The new Permanent Representative of Fiji to the United Nations, Filipo Tarakinikini, presented his credentials to UN Secretary-General António Guterres today.

The international community must seize the window of opportunity presented by a fragile ceasefire in the Great Lakes region, the Security Council heard today amidst warnings about local armed groups and the pillaging of natural resources.

The Head of the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) today condemned the arson incident against the Saint Pantelija Orthodox Church in Prizren, which took place earlier this week. She noted that attacks against religious and cultural sites undermine interethnic and interreligious relations.

The Economic and Social Council opened the second day of its annual Financing for Development Forum with a high-level meeting of top global finance officials intent on working collaboratively to help debt-burdened developing countries overcome poverty, climate risks and other challenges to their sustainable development.

Volker Perthes, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sudan, is still in Khartoum and is continuing to engage with General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, and other key Member States on the ground in efforts to secure an immediate de-escalation and cessation of the fighting.

Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message on International Mother Earth Day, observed on 22 April:

It is vital for the success of elections that all parts of Libyan society are involved and have their voices heard, a senior United Nations official told the Security Council today, noting that the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) will intensify its mediation to support the realization of all political, legal and security requirements so elections can be held in 2023.

The General Assembly adopted today by consensus three decisions and five resolutions, including resolution the Fifth Committee’s (Administrative and Budgetary) first comprehensive resolution on human resources management in more than six years.

The knowledge and insight of Indigenous People must be harnessed to address the global climate crisis, speakers told the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues today, as it opened its twenty-second session amidst observations that such People’s participation must be enhanced, and their rights protected if the international community is to enjoy the benefit of their custodial experience in tackling these existential challenges.

While a senior United Nations official today outlined the dangers posed by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s latest missile launch, Security Council members disagreed on the path forward and whether it should include more sanctions.