News headlines for “United Nations on Development Issues”, page 44
20 Years of the WHO FCTC: It’s Time to Make Big Tobacco Pay
- Inter Press Service

MANILA, Philippines / PANAMA CITY, Panama, Feb 27 (IPS) - The world took a historic step in the fight against tobacco when the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) came into force—the first legally binding global health treaty of its kind.
UN chief calls for peace and justice as Ramadan begins
- UN News

As Muslims around the world prepare to mark the beginning of the Holy Month of Ramadan, UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a call on Thursday for compassion, empathy and generosity, urging people everywhere to embrace their common humanity and work towards a more just and peaceful world.
How AI Can Help Both Tax Collectors and Taxpayers
- Inter Press Service

WASHINGTON DC, Feb 26 (IPS) - New technologies have the potential to improve the relationship between governments and citizens. Tax portals, customs IT systems and online services have simplified interactions with public authorities, reduced bureaucratic hurdles, and increased transparency. Now, generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) is emerging as the next transformative force.
Outlook for 2025: Strengthening the Foundations of Children’s Futures
- Inter Press Service

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 25 (IPS) - In 2025, the world is facing a new and intensifying era of crisis for children. Climate change, economic instability, and conflict are hitting harder and more often, intersecting in ways that make the challenges of addressing them even more severe.
Is the UN's Human Rights Agenda in Jeopardy?
- Inter Press Service

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 24 (IPS) - The UN’s human rights agenda is in danger of faltering since the Geneva-based Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) is planning to “restructure” the office, under the moniker OHCHR 2.0.
But this proposal, if implemented, would result in the abolition of the Special Procedures Branch, established by the Human Rights Council (HRC), to report and advise on human rights from thematic and country-specific perspectives.
Where do UN Member States Stand on a Feminist Secretary-General?
- Inter Press Service

NEW YORK, Feb 21 (IPS) - The selection of the next UN Secretary-General (UNSG) will be a pivotal moment in global efforts to resist authoritarianism and work together to address shared problems. Where do UN Member States stand on appointing a feminist woman to this role?
The Arab States Must Stop Trump – and Netanyahu – in Their Tracks
- Inter Press Service

NEW YORK, Feb 20 (IPS) - When the Arab states convene an emergency session in Egypt to address Trump’s/Netanyahu’s plans to take over Gaza and exile the Palestinians, they must warn Trump that acting on this plan will usher in a catastrophic conflagration that could engulf the entire Middle East.
Trump’s War on Global Governance: Lessons from the Past on How to Fight Back
- Inter Press Service

PRETORIA, South Africa, Feb 19 (IPS) - Daniel D. Bradlow is Professor/Senior Research Fellow, Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria, South Africa.US president Donald Trump’s recent actions seem designed to reassert American power and demonstrate that it is still the dominant global power and is capable of bullying weaker nations into following America’s lead.
Trump’s Proposed Gaza Takeover Denounced as “Mad Ethnic Cleansing Plan”
- Inter Press Service

UNITED NATIONS, Feb 19 (IPS) - President Trump—whose rash and ill-conceived proposals continue unabated—has threatened to “seize Gaza,” turn it into a “Riviera of the Middle East,” and move Palestinians to Egypt and Jordan, two longstanding American allies who depend heavily on US support for their survival.
The US President has also hinted that both countries would suffer either cutbacks or elimination of billions of dollars in economic and military aid —if they refuse to cooperate with him.
Shaping AI Rules Through Trade Agreements
- Inter Press Service

BANGKOK, Thailand, Feb 18 (IPS) - The inclusion of AI provisions in preferential trade agreements (PTAs) has been steadily rising. Since 2019, when the China-Mauritius Free Trade Agreement first mentioned AI, PTAs have progressively evolved to include elements addressing the broader implications of emerging technologies.
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