Category: Глобальная политика

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October 23, 2025 Refugees and migrants

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported a major tragedy that occurred off the coast of Tunisia: a boat carrying 70 migrants bound for Europe capsized in the Mediterranean Sea. Forty people died, including nine women, 19 men, and 12 children under five.

According to the IOM, the incident occurred shortly after the vessel set sail near Mahdia, Tunisia. A nearby fishing boat raised the alarm, allowing the rescue of 30 people. The survivors included men, women, and children from Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, and Guinea.

The IOM notes that this is one of the deadliest shipwrecks off the North African coast this year and emphasizes the need for coordinated action to prevent tragedies along the Central Mediterranean route, considered the most dangerous migration route in the world.

According to the IOM Missing Migrants project, nearly 1,000 people have died or gone missing on this route since the beginning of the year. Since 2014, the death toll has exceeded 25,000. At least 30 children drowned off the coast of Tunisia in 2025 alone – more than the entire previous year, when there were 22 such incidents.

IOM reiterated its commitment to supporting countries along key migration routes through search and rescue operations and the expansion of safe and legal migration routes. The organization expressed its deepest condolences to the families of the victims.

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October 23, 2025 Peace and security

The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) was successfully reconnected to the Ukrainian power grid today. The plant had been without external power for a month. Repairs were carried out under a local ceasefire agreed upon by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and monitored by its specialists on-site, said IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi.

He described the restoration of external power supply to Europe's largest nuclear power plant as "a major positive step."

"Today is a rare, positive day for nuclear safety in Ukraine and beyond, although the overall situation, of course, remains extremely unstable. Exactly one month later… the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is once again receiving the external power needed to cool its six reactors and spent fuel," Grossi stated.

"Since the station's disconnection from the last external power line on September 23, we have been actively cooperating with the Russian Federation and Ukraine to create the necessary security conditions for repair work on both sides of the front line. Despite the war, both sides agreed on the need to restore external power and have been constructively cooperating with us on this matter," he said.

Grossi noted that regular power outages at the nuclear power plant had become "common" during the war. However, the latest incident was "the most serious."

"I would like to express special gratitude to the technicians on both sides of the front line who have worked diligently in recent days to restore power under extremely challenging conditions," Grossi said. He noted that IAEA teams monitored the plant's reconnection process.

Repairs to the Dneprovskaya and Ferrosplavnaya-1 transmission lines began last weekend, after temporary ceasefire zones were established. Prior to this, extensive demining operations had been carried out.

The IAEA continues to coordinate with both sides to pave the way for further repairs to the Ferrosplavnaya-1 line, where additional damage was discovered outside the ceasefire zone this week.

The plant's six reactors have been in cold shutdown mode and have not generated electricity for over three years, but they still require power to operate cooling pumps and other nuclear safety equipment. For the past month, the plant has been using emergency diesel generators.

"Much remains to be done to further reduce the risk of a nuclear accident. The next step is to complete repairs to the Ferrosplavnaya-1 power line and prevent potential future power outages," Grossi said.

He called for every effort to be made to ensure the security of the Zaporizhzhya NPP's external power supply.

"The IAEA will continue its indispensable work at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and other nuclear facilities in Ukraine until this devastating war ends," he stressed.

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A dire situation

Snow leopards, or irbis, are threatened by poaching, the decline of the ungulates they prey on, conflicts with humans, and habitat destruction due to infrastructure development and climate change. Poachers kill snow leopards for their valuable fur, and local residents may shoot them for attacking livestock, which occurs when predators lack wild prey.

October 23rd is International Snow Leopard Day. It was chosen to draw attention to the dwindling snow leopard population and to unite international efforts to conserve this rare animal.

Today, there are only 3,500 to 7,000 individuals left in the world. The species is officially classified as "vulnerable," just one step away from being considered "endangered."

Experts say the snow leopard's plight is emblematic of a larger wildlife crisis unfolding in the snow-capped mountains of Central Asia.

© UNEP/A.L. Lopez

But the situation in some areas offers hope. Among them is a section of the Tien Shan mountain range in Kyrgyzstan. A small group of volunteer rangers has taken on the task of patrolling 380 square kilometers of one of the harshest areas in Central Asia.

Braving the freezing cold, they try to protect the snow leopard and preserve its habitat.

Kyrgyzstan's Mountains: A Struggle for Survival

More than 90 percent of Kyrgyzstan, a landlocked country of 7 million people, is mountainous. The country's peaks are home to a variety of wildlife, including argali (a type of sheep known for its large, curled horns), Siberian ibex (one of the largest ibex in the world), and Tien Shan ibex (a type of deer). However, many of these animals are suffering from climate change and human activity.

For generations, Kyrgyzstan's vast plains and high-altitude meadows supported thriving livestock farming. However, according to locals, rising temperatures are drying up glacier-fed springs, and falling humidity is depriving lowland grasses of moisture. This is forcing herders to move higher into the mountains—to areas once home to snow leopards and their prey.

© UNEP/A.L. Lopez

The consequences for wildlife could be catastrophic, conservationists say. The habitats of many migratory animals, including snow leopards, are shrinking. Wild sheep, deer, and other herbivores are forced to compete with livestock for grazing land. Furthermore, many wild animals face an increasing risk of contracting livestock-borne diseases, to which they have little or no immunity.

UN support

Several conservation projects aim to counter these negative factors. Among them is a project implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in collaboration with local partners, the non-governmental organizations CAMP Alatoo and the Ilbirs Foundation, with financial support from Germany. It aims to help rural communities adapt to a rapidly changing climate and protect the wildlife surrounding them.

Among other things, UNEP supported the creation of a 200-kilometer-wide ecological corridor connecting several nature reserves in Kyrgyzstan. This "wildlife superhighway," comprising 10,000 square kilometers of protected areas, allows species to migrate in a changing climate. It is considered critical for the survival of migratory animals such as argali and Siberian ibex, the snow leopard's primary prey.

See with my own eyes

Part of the corridor is patrolled by volunteer rangers like 51-year-old Baatyrbek Akmatov. He and five others are responsible for patrolling the 380-kilometer Baiboosun Public Nature Reserve in northern Kyrgyzstan. Many of the rangers are former hunters.

© UNEP/A.L. Lopez

They travel by car and even on horseback, tracking down both poachers and shepherds who bring their cattle into ecologically sensitive areas.

"We decided to start this project because otherwise we'll lose everything," Akmatov says, referring to the Jaeger Corps. "I don't want to show my children on my phone that we once had such nature, such animals. I want them to see it with their own eyes."

Dangerous work

The Kyrgyz government cannot pay rangers, but authorities have granted them the authority to manage the corridor and arrest poachers. A UNEP initiative, officially known as the "Adaptation of Mammals to Climate Change in Central Asia" project, provided equipment and training.

Patrols can sometimes last three days and take volunteers deep into the Tien Shan. It's dangerous work. Rangers often operate alone (by splitting up, they can cover more territory) and encounter landslides, flash floods, and severe thunderstorms. Sometimes they find themselves face-to-face with armed poachers.

At first, many local residents, including shepherds who feared being banned from grazing their livestock, were outraged by the patrols. But over time, the animals they hunt began to return to the mountains. The snow leopard population is also recovering. In recent months, 12 big cats have been spotted in and around Baiboosun.

New economic opportunities

Animals bring with them new economic opportunities, such as ecotourism.

"People's thinking is changing. They understand the importance of protecting their environment," says Akmatov.

Local partners of a UNEP-led project are training mountain residents in climate-adapted and environmentally friendly farming practices. In the village of Chon-Zhargylchak, women like Eliya Ismailova have been trained in beekeeping, cheesemaking, and greenhouse crop cultivation, increasing their income. Ismailova called this program "a real godsend for the village," which has long struggled with unemployment.

Experts are also working to raise public awareness of the role of wildlife. More than 200 Kyrgyz teachers have been trained in biodiversity. This knowledge is being passed on to students, who staged a play about the life of snow leopards in Chon-Zhargylchak.

© UNEP/A.L. Lopez

Preserve biodiversity

The UNEP-led project aims to support the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a landmark 2022 agreement designed to protect wildlife. Among other things, the pact calls on countries to expand protected areas and strengthen ecosystem connections.

Ismailova's husband, Talant Yusupov, leads a group of rangers from the village. He says the patrols are beginning to bear fruit. For the first time in nearly two decades, wild boar have returned to the area. Siberian ibex, previously virtually unknown, are now regularly sighted. Furthermore, deer antlers have been discovered in the mountains, a sign that they, too, may be making a comeback.

"I'm very optimistic," says Ismailova, who has five children. "We used to tell the children stories about how wild boars and fish once lived here. Now I'm happy they can see it."

*The article was prepared based on UNEP materials.

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Dina Neskorozhana

October 23, 2025 Peace and security

Many viruses and bacteria can be turned into weapons of mass destruction. Although virtually all countries have joined the Biological Weapons Convention, allegations of their use continue to surface, making the issue of verification, especially in light of the capabilities of new technologies, particularly important.

Deadly, silent, invisible

When we mention "biological weapons," many recall stories of ancient times, throwing blankets infested with lice or smallpox into enemy camps, or modern narratives of infected insects and secret laboratories. Another memorable scene: on February 5, 2003, US Secretary of State Colin Powell demonstrated a vial of supposedly anthrax at a UN Security Council meeting.

Many of these stories are controversial, and modern-day mutual accusations of biological weapons development between states are often not officially confirmed. However, behind the legends lies a sinister reality, as James Revill, head of the Weapons of Mass Destruction and Space Security Programs at the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research (UNIDIR), explains.

"Biological weapons are traditionally understood as agents that cause harm through infection. These can include viruses, such as smallpox, and bacteria, such as anthrax, along with a wide range of other biological agents. Biological weapons can affect humans, animals, and plants, causing consequences ranging from mass destruction to localized attacks, economic sabotage, or assassinations," Revill noted.

The danger of biological weapons lies in their ability to spread rapidly, yet silently and undetected, among the population. This is why, the expert added, such weapons are considered "unacceptable" and the international community has agreed to ban them completely.

Biological weapons typically consist of two components—an agent and a delivery vehicle, similar to the lice and blankets in the examples above. Agents such as aflatoxin, anthrax, botulinum toxin, foot-and-mouth disease, melioidosis, plague, Q fever, ricin, smallpox, and tularemia have been developed over the years. Delivery vehicles range from missiles and bombs to aerial sprayers and simple tools for stealth attacks.

When a disease outbreak begins, it's often impossible to determine whether it arose naturally, accidentally, or as a result of the deliberate use of a biological weapon. The true nature of biological weapons lies in their indiscriminate nature: they do not distinguish between friend and foe, inflicting equal cruelty on those who use them and those they target.

Biological Weapons Convention

Fearing the catastrophic consequences of biological warfare, the international community developed the Biological Weapons Convention (BTWC). This treaty prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer, stockpiling, and use of biological and toxin weapons.

The Convention opened for signature on April 10, 1972, and entered into force on March 26, 1975. Today, it has achieved near-universal application. The Convention expands on the provisions of the 1925 Geneva Protocol, which prohibited only the use of biological weapons, by extending this prohibition to their development and storage.

Call from the US President

Speaking at the UN General Assembly in September 2025, US President Donald Trump highlighted the dangers posed by biological weapons and announced that his country would lead international efforts to develop an AI-based biosecurity verification system. He also called on the UN to play a constructive role in advancing these efforts.

"If we ever use biological weapons, the world could literally cease to exist," he said. "Then there would be no United Nations to talk about it."

The US President linked his warning to the lessons of the pandemic, which he blamed on "irresponsible experiments abroad," and announced plans for a new international initiative to strengthen the Convention, centered on a robust AI-based verification system. According to Trump, this would be one of the first global examples of how AI can strengthen collective security, rather than undermine it. Russia quickly supported this US initiative.

The UN's role in strengthening the Biological Weapons Convention

The UN has stated that it does not intend to shy away from disarmament challenges.

"Neither the United Nations itself nor the Office for Disarmament Affairs will escape the challenges of today," Under-Secretary-General Izumi Nakamitsu emphasized at a meeting of the First Committee of the UN General Assembly. "On the contrary, current institutional challenges and trends in international security should inspire us to reaffirm the value of disarmament."

Commenting on Trump's initiative, James Revill of UNIDIR noted that, despite limited resources, the UN continues to play a key role in implementing and strengthening the Convention and the biocontrol system as a whole.

"A small four-person unit—the Secretariat for Supporting the Implementation of the Convention—coordinates discussions, assists the working group on strengthening the Convention, supports the implementation of commitments, and monitors confidence-building measures. Furthermore, the UN Secretary-General's mechanism for investigating cases of possible use of biological weapons remains accessible and effective, and work has recently been underway to modernize its capabilities," the expert explained.

Under Article 6 of the Convention, any State Party may file a complaint with the UN Security Council regarding a violation of its provisions. In such a case, the Security Council instructs the UN Secretary-General to examine allegations regarding the use or threat of use of biological weapons for validity.

Artificial Intelligence and Bioweapons Control

Today, the Convention remains an intergovernmental treaty, and even after half a century, states continue to disagree on how best to strengthen it. AI can help collect, standardize, and analyze data on biological activity across countries, creating a more accurate picture of compliance. However, according to Revill, technology alone is not enough: progress still requires institutions, political will, and financial resources.

New technologies can also be used by other parties. "Artificial intelligence, for example, could be used to create new biological agents or enable actors with less advanced resources to produce primitive forms of biological weapons. Furthermore, AI is increasingly being used to spread disinformation – whether through natural outbreaks or deliberate attacks," Reville emphasized.

The expert added that AI alone is not enough to create weapons; it requires a combination of technologies, equipment, and expertise. Advances in genome editing, the development of research projects, and new delivery systems—all of these, while being developed for peaceful purposes, can also be used for destructive purposes, requiring constant assessment of emerging threats.

Violations of the Convention

Revill noted that "over the past century, several states, including major powers, have had offensive biological weapons programs." There are also a few credible cases of bioterrorism by non-state actors, but information about these programs remains fragmentary. To verify the accusations countries make against each other, an effective verification system, backed by modern AI capabilities, is needed.

Renewed attention to the topic

The increased attention to the Biological Weapons Convention by the United States and other states is perceived as a long-awaited opportunity to strengthen its "verification mechanism," a UN News Service source emphasizes.

The coming years will tell whether artificial intelligence can become, as Trump put it, “a great force for good” – or, on the contrary, reinforce humanity’s old fears of invisible threats.

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Felipe de Carvalho

October 23, 2025 Culture and education

Professional chef and indigenous rights advocate Taina Marajoara will lead the kitchen at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil. In an interview with the UN News Service, she explained that over 10 tons of organic food produced within fair food systems will be purchased for the summit.

Taina Marajoara, founder of the cultural and gastronomic collective Ponto de Cultura Alimentar Iacitatá, was chosen to serve the kitchen serving all conference participants. According to her, heads of state and government, ministers, and other forum participants will be offered food that "does not poison, does not pollute, and does not kill—either through disease or conflict."

"We'll serve canapira, a Marajoaran dish still made in my native families, and not just in indigenous communities," explains Taina. "After much debate, we agreed on a lot of acai. We'll serve manisoba, a traditional dish from the state of Pará. It's also an indigenous food. It's made from cassava leaves boiled for seven days with pork. There will be plenty of tucupi, jambu, and chili peppers. We'll serve tacacá, fish in tucupi, and piraruca. We plan to buy at least two tons of this fish."

© Agência Brasil/M. Camargo

Gastronomic message

"We want to show that living in peace is possible. We must live in peace," says Taina, speaking about the heritage of indigenous peoples. "COP30 will provide space for our ancestral diplomacy. We will make it clear that the connection between the lives of indigenous peoples and local communities and food sovereignty must be recognized. As long as ancestral lands continue to be exploited, and violence spreads across fields, waters, forests, deserts, and glaciers, we are being killed—and our cultures too."

Climate Justice Kitchen

Taina gave an interview to the UN News Service while in Rome, where she is participating in the World Food Forum, held at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

Photo by UN News Service

Taina says indigenous food systems are closely linked to traditional knowledge and spirituality, and she laments that this wisdom is often ignored or simply erased from generations' memories. For her, gastronomic magic is part of the "cultural diplomacy of our ancestors." She hopes this initiative will serve as a model for future international conferences.

"We will have a kitchen based on climate justice. This is the first UN Climate Change Conference with a kitchen run by community and family farmers, and that's very important," says Taina. "But it shouldn't begin or end at COP30. We want this to become a historic milestone and spread around the world, so that our example is applied at other UN meetings."

The key to climate protection

Taina emphasizes that food sovereignty is inseparable from indigenous self-determination and environmental protection. She hopes that the climate forum in Brazil will help advance the principle of legitimate recognition of indigenous peoples' traditional territories as a key element of global climate policy.

Taina believes the world is "in a state of collapse" and that there's no more time for endless negotiations. "Protecting the territories of indigenous peoples and local communities," she says, "is the real way to save our planet's climate."

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October 23, 2025 International law

UN Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, which reaffirms a number of Israel's fundamental obligations under international law.

The Court emphasized that Israel, as the occupying power, has an obligation to provide the population of the Palestinian territory with basic necessities. In cases where the population is experiencing food shortages, as was the case in the Gaza Strip, Israel is obligated to accept and facilitate appropriate aid programs, including those of the United Nations.

The Court confirmed that, under international humanitarian law, Israel is obliged to protect relief personnel, to respect the prohibition of forced displacement and deportation of civilians and the prohibition of starvation as a method of warfare, and to respect the right of persons in detention to be visited by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross.

The International Court also noted the role of the UN, including the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), in providing humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip and supporting the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination, and reaffirmed Israel's obligation as a Member State to cooperate with the UN and UNRWA.

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The International Court of Justice ordered Israel to provide humanitarian aid in the Palestinian territories.

"The Secretary-General urges Israel to comply with its obligations regarding the presence and activities of the United Nations and other humanitarian organizations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, in accordance with the [Court's] advisory opinion," said a statement issued by his spokesman on behalf of the UN chief.

The UN chief emphasized that all parties must abide by their obligations under international law. He will transmit the advisory opinion to the General Assembly, which requested the document. This UN body will decide on further action on this matter. The Court's opinion will be crucial in improving the tragic situation in the Gaza Strip, the Secretary-General noted in his statement.

"Israel and all other States must abide by the law, as the Court's ruling makes clear, and act swiftly to significantly improve the appalling human rights and humanitarian situation on the ground," said UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk.

"Other parties to the conflict must also comply with their obligations under international law. This begins with saving lives, not putting them at serious risk," he added.

The United Nations will continue to provide humanitarian assistance to the population of the occupied Palestinian territory, stressed Antonio GuterresThe Secretary-General reiterated his call for a credible political path to ending the occupation and leading to a two-State solution.

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October 23, 2025 Peace and security

After two years of devastating war in Gaza, an opportunity has emerged to close a dark chapter in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and chart a path to a more just and peaceful future. This was stated by Ramiz Alakbarov, Deputy Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, speaking at a Security Council meeting on Thursday.

He said the suffering of Palestinians and Israelis will leave a mark on generations, and the situation for civilians in the occupied Palestinian territory remains dire.

A fragile truce

"The devastation in Gaza is beyond words," the rapporteur said. "Civilians, including children, women, and men, continue to suffer the consequences of war and deprivation." The UN representative also recalled that the bodies of dead Israeli hostages remain in Gaza, where their families are waiting "in agony" for the return of their loved ones' remains.

Alakbarov emphasized that the ceasefire gives hope, but the situation remains extremely volatile. "A return to conflict must be avoided at all costs. The remaining bodies of the deceased hostages must be returned without further delay. Humanitarian aid must be delivered to the Strip in full to meet the enormous needs of the residents where they are located," he noted, calling on all parties to strictly adhere to their obligations under the agreement.

Humanitarian principles

The Deputy Special Coordinator said that following the ceasefire's entry into force, the UN and its partners promptly increased humanitarian efforts in Gaza.

He said the UN is implementing a 60-day plan aimed at simplifying customs procedures, expanding delivery routes, ensuring the safe movement of humanitarian personnel, and restoring key services.

According to UN data, the volume of aid arriving in Gaza in the first week after the ceasefire increased by 46 percent, but according to Alakbarov, “this is still not enough" He called for opening more transitions to enter the enclave, ensure safe humanitarian corridors, a constant supply of fuel, and the ability of organizations to operate in accordance with humanitarian principles.

Restoring order

The UN representative also expressed concern about the ongoing violence in Gaza, which "undermines humanitarian efforts and threatens stability." He emphasized the need to restore public order as a key step in improving the humanitarian situation.

The speaker also noted that this the restoration process in the enclave The UN, he said, is ready to facilitate the coordination of these efforts with the Palestinian Authority, international partners, civil society, and the private sector, in accordance with the ceasefire commitments, the New York Declaration, and the Arab Recovery and Reconstruction Plan.

International law

Alakbarov also recalled that International Court of Justice October 22 issued an advisory opinion, which stated that Israel is obligated to fulfill its obligations under international law, ensure humanitarian access and cooperate with the UN.

Speaking about the situation in the West Bank, he noted that tens of thousands of Palestinians have been displaced by Israeli security operations. "Palestinians must be allowed to return to their homes, and the local economy must function," Alakbarov said. He also condemned settler violence against Palestinian farmers. during the olive harvest.

In addition, the Deputy Special Coordinator drew attention to the dire financial situation of the Palestinian Authority, which, according to him, is unable to receive approximately three billion dollars in tax revenues withheld by Israel.

Peace process

Concluding his speech, he emphasized that the peace process is at a "decisive but fragile stage." According to Alakbarov, President Trump's 20-point plan and the declaration signed at the Sharm el-Sheikh Peace Summit paved the way for ending the war. Furthermore, the upcoming Cairo Reconstruction Conference, co-hosted by Egypt, the Palestinian Authority, and the UN, will be an important platform for advancing Gaza's reconstruction efforts.

"The international community has in recent weeks reaffirmed its commitment to a sustainable end to the wider Israeli-Palestinian conflict," the rapporteur noted.

The UN, he said, will continue to support all efforts aimed at ending the occupation and realizing the solution of two states – Israel and Palestine, including Gaza – living side by side in peace and security within the pre-1967 borders, with Jerusalem as the capital of both states.

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October 22, 2025 Peace and security

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in the Occupied Palestinian Territory has warned of an alarming increase in violence by Israeli settlers and security forces against Palestinian farmers as the olive harvest season begins in the West Bank.

In the first half of 2025, 757 attacks by Israeli settlers resulting in casualties or property damage were recorded. This is 13 percent more than in the same period last year.

“Just two weeks into the harvest, we have witnessed brutal attacks by armed settlers against Palestinian men, women, children and foreign activists expressing solidarity with them,” said Ajit Sungai, head of the OHCHR office in the occupied Palestinian territory, on Wednesday.

Crop loss, land destruction

According to OHCHR, during the 2023 harvest season, approximately 9,600 hectares of olive groves remained uncultivated, resulting in losses of over $10 million for Palestinian farmers. This trend continued into 2024.

"Direct land destruction is intensifying," Sungai emphasized. "Settlers are burning plantations, cutting down olive trees with chainsaws, and destroying homes and agricultural infrastructure."

According to the UN, more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces or settlers in the West Bank since October 2023. Thousands of families have been forced to flee their homes due to attacks, restrictions on movement, and house demolitions.

The economic foundation of rural communities

"The olive tree here is more than just a tree," Sungai noted. "It represents the livelihood and traditions of our ancestors, resilience and economics, and a historical thread connecting Palestinians to the land."

According to him, approximately 100,000 Palestinian families depend on the olive harvest for their livelihoods. Thus, these plantations represent "the economic foundation of rural communities."

Ajit Sungai warned that the surge in settler violence comes "against the backdrop of Israel's accelerated territorial acquisition," with officials openly declaring their intention to annex the entire West Bank.

He recalled that Israel is "legally obligated to end the occupation and reverse the annexation" and called on UN member states to exert maximum pressure to protect civilians and bring to justice those responsible for "decades of violations."

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October 22, 2025 UN

The main news of the day at the UN and around the world: the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on Israel's obligations as an occupying power, a powerful wave of attacks across Ukraine, a Security Council meeting on Syria, and the Seville forum on debt issues.

The International Court of Justice on Israel's obligations

International Court of Justice The Court issued an advisory opinion on Israel's obligations as an occupying power with respect to the presence and activities of the UN and other international organizations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. It affirmed that Israel is obligated to comply with international humanitarian law, including providing the population with food, water, shelter, fuel, medical care, and other essential means of survival. The Court also ruled that Israel must "accept and facilitate by all possible means humanitarian operations," including the activities of UN agencies.

A powerful wave of attacks across Ukraine

On Wednesday, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported a new wave of powerful overnight attacks across the country, killing and wounding civilians, including children. The strikes primarily targeted the capital, Kyiv. In Kharkiv, residential buildings, a school, and a kindergarten were damaged. Civilian infrastructure, including energy and port facilities, was damaged in several other regions. The Ukrainian Ministry of Energy confirmed that the attacks affected energy infrastructure nationwide, causing power outages. Water supply disruptions were also reported.

Security Council meeting on Syria

Speaking at a Security Council meeting on Wednesday, Najat Roshdi, Deputy Special Envoy to Syria, emphasized the need for urgent steps to ensure an inclusive transformation in the country, particularly with regard to the political participation of women and members of ethnic and religious minorities. Despite President Ahmed al-Shara's promises to form an "inclusive transitional government," women are underrepresented in government: of the 119 elected members of the Transitional People's Assembly, only six are women. Their representation in other government bodies also remains minimal.

Seville Debt Forum

In Geneva, where the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD-16) is currently taking place, the Seville Debt Forum has launched. It aims, with UN support, to help developing countries overcome the burden of their sovereign debt. Currently, more than three billion people worldwide live in countries that spend more on debt than on healthcare or education. The forum, led by Spain, will become a new hub for dialogue, bringing together all stakeholders—creditors, borrowers, international financial institutions, and academia—to find innovative solutions. The UN, represented by UNCTAD and the Department of Economic and Social Affairs, will provide expert support.

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October 22, 2025 Peace and security

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Wednesday a new wave of deadly night attacks across the country, killing and wounding civilians, including children.

The strikes primarily hit the capital, Kyiv. In Kharkiv, residential buildings, a school, and a kindergarten were damaged. Civilian infrastructure, including energy and port facilities, was damaged in several other regions.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Energy confirmed that the attacks affected energy infrastructure across the country, causing power outages. Water supply disruptions were also reported. Train traffic on the railway network was hampered due to damage to tracks.

Since early Wednesday morning, UN and partner humanitarian aid workers have been providing assistance to victims, complementing the work of government emergency services.

In the Kherson region, an interagency humanitarian convoy reached the village of Urozhayne, a frontline settlement regularly subject to shelling and drone attacks. Together with its partners, the UN delivered 11 tons of humanitarian aid for 1,000 residents: food, hygiene and sanitary kits, warm blankets, solar lamps, and medicine. This is the 24th humanitarian convoy sent to the affected areas of the Kherson region this year.

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