MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi appointed India's ambassador to UN in Geneva. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi was on Monday appointed India's permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) and other international organisations in Geneva. Bagchi, a 1995-batch Indian Foreign Service (IFS) official, took over as spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in March 2020 and deftly handled a number of critical issues and developments including the eastern Ladakh border row, India's COVID-19 response and New Delhi's G20 presidency.
The World Health Organization on Monday warned there were only "24 hours of water, electricity and fuel left" in the Gaza Strip before "a real catastrophe" sets in. In a recent development, the Israeli military has updated the number of individuals abducted by Hamas to 199, higher than previous estimates. The cross-border attacks initiated by the militants led to a devastating conflict. Israeli officials, as well as foreign citizens, are among those who have been abducted in the ongoing crisis, which began on October 7. Efforts to secure the release of these hostages are now a top national priority for Israel.
Israeli Kan radio said that residents of the northern city of Metulla, located close to the Lebanese border, were instructed to remain indoors as a precaution against a potential armed infiltration. Israeli authorities have not yet provided immediate confirmation.
United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Israel on Monday, the second time within a few days, to pledge support for the country as it prepares a major military offensive in Gaza, the Washington Post reports.
Cricket was on Monday officially included in the programme for the 2028 Los Angles, marking the sport's return to the Summer Games after 123 years. Besides cricket, which will be played in T20 format, the other sports approved by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) during its 141st session, were squash, baseball/softball, lacrosse and flag football.
Allahabad High Court acquits prime accused in Nithari case, Surendra Koli, in 12 cases in which he was awarded a death penalty by the trial Court.
President Joe Biden is considering a trip to Israel in the coming days but no travel has been finalised, a senior administration official said on Sunday. It would be a powerful symbol of sympathy and support following the brutal attack by Hamas.
Rejecting India's low rank in Global Hunger Index-2023, Union Health Minister
Mansukh Mandaviya on Sunday said parameters that are currently being followed for evaluation are not based on conditions specific to the country. Interacting with students at IIT-Guwahati, he refuted reports of large-scale malnutrition in India.
The Secretary General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres has called on Hamas to "immediately" release the hostages without keeping any sort of conditions. In a post on social media platform X, Guterres made two humanitarian appeals amid the present situation in the Middle East.
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