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Scoop
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Guterres Calls For Immediate Gaza Ceasefire As Humanitarian Crisis Reaches ‘Horrific Proportions'
Speaking to reporters at UN Headquarters ahead of his departure to Spain for the International Conference on Financing for Development, the Secretary-General said that while the Israel-Iran conflict had dominated recent headlines, the plight of civilians in Gaza remained urgent and dire. ' Families have been displaced again and again – and are now confined to less than one-fifth of Gaza's land,' he said. ' Even these shrinking spaces are under threat. Bombs are falling – on tents, on families, on those with nowhere left to run. ' Search for food must never be a death sentence Mr. Guterres described the situation as the most severe since the onset of the war, citing acute shortages of food, fuel, medicine and shelter. ' The search for food must never be a death sentence,' he said, highlighting the danger faced by Palestinians simply trying to survive. He has repeatedly called for three urgent steps: an immediate ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and full, unimpeded humanitarian access. On Friday, he again pressed for these demands, emphasising that aid workers are starving, hospitals are rationing life-saving supplies and civilians are trapped in unsafe zones. Surge in aid urgently needed 'What's needed now is a surge – the trickle must become an ocean,' he said. The UN chief stressed that Israel, as the occupying power, is legally obliged to facilitate humanitarian relief. 'To those in power, I say: enable our operations as international humanitarian law demands. To those with influence, I say: use it,' he added. Earlier this week, a small convoy of UN medical supplies entered Gaza for the first time in months, Mr. Guterres noted, adding that it only underscored the overwhelming scale of the need. He also also cautioned that any aid delivery method must ensure civilian safety, stressing that 'operations which place desperate people in or near militarized areas are inherently unsafe.' ' We have the solution – a detailed plan grounded in the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, and independence,' he said. ' It worked during the last ceasefire. So it must be allowed to work again. ' Two-State solution critical Mr. Guterres concluded with a broader political appeal: ''
Scoop
a day ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Eighty Years On, UN Charter Marked By Reflection, Resolve
26 June 2025 Under cooler skies after days of intense heat, the run ended where it all began, at the original UN Charter – the document that launched the Organization and reshaped the modern international order – now on display at UN Headquarters. Inside the General Assembly Hall, delegates gathered to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its signing. They reflected on the past eight decades in which the UN helped rebuild countries after the Second World War, supported former colonies' independence, fostered peace, delivered aid, advanced human rights and development, and tackling emerging threats like climate change. To save succeeding generations from the scourge of war General Assembly President Philémon Yang described the moment as 'symbolic' but somber, noting ongoing conflicts in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, and the growing challenges to multilateralism. He urged nations to choose diplomacy over force and uphold the Charter's vision of peace and human dignity: 'We must seize the moment and choose dialogue and diplomacy instead of destructive wars.' Secretary-General António Guterres echoed this call, warning that the Charter's principles are increasingly under threat and must be defended as the bedrock of international relations. ' The Charter of the United Nations is not optional. It is not an à la carte menu. It is the bedrock of international relations,' he said, stressing the need to recommit to its promises 'for peace, for justice, for progress, for we the peoples.' Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Security Council President for June, emphasized the urgency of renewed collective action to address emerging global threats. ' Let this 80th anniversary of the Charter be not just an occasion for reflection, but also a call to action,' she urged. To unite our strength to maintain international peace and security Eighty years ago, on 26 June 1945, delegates from 50 countries gathered in San Francisco to sign a document that would change the course of history. Forged in the aftermath of the Second World War, by a generation scarred by the Great Depression and the Holocaust and having learnt the painful lessons of the League of Nations' collapse, the Charter of the United Nations represented a new global pact. Its preamble – 'We the peoples of the United Nations' – echoed the determination to prevent future conflict, reaffirm faith in human rights, and promote peace and social progress. That very document, preserved by the United States National Archives and Records Administration, has returned – for the first time in decades – to the heart of the institution it founded. Now on public display at UN Headquarters through September, the original Charter stands as a powerful symbol: not just of a past promise, but of an enduring commitment to multilateralism, peace and shared purpose. To promote social progress and better standards of life More voices – from the presidents of the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) – also took the floor, reaffirming the enduring relevance of the Charter and the need to defend it. Bob Rae, ECOSOC President, drew an arc through human history to underscore the UN's relative youth – just eight decades old in a global context of millennia. 'We currently have the advantage of being able to lucidly look at what we have accomplished, while also recognizing our successes and failures,' he said, holding up a copy of the Charter once used by his father. 'The United Nations is not a government and the Charter is not perfect,' he said, 'but it was founded with great aspirations and hope.' ICJ President Judge Yuji Iwasawa reflected on the progress since 1945 and the challenges still facing the global community. 'In the 80 years since the drafters of the Charter set down their pens, the international community has achieved remarkable progress. However, it also faces many challenges,' he said. 'The vision of the Charter's drafters to uphold the rule of law for the maintenance of international peace and security, remains not only relevant but indispensable today.' To reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights In a powerful reminder that the Charter speaks not only to the past but to future generations, Jordan Sanchez, a young poet took the stage. Her spoken word piece, Let the Light Fall, evoked not declarations, but feelings of hope and vision for a better world. 'Let the light fall,' she began, 'on fallen faces hidden in the shadow of scorn…where may the children run towards the light of your face, towards the warmth of your presence and the stillness of your peace.' 'There is no fear, only abundance, of safety, of security, of knowing there will always be enough light for me' she said, describing a dreamscape of Eden restored – not a paradise lost, but glimpsed in justice, fairness and shared humanity. 'Let us be bold enough to look down and take it, humble enough to kneel down and bathe in it, loving enough to collect and share it, and childish enough to truly, truly believe in it.' The equal rights of men and women As the world marks 80 years of the UN Charter, it's worth remembering that its promise of equal rights for men and women was hard-won from the very start. In 1945, just four women were among the 850 delegates who gathered in San Francisco to sign the document, and only 30 of the represented countries granted women the right to vote. In a 2018 UN News podcast, researchers spotlighted these overlooked trailblazers – and asked why the women who helped shape the UN's founding vision are so often left out of its story.
Scoop
2 days ago
- Business
- Scoop
$1 Towards A Girl's Education = $3 For The Global Economy: That's How Development Works
Thursday, 26 June 2025, 6:33 am Every dollar invested in girls' education yields an average return of $2.80 – translating into billions in additional GDP. Similarly, each dollar spent on water and sanitation saves $4.30 in healthcare costs. Simple math, not miracles These aren't miracles – they're measurable outcomes. Maths doesn't recognize gender or infrastructure; it simply reflects the truth in numbers. And those numbers make a compelling case: helping countries with the least resources benefits everyone, including those with the most. Even a single dollar, strategically invested, can make a profound difference. For example, allocating just $1 per person annually to combat non-communicable diseases could prevent nearly seven million deaths by 2030. Likewise, every dollar spent on disaster risk reduction can save up to $15 in recovery costs. Yet despite such compelling evidence, development aid is often misunderstood – seen by some as mere charity, and by others as a vehicle for profiteering. Equity, not charity The latest UN Development Programme report on Afghan women entrepreneurs challenges the skeptics. It highlights that these women are not seeking charity – they're asking for a fair chance to succeed. Earning their own income gives them a measure of independence, which in turn strengthens the communities they live in. Against all odds, they are generating income, creating jobs, and building fuller, more enriching lives. Expanding access to public and private financing, guaranteeing loans, offering preferential terms in international markets, and reinforcing support networks can fuel business growth and foster a more prosperous future – whether in Afghanistan or Ecuador, or anywhere in between. FFD4 faces strong headwinds These examples – from education and health to entrepreneurship and disaster resilience – paint a clear, data-driven narrative: smart investments in development pay dividends for everyone. That message should be front and center at the upcoming Fourth UN Conference on Financing for Development which will be held in the Spanish city of Sevilla, from 30 June to 3 July. But the summit, known by its clunky acronym FFD4, faces stiff headwinds. Even as countries negotiating at UN Headquarters in New York agreed a week ago on a sweeping outcome document – set to be adopted at the close of the conference and intended to guide the future of global development aid – some nations are pulling back. Notably, the United States has announced it will not send a delegation to Sevilla at all. And even though there are some notable exceptions, including Spain, which has increased its development financing budget allocations by 12 per cent, the uncertain landscape ahead has led UN Secretary-General Antono Guterres to lament that 'global collaboration is being actively questioned.' This questioning is reflected in the $4 trillion annual deficit in development financing, as well as the abandonment of earlier commitments and delivery of aid by donors at what the Secretary-General has called 'a historic speed and scale.' Moreover, the Sustainable Development Goals, signed by all world leaders just 10 years ago, are a long way off track. What is at stake in Seville? Success in Sevilla 'will require other countries to fill the global leadership vacuum and demonstrate credible commitment to multilateral cooperation, which is essential for our survival,' states Jayati Ghosh, professor of economics at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Meaningful steps forward must include deep reforms of the international financial system. As it stands, it fails to meet the needs of developing countries while steadfastly protecting the interests of wealthier nations. Consider this: developing countries face interest rates at least twice as high as those paid by developed nations. And today, the average rates charged by private creditors to these countries have reached their highest levels in 15 years. What aid gives, debt takes away Developing countries spent a record $1.4 trillion on external debt service in 2023, the highest in 20 years. Meanwhile, in 2024, more than 1.1 billion people live in developing countries where external debt servicing accounts for more than 20 per cent of government revenue, and nearly 2.2 billion live in developing countries where the percentage is higher than 10 per cent. Interest payment on this debt hinders development by preventing investment in health infrastructure and education services, to cite just two examples. Debt restructuring is therefore essential, because much of the hope for development is lost in the give and take of aid and debt. Promoting investment in what works Eradicating hunger, advancing gender equality, protecting the environment, confronting climate change, and saving our oceans are not radical ideas. Despite claims from some highly ideological viewpoints that the Sustainable Development Goals represent an extremist agenda, they are, in fact, a shared baseline – an urgent set of priorities that humanity demands and that the leaders of 193 countries committed to in 2015. Despite the noise made by those who oppose development aid and multilateralism, they are a minority, says Spain's Secretary of State for International Cooperation. Ana Granados Galindo sees Seville as 'a beacon of global solidarity.' Meanwhile, as the world gears up for FFD4, mathematics, statistics, and Afghan women continue to work their common sense 'development magic'.
NDTV
5 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"Opened A Pandora's Box": Russia Slams US For Iran Strike At UNSC
New York: Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, sharply criticised the United States for its recent military strikes on Iran, accusing Washington of opening a "Pandora's box" with potentially catastrophic consequences for global security. His remarks came during an emergency special session of the Security Council at UN Headquarters in New York on Sunday (local time). Speaking under the agenda item "threats to international peace and security", Nebenzia condemned the US-led strikes targeting Iran's nuclear sites as "irresponsible, dangerous, and provocative," amid escalating tensions between the Islamic Republic and Israel. "Washington reasserted that to further the interests of its Israeli ally, it's prepared not only to turn a blind eye to the killings of tens of thousands of Palestinian women, children and older persons but also to gamble with the safety and well-being of humanity as a whole. Through their actions, the US has opened a Pandora's box; no one knows what new catastrophes and suffering it will bring," he noted. The Russian envoy reiterated Moscow's repeated offers to mediate a peaceful solution to the Iranian nuclear issue, which he said were ignored by the US. He warned that the US leadership holds full responsibility for the targeted strikes on Iran and the consequences they may unleash. "We insisted insistently and offered our US colleagues our mediation services so as to find a peaceful, mutually agreeable solution surrounding the Iranian nuclear program, yet our US colleagues are clearly not interested in diplomacy," Nebenzia said. "Today responsibility for this falls squarely on the shoulders of the US leadership unless we stop the escalation, the Middle East will find itself on the verge of a large-scale conflict with unpredictable consequences for the entire international security system, plus the entire world might end up on the verge of a nuclear disaster," he added. Nebenzia also called for an immediate halt to aggressive actions by both Israel and the US, urging all sides to exercise restraint and return to diplomacy. "We call for an immediate cessation of aggressive actions by Israel and the US, restraint on the part of all parties and a return into the fold of international diplomacy and the negotiations process," he stated. The remarks come amid the escalating conflict in the region following the US-led Operation Midnight Hammer, which targeted three key nuclear sites in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
India.com
5 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
Military Will Determine Timing, Nature, And Scale Of Its Response To US Attack: Iran To UN Security Council
Accusing Israel of thwarting diplomatic efforts, Iran's Ambassador to the UN Amir Saeed Iravani said Iran has the full and legitimate right under international law to defend itself against US aggression and its Israeli proxies. He warned that the Iranian military would decide the "timing, nature, and scale" of its response to recent US and Israeli attacks. He was addressing the emergency special session of the Security Council at UN Headquarters in New York on Sunday (local time). The session was convened under the agenda item "Threats to international peace and security." "Even though Iran reserves its full and legitimate right under international law to defend itself against this blatant US aggression and its Israeli proxy, the timing, nature, and scale of Iran's proportionate response will be decided by its armed forces," Iravani said. He condemned the US and Israeli strikes on June 21 and June 13, respectively, as violations of international law, asserting that they resulted from "illegal and politically motivated actions" by the United States, the UK, France, and their European allies. The ambassador also strongly criticised Israel for undermining diplomatic avenues. "Israel decided to destroy diplomacy," and noted that the "so-called offer of diplomacy was nothing more than a deceitful policy to mislead the international community," he said. He highlighted the irony of Western calls for Iran to return to negotiations, noting Iran's Foreign Minister's stance that Tehran never left the table and held the US, UK, France, and Israel accountable for civilian deaths and infrastructure damage in Iran. "They are a direct result of the illegal and politically motivated actions of the United States and its European partners... The United States, the UK, and France, three permanent members of this council, along with the Israeli regime... will bear full responsibility for the death of innocent civilians in Iran, especially women and children, and for the destruction of vital civilian infrastructure," Iravani said. "The week that our foreign minister held talks with the E3, Europeans and the European Union, the United States decided to destroy the diplomacy. What conclusion can be drawn from this situation? ... From the perspective of Western countries, Iran must return to the negotiation table, but as Iran's foreign minister mentioned, how can Iran return to something it never left?" he added. Iravani urged the Security Council to act decisively, warning, "If this council and the United Nations, built to maintain international peace and security, fail to act at this decisive moment, they will forever lose their credibility and relevance." The conflict between Israel and Iran entered its eleventh day on Monday. Tension between the two Middle Eastern nations began when Israel launched 'Operation Rising Lion' on June 13, targeting Iran's nuclear infrastructure, military bases, and senior commanders. In response, Iran initiated its military operation, named Operation 'True Promise 3', launching drone and missile attacks against Israeli targets. Tensions escalated further after the United States conducted airstrikes on three nuclear sites in Iran on Saturday.
