Ukraine: war must stop, we have no time to lose, urges Guterres 

António Guterres has made an impassioned plea for peace in Ukraine before UN Member States, as the devastating conflict approaches its first full year. 

In a speech to the UN General Assembly meeting in Special Session in New York on Wednesday, the UN chief lent his support to repeated calls by the international community to end the war, since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022:  

“War is not the solution. War is the problem. People in Ukraine are suffering enormously. Ukrainians, Russians and people far beyond need peace. And while prospects may look bleak today, we must all work knowing 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.”   

President of the UN General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösi, also insisted that “military solutions will not end this war”. “Too many lives, livelihoods, families and communities have been lost, Mr. Kőrösi continued, as he urged Russia “to end this hell of bloodshed”. 

The General Assembly is meeting to discuss a draft resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, for Russia to leave Ukraine, and for accountability for serious crimes and justice for all victims. 

Middle East violence: Top UN official condemns West Bank killings 

Armed clashes between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians in the occupied West Bank which left 11 Palestinians dead on Wednesday have been condemned by the top UN official in the Middle East. 

Tor Wennesland, UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, said that he was deeply disturbed by the loss of life, and the “continuing cycle of violence”. 

Witnesses reported explosions and gunfire in Nablus, as Israeli forces attempted to round up wanted Palestinian militants. 

A teenage boy and a 61-year-old man were among the victims killed at the scene. 

In a statement, Mr. Wennesland said that he would continue to engage with all parties to deescalate the situation; he also urged all sides to refrain from enflaming “an already volatile situation”.  

Every two minutes, a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth  

Health news now, and a warning from UN agencies that a woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth every two minutes. 

That worrying finding is linked to new data showing major setbacks for maternal health in many parts of the world, even though many of the problems are preventable. 

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), maternal deaths have either increased or stagnated nearly everywhere, from 223 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2020, down from 227 in 2015 and 339 in 2000. 

Unless progress is made on global targets for reducing maternal mortality, the lives of over one million more women by 2030 could be at risk, the UN health agency warned. 

Daniel Johnson, UN News.