a global food crisis worsened by Moscow's invasion and blockade of Ukrainian ports.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Vladimir Putin, Guterres, Putin, SWIFT, U.N, Stephane Dujarric, JPM.N, Michelle Nichols, Kanishka Singh, Mark Heinrich, Diane Craft Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, Reuters, European Union, European Commission, EU, Russian Agricultural Bank, Russian Federation, Kremlin, United, JPMorgan Chase, reassurances, U.S ., The United Nations, African Export, Import Bank, Thomson Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Odesa, Moscow, EU, SWIFT, Rosselkhozbank, United Nations, Turkey, Ukrainian, Africa

☆ A country slightly bigger than Texas is projected to match the US's population by 2050 — and it shows how radically the world is going to change over the next three decades
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Cork Gaines | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

It's World Population Day. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy PolicyHappy World Population Day. "The population growth is, of course, partly explained by improvement in level and access to public health," Amare said. Michael Herrmann, an economic adviser with United Nations Population Fund, told Africa News that without proper planning it can difficult to care for, educate, and employ a population growing that fast. "They want to create full employment for the people, and a growing population can raise the stakes in these efforts.

Persons: António Guterres, it's, Tighisti Amare, Amare, Michael Herrmann, Hermann Organizations: Service, United Nations, Google, Africa, Chatham House, United Nations Population Fund Locations: Nigeria, Wall, Silicon, India, China, Japan, Germany, Pakistan, Indonesia, Texas, Africa, London

☆ Russian veto signals end of Turkey-based UN aid operation in Syria
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia suggested that the council mandate for the aid operation could not be salvaged. Security Council votes on the issue have long been contentious - in both 2022 and 2020 the mandate expired, only to be renewed a day later. The Security Council initially authorized aid deliveries in 2014 into opposition-held areas of Syria from Iraq, Jordan and two points in Turkey. 'UTTER CRUELTY'Russia and Syria have argued that the aid operation violates Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity. China abstained on the vote for the nine-month compromise renewal of the aid operation authorization drafted by Switzerland and Brazil, while the remaining 13 Security Council members voted in favor.

Persons: Vassily Nebenzia, Nebenzia, we're, Linda Thomas, Greenfield, U.N, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, Bashar al, Assad, Bassam Sabbagh, Sabbagh, Thomas, Michelle Nichols, Rami Ayyub, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, Nations, . Security, Russia U.N, Security, United, United Nations, Reuters, Ten Security, U.S, Thomson Locations: Russia, Turkey, Syria, United States, Damascus, Moscow, Iraq, Jordan, China, United Nations, Switzerland, Brazil, Britain, France, Washington

CNN —The United Nations has warned that Sudan could be on the verge of all-out-war after a weekend airstrike killed dozens in a residential area in the Sudanese city of Omdurman. United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the weekend bombing was an indication that Sudan was now on “the brink of a full-scale civil war.”“The Secretary-General remains deeply concerned that the ongoing war between the armed forces has pushed Sudan to the brink of a full-scale civil war, potentially destabilizing the entire region,” a statement from Guterres’ office said condemning the airstrike. “There is an utter disregard for humanitarian and human rights law that is dangerous and disturbing,” the statement added. Guterres urged the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) — the two warring factions fighting for control in Sudan to end hostilities. Data from the United Nations International Organization for Migration, (IOM) said nearly 2.8 million people have fled Sudan, many without passports, for neighboring countries such as Egypt, Ethiopia and Libya.

Persons: General Antonio Guterres, ”, Guterres Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF, Rapid Support Forces, Saturday’s, United Nations International Organization for Migration Locations: Sudan, Sudanese, Omdurman, Darfur, ”, Egypt, Ethiopia, Libya

Senator Tim Kaine and Representative Barbara Lee raised concerns on Sunday over the decision by President Joe Biden's administration to send cluster bombs to Ukraine to combat the Russian invasion. "Cluster bombs should never be used. That's crossing a line," she told CNN on Sunday, adding the United States risked losing its "moral leadership" by sending cluster bombs to Ukraine. He added that Russia is using cluster munitions in Ukraine and "indiscriminately killing civilians," while the Ukrainians will be using them to defend their own territory. U.S. Representative Michael McCaul, chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, said Ukraine's counteroffensive was going slowly and that the cluster bombs could be a "game changer" for the Ukrainians.

Persons: Gabriel Jenko, Tim Kaine, Barbara Lee, Joe Biden's, Antonio Guterres, Kaine, Biden, Lee, John Kirby, Kirby, Michael McCaul, McCaul, Kanishka Singh, Joey Roulette, Doina Chiacu, Scott Malone, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Munitions, U.S . Army, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Democratic U.S, United, United Nations, Fox News, Senate Armed Services Committee, White, Cluster Munitions, CNN, White House, Democratic, Republican, U.S, Representatives Foreign, Sunday, Thomson Locations: Hovey, South Korea, Handout, Ukraine, Russian, United States, Russia, United

Cluster munitions could boost Ukraine's counteroffensive to reclaim territory seized since Russia invaded in February 2022. Cluster munitions typically release large numbers of smaller bomblets that can kill indiscriminately over a wide area. Germany is one of 111 states party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, a pact that does not include the United States. Biden waived prohibitions around the munitions, just as his predecessor Donald Trump did in 2021 to allow the export of cluster munitions technology to South Korea. 'VERY SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION'Ukraine previously had urged U.S. lawmakers to press the Biden administration to approve sending cluster munitions.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden's, Sullivan, we've, Biden, Bradley, Antonio Guterres, Annalena Baerbock, Biden's, Donald Trump, Mykhailo Podolyak, Podolyak, Mike Stone, Nandita Bose, Steve Holland, Will Dunham, Grant McCool Organizations: United States, Pentagon, Russia, U.S . National Security, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Stryker, Human Rights Watch, Cluster Munitions, Republicans, U.S . House, Representatives Foreign, U.S, Army Tactical Missile, Munitions, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia, U.S, Ukrainian, Germany, United States, Britain, South Korea, Russian

☆ ‘Life is like it is’: TotalEnergies CEO defends strategy despite calls to cut fossil fuel production
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Sam Meredith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

"Today, our society requires oil and gas … Why we are together, it is 80% of fossil fuels. The question is not fossil fuels, it is emissions, to lower the emissions." TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanne said the company had allocated nearly one-third of its capital expenditure to low-carbon technologies, with the remainder spent on oil and gas. Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty ImagesThe burning of fossil fuels, such as oil and gas, is the chief driver of the climate emergency. I know the scientists told us you should forget [fossil fuels] — but life is like it is.

Persons: TotalEnergies, CNBC's Dan Murphy, Patrick Pouyanne, Pouyanne, Antonio Guterres, That's Organizations: Getty, BP, Shell, TotalEnergies, Dutch, Protesters, Salle, Bloomberg Locations: Vienna, Austria, Ukraine, Paris

☆ UN ends peacekeeping mission in Mali, US blames Russia's Wagner
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Ambassador Anna Evstigneeva told the Security Council that Mali had made a "sovereign decision." "Russia will continue to provide comprehensive support to Mali for normalizing the situation in that country on a bilateral basis." Ambassador Issa Konfourou told the Security Council. "The government regrets that the Security Council continues to consider the situation in Mali as a threat to international peace and security," Konfourou said. The Security Council deployed MINUSMA in 2013 to support foreign and local efforts to restore stability.

Persons: Russia's Wagner, Mali's, Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, John Kirby, Anna Evstigneeva, U.N, Issa Konfourou, Konfourou, Antonio Guterres, Abdoulaye Diop, MINUSMA, Michelle Nichols, Steve Holland, Caitlin Webber, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United Nations Security, African, Security, House, Security Council, United Nations, Malian Foreign, MINUSMA, Thomson Locations: Mali, United States, Russia, French, Bamako, Malian, Washington

☆ HIGHLIGHTS-What world leaders said at the Paris finance summit
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

PARIS, June 22 (Reuters) - Following are highlights of what world leaders said at a summit in Paris on Thursday to boost crisis financing for poor countries, reform post-war financial systems and free up funds to tackle climate change. ON REFORM"Even with the capital that the World Bank and the MDBs (multinational development banks) have, there is clearly potential ...to increase financing capacity," said U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, whose country is the World Bank's biggest shareholder. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen delivers her speech at the U.S embassy to France, ahead of the Global Climate Finance conference, in Paris, France June 22, 2023 World leaders, heads of international organizations and activists are gathering in Paris for a two-day summit aimed at seeking better responses to tackle poverty and climate change issues by reshaping the global financial system. ON FAILURE OF INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL ARCHITECTURE"It is clear that the international financial architecture has failed in its mission to provide a global safety net for developing countries," said U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres. Reporting by Leigh Thomas, John Irish, Elizabeth Pineau, Silvia Aloisi; Editing by Christina FincherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Janet Yellen, Yellen, Lewis Joly, Emmanuel Macron, General Antonio Guterres, Leigh Thomas, John Irish, Elizabeth Pineau, Silvia Aloisi, Christina Fincher Organizations: World Bank, Treasury, U.S . Treasury, U.S, Global Climate Finance, Bank, Thomson Locations: Paris, U.S, France

☆ UN adds Russia to list of shame for killing children in Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-22 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

Russian armed forces also used 91 children as human shields, according to the report. The report also verified that Ukrainian armed forces killed 80 children, maimed 175 children and carried out 212 attacks on schools and hospitals. He also said he was "particularly disturbed" by the high number of such offenses against children by Ukrainian armed forces. The U.N. report on children and armed conflict verified the abduction of 91 children by Russian armed forces; all of them were subsequently released. The report also verified the transfer of 46 children to Russia from Ukraine.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Virginia Gamba, Maria Lvova, Vladimir Putin, Michelle Nichols, Ismail Shakil, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United Nations, . Security, Reuters, The United Nations, Virginia, ICC, Democratic, Thomson Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ukrainian, New York, Gamba, Moscow, Russian, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Saudi, Yemen, Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Syria, Afghanistan

☆ Modi calls for 'one earth, one family, one future' at U.N. yoga event
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

UNITED NATIONS, June 21 (Reuters) - Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi led a celebration of International Yoga Day at the United Nations in New York on Wednesday and called on people "to join hands together to realize the goal of one earth, one family, one future." The United Nations in 2014 declared June 21 the International Day of Yoga, adopting a measure proposed by Modi. "Let us use the power of yoga to build bridges of friendship, a peaceful world, and a cleaner, greener and sustainable future," he said. [1/6]Participants take part in the 9th International Day of Yoga event with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the north lawn at United Nations headquarters in New York City, New York, U.S., June 21, 2023. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres delivered a video message to the yoga event, saying he wanted to "recognize Prime Minister Modi for all he has done to promote understanding of yoga and its many benefits."

Persons: Narendra Modi, Modi, Joe Biden, Mike Segar Modi, Biden, Mahatma Gandhi, Gandhi, India's, Antonio Guterres, David Brunnstrom, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, Indian, United Nations, of Yoga, White, REUTERS, United, Bharatiya Janata Party, Thomson Locations: New York, New, East, United States, New York City , New York, U.S, Washington, India

☆ UN chief calls for acceleration of Black Sea grain deal exports
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-20 | by ( Michelle Nichols | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Russia's President Vladimir Putin said last week that Russia was considering withdrawing from the Black Sea grain deal. The Black Sea deal also allows for ammonia shipments, but none have happened. Restarting the pipeline was one of several Russian demands made in talks to extend the Black Sea grain deal. Last month it began stopping vessels traveling to Pivdennyi port under the Black Sea grain deal until the ammonia pipeline was restarted. Haq said the United Nations was "fully committed" to supporting the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and the pact to facilitate Russia food and fertilizer exports.

Persons: Antonio Guterres, U.N, Farhan Haq, Guterres, Haq, Vladimir Putin, Michelle Nichols, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United Nations, United, Initiative, Black, TASS, Russian Federation, Thomson Locations: Russia, United Nations, Turkey, Ukraine, Ukrainian, Moscow, United

☆ UN adopts world's first treaty to protect high seas biodiversity
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/David Gray/File PhotoNEW YORK, June 19 (Reuters) - The U.N. has adopted the world's first treaty to protect the high seas and preserve marine biodiversity in international waters, marking a milestone after nearly 20 years of effort, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced Monday. The adoption followed an agreement reached in March by more than 100 countries on the of text of the High Seas Treaty, also known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction treaty, after more than 15 years of discussions and five rounds of U.N.-led negotiations. In approving the text, member states have "pumped new life and hope to give the ocean a fighting chance," Guterres said in a statement. The pact is a key plank in efforts to put 30% of the world's land and sea under environmental protection by 2030, a goal set in December. Among other provisions, the legally binding agreement would govern sharing benefits derived from marine genetic resources beyond national jurisdictions, creating protected areas on the high seas and establishing a framework for assessing environmental damage.

Persons: Lady Elliot, David Gray, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Douglas Gillison, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Eco, REUTERS, Thomson Locations: Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia, New York

"Without strong international support, Sudan could quickly become a locus of lawlessness, radiating insecurity across the region," Guterres told a fundraising conference hosted by Germany, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt and the United Nations. "I appeal to you all today to provide funding to deliver lifesaving humanitarian aid and support to people living in the most difficult and dangerous conditions," Guterres said. Germany announced on Monday that it was pledging 200 million euros to Sudan and the region until 2024, the United States pledged $171 million, and Qatar pledged $50 million. Before the donor conference, a U.N. appeal for $2.57 billion for humanitarian support within Sudan this year was about 17% funded, a U.N. website showed. More than half of that came from the United States, with the European Commission in second place with about 10% of the total.

Persons: Saba Kareem, Antonio Guterres, Guterres, Volker Turk, Turk, Geneva Hassan Hamid Hassan, Filippo Grandi, Emma Farge, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Khalid Abdelaziz, Aidan Lewis, Christina Fincher Organizations: Baghdad International, REUTERS, GENEVA, United Nations, United, Rapid Support Forces, European Commission, Thomson Locations: Sudan, Iraqi, Baghdad, Iraq, Khartoum, Darfur, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, United States, Jeddah, West Darfur, Geneva, Kuwait, Dubai

The Dar Masalit report accuses the RSF and allied Janjaweed militias of the killings and other crimes, as published by the sultanate. The Darfur Bar Association (DBA) said Monday that two more members of the organization have been killed in West Darfur by the RSF and their militias, without specifying the day of the reported killings. The report cited the neighborhoods that came under the most fire, including Al Jamarek, Al Buhaira, Al Thawrah, Al Tadamon, Al Madaris, Al Mansoura, and Al Jabal among others. CNN cannot independently verify all incidents as outlined in the Dar Masalit report. But CNN has confirmed and reported on thousands of civilians fleeing Geneina and West Darfur.

Persons: CNN —, El, Dar, ”, –, Masalit, Health Haitham Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Khamis Abbaker, Tariq Hassan Yaqoub Al, Malik, Sadiq Muhammad Ahmed Haroun, El Geneina, Abdel, Rahman Gumma, “, Gumma, General Antonio Guterres, Al Jamarek, Al Buhaira, Al Thawrah, Al Tadamon, Al Madaris, Al Mansoura, Jabal, CNN geolocated, El Geneina “, …, Geneina, haven’t Organizations: CNN, Rapid Support Forces, Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF, Darfur Victims Solidarity Association, Strategic Initiative, Women, Health, West Darfur, Darfur Bar Association, Al, United Nations Mission, Twitter, UN Human Rights, Dar, US Locations: Darfur, Sudan, North Darfur, North Darfur’s, West Darfur’s, El Geneina, West Darfur, Chad, “, Horn of Africa, Saudi, Khartoum, West, El, Geneina, ”, Dar, Chadian, Adré, Saudi Arabia

[1/5] Ukrainian service members are seen on their position at a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Donetsk region, Ukraine June 18, 2023. "The enemy's 'wave-like' offensives yielded results, despite enormous losses," the official, Vladimir Rogov, said on the Telegram messaging app. A separate statement from Russia's Vostok group of forces said Ukraine had failed to take the settlement. Ukrainian officials have imposed an information blackout to help operational security, but say that Russia has suffered much greater losses than Ukraine has during its new assault. "In all these areas, Ukraine continues to pursue offensive operations and has made small advances," it said on Twitter.

Persons: Anna Kudriavtseva, Piatykhatky, Vladimir Rogov, Russia's, Vladimir Putin, Cyril Ramaphosa, Putin, Ramaphosa, Dmitry Peskov, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Zelenskiy, Antonio Guterres, Hola Prystan, Tamara, Dan Peleschuk, Tom Balmforth, Wendell Roelf, Mark Trevelyan, Frances Kerry Organizations: REUTERS, Ukrainian, Twitter, South, Initiative, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Donetsk region, Ukrainian, Russia, Moscow, Kyiv, Russian, Donetsk, Kherson, Bakhmut, St Petersburg, Africa, Hola, London

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