Support Independent Journalism - Find out how →

Master of Science in Humanitarian Studies at Fordham University
Master of Science in Humanitarian Studies at Fordham University
PassBlue - Covering the UN

Support Independent Journalism - Support PassBlue - Find out how →

General Assembly

THIS WEEK @UN

US Severs Ties to the WHO, Security Council Vetoes, Counterterrorism Week

July 10, 2020 
by Allison Lecce
In a final straw to the current troubles between the World Health Organization and the United States, the Trump administration notified United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on July 6 of its withdrawal from the agency, effective July 6, 2021. But the story may not be over, as Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, tweeted: …

Read More →

THIS WEEK @UN

The UN Charter’s Birthday, Guterres ‘Meets’ the Press, Israel’s Annexation Plans

June 26, 2020 
by Allison Lecce
Starting in June, a summary of the most important news on the United Nations’ work in New York City and worldwide will be highlighted weekly. The news will be drawn from the UN spokesperson’s briefings, our original reporting and other sources. We welcome your feedback on the new series, called This Week @UN. This …

Read More →

COVID-19

India, Ireland, Kenya, Mexico and Norway to Join the UN Security Council

June 17, 2020 
by Stéphanie Fillion
An almost empty General Assembly Hall, masks of all types and colors and diplomats rejoicing to see their colleagues that they probably have seen only on their computer screens for months marked this year’s General Assembly elections at the United Nations. On June 17, Norway and Ireland won the two open seats on the …

Read More →

COVID-19

As Protests Sweep the US, the UN Tweets Platitudes

June 3, 2020 
by Dulcie Leimbach
Protest on the Brooklyn Bridge
In New York City, protesters swarm the roadway portion of the Brooklyn Bridge, heading from the City Hall area of lower Manhattan into Brooklyn. The crowd stopped incoming traffic, but there was no violence, May 30, 2020. JOHN PENNEY Amid curfews in New York City, constant marches and protests, sirens from the streets and …

Read More →

COVID-19

Robbed of Their Island in the Indian Ocean, Chagossians Linger in a Pandemic-Shadowed Limbo

May 21, 2020 
by Stéphanie Fillion
Exactly one year ago, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution calling on Britain to return the Chagos Archipelago, a cluster of islands in the middle of the Indian Ocean, to Mauritius, an island-nation off the southeast coast of Africa. The resolution endorsed an International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion that had been …

Read More →

COVID-19

Canada, Ireland and Norway Wrap Up Their Campaigns for Security Council Seats as New Voting Methods Are Proposed

May 4, 2020 
by Stéphanie Fillion
CHICOUTIMI, Canada — The Canadian ambassador to the United Nations, Marc-André Blanchard, told a Canadian newspaper in March “now is not the time to campaign for a Security Council seat,” as world diplomacy is being disrupted by the coronavirus and the United Nations headquarters remains physically closed for now. But the reality is there …

Read More →

COVID-19

Living Through the Pandemic in the World’s Most Livable City

April 9, 2020 
by Mona Ali Khalil
Vienna from my window
VIENNA — Since moving to Austria in 2018, I have enjoyed the comparably high standard of living and relatively low cost of living that the city offers. As a foreigner, I feel at home in this beautiful city, which is also home to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the International Atomic …

Read More →

COVID-19

The Security Council Goes Silent as the Secretary-General Opens Up

March 27, 2020 
by Stéphanie Fillion and Kacie Candela
United Nations Security Council Virtual Meeting
For the coronavirus outbreak, UN-Scripted, our podcast series, is ramping up its coverage by offering a bonus episode this week. This time, we look at how the United Nations Security Council is slowly restarting its program of work but offering few details on its operations to the media and all the countries that don’t …

Read More →

COVID-19

The UN’s War Plan Against the Coronavirus as It Attacks the Globe

March 26, 2020 
by Dulcie Leimbach and Stéphanie Fillion
Secretary-General António Guterres holds a virtual press briefing
The coronavirus officially hit the United Nations at its New York City headquarters on March 12, when the first reported case was announced by the Philippines mission to the UN that one of its diplomats had Covid-19 and was recovering. Twenty-four hours later, the UN announced that its personnel in New York — with …

Read More →

COVID-19

A UN Diplomat From the Philippines Has the Coronavirus as It Hits New York

March 12, 2020 
by Dulcie Leimbach
As the number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus keeps rising in New York City this week, the United Nations remains open for business for diplomats and for staff members who are not telecommuting, while tourists were banned as of March 10. Yet as of early evening on March 12, it was revealed by …

Read More →

The Cold War Returns as Russia and Iran Disrupt UN Work to Protest Visa Denials by the US

October 18, 2019 
by Stéphanie Fillion
Russia and Iran are disrupting the new cycle of United Nations committees’ work to pressure the United States to stop denying visas to their diplomats from attending the meetings in New York. While Russia often brings up visa issues to try to hold up work at the UN, such actions are no déjà vu …

Read More →

The Oscars of International Politics: A #UNGA74 Recap

September 26, 2019 
by Stéphanie Fillion and Kacie Candela
This year’s opening session of the United Nations General Assembly stood out for revealing the stark divide now defining international relations: the split between globalists and patriots. On this week’s UN-Scripted podcast, PassBlue reporters Kacie Candela and Stéphanie Fillion look at the similarities in speeches at the high-level debates, between Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro …

Read More →

TOPIC: WOMEN

Women Sighted at #UNGA. Plus: Iran’s Warnings to the US and Russians Denied Visas

September 25, 2019 
by Laura E. Kirkpatrick
How women’s issues could be more prominent at the United Nations General Assembly’s annual opening session remains an enigma. The topics of women’s rights and gender equality pop up in speeches by world leaders, including those by women, but their remarks just don’t stand out — especially this year. “As the UN rightly tries …

Read More →

Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on linkedin
LinkedIn
Share on email
Email
Master of Science in Humanitarian Studies at Fordham University

This Week's Most Popular

UN-Scripted, the Passblue UN podcast series

UN-Scripted: PassBlue's exclusive podcast series
Youtube Instagram Facebook-f Twitter
new-school-international-affairs-logo

PassBlue is a partner with the New School - Julien J. Studley Graduate Program in International Affairs

Master of Science in Humanitarian Studies at Fordham University
© 2020 - PassBlue

Don't Miss a Story:

Subscribe to PassBlue

Sign up to get the smartest news on the UN by email, joining readers across the globe.​

We respect your privacy and take protecting it seriously​