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Monday, June 1, 2026
News and Views from the Global South
Russia Expelled From G8, but G20? Not So Fast
When Western powers, led by the United States, decided to throw Russia out of the Group of 8 (G8) industrial nations, it was aimed at punishing and "isolating" President Vladimir Putin for his intervention in Ukraine and "annexation" of Crimea.
Non-Nuclear Ukraine Haunts Security Summit in The Hague
The two-day, much-ballyhooed Nuclear Security Summit (NSS) in the Netherlands, which concluded Tuesday, was politically haunted by the upheaval in Ukraine - the former Soviet republic that renounced some 1,800 of its nuclear weapons in one of the world's most successful disarmament exercises back in 1994.
U.N. Diplomats, Cut Off from Banks, Seek Haven in Mattresses
Addressing a closed-door meeting of the Group of 77 (G77) developing countries last week, a visibly angry Latin American delegate recounted the growing new hostility towards foreign diplomats in New York city.
Women Seek Stand-Alone Goal for Gender in Post-2015 Agenda
The 45-member U.N. Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) concluded its annual 10-day session Saturday with several key pronouncements, including on reproductive health, women's rights, sexual violence, female genital mutilation (FGM) and the role of women in implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Ukraine Coup Lawful, Crimea Referendum Unlawful
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, conscious of the stark ineffectiveness of the Security Council over the upheaval in Ukraine, is engaged in a round of shuttle diplomacy with Russian and Ukrainian leaders to help resolve the crisis in that region.
Middle East Sustains Appetite for Arms
The Middle East continues to be one of the world's most lucrative arms markets, with two Gulf nations - Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) - taking the lead, according to a new study released Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
U.S.-Russia Bickering May Trigger Nuclear Fallout
The U.S.-Russian confrontation over Ukraine, which is threatening to undermine current bilateral talks on North Korea, Iran, Syria and Palestine, is also in danger of triggering a nuclear fallout.
Split over Ukraine Could Undermine Peace in Syria
As the protracted Syrian conflict enters its fourth year, there seems to be little or no hope of a resolution to the devastating crisis.
East Harlem Explosion Kills Eight & Devastates Neighbourhood
A huge explosion in East Harlem killed at least eight and devastated several buildings in the neighborhood.
Legislators Seek Rightful Place at U.N. Talkfests
When the United Nations hosts one of its mega conferences - whether on population, human rights, food security or sustainable development - there is always a demand for full and active participation of often-marginalised groups, including women, civil society, indigenous peoples and youth.
Russian Arms to Egypt Threaten to Undermine U.S. in Mideast
Russia, which is at loggerheads with Washington over the spreading political crisis in Ukraine, is threatening to undermine a longstanding military relationship between the United States and one of its traditional allies in the Middle East: Egypt.
Women Still Walk Two Steps Behind in Arab World
In much of the Arab world, women's participation in the labour force is the lowest in the world, according to the United Nations, while women in politics are a rare breed both in the Middle East and North Africa.
U.N. Struggles for Relevancy in Ukraine Crisis
When the crisis in Ukraine moved into the august chambers of the Security Council last week, it was virtually dead on arrival.
U.S., EU Out-Manoeuvred by Syria
An inflow of Russian-made weapons. Political and military support from Iran and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah. Sharp dissension among fractious rebel groups. And the unyielding loyalty of the armed forces.
South-South Cooperation Takes Off in Arab World
As the concept of South-South cooperation (SSC) continues to strengthen worldwide, some of the richest countries in the Arab world have been reaching out to the poor and the needy in the developing world.
U.N. Focuses on Faltering Goals: Water, Sanitation, Energy
When the U.N.'s Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) reach their deadline in 2015, there will still be a critical setback: millions of people in the developing world without full access to safe drinking water, proper sanitation and electricity in their homes.
Nuke Summit Agenda Circumvents Armed Powers
When over 50 world leaders meet in the Netherlands next month for a Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), the primary focus will be on a politically-loaded question: how do we prevent non-state actors and terrorists from getting their hands on nuclear weapons or nuclear materials?
Syrian Crisis Threatens Development in Arab World
The widespread sectarian violence and ongoing military conflicts in several political hotspots, including Syria, Iraq and Lebanon, have not only claimed thousands of human lives and devastated fragile economies but also undermined the U.N.’s longstanding plans to eradicate hunger and extreme poverty worldwide.
Kuwait Tops Humanitarian Aid to Syria at Pledging Conference
As Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon grimly predicted a worsening of the monumental humanitarian disaster in war-torn Syria, the international community Wednesday pledged over 2.4 billion dollars in new funds to help the displaced and devastated in the politically-troubled Arab nation.
U.N. to Seek Billions for Syria at Kuwait Conference
When Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon chairs a U.N. pledging conference next week for urgently needed aid to Syria, he is expected to warn the donor community that the humanitarian crisis in the politically-troubled Arab nation is threatening to reach biblical proportions.
Despite 13-Year Deadlock, U.N. Makes Headway Fighting Terrorism
After nearly 13 years of protracted negotiations, the United Nations remains deadlocked on a proposal to establish a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) - even as suicide bombings continue unabated in countries such as Iraq, Syria, Egypt, Afghanistan, and most recently, Russia.« Previous Page — Next Page »
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