Page 53 - United Nations

Urgently declare Gershkovich was arbitrarily detained: His lawyers ask UN

Lawyers for Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich asked a United Nations body on Tuesday to urgently issue an opinion that he has been arbitrarily detained by Russia on espionage charges which are patently false. The request to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention says Russia has failed to produce a shred of evidence in support of its accusations since the 31-year-old journalist was arrested on March 29 on a reporting trip to the city of Yekaterinburg, almost 2,000 kilometers (1,200 miles) east of Moscow. Russia is not imprisoning Gershkovich because it legitimately believes its absurd claim that he is an American spy, the Journal's request said. Instead, Russian President Vladimir Putin is using Gershkovich as a pawn, holding him hostage in order to gain leverage over and extract a ransom from the United States, just as he has done with other American citizens whom he has wrongfully detained. Jason Conti, executive vice president and general counsel of Dow Jones,

UN food agency warns of 'doom loop' for world's hungriest as govts cut aid

The World Food Program warned Tuesday that humanitarian funding cuts by governments are forcing the U.N. agency to drastically cut food rations to the world's hungriest people, with each 1% cut in aid risking to push 400,000 people toward starvation. The agency said the more than 60% funding shortfall this year was the highest in WFP's 60-year history and marks the first time the Rome-based agency has seen contributions decline while needs rise. As a result, the WFP has been forced to cut rations in almost half its operations, including in hard-hit places like Afghanistan, Syria, Somalia and Haiti. In a statement, WFP warned that 24 million more people could slip into emergency hunger over the next year as a result. WFP's executive director, Cindy McCain, said with starvation at record levels, governments should be increasing assistance, not decreasing it. If we don't receive the support we need to avert further catastrophe, the world will undoubtedly see more conflict, more unrest

'New realities': PM Modi renews call for UN reforms at G20 summit

It is nature's law that those who don't change with time lose their relevance, PM Modi said as he pushed for fresh reforms in global bodies

G20 calls for full, timely implementation of Black Sea grain initiative

G20 leaders on Saturday called for the full and timely implementation of a UN-brokered deal that allows Ukraine to export its grain to the world markets through the Black Sea. In the G20 declaration, the leaders of the grouping emphasised the importance of sustaining food and energy security and called for the "cessation of military destruction" or other attacks on relevant infrastructure. Following the Ukraine conflict, Russia blocked the transportation of grain from Ukraine through the Black Sea ports. In July last year, a deal was struck between Russia and Ukraine following an initiative by Turkey and the UN that allowed cargo ships to sail along a corridor in the Black Sea. Months later, Russia announced pulling out of the deal, triggering a rise in global food prices. The G20 leaders called for the full, timely and effective implementation of the grain deal to ensure the "immediate and unimpeded deliveries of grain, foodstuffs, and fertilisers/inputs from Russia and ...

World off track to curb global warming, but offers ways to fix: UN report

With the world far off track on its 2015 pledge to curb global warming, a new United Nations report central to upcoming climate negotiations details how quickly and deeply energy and financial systems must change to get back on a safer path. The window of opportunity to secure a livable and sustainable future for all is rapidly closing, Friday's report warned. The globe has to cut its emissions of heat-trapping gases by 43% by 2030, compared to 2019 levels, and 60% by 2035, the report said. To get there, the report said, the phase-out of unabated fossil fuels is required, using a phrase international climate negotiators have shied away from before. It also said phasing out the internal combustion engine would be a huge help. And the way money flows such as investments, subsidies, loans, grants and payments for people and places hurt by warming's extreme weather also has to change, the report recommended. It said countries need to stop USD 450 billion in annual subsidies for coal,

Global financial architecture outdated: UN secretary-general Guterres

Calls upon G20 nations to keep goal of 1.5 degree global temp rise alive

US reaffirms support for India as permanent member of UN Security Council

The US also welcomed India's candidature for the UNSC non-permanent seat in 2028-29, the White House said in a statement

I understand India's aspirations to become permanent UNSC member: UN Chief

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday said he fully understands India's aspirations to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council but asserted that it is for the member countries to decide about the reform of the top global body. In an exclusive interview to PTI, he acknowledged the need to adjust the composition of the UN Security Council (UNSC) to the "realities of today's world". "It's not for me to define who will be or who should be in the Security Council, that's for member states (to decide) but I believe that what we need is to have a Security Council that represents today's world," Guterres said. "The present composition of the Security Council represents the world after the Second World War. Today's world is different. As you mentioned, India is today the largest country with the largest population in the world," he said. "So, I fully understand India's aspirations in this regard. It's not for me to judge, it's for member states, but I believe, and I .

Global emissions not in line to achieve Paris Agreement goals: UN report

A UN report on Friday said that global emissions are not in line with the modelled global mitigation pathways consistent with the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement -- a legally binding international treaty on climate change. The Global Stocktake report of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), however, said there is a rapidly narrowing window to raise ambitions and implement existing commitments in order to limit warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. It said much more ambition in action and support is needed in implementing domestic mitigation measures and setting larger targets in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). Global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions need to be reduced by 43 per cent by 2030 and further by 60 per cent by 2035 compared to 2019 levels and reach net zero CO2 emissions by 2050 globally, the report said, adding that creativity and innovation in policymaking across all sectors and systems, and international cooperation

Terrorism unjustifiable; India naturally has its own concerns: Guterres

In an exclusive interview to PTI, Guterres said combating terrorism must be a "fundamental priority" for "all of us" and that it is something that is very high in his priorities

Not hopeful of Ukraine-Russia peace solution in near future: UN chief

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres on Friday said he is not very hopeful that there will be a peace solution in the immediate future for the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Addressing a press conference here ahead of the G20 summit, Guterres said the two countries still do not appear to be ending the conflict. Asked whether India could mediate to end the war, he said, "When you have a conflict, all efforts of mediation are welcome.... (But) I am not very hopeful that we will have a peace solution in the immediate future." On the need for reforms to multilateral institutions, Guterres said when these multilateral institutions were created, many of the countries of today did not even exist. "This is true for the UNSC and many others," he said. Asked whether it was time for India to become a member of the UNSC, Guterres said, "It is not for me to decide who would be in the UNSC, it is for the members (to decide)." "But it is obvious that India is today the country of the wor

Hopeful India's G20 presidency will drive transformative changes: UN chief

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday hoped India's presidency of G20 will help drive the transformative changes that the world desperately needs as he warned against the catastrophe of growing divisions and eroding trust in a fragmented world. Addressing a press conference here ahead of the G20 Summit, he said the phrase of 'One Earth, One Family and One Future' adopted by India as G20 theme inspired by the Mahaupanishad finds profound resonance in today's world. "If we are indeed one global family, today we resemble rather a dysfunctional one," he added. Guterres said, "I hope that India's presidency of G20 will help drive the kind of transformative change that our world desperately needs, in line with the repeated commitments of India to act on behalf of the Global South and its determination to pursue developmental agenda." "Divisions are growing, tensions are flaring up and trust is eroding, which together raise the spectre of fragmentation and ultimatel

G20 meet 'normal process', but it is better forum than UN: Farooq Abdullah

The G20 forum is better than the United Nations as 20 countries discuss their issues and look for solutions, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said here on Friday. However, he stressed that the G20 meeting take place in every member country on a rotational basis and it is a normal process. G20 (meeting) is a normal process. It rotates between the 20 countries. It is a good forum where these 20 countries put themselves together and discuss their issues and look for their solutions. It is a good forum rather than the UN where there are so many countries, Abdullah told reporters on the sidelines of a party function here. When asked what the holding of the meeting in India means for the country, Abdullah said such meetings take place in every member country on a rotational basis. Did the G20 not take place in the other countries? It will happen in Brazil next year, then rotate again, the NC president said. When asked whether he had received the invitation for the dinner ho

Confident that India will do 'everything possible': UN chief ahead of G20

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed confidence that India, all set to host the leaders' summit during its G20 presidency, will do everything possible to ensure that existing geopolitical divides are overcome and the crucial gathering of world leaders concludes with possible results." Guterres will arrive in Delhi on Friday to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit on September 9 and 10 for which world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, are travelling to India. Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping are not attending the summit. "I'm confident that India will do everything possible to make sure that the geopolitical divides that exist are overcome and that the G20 can conclude with possible results, Guterres said in Jakarta where he is participating in the 13th ASEAN-UN Summit. He was responding to a question on his expectations from India as the G20 host as well as New Delhi's support for bringing the African Union (AU) into the grouping o

'Achieving gender equality goal impossible because of biases against women'

The UN goal of achieving gender equality by 2030 is impossible to attain because of deeply rooted biases against women around the world in heath, education, employment and the halls of power, the United Nations said in a report Thursday. "The world is failing women and girls," UN Women, the agency promoting gender equality, and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs said in "The Gender Snapshot 2023" report. According to the UN's findings, "active resistance to gender equality and chronic under-investment are key factors in slow progress and, in some cases, reversals of gains already made". It said "unequal access to sexual and reproductive health, unequal political representation, economic disparities and a lack of legal protection, among other issues, prevent tangible progress". Assistant Secretary-General Maria-Francesca Spatolisano told a news conference launching the report that gender equality is becoming "an ever increasingly distant goal". She pointed to recent ..

Unified strategy, funding urgently needed to end Myanmar crisis: UN chief

The United Nations chief renewed an urgent call to the international community Thursday to seek a unified strategy to end the worsening crisis in Myanmar. Secretary-General Antnio Guterres said declining financial aid should be boosted to previous levels to enable the world body to respond to an enormous tragedy. He said the situation in Myanmar has further deteriorated since he met with ASEAN leaders in a 2022 summit, and again called on the crisis-wracked country's military-installed government to immediately free all political prisoners and open the door to a return to democratic rule. Myanmar's army seized power on February 1, 2021, from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, arresting her and top members of her governing National League for Democracy party, which had won a landslide victory for a new term in a November 2020 general election. Security forces suppressed widespread opposition to the military takeover with lethal force, killing thousands of civilians and ...

If we get requests like that, we consider them: UN official on 'Bharat' row

The United Nations considers requests from countries to change their names as and when the world body receives them, a top UN official has said, amid a row over President Droupadi Murmu's G20 dinner invites referring to her as 'President of Bharat' instead of 'President of India'. Deputy Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres Farhan Haq on Wednesday cited the example of Turkey changing its name to Turkiye last year. Well, in the case of Turkiye, we responded to a formal request delivered to us by the Government. Obviously, if we get requests like that, we consider them as they come, he said in response to a question on reports that India's name could be changed to Bharat. A row erupted in India on Tuesday after invitations for a G20 dinner were sent out by President Murmu, describing her position as 'President of Bharat' instead of the customary 'President of India', with the opposition accusing the Narendra Modi government of planning to drop India and stay with jus

UN releases $125 mn for 14 underfunded humanitarian crises around the world

The United Nations released USD 125 million from its emergency relief fund Tuesday to boost underfunded humanitarian operations in 14 countries around the world, saying needs are skyrocketing. Afghanistan and Yemen top the list of recipients, with each getting USD 20 million, followed by Burkina Faso and Myanmar at USD 9 million each and Mali, Haiti and Venezuela at USD 8 million each. The U.N. Central Emergency Relief Fund known will also provide USD 6.5 million to both Central African Republic and Mozambique, USD 6 million to both Cameroon and the Palestinian territories and USD 4 million to Malawi. The fund will also provide USD 8 million to support refugee operations in Bangladesh and USD 6 million for refugees in Uganda. It is a cruel reality that in many humanitarian operations, aid agencies are scraping along with very little funding right at a time when people's needs compel them to scale up, U.N. humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths said in announcing the new allocations:

Tax filing will have to double every nine years to meet FY47 target

Growth rate to achieve target would be over 8% per annum

'G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard' with UNWTO knowledge partnership unveiled

A 'G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard' developed under India's presidency of the grouping with expert knowledge partnership of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), was unveiled on Tuesday. It showcases best practices, case studies, and insights from G20 countries, all modelled for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). "The dashboard is a lasting legacy of India's G20 Presidency, reflecting its dedication to global collaboration and sustainable growth in the global tourism industry," the ministry said in a statement. Union Tourism Minister G Kishan Reddy launched the dashboard in a virtual ceremony, officials said. "The G20 Tourism and SDG Dashboard serves as a comprehensive online public platform, amalgamating the collective knowledge of the G20 Tourism Working Group. It consolidates the GOA Roadmap, survey results, case studies, and best practices from G20 countries. The dashboard offers insights into sustainable tourism practices and also provides a ...