Latest news with #globalgovernance
The National
a day ago
- Business
- The National
Germany's former foreign minister elected president of UN General Assembly
Former German foreign minister Annalena Baerbock was elected president of the UN General Assembly on Monday, despite opposition from Russia. Ms Baerbock, 44, won with 167 votes in a secret ballot, with 14 abstentions. Russia had pushed for the secret vote in a last-minute challenge, but her appointment was widely seen as a formality given she was the only candidate. The Green Party politician, who needed only a simple majority, will assume the one-year post on September 9, before the 80th annual high-level gathering of world leaders at the UN. Ms Baerbock will be the fifth woman to preside over the UN General Assembly in its nearly 80-year history, and the first European woman to hold the post. Unlike past presidents, who largely focused on protocol, she vowed to tackle bureaucratic inefficiencies, boost transparency and strengthen the assembly's voice in choosing the next UN secretary general. "My door will always be open for everyone – better together," Ms Baerbock said after her election, emphasising a commitment to "trust-based dialogue" with all member states. She also stressed the importance of including input from all regions and groups in the reform process. 'This organisation requires adequate, reliable funding, and at the same time, we need to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the entire system,' Ms Baerbock said. The General Assembly presidency is primarily an organisational role, overseeing plenary sessions among the body's 193 member states. Ms Baerbock has faced criticism for her strong pro- Israel stance during the Gaza conflict, with opponents accusing her of echoing Israeli government rhetoric. "Of course, self-defence means not only attacking terrorists, but destroying them," she said last year. "When Hamas terrorists hide behind people, behind schools, we do not cower in the face of it. Then civilian places can also lose their protected status because terrorists abuse it. That is what Germany stands for, and for us that means the security of Israel." Ms Baerbock's term as General Assembly president will test whether she can translate her reformist talk into tangible changes at the UN.
South China Morning Post
5 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Wang Yi ushers in new era of China-led mediation with Hong Kong-based legal body
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spearheaded a signing ceremony in Hong Kong on Friday to establish the world's first intergovernmental organisation dedicated to mediation, which he said would transcend 'you-lose-I-win' mindsets and improve representation of the Global South. Advertisement Most of the 33 signatories of the Convention on the Establishment of the International Organisation for Mediation were African countries, such as Algeria, Ethiopia and Cameroon. Alongside them were five countries – including Pakistan, Laos and Indonesia – from Asia, five from Latin America and the Caribbean, five from Oceania and two from Europe. Wang, China's top diplomat, said the new legal body would fill the 'institutional gap' in international mediation and serve as 'an important public good' in the field of the rule of law, ensuring better global governance. 'The birth of the mediation centre will help transcend the 'you-lose-I-win' zero-sum mentality, promote the amicable resolution of international disputes and foster more harmonious international relations,' Wang told the audience. The body's headquarters, located at the former Wan Chai Police Station, is due to open by the end of this year or early 2026. Advertisement Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu said the setting up of the organisation was increasingly important given the 'mounting geopolitical tensions' globally and protectionism that threatened to derail the international trade order.
Times of Oman
5 days ago
- Business
- Times of Oman
Speaker Om Birla to lead Indian delegation to BRICS Forum in Brazil on June 3
New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla will lead an Indian Parliamentary Delegation (IPD) to the Eleventh BRICS Parliamentary Forum to be held in Brasilia, Brazil on June 3-5 as per an official statement. The delegation will also comprise Harivansh, Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha; Surendra Singh Nagar, Member of Parliament; Vijay Baghel, Member of Parliament; Vivek Thakur, Member of Parliament; Shabari Byreddy, Member of Parliament; Utpal Kumar Singh, Secretary General, Lok Sabha; and P.C. Mody, Secretary General, Rajya Sabha. According to the release, the overall theme of the Eleventh BRICS Parliamentary Forum is 'The Role of BRICS Parliaments in Building a More Inclusive and Sustainable, Global Governance'. Presiding Officers and Members of Parliament from BRICS countries (Brasil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Iran) and invited nations-- Belarus, Bolivia, Kazakhstan, Cuba, Nigeria, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda and Uzbekistan--along with the President of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) H.E. Ms. Tulia Ackson will also participate in the Forum meetings. The Lok Sabha Speaker will address the forums on 'Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation for Responsible and Inclusive Artificial Intelligence' and 'BRICS Parliaments United for the Reform of the multilateral peace and security architecture'. According to the release, the Delegation will also participate in the proceedings during the Plenary Sessions on the sub-themes including 'BRICS Parliamentary Action in Search of New Paths for Economic Development'; 'Towards Stronger and More Durable BRICS Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation'; 'BRICS Inter-Parliamentary Alliance for Global Health'; 'BRICS Inter-Parliamentary Dialogue on Climate and Sustainability'. A Joint Statement will be adopted at the end of the Summit. The Speaker, Lok Sabha may also hold bilateral meetings with Presiding Officers of participating Parliaments on the sidelines of this Forum.
