WORLD

United Nations, Sep 28 (IANS) The United Arab Emirates (UAE), one of the countries at the epicentre of the Gulf War affecting the global economy and security, said on Monday that it seeks de-escalation and diplomacy to settle disputes peacefully.“Our principled approach is rooted in de-escalation, bridge-building, the promotion of diplomacy and dialogue, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and the rejection of the unlawful use or threat of force, as well as coercion,” UAE’s Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar told the General Assembly.He highlighted the issue of three islands occupied by Iran: Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa, which command a geostrategic position on access to the Strait of Hormuz.“As Iran continues its occupation of the three Emirati islands, which we rej...

Addis Ababa, Sep 28 (IANS) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) on Monday warned of deepening natural and man-made humanitarian challenges in Ethiopia as a "severe" funding shortfall hampers its relief operations.In its latest Ethiopia country brief, the UN agency noted that Ethiopia, with a population of approximately 140 million, continues to advance a far-reaching economic reform agenda aimed at unlocking long-term growth and strengthening its development trajectory, Xinhua News Agency reported.It, however, stressed that despite these ambitious reforms, persistent inflation, combined with insecurity, displacement and climate shocks, "continue to erode household resilience and heighten food security concerns."The agency noted that El Nino-driven rainfall disruptions are further ...

New Delhi, Sep 28 (IANS) India and France discussed defence cooperation, intelligence sharing, training, and capacity building in space as Air Marshal Tejinder Singh met with Lieutenant General Dominique Tardiff, Vice Chief of the French Air and Space Force.“Air Marshal Tejinder Singh CISC interacted with Lt Gen Dominique Tardiff, Vice Chief of the French Air and Space Force. Discussions focused on defence cooperation, intelligence sharing, training and capacity building in space, and expanding defence industrial collaboration,” Headquarters Integrated Defence Staff stated on X.Earlier, Minister of State for Science and Technology and Earth Sciences Jitendra Singh met his French counterpart, Philippe Baptiste, and said that cooperation in the space sector between India and France has ent...

United Nations, Sep 28 (IANS) Rejecting “racism and religious extremism”, Sri Lanka reiterated its determination on Monday to ensure that conditions that led to the civil war do not re-emerge.“We are determined to prevent a recurrence of such a tragedy and to pursue a path towards national unity and reconciliation,” Sri Lanka’s Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told the General Assembly.In the two years since President Anura Kumara Dissanayake’s election, Herath said, “We have remained firm in our rejection of racism and religious extremism in all its forms and manifestations.”According to UN estimates, more than 90,000 people died in the conflict between Tamils and the Sri Lankan government from 1983 to 2009, with a spillover to India where former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassina...

New York, Sep 28 (IANS) Sibi George, Secretary (West) at the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), on Monday affirmed India’s unwavering commitment to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance at the High-Level Meeting on the 25th Anniversary of Adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) during the ongoing 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.“Secretary(West) Sibi George delivered India’s Statement in the High-Level Meeting on the 25th Anniversary of Adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA) during the UNGA81 in New York. He reaffirmed India’s unwavering commitment to combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and to promoting equality and dignity for all,” th...

Canberra, Sep 28 (IANS) India on Monday underlined the need for conservation of whales and other cetaceans at the 70th meeting of the International Whaling Commission (IWC-70), being held in Hobart, Australia, from September 28 to October 2.“In its Opening Statement at IWC-70, India emphasised the importance of continued collaboration among range countries, scientific institutions and relevant international organisations for effective cetacean conservation,” the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change noted in a statement.It said India highlighted that improved scientific information on population status, distribution, movements, breeding ecology, and threats is essential to strengthen conservation measures and support informed decision-making.“India reaffirmed its support for...

Rome, Sep 28 (IANS) India on Monday highlighted its significant achievement in forest and landscape restoration and reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable forest management, climate action and resilient forest landscapes at the Twenty-eighth Session of the FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) Committee on Forestry (COFO 28), being held in Rome from September 28 to October 2, said the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change.“India highlighted the consistent progress made in enhancing its forest resources. The country’s forest and tree cover stands at 82.74 million hectares, accounting for 25.17 per cent of its geographical area. The FAO Global Forest Resources Assessment 2025 ranks India 9th globally in forest area and 3rd in net annual forest area gain. Forests and trees ...

Abidjan, Sep 28 (IANS) India's Ambassador to Cote d'Ivoire, Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan, paid a courtesy call on Monday on Lamine Ouattara, Director General for Multilateral Affairs at the West African nation's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the two sides explored ways to strengthen cooperation at multilateral fora."Ambassador Mr. Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan paid a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Lamine Ouattara, Director General for Multilateral Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cote d'Ivoire. The meeting provided an opportunity to exchange views on various multilateral issues of mutual interest and explore avenues for enhanced cooperation at multilateral fora," the Indian Embassy said in a post on X.Last week, Lakshmanan called on Cote d'Ivoire's Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs a...

Washington, Sep 28 (IANS) The United States will restrict visas for people who obstruct the resolution of international parental child abduction cases, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced on Monday. The policy can also cover their immediate family members.Rubio said the measure is aimed at people responsible for, or complicit in, delaying efforts to return abducted children to their country of habitual residence. It gives the State Department another way to pressure countries that fail to meet their obligations, he said.The statement named foreign government officials, judges, judicial administrators and law enforcement officials among those who could obstruct a case. It also referred to “others” whose actions prolong a family’s separation.“Protecting American children abducted across...

Washington, Sep 28 (IANS) A Pakistani national has been charged in a US federal court with running a website that allegedly sold more than 5.1 million counterfeit postage labels, causing losses of more than $126 million to the US Postal Service.A federal grand jury in the Southern District of Florida indicted Faheem Akram, 33, of Khanewal, Pakistan, over the operation of LabelsBank.com. Prosecutors allege that the site sold counterfeit labels for a fixed price, typically $2 each, regardless of a parcel’s weight, size or destination.The website was not authorised to sell Postal Service products or services, according to the court records cited by prosecutors. Its customers allegedly used the labels to send parcels for far less than the legitimate postage price.More than 5,200 people bought ...