Celebrity Media Editor's Note: In August in New York, at the intersection of culture and faith, a story filled with warmth and strength is unfolding. The Rt. Rev. Rose Hudson-Wilkin, former chaplain to the late Queen Elizabeth II and Bishop of Dover, has launched her U.S. book tour with her memoir “A Girl from Montego Bay.” Her itinerary includes Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and Suffolk County on Long Island, with a special book signing at the Jamaican Consulate General—intertwining literature, faith, and philanthropy.
The book signing event for “A Girl from Montego Bay” at the Jamaican Consulate General attracted numerous international friends of various backgrounds from New York. Jamaica’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Brian Christopher Manley Wallace, and the Consul General each delivered speeches during the event. Many attendees enthusiastically asked questions, all of which Bishop Rose answered to their satisfaction.
The event concluded with a live steel drum and guitar performance by two Jamaican artists. The CEO of Celebrity Media and her assistant were invited to attend the event.
This book is not merely a personal memoir but a “guide to life.” With plain yet powerful language, Bishop Rose reflects on her extraordinary journey from humble beginnings in Jamaica to becoming the first Black female bishop in the Church of England. Her story contains both the laughter under the sun and the pain in the shadows—“no hugs or affirmations, only beatings for the slightest wrong”—a part of her childhood memory. Yet she chose not to let pain define her, but to give it new meaning, turning it into a driving force upward.
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” This quote, once placed on her desk during her student years, has now become the clearest annotation of her life. She has lifted her life through faith, illuminated others with leadership, and pioneered her own path with perseverance.
Rt. Rev. Rose Hudson-Wilkin Book Signing
From an international perspective, this journey carries multiple symbolic meanings. Against the backdrop of global migration and multiculturalism, Bishop Rose’s story is a cross-border spiritual testimony—it originates from a Caribbean island nation, yet bloomed at the highest level of the Church of England, and continues to resonate on the urban stages of the United States. For a diverse, multi-ethnic city like New York, this is not just the personal achievement of a Jamaican-born woman, but also a microcosm of how immigrant communities integrate into the mainstream and influence the world through education, faith, and public service.
We believe this tour is not just a literary promotion but a relay of spirit. Bishop Rose uses the proceeds from her book signings to provide scholarships for students at Montego Bay High School for Girls in Jamaica—her heartfelt gift to her alma mater and a sincere entrustment to the next generation of girls. Her message is clear: your origins may be humble, your starting point may be low, but you can choose to aim high.
This gesture also reflects another aspect of the global diaspora—that no matter where one lives, the identity with one’s roots and the sense of responsibility to give back to one’s homeland remain deeply rooted. From Chinese expatriates to Caribbean immigrants, from African heritage communities to Eastern European families, this pattern of transoceanic giving continues and resonates across cultures.
Perhaps, as Bishop Rose says, her story “may not be anything special.” Yet it is precisely the determination and courage behind this humility that makes “A Girl from Montego Bay” not just a book but also a mirror—reflecting each of us who choose to keep moving forward despite adversity, and reminding the world that the footprints from faraway shores will ultimately leave a shining mark on the global stage.
Rose Hudson-Wilkin: The First Black Female Bishop in the Church of England – Early Background and Call to Faith* She was born on January 19, 1961, in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and was raised by her father and aunt. Her childhood was marked by poverty and a lack of physical affection but was deeply nurtured by religious faith. At the age of 14, she felt God’s calling and committed herself to church service.
In 1982, she went to the UK to study at the Church Army College and later took monastic courses at a part-time theological seminary. She was ordained as a deacon in 1991 and became one of the first female priests in the Church of England in 1994. Serving for 16 and a half years in the Hackney area of London, she was deeply involved in pastoral work in the inner-city community and actively participated in organizations addressing racism within the Church.
In 2007, she was appointed Chaplain to the Queen, becoming the first Black woman to hold this position. In 2010, she became the first female Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of Commons (79th), leading parliamentary worship and providing pastoral care. Consecrated as Bishop: In June 2019, she was announced as the Suffragan Bishop of Dover, becoming the first Black female bishop in the history of the Church of England. She was consecrated by the Archbishop of Canterbury at St Paul’s Cathedral on November 19, 2019, and formally installed at Canterbury Cathedral on November 30, 2019.
Since then, she has served as the “Bishop in Canterbury” representing the Archbishop of Canterbury, playing an important leadership role in diocesan administration and pastoral affairs. Social and Faith Voice: Bishop Rose is known for speaking boldly on social issues. She criticized the stigmatization of the term “woke,” stressing its origins and significance in combating racial injustice, and called on the Church to genuinely implement anti-racism action plans.
As a bishop with an immigrant background and as a woman, she has taken public stances on social issues such as refugees, sexual abuse, and racial prejudice, asserting that the Church must be a leading voice for justice while opposing simplistic “trial by media” approaches.
Honors and Influence: In 2020, she was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for her services to young people and the Church; in 2019, she received the Jamaican Government’s Order of Distinction; and she has twice been listed among the UK’s most influential people of African/Caribbean descent.
She has participated in British royal ceremonies, including the 2023 coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, being one of the few female bishops to take part. Warm yet resolute in public image, she has appeared on “BBC Desert Island Discs,” inspiring countless listeners.
2007年获任命为英国皇室牧师（Chaplain to the Queen），是第一位黑人女性担此职务；2010年成为下议院议长的第一位女性牧师（第79任），带领议会礼拜、提供牧灵关怀。加冕为主教：首位黑人女主教 2019年6月，被宣布担任多佛尔主教（Suffragan Bishop of Dover），成为英国圣公会历史上首位黑人女性主教。2019年11月19日在圣保罗大教堂由坎特伯雷大主教祝圣，并于11月30日在坎特伯雷大教堂正式就职。
此后，她担任代表坎特伯雷大主教的“坎特伯雷教区主教”（Bishop in Canterbury），在教区行政与牧灵事务中发挥重要领导角色。社会与信仰声音主教罗斯以敢言直面社会议题著称。她抨击“woke”一词被污名化，强调其起源与对抗种族不公的意义，并呼吁教会真正落实反种族主义行动计划。
Editor's Note: On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the signing of the "Final Act of Helsinki", a milestone high-level meeting was grandly held at Finlandia Hall on July 31, 2025. The "Helsinki+50" conference is not only a tribute and remembrance of the historical legacy of the 1975 Helsinki Conference but also a powerful call for adherence to shared principles in today’s turbulent times.
The attendance and speech by Bruce Knotts, Chair of the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace and Security, highlighted the crucial role civil society plays in upholding the core values of the OSCE. The spirit of Helsinki does not only belong to history but should also illuminate the path of peace today and in the future.
Bruce Knotts, Chair of the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace and Security, at Helsinki+50
Bruce Knotts served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia, worked for Raytheon in Saudi Arabia (1976–1980), and worked in Somalia under a World Bank contract (1982–1984), before joining the U.S. Department of State in 1984 as a diplomat. He was posted to Greece, Zambia, India, Pakistan, Kenya, Sudan, Côte d'Ivoire, and The Gambia, serving as Deputy Chief of Mission in The Gambia. In Côte d'Ivoire, Bruce was Regional Refugee Coordinator for West Africa. From 2000 to 2003, Bruce worked closely with several UN Special Representatives and observed UN peacekeeping operations in Sierra Leone.
Bruce retired from the State Department in 2007 and became Director of the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office (UU-UNO) in 2008. At the UN, he founded a faith-based sexual orientation/gender identity human rights advocacy organization and continued to promote the rights of women and Indigenous Peoples, while advancing sustainable development from a moral perspective rooted in faith and values. Bruce is frequently invited to speak on various topics around the world. Recently, he has spoken in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, China, South Korea, Ghana, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Vietnam.
Bruce is Co-Chair of the NGO Committee on Human Rights at the UN, Chair of the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace and Security, a member of the NGO Working Group on the Security Council, and a board member of the NGO Committee on Sustainable Development. He also previously served as Chair of the NGO/DPI Executive Committee, representing over 1,400 NGOs affiliated with the UN Department of Public Information. Bruce is also a board member of the Parliament of the World's Religions and the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation.
I want to talk about three topics: peace, climate change, and nuclear weapons.
There are many wars going on in the world right now. I want to focus on the civil war in Sudan, the war between Israel and Gaza, and the war between Russia and Ukraine. I do not want to discuss how these wars started, because that would only lead to arguments. In fact, a woman once started arguing that NATO had caused the war in Ukraine. I reminded her that I did not want to argue about the causes of wars, but rather discuss how to end them. I said that wars need weapons and funding. If we can cut off the supply of money and weapons, wars can be stopped.
The civil war in Sudan is a conflict between two Sudanese military groups. One is funded and supported by the United Arab Emirates, and the other by Egypt. If these two countries stopped supporting the military forces in Sudan, the war would end. I mentioned that I had lived and worked in Sudan. I had seen the beautiful Presidential Palace built by the British colonialists, a beautiful Catholic cathedral, many mosques, and elegant homes where I had been warmly welcomed. Now, all of that is gone. Sudan is left with nothing but sand.
The war in Gaza would end immediately if the United States stopped sending weapons and funding to Israel.
What enables Russia to fight a long, drawn-out war? The answer is oil, which they sell at high prices to India and China.
The world is being scorched due to climate change. We must stop using fossil fuels. If Russia stopped supplying oil, it would not only help ease the heat caused by climate change but also bring an end to the war in Ukraine. All nations must stop using fossil fuels.
So, if we end wars and solve climate change, there is still one more problem we must face. Even if we solve all other problems, as long as nuclear weapons exist, our entire planet could still be destroyed. We must abolish nuclear weapons.
In 2006, Bruce married Isaac Humphrey in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Isaac works in international special events. He is also a venue manager for New York Fashion Week, an environmentalist for events, photographer, web designer, and social media consultant.
Breaking down barriers and restoring fairness in global development should be the goal of the Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries, Secretary-General António Guterres said at its opening in Awaza, Turkmenistan, on Tuesday.
Urging global leaders to rethink development for landlocked nations, the UN chief declared: “We gather today to reaffirm a fundamental truth: geography should never define destiny.”
According to the UN Development Programme, of the 32 landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) worldwide, 16 are in Africa, 10 in Asia, four in Europe, and two in Latin America. Together, they are home to over 500 million people.
Trade barriers, debt distress, and deep inequality
Mr. Guterres outlined the “daunting challenges” LLDCs continue to face – steep barriers to trade, high transport costs, and limited access to global markets. He warned that the debt burden of these countries has reached “dangerous and unsustainable levels.”
Although LLDCs account for seven per cent of the world’s population, they represent just over one percent of global economic output and trade. “This is a stark example of deep inequalities that perpetuate marginalization,” said the Secretary-General, attributing this to “an unfair global economic and financial architecture that does not reflect the realities of today’s interconnected world”, as well as to the legacy of colonialism.
Four priorities for progress
UN Secretary-General Guterres calls for action:
Economic Diversification and Digital Transformation:
Invest in value-added industries, local innovation, and inclusive growth
Bridge the digital divide to unlock AI, e-commerce, and smart logistics
Trade, Transit and Regional Connectivity:
Upgrade infrastructure and simplify cross-border procedures
Integrate LLDCs into global value chains and reform trade systems
Climate Action and Resilience:
Double adaptation finance and build climate-resilient infrastructure
Support LLDCs in green transitions with technology and partnerships
Financing and Partnerships:
Reform global financial systems to ensure fair, accessible funding
Scale concessional finance and unlock climate investment at speed
Decade of ambition: the Awaza Programme of Action
The task before the conference, known as LLDC3 and running in Awaza through Friday, is to find solutions to these challenges.
“LLDC3 is about launching a new decade of ambition – through the Awaza Programme of Action and its deliverables – and fully unlocking the development potential of landlocked developing countries,” said Mr. Guterres.
Adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2024, that action plan represents a renewed and strengthened global commitment to support LLDCs’ development aspirations.
A success for all
“The success of landlocked developing countries is essential to the success of the 2030 Agenda,” Mr. Guterres stressed.
“We have the knowledge, and we have the tools … Together, we can transform geography from a barrier to a bridge – connecting not just markets, but the peoples and cultures that give meaning to development.”
Speaking to reporters later, Mr. Guterres emphasized that the conference reflects a new era of cooperation taking shape across Central Asia – one grounded in mutual trust, shared priorities, and growing regional solidarity.
"At a time when multilateral cooperation is being tested, this spirit of partnership is more essential than ever," he said.
Regional challenges, global solidarity
The session opened with a welcome from Turkmenistan’s President, Serdar Berdimuhamedov, who highlighted national initiatives to strengthen international cooperation in healthcare, climate action, and environmental protection.
He also drew attention to regional challenges such as the drying of the Aral Sea and falling water levels in the Caspian Sea, which is the world’s largest enclosed body of water and the setting for the Third UN LLDC Conference.
In his remarks, UN General Assembly President Philémon Yang noted the “rapidly approaching deadline for the 2030 Agenda” and called for decisive action and a renewed commitment to multilateralism and foundational values.
He emphasized that the three pillars of the UN Charter – peace, development, and human dignity – must remain at the heart of all efforts, and that actions must reflect the promise to leave no one behind.
Noting LLDCs’ vulnerability to climate change and structural challenges, Mr. Yang said these countries “must never lack access to opportunity, prosperity, or hope,” and called for international solidarity, infrastructure investment, and the practical realization of freedom of transit.
He also announced that the General Assembly had proclaimed 6 August as the International Day of Awareness on Landlocked Developing Countries, to be observed annually.
“The General Assembly will continue to serve as a global platform in support of these countries,” he said, emphasizing the importance of monitoring the Awaza Programme of Action and preparing for its high-level review in 2029.
Turning vulnerability into opportunity
Also addressing the opening session, Lok Bahadur Thapa, President of the UN Economic and Social Council, said LLDC3 is “a pivotal moment” for the 32 landlocked nations striving to overcome structural barriers to development.
Hailing from Nepal, which is both landlocked and least developed, he emphasized that the Awaza Programme of Action must serve as a “bold, ambitious, actionable, and future-oriented blueprint” to turn vulnerability into opportunity for over 570 million people.
Mr. Thapa underscored the urgency of addressing the “growing complexity, scale and urgency” of challenges facing LLDCs, including debt distress, climate impacts, and infrastructure gaps. Mr. Thapa urged the creation of an infrastructure investment facility for LLDCs, along with scaled-up climate finance, increased concessional resources, and accelerated technology transfer.
He also stressed the importance of regional cooperation and sustainable transport, praised Turkmenistan’s leadership, and reaffirmed ECOSOC’s commitment to advancing the Awaza Programme of Action – pledging to integrate LLDC priorities such as food security, youth empowerment, and climate resilience across all ECOSOC discussions and processes.
LLDC3 continues tomorrow, Wednesday 6 August, with roundtables and events on a range of topics, including connectivity and transport, South-South cooperation, youth engagement and more. Find all our coverage here.
Celebrity Media Commentator: On July 29, a profoundly influential article—one that the world must confront—was rapidly published on a major American television platform. Authored personally by the Senior Media President of the United Nations News Centre, the article is not only sharply written and penetrating in its analysis, but also remarkably timely: it appeared less than 24 hours after the conclusion of the high-level "Two-State Solution" conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia. Undoubtedly, it sends a clear message—the international community can no longer turn a blind eye to the suffering in Gaza and the worsening humanitarian crisis.
In this decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the people of Gaza have become the most direct victims. The warning issued by UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the conference was sobering: we are standing on the brink of the total collapse of peace efforts. He stated that the conflict has “taken lives, destroyed futures, and destabilized the region and our world”—a fact that no one can deny.
Even more alarming, Guterres candidly identified the problem as systemic. This is not merely a confrontation between rockets and bombs, but a complete breakdown of international order and moral standards. For years, the "Two-State Solution" has been globally recognized as the only sustainable path to resolving the conflict, yet it has been increasingly marginalized, hollowed out, and even ridiculed.
Against this backdrop, the President's article poses a pointed question: In the face of recurring humanitarian disasters and the repeated deaths of civilians in warfare, has the international community's so-called “language of justice” become an empty performance? Particularly when we see global powers wavering in the face of their own interests—or even enabling extreme actions by one side—the “moral high ground” begins to look absurd.
This is not an article for political elites to casually discuss, nor is it a compilation of diplomatic platitudes. It is a heavy interrogation: In the face of genocidal risk, do we still have the courage to speak the truth? Do we still dare to uphold justice?
Guterres' words are resounding: “The conflict can be resolved. It requires political will, courageous leadership—and it requires truth.” This statement goes far beyond a typical speech; it is a call echoing with historical weight.
Encouragingly, some “elders” are beginning to speak out. They are not those seated on thrones of power, but those who remain steadfast on the high ground of moral integrity. The Secretary-General’s blunt remarks and the author’s firm expression both serve as reminders to the world: in the face of Gaza’s tragedy, we do not need more “concern” or “disappointment” dressed as diplomacy—we need action, responsibility, and an end to hypocrisy.
Now is the time to test the moral bottom line of the international community.
Mary Robinson, Juan Manuel Santos, and Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, break ranks with silence and ignite a moral reckoning at the UN
The Elders at UNCA, From Left to Right, Edith Lederer (AP), Juan Manuel Santos Chair of The Elders and former President of Colombia and Nobel Peace Laureate, Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights"
The Elders at UNCA, From Left to Right, Edith Lederer (AP), Juan Manuel Santos Chair of The Elders and former President of Colombia and Nobel Peace Laureate, Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
By Ahmed Fathi UNHQ, NEW YORK
— In a moment that felt both familiar and quietly hopeful, the United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) welcomed The Elders—a group founded in 2007 by Nelson Mandela—to a frank and at times emotional conversation on the future of Israel and Palestine.
Held just hours after a high-level conference co-hosted by France and Saudi Arabia on the two-state solution, the panel featured Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, former Irish President and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, and Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, also a former UN Human Rights Chief and now Chair of the International Peace Institute. The discussion was skillfully moderated by veteran AP correspondent Edith Lederer, UNCA’s First Vice President.
What emerged was not just another roundtable of dignitaries repeating the well-worn talking points. It was a masterclass in humility, history, and hard-earned wisdom.
“From Words to Willpower”
Mary Robinson opened the panel with cautious optimism, praising the substance emerging from the day’s working groups, while underscoring the “unbearable” humanitarian crisis in Gaza. She didn't mince words: “There is a widespread sense now that this Israeli government is committing genocide,” she said, referencing recent findings by Israeli rights organizations B’Tselem and Physicians for Human Rights–Israel.
Her remarks were grounded in legal precedent, citing the ICJ’s advisory opinion and violations of Article 2 of the EU-Israel Association Agreement. But beyond the law, her moral clarity resonated: “This is a moment to act—not just speak.”
“The Impossible Becomes Inevitable—When Done”
President Santos, drawing on Colombia’s peace deal with the FARC after decades of war, struck a chord with a sentiment rarely heard in today’s hyperpolarized diplomacy: patience with purpose.
He criticized Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s vow to “eliminate Hamas,” calling it a “major strategic mistake.” In his words, “Hamas is a cause, not just an organization. And every militant killed gives birth to two more.”
Santos, now Chair of The Elders, acknowledged the complexity of including Hamas in future governance but insisted that pressure—political and military—must be balanced with incentives. “Every conflict has something each party wants,” he reminded the room, urging negotiators to find that leverage.
“A Land for All: Ideas from the Ground Up”
Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein brought attention to grassroots efforts like Two States, One Homeland—a Palestinian-Israeli initiative that envisions mutual sovereignty and an end to occupation without endless land-swap negotiations. “The brilliance of this plan is that it’s not ours,” he said. “It’s theirs—born from activists and lawyers living this reality.”
His candid assessment? “We’ve all been here long enough to suffer from a form of PTSD. But leave and come back—you’ll notice the shift.”
Questions That Cut Through the Fog
Ahmed Fathi with Juan Manuel Santos the Chair of the Elders and former President of Colombia, and Noble Peace Prize Laurette.
The press corps didn’t shy away. I raised the issue of enforcement: How can the consensus on Palestinian statehood move from resolution to reality when Israel rejects unilateral recognition, and Hamas remains entrenched in Gaza?
Santos replied with what may be the panel’s most instructive lesson: “You cannot change reality with carrots alone, nor with sticks alone. You need both—and you need trust.”
He emphasized the importance of broadening the dialogue to include actors like Iran, with the goal of politically cornering Hamas into becoming part of the solution, not the problem.
Robinson, meanwhile, challenged the notion of futility: “This is not déjà vu. There are steps—real ones—being taken. The world is shifting. The momentum is building.”
A Declaration, and a Delicate Window
As questions continued, Zeid noted the symbolic return to a “Madrid-style” multilateral process, a far cry from the stagnant bilateral talks of the past. With France and Saudi Arabia guiding the declaration expected this September, hope lies in its capacity to be a launchpad, not just another ceremonial endpoint.
In her final word, Robinson paid tribute to the late UN diplomat Mohammed Sahnoun, recalling how a famine in Somalia—and one man’s moral conviction—sparked her lifelong belief that courage and humanity must lead policy.
“Let’s Not Wait for History to Repeat Itself”
The room may not have been filled with fireworks, but it pulsed with urgency. These were not just elder statespersons trading rhetoric—they were architects of peace, cautioning against complacency and pushing the world toward deliverables.
“Let’s hope we all live to see peace in the Middle East,” Edith Lederer said, closing the event with a sentiment that felt less like wishful thinking, and more like a collective plea.
If peace feels impossible, The Elders reminded us, it’s only because it hasn’t been done—yet.
Rose Hudson-Wilkin: The First Black Female Bishop in the Church of England – Early Background and Call to Faith* She was born on January 19, 1961, in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and was raised by her father and aunt. Her childhood was marked by poverty and a lack of physical affection but was deeply nurtured by religious faith. At the age of 14, she felt God’s calling and committed herself to church service.
Bruce Knotts, Chair of the NGO Committee on Disarmament, Peace and Security, at Helsinki+50
© Unsplash/Jairph Kyrgyzstan is a mountainous country in Central Asia. It shares borders with China, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan and has no direct access to the sea.
The Elders at UNCA, From Left to Right, Edith Lederer (AP), Juan Manuel Santos Chair of The Elders and former President of Colombia and Nobel Peace Laureate, Zeid Ra’ad Al-Hussein, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Mary Robinson former President of Ireland and former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights" 
Ahmed Fathi with Juan Manuel Santos the Chair of the Elders and former President of Colombia, and Noble Peace Prize Laurette.