Unga

UNGA seeks ceasefire in Gaza, backs UN agency helping Palestinian refugees

The UN General Assembly has overwhelmingly approved resolutions demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and backing the UN agency for Palestinian refugees that Israel has moved to ban. The votes in the 193-nation world body were 158-9, with 13 abstentions to demand a ceasefire now and 159-9 with 11 abstentions in support of the agency known as UNRWA. The votes culminated two days of speeches overwhelmingly calling for an end to the 14-month war between Israel and the militant Hamas group. Israel and its close ally, the United States, were in a tiny minority speaking and voting against the resolutions. While Security Council resolutions are legally binding, General Assembly resolutions are not, though they do reflect world opinion. There are no vetoes in the assembly. The Palestinians and their supporters went to the General Assembly after the US vetoed a Security Council resolution on November 20 demanding an immediate Gaza ceasefire. It was supported by the council's 14 other ...

UNGA declares Dec 21 as World Meditation Day in resolution co-led by India

India co-sponsored a UN General Assembly draft resolution that was unanimously adopted to proclaim December 21 as World Meditation Day. India, including Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mexico and Andorra, was a member of the core group of countries that guided the unanimous adoption of the resolution titled World Meditation Day' in the 193-member UN General Assembly on Friday. A day for comprehensive well-being and inner transformation! Glad that India along with other nations of the core group guided the unanimous adoption of the resolution on the declaration of December 21 as World Meditation Day @UN General Assembly today (Friday), India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish said in a post on X. He said India's leadership in overall human wellbeing stems from our civilisational dictum of #VasudhaivaKutumbakam - the whole world is one family. Harish noted that December 21 marks the Winter Solstice, which in Indian tradition is the beginning of ...

EAM S Jaishankar slams Pakistan: Watch his full address at UNGA

World can't be fatalistic about violence on large scale: Jaishankar at UNGA

The world cannot be fatalistic about the continuation of violence on a large scale, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar warned on Saturday, asserting that the international community seeks urgent solutions to the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza. The UN has always maintained that peace and development go hand-in-hand, yet when challenges to one have emerged, due regard has not been given to the other, Jaishankar said in his address to the General Debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. He said economic implications for the weak and vulnerable need to be highlighted. But we must also recognise that conflicts themselves must be resolved. The world cannot be fatalistic about the continuation of violence on a large scale, no more than be impervious to its broader consequences. Whether it is the war in Ukraine or the conflict in Gaza, the international Community seeks urgent solutions. These sentiments must be acknowledged and acted upon, Jaishankar said. He sai

UNGA is world stage for disputes that are generally out of spotlight

The world's greatest stage is the sprawling Midtown Manhattan complex where leaders meet each year to discuss humanity's future. The United Nations' most powerful body the Security Council is paralysed by disputes, so this year's most varied speeches were delivered before the 193-member General Assembly. Like the 15-nation Security Council with its five vetoes, the UNGA devoted much time to the Middle East, Russia, Ukraine and Sudan. But the more democratic institution also turned global attention to topics little-known outside individual countries and regions. A look at some of the issues that countries brought to the world stage or ignored during their time on the global stage: Guatemala-Belize Guatemalan President Bernardo Arevalo spoke on Tuesday and asserted that his country is moving beyond its dark past of US-backed dictatorship, civil war and human-rights violations, saying that corruption drowns its roots in a past of authoritarianism, repression and political violenc

India slams Pak at UN, warns of consequences for cross-border terrorism

In a strong retort, India has slammed Pakistan in the UN General Assembly, saying its fingerprints" are on terrorist incidents across the world and the country should realise that cross-border terrorism against India will inevitably invite consequences. India exercised its Right of Reply in the UN General Assembly on Friday in response to Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif raising the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in his address at the General Debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly. This Assembly regrettably witnessed a travesty this morning. A country run by the military, with a global reputation for terrorism, narcotics trade and transnational crime has had the audacity to attack the world's largest democracy, First Secretary in India's Permanent Mission to the UN Bhavika Mangalanandan said, delivering India's Right of Reply. She asserted that as the world knows, Pakistan has long employed cross-border terrorism as a weapon against its neighbours. It has attacked

EAM Jaishankar meets counterparts from Denmark, UAE, and Singapore at UNGA

The meetings centred around strengthening bilateral ties with each nation

Protests erupt outside UN headquarters as Muhammad Yunus addresses UNGA

Slogans of terrorist, minority killer, Hindu killer Yunus, go back, step down were raised outside UN headquarters in New York

Pakistan PM Sharif raises Article 370, Kashmir issue in UNGA address

Pakistan on Friday raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir in the UN General Assembly, saying India should reverse the abrogation of Article 370 and enter into a dialogue with it for a peaceful resolution of the issue. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in his address at the General Debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly, raked the issue of Jammu and Kashmir, as expected, making references to Article 370. In an over 20 minute speech, Sharif spoke at length about Kashmir saying that similarly, like the people of Palestine, the people of Jammu and Kashmir too, have struggled for a century for their freedom and right to self determination. Referring to India's decision to abrogate Article 370, Sharif said to secure durable peace, India must reverse the unilateral and illegal measures of August 2019 and "enter into a dialogue for a peaceful resolution" of the Jammu and Kashmir issue in accordance with the UN Security resolutions and "the wishes of the Kashmiri ...

EAM meets UNGA prez; reaffirms India's commitment to Summit of Future pact

Sharing a post on X, Jaishankar wrote, Pleased to meet new UNGA President Philemon Yang today in New York

French President supports India's bid for permanent membership in UNSC

French President Emmanuel Macron has supported India's bid for permanent membership in a reformed United Nations Security Council, while advocating the expansion of the powerful UN body. "We have a Security Council that is blocked...Let's make the UN more efficient. We have to make it more representative," Macron said at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday. "That's why," he said, "France is in favour of the Security Council being expanded. Germany, Japan, India, and Brazil should be permanent members, as well as two countries that Africa will decide to represent it." India has been at the forefront of efforts at the UN to push for urgent long-pending reform of the Security Council, emphasising that it rightly deserves a place at the UN high table as a permanent member. India argues that the 15-nation council founded in 1945 is not fit for purpose in the 21st Century and does not reflect contemporary geo-political realities. At present, the UNSC comprises fi

Russian, Chinese FM deem Western sanctions unacceptable during UNGA talks

During their discussion, both leaders reiterated the sanctions imposed by the Western countries' violated UN Security Council resolutions

Zelenskyy meets Biden at UNGA, to discuss Ukraine's 'Plan of Victory' today

During the meeting, Zelenskyy also expressed his gratitude for the US's support in Ukraine's defence efforts

Iran wants to play 'constructive role' in world affairs: Pezeshkian to UN

Iran's new president signalled to world leaders Tuesday that he wants to open a constructive chapter in his country's international relations but he made clear that everyone else, including the United States, needs to do their part. In his first speech at the UN General Assembly's annual gathering of world leaders, Masoud Pezeshkian struck a somewhat more measured tone than his predecessors often have in recent years. I aim to lay a strong foundation for my country's entry into a new era, positioning it to play an effective and constructive role in the evolving global order, said Pezeshkian, a heart surgeon who ran as a reformer. He took office in July. Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, opened the door last month to renewed negotiations with the United States over his country's rapidly advancing nuclear programme, telling Iran's civilian government there was no harm in engaging with its enemy. The United States, under former President Donald Trump, withdrew in 2018 fr

What to know from UN: Leaders speak of emerging threats, hints of war

The security cordons are up. The streets are ready to be sealed off. Aircraft from myriad nations are landing in New York. It all means one thing for the eastern part of Manhattan: The yearly gathering of world leaders at the United Nations is at hand. The UN General Assembly's high-level leaders' meeting convenes Tuesday in a troubled world arguably even more troubled than last year, when the chief of the United Nations warned that the problems were overwhelming. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will likely issue a similar warning on Tuesday as he opens the meeting, and world leaders take the stage amid war and rumours of war. The day before the big meeting starts was full of hints as to the agenda in the days to come: World leaders spoke at an event called Summit of the Future, with many focusing on emerging threats, to the earth's climate, on the battlefield and in cyberspace. Iran's president pointed to the deadly explosions of pager and other devices in Lebanon, and the ..

Developing nations urge world's richest to do more on climate at UNGA

Leaders of small island states most at risk from rising sea levels said it was time for those countries that burn most of the fossil fuels blamed for rising temperatures to stop paying lip service

PM Modi meets Vietnam's President To Lam, discusses ways to bolster ties

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met Vietnamese President To Lam on the sidelines of UNGA here and discussed ways to enhance the ties between the two countries and add momentum in sectors such as connectivity, trade, and culture. Modi is in New York on the second leg of his three-day US visit where he addressed the UN's Summit of the Future held against the backdrop of raging global conflicts. On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, Modi met To Lam. "Met To Lam, the President of Vietnam. We took stock of the full range of India-Vietnam friendship. We look forward to adding momentum in sectors such as connectivity, trade, culture and more," Modi posted on X. Both the leaders also discussed ways to enhance the friendship between the two countries. "PM @narendramodi met President To Lam of Vietnam today, on the sidelines of UNGA in New York. The leaders discussed ways to further enhance the Indian-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and exchanged views

India abstains from UNGA resolution urging Israel's exit from occupied land

India abstained in the UN General Assembly on a resolution that demanded Israel end its unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory within 12 months, with Delhi underlining that it is a strong advocate of "dialogue and diplomacy" and efforts should be made towards "building bridges", "not furthering divides". The 193-member General Assembly adopted the resolution on Wednesday, with 124 nations voting in favour, 14 against and 43 abstentions, including that by India. The resolution was titled Advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the legal consequences arising from Israel's policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and from the illegality of Israel's continued presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory'. Those abstaining included Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, Nepal, Ukraine and the United Kingdom. Nations voting against the resolution included Israel and the US. Delivering the explanation of vote

Biden to address UN General Assembly and meet world leaders in New York

During this event, Biden will address the assembly on September 24, outlining his administration's priorities and vision. His speech will focus on fostering international cooperation

PM Modi to not address UNGA session, Jaishankar to deliver speech on Sep 28

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not address the annual debate at the United Nations General Assembly session here later this month, according to a revised provisional list of speakers issued by the UN. PM Modi is scheduled to travel to New York later this month and address a mega community event on September 22 at the 16,000-seater Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Long Island. He will also address the UN's landmark 'Summit of the Future' that is being convened at the world body's headquarters on September 22 and 23. A provisional list of speakers for the General Debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) issued by the UN in July had said that PM Modi would address the high-level debate on September 26. However, according to a revised provisional list of speakers issued by the UN on Friday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is now expected to address the General Debate on September 28. A note signed by Under Secretary General for General Assembly and ...