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Expanding the Mandate of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy in Ashgabat Discussed in New York

27 May. 14:35

Source

On May 26, during his working visit to the United States, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, Rashid Meredov, met with the UN Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, Rosemary DiCarlo. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, the senior officials reviewed a wide array of partnership matters, highlighting Ashgabat's consistent adherence to permanent neutrality, preventive diplomacy, and the rule of law in international relations.

A key topic of discussion was the strategic evaluation of the UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), headquartered in Ashgabat. Commending the Center’s vital role in the region, both parties discussed concrete possibilities for expanding its operational scope and functional duties. This expansion aims to optimize regional cooperation networks, scale up trust-building measures, and advance peaceful resolution mechanisms based on dialogue.

Furthermore, the meeting highlighted practical advancements regarding Turkmenistan’s initiative to establish the University of Peace and Neutrality. As a foundational step, a Department of Peace and Neutrality has been established at the Institute of International Relations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, which plans to launch a specialized Master's program and collaborate closely with the UN University for Peace. Finally, the diplomats emphasized the importance of large-scale infrastructure projects, explicitly identifying the Turkmenistan–Afghanistan–Pakistan–India (TAPI) gas pipeline as a cornerstone for regional peace, economic stability, and energy security.

















Singapore Pledges Up to $55,000 Per Child to Boost Falling Birth Rates

24 Aug. 12:48

Source

Facing a record drop in fertility rates, Singapore is significantly expanding its family support framework. According to Bloomberg, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong announced increases in direct financial assistance alongside enhanced housing benefits for young families.

Under the updated policy, every Singaporean child up to the age of 17 will be eligible to receive up to 70,000 Singapore dollars (approximately $55,000 USD) in total support, which includes cash payouts, educational grants, and related benefits. The government is also expanding paid parental leave and capping monthly out-of-pocket costs for government-subsidized childcare at 150 Singapore dollars.

These interventions aim to reverse a severe demographic decline, marked by last year's fertility rate drop to 0.87 children per woman, while over 20% of the country's population is currently aged 65 or older.