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UK says it voted against UN nuclear war panel

A total of 144 UN member states voted for the resolution, and 30 abstained, including the US….reports Asian Lite News

The UK was one of three countries to vote against creating a UN scientific panel on the effects of nuclear war because, the Foreign Office argued, the “devastating consequences” of such a conflict are already well known without the need for a new study.

The UK, France and Russia were the only countries to vote on Friday night against a UN general assembly committee resolution drafted by Ireland and New Zealand to set up an international scientific inquiry to take a fresh look at the multifaceted impact of nuclear weapons use.
Backers of the motion said the last such UN study had been carried out towards the end of the cold war and that a lot had changed since then, in geopolitics and in science.

A total of 144 UN member states voted for the resolution, and 30 abstained, including the US. North Korea had been expected to vote no, but abstained. In another surprise, China voted for the proposal, the only nuclear-armed state to do so, as did eight Nato allies. The resolution will now go to the full general assembly for a final vote.

A Foreign Office spokesperson said: “Nuclear war would have devastating consequences for humanity. We don’t need an independent scientific panel to tell us that.
“The UK remains fully committed to its obligations under the nuclear non-proliferation treaty (NPT). The resolution does not advance this cause.” The French foreign ministry and the Russian mission to the UN were also approached for comment.
The UK’s vote was condemned by British arms control advocates, who had hoped the new Labour government would change policy on the issue. Rebecca Johnson, the founder and director of Acronym Institute for Disarmament Diplomacy, said: “With nuclear use being evoked and threatened in today’s wars, Keir Starmer’s government has ridiculously aligned the UK with Russia and France in voting against UN backing for up-to-date research about nuclear war and the effects of nuclear weapons use when so-called deterrents fail.
“Not only is this ostrich head-in-sand decision an embarrassing mistake politically – it foolishly risks UK credibility and standing in scientific, nuclear, legal and humanitarian circles.”
Johnson, who is also a co-founder of the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, said updating nuclear war research was an imperative to prevent wars going nuclear, “so UK scientists should be fully involved in this research, not running away”.
Nuclear weapons experts say that understanding of the impact of various nuclear scenarios has evolved considerably in the decades since the last UN study. For example, it is now thought that even a “limited” regional nuclear conflict could trigger a global “nuclear winter” by propelling huge amounts of carbon into the atmosphere.
Patricia Lewis, the head of the international security programme at the Chatham House thinktank, said: “The Foreign Office say: ‘We know it all’, and I’m sure the experts at the Foreign Office and the MoD [Ministry of Defence] do know it all. But so many people in the UK don’t know, so many people around the world don’t, and so many governments don’t.”
Lewis said the proposed 21-expert panel would almost certainly be approved by the general assembly, in which case it would be in the UK’s interests to be part of it. She noted that when the resolution went to the full assembly the UK would have an opportunity to change its vote.

ALSO READ: STARMER STRIKES BACK

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India re-elected President of International Solar Alliance

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said India’s election to the President’s post is a testament to the impactful work the country…reports Asian Lite News

India was re-elected as President of the 120-nation International Solar Alliance (ISA) from 2024 to 2026 on Monday, while France has been elected as Co-President, at the General Assembly held at the iconic Bharat Mandapam here.

Addressing a press conference at the 7th General Assembly of the ISA, Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said India’s election to the President’s post is a testament to the impactful work the country, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been doing over the years for the global good in advancing solar energy adoption across the globe and boosting investment in essential solar projects, including mini-grids and healthcare solutions.

Joshi said while India was the sole contender for the post of President, the Co-Presidency was contested between the Republic of France and Grenada, with France emerging victorious.

“India and France, along with member countries, will aim to raise their ambitions and promise to make this decade count as we usher in a fresh wave of energy, determined to bring the power of solar to improve counties around the world in a way the world has never witnessed before,” the minister said.

Joshi highlighted that the ISA aims to give impetus to accelerate the journey towards the 1000 strategy which aims to mobilise $1,000 billion of investments in solar energy solutions by 2030.

The fresh elections to the post of President and Vice President gives both, India and France an opportunity to lead 120 countries again to build on the solid work that has already been done and more importantly leverage the gains we have made together, to now accelerate our mission towards a sustainable path, he added.

Eight Vice Presidents of the Standing Committee, two from each of the four ISA geographical regions, were also selected by the Assembly. The include Africa, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean regions.

ISA Member Countries have also selected the third Director General of the Alliance. Ashish Khanna is the Director General Designate and will assume office in March 2025 when the tenure of the incumbent Director General, Dr Ajay Mathur, comes to a close.

ISA initiated Demonstration Projects in 2020 to meet the needs of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Development States (SIDS). The aim was to exhibit solar technology applications that can be scaled up and build the capacity of Member Countries to replicate these solar-powered solutions. Today, 11 of these projects were dedicated to the people of the respective countries: Bhutan, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cuba, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Samoa, Senegal, The Gambia, and Tonga. ISA remains committed to supporting governments in their efforts to scale up solar energy projects and improve the lives of their people.

According to Minister Joshi, the ISA acknowledges that accelerating adoption of advanced technologies relies on a skilled workforce that can design, install, and maintain them effectively. For advancing capacity building in its Member Countries, the ISA had launched the STAR-C initiative for setting up Solar Technology Application Resource Centres (STAR-Centres), in collaboration with the Republic of France. These national centres are equipped with specialized training facilities, tools, and structured learning modules designed to cultivate a highly skilled solar workforce.

The minister said ISA has successfully established and operationalized STAR Centers in seven countries: Ethiopia, Somalia, Cuba, Côte d’Ivoire, Kiribati, Ghana, and Bangladesh. Since their launch, these centers have already trained thousands of professionals in various aspects of solar energy, preparing them to contribute effectively to the sector’s rapid expansion.

“The Assembly will also consider other substantial matters, such as work plans for the coming year and include updates on ISA’s priority areas of work and projects. An important topic of discussion will be the guidelines for the Viability Gap Funding,” Joshi added.

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End of the American Century

Whoever wins the American presidential elections be it Donald Trump or Kamala Harris this election could see the end of the American Century … writes Mihir Bose

Whoever wins the American presidential elections be it Donald Trump or Kamala Harris this election could see the end of the American Century.

This idea first originated towards the end of the Second World War. That is when Americans began to boast that we were now entering the American Century. The Americans knew that European empires would have to give their non-white peoples freedom and, while Britain and France fought wars not to, in the end they had to rush back to their homelands with their tails between their legs.

This American Century saw America set up NATO, the Marshall Plan to revive Europe, completely reshape Japan making it a demilitarised country but allowed to keep its emperor and become a major economic power. It also prevented North Korea conquering the south and help the south become, probably, the third biggest economic power in Asia.

Some of its military  alliances like Cento and Seato have long been consigned to the dust bin, but nothing has dimmed America’s desire to intervene in the affairs of the world. Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, being classic examples, and all the time claiming they were doing this for the good of the world, however ridiculous the claim.

The first Trump administration made it clear it had no truck with such a policy and the while the second may not see Trump with a phone call end the war in Ukraine, as he often boasts, he will certainly withdraw the military support for Ukraine. Harris notionally will continue Biden’s policy of intervention, but America can no longer dictate to the world.

Israel is the classic example. Biden, despite all his efforts and the constant shuttling of his Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who must have earned a lot of air miles, has failed to persuade Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the slaughter in Gaza and accept a ceasefire. This is despite the fact that Israel is a close ally and America provides it a huge amount of weapons and other help.

What we could see after the election is the return of isolationism which was the historic position of  American foreign policy ever since it defeated its British colonial masters and won freedom nearly 250 years ago. It was proud of the fact that, unlike Europe, it had a government elected by the people with the head of state not a king but a President and this was something unique in world history.

(People at the U.S. presidential debate media filing center watch a live broadcast of the first presidential debate between U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump in Philadelphia. (Xinhua/Li Rui)

Yes, America took part in the First World War, but it was towards the end of the war and although American President Woodrow Wilson set up the League of Nations America did not join the League of Nations. The second world war changed all that. UN was set  up in San Francisco, with its headquarters in New York, and America made sure it controlled the Security Council with the help of its European allies, Britain and France. Such was America’s domination that when having failed to stop China going communist it refused to recognise The Peoples Republic and only did so 30 years after Mao had won in 1949. During that time Taiwan represented China on the Security Council  resulting in a farcical situation of this small little island claiming to represent the mainland.

Isolationism chimes in with the wishes of many Americans. Only 48 per cent of Americans have a passport compared to 86% of British people. Indeed, for many Americans going from Arizona to Massachusetts is like a foreign journey.

The other major change we may see is America move away from a free market economy to a more protectionist economy. Trump has already said that he would impose tariffs on China.

But what about the American cultural influence? Surely that will not end. Hollywood movies will still dominate the world. But here the march of technology is already beginning  to undercut American dominance. The growth of streaming and more varied means of making movies and documentaries, which no longer have to be shown on big channels,  making them more accessible to the public, means Hollywood no longer dominates the world in the way it has since the Second World War. As it is Bollywood makes more movies than Hollywood and is much more powerful than its American rival in many parts of the world including Africa and Asia.

What will replace the American Century remains a very open question. Some signs of the re-ordering of the world are emerging. It is interesting that while we have been concentrating on the American elections we had the BRICS summit. I was Toronto when that summit took place and what struck me was to see the Globe and Mail of Toronto lead its front page with a picture from the summit. The headline underneath the picture was, “From left Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a family photo ceremony during the BRICKs summit in Kazan Russia, on Wednesday.”

BRICKS , a word invented by  economist Jim O’Neill  to denote Brazil, Russia, India, China  and South Africa almost two decades ago, has not quite lived up to its billing.. It was meant to indicate that what used to be derisively called third world countries, or the South, there was even a magazine by that name I wrote for, are now becoming economically powerful. The Ukraine war has made Putin see this is a useful alliance and while it may never rival Nato it does mean the world is not ruled by one world power in America. 

The summit saw something of a rapprochement between India and China after nearly half a century of conflict and could, if not lead to peace, see the two countries not being at such logger heads.

If Harris wins the changes in world affairs may take longer. But  they will come.

(Mihir Bose is the author of Thank You Mr Crombie Lessons in Guilt and Gratitude to the British)

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India-Vietnam Military Drills Kick Off in Ambala

The exercise is scheduled to continue till November 23 at Ambala and Chandimandir…reports Asian Lite News

The 5th Edition of Vietnam Indian Bilateral Army Exercise “VINBAX 2024” commenced at Haryana’s Ambala on Monday for practising joint engineering tasks under UN Peace Keeping Operations.

The exercise is scheduled to continue till November 23 at Ambala and Chandimandir, a statement said.

The aim of VINBAX-2024 is to enhance the joint military capability of both sides in the employment and deployment of Engineer Company and Medical Teams to undertake engineering tasks as part of the United Nations Contingent in Peacekeeping Operations.

The exercise is a sequel to a previously conducted bilateral exercise in Vietnam in 2023 and a major milestone in strengthening the bilateral relations between India and Vietnam.

This edition marks a significant increase in the scope with Bi Service level participation for the first time by personnel of Army and Air Force from both the countries.

The Indian Army contingent comprising 47 personnel is being represented by a Regiment of the Corps of Engineers along with personnel from other arms and services. The Vietnamese contingent of similar strength will be represented by the troops of the Vietnam People’s Army.

The conduct of VINBAX-2024 as a field training exercise with enhanced scope from previous editions of bilateral exercise will strengthen mutual confidence, and interoperability and enable sharing of best practices between the Indian Army and Vietnam People’s Army, the statement said.

A 48-hour Validation Exercise with Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief demonstration and equipment display is also part of the schedule to assess the standards achieved by both contingents while executing technical military operations under similar scenarios in UN missions.

The joint exercise will also provide an opportunity to the troops of both the Contingents to learn about the social and cultural heritages of each other, said the statement.

Exercise VINBAX was instituted in 2018 and the first edition was conducted at Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. It is an annual training event conducted alternately in India and Vietnam. The last edition was conducted at Chandimandir Military Station in August 2022.

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BRICS Expansion Likely in 2025, Hints Lavrov

Screengrab of official footage shows that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov speaks during an online press conference on June 6, 2022.(Xinhua/IANS)

The Russian minister noted that many countries “want to take part in BRICS events”….reports Asian Lite News

The BRICS could expand further in 2025 as the member countries will deliberate on new full-fledged entrants as well as the criteria for partner countries, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has indicated.

“People in countries of the global East vote primarily for politicians proclaiming their plans to establish closer relations with BRICS one way or another. I have already said that a number of countries are seeking full-fledged membership. This issue will be considered throughout the next year,” Lavrov said in an interview with TV BRICS, Russian media reported.

The Russian minister noted that many countries “want to take part in BRICS events”.

“There are more than 30 of them. As I have said, the criteria for the partner country category will be agreed upon. After the summit in Kazan, the Russian presidency sent invitations to several countries that applied to join our work. Ten such countries enjoy a consensus among the existing BRICS members,” he said.

“We have an accord that as soon as we receive a reply from the invited country, this country will be proclaimed as joining BRICS as a partner country. We believe that they will have an opportunity to take part in all BRICS events,” he added.

Following the recent BRICS summit in Kazan, Algeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Nigeria, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam were added as partner countries. While Russian authorities announced the number of partner countries, these were not named and it was BRICS members’ media, or a particular country’s leaders, who identified the partner countries.

Lavrov also said: “A separate format of meetings involving only full-fledged members is most likely to be preserved, and all other formats, including Outreach Plus ones, meetings of Foreign and other ministers (of Economy, Energy, Trade, Health, Culture) will be open to them.”

He, however, said that they want the partner countries “to join this work”.

“They will take part in practically all events,” the Russian Minister said.

On the BRICS’ global influence, he said: “It influences domestic processes in the sense that being informed about BRICS’ work, its achievements and plans it sets and implements, people want to join this equitable and mutually beneficial process.”

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Jaishankar Credits Modi for Enhanced India-Australia Ties

The Indian minister stressed the transformation in bilateral ties under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership….reports Asian Lite News

During his address to the Indian community in Brisbane, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar outlined four key factors behind the deepening India-Australia relationship, stressing the transformation in bilateral ties under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.

“There are four reasons – PM Modi, Australia, the world, and all of you,” Jaishankar remarked as he acknowledged the warm reception from the Indian diaspora.

Jaishankar stressed the significance of his visit not only for inaugurating India’s fourth consulate in Brisbane but to fulfilling PM Modi’s commitment to the Indian community.

“Your presence, effort, and contribution have made this consulate possible. I have come to redeem Prime Minister Modi’s promise, made in public, that he would open a consulate in Brisbane,” he said.

Reflecting on the 125,000 Indians residing in Queensland, including 15,000–16,000 students, Jaishankar highlighted the state’s economic importance to India, noting that “75 per cent of Australia’s exports to India actually come from this state.”

This cooperation, he said, should be viewed not merely as an achievement but as a framework for future growth. “There’s no doubt that the QUAD ranks right up there, and Australia is a founding partner of that mechanism in terms of our bilateral ties,” he added.

The EAM described India’s designation of Australia as a “comprehensive strategic partner” as significant in diplomatic terms, underscoring that such a term is reserved for only a few countries. “The more adjectives you add, the weightier it gets,” he said.

Jaishankar also praised the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA) for the positive impact it has had on trade and emphasised the importance of mobility, migration, and mutual recognition agreements, specifically mentioning the MATES agreement.

Regarding India’s aspirations, the EAM stated, “India will grow, India is growing, but India wants to grow with the world. When we look at the world, we see opportunities. We are optimistic there may be problems, but overall, we think the world has goodwill. The world has a desire to work with India. We see a sentiment overall in the world for India to succeed, and it’s important we harness that sentiment.”

This sentiment, he explained, aligns with the Government of India’s transformative policies, which have spurred progress across sectors over the last decade.

Reflecting on these changes, Jaishankar said, “In the last 10 years, we have made significant progress through efforts that feed into each other, making it easier to do business, improving ease of living, radically improving infrastructure with the Gati Shakti program, establishing digital public infrastructure, and improving governance quality overall.”

He further added that political stability has allowed for continuity in decision-making and policy implementation.

Highlighting the strides India has made in the last ten years, Jaishankar noted, “Today’s India is building 28 kilometres of highway daily, 12-14 kilometres of railway track every day, and has expanded metro cities from 6 to 21, with 39 more planned. The country had 75 airports a decade ago; today, it has nearly 150, with over 1,000 planes on order from the global aviation industry.”

He also praised the advancements in education and initiatives such as the Ayushman Bharat scheme, PM Vishwakarma Yojana, Digital India, and others supporting entrepreneurship.

Jaishankar’s visit to Brisbane marks the beginning of a two-nation tour, covering Australia until November 7, where he will co-chair the 15th Foreign Ministers’ Framework Dialogue (FMFD) with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

He will also deliver the keynote address at the 2nd Raisina Down Under conference at the Australian Parliament House and engage with Australian leaders, parliamentarians, business representatives, media, and think tank members.

After Australia, Jaishankar will visit Singapore on November 8 to participate in the 8th ASEAN-India Network of Think Tanks Roundtable and meet Singaporean leaders to discuss ways to further strengthen the close partnership.

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Carnage in Northern Gaza

Israeli operations in northern Gaza, including Beit Lahia and Jabalia, have intensified over recent weeks, with the IDF citing efforts to prevent Hamas from regrouping.

At least 93 people are reported dead or missing following an Israeli air strike on the northern Gaza town of Beit Lahia, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

The United States has expressed deep concern, describing the incident as “horrifying” and highlighting that initial reports indicate significant civilian casualties, including children.

The US said it has reached out to Israel demanding an explanation after the strike, citing reports that over 20 children among the dozens reported killed.

Social media footage shows bodies under blankets near the site, and rescue teams report a five-story residential building was destroyed in the strike.

Israel’s Defence Forces (IDF) acknowledged awareness of civilian casualties in Beit Lahia and noted that they are investigating the incident.

Israeli operations in northern Gaza, including Beit Lahia and Jabalia, have intensified over recent weeks, with the IDF citing efforts to prevent Hamas from regrouping and claiming that the organisation uses civilian areas as cover—a charge Hamas denies.

Local medical facilities are struggling, with Kamal Adwan Hospital in Jabalia severely understaffed and lacking medical supplies.

The hospital’s director, Hussam Abu Safia, stated that most staff have left, and only essential first aid supplies remain. The IDF previously raided this hospital, alleging it was being used by Hamas fighters.

US State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller voiced concern over civilian deaths and echoed calls for an end to the war, stressing the toll on civilians.

Meanwhile, UN rights chief Volker Türk criticized the scale of Israeli military actions in Gaza, describing it as endangering the civilian population.

He also condemned reports of Palestinian armed groups operating in civilian areas, including shelters for displaced people, placing civilians at additional risk.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with hundreds of thousands affected by restricted access to essential resources and increasing displacement across the region.

“The humanitarian operation in Gaza, if that is unravelled, that is a disaster within a series of disasters and just doesn’t bear thinking about,” said UNRWA spokesperson John Fowler.

He said other UN agencies and international organisations distributing aid in Gaza rely on its logistics and thousands of workers.

Naim Qassem new Hezbollah chief

Hezbollah has announced that one of its founding members, 71-year-old Naim Qassem, who has served as Deputy Secretary General of the Lebanese group since 1991, will be its new chief.

A veteran figure in the group, Qassem succeeds Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed more than a month ago in an Israeli bombing.

On October 22, Israel confirmed that it had also eliminated Hashem Safieddine, the apparent successor of the former leader, in Beirut three weeks ago.

Qassem, one of the founders of Hezbollah in 1982, was elected Secretary General following a meeting of the Shura Council, the group’s central decision-making body of seven members, on Monday.

The council, while announcing its decision, maintained that Hezbollah will stand by its principles, goals and path to keep the flame of resistance alive and its banner held high until “final victory”.

Born in southern Lebanon in 1953, Qassem became the movement’s Deputy Secretary General in 1991 and continued to serve as Hezbollah’s second-in-command since then.

Ever since Nasrallah’s death, he has appeared in three televised speeches, assuring followers that Hezbollah will fight back even as it has been hit by a severe leadership crisis in the past few weeks.

“I am confident that these enemy aggressions will not weaken the nation of resistance and we will definitely win,” remarked Qassem last month in what was the first speech from a senior Hezbollah official after the assassination of Nasrallah in Israeli Air Force’s strikes on the southern suburbs of Beirut.

ALSO READ: Israeli Attack: Iran Demands UN Action, Backed by China, Russia

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Modi, Sanchez add momentum to ties

Modi and Sanchez emphasised the promotion of a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, anchored in a rules-based international order…reports Asian Lite News

In a landmark visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Spanish President Pedro Sanchez emphasised the need for international law amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and West Asia, condemned terrorism and promoted peace in the Indo-Pacific.

During Sanchez’s visit to India, the leaders addressed pressing global issues, including climate change as well.

Modi and Sanchez emphasised the promotion of a free, open, inclusive, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific, anchored in a rules-based international order, mutual respect for sovereignty, and the peaceful resolution of disputes, supported by effective regional institutions.

They highlighted the importance of unimpeded commerce and freedom of navigation, in compliance with international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a press release.

Notably, Sanchez paid an official visit to India on October 28-29. This was Sanchez’s first visit to India and the first visit by a President of the Government of Spain to India after 18 years. He was accompanied by the Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility and the Minister of Industry and Tourism, and a high-level official and business delegation.

Both sides also acknowledged India’s invitation to Spain to participate in the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) for collaborative efforts aimed at the management, conservation, sustainability, security, and development of the maritime domain in the Indo-Pacific. They also recognised the complementarity between India’s Indo-Pacific Vision and the EU Strategy for Cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.

Spain welcomed India’s application to join the Ibero-American Conference as an Associate Observer, which will offer a platform to strengthen its ties with Latin American countries. Both sides committed to finalising the process by the Ibero-American Summit, to be held in Spain in 2026, so that India may actively participate in the activities of Spain’s Pro Tempore Secretariat, the MEA release said.

Both leaders agreed to enhance cooperation and coordination within the United Nations, including the UN Security Council (UNSC), and other multilateral forums. They emphasised the importance of a rules-based international order for ensuring global peace and development.

During the visit, India expressed its support for Spain’s UNSC candidature for the term 2031-32, while Spain expressed its support for India’s candidature for the period 2028-29.

Both leaders also looked forward to the Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development to take place in 2025 in Sevilla (Spain) as a critical opportunity to identify priority actions to help close the resource gap needed to implement the Sustainable Development Goals.

The two leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation in promoting sustainable energy and adapting to climate change. They recognised the urgency of accelerating global actions to combat climate change and committed to collaborating in the context of the upcoming Climate Summit in Baku (COP29) to achieve an ambitious outcome, including on a New Collective Quantified Goal on Climate Finance that helps achieve the temperature goal of the Paris Agreement.

Spain also invited India to join the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), which was launched in 2022, a platform to promote concrete actions to reduce the vulnerability of countries, cities and communities to drought through preparedness and adaptation measures.

Meanwhile, both leaders unequivocally condemned terrorism and violent extremism in all its forms and manifestations, including the use of terrorist proxies and cross-border terrorism. They urged all countries to take immediate, sustained and irreversible action to prevent territory under their control from being used for terrorist purposes and stressed the need for firm implementation of relevant resolutions of the UNSC, as well as the implementation of the UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy.

They also called for concerted action against all terrorist groups proscribed by the UNSC, including Al Qa’ida, ISIS/Daesh, Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) and their proxy groups. Prime Minister Modi appreciated Spain’s multilateral initiatives in support of the victims of terrorism and their empowerment.

The two leaders also noted that this visit has renewed the bilateral relationship, infusing it with fresh momentum and setting the stage for a new era of enhanced cooperation between the two countries across various sectors.

They also expressed satisfaction at the progress of bilateral relations since PM Modi’s visit to Spain in 2017, the MEA said.

Both leaders instructed their teams to continue upgrading the bilateral agenda further and forging cooperation in all dimensions of political, economic, security, defence, people-to-people and cultural cooperation. (ANI)

ALSO READ: ‘BRICS Emerges as Key Platform for Global South’

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‘BRICS Emerges as Key Platform for Global South’

Russian diplomat stated that an evolving BRICS as a dedicated platform for the Global South is a reflection of current realities….reports Asian Lite News

New Delhi, Oct 28 (IANS) Listing promotion of just and equal multipolarity as a vital priority, Russia’s Ambassador to India, Denis Alipov on Monday asserted that the addition of more partner-countries will multiply the value of diversified partnership and add to BRICS’s global influence, which is now making a decisive contribution to the global food and energy security.

Briefing media in New Delhi on the outcomes of last week’s 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan, which was also attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Russian diplomat stated that an evolving BRICS as a dedicated platform for the Global South is a reflection of current realities.

“As like-minded countries, we will keep closely coordinating on various international issues on the UN, G20 and WTO agenda to create better conditions for the Global South to get an equal access to technological, financial and natural resources and to remove development gaps and achieve SDGs,” commented Alipov.

The summit in Kazan was held under the motto of ‘Strengthening Multilateralism for Equitable Global Development and Security’ and was the first in the expanded format with leaders from 35 states and six international organisations, including the UN Secretary General as well as Asian, African and Latin American countries, joining the plus and outreach formats.

Under its presidency, Russia hosted around 200 events – foreign and other sectoral ministerial meetings, the Parliamentary Forum (attended by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla), the NSAs dialogue – that saw participation of NSA AJit Doval – working groups, conferences and seminars, business fora, cultural and film festivals as also sport games, fashion forum and fire drills.

“We succeeded quite well despite all doubts regarding differences within the expanded membership. Because our biggest value is the sincere dedication to find amicable solutions and a common ground when it comes to difficult issues,” maintained Alipov.

He emphasised that BRICS is not exclusive but inclusive, not anti-west but non-west and has transformed into an “indispensable framework” for emerging centres of power, attracting more and more counties as a response to the global turbulence and uncertainty.

“One of the major outcomes of the summit is that we have created the new category of partner-countries, which will be individually invited to join the forum in this capacity. They will be announced after they accept invitations. It was very important to satisfy the growing interest to BRICS. This step will definitely multiply the value of our diversified partnership and add to the forum’s global influence, which is now making a decisive contribution to the global food and energy security,” said Alipov.

The BRICS members decided in Kazan to work out an investment platform through strengthening the New Development Bank as the key institution for sustainable development of its shareholders along with considering the BRICS Cross-Border Payments Initiative to facilitate interaction between central banks and the use of local currencies to strengthen financial sovereignty and independence.

It was also decided to study the feasibility of an electronic platform to settle cross-border trade in securities – BRICS Clear – and a BRICS (Re)Insurance Company besides upgrading Contingent Currency Arrangement, which serves as crucial tool to safeguard from short-term current account deficits.

“The Summit in Kazan signaled that the new constructive agenda is shaping. Russia is committed to strengthen BRICS further with the focus on practical cooperation and international coordination,” the Russian Ambassador remarked.

Last Wednesday, during the BRICS restricted format meeting that was also addressed by Prime Minister Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin had said that more than 30 countries have expressed a desire to join the BRICS alliance, an intergovernmental organisation comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa which had added four new members – Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates – in January, this year.

“It would be wrong to ignore the unprecedented interest of the countries of the Global South and East in strengthening contacts with BRICS. In one form or another, more than 30 states have already expressed such a desire. At the same time, it is necessary to maintain a balance and not allow a decrease in the effectiveness of BRICS,” said Putin while making his opening statement.

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India blasts Pakistan for raking Kashmir in UN

India’s Permanent Representative’s remarks came after Pakistan’s representative in his remarks during the UNSC debate made references to Jammu and Kashmir…reports Asian Lite News

India slammed Pakistan for raising the Kashmir issue at a United Nations Security Council debate calling it a “mischievous provocation” based on their “tested tactic of spreading misinformation.”

Exercising its right to reply during the UN Security Council Debate on Women building peace in a changing environment, India called out Islamabad over the “deplorable” condition of women from minority communities in Pakistan.

Addressing the UN Security Council debate, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, Parvathaneni Harish, said, “It is despicable, yet entirely predictable, that one delegation has chosen to indulge in mischievous provocation based on their pride and tested tactic of spreading misinformation and disinformation. It’s completely misplaced to indulge in such political propaganda at this important annual debate. We are well aware that the condition of women belonging to minority communities, notably Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians in that country remains deplorable,” he added.

His remarks came after Pakistan’s representative in his remarks during the UNSC debate made references to Jammu and Kashmir.

“An estimated thousand women of these minority communities, as per data of the Human Rights Commission of that particular country, are subject to abduction, forced religious conversions, and forced marriages every year. Anyway, I could go on, but I end here,” he added.

India thanked Switzerland for convening the crucial debate on women building peace in a changing environment and appreciated the insightful briefings by the Deputy Secretary General, the UN Women Executive Director, and civil society representatives.

“As we approach the 25th anniversary of Council Resolution 1325, India reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. We recognize that sustainable peace requires women’s full equal, meaningful and safe participation at all levels of decision-making, including politics, governance, institution building, rule of law, the security sector and economic recovery. Needless to say, the economic and social well-being of the population in general, and women in particular, are integral to sustainable peace,” Harish said.

The Indian envoy further recalled India’s deployment of the first-ever all-female formed police unit to Liberia in 2007. He stated that India has increased women’s participation in our peacekeeping contingents, with over 100 Indian women peacekeepers currently serving worldwide.

He also spoke about the honours received by Indian women peacekeepers serving in different parts of the world.

Highlighting the participation of Indian women in peacekeeping contingents, Harish said, “India has made significant strides in implementing the WPS agenda. As the fifth largest troop contributor, India deployed the first ever all-female formed police unit to Liberia in 2007, setting a precedent in UN peacekeeping. Their work garnered tremendous appreciation within Liberia and in the UN. We have increased women’s participation in our peacekeeping contingents, with more than 100 Indian women peacekeepers currently serving worldwide, including three all-women female engagement teams.”

“In 2023, Major Radhika Sen, who served in the Democratic Republic of Congo, was awarded the UN Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award. She follows in the footsteps of her illustrious predecessor, Major Suman Gawani, who was recognized for her service with the UN mission in South Sudan, she was honoured by the UN in 2019,” Harish added.

He recalled that India passed the Women’s Reservation Bill in 2023, which he stressed has empowered women in the political decision-making process.

Underscoring India’s efforts to enhance the participation of women in decision-making roles, P Harish said, “Domestically, India has been striving to enhance meaningful participation of women in decision-making roles. In 2023, India passed a historic Women’s Reservation Bill, reserving one-third of seats in national and state legislatures for women, empowering them in political decision-making process. We have promoted women’s leadership in community mobilization and public government interface, recognizing their role as agents of social change and cohesion.”

Speaking about the Self-Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) of Gujarat, he said, “The example of SEWA in Gujarat comes to mind. It’s a movement of self-employed women in rural and urban India. It’s also the largest trade union of the country. It has pioneered the empowerment of self-employed women, providing a voice to numerous women workers in the informal industry and promoting their leadership at all levels.”

India’s Permanent Representative also called for making use of new technologies to increase the participation of women while guarding against online threats and disinformation.

“In a rapidly changing world, we must harness new technologies to enhance women’s participation while guarding against online threats and disinformation. We have leveraged digital technologies to minimize the gender divide, enhance financial inclusion and empower women, especially in rural India. We call upon the international community to develop robust mechanisms to address these emerging challenges,” he said.

Harish expressed India’s commitment to further increase women’s representation in peacekeeping contingents, sharing best practices and supporting capacity-building initiatives for women peacebuilders. He reiterated India’s commitment to translating the WPS agenda from theory to practice and expressed readiness to collaborate with all stakeholders to build a more peaceful, inclusive and gender-equal world. (ANI)

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