Happiness means the quality of life as each person experiences it. This is a key outcome in itself and is an important measure of success for any country, regardless of the level of economic development. It tells us whether people are leading lives they find satisfying and fulfilling.

Governments have finally recognised their responsibility to urgently scale up efforts towards universal coverage of affordable and quality healthcare services especially for the poorest.

Reports in the press suggest the UK government is preparing to recognise Palestine as a state in its own right. Foreign secretary William Hague is...

In all likelihood on Thursday afternoon the UN General Assembly will agree to the request of Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas to change the status of Palestine at the UN from observer entity to non-member state. Aside from the Palestinians having to print a new set of headed note paper, what will this achieve? Unfortunately, for ordinary Palestinians, the answer is very little.

Netanyahu will hope his speech further galvanises the already considerable international efforts to pressure Iran through sanctions and diplomacy to stop enrichment, at least to the 20% level. Netanyahu knows that the international community is keen to prevent Iran getting a bomb, but also to prevent Israel from resorting to military action.

Sir Brian Urquhart, one of the oldest surviving senior UN staff members, reminded us recently that a former Secretary General of the UN, Dag Hammarskjold, had once said

September's UN General Assembly vote on Palestinian independence is turning into a minefield for embattled President Mahmoud Abbas. Already he is losing allies, outraged at the course he has chosen.