The United States remains the largest donor to the UN, which is already facing significant budget pressures, spurring palpable anxiety over the prospect of funding cuts.

The idea of dedicating a day to promote harmony and peaceful coexistence—a day that fosters diversity, justice, and understanding across borders, cultures, and beliefs—seems promising in theory.

Millions of people live in great poverty and starvation due to pandemics, wars, and climate disasters. Nonetheless, a tiny number of billionaires who control and manage most TNCs continue to amass unheard-of sums of money.

Can democracy and development survive this onslaught on human rights and the rule of law?

Most of the 2.1-billion-strong workforce in Asia and the Pacific are denied access to decent jobs, healthcare and social protection.