The World Opinion

Tag: UNGA

  • United Nations Praises Modi Government Over Poverty Alleviation Steps Using ‘Smartphones’; Watch |

    NEW YORK: Stressing the use of digitisation for rapid development, the President of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, Dennis Francis, lavished praise on India for its work in this direction, which has lifted 800 million out of poverty in the last 5-6 years. He highlighted how people in rural areas of India, are able to make payments and pay bills just on the touch of a smartphone.

    “Providing the basis to rapid development, such as through digitalisation. Take, for example, the case of India…India has been able to lift 800 million people out of poverty over the last 5-6 years simply by the use of smartphones,” Francis said during his lecture at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the UN on the topic of ‘Accelerating progress towards Zero Hunger for the current and future generations.’

    UNGA President Dennis Francis praises India’s digital transformation under PM Modi with the success of the Jan Dhan, Aadhar, and Mobile (JAM) initiative, which has enabled rural farmers to conduct transactions on smartphones. pic.twitter.com/X7Es3o91mr
    — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) August 1, 2024

    Francis emphasised the high internet penetration in India as a major factor why India has been able to benefit but not many other countries of the Global South. “Rural farmers in India who never had a relationship with the banking system, are now able to transact all their businesses on their smartphone. They pay their bills, they receive payments for orders. 800 million people lifted out of poverty. Because there is a high level of internet penetration in India, almost everyone has a cellphone,” he said.

    “That is not the case in many parts of the Global South. So, there has to be equity demands, there has to be some effort, initiative to address this inequality as an initial step in negotiating the global framework for digitalisation,” the UNGA President added. Notably, digitisation has been one of the main focuses of the Narendra Modi government in the last 10 years. A rapid rise has been witnessed in digital payment transactions in the country in the last decade and UPI has emerged as a major contributor to it.

    PM Modi has promoted the use of digitisation through the JAM initiative — Jan Dhan, Aadhar, and Mobile. Under this, people have been encouraged to open their bank accounts and every account has been linked with Aadhar. This has helped in connecting people across the country, even in the rural areas with various government schemes and the social benefit payments reaching directly into the ban account of people.

  • India Slams Pakistan For “Baseless,” “Deceitful” Narratives At UN General Assembly |

    New Delhi: India has slammed Pakistan for its “baseless and deceitful narratives,” after Islamabad’s envoy Munir Akram made references to Kashmir in his speech at the UN General Assembly.

    While delivering a statement at the UNGA debate on the annual report, Pratik Mathur, the Minister at India’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, said that one delegation “misused” this forum to spread “deceitful and baseless” narratives.

    Mathur said, “Earlier in the day, one delegation misused this forum to spread baseless and deceitful narratives, which is not a surprise. I will not dignify these remarks with any response just to save valuable time of this august body.”

    His remarks came after Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN during the debate at the UN General Assembly called for monitoring the implementation of resolutions, including those on Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir.

    Pakistan regularly brings up the Jammu and Kashmir issue at UN platforms and other some international forums, irrespective of the agenda of the meetings.

    India has repeatedly rejected Pakistan’s attempts to raise the Kashmir issue on international platforms, asserting that the union territories of Jammu and Kashmir as well as Ladakh are “integral parts of India” and Pakistan has no “locus standi” to make statements regarding India’s domestic matters.

    During the UNGA debate, Pratik Mathur on Tuesday stressed the need for a comprehensive reform of the Security Council with expansion of both permanent and non-permanent members.

    “We welcome the opportunity to participate in the debate on the Report of the Security Council. We thank the members of the Security Council and the Secretariat for producing the annual report of the Security Council.,” Mathur said.

    “India also joins others in congratulating new incoming members for having been elected to the Council for the period 2025-2026. We look forward to working with them in a constructive and positive manner,” he added.

    The Indian diplomat pointed out that the UN Charter bestows on the report a profound seriousness, as is evident from the fact that there exists a separate provision mandating such a report, rather than clubbing it with the provision for reports from other UN bodies.

    “The annual report of the Security Council must inform, highlight and analyse the measures that it has decided upon or taken to maintain international peace and security during the reporting period,” the Indian diplomat said.

    “However, the debate on the annual report has become a ritual without much substance. The annual reports have become compendium containing details of the meetings, briefers, and outcome documents. Last year, only six monthly reports were compiled-reflecting lack of interest among the members about this ritual.,” he further said.

    Mathur also stated that the annual report is also meant to be an analysis on the UN peacekeeping operations, but in reality there is little information on how peacekeeping operations.He also said there should be a definite timeline for completing the report, circulating to wider General Assembly members and holding the debate.

    “The annual report, in its truest form, is also meant to be an analysis on the UN peacekeeping operations, the flagship tool for the maintenance of international peace and security. However, in reality, we find there is little information on how peacekeeping operations are run, on the problems they face, on why certain mandates are set or changed, or on when and why they are strengthened, scaled down or ended. As most peacekeepers are contributed by non-Council members, who put the lives of their troops at risk to serve the cause of international peace, a better partnership between the Security Council and the Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) is needed,” Mathur said

    Mathur stressed the need to bring the Council in line with its Charter responsibility to act on behalf of the entire membership, adding that the only remedy is a “comprehensive reform of the Security Council,” involving expansion in its permanent and non-permanent categories.

    “It is high time to bring the Council in line with its Charter responsibility to act on behalf of the entire Membership. This will not be achieved without enhancing the membership in both the categories — permanent and non-permanent members,” Mathur said.

    “We remain convinced that the only remedy is a comprehensive reform of the Security Council, involving expansion in its permanent and non-permanent categories. Only this will enable the Council to manage effectively today’s conflicts around the globe as well as the increasingly complex and interconnected global challenges it faces today,” he added.

    He further added that the Security Council too needs to prove its credibility and improve its performance, at a time when performance assessment has become one of the focus areas at the United Nations. 

  • Iranian president Raisi declines CNN interview after anchor refuses to put on scarf

    Iran’s President Ahmed Raisi cancelled a long-planned interview with CNN’s veteran journalist Christiane Amanpour on the United Countries Common Meeting on Wednesday after she declined his call for that she duvet her head with a shawl all through the interview.

    The cancellation of the scheduled interview comes at a time when Iran is seeing a national protest over the demise of a 22-year-old lady Mahsa Amini, who reportedly died of a ‘middle assault’ hours after morality police arrested her for violating the rustic’s obligatory rule for ladies to hide their head in public.

    Raisi, a hard-liner who was once in New York to wait the UN Common Meeting consultation, had a scheduled interview with Amanpour, CNN’s leader world anchor, the community reported.

    The Iranian president cancelled the interview after she declined a last-minute call for to put on a scarf, CNN mentioned.

    Amanpour in a chain of tweets mentioned that Raisi’s aide made it transparent that an interview would no longer occur if she didn’t put on a scarf, because it was once the months of Muharram and Safar and therefore is “an issue of admire”.

    ALSO READ | Anti-hijab protests unfold in Iran, demise toll rises as web curbed

    “I very with politeness declined on behalf of myself and CNN, and feminine newshounds far and wide as a result of it’s not a demand”, Amanpour was once quoted as announcing by way of CNN.

    Amanpour, 64, who grew up in Tehran mentioned she incessantly wears a head shawl whilst reporting in Iran to agree to the rustic’s rules however she may no longer duvet her head to interview an Iranian legit out of doors a rustic the place there is not any such compulsion.

    “Right here in New York, or any place else out of doors of Iran, I’ve by no means been requested by way of any Iranian president and I’ve interviewed each unmarried considered one of them since 1995 both inside of or out of doors of Iran, by no means been requested to put on a head shawl,” she mentioned on CNN’s “New Day” programme on Thursday.

    The demise of Mahsa whilst in police custody has since then sparked outrage and has observed girls coming at the streets to burn their ‘hijab’ (scarf). Some have additionally posted movies on social media of chopping their hair.

    The protests, which might be of their 7th day, have led to the demise of no less than 26 folks, as consistent with Iranian’s state TV.

    — ENDS —

  • Pakistan appears to be like for peace with all its neighbours together with India: PM Shehbaz at UN

    Pakistan is searching for peace with all its neighbours, together with India however sustainable peace and steadiness in South Asia stay contingent on a simply and lasting method to the Kashmir dispute, High Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated right here on Friday.

    Talking on the UN Common Meeting, Shehbaz claimed that India’s “unlawful and unilateral” movements on August 5, 2019 to modify the particular standing of Jammu and Kashmir additional undermined the potentialities of peace and infected regional tensions.

    “Pakistan wishes a strong exterior atmosphere. We search for peace with all our neighbours, together with India. Sustainable peace and steadiness in South Asia, on the other hand, stays contingent upon a simply and lasting answer of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” he stated.

    #WATCH | Pakistan PM Shehbaz Sharif rakes up Kashmir factor at #UNGA; , “…We search for peace with all our neighbours, incl India. Sustainable peace & steadiness in South Asia on the other hand stays contingent upon a simply & lasting answer of Jammu & Kashmir dispute…”

    (Supply: UN TV) %.twitter.com/kxmYV1EZQJ

    — ANI (@ANI) September 23, 2022

    “I believe it’s top time that India understood this message loud and transparent that each international locations are armed to the enamel. Struggle isn’t an possibility. It isn’t an possibility. Most effective non violent discussion can get to the bottom of those problems in order that the sector turns into extra non violent in time to return,” he stated.

    India has time and again advised Pakistan that Jammu and Kashmir “was once, is and shall perpetually” stay an integral a part of the rustic. India has stated it needs standard neighbourly family members with Pakistan in an atmosphere freed from terror, hostility and violence.

    The binds between India and Pakistan nosedived after New Delhi abrogated Article 370 of the Charter.

    India’s choice evoked sturdy reactions from Pakistan, which downgraded diplomatic ties and expelled the Indian envoy.

    Shehbaz stated that New Delhi has ramped up its army deployments in Jammu and Kashmir, thus making it the “maximum militarised zone on the earth,” he stated.

    He stated the Pakistani other people have all the time stood via Kashmiris in whole harmony and can proceed to take action.

    “I confident the International Discussion board that we in Pakistan stay constant in our dedication to peace in South Asia. India will have to take cheap steps to create an enabling atmosphere for positive engagement,” he stated.

    “We’re neighbours and we’re there perpetually. The selection is ours. Whether or not we are living in peace or stay on combating with every different. We’ve had 3 wars from 1947 onwards. And as a result, best distress, poverty and unemployment have greater on each side.

    Shehbaz stated each India and Pakistan must no longer waste their assets in purchasing extra ammunition and seeking to advertise rigidity.

    “It’s now as much as us to get to the bottom of our variations, our issues or problems like non violent neighbours thru non violent negotiations and discussions and save our scarce assets for selling schooling and well being and employment to tens of millions of other people,” he stated.

  • UNGA to vote on Thursday to droop Russia from UNHRC over Ukraine disaster

    The UN Normal Meeting will vote on Thursday on a transfer through america to droop Russia from the Human Rights Council of the arena frame for its aggression and invasion of Ukraine.

    The place of work of the President of the UN Normal Meeting mentioned that the Emergency Particular Consultation of the 193-member UN frame will resume on Thursday at 10 A.M. and motion is predicted at the draft answer to droop Russia.

    ?️ Subscribe Now: Get Specific Top class to get right of entry to the most efficient Election reporting and research ?️

    The Human Rights Council is composed of 47 Member States, elected without delay and for my part through secret poll through the vast majority of the participants of the Normal Meeting. The Normal Meeting, through a two-thirds majority of the participants provide and vote casting, “might droop the rights of club within the Council of a member of the Council that commits gross and systematic violations of human rights.” US Ambassador at UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield had informed newshounds in Bucharest, Romania that Washington, in shut coordination with Ukraine, Eu international locations and different companions on the UN, was once going to hunt Russia’s suspension from the UN Human Rights Council.

    “100 and 40 UN Member States have already voted to sentence Russia over its unprovoked struggle and the humanitarian disaster it has unleashed upon the folk of Ukraine. My message to these 140 international locations who’ve courageously stood in combination is discreet: the photographs out of Bucha and devastation throughout Ukraine require us now to check our phrases with motion.

    “We can not let a Member State this is subverting each theory we hang pricey to proceed to sit down at the UN Human Rights Council,” she mentioned, as she referred to the UN Member States who voted in favour of Normal Meeting resolutions deploring Russian motion and important that Moscow right away withdraw its forces and stop hostilities.

     

    “Russia will have to now not have a place of authority in that frame, nor will have to we permit Russia to make use of their function at the Council as a device of propaganda to signify they’ve a valid fear about human rights… Russia’s participation at the Human Rights Council is a farce. It hurts the credibility of the Council and the UN writ massive. And it’s merely incorrect. Which is why we consider it’s time for the UN Normal Meeting to droop them,” she mentioned.

    India has unequivocally condemned the “deeply worrying” experiences of civilian killings within the Ukrainian town of Bucha and supported the decision for an unbiased investigation, because it underlined that once blameless human lives are at stake, international relations should succeed as the one viable possibility.