Unga

India abstains on resolution calling for peaceful resolution of Ukraine war

India abstained on a UN General Assembly draft resolution that called for a de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine. The 193-member UN General Assembly voted Monday on the draft resolution Advancing a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine' tabled by Ukraine and its European allies. The resolution, that was adopted with 93 votes in favour, 65 abstentions and 18 votes against, called for a de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine, marked by enormous destruction and human suffering, including among the civilian population, in line with the Charter of the United Nations and international law. India was among the 65 UN Member States that abstained on the resolution. As the resolution was adopted, the UNGA hall broke into applause with Member States welcoming the adoption of the text. The resolution comes on the third anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine ...

US refuses to blame Russia for Ukraine war, splitting with European allies

In a dramatic shift in transatlantic relations under President Donald Trump, the United States split with its European allies by refusing to blame Russia for its invasion of Ukraine in votes on three UN resolutions Monday seeking an end to the three-year war. In the UN General Assembly, the US joined Russia in voting against a Europe-backed Ukrainian resolution that calls out Moscow's aggression and demands an immediate withdrawal of Russian troops. The US then abstained from voting on its own competing resolution after Europeans, led by France, succeeded in amending it to make clear Russia was the aggressor. The voting was taking place as Trump was hosting French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington. It was a major setback for the Trump administration in the 193-member world body, whose resolutions are not legally binding but are seen as a barometer of world opinion. The US then pushed for a vote on its original draft in the more powerful UN Security Council, where resolutions

India reaffirms commitment to make efforts for 'revitalisation' of UNGA

P Harish also noted that the UN's effectiveness in addressing global issues, especially amid ongoing conflicts, would depend on the revitalization of the General Assembly

UN General Assembly asks court to say what Israel needs to provide in Gaza

The UN General Assembly approved a resolution on Thursday asking the UN's highest court to state what Israel's obligations are in Gaza and the West Bank to provide humanitarian assistance essential for the survival of Palestinian civilians. The vote on the Norwegian-sponsored resolution seeking an advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice was 137-12, with 22 abstentions. The United States, Israel's closest ally, voted against the resolution. Resolutions in the 193-member General Assembly are not legally binding, though they do reflect world opinion. It follows the ICJ's condemnation of Israel's rule over lands it captured 57 years ago. In a non-binding opinion in July, the court said Israel's presence in the occupied Palestinian territories is unlawful and called on Israel to end its occupation and halt settlement construction immediately. Thursday's resolution also follows Israeli laws passed in late October, which take effect in 90 days, that effectively ban the UN

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