French minister for Europe and foreign affairs Jean-Noel Barrot speaks during a conference on the two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, at the United Nations headquarters in New York, 28 July 2025. (Keystone/EPA/Sarah Yenesel)

🕊️France says 'no alternative' to two-state solution for Israel, Palestinians. French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot made that assertion at a three-day UN conference in New York, boycotted by Israel and the US. Barrot also assured in an interview that other European countries would confirm during the conference their intention to recognise the state of Palestine, which France has already promised to do in September.

🛂Aid cuts are driving migrants to Europe, warns UN refugee chief. Filippo Grandi urged EU countries to back existing asylum facilities in Africa rather than create new systems. "Give more assistance to states where people are ready to stay before going back home," he said.

♀️Top Swiss politician calls for inclusive and sustainable peace. “Peace cannot last if it is built without women,” said Maja Riniker, president of the Swiss house of representatives, at the opening of a conference gathering female speakers of national parliaments in Geneva on Monday.

💬Opinion: Why humanitarians must act to end Israel’s genocide in Gaza. As some of the few actors not complicit in Israel’s atrocities in the Gaza Strip and possessing the power to act, humanitarian groups have a responsibility to go beyond mere aid delivery and public statements, argues Tammam Aloudat, CEO of The New Humanitarian.

🤼UN tells Australia, Turkey to end Cop31 hosting standoff. Simon Stiell, executive secretary of the UN body overseeing the annual climate summits, said the longstanding tussle over who would host next year's conference was undermining preparations.

🕯️David Nabarro, British physician who led UN response to Ebola and Covid-19, dies. Nabarro, who was serving as strategic director at the Geneva-based 4SD Foundation, is said to have died Friday at his home in Ferney-Voltaire.