Online Program Enrolling Now - Seton Hall - United Nations Institute for Training and Research
Online Program Enrolling Now - Seton Hall - United Nations Institute for Training and Research

BLUE SMOKE: A monthly column, from PassBlue and UNA–UK, spotlighting senior appointments at the UN

Damilola Banjo

Damilola Banjo is a staff reporter for PassBlue. She has a master's of science degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and a B.A. in communications and language arts from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. She has worked as a producer for NPR's WAFE station in Charlotte, N.C.; for the BBC as an investigative journalist; and as a staff investigative reporter for Sahara Reporters Media.

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Pascale Baeriswyl, Switzerland’s permanent representative to the United Nations, told PassBlue that the country’s historic neutrality does not stop it from speaking out against violations of international law. Switzerland has been a UN member state since 2002, and it…

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This week, the crises around the world hit a new tipping point. You are reading This Week @UN, summarizing the most pressing issues before the organization. The information is gathered from UN press briefings, PassBlue reporting and other sources….

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This week, the United Nations restated it commitment to remain in Afghanistan despite reports to the contrary. You are reading This Week @UN, summarizing the most pressing issues before the organization. The information is gathered from UN press briefings,…

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Taina Bien-Aimé started speaking up for women’s rights when she was still a teenager. A daughter of two Haitians who had met and settled in New York City, she was only about 15, some childhood friends recently reminded her,…

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Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vassily Nebenzia, described the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against President Vladimir Putin as “stupid.” Nebenzia said this while taking questions from journalists during his briefing as rotating president of…

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This week, our articles at PassBlue looked at how various experts are demanding better governance from the United Nations. Plus, Russia taking the monthly rotating presidency of the Security Council in April as it pummels Ukraine is provoking angst…

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The United States is working hard to get back on the world stage after four years of the Trump administration’s shunning of multilateral organizations — starting with the United Nations itself. Now the UN’s International Organization for Migration is…

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This week, we report on Russia getting its first hint that it might someday be held accountable for its territorial assault on Ukraine. You are reading This Week @UN, summarizing the most pressing issues before the organization. The information…

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This week, we focus on countries with enduring humanitarian disasters, plus big news from the International Criminal Court on Russia. You are reading This Week @UN, summarizing the most pressing issues before the organization. The information is gathered from…

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Just because it was International Women’s Day on March 8, we focus on women all week! Why not? You are reading This Week @UN, summarizing the most pressing issues before the organization. The information is culled from UN press…

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Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari opposes the general perception that Islam represses women while ignoring various negative indices regarding women in his own country. “Islam was the first religion to give rights to women,” he declared in a…

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This week, we focus on yet another migration disaster off Italy’s coast, resulting in approximately 180 deaths, including children, while attempting what UN and other officials call “irregular migration.” You are reading This Week @UN, summarizing the most pressing…

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Mozambique, the southern African nation with scenic beaches and islands, will focus on issues around security and terrorism as it leads the United Nations Security Council in March. This is the first time Mozambique has been an elected member…

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You are reading This Week @UN, summarizing the most pressing issues before the organization. The information is gathered from UN press briefings, PassBlue reporting and other sources. This week, we look at the humanitarian crises in Ukraine and another…

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LAGOS — A women-focused organization is seeking to increase funding for Nigerian women who want to participate in politics. In a country with only 6.4 percent of women taking active roles in public office, the organization understands the challenges…

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UNGA78: A quiz from PassBlue
Online Program Enrolling Now - Seton Hall - United Nations Institute for Training and Research

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