New York, Sept 28 (IBNS): As the United Nations General Assembly’s annual general debate reached its halfway mark on Thursday, one of the world’s longest-running and most intractable crises, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, almost as old as the UN itself, came into stark relief under the same roof with the two sides laying out diametrically opposed positions that have bedeviled peace efforts for over 70 years.
New York, Sept 28 (IBNS): The world cannot ignore or remain silent over the plight of the Rohingya people – driven from their homes in Myanmar and sheltering in Bangladesh – Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, said on Thursday, urging world leaders for an early and peaceful solution to the massive refugee crisis.
At UN, Himalayan nations, at forefront of climate impact, outline threats to their unique ecosystems
New York, Sept 28 (IBNS): Addressing world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly, the Prime Minister of Nepal urged greater international focus on the developing world to ensure they are implement the Sustainable Development Goals, remarking that it is these nations that will be the “battleground on which the 2030 Agenda will be won or lost.”
New York, Sept 28 (IBNS): Rules-based international order is under “great strain,” Donald Tusk, President of the European Council of the European Union (EU), told the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, saying that his organization is “fighting intensely” to preserve it.
New York, Sept 28 (IBNS): With collective will, compassion and humanity, world leaders gathered at the United Nations General Assembly Hall have what it takes to deal with complex and worsening global challenges, the Indonesian Vice-President declared on Thursday.
At UN, Jamaica urges partnerships to tackle climate impacts, economic fragility in small islands
New York, Sept 28 (IBNS): Galvanizing an effective global fundraising campaign to address climate change and achieve sustainable economic growth is key for small island developing States, Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica, told world leaders at the seventy-third United Nations General Assembly on Thursday.
New Zealand Prime Minister calls any breakdown of multilateralism ‘catastrophic’
New York, Sept 28 (IBNS): The collapse of multilateralism would be “catastrophic,” Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, said on Thursday in her first speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
President of former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia denounces move to change country’s name
New York, Sept 28 (IBNS): Reminding the General Assembly on Thursday that Macedonia had been a co-founder of the United Nations, Gjorge Ivanov, President of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, strongly rejected a referendum on changing the name of his country, calling it “a flagrant violation” of sovereignty.
Sierra Leone’s President ‘optimistic’ about country’s new direction as key reforms enacted
New York, Sept 28 (IBNS): On Thursday, the newly-elected President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, told the United Nations, that “with a strong belief in a shared vision and a common destiny, Sierra Leoneans stand with the [international community] in meeting the world’s challenges.”
World leaders commit to continue UN fight against sexual exploitation and abuse
New York, Sept 28 (IBNS): World leaders joined with United Nations entities on Thursday to reaffirm their continued personal commitment to support efforts to combat sexual exploitation and abuse across the Organization.
New York, Sept 28 (IBNS): Haitian President Jovenel Moïse on Thursday called on the international community to provide the necessary development aid as the Caribbean island nation prepares for the transition nest year of the United Nations mission to a non-peacekeeping presence in the country.
Cyprus President urges collective leadership to address ‘root causes’ of world’s crises
New York, Sept 28 (IBNS): “Blatant violations of international law” were foremost on the mind of Nicos Anastasiades, President of Cyprus, as he brought the issue to the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, urging States to readjust their policies in “hope for a better future.”
NAFTA: Turned down a meeting with Canada PM Trudeau, says Trump
New York, Sept 27 (IBNS): US President Donald Trump has said he turned down a meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau over the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), media reports said.
On day two of UN General Assembly’s annual debate, it’s multilateralism all the way
New York, Sept 27 (IBNS): From trade to climate change to development and fighting diseases, world leaders mounted the podium of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday to deliver a ringing endorsement of multilateralism, singling out a strengthened UN as the prime tool for improving humanity’s lot.
UK’s May stresses global cooperation at UN General Assembly
New York, Sept 27 (IBNS): United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May warned world leaders at the United Nations on Wednesday that only global cooperation can tackle global challenges such as climate change and unequal economic growth, avoiding the pitfalls of totalitarianism, war, and intolerance that marked the last century.