UN calls for diplomatic efforts to deescalate rising tensions in Middle East

The United Nations has again stressed the need for "maximum restraint by all" parties in the Middle East following the recent escalation of tensions in the region, urging for greater diplomatic efforts to address the situation during this "extremely sensitive time."

UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo reiterated Secretary-General António Guterres' call for restraint during her address to the Security Council at an emergency meeting over the Middle East escalations on Wednesday.

The UN's top political affairs official noted that violence in the Gaza Strip has been escalating for months and that the situation in Lebanon is concerning.

DiCarlo emphasized that the appeals for all sides to show restraint are not enough at this stage, and highlighted the necessity of diplomatic initiatives to reduce regional tensions, while stating that the practice of sending messages through military means must stop.

"The Secretary-General has consistently called for maximum restraint by all. It is increasingly clear, however, that restraint alone is insufficient at this extremely sensitive time. Diplomatic efforts to change the trajectory and seek a path toward regional peace and stability are urgently needed. Communication by means of missiles, armed drones and other deadly attacks must end," she noted.

The UN emergency meeting came after tensions in the Middle East were inflamed by an Israeli airstrike on Tuesday targeted a southern suburb of Beirut, reportedly killing Hezbollah's top military commander, Fouad Shokor, who was allegedly behind a cross-border rocket attack that killed 12 young people in the Israeli-controlled Golan Heights on Saturday.

This was followed on Wednesday by the death of Hamas Politburo Chief Ismail Haniyeh, who was killed in the Iranian capital Tehran after his residence was attacked in an alleged Israeli assassination.

UN calls for diplomatic efforts to deescalate rising tensions in Middle East

Wine companies in Italy are anxious as U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on the so-called "reciprocal tariffs," imposing a 20-percent tariff on the European Union.

Giulia D'Alema, head of a family-owned wine business in Italy's Umbria region, is facing significant uncertainty for the upcoming wine sales season following the announcement of tariffs on EU products, including wine.

Her family's 7.5-hectare vineyard has completed its major annual tasks — trimming, tying, and weeding — to ensure healthy grape growth and a fruitful harvest.

However, despite these preparations, D'Alema is troubled by the looming threat of new tariffs on Italian wines exported to the United States.

The United States is a key market for Italian wines, with exports valued at approximately 2 billion euros in 2024 alone.

Yet, the announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump has put this vital export market at risk.

"If tariffs are imposed, U.S. importers won't be able to import my wine because selling my rose will no longer be profitable for them. I've already increased production specifically for this (U.S.) market, so now I have to find other ways to absorb this surplus," said D'Alema.

In the wine-producing region of Umbria in central Italy, it is the small and medium-sized wineries that are hit the hardest. Large enterprises can mitigate risks by adjusting their market strategies, but small family-owned businesses often rely on a single market. The imposition of tariffs creates a great deal of uncertainty for their operations.

In 2024, Italy's bottled wine exports to the United States reached 1.94 billion euros. According to calculations by the largest agricultural association in Italy, the Italian Confederation of Farmers (CIA), if tariffs prevent Italian wines from being exported to the United States, Italian wineries could face daily losses of 6 million U.S. dollars.

Trump's 20 pct tariffs on EU raise concerns for Italian wine export