Page 4 - United Nations

UN should demand end to South Korea-US military drills: North Korea

The statement comes after the officials from Seoul and Washington announced on Friday more than 10 days of large-scale military exercises, including amphibious landings, from March 13 to 23

Historic high seas agreement reached after decade of talks: Report

The negotiations had been held up for years over disagreements on funding and fishing rights

Swiss envoy summoned, protest lodged over anti-India posters in Geneva

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday summoned the Swiss envoy and raised issue of "malicious" anti-India posters in front of UN building in Geneva, official sources said

United Nations members reach accord to protect marine life on high seas

For the first time, United Nations members have agreed on a unified treaty to protect biodiversity in the high seas - nearly half the planet's surface - concluding two weeks of talks in New York. The UN Convention on the Law of the Sea came into force in 1994, before marine biodiversity was a well-established concept. An updated framework to protect marine life in the regions outside national boundary waters, known as the high seas, had been in discussions for more than 20 years, but previous efforts to reach an agreement had repeatedly stalled. The unified agreement treaty was reached late Saturday. We only really have two major global commons - the atmosphere and the oceans, said Georgetown marine biologist Rebecca Helm. While the oceans may draw less attention, protecting this half of earth's surface is absolutely critical to the health of our planet." Now that long-awaited treaty text has been finalised, Nichola Clark, an oceans expert at the Pew Charitable Trusts who observed

Islamabad has 'unique distinction' for hosting terrorists: India to Pak

Pakistan has the "unique distinction" of hosting the most number of UNSC-designated terrorists and terror organisations, and its policies are directly responsible for thousands of civilian deaths in the world, India has said as it slammed Islamabad for its malicious propaganda against it. Exercising its right of reply to Pakistan's statement at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on Friday, India said when it is not entirely focused on suppressing its own population, Pakistan actively lends its energies to aid, host and abet international terrorists. "It has the unique distinction of hosting the most number of UNSC designated terrorists and terror organisations. Osama bin Laden lived next to Pakistan's premier military academy. Its security agencies have nurtured and sheltered Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar for decades, First Secretary of India's Permanent Mission to UN Seema Pujani said. "These are but a few dreaded names from the annals of Pakistan's history of

UN nuclear head meets Iranian officials amid enrichment concerns

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog was meeting with officials in Iran on Saturday, days after it was revealed that the country had enriched particles of uranium to near weapons-grade, raising new alarm over its long-disputed nuclear programme. Rafael Mariano Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, declined to comment on his discussions during a press conference with the head of Iran's nuclear programme, saying the delegation's work was still ongoing. It's an atmosphere of work, of honesty and cooperation," Grossi said. He was expected to speak with reporters again upon his return to Vienna later on Saturday. Earlier this week, the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency reported that uranium particles enriched up to 83.7 per cent just short of weapons-grade were found in Iran's underground Fordo nuclear site. The confidential quarterly report by the IAEA, which was distributed to member states on Tuesday, came as tensions were already high amid months

What was fugitive Nithyananda's 'United States of Kailasa' doing at the UN?

Nithyananda, a rape-accused fugitive who is also a self-styled godman, claims to have established a country representing 2 billion Hindus in 2019

After G20 FMM, New Delhi to host Quad foreign ministers' meeting today

The meeting, to be presided over by Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, will be attended by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi, and Australia's Penny Wong

States which provide shelter to terrorist should be called out: India at UN

India has voiced concern over the spread of terrorism particularly in regions of Africa and Asia, and asserted that those States which provide shelter to terrorists should be called out and held accountable for their deeds, in a veiled reference to Pakistan. "The threat of terrorism is serious and real. Regrettably, despite best efforts aimed towards transnational cooperation, it continues to spread, particularly in the regions of Africa and Asia," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ruchira Kamboj said. In her remarks to the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism Ambassadorial-level Quarterly Briefing to Member States on Tuesday, Kamboj said the threat of terrorism can only be tackled through consistent and unified multilateral action, by the international community. "Those States which lack capacities to tackle the threat of terrorism, should be assisted, while those which provide shelter to terrorists should be called out and held accountable for their deeds, she said,

UNDP, NITI Aayog collaborate to host virtual event for Mission LiFE

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the NITI Aayog on Monday hosted a hackathon with young people from across the world to contribute ideas and innovations to promote sustainable living and climate positive behaviour as part of the Government of India's Mission LiFE. The Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) campaign aims to bring individual action to the forefront of climate action and these nudges are as small as encouraging individuals to consume less plastic, waste-less food, and prefer public transport, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said in a statement. Mission LiFE was launched by the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in Gujarat last year. Launching the LIFEathon,' NITI Aayog Vice Chairperson Suman Bery, mission LiFE aims to create and nurture a global network of Pro-Planet People committed to adapting and promoting environmentally friendly lifestyles. "Through this event, we look forward to receiving excellent ideas

UN chief Guterres points to 'massive' rights violations in Ukraine

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has triggered the most massive violations of human rights in the world today, the head of the United Nations said on Monday, as the war pushed into its second year with no end in sight. The Russian invasion has unleashed widespread death, destruction and displacement, UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres said in a speech to the UN-backed Human Rights Council in Geneva. After failing to capture the Ukrainian capital in the opening weeks of the invasion and suffering a series of humiliating setbacks in the east and the south during the fall, Russia has stabilised the front and is concentrating its efforts on a slow push to capture the rest of the Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland of the Donbas. Ukraine, meanwhile, hopes to use battle tanks and other new weapons pledged by the West to launch new counteroffensives and reclaim more of the occupied territory. He said attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure have caused many casualties

UN chief Guterres slams 'climate-wrecking' firms at human rights body

UN Secretary-General Antnio Guterres on Monday stressed the importance of legal challenges against climate-wrecking corporations" like fossil-fuel producers, ratcheting up his call for the fight against climate change - this time before the UN's top human rights body. Guterres opened the latest session of the Human Rights Council, part of an address that decried summary executions, torture and sexual violence in places like Ukraine; antisemitism, anti-Muslim bigotry and the persecution of Christians; inequality and threats to free expression, among other issues. Guterres also sought to undergird the concept of human rights which have faced "public disregard and private disdain and tie them together with environmental concerns. "Human rights are not a luxury that can be left until we find a solution to the world's other problems. They are THE solution to many of the world's other problems," he said. From the climate emergency to the misuse of technology, the answers to today's cri

Nearly 4 mn children, women in Sudan suffering from acute malnutrition: UN

One-third of Sudan's population (about 15.5 mn people) needs humanitarian assistance this year, while the world body says it will provide assistance to 12.5 mn people in need

Kerala, UN Women sign pact to boost women-friendly activities in tourism

The Kerala government on Sunday entered into an agreement with the United Nations (UN) Women to boost women-friendly activities in the State's tourism sector. A memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by Kerala Tourism and UN Women India agreed to work towards promoting gender-inclusive tourism sites in the State. The MoU was signed by Kerala Tourism Director P B Nooh and UN Women India representative Susan Ferguson and it would be implemented by the Responsible Tourism Mission, a government release said. "As per the pact inked at the first-ever Global Responsible Tourism Summit in Kumarakom near this city, both parties will promote women-friendly tourism in Kerala. This will be done by creating modules and capacity-building of relevant stakeholders, besides providing advisory support for baseline research, implementing women-friendly tourist destinations and supporting interventions to change prevalent discriminatory social norms," the release said. Kerala Tourism Minister P A .

India can help shape outcomes expected at COP28: UNFCCC executive secy

India and its influential role as the G20 presidency can help deliver a clear political framework and shape the outcomes expected at COP28, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Simon Stiell said here on Friday. G20 countries are responsible for over 80 percent of the world's global emissions. It will be targeted policy decisions in these countries which will provide the market signals to deliver the transformation, he said delivering the valedictory address at the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS) organised by The Energy and Resources Institute here. "Over the next 10 months, we have a unique opportunity to provide the course correction the world needs on climate change and make COP28 a transformational moment in what must be a decisive decade. Closing the massive gaps in each of the work areas -- mitigation, adaptation, loss and damage and finance require unprecedented collaboration and support at the highest level. "We look to India and its influential role as the presidency of G2

Sending weapons to Ukraine will add fuel to war, says China at UN

China's deputy ambassador's remarks came after Putin met with China's top diplomat Wang Yi in Moscow

A woman dies during pregnancy or childbirth every 2 minutes: UN estimates

This report highlights that the world must significantly accelerate progress to meet global targets for reducing maternal deaths, or else risk the lives of over 1 mn women by 2030

UN chief Guterres warns 'no time to lose' for ending Russia Ukraine war

General Assembly met for an emergency session with an expected vote on a resolution condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, UN has called Moscow's action "an affront to our collective conscience"

Tropical Cyclone Freddy leaves 4 dead, 11,000 displaced in Madagascar: UN

Tropical Cyclone Freddy slamming into Madagascar's eastern coast has claimed the lives of at least four people and displaced 11,000 others from their homes, a UN spokesman said.

Ukraine urges nations to vote to preserve its territory in UN resolution

Ukraine's foreign minister has urged the world's nations as the anniversary of Russia's invasion nears to prove they stand for the United Nations Charter and vote in favour of a UN resolution calling for a peace that ensures his war-ravaged country's sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity. Dmytro Kuleba told an emergency special session of the UN General Assembly on Wednesday that despite Moscow's empty calls for negotiations, Russia still wants to destroy Ukraine as a nation. He said the resolution, to be put to a vote Thursday in the 193-member world body, will contribute to our joint efforts to bring the war to an end as well as protect the fundamental principles of international law and the UN Charter. Calling this a decisive moment to show support, unity and solidarity, he recalled standing in the assembly urging its member nations to prevent war days before Russia's February 24, 2022 invasion. Against all odds, he said, Ukraine exercised its right to ...