The United Nations Headquarters in New York City

Who will rescue the UN — will it be a “Madam SG”?

The choice of the next SG will determine whether the UN regains relevance or slides further into insignificance. A woman leader would not only break a glass ceiling; it would show the UN retains the capacity for renewal. A male candidate seen as a P5 compromise would confirm fears that global leadership remains a private club for the powerful.

Sri Lanka gets two-year respite at UNHRC; Colombo calls resolution intrusive, damaging to South Asia

A revised version presented on 1 October reflects the Western double standards and the continuous desire of the UNHRC to bend over backwards to please the West. The most shocking aspect is that the recommendations in the report were made without consultation with the Government of Sri Lanka. 

US reiterates claim it deescalated India-Pakistan conflict, but India affirms at UNSC it was resolved bilaterally

Op Sindoor was motivated by the Security Council statement on “the need to hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers and sponsors” of the Pahalgam attack accountable and it targeted terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, he said.

'World on fire': Buddha’s teachings can show the way

Rulers and decision makers must deter aggression and a calculated pursuit of violence in today's world” by nations “impelled by political goals such as territorial expansion or domination, or by deviant nonstate actors and terrorists who sow fear and destruction due to their deviant belief systems”, he said.

More on UN Watch

Jaishankar skips high-level, ministerial Security Council meeting China convened

India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar skipped a high-level UN Security Council meeting at the ministerial level that was convened by China, the global body's president for this month

UN chief pledges to keep ‘memories alive’ of those who died in service during 2020

The United Nations paused on Thursday to honor 336 personnel who lost their lives in the line of duty in 2020: the highest number ever in a single year

UN launches key initiative to protect seafarers’ human rights

Around 200,000 cargo ship crew members are stranded at sea, beyond the length of their contracts due to COVID-19 restrictions, placing a major strain on their physical and mental health

Cut methane emissions to avert global temperature rise, UN-backed study urges

Methane emissions caused by human activity can be reduced by up to 45 per cent this decade, thus helping to keep global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change, according to a UN-backed report published on Thursday

Guterres renews zero-emissions appeal to avoid falling into climate abyss

All countries should commit to zero carbon emissions by 2050 if the world is to avoid a disastrous 2.4 degree Celsius temperature rise by the end of this century, UN Secretary General António Guterres said on Thursday

If ever there was need for partnership, it is now: Pakistan UN envoy

A senior Pakistan envoy has stressed the need for partnerships to effectively combat the global pandemic Covid 19, and called upon all nations to work together to prevent millions from descending into extreme poverty and destitution

UN forum examines how to make science and technology work better for all

Harnessing the full potential of science and technology for the benefit of all people, everywhere, is the focus of a two-day virtual meeting convened by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), which opened on Tuesday

UNGA president says Kashmir status should not be changed; acknowledges Simla agreement

United Nations General Assembly President Volkan Bozkir has said that the status of Jammu and Kashmir should not be changed while acknowledging the 1972 Simla Agreement between India and Pakistan making it a bilateral issue

UN condemns deadly attack at guesthouse in Afghanistan

The United Nations strongly condemned Friday’s suicide attack in eastern Afghanistan, in which at least 21 were killed and over 100, including women and children, wounded

Pandemic showcases need for partnerships: ECOSOC

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how all countries are connected, underscoring that global cooperation and solidarity are the only way out of the crisis, senior UN officials said on Monday during the annual Partnership Forum, organized by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

Myanmar approaching point of economic collapse: UN report

The turmoil following the military coup in Myanmar, coupled with the impact of COVID-19 could result in up to 25 million people – nearly half of the country’s population, living in poverty by early next year, a United Nations report said on Friday

Address inequalities to end AIDS by 2030, UN chief says in new report

Inequalities in addressing AIDS threaten global efforts to stamp out the disease as a public health threat by 2030, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned in a report published on Friday, which provides 10 key recommendations to get the world back on track

Need for more uniformed women in peace operations, says UN

Increasing the participation of uniformed women in peace operations is a “key priority” for the United Nations, the head of peacekeeping told a High-Level Launch Event

Increased cancer risk for petroleum industry workers and people living near plants: UN study

People working in the petroleum industry or living near petroleum facilities are at increased risk of developing several different cancer types, according to a new report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARCWHO), part of the UN World Health Organization (WHO)

UK’s 85% family planning aid cut will be devastating for women and girls says UNFPA

The United Kingdom’s intention to cut 85 per cent of its contribution to a flagship UN family planning programme this year, will have devastating consequences for women and girls and their families across the world, the UN sexual and reproductive health agency (UNFPA) said on Thursday