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Thursday, October 29, 2026
News and Views from the Global South
POLITICS: World Bank, IMF Heads Skip Summit on Global Crisis
When a major international conference on financing for development took place in the Qatari capital of Doha last November, the heads of both the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) skipped the meeting.
Q&A: Financial Crisis Unprecedented Since 1930s*
Since the Great Depression of the 1930s, there have been more than 100 crises worldwide, says the secretary-general of the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Dr. Supachai Panitchpakdi.POLITICS: Women’s Groups Seek Gender Equity at U.N. Summit
An international coalition of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), mostly comprised of women’s groups, is calling for a "gender equitable" response to the global financial crisis, which is to be debated at a U.N. summit of world leaders next week.
POLITICS: Is West Undermining Summit on Financial Crisis?
When a Western diplomat was asked whether his country would be represented by a head of state at next week's U.N. summit meeting on the global financial crisis, his response was tinged with sarcasm and contempt.DEVELOPMENT: Asia Pacific Tourism on Road to Recovery
As it battles to regain its stature, one of the world's most resilient industries - tourism - is expected to overcome the current global economic recession at least by next year.DEVELOPMENT: Global Campaign to Salvage U.N.’s Health Goals
The global economic crisis, which has pushed millions more into extreme poverty, is threatening to have a devastating impact on the health of women and children.POLITICS: North Korea Penalised Over Nuke Testing
Despite North Korean charges of political hypocrisy by the United Nations, the Security Council unanimously adopted a resolution Friday tightening sanctions against the Pyongyang regime for its nuclear and missile development programmes.POLITICS: Will Libyan Leader Make his Maiden U.N. Appearance?
Every September, most of the world's political leaders make their annual pilgrimage to New York to address the General Assembly sessions of the United Nations.DISARMAMENT: U.N. Big Powers World’s Top Military Spenders
The world's biggest military spenders last year were countries which were either permanent members of the Security Council or aspiring to hold that privileged rank, according to the latest figures released Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
Q&A: Korea’s Tourism Industry Turns Crisis into Opportunity
The global financial crisis, which has had a devastating impact on trade, finance and industry, is threatening to unleash its destructive power on one of the vibrant economic lifelines in the Asia-Pacific region: tourism.DISARMAMENT: North Korea Test a Setback to Nuke-Free World
When the 2010 review conference on the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) takes place next April, there will be nine declared and non-declared nuclear powers in the world - and probably more waiting in the wings.
Q&A: U.S., Japan Urged to Lead Campaign to Ban Nuclear Arms
The United States, the only country to launch a military strike with nuclear weapons, and Japan, the only country to have suffered nuclear devastation, will have to jointly take the initiative for the creation of an international convention to ban all nuclear weapons, says one of the world's longstanding advocates of nuclear disarmament.POLITICS: Africa Tests Asia Over Senior U.N. Job
The 130-member Group of 77 (G77), the largest single coalition of developing countries, is heading for a political confrontation with Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon over the re-appointment of the head of the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Geneva.SRI LANKA: Military Conflict vs. Propaganda War?
The Sri Lankan government, which has come under heavy fire for the massive humanitarian crisis in the country's war zone, is winning the 25-year-old military conflict but is on the verge of losing the propaganda war overseas.POLITICS: Will U.S. Make a Difference on Human Rights Council?
Will the election of the United States to the 47-member Geneva-based Human Rights Council (HRC) make a significant difference to the cause of human rights worldwide, or will Washington be thwarted by the Council's politically-repressive countries accused of being serial abusers?POLITICS: Same Firms Shipping Aid and Arms, Report Says
The military conflicts raging across Africa, Asia and Latin America have been significantly influenced by the heavy flow of illicit small arms, cocaine and rich minerals.DISARMAMENT: Groups Seek World Court Opinion on Nukes
A coalition of international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) - the second in 13 years - on the legality and use of nuclear weapons.POLITICS: Scant Suspense in U.N. Rights Council Elections
When the 192-nation General Assembly meets next week to elect 18 new members to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council (HRC), most of the candidates will win their seats without breaking a political sweat because of the almost entirely non-competitive nature of the vote.POLITICS: Security Council Silent on Burma’s Child Victims
The U.N. Security Council, which has remained virtually paralysed on Palestine because of strong Western support for Israel, is considered equally ineffective on Burma (Myanmar) because of Chinese and Russian backing for the military junta in that politically troubled Southeast Asian nation.
POLITICS: U.N. Inquiry Critical of Israeli Attacks in Gaza
A detailed 184-page report critical of Israeli attacks on U.N. personnel and buildings during the Gaza conflict last December-January has been meticulously stripped down to a 27-page document - mostly due to political sensitivities and on security grounds.
Q&A: “Springtime of Hope” Seen for Nuke Disarmament
When he addressed a massive gathering in the Czech capital of Prague last month, U.S. President Barack Obama made a historic statement pledging that his country will take "concrete steps towards a world without nuclear weapons."« Previous Page — Next Page »
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