By Thalif Deen - UNITED NATIONS — After years of negotiations, the United Nations has reached an agreement on a Global Ocean Treaty aimed at ensuring the conservation and sustainable use of marine biodiversity which covers over two thirds of the world’s high seas. “You have pumped new life and hope to…

By John J. Metzler (United Nations / New York) - In one of the more predictable rites of Spring at the United Nations, the General Assembly has elected, or actually selected, five new non-permanent members to serve on the powerful fifteen member Security Council.  While this year’s contest lacked the drama, debate…

 By Thalif Deen - UNITED NATIONS (IDN) — When India, the world’s largest democracy, was on the verge of taking a dictatorial path in the mid-1970s, the United States expressed its usual anxieties—and held out its usual threats. Back in June 1975, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had not only declared emergency rule,…

By Richard Kozul-Wright (The writer is Director of the Globalization and Development Strategies Division, UNCTAD.) - GENEVA (IDN) — After years of failing to meet climate finance commitments, the new climate finance goal under discussion in Bonn (at the Climate Change Conference 5-15 June) is critical, but without supporting reforms of the…

By Mike Eckel (RFE) – One day after Russians voted in a national referendum that served as a vote of confidence in President Boris Yeltsin’s wobbly presidency, his U.S. counterpart gave him a call. Bill Clinton’s April 26, 1993, conversation with Yeltsin, one of several direct chats and meetings the two leaders had…

  By Shakeel Sobhan (Deutsche Welle) – A record 110 million people have been displaced around the world as the conflict in Sudan contributed to a crisis already underway due to the war in Ukraine, according to a UNHCR report released on Wednesday. The report indicated that global forced displacement continues to rise unabated. By the end of 2022,…

WebPublicPress – Nairobi / New York - “Making the most of remittances and diaspora investments can, paradoxically, curb the need for more to migrate. These flows are great contributors to the wellbeing of millions. Almost US$1.8 billion in remittances are flowing daily to low and middle-income countries, leveraging development opportunities. Half…