Jayantha Kottage* Reviews Somar Wijayadasa’s Memoirs CANBERRA, Australia | 22 March 2025 (IDN) — “History repeats itself, but in such a cunning disguise that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done”, Sydney J Harris Somar Wijayadasa’s memoirs, “Our Divided World: My View from The United Nations” provide a reflective account of global […]
UN Will Have 3.72 billion USD at Its Disposal in 2025
By Vibhu Mishra* NEW YORK | 26 December 2024 (IDN | UN News) — The General Assembly wrapped up the main part of its 79th session on 24 December, approving a $3.72 billion budget for the United Nations for 2025 and adopting a new programme to support landlocked developing countries. The approved regular budget (RB) […]
World Social Development Progress Under Threat
By Ramesh Jaura BERLIN | 25 October 2024 (IDN) — In view of the converging crises threatening world social development, the United Nations General Assembly decided earlier this year to convene the “Second World Summit for Social Development” in 2025, which would address gaps and recommit to the principles outlined in the 1995 Copenhagen Declaration […]
UN Pleads for Elimination of Nuclear Weapons as the Goal Goes on Distance
By Ramesh Jaura BERLIN | 29 September 2024 (IDN) — Global nuclear disarmament has been the highest arms control priority of the United Nations since 1946 when the General Assembly resolved to establish the Atomic Energy Commission (dissilved in 1952), with a mandate to make specific proposals for the control of nuclear energy and the […]
Wanted A Non-Hegemonic New International Order Under the UN Charter
By Jeffrey D. Sachs* This article was originally published in Horizons and is being republished with the author’s permission. – Though the Summit of the Future has concluded, this article by SDG Advocate under Secretary-General António Guterres is of utmost importance. The Outcome Document of the Summit reflects some of the author’s recommendations for a […]
Digital Revolution Can Unleash Health Revolution
It Can Avert 74 Percent of Global Deaths Annually By Ramesh Jaura BERLIN | NEW YORK | 23 September 2024 (IDN) — Smoking, boozing, unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity trigger the risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases. These noncommunicable dieses (NCDs) are responsible for over 74 percent of global deaths annually, […]
If the Summit is to Achieve Change, the UN Chief Needs to Play Hard Ball
By Simone Galimberti* KATHMANDU, Nepal | 21 September 2024 (IDN)—The United Nations is hosting one of the most important events in the history of the world body. This is the importance that Secretary General António Guterres has placed on the Summit of the Future September 22-23. The meeting is supposed to endorse key blueprints like […]
Women in Afghanistan: Efforts Underway to Plant the Seeds of Change
By Sima Bahous The following are excerpts from the speech delivered by Ms. Sima Bahous, UN Under-Secretary-General and UN Women Executive Director, to the UN Security Council meeting on Afghanistan on 18 September 2024 at UN Headquarters. NEW YORK | 19 September 2024 (IDN) — We have heard and will continue to hear today about […]
Where do UN Diplomats Hide During Politically-Sensitive Voting?
By Thalif Deen* When the UN’s four high-level summit meetings take place September 22-30, over 150 world leaders, including Presidents and Prime Ministers, are expected to address the gatherings. Besides the annual high-level General Debate, the focus will also be on the Summit of the Future, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Sea-Level Rise, and on Anti-microbial […]
UN Chief Assures Support as Timor-Leste Marks 25 Years of Self-Determination
By Michele Zaccheo* DILILI, Timor-Leste | 2 September 2024 (IDN) — UN Secretary-General António Guterres told parliamentarians in Timor-Leste on 30 September the world has much to learn from their inspirational struggle for self-rule, 25 years to the day since the historic referendum which paved the way for independence in 2002. In a surprise move, […]