By Rita Joshi BONN | NEW DELHI 11 July 2023 (IDN) — More than 125 civil society groups have expressed concerns that big polluters continue emitting under the cover of deceiving net zero claims while communities and ecosystems across the world suffer immensely. They see an urgent need for real, deep, and urgent emission reductions in line […]
Myanmar: As ASEAN Crumbles, Western Sanctions Are Starting to Bite
By Jan Servaes* BRUSSELS 10 July 2023 (IDN) — According to a World Bank report released at the end of June, Myanmar’s economy stabilized in the first half of 2023. But this isn’t exactly good news, as the report points out that the economy is still lagging far behind that of the region. GDP growth of 3 […]
US Rejoins UNESCO Abandoned During Trump Presidency
By Lisa Vives, Global Information Network NEW YORK 4 July 2023 (IDN) — After an absence of four years, the UN will return to UNESCO, a global cultural and education body that contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication and information.
UN told France has ‘Robbed’ Kanaks of New Caledonian Independence
By David Robie* This article was issued by the Asia Pacific Report and is being republished with their permission. AUCKLAND, New Zealand, 15 June 2023 (IDN) — New Caledonia’s Kanak national liberation movement has told the UN Decolonization Committee that France has “robbed” the indigenous people of their independence and has appealed for help.
UN Plans a Code of Conduct to Monitor AI & Prevent Abuses
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS, 13 June 2023 (IDN) — The widespread proliferation of artificial intelligence (AI)—and its CHATBOT search engine—has prompted the United Nations to propose a “set of guardrails” to prevent abuses and disinformation. The motive is to help governments with guidelines that “promote facts, while exposing conspiracies and lies, and safeguarding freedom […]
High-Level Political Forum to Focus on Sustainable Development
By UNDESA UNITED NATIONS, 4 June 2023 (IDN) — “The SDGs are not just 17 lofty goals. They represent real lives with real needs. They represent women and children, young and old, you and me, and a chance to fullfil our potential,” said UN DESA’s Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua. His comment came as the department is […]
UN Human Rights Experts Denounce Supreme Court Ruling on Abortions
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS, 4 June 2023 (IDN) — The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS), currently consisting of nine Justices, is the highest court in the land—and one of the most powerful bodies in the country exercising unlimited authority to declare whether a Legislative or Executive act is in violation of the […]
US Refuses Visa to Swedish NGO for UN Meetings
STOCKHOLM, 24 May 2023 (IDN) — The United States has refused a visa to Jan Lönn, Secretary General of International Youth and Student Movement for the United Nations (ISMUN; President of the NGO Committee on Development (Geneva).
Insufficient Progress Made Towards Disaster Risk Reduction
By Radwan Jakeem NEW YORK, 21 May 2023 (IDN) — A review of progress on implementing the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction has determined that global progress towards disaster risk management has been weak and insufficient, putting at risk the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Artificial Intelligence ChatGPT: It’s Potential & Its Dangers
By Thalif Deen UNITED NATIONS, 16 May 2023 (IDN) — The world is currently experiencing one of the fastest advances in modern technology: the AI Chat GPT search engine, which has generated both curiosity and skepticism. At a White House May 4 meeting of executives from Google, Microsoft, Anthropic and OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, […]