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Monday, October 19, 2026
News and Views from the Global South
U.S., European Weapons Makers Still Dominate Arms Bazaar
The world's key arms manufacturers are still firmly entrenched in the United States and Western Europe, while some of the newly-emerging military industries in China, India, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Israel, Turkey and Kuwait are trailing mostly far behind.U.N. Body Suspends Libya from Human Rights Council
The 192-member General Assembly, the highest policy-making body at the United Nations, unanimously adopted a resolution Tuesday suspending Libya's membership in the Geneva-based Human Rights Council.Arab Civil Society Calls for No-Fly Zone over Libya
Besieged Libyan leader Muammar el-Gaddafi, who has incurred the wrath of his own people and drawn punitive strictures from the international community, is now under attack by a coalition of over 200 Arab non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including a group of intellectuals from across the Middle East.Libya Faces Expulsion from U.N. Human Rights Council
The widespread condemnation of continued military atrocities against civilian demonstrators in Libya over the past week is paving the way for two of the harshest punitive measures against the repressive regime of Muammar el-Gaddafi: expulsion from the Human Rights Council and war crimes charges by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.Civil Society Challenges Nuclear Deterrence Doctrine
As the world's nuclear powers continue to drag their collective feet, stalling all attempts at nuclear disarmament, a group of peace activists and civil society organisations is vigourously challenging the long-held myth of "nuclear deterrence".U.N. Condemns Libya but Fails to Probe Civilian Killings
If besieged Libyan leader Muammar el-Gaddafi survives the widespread revolt in his turmoil-plagued country, will he be the second sitting head of state to be charged or indicted for war crimes?U.N.’s New Agency for Women Readies for Takeoff
When the 192-member General Assembly, the highest policy- making body at the United Nations, decided to create a special agency last July to promote the advancement of women, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon hailed it as a "historic" decision.U.N. Chief Rebukes Repressive Middle Eastern Leaders
As the military and the police try to violently suppress demonstrations spreading across Bahrain, Yemen, Libya, Iraq and Iran, a usually reticent U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon is taking a hard line against the oppressive authoritarian regimes in the politically volatile Middle East - and specifically against unrelenting leaders cracking down on protesters.Egypt’s U.S.-Armed Military in Transitory Commanding Role
When embattled Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak reluctantly called it quits after more than two weeks of mass demonstrations against his 30-year-old authoritarian regime, he temporarily turned over the country to an institution trained, armed and nurtured by the United States: the 350,000- strong military.Nepal, Qatar Vie for U.N. Presidency
When the 192-member General Assembly, the highest policy- making body at the United Nations, meets to formally induct its president, the choice is usually a foregone conclusion because the decision is made far in advance of the annual opening session in September.U.N. Intensifies Campaign Against Female Genital Mutilation
The United Nations is intensifying its global campaign to eliminate one of the most widely-condemned religious and cultural rituals in the world today, mostly in Africa and Asia: female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C).U.N. Avoids Tough Stance on Egyptian Crisis
The U.N. Security Council, which is empowered to intervene in crisis situations threatening international peace and security, has remained tight-lipped over the weeklong rioting, killings and mass demonstrations in Egypt - even as the political upheaval has spilled over into Jordan and Yemen.Does it Matter if the Torturer Is Right-Handed or Left-Handed?
Jeanne Kirkpatrick, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, once made the highly-debatable distinction between "friendly" right-wing "authoritarian" regimes (which were mostly U.S. and Western allies) and "unfriendly" left-wing "totalitarian" dictatorships (which the U.S. abhorred).Uncertain Fate for Egypt’s U.S.-Supplied Weapons Systems
Besieged Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, a former air force officer whose 30-year old authoritarian regime is under attack, presides over a country described as one of the major military powers in the region, ranking next to Israel and Turkey.U.N. to Step Up Battle Against Somali Piracy in Indian Ocean
A former Indian ambassador once jokingly remarked that one of the biggest misconceptions in the United States is that the Indian Ocean belongs to India.
Should U.N. Chief’s Public Pronouncements Be Copyrighted?
When the secretary-general of the United Nations issues a key policy statement, holds a news conference or simply makes off- the-cuff remarks to the press corps, they traditionally remain in the public domain.Cuba Bumped from Human Development Index over Missing Data
When the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP) formulates its annual Human Development Index (HDI), it uses several socioeconomic indicators - including life expectancy, gross national income and literacy - to rank member states and also measure quality of life in these countries.U.N. to Host Slew of Talkfests Through 2011
Living up to its reputation - or notoriety - as one of the world's quintessential talking shops, the United Nations has scheduled a slew of high-level meetings and international conferences through December this year.Will Asia, Africa Follow Latin America on Palestine?
With seven Latin American countries formally recognising Palestine as an independent state, there is one question floating in the corridors of the United Nations: will Asia and Africa follow suit?U.S. Bank Blacklists U.N. Missions
When the United Nations decided to locate its secretariat in the city of New York, the United States as host nation signed a "headquarters agreement" back in 1947 not only ensuring diplomatic immunity to foreign diplomats but also pledging to facilitate the day-to-day activities of member states without any hindrance.Latest Food Crisis Brewing for Months
The United Nations, which is trying to reach out to nearly a billion undernourished people, some living in perpetual hunger, is anticipating another food crisis later this year.« Previous Page — Next Page »
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