United Nations

UN rights chief Volker Turk has called for binding rules, independent oversight and safeguards for AI, warning that technological power is concentrated in the hands of a few

The African Union has endorsed the 'Correct the Map' campaign to replace the Mercator map projection with alternatives such as the Equal Earth map

Nepal is seeking compensation for climate change-related damages from a United Nations fund set up to help developing nations deal with the worst impacts of global warming

India on Sunday said a UN-initiated proposed world map must depict Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh in accordance with the country's official map, and any "inaccurate" or "misleading" representation will be unacceptable. New Delhi's assertion came two days after it voted in favour of a UN General Assembly resolution aimed at correcting the world map to promote a more accurate representation of continental landmasses. The resolution titled "Correct the Map: Rebalancing Global Cartographic Representation and Promoting Equitable Representation of the World's Regions, Particularly Africa" was adopted on September 4. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India highlighted that the resolution does not constitute endorsement of any specific map, projection or depiction of national boundaries. "India voted in favour of the resolution and also made an explanation of vote stressing on the underlying principle of promoting equal - area cartographic ...

India has co-sponsored a resolution in the UN General Assembly proclaiming November 27 every year as the International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage. The 193-member UN General Assembly on Friday adopted by consensus the resolution titled 'International Day for the Elimination of Child, Early and Forced Marriage' led by Sierra Leone. India was among the nations that joined as co-sponsors of the resolution. It was on November 27, 2024 that the 'Bal Vivah Mukt Bharat', also known as Child Marriage Free India, campaign was launched in the country, aiming to reduce the prevalence of child marriage by 10 per cent by 2026 and make India child marriage free by 2030. The issue was also championed by Sierra Leone's First Lady and President of the Organization of African First Ladies for Development (OAFLAD) Fatima Maada Bio and Just Rights for Children Founder Bhuwan Ribhu, who had initiated the international call for a dedicated global day to end child ...

Earth is soon going to exceed the safe temperature threshold agreed upon by the world in the 2015 Paris climate accord because of warming from the burning of coal, oil and gas

UNEP says the amount of warming the world sees will depend on how quickly countries cut greenhouse gas emissions

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in India and Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) on Monday announced a new phase of their partnership to strengthen an inclusive circular economy for plastics, with a target to support 50,000 Safai Mitras and waste management systems across 50 cities by 2028. Building on seven years of collaboration, the partnership will focus on four areas -- social inclusion, strengthening urban waste management systems, improving recycling efficiency, and knowledge transfer, a joint statement said. Under the social inclusion component, the programme will work towards formalising and improving livelihoods of 50,000 Safai Mitras, with a particular focus on women, it said. It will also support 50 cities and urban local bodies (ULBs) in developing efficient, decentralised and resilient end-to-end waste management systems, besides improving segregation at source and strengthening recovery and recycling practices across value chains, it said. The partnership is

The US government has notified Congress of its plans to pay USD 850 million of the several billion it owes to the United Nations, the largest payment the Trump administration would make to the world body since it demanded sweeping reforms in exchange for continued support as its largest donor. The State Department laid out its plans to transfer USD 725 million as part of its dues to the regular UN budget and USD 125 million toward UN peacekeeping operations in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of Congo, according to notifications sent to lawmakers this month and obtained by The Associated Press. The US is behind on about USD 5 billion in dues related to its UN membership, with more than USD 2 billion owed toward the regular budget and USD 3 billion for peacekeeping operations, the United Nations says. In February, the Trump administration made a single payment of USD 160 million shortly after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the institution was facing "imminent ...

The Red Fort terror attack in New Delhi in November last year has been "officially attributed" to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), according to a new report from a UN Security Council body monitoring counter-terrorism sanctions. A deadly and high-intensity explosion had rocked the Red Fort area in New Delhi, killing about 15 people and injuring many more. The explosion had ripped through a slow-moving car at a traffic signal near the Red Fort metro station. The report, published on Monday, said that "AQIS continued to evolve from a fragmented group into a regional terrorist entity. "AQIS established logistics and financial networks, working in decentralised small, scattered cells instead of large units. The attack in November 2025 on the Red Fort in Delhi was officially attributed to AQIS," the 38th report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team submitted to the Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee concerning ISIL and Al-Qaeda said. The report added

Expressing concern over the security situation in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), a spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said there needs to be accountability for action taken against people engaging in peaceful protest. "The Secretary-General supports the work of his High Commissioner, and we certainly hope that the pleas made by Mr. Turk will be listened to," Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General Farhan Haq said here on Friday. He was responding to a question by PTI on the situation in PoK and how the Secretary-General views the recent developments there. Last month, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk had expressed concern about the recent developments there, calling for impartial and thorough investigation into the death of protesters and Pakistan's ban of the Joint Awami Action Committee and arrest of its leaders. Concerns were also raised about restrictions on internet access and public gathering in violation of the right of freed

Progress was driven largely ​by gains in Asia, particularly India, as well as ​Latin America and the Caribbean. Some African countries also began to reverse years of deterioration

Launching India's campaign for a UN Security Council seat for 2028-29, S Jaishankar said New Delhi will prioritise maritime security, seafarers' safety and the Global South

A million women lose access to critical support in crisis-hit regions, according to the UN Women

Minister of State for External Affairs and Environment, Forest & Climate Change Kirti Vardhan Singh on Tuesday called for responsible, secure and inclusive global governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) while addressing the United Nations Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva.Addressing the gathering, Singh said, "India firmly believes that responsible AI governance must rest on strong foundational principles: preserving human oversight, upholding human rights, and preventing its misuse."He said these principles, reflected in the recent India AI Impact Summit, are essential to ensuring that AI systems operate across borders in an ethical, secure and beneficial manner.Highlighting India's approach to AI, Singh said, "Our National Strategy for AI and National AI Governance Guidelines embody the philosophy of 'AI for All'--inclusive growth for everyone without stifling innovation."He, however, stressed that developing countries need greater support to participate ...

India will chair the ninth session of the Intergovernmental Group of Experts on Consumer Protection Law and Policy, to be held at the Palais des Nations in Geneva this week, the Consumer Affairs Ministry said on Sunday. The session is organised by the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and will bring together member states, international organisations, consumer protection authorities, academics, and other stakeholders to discuss emerging issues in the field, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution said in a statement. The Intergovernmental Group of Experts (IGE), set up under the United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection, is the principal intergovernmental platform for dialogue and cooperation on consumer protection law and policy, according to the ministry. Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Department of Consumer Affairs, will preside over the three days of deliberations from July 6 to 8 and steer discussions among member states on key global ...

UN's scientific assessment says AI capabilities are advancing faster than governments can regulate them, urging stronger global cooperation, independent oversight, and standardised evaluations

Asserting that a "terrorist is a terrorist", India has called on the international community to work collectively to root out the "murderous ideology" without finding any grievance to justify terrorism. "India has been a victim of cross-border terrorism for decades. Our people have paid the price of terrorism in lives lost, families scarred, and societies shattered. This experience has shaped India's approach: there can be no justification for terrorism." "Irrespective of any grievance, political cause or strategic calculation, terrorism in all its forms and manifestations must be condemned unequivocally," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni has said. Assessing the UN General Assembly on the adoption of the Ninth Review of the United Nations Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy (GCTS), on Wednesday, Parvathaneni said the international community must reject double standards in counter-terrorism. He emphasised that there is an obligation to hold ...

A UN expert panel warned AI is advancing faster than science and regulation, saying there is no guarantee increasingly capable systems will not cause catastrophic harm

The UN trade agency said vulnerable economies could continue to face elevated food, fuel and transport costs even after energy markets stabilise following the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz