Arul Louis- An Indian Assistant Secretary-General dealing with the UN pension fund investments resigned for “personal and family reasons,” a spokesperson said on Monday. Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for Secretary General Antonio Guterres, giving the reason for Sudhir Rajkumar’s sudden resignation, said Guterres has accepted his resignation during “a unique and difficult time in […]
Tag: UN
World not doing enough on climate change, warns Modi
Arul Louis- Warning that world is not doing to fight climate change, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Monday an ambitious multi-pronged plan against global warming. “What we need is a global people’s movement to bring about behavioral change,” Modi said at the Climate Action Summit convened by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. “Not enough is […]
UNSC accepts India’s efforts in Kashmir, wants all to follow suit: Envoy
Arul Louis- The Security Council has acknowledged India’s measures to bring normalcy and development to Kashmir and wants all countries to follow suit, India’s Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin said on Friday. Speaking to reporters after its informal meeting, he outlined the various steps being taken by India since the special status of Kashmir was […]
More Indians obese but fewer undernourished: FAO
Arul Louis- More Indians are getting fatter but fewer are undernourished as the nation goes from lessening the impact of hunger to developing the new health issue of obesity, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation. The number of obese adults has gone up in India from 24.1 million in 2012 to 32.8 million […]
India’s overwhelming influence forces China, Pakistan backing for UNSC seat
Arul Louis- The Asia-Pacific Group at the UN has unanimously supported India for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council after India’s overwhelming influence forced China and Pakistan to join in the endorsement. The 55-member group decided unanimously on Tuesday to endorse India in next year’s contest for the non-permanent Asia seat, assuring New […]
India rejects US report on its minorities’ status
IANS- India on Sunday rejected a US State Department report which made certain critical comments regarding the status of minorities here, saying it has “no locus standi” to “pronounce on the state of our citizens’ constitutionally protected rights”. In response to a query on the latest ‘Report on International Religious Freedom’ published by the […]
Yoga is force for fighting climate change, fostering global harmony: UN
Arul Louis- Deputy UN Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has said that yoga can help the world in these troubled times by inspiring the adoption of a sustainable lifestyle to fight climate change and by promoting tolerance and peace. Addressing the fifth International Yoga Day celebration here on Thursday, she said: “The essence of yoga is a […]
India slams secrecy in working of UN’s terrorism sanctions panel
Arul Louis- Having won the battle to get the UN to designate Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, India has slammed the secrecy in the working of the Security Council sanctions committee that thwarted for over a decade India’s efforts to have sanctions imposed on him. The Council’s al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee and […]
Anita Bhatia appointed UN Assistant Secretary-General
Arul Louis- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has appointed Anita Bhatia of India as an Assistant Secretary-General, according to his Deputy Spokesperson Farhan Haq. In that position, she will be responsible for resource management, sustainability and partnerships and simultaneously serve as the Deputy Executive Director of the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of […]
India’s ‘zero casualty’ policy, pinpoint warnings minimized Fani deaths
Arul Louis- The Indian government’s “zero casualty” policy for cyclones and the pinpoint accuracy of the India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) early warning system have helped reduce the possibility of deaths from cyclone Fani, according to the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (ODRR). “They seem to have done a very good job in terms of […]