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Issue 3: What’s on the table?
In an earlier column, we reviewed the economic-development tools currently available in Arkansas and how Issue 3 can expand that toolbox by authorizing the General Assembly to provide for economic...
Issue 3: What’s on the table?
In an earlier column, we reviewed the economic-development tools currently available in Arkansas and how Issue 3 can expand that toolbox by authorizing the General Assembly to provide for economic...
Greg Hinz: Can the brave new world of AI be tamed?
Pritzker’s team says they’re pondering AI legislation when the General Assembly returns in November. But real solutions will require not state but federal, even international action.
Greg Hinz: Can the brave new world of AI be tamed?
Pritzker’s team says they’re pondering AI legislation when the General Assembly returns in November. But real solutions will require not state but federal, even international action.
UN Decade of Healthy Ageing midpoint report finds progress, calls for greater investment
New evidence in the Secretary-General's report to the 81st UN General Assembly, prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in coordination with the UN system, finds more countries acting on healthy ageing than ever before – but longer lives will not become healthy, dignified ones without faster, more sustained investment at country level.(NEW YORK, 28 September 2026) The Secretary-General transmitted to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly the mid-term progress report on the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030), marking the midpoint of the ten-year global effort to improve the lives of older people. The report was prepared by the World Health Organization (WHO) in coordination with the UN Inter-Agency Group on Ageing and with inputs from thirteen UN entities, the World Bank Group and civil society partners. It finds real progress in countries – and persistent gaps that must close before 2030.The number of people aged 60 and over passed 1 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050, with the fastest growth in low- and middle-income countries. Longer lives are not automatically healthy ones: globally, the gap between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy at age 60 widened between 2000 and 2023, and an estimated 71% of excess deaths from COVID-19 between 2020 and 2023 were among people aged 60 and over. “Longer lives are one of humanity’s great achievements, but we cannot congratulate ourselves while leaving millions without health and support,” said Dr Pascale Allotey, Director, Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, WHO. “The first half of the Decade has shown what is possible. The second half must be about scaling and financing the progress to meet the needs and rights of older persons.”Real progress, unevenly sharedThe report finds that more countries than ever now have legislation against age-based discrimination – up from 44.5% in 2018 to 57.7% today – and over half now have national long-term care policies, up from 49% in 2023 to 56.7%, dedicated programmes to build age-friendly environments (54.6%), and comprehensive health and social assessments of older people (54.6%). New WHO guidance on services for long-term care and for Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) delivered in communities is enabling systemic change as an increasing number of countries incorporate these services within national universal health care benefit packages. A host of UN agencies and other partners support training, increasing health workforce competencies and use of digital health tools.“This report shows the Decade of Healthy Ageing is working,” said Dr Ritu Sadana, Head of the WHO Secretariat for the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing. “More countries are legislating against ageism, providing integrated care, strengthening long-term care systems, and creating age-friendly environments than ever before, in all regions and income levels. But progress is uneven and in one area, regressive: fewer countries report active multi-stakeholder forums on ageing, down from 53.1% in 2020 to 43.3% today. The second half of this Decade must turn commitments into results, in every country.”The financing gap: this Decade's binding constraintFinancing remains the binding constraint: more than a third of reporting countries (33.8%) have very little or no dedicated resources to develop long-term care, with similar shortfalls across the Decade’s other priority areas. Less than half of countries (45.4%) have legislation providing access to assistive devices (including hearing aids, spectacles or rollators), which are key to enabling older people to maintain productive, independent and dignified lives. Only 22.7% of countries can track older people’s health over time – the largest gap across the Decade’s core progress indicators. Nationally representative information is needed in each country, as policies and interventions cannot be designed as if all older adults of a given age share similar needs and capacities. The report calls for sustained investment through national budgets, country-owned plans, development cooperation and innovative financing mechanisms to fully close these gaps by 2030.“The Decade was designed as a whole-of-UN effort, and this report shows it in action,” said Amal Abou Rafeh, Chief of the Programme on Ageing Section at the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), and Permanent Co-Chair of the UN Inter-Agency Group on Ageing. “Thirteen UN entities, the World Bank group and civil society organizations contributed to this report, with WHO as the lead technical and implementing agency. That is the model of coordination the second half of the Decade will need to scale, with countries leading legislation, funding and implementation, engaging older people.”“Investing in healthy ageing is not simply a cost; it is one of the highest-return investments a government can make,” said Fiona Stewart, Global Lead for Ageing and Pensions at the World Bank Group. “Countries that invest early in integrated and long-term care see savings that outweigh the upfront cost many times over. The evidence in this report makes the economic case; what is now needed is predictable financing at country level to act on it, along with efforts to support older entrepreneurs and the silver economy.”Older people's own voicesThe report also draws on the direct experience of older people themselves, including a multilingual global survey conducted by the International Federation on Ageing that reached more than 1000 older people across 58 countries. WHO and UN partners called on Member States to use the second half of the Decade to accelerate implementation, strengthen data systems, and secure the financing needed so that the gains of longer lives reach older people everywhere. About the UN Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030)Proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in December 2020, the Decade is a global collaboration bringing together governments, UN agencies, civil society, the private sector, academia and older people themselves to improve the lives of older people, their families and communities. It is coordinated by the World Health Organization together with the UN Inter-Agency Group on Ageing. The Decade's mid-term progress report was transmitted to the General Assembly by the Secretary-General, prepared by WHO, and is available in 6 languages.Full Report available: A/81/366 Implementation of the United Nations Decade of Healthy Ageing (2021–2030): Note by Secretary-General [ العربية | 中文 | English | Français | Pусский | Español
This Week In Politics: United Nations General Assembly
In a week packed with diplomacy, the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week began on Tuesday, Sept. 22, at the U.N. headquarters in New York City. In the annual diplomatic forum, all 193 member states are invited to address the General Assembly through the General Debate, while a range of meetings bring world leaders together...
Police arrest actors, politicians protesting against Netanyahu outside UN
Police arrested at least 30 people including actors and politicians as they protested outside United Nations headquarters on Thursday against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ahead of his speech at the General Assembly.
Opinion: Bad optics and bad politics with fisheries decision
A North Carolina fisheries ruling enters its remedy stage as debate intensifies over inshore net fishing, agency performance and the General Assembly’s constitu...
Opinion: Bad optics and bad politics with fisheries decision
A North Carolina fisheries ruling enters its remedy stage as debate intensifies over inshore net fishing, agency performance and the General Assembly’s constitu...
Opinion: Bad optics and bad politics with fisheries decision
A North Carolina fisheries ruling enters its remedy stage as debate intensifies over inshore net fishing, agency performance and the General Assembly’s constitu...
North Carolina invests in fast-track training to combat child care worker shortages, center closures
The General Assembly is spending $1.5 million to expand free, two-week child care worker training academies statewide.
The push to hold plastics producers accountable in North Carolina
Despite repeated setbacks in the General Assembly, momentum for plastics producer accountability is building in North Carolina.
NC 'Momnibus' bill gains support as lawmakers push to improve Black maternal health
Advocates rallied at the General Assembly to support the "Momnibus" bill, aimed at closing gaps and improving outcomes for Black mothers and babies.
Speaker Scott says Virginia should honor its word on business deals, including with data centers
The new fiscal year starts next month, but Virginia still has no budget. And leaders in the General Assembly are still divided over what to do about a tax break for data centers.
Governor Spanberger’s vetoes may have political implications
Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger vetoed a number of bills passed by her own party in the General Assembly this week.
Now that redistricting is dead for this year, these are the next 10 questions to ask about Virginia politics
We’re still waiting to see how the relationship between the governor and the General Assembly plays out. Plus, Lynchburg Republicans and, yes, more redistricting fallout.
Political science junior Maddie Hanes elected ASMSU President
The General Assembly of ASMSU elected Maddie Hanes as the President of the 63rd session, who will serve during the 2026-2027 school year in addition to Anna Burk, who will be the re-elected Vice President of Finance and Operations.
The minority leader leads, the wave, an April caucus, in political notes foolishness
The Aprils have their day, the minority leader has his brief moment, a bored and restless House chamber tries to pull off the Wave, and some actual work was conducted on April 1 in the General Assembly, and other April Fools' Day foolishness, in political notes.
The Politics Hour: VA State Sen. Scott Surovell & WAMU's Alex Koma
WAMU's Alex Koma discusses the latest in D.C.'s big elections, including the mayoral race. And Virginia state Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell on the General Assembly failing to make a deal on the budget.
All eyes on a state tax cut - Talk Business & Politics
In the General Election on Nov. 2, 2010, Arkansas voters approved Constitutional Amendment 86, which required the General Assembly to meet annually, with even-numbered years designated as the fiscal session....
The Politics Hour: Potomac River sewage spill latest
NBC 4's Mark Segraves updates us on the Potomac River sewage spill. Plus, Montgomery County Council's Marilyn Balcombe talks data centers and VA Del. Adele McClure on what will move forward as the General Assembly hits its midpoint.
Ferris wheel, Berglund Center, Science Museum; Rasoul requests $600k from General Assembly for study to improve Roanoke
Delegate Sam Rasoul is requesting $600,000 from the General Assembly to evaluate improvement ideas for Roanoke, including a Ferris wheel on Center in the Square. Rasoul emphasizes the importance of creative investment for Roanoke's redevelopment, focusing on feasibility and structural studies.
Governor Stein Provides NC Strong Update: Promoting Safe & Healthy Families Across North Carolina
Today Governor Josh Stein held his latest NC Strong Update to reaffirm his commitment to a healthier North Carolina, including announcing new funding for rural health care and summer meals for kids and calling on the General Assembly to pass a comprehensive state budget that fully funds Medicaid as federal Affordable Care Act tax credits expire. Governor Stein also gave an update on his successful work to keep people safe from malicious drones.