Ban Ki-moon Named Honorary Chair of UN Staff for Gaza
In a significant move underscoring the growing concern among international diplomats and humanitarian workers, UN…
Ban Ki-moon Named Honorary Chair of UN Staff for Gaza
In a significant move underscoring the growing concern among international diplomats and humanitarian workers, UN Staff for Gaza has announced the appointment of former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon as its Honorary Chair. The announcement marks a critical moment for the organization, which has mobilized United Nations staff in response to what it calls “brazen…
Heritage for Humanity
26 New Sites Join UNESCO’s World Heritage List From sacred landscapes to sites of remembrance, UNESCO’s 2025 additions reflect a global commitment to cultural resilience, ecological unity, and the power of local voices. In a world often marked by division, the enduring legacy of shared history took center stage once again in Paris, where the…
UN warns of rising hunger in Africa and Western Asia despite global improvement
Global Hunger Declines Slightly, But Inequality Deepens. Global hunger levels declined slightly in 2024, according to the State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World (SOFI) 2025 report, released at the Second UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4) in Addis Ababa. But this modest progress masks a troubling reality: hunger is worsening in Africa…
The U.S. still needs the U.N. as much as the U.N. needs the U.S.
A Troubled Marriage Between the U.S. and the U.N. Manhattan’s Turtle Bay waterfront, roughly 42nd–48th Street on the East River, was once a dirty and industrial area crowded with slaughterhouses, stockyards, and coal yards. Locals even called the block “Blood Alley.” Everything changed in December 1946, when philanthropist John D. Rockefeller Jr. purchased six blocks…
The rainforest becomes the crossroads for multilateralism
COP30 in Belém puts Brazil at the center of a global test—can the world still act together to fight climate change? The Amazonian city of Belém will host COP30 (U.N. Climate Conference) in November. However, the destiny of the rainforest will not be the sole issue on the agenda. The meeting unexpectedly became a test…
Can the U.N. save us from the AI reckoning?
The United Nations takes on the challenge of AI governance with scientific panel modeled after the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change For all its lofty ideals, the United Nations is not known for its lightning speed. Yet ambassadors Héctor Gómez Hernández and Maritza Chan Valverde, permanent representatives of Spain and Costa Rica, are proud to…
Who Owns the Future?
As Artificial Intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes knowledge systems, governance structures, and global development pathways, a fundamental question arises: Who owns the algorithms shaping our collective future? To date, AI development has been largely concentrated in the hands of a few powerful corporations and countries—predominantly in the Global North. Yet a growing chorus of voices, particularly…
The Unfinished U.S.-Iran Deal: Is the Trump administration looking for a short diplomatic victory in the Middle East?
Washington reopens dialogue with Tehran as it seeks a quick foreign policy win As the geopolitical chessboard of the Middle East grows increasingly unstable, quiet signals have emerged from Washington and Tehran that suggest a potential thaw -or at least a reassessment- in the long-frozen U.S.-Iran nuclear talks. Yet any movement towards renewed diplomacy occurs…
The Multilateral Guardians of the Galaxy
“Space is not a technical issue anymore, it is a peace and security issue, and an economic issue…” Amal Mudallali remembers being fascinated by space for as long as she can remember. When she was a child in the early 1970s, she first heard the seed of skepticism that would later grow into a lifelong…
ARE YOU READY FOR FONIO? Brain drain to brain chain rescues an ancient grain
Thanks to a network of Diaspora West Africans, the grain many call the “Next Quinoa” is being grown in Guinea, Milled in Senegal, and marketed worldwide as the social impact carb of the future. Pierre Thiam, who rose from New York City restaurant dishwasher to restaurant proprietor to James Beard-awarded culinary writer, is adding a…
Preserving coffee cultivation amidst climate change in Yemen: A legacy in every bean
For Saeeda, coffee farming in the Taiz region of southern Yemen, is more than a livelihood; it’s a legacy. Growing up on her father’s farm in Sabr Al-Mawadem, Saeeda learned to care for coffee trees alongside her parents, who taught her to prune, harvest, and respect the land. Today, as she cultivates her family’s 8,400…
Childhood Hero Diplomacy: How Fictional Icons Are Taking on Global Issues
The United Nations Headquarters in New York has arguably the highest concentration of diplomats per square foot — especially during the annual General Assembly High-level Week, which this September will gather for its 80th session. In the world of international diplomacy, ambassadors usually wear suits, negotiate resolutions, and bang gavels. But lately, some of those…
World’s top economies face ‘baby recession’
Falling birth rates are triggering a global population crisis. Aging societies, shrinking workforces, and economic strain loom, quick fixes won’t be enough The decline in fertility rates worldwide is causing population collapse in major economies. According to the United Nations’ World Population Prospects 2024 Revision, the world population is expected to peak in 2084…
What you need to know about “sharenting”
Expert tips on protecting your child’s privacy in the digital age Navigating parenthood in the digital age is no easy task. Social media, smartphones, and other technologies are advancing at a rate that seems to grow faster than our children, and it’s not always clear how to use them safely, even when you have the…
Why Diplomatic Hospitality Matters More Than You Think
New York City is more than the cultural and financial capital of the United States—it’s the epicenter of international diplomacy. As home to the United Nations Headquarters, the city plays host to thousands of dignitaries, ambassadors, and heads of state and government every year. Among the many logistics that come with diplomatic missions, one of…
For the love of a King
“Why do you come to my shop so often?” Pema abruptly asked me. I was taken aback. This middle-aged lady, owner of a sprawling emporium serving the tourist trade on busy NorzimLam main street in Thimphu, the capital of Bhutan, was normally so reserved and careful. On reflection, her outburst was not so bizarre. Her…
