It is a very exciting time for Indian cinema, with many filmmakers and cinema getting well-deserved international acclaim. Close on the heels of RRR's Oscar triumph for Naatu Naatu, another film from south India is making its presence felt on the international arena. Rishab Shetty's Kantara will be exhibited on March 17 at the United Nations in Geneva, at Pathe Balexert in Hall No 13.

Writer, director and actor Rishab Shetty has already reached Geneva and has completed the oral submission. Taking to social media, the centre for global affairs and public policy shared “@shetty_rishab will be talking about Indian Cinema's role in fostering discussions on environment, climate &amp; conservation, at UNHRC Session in Geneva. CGAPP Director Anindya Sengupta met him on the sidelines of the Session as #Kantara star brings Indian stories to the world stage.”

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.<a href="https://twitter.com/shetty_rishab?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@shetty_rishab</a> will be talking about Indian Cinema's role in fostering discussions on environment, climate &amp; conservation, at UNHRC Session in Geneva. CGAPP Director Anindya Sengupta met him on the sidelines of the Session as <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kantara?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kantara</a> star brings Indian stories to world stage. <a href="https://t.co/39ugg0iv12">pic.twitter.com/39ugg0iv12</a>
— Centre for Global Affairs &amp; Public Policy (@CGAPPIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/CGAPPIndia/status/1635980382054019073?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Rishab Shetty will speak about the role of Indian cinema in fostering discussions on environment, climate, and conservation at the UNHRC Session at Genera, CGAPP Director Anindya Sengupta met him on the sidelines of the session, according to the Centre For Global Affairs and Public Police's social media handle.

Hombale Films is the biggest discovery from the south in cinema. Be it making movies like Kantara and making it a breakout success or delivering massive box office hits with KGF 1 &amp;2 the production house has carved a unique space for itself in the film industry. Soon, the production house will be back in theatres with movies like Yuva and Prabhas starrer Salaar, both being the highly anticipated films of this year.

Kantara was released in the Kannada version and Hindi version on 30th September and 14th October respectively. The film is written and directed by Rishab Shetty. Produced by Vijay Kiragandur and Chaluve Gowda, under Hombale Films, the film features Rishab Shetty, Sapthami Gowda, and Kishore Kumar G in pivotal roles.

It is a very exciting time for Indian cinema, with many filmmakers and cinema getting well-deserved international acclaim. Close on the heels of RRR's Oscar triumph for Naatu Naatu, another film from south India is making its presence felt on the international arena.

It is a very exciting time for Indian cinema, with many filmmakers and cinema getting well-deserved international acclaim. Close on the heels of RRR's Oscar triumph for Naatu Naatu, another film from south India is making its presence felt on the international arena. Rishab Shetty's Kantara will be exhibited on March 17 at the United Nations in Geneva, at Pathe Balexert in Hall No 13. Writer, director and actor Rishab Shetty has already reached Geneva and has completed the oral submission. Taking to social media, the centre for global affairs and public policy shared “@shetty_rishab will be talking about Indian Cinema's role in fostering discussions on environment, climate & conservation, at UNHRC Session in Geneva. CGAPP Director Anindya Sengupta met him on the sidelines of the Session as #Kantara star brings Indian stories to the world stage.” .@shetty_rishab will be talking about Indian Cinema's role in fostering discussions on environment, climate & conservation, at UNHRC Session in Geneva. CGAPP Director Anindya Sengupta met him on the sidelines of the Session as #Kantara star brings Indian stories to world stage. pic.twitter.com/39ugg0iv12 — Centre for Global Affairs & Public Policy (@CGAPPIndia) March 15, 2023 × Rishab Shetty will speak about the role of Indian cinema in fostering discussions on environment, climate, and conservation at the UNHRC Session at Genera, CGAPP Director Anindya Sengupta met him on the sidelines of the session, according to the Centre For Global Affairs and Public Police's social media handle. Hombale Films is the biggest discovery from the south in cinema. Be it making movies like Kantara and making it a breakout success or delivering massive box office hits with KGF 1 &2 the production house has carved a unique space for itself in the film industry. Soon, the production house will be back in theatres with movies like Yuva and Prabhas starrer Salaar, both being the highly anticipated films of this year. Kantara was released in the Kannada version and Hindi version on 30th September and 14th October respectively. The film is written and directed by Rishab Shetty. Produced by Vijay Kiragandur and Chaluve Gowda, under Hombale Films, the film features Rishab Shetty, Sapthami Gowda, and Kishore Kumar G in pivotal roles.

Rishabh Shetty takes Kantara to the UN; to be screened at UNHRC session in Geneva

In Global Round-Up by WION, we bring you news from around the world. In today's edition - Blinken all set to meet Ethiopia's Abiy in a bid to renew ties, UN officials working to renew Black Sea grain deal and strike grips Sri Lanka as Unions protest IMF bailout.

Blinken to meet Ethiopia's Abiy; UN officials work on renewing Black Sea deal | WION Global Round-up

Cyclone Freddy has battered central Mozambique after making landfall for the second time in a month. Breaking records for the duration and strength of tropical storms in the southern hemisphere. @RohitWellington brings you this report.

Tropical Cyclone Freddy hammers Mozambique for the second time | WION Climate Tracker

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari admitted that India’s strong influence and diplomacy has made it difficult for Islamabad to place the Kashmir issue in&nbsp;the “centre” of the agenda of the United Nations.

Further, the 34-year-old momentarily described India as “our friend” before correcting himself by saying “neighbouring” country as he fumbled his way through the press conference on Friday.

“You're also right to note that we face a particularly uphill task to try and get Kashmir into the centre of the agenda at the United Nations,” Zardari said while responding to a question that sought to equate the situation in Palestine with Kashmir.

Pakistan rakes up the Kashmir issue at every UN forum and platform, regardless of the topic or agenda being discussed, and ends up inviting a scathing rebuttal from India.

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Irrespective of Pakistan’s efforts, there has been little to no support among the wider UN members as Kashmir is considered to be a bilateral issue between New Delhi and Islamabad.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-former-intelligence-chief-faces-corruption-probe-amid-calls-for-court-martial-570690">Pakistan: Former intelligence chief faces corruption probe, threat of ‘court-martial’ looms</a>

“And whenever the issue of Kashmir is brought up, our friends within, with... our friend… our.. our… neighbouring countries, strongly object, vociferously object and they perpetuate a post-fact narrative where they try to claim that this is not a dispute for the United Nations, that this is not a disputed territory recognised for the international community,” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-house-votes-unanimously-for-declassification-of-covid-origins-intelligence-570734">US House votes unanimously for declassification of Covid origins intelligence</a>

Justifying his action of drawing parallels between Kashmir and Palestine, the Pakistani foreign minister added, “I think your parallel is very justified. There are many similarities between the plight of the people of Kashmir and the plight of the people of Palestine. I think it's fair to say that both issues remain unaddressed by the United Nations and we'd like to see an extra focus not only on Palestine but also on Kashmir.”

The minister further said that Pakistan will be persistent in its efforts to bring the Kashmir issue to the discussion table at every international forum. 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
 
 
 
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Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari admitted that India’s strong influence and diplomacy has made it difficult for Islamabad to place the Kashmir issue in the “centre” of the agenda of the United Nations.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari admitted that India’s strong influence and diplomacy has made it difficult for Islamabad to place the Kashmir issue in the “centre” of the agenda of the United Nations. Further, the 34-year-old momentarily described India as “our friend” before correcting himself by saying “neighbouring” country as he fumbled his way through the press conference on Friday. “You're also right to note that we face a particularly uphill task to try and get Kashmir into the centre of the agenda at the United Nations,” Zardari said while responding to a question that sought to equate the situation in Palestine with Kashmir. Pakistan rakes up the Kashmir issue at every UN forum and platform, regardless of the topic or agenda being discussed, and ends up inviting a scathing rebuttal from India. WATCH | Pakistan FM Bilawal Bhutto admits "uphill task" to get Kashmir at UN due to objections from "neighbouring country" after momentarily describing India as a "friend". pic.twitter.com/Q7SrNQZ05f — WION (@WIONews) March 11, 2023 × Irrespective of Pakistan’s efforts, there has been little to no support among the wider UN members as Kashmir is considered to be a bilateral issue between New Delhi and Islamabad. Also read | Pakistan: Former intelligence chief faces corruption probe, threat of ‘court-martial’ looms “And whenever the issue of Kashmir is brought up, our friends within, with... our friend… our.. our… neighbouring countries, strongly object, vociferously object and they perpetuate a post-fact narrative where they try to claim that this is not a dispute for the United Nations, that this is not a disputed territory recognised for the international community,” Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said. Also read | US House votes unanimously for declassification of Covid origins intelligence Justifying his action of drawing parallels between Kashmir and Palestine, the Pakistani foreign minister added, “I think your parallel is very justified. There are many similarities between the plight of the people of Kashmir and the plight of the people of Palestine. I think it's fair to say that both issues remain unaddressed by the United Nations and we'd like to see an extra focus not only on Palestine but also on Kashmir.” The minister further said that Pakistan will be persistent in its efforts to bring the Kashmir issue to the discussion table at every international forum. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Pak foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto concedes failure in getting UN’s attention on Kashmir issue

Cyclone Freddy is expected to make landfall again in Mozambique later this week after it struck Madagascar for a second time on Monday. It killed four people on the Indian Ocean island, bringing Freddy's death toll to 21.

Cyclone Freddy may become longest- lasting Cyclone: UN

Just ahead of International Women's Day. UN chief, Antonio Guterres has made a stunning claim. He says gender equality is still 300 years away. Molly Gambhir reports.

Gravitas: UN chief warns gender equality still 300 years away

The United Nations said on Tuesday (March 7) that the damage caused by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that devastated Turkey and Syria last month has been assessed at over $100 billion for Turkey alone.

"Already it is clear that just the damages alone will amount to more than $100 billion," Louisa Vinton of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) told AFP reporters via video link from Gaziantep in Turkey, adding that the recovery costs "will be on top of that".

More than 45,000 people have died in Turkey and 5,000 more have died in neighbouring Syria as a result of the earthquake its aftershocks that hit on February 6.

This week, the World Bank estimated that Turkey's devastating earthquake, which completely destroyed&nbsp;some communities, had inflicted damage worth more than $34 billion, with the cost of recovery likely to be double that amount.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nord-stream-sabotaged-by-pro-ukrainian-group-inconclusive-us-intelligence-569753">Nord Stream sabotaged by pro-Ukrainian group: Inconclusive US intelligence</a>

As per&nbsp;Vinton, the Turkish government, with assistance from the UNDP, the World Bank, and the European Union, estimated far greater damage.

While preliminary, "it is clear from the calculations being done to date that the damage figure presented by the government and supported by the three international partners will be in excess of $100 billion," she said.

Once completed, this estimate will be the basis for a recovery and reconstruction donor conference in Brussels next week, she added.&nbsp;

She stated that the UNDP was "very disappointed and saddened" by the current state of the financial appeals' level of response.

'A $1 billion flash appeal made on February 16 is currently funded at just 9.6 percent of the total," she said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The United Nations said on Tuesday (March 7) that the damage caused by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that devastated Turkey and Syria last month has been assessed at over $100 billion for Turkey alone.

The United Nations said on Tuesday (March 7) that the damage caused by the 7.8-magnitude earthquake that devastated Turkey and Syria last month has been assessed at over $100 billion for Turkey alone. "Already it is clear that just the damages alone will amount to more than $100 billion," Louisa Vinton of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) told AFP reporters via video link from Gaziantep in Turkey, adding that the recovery costs "will be on top of that". More than 45,000 people have died in Turkey and 5,000 more have died in neighbouring Syria as a result of the earthquake its aftershocks that hit on February 6. This week, the World Bank estimated that Turkey's devastating earthquake, which completely destroyed some communities, had inflicted damage worth more than $34 billion, with the cost of recovery likely to be double that amount. ALSO READ | Nord Stream sabotaged by pro-Ukrainian group: Inconclusive US intelligence As per Vinton, the Turkish government, with assistance from the UNDP, the World Bank, and the European Union, estimated far greater damage. While preliminary, "it is clear from the calculations being done to date that the damage figure presented by the government and supported by the three international partners will be in excess of $100 billion," she said. Once completed, this estimate will be the basis for a recovery and reconstruction donor conference in Brussels next week, she added. She stated that the UNDP was "very disappointed and saddened" by the current state of the financial appeals' level of response. 'A $1 billion flash appeal made on February 16 is currently funded at just 9.6 percent of the total," she said. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Turkey-Syria earthquake: UN estimates damages of over $100 billion

Global progress on women's rights is "won over decades (is) vanishing before our eyes" said United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Monday. He warned that gender equality remains a distant goal. Speaking during a speech ahead of International Women's Day on March 8, he said, "Gender equality is growing more distant. On the current track, UN Women puts it 300 years away."

Ticking off a litany of abuses like maternal mortality, child marriage, girls being denied education and more, that women face, he said that "women's rights are being abused, threatened, and violated around the world."&nbsp;

Mentioning the dire conditions in Afghanistan, he remarked, "women and girls have been erased from public life."&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/140-years-and-counting-once-again-no-women-nominations-for-bank-of-japans-top-spots-561585">140 years and counting; Once again, no women nominations for Bank of Japan's top spots</a>

While he did not name other countries, Guterres stressed that "in many places, women's sexual and reproductive rights are being rolled back (and) in some countries, girls going to school risk kidnapping and assault."

"The patriarchy is fighting back. But so are we," remarked Guterres, adding "the United Nations stands with women and girls everywhere."

Also read |&nbsp;<a data-ctorig="https://www.wionews.com/world/gender-inequality-has-cost-world-usd-70-trillion-since-1990-report-finds-368469" data-cturl="https://www.google.com/url?client=internal-element-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;q=https://www.wionews.com/world/gender-inequality-has-cost-world-usd-70-trillion-since-1990-report-finds-368469&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=2ahUKEwiMqs2wrMn9AhVF8TgGHSPADNk4FBAWegQIBhAC&amp;usg=AOvVaw3AzeeP8cE0cx3z5Q0j1nzT" dir="ltr" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/gender-inequality-has-cost-world-usd-70-trillion-since-1990-report-finds-368469" target="_blank">Gender inequality&nbsp;has cost world USD 70 trillion since 1990</a>

Guterres called for "collective action" worldwide by governments, civil society and the private sector. The UN chief said they must invest more in "bridging the digital gender divide" and strive to provide gender-responsive education and improve skills training.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Global progress on women's rights is "won over decades (is) vanishing before our eyes" said United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Monday. He warned that gender equality remains a distant goal.

Global progress on women's rights is "won over decades (is) vanishing before our eyes" said United Nations chief Antonio Guterres on Monday. He warned that gender equality remains a distant goal. Speaking during a speech ahead of International Women's Day on March 8, he said, "Gender equality is growing more distant. On the current track, UN Women puts it 300 years away." Ticking off a litany of abuses like maternal mortality, child marriage, girls being denied education and more, that women face, he said that "women's rights are being abused, threatened, and violated around the world." Mentioning the dire conditions in Afghanistan, he remarked, "women and girls have been erased from public life." Also read | 140 years and counting; Once again, no women nominations for Bank of Japan's top spots While he did not name other countries, Guterres stressed that "in many places, women's sexual and reproductive rights are being rolled back (and) in some countries, girls going to school risk kidnapping and assault." "The patriarchy is fighting back. But so are we," remarked Guterres, adding "the United Nations stands with women and girls everywhere." Also read | Gender inequality has cost world USD 70 trillion since 1990 Guterres called for "collective action" worldwide by governments, civil society and the private sector. The UN chief said they must invest more in "bridging the digital gender divide" and strive to provide gender-responsive education and improve skills training. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Patriarchy is fighting back...so are we': Gender equality is still 300 years away, says UN

A historic UN high seas biodiversity treaty has been signed and ratified by negotiators from over a 100 countries. The UN global high seas biodiversity pact has been a long awaited step that environmental groups claim will not only preserve marine biodiversity but also help reverse biome losses. Ananya Dutta brings you this report.

UN global high seas biodiversity pact signed

The United Nations least-developed-countries conference in Doha is underway. The five-day conference aims to usher in a new global partnership to ensure that the 46 least developed countries benefit from social, economic and environmental development.

5th United Nations conference on least developed countries takes place in Doha

Since the time Uranium of high-grade purity has been discovered in Iran, the transfer between IAEA, the United Nations' Nuclear Watchdog and local Iranian authorities have been at the centre of scrutiny and discussions.

Second day of talks between Iran & IAEA: Discussions over weapon-grade Uranium discovered in Iran

A historic U.N biodiversity treaty has been signed and ratified by negotiators from over a hundred countries. The U.N Global high seas biodiversity pact has been a long-awaited step that environmental groups claim will not only preserve marine biodiversity but also help reverse the biome losses.

Fifth UN Conference on the world's Least Developed Countries, known as LDC5, kicked off on Sunday in the Qatari capital, Doha and will conclude on Thursday (March 9). UN and other partners have gathered to deliver to support the countries whose vulnerabilities the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the most.

Ahead of the conference, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday condemned the rich nations for creating a&nbsp;“perfect storm”&nbsp;for poor states by their "vicious" tactics and employing financial designs largely for their own benefit.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mauritian-foreign-minister-alan-ganoo-praises-indias-leadership-at-g20-highlights-impact-of-ukraine-conflict-568771">Mauritian Foreign Minister Alan Ganoo praises India's leadership at G20, highlights impact of Ukraine conflict</a>

He urged the international community to step up and help the more than 1.1 billion people in these countries and lift them out of poverty. “Countries with the least need support the most. And you need it now. You represent one in eight people on earth. But your countries are trapped in vicious cycles that make development difficult, if not impossible,” Guterres told the Summit in Doha, Qatar.

The LDC Summit is normally held every 10 years but was twice postponed since 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic.&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/south-african-foreign-minister-naledi-pandor-sees-indias-g20-leadership-as-opportunity-for-global-south-568817">South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor sees India's G20 leadership as opportunity for Global South</a>

Over the next five days in Doha, government leaders and other stakeholders are set to assess the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA), adopted at a precursor UN conference held in Türkiye in 2011, and mobilise additional international support and action for the world’s 46 least developed countries.&nbsp;

In his welcoming remarks at&nbsp;the LDC Summit, the UN chief stressed that the cost of living was becoming increasingly difficult due to the war in Ukraine, resulting in higher energy and food prices.&nbsp;

“For your countries, progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — starting with the eradication of extreme poverty and ending hunger — is about more than lines on a chart leading to 2030,” the Secretary-General said.&nbsp;

Watch | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/south-africas-foreign-minister-speaks-to-wion-on-india-ties-russia-ukraine-conflict-568786">South Africa's Foreign Minister speaks to WION on India ties, Russia Ukraine conflict</a>

“It’s a matter of life and death and it is unacceptable if you are held back by processes and decisions that are made far beyond your borders.”&nbsp;

The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are countries listed by the United Nations that exhibit the lowest indicators of socioeconomic development across a range of indexes.

“You risk being left behind in the digital revolution without the support or technology you need for social and economic development or job-creation,” he said, calling for an end to the conditions that have left vulnerable countries facing a “perfect storm.”&nbsp;

“Ending this (perfect) storm for perpetuating poverty and injustice...requires massive, sustained investment,” he explained, and stressed that the global financial system had been designed by wealthy countries, “largely to their benefit”. &nbsp;

All LDCs have a gross national per capita income (GNI) of below USD$1,018; compare that to almost $71,000 in the United States, $44,000 in France, $9,900 in Turkey and $6,530 in South Africa according to data from World Bank.

There are currently 46 LDCs, the vast majority of which are in Africa. The list is reviewed every three years by the UN Economic and Social Council. Six countries have graduated from LDC status between 1994 and 2020.

More than other countries, LDCs are at risk of deepening poverty and remaining in a situation of underdevelopment. They are also vulnerable to external economic shocks, natural and man-made disasters, communicable diseases and crucially climate change. 
 
(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

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Fifth UN Conference on the world's Least Developed Countries, known as LDC5, kicked off on Sunday in the Qatari capital, Doha and will conclude on Thursday (March 9).

Fifth UN Conference on the world's Least Developed Countries, known as LDC5, kicked off on Sunday in the Qatari capital, Doha and will conclude on Thursday (March 9). UN and other partners have gathered to deliver to support the countries whose vulnerabilities the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the most. Ahead of the conference, the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Saturday condemned the rich nations for creating a “perfect storm” for poor states by their "vicious" tactics and employing financial designs largely for their own benefit. Also Read | Mauritian Foreign Minister Alan Ganoo praises India's leadership at G20, highlights impact of Ukraine conflict He urged the international community to step up and help the more than 1.1 billion people in these countries and lift them out of poverty. “Countries with the least need support the most. And you need it now. You represent one in eight people on earth. But your countries are trapped in vicious cycles that make development difficult, if not impossible,” Guterres told the Summit in Doha, Qatar. The LDC Summit is normally held every 10 years but was twice postponed since 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Also Read | South Africa's Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor sees India's G20 leadership as opportunity for Global South Over the next five days in Doha, government leaders and other stakeholders are set to assess the implementation of the Istanbul Programme of Action (IPoA), adopted at a precursor UN conference held in Türkiye in 2011, and mobilise additional international support and action for the world’s 46 least developed countries. In his welcoming remarks at the LDC Summit, the UN chief stressed that the cost of living was becoming increasingly difficult due to the war in Ukraine, resulting in higher energy and food prices. “For your countries, progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — starting with the eradication of extreme poverty and ending hunger — is about more than lines on a chart leading to 2030,” the Secretary-General said. Watch | South Africa's Foreign Minister speaks to WION on India ties, Russia Ukraine conflict “It’s a matter of life and death and it is unacceptable if you are held back by processes and decisions that are made far beyond your borders.” The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are countries listed by the United Nations that exhibit the lowest indicators of socioeconomic development across a range of indexes. “You risk being left behind in the digital revolution without the support or technology you need for social and economic development or job-creation,” he said, calling for an end to the conditions that have left vulnerable countries facing a “perfect storm.” “Ending this (perfect) storm for perpetuating poverty and injustice...requires massive, sustained investment,” he explained, and stressed that the global financial system had been designed by wealthy countries, “largely to their benefit”. All LDCs have a gross national per capita income (GNI) of below USD$1,018; compare that to almost $71,000 in the United States, $44,000 in France, $9,900 in Turkey and $6,530 in South Africa according to data from World Bank. There are currently 46 LDCs, the vast majority of which are in Africa. The list is reviewed every three years by the UN Economic and Social Council. Six countries have graduated from LDC status between 1994 and 2020. More than other countries, LDCs are at risk of deepening poverty and remaining in a situation of underdevelopment. They are also vulnerable to external economic shocks, natural and man-made disasters, communicable diseases and crucially climate change. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

UN chief blasts rich nations for trapping poor in ‘vicious cycle’, designing systems for self benefit

Historic marine biodiversity pact signed to preserve and reverse biome losses

Since the time Uranium of high-grade purity was discovered in Iran, the tussle between IAEA, the UN Nuclear watchdog and local Iranian authorities have been at the centre of scrutiny and discussions. The discovery of weapon-grade Uranium has now led to new negotiations between the two nations.

Talks between Iran authorities & IAEA

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, is in Iran to hold talks with Iranian officials over the country's nuclear program. The visit comes at a time when the agency is seeking Iran's increased cooperation over its nuclear activities. WION's Eric Njoka speaks to a professor & Israel institute fellow, at the University of California Irvine, Alon Burstein on the impact of the visit and status of the nuclear talks.

UN Nuclear Chief crucial visit to Iran

A report published by the un has accused Myanmar's military of creating a perpetual human rights crisis in the country. The UN has called for an immediate end to violence. As per UN, two years from the February 1, 2021 coup that toppled Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government, the situation is a festering catastrophe.

Myanmar's military rulers see civilians as adversaries, situation a 'festering catastrophe'

A new report by the World Obesity Federation predicts that 51 per cent of the world, which would amount to more than four billion people, will be obese or overweight in the next 12 years if no significant action is taken by governments to curb the growing epidemic. The report also found that the rates of obesity are increasing fastest among children and lower-income countries.&nbsp;

Currently, at least 38 per cent or 2.6 billion of the world’s population is already overweight or obese, said the report. It also highlights the rate of obesity among children and teenagers is expected to double from 2020 among both girls as well as boys. The report found that childhood obesity would affect 208 million boys and 175 million girls in the next 12 years.&nbsp;

After the findings of the report were released, the President of the World Obesity Federation Louise Baur said that the trend was “particularly worrying”, in reference to the high rates of obesity among children and teenagers. He also called the data a “clear warning” and said “governments and policymakers around the world need to do all they can to avoid passing health, social, and economic costs on to the younger generation” by assessing the root causes and factors that contribute to obesity.

Nine out of the 10 countries which are expected to witness an increase in obesity are low or lower-middle-income states in Africa and Asia, said the report. It added that such countries are “often the least able to respond to obesity and its consequences”. Notably, the economic cost linked to being overweight is more than $4 trillion every year by 2035 or three per cent of the global GDP.&nbsp;

It also emphasised and acknowledged the economic impact of obesity “is in no way a reflection of blame on people living with obesity” rather the authors have called for a focus on societal, environmental and biological factors which contribute to the condition. The report also uses Body Mass Index (BMI) for its assessments in line with World Health Organization’s guidelines. A BMI score over 25 is considered overweight while over 30 is obese. The report will be presented to the UN on Monday (March 6).&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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A new report by the World Obesity Federation predicts that 51 per cent of the world, which would amount to more than four billion people, will be obese or overweight in the next 12 years if no significant action is taken by governments to curb the growing epidemic.

A new report by the World Obesity Federation predicts that 51 per cent of the world, which would amount to more than four billion people, will be obese or overweight in the next 12 years if no significant action is taken by governments to curb the growing epidemic. The report also found that the rates of obesity are increasing fastest among children and lower-income countries. Currently, at least 38 per cent or 2.6 billion of the world’s population is already overweight or obese, said the report. It also highlights the rate of obesity among children and teenagers is expected to double from 2020 among both girls as well as boys. The report found that childhood obesity would affect 208 million boys and 175 million girls in the next 12 years. After the findings of the report were released, the President of the World Obesity Federation Louise Baur said that the trend was “particularly worrying”, in reference to the high rates of obesity among children and teenagers. He also called the data a “clear warning” and said “governments and policymakers around the world need to do all they can to avoid passing health, social, and economic costs on to the younger generation” by assessing the root causes and factors that contribute to obesity. Nine out of the 10 countries which are expected to witness an increase in obesity are low or lower-middle-income states in Africa and Asia, said the report. It added that such countries are “often the least able to respond to obesity and its consequences”. Notably, the economic cost linked to being overweight is more than $4 trillion every year by 2035 or three per cent of the global GDP. It also emphasised and acknowledged the economic impact of obesity “is in no way a reflection of blame on people living with obesity” rather the authors have called for a focus on societal, environmental and biological factors which contribute to the condition. The report also uses Body Mass Index (BMI) for its assessments in line with World Health Organization’s guidelines. A BMI score over 25 is considered overweight while over 30 is obese. The report will be presented to the UN on Monday (March 6). (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

More than half of the world is set to become overweight or obese by 2035: Report

The UN has said that it will ignore any remarks made at two official events by representatives of a fictional nation created by a fugitive Indian 'godman', Nithyananda.&nbsp;In February, participants from the United States of Kailasa attended two meetings of a UN committee in Geneva, as reported by the BBC.&nbsp;

Their remarks, according to a UN official, were "tangential" and "irrelevant" to the topics under discussion.

Nithyananda is wanted in India for a number of alleged offences, including rape and sexual abuse. He has refuted the allegations made against him. 
He claims to have created the United States of Kailasa (USK) in 2019.

Indian media covered USK's attendance at the UN events last week.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/pm-modi-urges-g20-nations-to-find-common-ground-on-divisive-issues-567510">&nbsp;PM Modi urges G20 nations to find common ground on divisive issues</a>

A UN official told the BBC in an email that "USK representatives attended two UN public meetings in Geneva in February".

The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) had a discussion on the representation of women in decision-making systems on February 22.

On February 24, the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR) convened a second debate on sustainable development. USK representatives took part in this session as well.

Vivian Kwok, a communications officer at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, which manages the two committees, said these general conversations are open to anybody with an interest.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/relation-remains-abnormal-says-jaishankar-post-meeting-with-chinese-fm-567708">‘Relation remains abnormal,’ says Jaishankar post meeting with Chinese FM</a>

She also said that a statement made by a USK representative at the second discussion would not be taken into account&nbsp;as its focus "was tangential to the topic at hand".

Nithyananda hasn't appeared in public since 2019, yet he still frequently posts sermon videos on his social media accounts. The Guardian newspaper claimed in a report that, on the invitation of two Tory lawmakers, Nithyananda's UK representative attended "a sumptuous Diwali celebration at the House of Lords" last year.

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The UN has said that it will ignore any remarks made at two official events by representatives of a fictional nation created by a fugitive Indian 'godman', Nithyananda.

The UN has said that it will ignore any remarks made at two official events by representatives of a fictional nation created by a fugitive Indian 'godman', Nithyananda. In February, participants from the United States of Kailasa attended two meetings of a UN committee in Geneva, as reported by the BBC. Their remarks, according to a UN official, were "tangential" and "irrelevant" to the topics under discussion. Nithyananda is wanted in India for a number of alleged offences, including rape and sexual abuse. He has refuted the allegations made against him. He claims to have created the United States of Kailasa (USK) in 2019. Indian media covered USK's attendance at the UN events last week. ALSO READ | PM Modi urges G20 nations to find common ground on divisive issues A UN official told the BBC in an email that "USK representatives attended two UN public meetings in Geneva in February". The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) had a discussion on the representation of women in decision-making systems on February 22. On February 24, the Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (CESCR) convened a second debate on sustainable development. USK representatives took part in this session as well. Vivian Kwok, a communications officer at the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, which manages the two committees, said these general conversations are open to anybody with an interest. ALSO READ | ‘Relation remains abnormal,’ says Jaishankar post meeting with Chinese FM She also said that a statement made by a USK representative at the second discussion would not be taken into account as its focus "was tangential to the topic at hand". Nithyananda hasn't appeared in public since 2019, yet he still frequently posts sermon videos on his social media accounts. The Guardian newspaper claimed in a report that, on the invitation of two Tory lawmakers, Nithyananda's UK representative attended "a sumptuous Diwali celebration at the House of Lords" last year. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

'United states of Kailasa': UN to overlook remarks from fugitive Indian godman's fictional nation

The United Nations stated&nbsp;on February 23 that despite maternal death rates declining by a third in 20 years, a woman still dies every two minutes due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth.

The <a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/02/1133802">UN</a>&nbsp;reported that rates reduced substantially between 2000 and 2015, but mostly stalled and even reversed in certain countries between 2016 and 2020.

Belarus saw the biggest fall, dropping 95.5 per cent, while Venezuela experienced the highest rise. The United States saw a significant increase between 2000 and 2015.&nbsp;

The worldwide maternal mortality rate decreased by 34.3 per cent during a 20-year period, going from 339 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 223 maternal deaths in 2020, according to a report by the World Health Organization and other UN&nbsp;organisations.&nbsp;

Yet, that implies that in 2020, almost&nbsp;800 women died every day, or one every two minutes.

"While pregnancy should be a time of immense hope and a positive experience for all women, it is tragically still a shockingly dangerous experience for millions around the world," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

"These new statistics reveal the urgent need to ensure every woman and girl has access to critical health services... and that they can fully exercise their reproductive rights," she added.

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The poorest nations continue to have the highest rates of maternal mortality.

Around 70 per cent&nbsp;of those deaths recorded in 2020 were in sub-Saharan Africa, where the rate is "136 times bigger" than in Australia and New Zealand, the report's author Jenny Cresswell told AFP.&nbsp;

Rates were more than double the world average in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, all of which are dealing with serious humanitarian crises.

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The most common causes of mortality are severe bleeding, infections, complications from botched abortions, and underlying diseases including HIV/AIDS, according to the report.&nbsp;

The WHO said it was&nbsp;"critical" that women have control over their reproductive health, notably about whether or not to have children. This gives women the ability to plan and space out childbearing in order to safeguard their health.

<h2>Where does India stand?</h2>

India's maternal mortality ratio (MMR), which measures the number of deaths per 100,000 live births, decreased from 103 deaths per lakh in 2017–2019 to 97 deaths per lakh in 2018–2020. The most recent statistics made available by the <a href="https://pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1879912">Ministry of health and family welfare</a>&nbsp;show that this represents a significant improvement above the 130 deaths per lakh in the years 2014 to 2016.

Assam continues to have the highest MMR (195) in the area, but its own performance has improved with time.

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The MMR in the northeastern state was alarmingly high with 237 fatalities per one lakh live births between 2014 and 2016. According to statistics provided on November 28, 2022, this has improved over time, reaching 229 in 2015–2017, 215 in 2016–2018, and 205 in 2017–2019.

Kerala continues to do well in this respect, with a low MMR of 19 per one lakh live births.

The southern state continuously outperformed the nation as a whole and has nearly always decreased even that number, from 46 in 2014–2016, 42 in 2015–2017, 43 in 2016–2018, and 30 in 2017–2019.

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The United Nations stated on February 23 that despite maternal death rates declining by a third in 20 years, a woman still dies every two minutes due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth.

The United Nations stated on February 23 that despite maternal death rates declining by a third in 20 years, a woman still dies every two minutes due to complications during pregnancy or childbirth. The UN reported that rates reduced substantially between 2000 and 2015, but mostly stalled and even reversed in certain countries between 2016 and 2020. Belarus saw the biggest fall, dropping 95.5 per cent, while Venezuela experienced the highest rise. The United States saw a significant increase between 2000 and 2015. The worldwide maternal mortality rate decreased by 34.3 per cent during a 20-year period, going from 339 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2000 to 223 maternal deaths in 2020, according to a report by the World Health Organization and other UN organisations. Yet, that implies that in 2020, almost 800 women died every day, or one every two minutes. "While pregnancy should be a time of immense hope and a positive experience for all women, it is tragically still a shockingly dangerous experience for millions around the world," said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. "These new statistics reveal the urgent need to ensure every woman and girl has access to critical health services... and that they can fully exercise their reproductive rights," she added. × The poorest nations continue to have the highest rates of maternal mortality. Around 70 per cent of those deaths recorded in 2020 were in sub-Saharan Africa, where the rate is "136 times bigger" than in Australia and New Zealand, the report's author Jenny Cresswell told AFP. Rates were more than double the world average in Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, all of which are dealing with serious humanitarian crises. The most common causes of mortality are severe bleeding, infections, complications from botched abortions, and underlying diseases including HIV/AIDS, according to the report. The WHO said it was "critical" that women have control over their reproductive health, notably about whether or not to have children. This gives women the ability to plan and space out childbearing in order to safeguard their health. Where does India stand? India's maternal mortality ratio (MMR), which measures the number of deaths per 100,000 live births, decreased from 103 deaths per lakh in 2017–2019 to 97 deaths per lakh in 2018–2020. The most recent statistics made available by the Ministry of health and family welfare show that this represents a significant improvement above the 130 deaths per lakh in the years 2014 to 2016. Assam continues to have the highest MMR (195) in the area, but its own performance has improved with time. × The MMR in the northeastern state was alarmingly high with 237 fatalities per one lakh live births between 2014 and 2016. According to statistics provided on November 28, 2022, this has improved over time, reaching 229 in 2015–2017, 215 in 2016–2018, and 205 in 2017–2019. Kerala continues to do well in this respect, with a low MMR of 19 per one lakh live births. The southern state continuously outperformed the nation as a whole and has nearly always decreased even that number, from 46 in 2014–2016, 42 in 2015–2017, 43 in 2016–2018, and 30 in 2017–2019. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Data Lab | A wake-up call: One woman dies every 2 minutes in pregnancy, childbirth: UN

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has given qualified support to the peace plan proposed by China and he said that he plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. This came after Beijing at the United Nations General Assembly reiterated its support for diplomatic negotiations and offered solutions to end the war.

Ukraine cautiously welcomes China's proposal, Zelensky says 'Interest to broker peace not bad'

Marking one year since Moscow's invasion of Kyiv, the United Nations voted overwhelmingly to demand Russia immediately and unconditionally to withdraw its troops from Ukraine.

One Year of Russia-Ukraine War: United Nations calls for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine

The United Nations has overwhelmingly voted to call for Russia to immediately and unconditionally withdraw from Ukraine, marking one year since Moscow's invasion. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the UN vote.

One year of Russia-Ukraine war: United Nations calls for Russia to withdraw from Ukraine

One Year of Russia-Ukraine War: India abstains from UN vote on Ukraine

Just days before completion of a year to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced his displeasure against what he termed was an 'affront'.

"That invasion is an affront to our collective conscience," Guterres said. He called the anniversary "a grim milestone for the people of Ukraine and for the international community."

As fighting raged on in Ukraine, the General Assembly began debating a motion backed by Kyiv and its allies calling for a "just and lasting peace."&nbsp;

In his opening remarks, Guterres highlighted the impact on the world of Russia's February 24, 2022 invasion of its neighbour.&nbsp;

Watch | Ukraine War: Putin addresses massive rally in Moscow ahead of anniversary

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He noted that it has generated eight million refugees, and hurt global food and energy supplies in countries far away from the war zone.&nbsp;

"As I said from day one, Russia's attack on Ukraine challenges the cornerstone principles and values of our multilateral system," he said.&nbsp;

"While prospects may look bleak today, we know that genuine, lasting peace must be based on the UN Charter and international law. The longer the fighting continues, the more difficult this work will be," he said.&nbsp;

With the new resolution, Kyiv hopes to garner the support of at least as many nations as in October, when 143 countries voted to condemn Russia's declared annexation of several Ukrainian territories.&nbsp;

While the measure may not be as tough as Ukraine would like, it hopes that large number of UN states will back the non-binding resolution to demonstrate Kyiv has the support of the global community.&nbsp;

The resolution, supported by dozens of countries stresses "the need to reach, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations."&nbsp;

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-anniversary-how-russia-is-trying-to-drive-support-for-the-invasion-564560">Ukraine war anniversary: How Russia is trying to drive support for the invasion</a>

It reaffirms the UN's "commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine" and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities.&nbsp;

It also demands Russia "immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine."&nbsp;

Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24 last year. After sustained battlefield gains in first few months of the conflict, Russian forces had to retreat in face of counter-attacks by Ukrainian forces.

(With inputs from agencies)

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&nbsp;

Just days before completion of a year to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced his displeasure against what he termed was an 'affront'.

Just days before completion of a year to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres voiced his displeasure against what he termed was an 'affront'. "That invasion is an affront to our collective conscience," Guterres said. He called the anniversary "a grim milestone for the people of Ukraine and for the international community." As fighting raged on in Ukraine, the General Assembly began debating a motion backed by Kyiv and its allies calling for a "just and lasting peace." In his opening remarks, Guterres highlighted the impact on the world of Russia's February 24, 2022 invasion of its neighbour. Watch | Ukraine War: Putin addresses massive rally in Moscow ahead of anniversary × He noted that it has generated eight million refugees, and hurt global food and energy supplies in countries far away from the war zone. "As I said from day one, Russia's attack on Ukraine challenges the cornerstone principles and values of our multilateral system," he said. "While prospects may look bleak today, we know that genuine, lasting peace must be based on the UN Charter and international law. The longer the fighting continues, the more difficult this work will be," he said. With the new resolution, Kyiv hopes to garner the support of at least as many nations as in October, when 143 countries voted to condemn Russia's declared annexation of several Ukrainian territories. While the measure may not be as tough as Ukraine would like, it hopes that large number of UN states will back the non-binding resolution to demonstrate Kyiv has the support of the global community. The resolution, supported by dozens of countries stresses "the need to reach, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations." Also Read | Ukraine war anniversary: How Russia is trying to drive support for the invasion It reaffirms the UN's "commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine" and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities. It also demands Russia "immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine." Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24 last year. After sustained battlefield gains in first few months of the conflict, Russian forces had to retreat in face of counter-attacks by Ukrainian forces. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Just ahead of one-year anniversary of Ukraine war, UN chief condemns Russian 'affront'

The UN General Assembly convened an emergency session on Wednesday in an effort to adopt a resolution urging Russia to halt its offensive in Ukraine. The high-level meeting comes before the first anniversary of the Russia invasion.

UNGA holds meeting on Russia-Ukraine conflict, UN Chief says 'War is not a solution'

Watch the video to know what's happening around the world.

WION Speed News: UN Chief denounces Russian invasion of Ukraine | US Capitol attack probe

Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the United Nations call to suspend the Judicial Reform Plan. The Prime Minister denounced the UN call as 'absurdity'. This after the Israeli lawmakers moved closer towards boosting politicians power over the courts.

Israel judicial reforms row: PM Benjamin Netanyahu slams UN as 'absurd'

Russia has urged the UN Security Council to investigate the explosion in the Nord Stream pipeline which links the country to western Europe. The explosion comes at a time when investigations by some European nations into the incident have not concluded.

Nord Stream Blasts | 'An act of international terrorism': Russia at UN

Representatives from 193 member nations of the United Nations convened on Monday (February 20) in the United States city of New York and for the next two weeks will negotiate its long-awaited treaty to protect the world’s oceans. This meeting comes after decades of formal and informal talks which opened with cautious optimism as many hope to make a decision at the end of it. The global agreement will protect and manage nearly two-thirds of the world’s oceans that lie beyond countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) known as the high seas.

What do we know about the meeting so far?

The talks which opened on Monday will go on till March 3 and are supposed to be the final round of negotiations after no agreement has been reached after more than 15 years. Notably, this is the third time in less than one year that delegates have gathered at the UN headquarters and due to the historic deal reached by the end of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference or COP15 in Montreal, Canada many are hopeful.&nbsp;

“I hope we've come together here with a will to get us to the finish line,” said conference chair Rena Lee, addressing the delegates as the talks began, reported AFP. She added, “an agreement that is universal, that is effective, that is implementable and that is future proofed is within our reach.” The President of the Intergovernmental Conference also encouraged delegates to build on the progress made during the August session, last year and focus on developing an agreement “that will bridge the existing gaps.”

The fifth session of the conference was convened following the General Assembly resolution 77/248 on “Oceans and the law of the sea”. The aim of these rounds of talks is to finalise an international legally binding agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas which are beyond national jurisdiction under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.&nbsp;

What per cent of our oceans are protected?

Last year, ministers and government officials from about 190 countries in Montreal signed an agreement known as 30 by 30 which committed to protecting 30 per cent of land and water which are considered pillars of biodiversity by 2030. Prior to this, only 17 per cent of terrestrial and 10 per cent of marine areas were protected.&nbsp;

According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), only eight per of the world’s marine areas are protected which includes 1.4 per cent of the high seas. The areas of the high seas that are protected fall under North East Atlantic and Antarctic oceans but they are regional and not global, or even binding for all governments, said Jessica Battle, a senior expert on ocean policy and governance at the World Wide Fund for Nature, as per Al Jazeera.&nbsp;

Why is this agreement important?

As mentioned earlier, the agreement will focus on the high seas which begin at the border of countries' EEZ and extend up to 200 nautical miles, or 370 kilometres from the coast and therefore fall under the jurisdiction of no country. Notably, the high seas make up more than 60 per cent of the world’s oceans and almost half of the planet’s surface but receive little to no&nbsp;attention since there are no borders.&nbsp;

Last month UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “Humanity has been waging a senseless and self-defeating war on nature, and the ocean is on the front lines of the battle,” and called on the nations to finish the delayed negotiations. The oceans contribute significantly to global climate as well as provide oxygen, drive weather systems, and store a quarter of human-generated carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas heating up the planet.&nbsp;

The ocean supports a huge range of biodiversity and is home to possibly millions of species which are yet to be discovered. According to IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species, at least 10 per cent of underwater plants and animals assessed are under threat of going extinct. Additionally, oceans have been subjected to overfishing, depleting not only the fish stocks but also their ability to rebuild, said Battle, as per Reuters.&nbsp;

She also addresses the lesser-known phenomenon of “bycatch” which means that fish that is accidentally caught is later discarded as waste. It is estimated that bycatch accounts for at least 40 per cent of the world’s global commercial catch. Not to mention the human-induced climate change which has adversely affected ocean health and caused coral reefs to bleach and forced fish to migrate to cooler waters.

What’s the problem?

The UN draft treaty is said to include provisions to protect the world’s oceans from overfishing, pollution and other threats but&nbsp;also comprises parenthetical clauses and multiple options which reflect the long list of contentious issues at hand. The delegates are reportedly divided on one core issue which is how would these sanctuary zones be established. Additionally, there is no agreement on the assessment of the environmental impact of activities like mining in the high seas, reported AFP.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the debate on the division of future profits collected by pharmaceutical, chemical or cosmetic manufacturers, for example from newly discovered marine substances also remains unresolved. As developing countries have argued that they will not be able to afford costly research and fear they might get left behind. This is something that observers had accused rich countries, particularly&nbsp;European Union member states, of doing during the previous session in August 2022, as per reports.&nbsp; 
 
(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
 
&nbsp;

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Representatives from 193 member nations of the United Nations convened on Monday (February 20) in the United States city of New York and for the next two weeks will negotiate its long-awaited treaty to protect the world’s oceans.

Representatives from 193 member nations of the United Nations convened on Monday (February 20) in the United States city of New York and for the next two weeks will negotiate its long-awaited treaty to protect the world’s oceans. This meeting comes after decades of formal and informal talks which opened with cautious optimism as many hope to make a decision at the end of it. The global agreement will protect and manage nearly two-thirds of the world’s oceans that lie beyond countries’ Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) known as the high seas. What do we know about the meeting so far? The talks which opened on Monday will go on till March 3 and are supposed to be the final round of negotiations after no agreement has been reached after more than 15 years. Notably, this is the third time in less than one year that delegates have gathered at the UN headquarters and due to the historic deal reached by the end of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference or COP15 in Montreal, Canada many are hopeful. “I hope we've come together here with a will to get us to the finish line,” said conference chair Rena Lee, addressing the delegates as the talks began, reported AFP. She added, “an agreement that is universal, that is effective, that is implementable and that is future proofed is within our reach.” The President of the Intergovernmental Conference also encouraged delegates to build on the progress made during the August session, last year and focus on developing an agreement “that will bridge the existing gaps.” The fifth session of the conference was convened following the General Assembly resolution 77/248 on “Oceans and the law of the sea”. The aim of these rounds of talks is to finalise an international legally binding agreement on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity in areas which are beyond national jurisdiction under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. What per cent of our oceans are protected? Last year, ministers and government officials from about 190 countries in Montreal signed an agreement known as 30 by 30 which committed to protecting 30 per cent of land and water which are considered pillars of biodiversity by 2030. Prior to this, only 17 per cent of terrestrial and 10 per cent of marine areas were protected. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), only eight per of the world’s marine areas are protected which includes 1.4 per cent of the high seas. The areas of the high seas that are protected fall under North East Atlantic and Antarctic oceans but they are regional and not global, or even binding for all governments, said Jessica Battle, a senior expert on ocean policy and governance at the World Wide Fund for Nature, as per Al Jazeera. Why is this agreement important? As mentioned earlier, the agreement will focus on the high seas which begin at the border of countries' EEZ and extend up to 200 nautical miles, or 370 kilometres from the coast and therefore fall under the jurisdiction of no country. Notably, the high seas make up more than 60 per cent of the world’s oceans and almost half of the planet’s surface but receive little to no attention since there are no borders. Last month UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “Humanity has been waging a senseless and self-defeating war on nature, and the ocean is on the front lines of the battle,” and called on the nations to finish the delayed negotiations. The oceans contribute significantly to global climate as well as provide oxygen, drive weather systems, and store a quarter of human-generated carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas heating up the planet. The ocean supports a huge range of biodiversity and is home to possibly millions of species which are yet to be discovered. According to IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species, at least 10 per cent of underwater plants and animals assessed are under threat of going extinct. Additionally, oceans have been subjected to overfishing, depleting not only the fish stocks but also their ability to rebuild, said Battle, as per Reuters. She also addresses the lesser-known phenomenon of “bycatch” which means that fish that is accidentally caught is later discarded as waste. It is estimated that bycatch accounts for at least 40 per cent of the world’s global commercial catch. Not to mention the human-induced climate change which has adversely affected ocean health and caused coral reefs to bleach and forced fish to migrate to cooler waters. What’s the problem? The UN draft treaty is said to include provisions to protect the world’s oceans from overfishing, pollution and other threats but also comprises parenthetical clauses and multiple options which reflect the long list of contentious issues at hand. The delegates are reportedly divided on one core issue which is how would these sanctuary zones be established. Additionally, there is no agreement on the assessment of the environmental impact of activities like mining in the high seas, reported AFP. Meanwhile, the debate on the division of future profits collected by pharmaceutical, chemical or cosmetic manufacturers, for example from newly discovered marine substances also remains unresolved. As developing countries have argued that they will not be able to afford costly research and fear they might get left behind. This is something that observers had accused rich countries, particularly European Union member states, of doing during the previous session in August 2022, as per reports. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Explained | UN ocean treaty talks resume: Why the deal to protect the world’s oceans is so important

The Ukraine conflict has displaced 14 million people, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Tuesday (February 21) as he lamented the human cost of the war, which is set to complete a year on February 24. In the last 12 months, according to the UN, at least 8,000 people have died and over 13,000 people have been injured. Around 18 million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance, he said, as the country faces electricity and water shortages during the cold winter months. “These numbers, which we are publishing today, lay bare the loss and suffering inflicted on people since Russia’s armed attack began on 24 February last year; suffering I saw for myself first hand when I visited Ukraine in December. And our data are only the tip of the iceberg," Türk was quoted as saying in a official statement as he described the toll on civilians as "unbearable".

Around 90.3 per cent of civilian casualties have been caused by explosive weapons with wide area effects, including artillery shells, cruise and ballistic missiles, and air strikes. A majority of these strikes took place in populated areas. The casualties are likely much higher.

“The very young to the very old have all been affected. Students have seen their education halted or disrupted by attacks on educational facilities, while older people and people with disabilities have faced immense challenges, in some cases unable to reach bomb shelters or having to spend prolonged periods in basements in conditions affecting their health," the UN Human Rights Chief said. Many civilians were killed when they were performing daily tasks, such as collecting water and buying food."

“This senseless war has reverberated across the world. Higher costs of food and fuel as a result have deepened misery on a global scale, especially among those who were already the most vulnerable.&nbsp;

Watch: Here’s how much the Ukraine war is expected to cost Germany by the end of 2023

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Putin blames western nations yet again 
Days before the Ukraine war enters the second year, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday lashed out at the United States and other nations, supporting Ukraine, over sanctions against Moscow. "As I said, the West has turned against Russia not only a military and information force, but also an economic one. But it has not achieved its goals anywhere and it will not. Moreover, those who initiated the sanctions have punished themselves, caused price increases, job losses, business closures and an energy crisis in their countries. And they tell their own citizens, and we hear that: that the Russians are to blame for everything," he said, stepping up the attacks against western nations.

 
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/ukraine-and-pakistan-friends-enemies-or-frenemies-564017">Opinion| Ukraine and Pakistan: Friends, enemies or frenemies?</a>

His comments come a day after US President Joe Biden's surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv as he met Volodymyr Zelensky in a show of support.

(With inputs from agencies)

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The Ukraine conflict has displaced 14 million people, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Tuesday (February 21) as he lamented the human cost of the war, which is set to complete a year on February 24.

The Ukraine conflict has displaced 14 million people, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk said on Tuesday (February 21) as he lamented the human cost of the war, which is set to complete a year on February 24. In the last 12 months, according to the UN, at least 8,000 people have died and over 13,000 people have been injured. Around 18 million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance, he said, as the country faces electricity and water shortages during the cold winter months. “These numbers, which we are publishing today, lay bare the loss and suffering inflicted on people since Russia’s armed attack began on 24 February last year; suffering I saw for myself first hand when I visited Ukraine in December. And our data are only the tip of the iceberg," Türk was quoted as saying in a official statement as he described the toll on civilians as "unbearable". Around 90.3 per cent of civilian casualties have been caused by explosive weapons with wide area effects, including artillery shells, cruise and ballistic missiles, and air strikes. A majority of these strikes took place in populated areas. The casualties are likely much higher. “The very young to the very old have all been affected. Students have seen their education halted or disrupted by attacks on educational facilities, while older people and people with disabilities have faced immense challenges, in some cases unable to reach bomb shelters or having to spend prolonged periods in basements in conditions affecting their health," the UN Human Rights Chief said. Many civilians were killed when they were performing daily tasks, such as collecting water and buying food." “This senseless war has reverberated across the world. Higher costs of food and fuel as a result have deepened misery on a global scale, especially among those who were already the most vulnerable. Watch: Here’s how much the Ukraine war is expected to cost Germany by the end of 2023 × Putin blames western nations yet again Days before the Ukraine war enters the second year, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday lashed out at the United States and other nations, supporting Ukraine, over sanctions against Moscow. "As I said, the West has turned against Russia not only a military and information force, but also an economic one. But it has not achieved its goals anywhere and it will not. Moreover, those who initiated the sanctions have punished themselves, caused price increases, job losses, business closures and an energy crisis in their countries. And they tell their own citizens, and we hear that: that the Russians are to blame for everything," he said, stepping up the attacks against western nations. Also read: Opinion| Ukraine and Pakistan: Friends, enemies or frenemies? His comments come a day after US President Joe Biden's surprise visit to the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv as he met Volodymyr Zelensky in a show of support. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

'Tip of iceberg': UN reveals data linked to human cost of Ukraine war

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