France joins UK, Canada, Australia and Portugal in recognising Palestinian statehood at UN-backed conference
United Nations/New York: UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday reiterated that nothing can justify the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel, nor the “collective punishment” inflicted on the Palestinian people in their aftermath. Calling for an “immediate” ceasefire in Gaza, he urged the release of all hostages and the opening of safe, unconditional and unhindered humanitarian corridors.
Speaking at the resumed international conference on Palestine, co-chaired with Saudi Arabia, Guterres warned that the viability of a two-state solution is being undermined by “relentless” settlement expansion, the “creeping threat of annexation” and a surge in settler violence in the West Bank.
“The time for peace has come because we are just a few moments away from no longer being able to seize peace,” he told delegates. “Let’s be clear: statehood for the Palestinians is a right, not a reward. Denying it would be a gift to extremists everywhere.”
France Backs Palestinian Statehood
The conference, held after the General Assembly overwhelmingly endorsed the first phase outcome declaration in July, saw fresh diplomatic momentum. The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia and Portugal formally recognised the State of Palestine on Sunday. French President Emmanuel Macron announced that Paris would follow suit, a declaration that drew lengthy applause.
“The recognition of the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people takes nothing away from the rights of the people of Israel, which France has supported from Day One,” Macron said. “This recognition is the only solution that will allow Israel to live in peace.”
Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud praised the countries that had recognised Palestine and urged others to “take a similar historic step.” Such recognition, he said, would “support efforts towards the implementation of the two-State solution, achieve permanent and comprehensive peace in the Middle East, and create a new reality of stability and prosperity.”
UN General Assembly President Annalena Baerbock acknowledged scepticism around the two-state formula, noting that the UN’s earliest resolutions on the issue date back to its founding years. But she stressed that pursuing the alternative would mean conceding to “evil” and risk “the end of this institution.”
“This is not a naïve wish,” Baerbock insisted. “The international community is committed not only to the principle of two states but to identifying tangible, timebound and irreversible steps for its realisation, backed by decisive measures and international guarantees.”
The conference underscored a growing shift among Western powers towards recognising Palestinian statehood, even as conditions on the ground remain volatile. For Guterres and other leaders, the message was clear: without urgent steps, the two-state solution risks slipping out of reach, with grave consequences for peace and security in the Middle East and beyond.
The question of Palestine has taken centre stage at the United Nations, overshadowing the annual high-level week of the General Assembly where world leaders traditionally outline their global visions from the iconic green marble podium.
Even as wars rage in Ukraine and elsewhere, and the UN itself confronts crises on its 80th anniversary, the Palestinian statehood debate has seized the spotlight. A summit on Palestine is set for Monday, a day before the formal opening of the high-level session.
The momentum accelerated on Sunday when Britain and several other Western nations announced formal recognition of Palestine. France, co-convening Monday’s summit with Saudi Arabia, is expected to follow suit, joining 152 of the UN’s 193 member states — including India — that already recognise Palestinian statehood.
US Denies Visa to Palestine President
Yet, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will not attend in person. The US denied him a visa, forcing the Assembly to vote on allowing him to speak remotely. In a striking show of support, 145 countries backed the move, with only the US, Israel and three others opposed, and six abstentions.
The strong endorsement reflects the growing tide of sympathy for Palestinians amid Israel’s offensive in Gaza, where nearly 75,000 people — most of them civilians — are reported killed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has further inflamed tensions by vowing to expand Jewish settlements in the West Bank.
Still, the surge of recognition will remain largely symbolic. The US is expected to veto any Security Council bid for full UN membership, while Netanyahu appears unmoved by international censure.
Beneath the headlines, the UN faces its own existential questions. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had hoped the 80th anniversary would spotlight his UN80 reform agenda, “Shifting Paradigms: United to Deliver”, which seeks to streamline the body’s work around peace and security, sustainable development and human rights. The official theme of this year’s high-level week, “Better Together: 80 Years and More for Peace, Development and Human Rights,” reflects that ambition.
But enthusiasm is tempered. The UN confronts a severe financial crunch, worsened by US President Donald Trump’s threat to cut Washington’s contributions, and global confidence in the institution has waned, a recent poll found only 58% of people worldwide still trust it.
Modi Skips This Year’s Gathering
Adding to the uncertainty, key global leaders, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, are skipping this year’s gathering.
By tradition, Brazil will open the debate, with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva barely making it to New York after US visa complications hit members of his delegation. Trump will follow, also by tradition, and his speech is expected to set the tone, given his confrontational trade policies and geopolitical brinkmanship.
Meanwhile, real diplomacy will unfold on the sidelines, in bilateral and multilateral meetings aimed at navigating the increasingly unpredictable Trump era.
Representing India, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar began his diplomatic outreach on Sunday with a meeting with Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro. She later posted on X that the discussion “reaffirms our 2 countries’ commitment as Strategic Partners to actively develop cooperation in political, defence and security, the maritime domain, etc.”
As the General Assembly opens, the world’s attention may officially be on the UN’s 80th anniversary, but it is Palestine’s long-contested statehood that is commanding the spotlight.
Palestine has hailed the coordinated move by Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom to formally recognise it as an independent and sovereign state, calling the decision a step in line with international law and legitimacy resolutions.
In a statement shared on X, Palestine’s Mission to the United Nations said its Ministry of Foreign Affairs “welcomes and expresses gratitude” to the three countries for what it described as “courageous decisions” that affirm the Palestinian right to statehood.
The recognition was announced on Sunday in synchronised declarations from Ottawa, Canberra and London, marking a significant diplomatic shift aimed at reviving prospects for a two-state solution in the Middle East.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, in a joint statement, said recognition was effective immediately and underscored Australia’s “longstanding commitment” to the two-state framework. “Australia recognises the legitimate and long-held aspirations of the people of Palestine to a state of their own,” they said, adding that the move was tied to international efforts to secure a Gaza ceasefire and the release of hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attacks.
Palestine Authority pledges reforms
They stressed that the Palestinian Authority had renewed its recognition of Israel’s right to exist and pledged reforms in governance, elections, finance and education, while making clear that Hamas would have “no role in Palestine.”
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed that position in a video message, saying Britain’s recognition was intended to “revive the hope of peace for Palestinians and Israelis” and to lay the ground for renewed dialogue.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a statement, sharply criticised Israel’s current policies, accusing its government of systematically blocking Palestinian statehood through settlement expansion and a prolonged military campaign in Gaza. He said Canada’s recognition was rooted in “principles of self-determination and fundamental human rights” and aligned with Ottawa’s longstanding foreign policy traditions.
“This recognition is not a panacea,” Carney cautioned, “but it is a necessary step to preserve the possibility of a two-state solution and to help build the promise of a peaceful future for both Israel and Palestine.”
The joint move by three major Western powers is expected to intensify international pressure on Israel, which has consistently opposed recognition of Palestinian statehood outside a negotiated settlement.
The American dream, long pursued by Indian engineers and graduates, has suddenly become costlier. A new proclamation by US President Donald Trump has imposed a $100,000 annual surcharge on H-1B visa applications, sending shockwaves through India’s education and technology sectors.
The fee hike strikes hardest at early-career professionals. With median salaries for computer science graduates in the US ranging between $65,000 and $80,000, employers say the surcharge makes it unviable to sponsor young hires. Immigration experts warn approvals may now be limited to senior, high-value executives.
“Effectively, this closes the door for younger engineers who once formed the backbone of US tech companies,” said a New Delhi-based consultant. “The future Satya Nadellas or Sundar Pichais may never get the chance to begin that journey.”
India Bears the Brunt
Nearly 70% of all H-1B approvals go to Indian nationals, far ahead of other countries. Estimates suggest about 442,000 Indians currently hold these visas, mainly in software, data, and AI roles. Lawyers say the new levy acts as a filter, concentrating approvals among elite profiles at multinationals while squeezing out recruits from mid-tier outsourcing firms.
Education consultants in India report growing anxiety among families weighing the cost of US degrees with uncertain career pathways. IT giants, traditionally the largest H-1B sponsors, are now recalibrating staffing strategies. “Expect a pivot to offshore delivery hubs in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and even Mexico,” noted a Mumbai-based strategist.
A Gold Card for the Wealthy
In contrast, Trump has unveiled a “Gold Card” programme for wealthy foreigners. Those donating $1 million individually, or $2 million corporately, can secure expedited immigrant visas. Critics call it a system skewed toward the rich.
“This is meritocracy turned on its head,” said a Washington policy analyst. “The message is clear — the middle class faces barriers, while the wealthy can buy their way in.”
The administration defends the move citing job data. A Federal Reserve Bank of New York study showed unemployment rates of 6.1% among computer science graduates and 7.5% among computer engineering graduates aged 22–27 — double the rates in some non-technical fields. Underemployment, too, was high at over 16%.
Officials argue the US produces enough technical graduates and must prioritise domestic hiring. But industry leaders caution that layoffs and restructuring in 2023–24, coupled with AI-driven changes, have already reshaped demand. Companies still require talent but may now prefer to keep it offshore.
The H-1B pipeline has historically powered both corporate America and Indian aspirations. It gave US firms cost-efficient talent and helped create communities of Indian origin that flourished across industries. Analysts warn that shutting this route will choke the next generation of global leaders.
“A country that once opened its doors to talent is now signalling that opportunity is for the wealthy, not the aspiring,” said a senior Indian IT executive.
The White House has clarified that the newly announced $100,000 H-1B visa fee will apply only to fresh petitions, not to renewals or current visa holders. “This is a one-time fee that applies only to new visas. It will first be levied in the next lottery cycle,” a senior official told Indian media on Saturday.
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said the intent was to curb misuse by firms filing mass petitions. “This action discourages spamming the system and ensures fairness for American workers,” she added.
President Donald Trump, who signed the proclamation on Friday, said the measure would ensure companies considered local talent first. “We need workers, we need great workers — and this ensures that,” he remarked.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick defended the steep cost, saying it would push firms to train domestic graduates instead of over-relying on foreign hires. “It’s just not economic to keep bringing in people when we have skilled graduates here,” he said.
The US issues about 85,000 new H-1B visas annually, with India-born professionals accounting for nearly three-fourths of approvals in 2023. The fee announcement has sparked unease in India’s IT industry, which depends heavily on the program to deploy skilled staff in the US. Experts warn the new costs may force firms to rethink business models or raise client fees.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for a renewed global push to end wars and divisions, stressing that “peace cannot wait” as the world observes the International Day of Peace.
“Lives are being ripped apart, childhoods extinguished, and basic human dignity discarded, amidst the cruelty and degradations of war,” Mr. Guterres said in his message for the Day. “All they want is peace.”
He noted that modern conflict is no longer confined to battlefields, with its consequences spilling across borders, driving displacement, poverty, and instability. “We must silence the guns. End the suffering. Build bridges. And create stability and prosperity,” he urged.
Theme Calls for Collective Action
The International Day of Peace was first established by the UN General Assembly in 1981 as a day devoted to non-violence and ceasefire. This year’s theme, Act Now for a Peaceful World, emphasizes the need for urgent action to prevent conflicts, counter hate and disinformation, and strengthen peacebuilding efforts, particularly through the involvement of women and young people.
Mr. Guterres underscored the close relationship between peace and sustainable development, pointing out that nine of the ten countries lagging most in development are also plagued by conflict. He warned against racism and dehumanisation, advocating instead for “the language of respect” and dialogue.
The observance comes on the eve of the UN General Assembly’s annual high-level week, where leaders from across the world gather in New York to debate pressing global challenges, from ongoing wars and climate disruption to gender equality and the risks and opportunities posed by artificial intelligence.
“The timing underlines the need for a concerted international push for peace, as divisions widen and instability grows,” the Secretary-General said. Concluding his message, he reminded nations and communities alike: “Where we have peace, we have hope. Peace cannot wait — our work starts now.”
UNDP: Peace and Development Intertwined
In a statement issued the same day, UNDP’s Acting Administrator Haoliang Xu stressed that peace is the foundation of development. Xu highlighted that in 2024, governments spent approximately US$2.7 trillion on military budgets, while only a small fraction—about US$47.2 billion, was allocated to peacebuilding and prevention efforts.
UNDP further argued that development actors are crucial partners in stabilisation: by investing in justice, governance, and inclusive institutions, and by supporting women and youth roles in conflict-affected regions, peace becomes more durable.
Civil Society Voices
Labour unions, non-governmental organisations, and other civil society actors underscored that peace is not simply the absence of war but requires fairness and equality.
For example, Unifor, a large Canadian trade union, released a statement affirming that peace must rest on dignity, justice, and human rights. The union observed that civilians—in particular workers, health care personnel, families, children—bear disproportionate burden during conflicts. Unifor called for ceasefires, de-escalation of violence, and increased support for humanitarian and development agencies.
These actors also spoke out against trends of rising militarisation at the expense of essential services—health, education, housing—and warned that neglect in these areas undermines long-term peace and stability.
Beyond the UN Secretariat and civil society, organisations that represent countries or regions emphasised that peace must go hand in hand with democracy, human rights, and inclusion.
The Community of Democracies (CoD) reaffirmed its commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions). Its Secretary-General Thomas E. Garrett stressed that sustainable peace requires the meaningful participation of women, youth, and marginalized groups, and that democratic governance bolsters efforts toward reconciliation and enduring peace.
Several member states (implicitly through these organisations and joint statements) echoed that investing in peace-building, prevention, and inclusive development is not merely moral but pragmatic: peace is foundational to stability, prosperity, and human wellbeing.
A Thai national living in the United States was recently lured into an elaborate phone scam after receiving a call from fraudsters posing as embassy staff and police officers, who falsely accused her of being linked to an international money laundering case.
Wannapa Suprasert, known as Bow, said the ordeal began when she received a call from a woman claiming to be from the Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C. The caller alleged that her recently renewed passport had been misused, putting her at risk of identity theft.
The call was then transferred to a man who introduced himself as an officer from Thailand’s Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok. He demanded personal identification documents, bank details, and financial records, claiming these were necessary for an investigation.
“They made a threat that they would be tapping my phone. The mind is very powerful because once you’re in that delusion, I guess I couldn’t think clearly and I was just very concerned about my family safety,” Ms. Suprasert recalled.
The situation escalated when she was told she was the prime suspect in an international money laundering scheme. The alleged officer demanded that she prove her innocence by transferring funds from her bank account to theirs, with the assurance that the money would be returned after a “deeper investigation.”
“They promised to give it back. I didn’t quite understand because I thought I could just send them my pay stub and they could see I earned the money legally in the US,” she said.
Shaken but suspicious, Ms. Suprasert attempted to call the Thai Embassy directly to confirm the claim. However, as it was late Friday afternoon in San Francisco and the embassy on the East Coast had closed for the day, she was unable to verify the information immediately.
Only later did she realize that the scammers had deliberately timed their call to exploit the time zone gap and her inability to reach officials.
Authorities worldwide have repeatedly warned about such scams, in which fraudsters impersonate embassy or law enforcement officials to extort money. Victims are often told they are under investigation and face jail time unless they comply with demands.
Sophisticated sting
“I guess the story just kind of built from there and that’s how I ended up sending five wires totaling over $300,000,” she said.
Bow fell victim to a sophisticated operation which according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is being increasingly adopted by international organized crime networks to con the unsuspecting out of thousands of dollars.
UNODC said that the transnational organized crime groups in Asia which carry out these types of scams are expanding their operations deeper into the region and far beyond.
“We are seeing a global expansion of East and Southeast Asian organized crime groups,” said Benedikt Hofmann, UNODC Acting Regional Representative for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.
“This reflects both a natural expansion as the industry grows and seeks new ways and places to do business, but also a hedging strategy against future risks should disruption continue and intensify in the region,” he added.
The three-month-long scam that Bow endured resulted not just in the loss of over $300,000 but also intense emotional despair which led to depression, sleepless nights and nightmares.
Bow has come to terms with the reality that she will not get her money back. There is nothing US law enforcement can do to recover the funds, and she decided against hiring a private investigator. In going public with her story, she hopes that others can learn from her experience.
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) 2.0 regime, set to come into force on September 22, 2025, will bring sweeping changes to India’s indirect tax system, but several key items will remain untouched.
The 56th GST Council meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, approved a restructuring of the tax slabs by merging the 12% and 28% brackets into two simplified rates of 5% and 18%. A new 40% de-merit slab has been created for luxury and sin goods, while essentials such as food staples will continue at a nil (0%) rate.
However, certain categories have been deliberately kept out of the reform. Precious metals such as gold, silver, and jewelry remain taxed at 3%, while items already aligned with the new structure, such as fresh produce at 0% and mobile phones at 18%, are unchanged. Sin goods like cigarettes, bidis, and chewing tobacco will continue under the existing 28% plus compensation cess until state borrowing obligations are cleared, delaying their eventual shift to 40%.
Essentials Hold Steady Unpacked grains, milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables, salt, and sanitary napkins will continue to be exempt. “Maintaining the 0% slab for daily-use essentials ensures no additional burden is placed on lower-income households,” an official said, citing affordability as a key reason for stability.
Industry bodies have broadly welcomed the move. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) described GST 2.0 as “a long-awaited simplification,” while the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) noted that unchanged rates on electronics and telecom services could limit the broader consumption stimulus.
Sugar, tea, coffee (unpackaged), edible oils, spices (unpackaged), electric vehicles
5
5
18%
Mobile phones, laptops, liquid handwashes, telecom services, banking services, hotel rooms above ₹7,500/night
18
18
28% + Cess
Cigarettes, bidis, chewing tobacco, pan masala
28 + Cess
28 + Cess
Experts say the unchanged slabs reflect the government’s balancing act. While over 375 items are set to become cheaper from Monday, holding certain categories steady protects tax revenues. “This is a pragmatic approach. It brings relief for households without undermining state finances,” said a tax policy analyst.
Retailers expect the steady rates to keep prices predictable during the festive season. While reduced categories may drive consumer spending, unchanged rates on sin goods and gadgets ensure revenue streams remain intact.
However, billed as a “Diwali gift” for the middle class, GST 2.0 offers simplification and relief, even as debates continue over deferred hikes on tobacco and other de-merit products.
Morocco and Sierra Leone joined the list of States ratifying on Friday, becoming the 60th and 61st parties to the pact.
The treaty, formally known as the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ agreement), was adopted by UN Member States in June 2023 after nearly two decades of negotiations.
Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the development, calling it a “historic achievement for the ocean and for multilateralism… In two years, States have turned commitment into action – proving what is possible when nations unite for the common good,” he said in a statement.
“As we confront the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution, this agreement is a lifeline for the ocean and humanity.”
The pact, also called the “high seas treaty,” covers two-thirds of the world’s ocean area that lies beyond national boundaries. It establishes legally binding rules to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity, share benefits from marine genetic resources more fairly, create protected areas, and strengthen scientific cooperation and capacity building.
UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Inger Andersen also hailed the milestone. “Our ocean is the foundation of our very existence. Today we took an important step forward to save our ocean, and to save our future,” she said in a post on social media.
Safeguarding humanity’s future
The BBNJ agreement builds on the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, regarded as the “constitution for the oceans.”
Once the high seas treaty enters into force on 17 January 2026, it will provide a global framework to help achieve international biodiversity targets, including the pledge to protect 30 per cent of land and sea areas by 2030 under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Mr. Guterres urged all remaining UN Member States to join the treaty without delay and called on partners to support its swift and full implementation. “The ocean’s health is humanity’s health,” he said.
Held on the opening day of the UN General Assembly’s high-level week, the annual September gathering of world leaders, the initiative comes amid a deeply worrying regional backdrop of intensified Israeli military operations that have allegedly killed more than 60,000 people in Gaza since October 7, 2023, Israel’s strikes against Hamas officials in Qatar on September 9, and accelerating settlement expansion in the West Bank.
Despite the volatile regional context, the two-state solution is regaining diplomatic traction. On September 12, the General Assembly adopted by a wide margin the “New York Declaration,” following a July conference also co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia. It called for “just and lasting peace grounded in international law and based on the two-state solution.”
To end the war, it urged Hamas to “end its role in Gaza, and handover its weapons to the Palestinian Authority.” The United States and Israel, which had boycotted the July conference, voted against the text.
The September 22 summit will likely build on that momentum, French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce France’s recognition of the State of Palestine, and several other Western countries, including the UK, Canada, Belgium, and Australia, are reportedly considering following suit.
In short, the summit’s impact could inject new momentum into efforts to establish a UN roadmap towards two states.
They warned that foreign military action, political exclusion and dwindling resources threaten to undo fragile gains.
UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen – who announced that he will be stepping down from his role during the meeting – told ambassadors that interim authorities in Damascus have inherited “not just the ruins of shattered buildings, but the deeper wreckage of a battered social fabric, decayed institutions and a hollowed-out economy.”
He stressed that the success of Syria’s transition will depend on political stability, inclusivity and international support at a scale commensurate with the country’s needs.
“The international community must support Syria and robustly stand against foreign intervention,” he said. “But equally: the success of the transition will above all rest on the State acting as a State for all, not just in word but also in deed.”
Geir Pedersen, Special Envoy of the Secretary-General for Syria, briefs the Security Council meeting on the situation in the country.
Call to bar interlopers
Mr. Pedersen urged respect for Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity amid ongoing external military action, including further reported Israeli strikes this month.
Any security concerns, he said, must be addressed through diplomacy, warning that mishandling them could leave Syria “indefinitely gridlocked, unable to heal or rebuild – and at worst, slipping into fresh waves of strife and external intervention.”
He pointed to the Druze-minority region of Sweida – where a ceasefire following brutal clashes has largely held since July – and welcomed a roadmap agreed last week by Syria, Jordan and the United States to address accountability, humanitarian access and reconciliation.
But he cautioned that fears within the Druze community must be addressed through dialogue and confidence-building.
He also highlighted reports of abuses in Damascus neighbourhoods and calls for accountability in Sweida – and along the coast following sectarian violence there.
“The Syrian public needs to see that abuses are both acknowledged and addressed in accordance with international standards,” he said.
Humanitarian emergency continues
Speaking alongside Mr. Pedersen, UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Tom Fletcher described Syria as “one of the largest humanitarian emergencies globally.”
More than 70 per cent of the population requires some form of aid, nine million are acutely food insecure seven million remain displaced inside the country and four million refugees abroad.
Despite these figures, he highlighted signs of progress. Thanks to more practical engagement with the interim authorities, aid is now reaching communities inaccessible a year ago.
“Movements that last year would have required lengthy navigation of frontlines are happening routinely,” Mr. Fletcher said, citing food assistance for one million people each month and subsidized bread for two million more.
Nearly 900,000 refugees and 1.9 million internally displaced people have returned to their communities since December, though many face destroyed housing, lack of jobs and insecurity.
Funding gaps remain
Funding gaps however threaten these gains, with the UN’s humanitarian appeal for Syria only 18 per cent funded. The shortfall has forced closures of hospitals, safe spaces for women and community centres.
“Just when organizations are seeking to expand their operations and have the opportunity to work more efficiently, they are instead forced to cut programmes, reduce support, lose staff,” Mr. Fletcher warned.
The UN Security Council meets to discuss the situation in Syria.
‘Unity is within reach’
Both officials warned that Syria’s fragile moment of progress could easily unravel.
“If this central challenge is mishandled, the consequences could be dire,” Mr. Pedersen cautioned. “But if met with genuine negotiation and bold compromise, unity is within reach and success against the odds is possible.”
Mr. Fletcher echoed that message, urging Member States to “preserve stability, fund the humanitarian response and enable Syrian-led recovery.”
“This time next year,” he added, “I want to report that we are substantially scaling down our emergency humanitarian operations in Syria – not because funding cuts have forced our hand, but because the international community has made the necessary investments in Syria’s future.”
Last century, scientists confirmed the alarming reality of a significant depletion in the ozone layer – an invisible shield of gas which surrounds the earth and protects it from the sun’s UV rays.
The collection of ozone-depleting substances included CFCs, or chlorofluorocarbons, which in the mid-1980s were commonly found in everyday products such as air conditioners, fridges and aerosol cans.
Science led to global action. Realising that harmful UV radiation was entering the atmosphere through what was potentially a damaged ozone layer, countries made a commitment under the Vienna Convention in 1985, to do what was needed for the protection of the people and the planet.
“The Vienna Convention and its Montreal Protocol became a landmark of multilateral success,” said the UN Secretary General António Guterres in a message for this year’s World Ozone Day.
“Today, the ozone layer is healing,” he said.
What is the Vienna Convention?
Forty years ago, countries came together to take the first step in protecting the ozone layer, “guided by science, united in action,” the UN chief continued.
The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer, adopted and signed by 28 countries on 22 March 1985, formalised universal cooperation over the protection of the fragile ozone layer.
It is the first treaty to be signed by every country in the world and the precursor to the Montreal Protocol.
The objective of the Montreal Protocol is to monitor the global production and consumption of substances that deplete the ozone layer – and eventually eliminate them.
Multilateralism at its best
In a video message, Inger Andersen, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), highlighted that through action under the conventions “ozone depleting substances have now been virtually eradicated and the hole in ozone layer is closing.”
After scientists sounded the alarm, countries, nations, and businesses came together and took action for the planet.
“That is multilateralism at its very, very best,” she added.
The Montreal Protocol has been progressing well in both developed and developing countries with most phase-out schedules – the time given for each country to gradually stop the production of harmful substances – adhered to or even surpassed.
“This achievement reminds us that when nations heed the warnings of science, progress is possible,” remarked Mr. Guterres.
Next in line, the Kigali Amendment
In his message, Mr. Guterres urged governments to ratify and implement the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, which commits to phase down, or reduce, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), greenhouse gases used mainly in cooling technologies.
“Implementing the Kigali Amendment could avoid up to 0.5 degrees Celsius of warming by the end of the century,” he said. “Paired with energy-efficient cooling, we could double these gains.”
As outlined in the Paris Agreement, countries have agreed to try and limit the rise of global temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius.
“On this World Ozone Day, let’s recommit to preserving our ozone layer and to protecting people and planet for generations to come,” the UN chief said.
The development followed reports that the Israeli military has stepped up its ground offensive in Gaza City, ordering residents to leave the area.
Speaking from the south of the enclave, UNICEF’s Tess Ingram described the forced mass displacement of families as a “deadly threat for the most vulnerable”.
“It is inhumane to expect nearly half a million children battered and traumatized by over 700 days of unrelenting conflict to flee one hellscape to end up in another,” she insisted.
150,000 go south in a month
According to the UN’s humanitarian affairs coordination office, OCHA, over the past few days, partners monitoring the movement of people in Gaza counted almost 70,000 displacements heading south, and about 150,000 over the past month. The only available route, Al Rashid Road, was “very busy” when Ms. Ingram was there on Monday, she said.
The UNICEF spokesperson described meeting a mother who had walked for more than six hours from Gaza City to the South with her five children, “all dirty, thirsty and starving”, two of them with no shoes.
They are being pushed along with tens of thousands of others to “a so-called humanitarian zone” encompassing Al-Mawasi and surrounding areas, she said.
Sea of despair
Ms. Ingram described their destination as “a sea of makeshift tents, human despair” and services which are “insufficient” to support the hundreds of thousands already living there.
Child malnutrition in Gaza is “spiralling”, Ms. Ingram continued, pointing out that according to UNICEF estimates, some 26,000 children in the enclave currently require treatment for acute malnutrition – more than 10,000 in Gaza City alone.
Famine was confirmed late last month in Gaza City by UN-backed food insecurity experts.
Feeding centres closed
UNICEF’s Ms. Ingram said that owing to evacuation orders and military escalation more nutrition centres in Gaza City have been forced to shut this week, “cutting off children from a third of the remaining treatment sites that can save their lives”.
While humanitarians remain on site and continue responding to the crisis, “it is becoming harder with every bombardment and every denial”, she stressed.
According to OCHA, last Sunday out of 17 missions that humanitarian teams coordinated with the Israeli authorities, only four were facilitated, while seven missions were denied and others were impeded on the ground or had to be cancelled.
Ms. Ingram spoke of the dilemma desperate Gazans face: “stay in danger or flee to a place that they also know is dangerous.” She recalled that Al-Mawasi came under attack some two weeks ago, when eight children were killed while lining up for water; the youngest victim was three years old.
The night sky often brings a sense of awe, but every so often, a rocky visitor from deep space captures global attention. This week, astronomers are tracking asteroid 2025 FA22, which will sweep past Earth on Thursday, 18 September, 2025, in one of the year’s most closely monitored celestial events.
According to NASA, FA22 is about 520 feet (160 metres) wide and hurtles through space at over 24,000 miles per hour. On its closest approach, it will pass at a distance of 523,000 miles (841,900 km), tht is slightly farther than the Moon. While that might not sound close, in astronomical terms, it qualifies as a near miss.
The asteroid is part of the Aten group, a class of Near-Earth Objects (NEOs) whose orbits cross Earth’s path. Because of their trajectories, they are among the most carefully tracked objects in the solar system.
Despite its size, experts stress that FA22 poses no risk. NASA designates an asteroid as hazardous if it comes within 7.4 million kilometres of Earth and measures more than 85 metres across. Although FA22 fits the size category, its trajectory keeps it well outside the danger zone.
Still, scientists emphasise that close monitoring is essential. Even small shifts in an asteroid’s orbit, caused by gravitational nudges or solar radiation effects, can change its future path dramatically.
NASA noted that shortly after its discovery in March 2025, FA22 briefly reached Torino Scale 1, a category that flags objects worth monitoring, though unlikely to impact Earth. Further observations quickly ruled out any threat.
2025 – A Busy Year for Sky Watchers
The September encounter comes during a year filled with notable asteroid activity.
January 2025: Asteroid 2025 AB10, a 200-foot rock, passed at 1.2 million kilometres, offering astronomers early tracking practice for the year.
March 29, 2025: FA22 was first spotted by the Pan-STARRS 2 telescope in Hawaii, triggering the global observing campaign now underway.
July 2025: A smaller asteroid, 2025 JX3, skimmed within 400,000 kilometres, just inside the Moon’s orbit, sparking public interest.
September 2025: FA22 now headlines as the largest close-approaching asteroid of the year.
Later in 2025: Astronomers also anticipate the flyby of 2025 QH5 in December, which, while smaller, will pass even closer than FA22.
These encounters remind us that the Blue Planet shares a dynamic neighbourhood with thousands of NEOs, most harmless, but all worth studying.
Why Should We Care About Every Flyby?
Even when no danger exists, each asteroid provides a chance to refine tracking systems and test planetary defense protocols. The International Asteroid Warning Network (IAWN) has organised a worldwide observing campaign around FA22. Telescopes across the globe will collect data on its orbit, size, spin, and surface features.
IAWN explained: “For the purpose of the exercise, we will treat this object as a current virtual impactor with a hypothetical impact on September 19, 2089.” In reality, updated orbital calculations show no risk of impact.
Beyond FA22, attention is building toward Apophis, a much larger asteroid due in 2029. In fact, ISRO chief S. Somanath recently outlined India’s plans to join NASA, ESA, and JAXA in asteroid exploration, including potential landing missions. The goal is to understand their makeup, test resource extraction technologies, and sharpen defense strategies.
Past close approaches, such as 2019 OK, which flew within 73,000 kilometres, and 2020 QG, which zipped by at just 3,000 kilometres—show how unexpectedly close asteroids can appear. While FA22 will pass at a safe distance, its visit underscores why constant vigilance is critical.
For amateur astronomers, the event is also a spectacle. On September 18–19, FA22 is expected to reach magnitude 13, visible through small backyard telescopes. The Virtual Telescope Project will livestream the passage for global audiences.
Though harmless, FA22’s arrival highlights a core truth about our place in the cosmos: the skies above are far from static. Each asteroid encounter is both a reminder of Earth’s vulnerability and a chance to sharpen humanity’s readiness for the unexpected.
When a sitting or former president elects to seek $15 billion in damages from a single news organisation, the action reads less like a conventional libel suit than like a strategic campaign play writ in legal form. On Sept. 15–16, 2025, Donald Trump announced and filed such a complaint against The New York Times, several Times journalists and associated publishers, saying the outlet had run a “decades-long campaign of lies” and calling it “one of the worst and most degenerate newspapers in the history of our country.”
He added that the paper had become a “virtual mouthpiece for the radical Left Democrat Party.” There are three discrete frames in which to judge this case: constitutional law, newsroom practice and political theatre. Each offers a different prediction about whether the suit is likely to prevail, and each suggests distinct consequences for the institutions at stake.
On paper, American defamation Law establishes a steep hill for public figures. Since New York Times Co. v. Sullivan (1964), plaintiffs who are public officials or public figures must prove “actual malice” — that the defendant published a falsehood knowing it was false, or with reckless disregard for the truth. That standard protects all but the most egregious reporting failures and demands evidence about a reporter’s state of mind at publication, not merely proof of factual error. Courts have repeatedly emphasised the difficulty of meeting that bar.
That legal wall is why suits by powerful plaintiffs often operate as instruments of leverage rather than purely as mechanisms to vindicate reputations. Consider the recent settlements Trump highlights: ABC agreed to make a $15 million contribution to a planned Trump library to resolve a dispute tied to inaccurate on-air comments, and Paramount/ CBS reached a $16 million settlement in another high-profile dispute.
Those outcomes do not equate to judicial findings of malice; they reflect the complex calculus that companies make when weighing the costs of protracted discovery, reputational risk, and the distraction of litigation. In the commercial realpolitik of media companies, settlement can be damage control rather than an admission of journalistic failure.
From a newsroom vantage, the stakes are stark. Big-budget investigative journalism depends on an institutional ability to accept legal risk, to check sources, document reporting decisions, and defend editorial judgement in court if necessary. The threat of repeated, high-value suits imposes a chilling tax: even if most claims fail, the process of discovery, private depositions, the cost of legal defence, the drain on editors’ time, can incentivise self-censorship or encourage settlements that leave public records unexplored.
As one experienced newsroom lawyer put it in recent commentary about litigation pressure, the pattern of “rhetoric and actions” from political leaders can be mirrored across the information ecosystem, prompting smaller outlets to mimic defensive strategies long before a case reaches a judge.
NYT Building
Yet it would be a mistake to view this litigation as an empty bluff. Courts are not wholly captive to First Amendment concerns; they adjudicate harms and damages on the basis of evidence. The complaint against the Times, as reported, identifies specific articles and a book project and alleges that their claims were published with knowledge of falsity or reckless disregard.
If Trump’s legal team can produce contemporaneous internal communications, contradictory witness testimony, or other documentary proof that reporters knew key claims were false, the suit could survive early motions. But that is a high evidentiary bar, and historically judges have dismissed similar high-stakes suits at early procedural stages when plaintiffs fail to plead facts that plausibly demonstrate actual malice.
The litigation is also a political communication. Publicising a multi-billion dollar suit amplifies a message: that major institutions are corrupt, that the plaintiff is under siege, and that legal action is evidence of fighting back. This is a form of signalling to a base that prizes grievance and retribution. As one commentator put it in an earlier Trump-era legal contest, some suits are “cartoonishly vexatious,” — not because they cannot be argued, but because their primary utility is to shift the news cycle and impose costs on opponents.
The lesson is twofold: litigation can be weaponised by the powerful, and legal doctrine (even a robust Sullivan standard) does not eliminate the practical asymmetry that comes with litigation’s cost and duration. Two other practical anchors should guide readers watching this case. First, the forum selection, filing in Florida, and it matters. Plaintiffs sometimes choose jurisdictions they perceive as more favorable or predictable; venue can affect pretrial orders and scheduling. Second, discovery will be decisive.
If the Times shows meticulous sourcing, contemporaneous notes, and editorial review that produced its stories, it strengthens its defence. Conversely, if the plaintiff can point to internal inconsistencies at the Times or to documentary proof of knowing falsehoods, the case could survive motions to dismiss.
However, there are immediate consequences. If courts reject overreaching suits and insist on the actual-malice standard, that outcome will protect the breathing room journalists need to pursue investigations. Instead, if high-value suits proceed on amorphous proofs and culminate in settlements, the result will be a more cautionary press, especially among mid-sized outlets without the Times’ legal resources.
Finally, Mr. Trump’s Truth Social post supplies the rhetorical raw material for the complaint. “The New York Times has been allowed to freely lie, smear, and defame me for far too long,” he wrote in his social media platform but rhetoric does not equal evidence. The coming months of motions, discovery and possible appeals will test whether the complaint is primarily performative or backed by the documentary and testimonial proof that the American law requires.
For now, newsrooms should do what they have always done when under legal pressure: document rigorously, be transparent about sourcing where possible, and explain to readers how and why reporting decisions were made. Courts will determine whether a legal line has been crossed or not. Editors must defend the sturdier, day-to-day work of truth-seeking journey that makes their determination possible.
US President Donald Trump has announced a sweeping $15 billion defamation and libel suit against The New York Times, accusing the paper of running a “decades-long campaign of lies” and smearing him, his family, businesses, and political movement.
Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump branded the newspaper “one of the most degenerative” in American history, alleging it had effectively become a “mouthpiece for the radical Left Democrat Party.” He also claimed its coverage of Democratic rival Kamala Harris amounted to “the single largest illegal campaign contribution ever.”
Trump said the suit, filed in Florida, aims to hold The Times accountable in the same way he had “successfully litigated” against other outlets. He cited earlier settlements with ABC/Disney and CBS/Paramount, which reportedly paid multimillion-dollar sums to the Trump Library project following disputes over their coverage.
This is not Trump’s first legal confrontation with the media. He has long branded critical coverage as “fake news,” but in recent years has escalated to high-value lawsuits. Earlier settlements, though not publicly verified by courts, have been presented by Trump as victories, strengthening his narrative of being unfairly targeted by mainstream outlets.
Legal experts, however, note that US defamation law sets a high bar for public figures, requiring proof of “actual malice.” Historically, similar suits, including Trump’s own 2020 case against The New York Times over Russia probe coverage, were dismissed. Analysts suggest the current lawsuit may be as much a political move to energize his base as a legal strategy.
Indian Context
Comparisons can be drawn to Indian political and media tussles, where defamation suits are also wielded as tools to counter negative coverage. In 2016, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal faced a string of defamation cases filed by political rivals, many of which were later withdrawn after publicised apologies, underscoring how such legal battles often play out more in the court of public opinion than in law.
As the US heads deeper into the election season, Trump’s litigation blitz against media outlets signals an aggressive campaign tactic — one that blurs the lines between courtroom strategy and political messaging.
UN Budget Cuts and Reform Proposals Sent to ACABQ for Review
The United Nations has submitted revised budget estimates to the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ), proposing a 15.1 per cent reduction in resources and an 18.8 per cent cut in posts in the regular budget compared with 2025. The support account for peacekeeping operations, which underpins missions worldwide, would also see reductions in the 2025/26 period.
The ACABQ, a subsidiary body advising the General Assembly, will assess the proposals before forwarding its recommendations to the Fifth Committee, where all 193 Member States decide on administrative and budgetary matters.
Targeted Reductions
In a letter to Member States, Secretary-General António Guterres explained that the cuts followed an extensive review of mandate delivery and resource allocation. Stressing that reductions were “targeted, not across the board,” he said they had been carefully calibrated to maintain balance across the UN’s three pillars—peace and security, human rights, and sustainable development.
Programmes that directly support Member States—particularly least developed, landlocked, and small island developing States—along with Africa’s development advocacy, the Peacebuilding Fund, and the Resident Coordinator system, will be shielded from reductions. Regional economic commissions will see only modest adjustments, while the Regular Programme for Technical Cooperation will continue to expand to strengthen capacity-building for developing countries.
“Reductions of this magnitude will entail trade-offs,” Guterres wrote, noting possible impacts such as narrowed scope, longer timelines, or reduced frequency of outputs. Mitigation measures will include prioritising high-impact work, pooling expertise, and relying more on virtual platforms and automation.
Reform Measures Under the UN80 Initiative
The budget revision is closely tied to the UN80 Initiative, launched in March 2025 to strengthen the Organisation amid rising global political and financial uncertainty. Alongside the cuts, the revised estimates introduce the first set of proposals under Workstream 1, focused on management and operations.
Key measures include:
Establishing administrative hubs in New York and Bangkok.
Consolidating payroll into a single global team across New York, Entebbe, and Nairobi.
Relocating some functions from high-cost duty stations (New York and Geneva) to lower-cost locations.
Vacating two leased New York buildings by 2027, with projected annual savings from 2028.
Collectively, these reforms aim to cut duplication, enhance quality, and protect mandate delivery while improving efficiency.
Three Workstreams of Reform
The UN80 Initiative is structured around three workstreams:
Efficiencies and management improvements – now reflected in the revised estimates, with further measures to come.
Mandate Implementation Review – a report submitted in August is under review by a new Informal Ad Hoc Working Group, meeting on 16 September.
System-wide realignments – proposals on structural and programmatic clusters will be presented later this week.
Together, the workstreams signal a major reorientation of UN operations, aimed at ensuring effectiveness, credibility, and sustainability.
Next Steps and Staff Engagement
The ACABQ will begin hearings this week before passing its recommendations to the Fifth Committee, with a final General Assembly decision expected by December. If approved, changes would be phased in starting 2026, with future budget cycles reflecting additional reforms from the UN80 workstreams.
In a separate letter to UN staff, Guterres acknowledged that the changes will affect daily work and professional life but pledged full support throughout the transition. “You will be fully engaged and supported throughout the process,” he assured, promising regular communication, consultation opportunities, and practical guidance.
Acknowledging the difficulty of the decisions, the Secretary-General emphasised accountability—beginning with him, but also extending to managers and staff. He urged that reforms be carried out with fairness, empathy, and professionalism, underscoring the shared responsibility of upholding UN values during the transition.
According to local reports, heavy shelling and assaults late last week in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state, killed at least six civilians and injured scores more, triggering fresh displacement from the already besieged city.
Sudan has been roiled in a brutal civil war between rival militaries – the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and affiliated militias. Thousands of civilians have been killed, villages and farmlands destroyed, and nearly 12 million people driven from their homes – over four million as refugees into neighbouring countries.
The country also risks becoming the world’s largest hunger crisis in recent history as infrastructure, trade routes and supply chains lie in ruins. Famine has already been confirmed in the Zamzam camp, which once sheltered hundreds of thousands of civilians – and many more areas are at risk.
Humanitarians warn that essential services are breaking down. Water trucking to the only functioning hospital was suspended over the weekend and community kitchens shut down after running out of food.
Without urgent support, they warn that the most vulnerable people could face severe hunger within days. Across Darfur, hospitals remain under immense strain.
Nearly 100 wounded people, including women and children, were admitted to medical facilities in a single day last week, with several pronounced dead on arrival, according to reports from the medical charity Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF – Doctors Without Borders).
Survivors who managed to escape El Fasher described “unbearable” conditions in the city, which has endured more than a year of siege by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied groups.
Children sit beside makeshift tents in El Fasher, North Darfur, where intensified fighting has left thousands trapped.
Drone strikes on 10 September hit multiple locations across Darfur, injuring scores. A strike landed just four kilometres (about 2.5 miles) from an MSF-supported hospital in Central Darfur, forcing staff to activate a mass casualty plan. The following day, two more strikes struck Nyala in South Darfur, reportedly killing at least four people, including a child.
The fighting is not confined to Darfur. In Khartoum, RSF airstrikes on 9 September damaged a power station, causing a blackout in parts of the capital and disrupting critical hospital equipment and services.
Disasters add to misery
Meanwhile, Sudan is grappling with natural disasters on top of conflict. A landslide triggered by heavy rains on 31 August in Sharg Aj Jabal, near the Central and South Darfur border, killed an estimated 400 people, half of them children, according to local reports.
Furthermore, over 4,000 people were displaced and 550 homes destroyed in Aj Jazirah state in flash floods last week.
Every year, hundreds of thousands of people in Sudan are affected by heavy rains, flash floods and landslides.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) stressed that civilians remain at the epicentre of the violence. “[We] once again call for an immediate cessation of hostilities, protection of civilians, safe and unimpeded humanitarian access, and increased international support to sustain life-saving operations across Sudan,” the Office said.
In Khartoum, OCHA reported some improvements in restoring basic services and security. Yet more than 800,000 people who have returned to the capital in recent months still urgently need assistance to rebuild their lives.
On the political front, the Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Sudan, Ramtane Lamamra, is currently in Port Sudan after concluding consultations in Nairobi.
According to UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, Mr. Lamamra has held “very constructive engagements” with Sudanese stakeholders across the spectrum as well as key international interlocutors.
“These discussions will help lay the groundwork necessary to support an inclusive process that can deliver a sustainable solution that preserves Sudan’s sovereignty, its unity and its territorial integrity,” Mr. Dujarric said.
He added that the UN also looks forward to working closely with regional partners, including the African Union, the east African regional bloc Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the League of Arab States, to restart efforts toward an intra-Sudanese dialogue.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the world’s first pandemic trety “a generational accomplishment”, while speaking at the start of a meeting of the Intergovernmental Working Group on the WHO Pandemic Agreement, taking place in Geneva through Friday. It comes four months after countries adopted the pact.
Tedros said the next step “is to bring this historic achievement to fruition” by finalizing the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) system. He urged countries to use this week to pave the way to developing the platform, with the ultimate goal of adoption next year.
“It is in every country’s interest that this process is not delayed any further. Because, as we are all aware, the next pandemic or major global health emergency is not a question of if, but when,” he said.
DR Congo: UN and partners support Ebola response in Kasai province
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is facing an Ebola outbreak in Kasai province, located in the southwest, with 35 confirmed cases including 27 deaths.
The UN and partners are supporting the Government in the response, the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General said on Monday in New York. Stéphane Dujarric told reporters that partners working in health have facilitated the delivery of over 350 doses of the Ebola vaccine to the Bulape health zone, the epicentre of the outbreak.
“We have also mobilized rapid response teams focusing on case detection and surveillance, clinical case management, infection and prevention control, and risk communication and community engagement,” he added.
Meanwhile, health partners are mobilizing to contain the outbreak. He warned, however, that gaps in medical supplies and logistical capacity are hindering the response, and urgent funding is needed.
Ukraine: Dozens of casualties reported in weekend hostilities
Hostilities continued over the weekend in Ukraine, with the Donetsk region particularly affected, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported on Monday.
Several civilians have been killed and 40 injured in the region since Friday, while local authorities also documented damage to nearly 190 civilian facilities, including homes, schools, a hospital and a pharmacy.
Other parts of Ukraine also experienced hostilities which damaged homes, farmland and other civilian infrastructure. Nearly 5,000 people remain without electricity in the Zaporizhzhia region.
OCHA said the continuing violence has forced more than 2,700 people, including roughly 340 children, to flee their homes between 12 and 14 September.
He stressed that their support for the non-proliferation regime, the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), and the IAEA, is crucial.
“I urge Member States to recommit to a system that has been one of the most important foundations for international peace, even during the tensest decades of our generation,” he said.
He noted that the conference comes at a time when “acts of terrorism, multiple military conflicts, and the erosion of nuclear norms are all happening against a growing gap between poverty and prosperity.”
Mr. Grossi went on to speak about the ways in which the IAEA is working to stop the spread of nuclear weapons and is putting nuclear science to good use, including for cancer treatment, food security, plastic pollution monitoring, disease detection, and artificial intelligence.
Nuclear safety around the world
Earlier this year, Syria agreed to cooperate with the IAEA, and just last week, the agency reached an agreement with Iran to resume the implementation of nuclear safeguards – technical measures used by the IAEA to ensure that if countries make advancements in nuclear technology, they do so for peaceful purposes.
“When the IAEA confirms the peaceful use of a State’s nuclear material, confidence over nuclear activities is established,” said Mr. Grossi.
Meanwhile, in Ukraine, where nuclear power plants are at risk from conflict, the IAEA has sent over 200 missions and is “present on the ground at all the sites.”
But more challenges remain. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) continues its nuclear weapons programme, while even countries abiding by the NPT, the landmark international agreement meant to abolish nuclear weapons, are debating adding them.
“Think for a minute about a world where instead of a few, we would have 20 or 25 countries armed with nuclear weapons,” he warned.
Peaceful uses of nuclear science
Three years ago, the IAEA launched its flagship programme, Rays of Hope, becoming a “catalyst for real, substantial progress in cancer care.” Through the initiative, concrete actions have been taken in 40 countries: hospitals have been built, radiotherapy machines procured, and physicists trained.
Additionally, the IAEA’s joint programme with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Atoms4Food, is helping boost food security and reduce the environmental strain arising from agriculture.
“In a world of abundance, 700 million people should not have to go to bed hungry every night,” he said.
Mr. Grossi highlighted more ways in which the agency is benefiting the people and the planet, including through its initiative supporting many countries in addressing plastic pollution and waste, and another on improving global preparedness for diseases.
An optimistic outlook
With powerful tools like artificial intelligence and machine learning, “the future is too exciting to miss.”
Nuclear energy can power artificial intelligence infrastructure, while artificial intelligence can improve nuclear technology. To further explore this mutually beneficial relationship, the IAEA will organise the first ever symposium dedicated to the topic in December this year.
Fusion energy, which has been progressing thanks to public and private capital, is another technological development soon expected to take off.
“Every challenge is an opportunity,” concluded Mr. Grossi. “Peace is not simply the absence of conflict. It is dynamic, hopeful striving that I see in what we do all around the world.”
The 69th IAEA General Conference will take place from 15-19 September in Vienna, Austria, where over 3,000 participants are registered to attend.
