United Nations: For the first time,the UN chief has issued his New Year’s message for the year 2026 in Hindi, among other languages, calling on world leaders today to invest in development, not destruction.
Antonio Guterres’ New Year message has been issued in 11 languages, including in the six official UN languages of Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian, and Spanish, as well as Hindi and Urdu.
His video message on the occasion has been issued with Hindi subtitles as well.
“A safer world begins by investing more in fighting poverty and less in fighting wars,” Guterres said, calling on leaders to get global priorities “straight” as conflict, climate breakdown, and violations of international law intensify.
The UN chief said global military spending has risen to $2.7 trillion, up nearly 10% from last year — about 13 times more than total development aid and roughly equivalent to Africa’s gross domestic product — underscoring what he described as misplaced global priorities.
Guterres said the world stood at a crossroads, with people increasingly questioning whether their leaders were listening or ready to act. “Peace must prevail,” he said.
The message was issued in Hindi text for the first time, while a video version also carried Hindi subtitles, as India continues efforts to promote the language at the United Nations.
Guterres, who will step down as UN secretary-general next year, called on leaders to “choose people and planet over pain” in 2026.
