The UN health chief has flagged another global pandemic. This time it is violence against women, including women being beaten or killed in their homes through domestic violence even in countries like the United States, Switzerland and Sweden. Pointing to the worst trends, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Ghebreyesus noted that "violence against women is one of … [Read more...] about UN flags another pandemic — violence against women.
UN health chief’s disturbing facts about Gaza
Gaza's health factsheet is shocking. World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that more than 170 000 people have injuries in Gaza, including more than 5000 amputees and 3600 people with major burns. At least 42 000 people have injuries that require long-term rehabilitation. “There are still 15 000 patients who need treatment outside Gaza, … [Read more...] about UN health chief’s disturbing facts about Gaza
As Israel prepares to celebrate hostages’ return, UN readies immediate life-saving aid to Gaza.
While President Donald Trump prepares to join Israelis to celebrate the release of hostages after two years of horrific Hamas captivity, the United Nations humanitarian community is preparing to immediately alleviate the unimaginable misery of Gaza’s people. “We and our partners are prepared to move—now” to deliver food, water, medical and shelter assistance to people in … [Read more...] about As Israel prepares to celebrate hostages’ return, UN readies immediate life-saving aid to Gaza.
In Gaza’s open wound, Hamas clings on as Israelis sink into division and global isolation. UN chief echoes Trump’s hope for lasting peace.
October 7 was a day of global mourning at this century’s most heinous act of terrorism in 2023, when Hamas and allied factions killed over 1250 Israeli and other nationals and abducted 250 women, children, men and the elderly into the Gaza strip. “The recent proposal by United States President Donald J. Trump presents an opportunity that must be seized to bring this tragic … [Read more...] about In Gaza’s open wound, Hamas clings on as Israelis sink into division and global isolation. UN chief echoes Trump’s hope for lasting peace.
UN rights group demands compensation for enslavement and the transatlantic trade in Africans.
Africans and people of African descent must receive restitution and compensation for the harms done in the past through enslavement, trade in enslaved persons, the transatlantic trade in Africans, colonialism, and other grave human rights violations. A new United Nations report said those violations left enduring legacies that continue to shape every aspect of their lives. … [Read more...] about UN rights group demands compensation for enslavement and the transatlantic trade in Africans.
UN inquiry insists IDF has committed genocide in Gaza but Israel junks it as “distorted and false”.
Even as Israel’s defense minister declared that “Gaza is burning” because “the IDF strikes with an iron fist “, a United Nations inquiry insisted that Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip. Israel immediately denounced the genocide allegations as an antisemitic “blood libel”. After a painstaking legal analysis of Israel’s actions and intent, the inquiry named … [Read more...] about UN inquiry insists IDF has committed genocide in Gaza but Israel junks it as “distorted and false”.
Military spending has exploded to $2.7 trillion while world poverty deepens, UN report says.
The unprecedented $2.7 trillion spent on weapons and the military has left global spending on building peace and sustainable development far behind and is intensifying wars and geopolitical tensions, a new United Nations report warns. Spending on security needs increased across all five global regions during 2024, marking the steepest year-on-year rise for at least the last … [Read more...] about Military spending has exploded to $2.7 trillion while world poverty deepens, UN report says.
UN declares roadmap to a two-state solution amid signs of hope in Gaza’s awful suffering
The United Nations has overwhelmingly agreed on a declaration that lays out a single roadmap to deliver a two-State solution partitioning Israel and a new State of Palestine. In the UN General Assembly, 142 voted in favor, 10 voted against including Israel and the US, and 12 abstained. Those in favor included almost all large members of the European Union. Israeli … [Read more...] about UN declares roadmap to a two-state solution amid signs of hope in Gaza’s awful suffering
A UN treaty to control plastic pollution falters despite marathon negotiations
A United Nations conference, billed as final in a series to hammer-out a new global treaty to end plastic pollution, gave up the battle this morning after an all-nighter, without the conclusion required to complete a final treaty later this year. Letdown at the two-week 184-nation negotiation is another signal of dangerous decay in international cooperation although it … [Read more...] about A UN treaty to control plastic pollution falters despite marathon negotiations
Casus belli for the Pakistan-India war.
The latest casus belli is the brutal carnage of 26 innocent tourists by terrorists in a verdant meadow in Kashmir on a balmy April 22 evening. Islamabad has denied any involvement but is already rattling nuclear threats and seems well prepared for conventional war. For Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, enough is enough. As a resolute pacifist, Modi may try to avoid … [Read more...] about Casus belli for the Pakistan-India war.
The Chinese shadow over Pakistan and India’s nascent war
President Donald Trump could soon face the ignominy of seeing American F-16 fighters flying alongside arch rival China’s J-10 and JF-17 warplanes piloted by Pakistanis against his Indian partners. The risk of ignominy arises because Trump designated India as a “Major Defense Partner with Strategic Trade Authorization-1” during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s February visit to … [Read more...] about The Chinese shadow over Pakistan and India’s nascent war
Trump should not fritter away the trust of India’s Modi
When Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets President Donald Trump at the White House today, he may be the only world leader powerful and politically stable enough in his own country for the American leader to trust. Critics of both Trump and Modi may not like this because they would prefer to project both men as anti-democrats seeking autocratic rule. Time will tell the … [Read more...] about Trump should not fritter away the trust of India’s Modi
UN negotiator warns of grave risks in Syria and calls for end to Israeli incursions
Many Syrians are celebrating their sudden freedom from tyrant Bashar al-Assad while Israeli troops are quickly occupying his military installations overlooking the Golan Heights, but the jubilation may be short-lived. Barely 48 hours since the dominant opposition force Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) captured Damascus, Geir Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria, warned, “Syria is … [Read more...] about UN negotiator warns of grave risks in Syria and calls for end to Israeli incursions
UN survey finds two-thirds of information on social media is not fact-checked
A new UN survey has found that an alarming two-thirds of the content uploaded to digital media platforms, including social media, is not verified for accuracy or fact-checked for truth. This is a disturbing finding since misinformation and fake news is a burgeoning plague on all social media platforms and is corrupting election processes in democracies around the world. … [Read more...] about UN survey finds two-thirds of information on social media is not fact-checked
UN offers cautious welcome to Israel-Lebanon ceasefire accord
UN chief Antonio Guterres welcomed the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon saying he hoped it would “put an end to the violence, destruction and suffering the people of both countries have been experiencing”. He also called for full respect and swift implementation all commitments made under the agreement, in a statement issued by his spokesperson. UN Special Coordinator … [Read more...] about UN offers cautious welcome to Israel-Lebanon ceasefire accord
For the first time the world is close to eliminating a cancer, says UN health chief
A ray of good news for women in these troubled times: the world is close to eliminating a cancer for the first time. “Cervical cancer can not only be stopped; it could become the first cancer to be eliminated,” the chief of the United Nations global health agency said. Every year, over 350,000 women die from cervical cancer and another 660,000 are diagnosed with the disease. … [Read more...] about For the first time the world is close to eliminating a cancer, says UN health chief
UN health body sounds alarm on burgeoning diabetes epidemic
Diabetes, a potentially debilitating, painful and fatal disease, is burgeoning worldwide affecting more than 800 million adults and has quadrupled in the past 30 years, reaching new heights as an epidemic. “We have seen an alarming rise in diabetes over the past three decades, which reflects the increase in obesity, compounded by the impacts of the marketing of unhealthy … [Read more...] about UN health body sounds alarm on burgeoning diabetes epidemic
COP29: UN highlights ticking clock of destructive climate change but Trump’s return may be insurmountable challenge
UN climate talks kicked off in Baku, Azerbaijan, with a call by UN chief Antonio Guterres for much closer global cooperation including provision of trillions of dollars in investments and aid to poorer countries. “Climate finance is not charity, it’s an investment. Climate action is not optional, it’s an imperative. Both are indispensable: to a livable world for all … [Read more...] about COP29: UN highlights ticking clock of destructive climate change but Trump’s return may be insurmountable challenge
Trump’s broad-based triumph is lighting fires
Donald Trump’s amazingly broad-based victory is lighting fires under many in the US and around the world as they scramble to deal with an aggressive iconoclast who does not fit in any pigeonhole of political counsel whether liberal or conservative. He has his own intuitive instincts that are not guessable because they are traced only in his mind. How he implements them … [Read more...] about Trump’s broad-based triumph is lighting fires
Harris or Trump, whoever wins, Americans could be on a slippery slope
Whoever wins, whether Kamala Harris or Donald Trump, abiding mistrust of Washington is growing among foreign governments, including European allies. That does not augur well for Americans. For almost all non-Americans, the issue is whether the American electorate is still discerning enough for them to expect benign US foreign and trade policies instead of more coercion and … [Read more...] about Harris or Trump, whoever wins, Americans could be on a slippery slope