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

UNGA votes to upgrade Palestine’s membership to special status; strong support from South Asian nations

More than 24,000 people, most of them women and children, have been killed in Israel’s attacks on Gaza, from where Hamas launched the attack in which about 1,200 people were killed and about 240 were kidnapped.

Mahatma Gandhi invoked at UN to underline importance of press freedom

“We advocate for the strengthening of policies that promote free, independent, and pluralistic media, thereby fostering a vibrant and robust public sphere, a pillar of peaceful, just, inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous societies”, they said.

Bangladesh to join non-UN international force in Haiti

Bangladesh is taking a bold step in joining the mission after the catastrophic end to the previous UN mission with military peacekeepers ended in 2017 amid accusations that Nepali troops introduced a strain of cholera from South Asia.

South Asia gaining in foreign investment as developed economies seek out India as an alternative manufacturing base

The report released on Tuesday said that in contrast to large swathes of the developing countries, “investment in South Asia, particularly in India, remains strong”.

India-backed landmark resolution on AI safeguards adopted unanimously at UNGA

The unanimity at the UN underscores the fears over AI’s potential to disrupt politics and society through deep fakes and spreading misinformation, and its more sinister capabilities in warfare, development of weapons and disrupting economies.

Pakistan, allies at UN, blocking Global South from getting rightful due at UNSC, says India

The Pakistani representative also introduced a strange element into the discussion, attacking the Council’s designation of international terrorists, claiming that the Council’s actions against terrorists are “arbitrary”.

India assails ‘disguised veto’ at UNSC anti-terrorism panel protecting Pakistan-based terrorists

China has repeatedly blocked the listing of Pakistan-linked terrorists as international terrorists subject to UN sanctions.

World entering an 'age of chaos’, UN needs urgent reforms, says Guterres

Mechanisms that were used to manage superpower relations during the Cold War are missing now, “and so our world is entering an age of chaos” creating “a dangerous and unpredictable ‘free-for-all’ with total impunity”, Guterres warned.

Democratic forces gaining ground against junta, says Myanmar envoy at UN in significant claim

Although Myanmar is now effectively ruled by the military known as the Tatmadaw,  the UN recognises only the representative of the overthrown democratically-elected government.

India pays up $32 mn annual UN dues, getting place on ‘honour roll’

Thus, India’s assessment is only 1.044 per cent of the UN’s budget of $3.465 billion despite it being the world’s fifth largest economy. Thus, India’s share is less than that of even some developing countries like Brazil and Mexico. 

Pakistani peacekeeper killed in UN mission in Africa

Of UNISFA’s 2,587 troops, 571 peacekeepers were from Pakistan. So far, 169 Pakistani peacekeepers have been killed while serving in UN operations, according to the UN.

UNCTAD sounds alarm over Red Sea conflict’s impact on global trade

“Prolonged disruptions in major trade routes would disrupt global supply chains, leading to delayed deliveries of goods, increased costs and potential inflation”, he said.

Pakistan warns Ram Mandir consecration in India ‘significant threat’ to ‘regional peace’

A press release from Pakistan’s UN Mission on Wednesday said that Akram raised the Ram Mandir during a meeting of the ambassadors of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the group agreed to include it in the agenda for the next meeting.

Pakistan, Iran asked to deal with mutual security concerns through dialogue

Iran and Pakistan carried out attacks inside each other’s territories against what they said were terrorist bases

Now South Asia is being seen as the new driver of global economic growth

Pakistan and Sri Lanka are pulling down South Asia’s overall performance.