Latest news with #BanKiMoon
Forbes
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Daredevil Felix Baumgartner Gone Way Too Early At 56
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 23: Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner meets with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at the United Nations headquarters on October 23, 2012 in New York City. Baumgartner jumped out of a balloon from 128,000 feet above New Mexico, breaking the record for the highest ever freefall, and was the first skydiver to break the sound barrier. (Photo by) Getty Images It came as a shock yesterday when I heard that Felix Baumgartner had died in Italy in a paragliding accident at age 56. The daredevil had done many things riskier, of course, including a BASE jump off of the Christ The Redeemer Statue in Brazil. The riskiest stunt and probably best known, however, was his leap from over 128,000 feet from a helium balloon in 2012 to break the then-parachute record of 102,800 feet, set in 1960 by the late great USAF Col. Joe Kittinger. In fact, it was Kittinger who served as CAPCOM for Baumgartner's Red Bull Stratos jump, and Kittenger who ultimately introduced me to Baumgartner. At the time, the Austrian was shunning press interviews, but Kittinger talked him into one with me. I got to know Baumgartner after that. In some respects he was a daredevil, in others he was risk-averse. On the tenth anniversary of his big jump, I asked Baumgartner if he would take a comp'd flight all the way to suborbital space, 50 miles up, with Blue Origin or Virgin Galactic if it were comp'd. His surprising response? "Hell no, they'd have to pay me." "Why," I asked. "Because they don't wear space suits. If there were a sudden cabin depressurization on a flight, the passengers would be dead in a few seconds." He's correct. What many people don't know, other than insiders on the Stratos project, is that the highly-publicized jump was delayed not because of balloon or capsule logistics, but because Baumgartner couldn't stand to be in the space suit he was required to wear for the duration of the jump. Simple claustrophobia is what got him. It took more than a year with the help of sports psychologists and other mind doctors to convince Baumgartner that he could, indeed, wear the suit for the several hours required. RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - MARCH 11: Skydiver Felix Baumgartner receives his trophy for Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year from Laureus Academy Member Tony Hawk on stage during the awards show for the 2013 Laureus World Sports Awards at the Theatro Municipal Do Rio de Janeiro on March 11, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo byFor Laureus) getty That is nothing to be ashamed of, by the way. When I took my U-2 edge-of-space flight above 70,000 feet last summer, I was required to wear a space suit in the event my cabin depressurized. The clunky suit was uncomfortable and yes, claustrophobic. After five hours, I couldn't wait to get out of it. In fact, the folks at Beale AFB, where they train U-2 pilots, told me that some prospective pilots wash out because they can't handle suit claustrophobia. It happens more often than one might think, they said. Many people are weighing in that Baumgartner died doing what he loved. Maybe, but no one wants to die. The idea that he wouldn't take the free suborbital flight without wearing a suit is proof. Oh, and his claustrophobia thing shows that a daredevil is human, like the rest of us. Of the three parachutists who have jumped from above 100,000 feet, only one remains. Alan Eustace, a low-key former Google executive, leaped from above 135,000 feet in 2014, breaking Baumgartner's record, and is still with us. Let's keep it that way for awhile. R.I.P. Felix. Say hi to Joe now that you're up there with him.
South China Morning Post
05-07-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
More than ever, we need a UN that can tackle global challenges
The world is facing complex global challenges in acute need of solutions, from forging peace where there is war, to tackling climate change and combating poverty. Urgent solutions are needed, but they will only be possible if nations overcome their differences and work together for the common good. Former UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon, speaking in Hong Kong recently, made a timely call for solidarity in what he aptly described as 'an unprecedented era of new, interconnected crises and elevated global uncertainty'. The United Nations marks its 80th anniversary this year. It was formed amid the devastation caused by the second world war, to ensure such horrors would not be experienced again. Article 1 of the UN Charter says it is 'to maintain international peace and security' through collaborative measures to settle disputes peacefully. But the UN has been unable to prevent wars in Ukraine Gaza and Iran . It must show it can stay relevant and effective amid growing unilateralism, with international relations riven by differences, distrust and tension. There is also an urgent need for progress in other areas, notably on climate change. Last year was the hottest on record The UN set 17 sustainable development goals a decade ago, including on the provision of food and water, education and protection of the environment. Some progress has been made, but it needs to get much closer to its goals. Meanwhile, the size, efficiency and cost of the organisation is in question. Ban, rightly, highlighted the need to strengthen the UN through 'timely and necessary reforms'. But this will not be easy. The UN is well aware of the need for change. A 'pact for the future' was adopted in September, providing a basis for it to refocus and revitalise.
Zawya
18-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
#AEF2025: Unity will drive Africa's energy revolution
For the first time in its history, the Africa Energy Forum is being held in South Africa. Held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from 17 to 20 June 2025, the forum presents a unique opportunity for African collaboration. Image credit: Virginie Baisez on Unsplash Across Africa, 600 million people still live without energy access – a fact that affects every aspect of their lives. The former United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, summarised Africa's biggest challenge when he said: 'Energy is the golden thread that connects economic growth, increased social equity, and an environment that allows the world to thrive'. Without electricity, communities cannot run clinics, power schools, or create jobs – all of which are fundamental to dignity and development. Amplifying a cohesive African voice That is why I am looking forward to attbending the Africa Energy Forum in Cape Town, a milestone as it marks the first time in the event's 27-year history that it is hosted in South Africa. This year's theme, 'Africa United', could not be more fitting. As the global investment meeting for Africa's power, energy, infrastructure and industrial sectors, it is attended by stakeholders who hold the key to accelerating energy access - African presidents, ministers, policymakers, continental executives, the World Bank, African Development Bank and DFIs. But the most important attendees may be those not making the headlines – the civil servants, young entrepreneurs, and African investors who are shaping local energy futures. There will be exciting new funding announced, deals signed, reports released, and decisions made that will impact the generations to come and hopefully agreements reached that will accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 7 (affordable and clean energy). With South Africa chairing the G20 this year, the continent must use the momentum of the AEF and the G20 Summit to amplify a cohesive African voice in global energy governance. As geopolitical instability rises, with trade wars and fractured alliances, it's more urgent than ever to ask: can Africa present a united energy agenda? And can it do so on its own terms? To seize this opportunity, Africa must first agree on a set of shared energy priorities. These must include scaling up renewable resources like solar, wind and hydro – where the continent has a competitive advantage – while also affirming the sovereign right to include coal, gas and nuclear in the energy mix where needed. This is not a contradiction, but a necessity. Industrialised countries built their economies using all available energy sources. Africa must be afforded the same space to grow. Balancing energy access, economic development Some of the critical arguments at this year's event will be around balancing the need for energy access and economic development with plotting a sustainable energy future that includes an abundance of Africa's renewable energy resources. Favourable terms for the financing of African energy projects will also be another important topic of debate. Although there are hundreds of initiatives to ensure the achievement of universal energy access on the continent, more than half the continent still lacks access to modern energy, which is why African energy stakeholders believe that in the midst of the drive for reducing carbon emissions, Africa should have a sovereign right to include coal, gas and nuclear as part of its energy mix in line with how developed nations built their economies. Power Africa and US funding The first Power Africa Summit was launched by former US President, Barack Obama in June 2013 as a private sector-led initiative with the ambitious goal of doubling electricity access on the continent. Through USAid, 12 US government agencies implemented Power Africa activities by providing financing and technical assistance to support the power sector in 40 African countries. Though different US administrations advised countries on electricity access for years, Power Africa's approach was different in that it took a demand-driven, transactional approach by reviewing actual transactions between private-sector players like investors, entrepreneurs, and manufacturers — and with governments and then identified obstacles that were preventing transactions from moving forward. A large reason for the success of Power Africa in the past was the power of diplomacy to level the playing field for US investments in the energy sector. US President Donald Trump and his administration announced that Power Africa would be dismantled, after more than a decade of successful work on the continent. With almost all of Power Africa's programmes listed for termination, the diminishing role of the US in Africa's energy sector opens opportunities for new alliances and greater intra-African collaboration Speaking at the Powering Africa Summit in Washington DC in March this year, newly appointed US Secretary of Energy, Chris Wright said the new US administration would partner with African governments and businesses, allowing them to drive their own energy agenda to increase economic growth and prosperity, but the US's role has already been downscaled. Unlike the EU governments that are continuing to support the drive for a reduction in carbon emissions to tackle climate change, President Trump is known as being a climate sceptic. His Energy Secretary said in March: 'The only goal of energy is to expand human opportunity. Make us live longer. Healthier. More opportunities for us and our kids. Increase food security. Increase heating security. It's foundational'. Wright said to participants at the March Powering Africa conference in DC that the US will not put limits on the type of energy projects it will finance, noting that 'there's no technology I don't like'. Instead, he said, the US government would prioritise mutually beneficial relationships between government and business that foster entrepreneurship and a growing middle class. This worldview on energy reflects the views of also China and Russia, two of the world's biggest carbon emitters and industrialised nations. It will be interesting to see which nation's views – and which voices – are most elevated and supported at this year's AEF. Uniting to fund Africa's energy revolution The challenge for Africa is it needs to industrialise and electrify its economies, but at the same time it needs the finances to do so in a sustainable way. Africa has also been most severely affected by climate change and so its infrastructure development needs to be climate resilient. Most African nations don't need an energy transition but energy accessibility. Many African countries are grappling with rising inflation which has also impacted the amount of developmental finance available to African nations. But America may want to maintain its presence and footprint in Africa's energy sector, especially as China seeks to play a leading role in the continent's infrastructure development. In spite of the challenging global environment, Africa needs its member states and voices to unite with a collective vision to fund Africa's energy revolution with international financing mechanisms that are just. After all, Africa is responsible for less than 3% of the world's carbon emissions and home to massive, unlocked energy potential, while also being home to 1.2 billion youth aged between 15 to 24 years that account for 16% of the global population (according to the UN). So the question before us is not just about megawatts and gigawatts. It's about vision. Will African countries unite to shape their own energy destiny? Will we be content with fragmented policies and donor-driven priorities, or will we craft a bold, sovereign agenda that lifts the continent on its own terms? Cape Town is where the conversation begins. The world will be watching – but it's Africa's voice that must rise the loudest.
Globe and Mail
30-05-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Astana International Forum 2025 Opens with Resounding Call for Global Cooperation
Astana, Kazakhstan--(Newsfile Corp. - May 30, 2025) - The Astana International Forum (AIF) 2025 opened today with a high-level ceremony that set the stage for two days of strategic dialogue and cross-border collaboration. Held under the auspices of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, this year's Forum gathers global leaders to address some of the world's most urgent challenges under the theme "Connecting Minds, Shaping the Future." To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: In his opening remarks, President Tokayev emphasized the urgency of restoring multilateralism in an increasingly fragmented world: "The post-war global order is fragmenting. Protectionism is rising. Multilateralism is faltering. In this emerging disorder, the task before us is clear: to preserve cooperation where it still exists, and to restore it where it has broken down... That's what we in Kazakhstan strongly pursue: 'The unity in diversity'." The Forum welcomed several high-profile speakers, including Rwandan President Paul Kagame, North Macedonian President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Council of Europe Secretary General Alain Berset, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Director-General Qu Dongyu, and Ban Ki-moon, Chair of the Global Green Growth Institute and former UN Secretary-General. The session was moderated by Julia Chatterley. Reflecting on the progress that Kazakhstan has made, President Kagame noted that "Kazakhstan's prosperity is the reflection of its leadership, resilience and its people." President Siljanovska-Davkova addressed how to resolve current global crises, stressing that, "We need to use the collective wisdom and experience to think fast, or faster, in order to cope with the pressing challenges of our time." Alain Berset emphasized democratic values as central to global security, stating: "We gather here... to discuss security, energy, climate, and the economy. But let us be honest, these cannot be secured if democracy fails." Meanwhile, Ban Ki-moon praised Kazakhstan's role as a convener: "This year's theme reflects the kind of leadership we need today. One that is collaborative, forward-looking, and rooted in shared responsibility." Qu Dongyu highlighted the role of Central Asia and Kazakhstan in ensuring global food security. "Central Asia stands at the crossroad geopolitically, economically, and climatically," he said, adding: "Kazakhstan's territory is 2,800 square kilometres. With proper management, investments and new technologies - Kazakhstan can easily feed 1 billion people worldwide." The agenda featured action-oriented sessions on climate change, energy security, and conflict resolution. In a one-on-one with journalist Tony Barber, former Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz welcomed growing attention to Central Asia: "Europe is now seeing the need for deeper cooperation with this part of the world." UN-backed discussions were a highlight of the Forum, with the organization serving as a strategic partner. Sessions marked the UN's 80th anniversary and addressed priorities like the Pact for the Future, migration, and water security. A standout was a conversation between CNN's Max Foster and Amy E. Pope, Director-General of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), on migration's role in sustainable development. As day one concluded, AIF reaffirmed its mission to elevate the role of middle powers, reinforce the value of multilateralism, and accelerate practical global solutions. Day two will continue to foster partnerships and dialogue that aim to shape a more stable, inclusive, and interconnected world.
