Latest news with #ECOSOC


The Star
8 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Global leaders tackle poverty and climate goals at Spain summit
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, Secretary General of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development Li Junhua and President of the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Bob Rae attend the first plenary session of the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development, in Seville, Spain, June 30, 2025. REUTERS/Claudia Greco SEVILLE (Reuters) -A once-in-a-decade summit kicked off in Seville on Monday as global leaders face mounting pressure to accelerate progress on poverty reduction, climate change and sustainable development goals that are increasingly at risk of falling short. The U.N. chief, Antonio Guterres, said the event aimed "to repair and rev up" a system of cooperation where "trust is fraying and multilateralism is strained." While more than 50 world leaders were due to attend, a notable absentee was U.S. President Donald Trump, after the world's biggest economy pulled out of the event and refused to back a plan of action hammered out over the last year. "The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development — our global promise to transform our world for a better, fairer future — is in danger," Guterres told the opening conference session, as the region sweltered under a heat wave. "The Sevilla Commitment document is a global promise to fix how the world supports countries as they climb the development ladder," he said, even as many richer nations make deep cuts to development aid. With two-thirds of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals lagging, more than $4 trillion a year in funding was needed, and the world's financial system needed to be retooled even more quickly to make it happen. As well as helping countries raise more tax to spend on development, Guterres said reform of world development banks needed to be stepped up so they could lend more and draw in private capital. Tied to that was a need to reform the world's credit rating system to be fairer to developing countries as they attempt to invest in projects that will improve their risk ratings over time. "Countries need — and deserve — a system that lowers borrowing costs, enables fair and timely debt restructuring, and prevents debt crises in the first place," Guterres said, citing a plan to create a single debt registry for transparency, and efforts to lower the cost of capital through debt swaps. (Reporting by Simon Jessop; Editing by Bernadette Baum)

Zawya
a day ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission holds technical meeting for the establishment of economic and social council in west Africa
The ECOWAS Commission, through the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), is holding a technical session to advance the course of the establishment of an Economic and Social Council of West Africa (ECOWAS-ECOSOC), beginning from the 26th of June 2025 in Niger state, Nigeria. The two-day meeting brings together officials from the relevant ECOWAS Departments, Directorates and Divisions, including consultants and partners charged with building on the earlier phases of consultations within the context of the wider efforts aimed at consolidating democracy, peace and security while strengthening political stability, security, participatory governance and citizen's inclusion in the region. In his opening remarks, the ECOWAS Commission's Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security Amb Abdel-Fatau Musah charged participants to be mindful of the goal of an ECOWAS-ECOSOC which is to constitute that bridge of a powerful voice to interface with decision makers and at the same time being a reverse influential organ of citizenry engagement. He noted that the idea of an ECOSOC for ECOWAS is to mutually reinforce everyone through an institutionalized people's organ with a facilitating platform that is a voice of the regional community's farmers, young people's organisations, non-governmental organizations, women, youth and professional groups, etc. The Commissioner added that through ECOWAS-ECOSOC as an authentic voice of the people, 'we are our own architects, the People's social wellbeing in order to truly attain a people-centered development. The benefits will be for all as the proposed organ should be insulated from the control of national governments being an authentic voice of the people' He added. Following the welcome address by the Ag Head, Mediation and Coordination of Regional Political Affairs Mr. Constant Gnacadja, the facilitator and former Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission H.E Toga Gayewea McIntosh gave an overview of the previous consultative meetings. There were also goodwill messages from the representatives of ECOWAS Commission's partners- the African Union, the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) as well as the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice. At the meeting, participants will examine, among others, the justification of ECOSOC, membership and eligibility criteria, structure and sustainability. A firmly established ECOWAS-ECOSOC is seen as movement that can play a crucial role in identifying emerging social and economic trends and issues by strengthening the use of dialogue, advocacy, as well as policy recommendations in the resolution of common challenges of poverty, inequality, political instability, environmental difficulties and conflict. The technical meeting builds on the foundations laid by the earlier held Internal consultative Meeting of ECOWAS Staff, which took place on the 12th to 13th of December 2023 in Lagos, the regional consultative meeting of civil society organisations that happened on the 22nd and 23rd of February 2024 in Abuja and the experts' group meeting which held on the 12th and 13th of June 2024, in Cotonou, Republic of Benin. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).


Scoop
07-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
United States, Ukraine Among New Members Elected To UN Economic And Social Council
4 June 2025 SDGs Croatia, Russia and Ukraine secured seats from the Eastern European regional group, which had three available seats. Russia was elected in a run-off against Belarus, as both nations failed to secure the required two-thirds majority in the first round of voting. North Macedonia, the fifth candidate from the group, did not meet the two-thirds threshold and did not advance. Germany and the United States were also elected in a by-election to replace Liechtenstein and Italy, which relinquished their seats. Their terms will run through 2026 and 2027, respectively. Other countries elected to ECOSOC – for three year terms – include Australia, Burundi, Chad, China, Ecuador, Finland, India, Lebanon, Mozambique, Norway, Peru, Sierra Leone, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Türkiye, and Turkmenistan. The terms of all new members will begin on 1 January 2026. Vote tally ECOSOC membership is allocated based on equitable geographical representation across five regional groups: African States, Asia-Pacific States, Eastern European States, Latin American and Caribbean States, and Western European and other States. A total of 189 Member States participated in the first round of balloting, and 187 in the runoff. A two-thirds majority of valid votes cast was required for election; abstentions and invalid ballots were not counted in the total. A - African States (four seats) required majority 126 Mozambique: 186 Sierra Leone: 186 Burundi: 184 Chad: 183 B - Asia-Pacific States (four seats) required majority 125 Lebanon: 183 Turkmenistan: 183 India: 181 China: 180 C - Eastern European States (three seats) First round – required majority 123 Croatia: 146 Ukraine: 130 Russia: 108 Belarus: 96 North Macedonia: 59 Second round runoff – required majority 108 Russia: 115 Belarus: 46 D - Latin American and Caribbean States (three seats) required majority 125 Ecuador: 182 Peru: 182 Saint Kitts and Nevis: 180 E - Western European and other States (four seats) required majority 120 Türkiye: 174 Finland: 173 Australia: 172 Norway: 169 Andorra: 1 By-elections (two seats, independent elections) required majority 114 Germany: 171 United States: 170 Andorra: 1 The Economic and Social Council ECOSOC is one of the six main organs of the United Nations and consists of 54 Member States elected for overlapping three-year terms. It plays a central role in advancing the international development agenda and fostering international cooperation across economic, social, and environmental spheres. The General Assembly, comprising all 193 UN Member States, elects ECOSOC members annually by secret ballot.


Time of India
05-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
School Assembly news headlines for June 6, 2025: From sports to education, check 20+ national & international news
School Assembly news headlines for June 6, 2025: Good morning and welcome to the School Assembly News Headlines for June 6, 2025. Today, we have over 20 important news stories. These cover sports, education, business, and current affairs. Highlights include India's election to the UN ECOSOC for 2026-28. Also, phase two of PM Modi's 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign has launched. The goal is to plant 10 crore trees by September. In international news, Ukrainian drone strikes hit Russian air bases. In sports, we remember the tragic stampede outside Bengaluru's Chinnaswamy Stadium during RCB's IPL victory. In business, Tata Advanced Systems plans to manufacture Rafale fighter jet fuselages in India. This will boost aerospace capabilities. Top National news headlines for school assembly June 6, 2025 Government of India has not declared June 6, 2025, as a national public holiday; schools, banks, and offices will remain open except in Kerala where banks are closed for Bakrid. Bakrid (Id-ul-Ad'ha) bank holiday observed in Kerala on June 6, while most other states observe it on June 7, 2025. Misinformation about a mental health national holiday on June 6 has been debunked by official sources. Reserve Bank of India confirms bank holidays on June 6 and 7 in various states due to regional festivals, not a nationwide closure. Tamil Nadu and other states confirm schools will remain open on June 6 despite viral claims of a public holiday. International news highlights for school assembly (June 6, 2025) Eid-ul-Adha (Bakrid), a major Islamic festival, is globally celebrated on June 7, 2025, marking an important religious event internationally. Various countries observe Eid-ul-Adha with public holidays and festivities, impacting international business and travel schedules. Global discussions continue on mental health awareness, with World Mental Health Day observed annually on October 10, not June 6. International efforts to combat misinformation on social media regarding public holidays and events are increasing. Diplomatic and cultural exchanges related to Eid celebrations promote cross-cultural understanding worldwide during this period. Sports news headlines for school assembly June 6, 2025 Novak Djokovic defeats Alexander Zverev to advance to the semifinals, where he will face top-seeded Jannik Sinner. Tamil Nadu Premier League (TNPL) opens with a thrilling match between Dindigul Dragons and Kovai Kings. Simone Inzaghi leaves Inter Milan to become the new coach of Saudi club Al-Hilal. Bengaluru celebrates as Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) IPL champions; fans line the streets in jubilation. Cristiano Ronaldo leads Portugal to the UEFA Nations League final with a 2-1 victory over Germany. Education news headlines for school assembly (June 6, 2025) PM Modi plants sindoor saplings at his home on World Environment Day, promoting environmental awareness in schools. Government emphasises commitment to helping the poor as part of the 11-year NDA governance. Discussions on national interest and political perspectives highlight the importance of civic education. Supreme Court issues notice to Madhya Pradesh regarding police assault allegations, underlining the role of law and justice education. Mizoram records 675 landslides amid Assam floods, stressing the need for disaster management education in schools. State news headlines for school assembly (June 6, 2025) Banks will remain closed in Kerala on June 6, 2025, for Id-ul-Ad'ha (Bakrid), while most other states observe the holiday on June 7. Schools and offices in Tamil Nadu will remain open on June 6 despite viral claims of a national holiday. Madhya Pradesh receives a Supreme Court notice regarding police assault allegations, highlighting law and order concerns in the state. Mizoram reports 675 landslides amid Assam floods, causing significant disruption and emphasizing disaster management needs. Several states observe Bakrid-related bank holidays on June 7, while Kerala observes it on June 6, affecting regional schedules. Top business and economic news headlines for June 6, 2025 Hyundai Motor sells its 2.47% stake in Ola Electric for ₹552 crore. The Indian rupee weakens by 9 paise to 85.96 against the US dollar in early trading sessions. Yamaha's Chennai plant celebrates the production of its fifth millionth unit, a milestone in manufacturing. The National Company Law Appellate Tribunal (NCLAT) denies relief from asset freeze rulings on Gensol entities. Capgemini forecasts that by 2030, most of India's next-generation high-net-worth individuals will hold over 10% of their assets offshore. Daily word and thought of the day for school assembly, June 6, 2025 Curiosity (noun)Definition: A strong desire to learn or know "Her curiosity about space led her to become an astronaut." Thought of the Day, June 6, 2025 "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." — Albert Einstein For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.


LBCI
05-06-2025
- Business
- LBCI
Lebanon elected to UN Economic and Social Council for 2026–2028 term
Lebanon has secured a seat on the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for the 2026–2028 term, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants announced. The election follows Lebanon's recent selection as one of the Vice Presidents of the 80th session of the U.N. General Assembly, chaired by Germany's Annalena Baerbock. In a statement, the ministry credited the win to diplomatic efforts led by Lebanon's Permanent Mission to the U.N. in New York. It emphasized that this achievement strengthens Lebanon's role within the U.N. and highlights its commitment to multilateral engagement. The ministry added that the victory reflects international confidence in Lebanon and its standing as a founding and active member of the United Nations.