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

Secretary-General

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Welcome to This Week @UN, where we summarize the most important news coming out of the organization as well as promote our own articles, focusing on Armenia and Azerbaijan, the tail end of the UN General Assembly’s big week, Russia’s human …

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Barbados: The Time for Reparative Justice Has Come — Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley said that reparative justice is inevitable for countries that suffered the horrendous consequences of the trans-Atlantic slave trade to develop economically. She made this …

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The United Nations Secretariat has received requests from both the ousted government of Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum, who has been held hostage in Niger’s capital Niamey by the country’s military since it staged a coup d’état on July 26, 2023, …

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His Peace Plan Will Save Both Ukraine and the UN, Zelensky Says — President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine promoted his 10-point peace formula to the United Nations Security Council, meant to end Russia’s war in his country. Among the points …

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Biden Pushes Global Unity as Russia Keeps Demolishing Ukraine —  President Joe Biden called for unity and partnership as world leaders gathered at what he described as an “inflection point in world history,” where nations must work together to “preserve …

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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 focus on the bookended natural disasters in Libya and Morocco. And, …

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Moroccans affected by the 6.8 magnitude earthquake that hit the North African country on Sept. 8 are calling for humanitarian aid as they search for and hope to rescue loved ones still trapped under the rubble. Yet the country’s leadership …

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We are back with our ever-popular weekly summary after a pause in August, grappling with the hottest summer on record. We continued to publish exclusive stories, provocative opinion pieces and a podcast episode, staying active on Twitter (X), Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. Follow us on …

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It is no secret that United Nations mediation is in a state of decline. The UN is no longer in the lead role in conflict countries where the secretary-general and his representatives or special envoys are mandated to provide mediation …

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As we celebrate Women’s Equality Day, on Aug. 26, Afghanistan sits in stark contrast to much progress elsewhere in the world. It’s clear that the country is going backward and that the prospects for equality for Afghan women and girls …

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Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has not discouraged the United Nations from buying millions of dollars of goods and services from Moscow, according to the latest annual statistical report on UN procurement, published in July. In 2022, UN purchases from …

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Hundreds of cluster munitions have been used on Ukrainian territory since the full-scale war began in February 2022 as countries across the world have continuously condemned their deployment. Now it appears that the munitions the United States is sending to …

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As the sun rises over the picturesque landscape of Kashmir, it’s easy to believe that all is well in the region. But beneath the scenic beauty is a harsh and unsettling reality — composed of a military occupation, oppression of …

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This week, we focus on the coup in Niger, which has been condemned by the United Nations, African Union, United States, European Union and regional organizations. You are reading This Week @UN, summarizing the most pressing issues before the organization. …

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The United Nations Office of Counterterrorism says it is growing its offices overseas to become more efficient, but some civil society experts who follow the UN’s counterterrorism work closely remain skeptical. They contend that the new centers expand a somewhat-secretive …

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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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