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UN Chief Expresses Deep Concern Over Iranian Strikes Inside Pakistan

The Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad has not protested the Iranian attack as both are on the same side in fighting the Islamic State…reports Asian Lite News

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is “deeply concerned” about Iran’s attacks inside Pakistan and the possibility of the crisis from the Israel-Hamas conflict spreading, according to his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

“He’s deeply concerned about what we’ve seen, those Iranian strikes on targets in Pakistan that reportedly killed two children and injured several others,” Dujarric said on Wednesday.

“He again appeals (in the) strongest possible term for restraint and avoidance of any further escalation,” he added.

Iran struck two bases of the Sunni terror group, Jaish al-Adl, in Balochistan’s Koh-e-Sabz, about 50 km inside Pakistan, with missiles and drones on Tuesday.

On Monday, Tehran had attacked what it called an Israeli intelligence centre in Irbil, the capital of the Kurdish region in Iraq, and a base of the Sunni Islamic State terror organisation in Idlib in northern Syria.

Guterres is “concerned about the spread (of the conflict and) he has talked about that, really, almost since the beginning of this crisis,” Dujarric said.

Guterres, who is at the World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, discussed the regional situation in separate meetings there with Iraq’s Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani and Nechirvan Barzani, the president of the Kurdish region of Iraq, he added.

Pakistan and Iraq recalled their ambassadors from Iran, and Islamabad has barred Tehran’s envoy from returning to the country.

Iran’s Defence Minister Mohammad Reza Ashtiani said that when anyone threaten Iran, “we will react, and this reaction will definitely be proportionate, tough and decisive.”

“We are a missile power in the world,” he warned.

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry warned of “serious consequences” from the attack and said “the responsibility for the consequences will lie squarely with Iran”.

The Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad has not protested the Iranian attack as both are on the same side in fighting the Islamic State.

The Islamic State had admitted that it was responsible for the bombing that killed nearly 100 people in Kerwan in Iran on January 3 during a memorial on the fourth anniversary of the killing of Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Quds Force of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard by a US drone.

Iran International reported that Iranian Revolutionary Guard Colonel Hossein-Ali Javdanfar was killed near the Pakistan border and that Jaish al-Adl has said that it was responsible for it.

ALSO READ-Ambassador Expulsion: Pakistan’s Firm Reply to Iranian Aggression

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UN warns against increasing famine risk in Gaza

OCHA also said that the spread of diseases in Gaza has reportedly intensified, particularly due to the recent mass displacements across the southern part of the war-torn enclave…reports Asian Lite News

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned against an increasing risk of famine in the Gaza Strip “amid intense conflict and restricted access”.

In its latest situation update, the UN agency said that the Famine Review Committee (FRC) was activated due to evidence surpassing the acute food insecurity Phase 5 (Catastrophic threshold)” in the Hamas-controlled enclave.

“The committee added that, to eliminate the famine risk, it is imperative to halt the deterioration of health, nutrition, food security, and mortality situation through the restoration of health, water, sanitation, and hygiene services,” the OCHA said in its update.

It further said that the FRC “has called for the cessation of hostilities and the restoration of humanitarian space for delivering multisectoral assistance, noting these were vital first steps to eliminate any risk of famine”.

In its update, the OCHA also said that the spread of diseases in Gaza has reportedly intensified, particularly due to the recent mass displacements across the southern part of the war-torn enclave.

Close to 180,000 people are suffering from upper respiratory infections; there are 136,400 cases of diarrhoea (half of these among children under the age of five); 55,400 cases of lice and scabies; 5,330 cases of chickenpox; 42,700 cases of skin rash (including 4,722 cases of impetigo); 4,683 cases of Acute Jaundice Syndrome; and 126 cases of meningitis.

Since the Israel-Hamas war erupted on October 7, 2023, at least 22,185 Palestinians have been killed, with 57,035 injured persons and up to 7,000 others reportedly missing.

The Ministry of Health in Gaza estimates that about 70 per cent of the total fatalities are women and children.

By the end of 2023, 1.9 million people, or nearly 85 per cent of the total population of Gaza, were estimated to be internally displaced, according to the UN Refugee Agency.

ALSO READ-2024 SPECIAL: Unrest in Gilgit-Baltistan

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South Africa files against Israel at UN court

South Africa urged the UN court to take “provisional measures” to “protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people under the Genocide Convention.”…reports Asian Lite News

South Africa filed a case on Friday in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel for its “genocidal” acts in Gaza.

The case claims “alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the ‘Genocide Convention’) in relation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip,” according to an ICJ press release.

In its application to the UN court, South Africa said that “acts and omissions by Israel … are genocidal in character, as they are committed with the requisite specific intent … to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group.”

South Africa also said that “the conduct of Israel — through its State organs, State agents, and other persons and entities acting on its instructions or under its direction, control or influence — in relation to Palestinians in Gaza, is in violation of its obligations under the Genocide Convention.”

“Israel, since 7 October 2023 in particular, has failed to prevent genocide and has failed to prosecute the direct and public incitement to genocide” and that “Israel has engaged in, is engaging in and risks further engaging in genocidal acts against the Palestinian people in Gaza,” said the South African application.

South Africa urged the UN court to take “provisional measures” to “protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people under the Genocide Convention.”

It also called on the ICJ for measures “to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention not to engage in genocide, and to prevent and to punish genocide.”

The ICJ is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It was established by the UN Charter in June 1945 and began its activities in April 1946.

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UN Urges Israel to Cease Unlawful Killings in Occupied West Bank

epa07453675 Volker Turk, Assistant High Commissioner for Protection at the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), holds a press conference in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 21 March 2019. UNHCR high-level discussions with the Government of Bangladesh are pursuing solutions to the Rohingya refugee crisis. Turk concluded on the day his five-day visit to Bangladesh, where he met members of the Rohingya community and held high-level talks with the Bangladeshi government. EPA-EFE/MONIRUL ALAM

Israel launched a ground offensive inside Gaza on October 27 after Hamas attacked Israel in a surprise attack on October 7 in which 1200 Israelis were killed and over 200 were taken hostage…reports Asian Lite News

The UN has urged the Israel to end unlawful killings against the Palestinians, saying that the human rights situation in the occupied West Bank is rapidly deteriorating, media reports said.

“The use of military tactics and weapons in law enforcement contexts, the use of unnecessary or disproportionate force, and the enforcement of broad, arbitrary and discriminatory movement restrictions that affect Palestinians are extremely troubling,” UN Rights Chief Volker Turk said in a statement.

Israel launched a ground offensive inside Gaza on October 27 after Hamas attacked Israel in a surprise attack on October 7 in which 1200 Israelis were killed and over 200 were taken hostage.

Since the outbreak of hostilities between Hamas and Israel, at least 21,110 Palestinians have been killed mostly being children and women while 53,688 Palestinians have been injured.

ALSO READ-Ongoing Conflict Leaves 150,000 Palestinians with No Shelter

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UN Raises Alarm Over Israeli Evacuation Order in Southern Gaza

File photo shows Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, speaking during a daily news briefing at the UN headquarters in New York, Aug. 26, 2020. (Xinhua/Xie E/IANS)

The most helpful thing for the delivery of humanitarian aid in a sustained high volume way would be an immediate humanitarian cease-fire, he said…reports Asian Lite News

The UN has expressed concern over the Israeli order for the evacuation of civilians in southern Gaza.

The Israeli military on Wednesday designated a new area covering about 20 per cent of central and south of Khan Younis city for immediate evacuation. Prior to the onset of the hostilities, the area was home to about 111,000 people. The area also includes 32 shelters that accommodated more than 141,000 displaced men, women and children, the vast majority of whom were previously displaced from northern Gaza, said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, on Thursday.

He quoted the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs as saying that access to evacuation information on Khan Younis and other key information is impaired by interruptions in telecommunications and the lack of electricity. Telecommunications are still down in most of Gaza for the eighth day in a row.

Dujarric stressed that no area in Gaza is safe, Xinhua news agency reported.

Currently, intense fighting, the lack of electricity, limited fuel and disrupted telecommunications severely restrict access to loading points and trucks, as well as the ability to deliver, prioritise, plan and coordinate critical operations — with civilians bearing the brunt of the suffering that is going on, the spokesman added.

The most helpful thing for the delivery of humanitarian aid in a sustained high volume way would be an immediate humanitarian cease-fire, he said.

The UN is focused on trying to get as much aid in as possible, as quickly as possible, he added.

“We are working in a highly dangerous situation. More than 135 of our colleagues have paid (with) their lives. We’re working in a highly complicated system where different verifications have to go in.”

On the health front, only nine out of 36 health facilities are partially functional in the whole of Gaza, all of them are in the south, according to the World Health Organisation. The hospitals in the north are still sheltering thousands of displaced people, said the spokesman.

According to a food security analysis issued on Thursday, more than half a million people are facing catastrophic hunger conditions in Gaza.

The analysis, issued by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification and including data from the World Food Programme, the Food and Agricultural Organisation, and many other UN agencies, as well as international non-governmental organisations, also confirmed that the entire population of Gaza of n edarly 2.2 million people are in crisis or worse levels of acute food insecurity.

ALSO READ-UNSC Vote on Gaza Delayed Again

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-Top News India News

Jaishankar, Benin Counterpart Discuss UN Reforms

Notably, reforms in the global systems have been an issue continuously raised by India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the global stage…reports Asian Lite News

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday discussed United Nations (UN) reforms and global issues with his Benin counterpart Olushegun Adjadi Bakari in New Delhi.

Both leaders also discussed enhancing political, economic and development partnerships. Jaishankar was joined by Union Minister of State (MEA), V Muraleedharan.

Taking to X, EAM Jaishankar shared about his meeting saying, “Delighted to welcome FM @shegunbakari of Benin today. Discussed growing our political, economic and development partnership. Spoke about collaboration in agriculture, education, textiles and defence. Exchanged views on global issues and UN reform.”

Notably, reforms in the global systems have been an issue continuously raised by India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the global stage.

During his concluding address at the G20 Leaders Summit here in the national capital, PM Modi reiterated his stance of making global systems in accordance with the “realities of the present” and took the example of the United Nations Security Council.

“When the UN was established, the world at that time was completely different from today. At that time there were 51 founding members in the UN. Today the number of countries included in the UN is around 200. Despite this, the permanent members in UNSC are still the same,” he said.

Benin’s Foreign Minister Olushegun Adjadi Bakari arrived here on Sunday on an official visit to further strengthen bilateral ties with India.

“Warm welcome to FM @shegunbakari of Benin as he arrives in New Delhi on an official visit. The visit will further strengthen India-Benin ties,” MEA Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi wrote on ‘X’.

Benin which is a member of several international forums, including the United Nations, works closely with India.

During former Benin President Boni Yayi’s visit to India in March 2009, Benin extended its support to India in its bid for a permanent seat in an expanded UN Security Council.

Benin expressed solidarity with India in its efforts to tackle the scourge of terrorism, which has become the biggest threat to international peace and security in the current times, as per the MEA. (ANI)

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-Top News World News

UN’s forced retreat from nations mired in deadly conflicts shows limitations

The first factor behind the UN’s inability to prevent wars, civil wars, other conflicts and massive terroirsm is that it is not a world government, even though it is often imagined to be…reports Asian Lite News

While attention was focused on the world organisation’s paralysis in Ukraine and Israel, the UN was forced to retreat from other countries riven by deadly conflicts in a stark display of its limitations.

Unlike in Ukraine and Israel, these were countries where the UN had an active presence trying to keep the peace as rival factions and insurgencies created havoc of deaths, human rights violations and destruction.

These setbacks show the limits to what the UN can do, even when the veto-wielding powers free the Security Council to act.

On December 11, the UN ended its mission in Mali, one of its deadliest that has claimed lives of 310 peacekeepers, bowing to its military rulers who ordered out its 10,000 personnel.

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) signed an agreement last month with the UN, which has had peacekeeping operations in that country for about 25 years, to fastrack the withdrawal of about 15,000 peacekeepers, earlier than the next December deadline.

While a UN official warned of a risk of genocide in Sudan, the Security Council accepted on December 1 the military government’s demand to end its political mission.

Having already witnessed the killings of thousands, these three countries are at risk of the conflicts continuing in the coming months veiled by a pall of global apathy and away from TV cameras.

There aren’t any fashionable protesters marching around the world against the killings, mutilations and sexual violence perpetrated on a massive scale there.

The first factor behind the UN’s inability to prevent wars, civil wars, other conflicts and massive terroirsm is that it is not a world government, even though it is often imagined to be.

The UN Charter does give the Security Council powers to order “demonstrations, blockade, and other operations by air, sea, or land forces of Members of the UN” to maintain international peace.

But such unilateral action is not realistic, least of all because of the consensus that would be required of the permanent members.

And as a practical matter, the Security Council does not send peacekeepers into a country that does not want them there. There is also the peacekeeping fatigue after futile efforts at peacekeeping.

Haiti would want peacekeepers back in to quell the gangs that have taken over vast swatches of the country, but after dismal failures and a cholera epidemic blamed on UN peacekeepers, the Security Council is not going back after ending a 13-year mission there in 2017.

Instead, it authorised an international force led by Kenya to help bring order to that country; that effort, though is stuck in litigation in Kenya. And there is peacekeeping fatigue among the countries where missions were deployed.

Mali’s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop told the Security Council in June that the mission, known by its French initials MINUSMA, was unable to “adequately respond to the security situation” and its doesn’t look any better.

DRC Foreign Minister Christophe Lutundula echoed him, saying that UN mission there, also known by the French initials MONUSCO, “has proved its limits in a context of permanent war”, without restoring peace.

In the same vein, Sudan’s acting Foreign Minister Ali Sadeq wrote to Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that his country was disappointed by the performance of the political mission, the UN Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), which had fewer than 250 personnel and had a mediatory role in trying to end the conflicts.

Earlier, Guterres’s Special Envoy for Sudan, Volker Perthes, was declared a persona non grata and had to leave the assignment.

Between 2003 and 2005, more than 200,000 people were victims of the genocide in Darfur.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, warned last month of a repeat: “Twenty years ago, the world was shocked by the terrible atrocities and human rights violations in Darfur. We fear a similar dynamic might be developing.”

Reasons for the shortcomings of these and other operations, India which is the biggest troop contributor to UN missions, has repeatedly said is the lack of a clear mandate from the Security Council, not involving the troop contributors in decisions and inadequate equipments.

ALSO READ-Gaza Unrest Fuels Sectarian Violence in US, Europe

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-Top News Africa News

UN agency warns of food ‘catastrophe’ in Sudan

South Sudanese troops arrive in Congo under EAC regional force mandate.(Photo:Twitter)

The UN has recorded seven million people displaced across Sudan, which, combined with the lack of good harvests, means hunger stalks large parts of the country…reports Asian Lite News

The World Food Programme warned on Wednesday that Sudan faces a “hunger catastrophe” if it cannot deliver regular food aid there, eight months after fighting erupted between rival generals.

“Parts of war-ravaged Sudan are at a high risk of slipping into catastrophic hunger conditions by next year’s lean season,” the WFP said in a statement.

It said this could happen if the UN agency is unable to expand access and deliver regular food assistance to people trapped in conflict hotspots including the capital Khartoum.

On April 15, army chief Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan and his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), turned their guns on each other.

Two years after the former allies jointly engineered a 2021 coup that derailed a fragile democratic transition, their power struggle has killed more than 12,190 people, according to a conservative estimate by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.

The United Nations has recorded seven million people displaced across Sudan, which, combined with the lack of good harvests, means hunger stalks large parts of the African country.

The vast Darfur region in the west and Kordofan in the south, as well as the capital Khartoum, where the conflict first erupted, are at risk.

“Nearly 18 million people across Sudan are facing acute hunger … more than double the number at the same time a year ago,” the WFP said on Wednesday.

A new food analysis for Sudan, “once described as East Africa’s future breadbasket,” the statement said, “shows the highest levels of hunger ever recorded during the harvest season (October through February), typically a period where more food is available.”

On Sunday, the head of the UN’s humanitarian response in Sudan told AFP the world body had been able to reach only a fraction of the nearly 25 million people needing aid.

But assistance to even those four million could soon stop if the chronic lack of funding continues, Clementine Nkweta-Salami said in an interview.

WFP Country Director and Representative in Sudan Eddie Rowe said on Wednesday it was urgently calling “on all parties to the conflict for a humanitarian pause and unfettered access to avert a hunger catastrophe.”

However, getting the warring parties to negotiate remains difficult, and both sides have been blamed for breaking truces agreed in the past.

And on December 1, at the request of the Sudanese authorities, the UN Security Council ended the world body’s political mission in the country.

The United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan was put in place in 2020 to help support a move to democracy following the fall the previous year of veteran Islamist autocrat Omar Al-Bashir.

Meanwhile, Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces battled the army outside the central city of Wad Madani on Saturday, pressing an attack that has opened a new front in the eight-month-old war and forced thousands to flee, witnesses said.

Crowds of people — many of whom had taken refuge in the city from violence in the capital Khartoum — could be seen packing up their belongings and leaving on foot in video posted on social media.

“The war has followed us to Madani so I am looking for a bus so me and my family can flee,” 45-year-old Ahmed Salih told Reuters by phone.

“We are living in hell and there is no one to help us.” He said he planned to head south to Sennar.

Sudan’s army, which has held the city since the start of the conflict, launched air strikes on RSF forces to the east of the city, the capital of Gezira state, as it tried to push back the assault that started on Friday, witnesses said.

The RSF responded with artillery and RSF reinforcements were seen moving in the direction of the fighting, the witnesses added.

RSF soldiers have also been seen in villages to the north and west of the city in recent days and weeks, residents said.

The United Nations said 14,000 people had fled the area so far, and a few thousand had already reached other cities. Half a million people had sought refuge in Gezira, mainly from Khartoum.

The Sudanese Doctors Union warned in a statement that hospitals in the area, which had become a humanitarian and medical hub, were emptying out and could be forced to shut.

It also said that more than 340 children and staff relocated from the Maygoma orphanage in Khartoum were in need of urgent help relocating.

The fighting has raised fears for other army-held cities in southern and eastern Sudan where tens of thousands of people have been sheltering. “I urge the RSF to refrain from attacks and for all parties to protect civilians at all costs. Perpetrators of terror will be held accountable,” the US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, said.

ALSO READ-Gaza Unrest Fuels Sectarian Violence in US, Europe

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‘Indra’ Collection Takes Center Stage at UN COP28 Sustainable Fashion Summit

Our vision with Indra was to showcase the mighty God of Rain and Storm’s splendour and vitality in the face of the climate crisis… Shantanu & Nikhil interact with N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe

Celebrated Indian Designer duo Shantanu & Nikhil, renowned for their distinct take on Indian fashion, showcase their latest collection Indra at The United Nations COP28 Sustainable Fashion Summit 2023.

The collection, Indra, a name that resonates with reverence and urgency, is more than just fashion; it’s a heartfelt plea. It’s a tapestry woven with threads of the divine, the earthly, and the fervent appeal for help in the shadow of the climate crisis.

The exclusive fashion event featured talented designer labels from all over the world including Stella McCartney, LVMH, Rami Kadi, Gelareh Designs and Shantanu & Nikhil the only designers from India showcasing at this esteemed event. IANSLife had an in-depth interview with the duo designers. Read excerpt:

Can you tell us about the inspiration behind this collection and how the concept of ‘Indra’ came about?

Shantanu & Nikhil: Indra is a name that resonates with reverence and urgency, and is more than just fashion; it’s a heartfelt plea. We paid homage to the rain god in Indian mythology, and weave a tapestry with threads of the divine, the earthly, unlined with the emotional appeal for help in the shadow of the climate crisis. In a world weighed down by the weight of environmental turmoil, Indra aims to transform the fashion runway into a sacred stage for transcendence.

The detailing and the design language have always been very exclusive and native to the Maison. Can you please elaborate on what the collection looks like?

Shantanu & Nikhil: Our vision with Indra was to showcase the mighty God of Rain and Storm’s splendour and vitality in the face of the climate crisis. The designs portray the legendary drought embodied by an assumed demonic energy, ‘Vritra’ and one can witness the symbolic cracks representing the threat of water scarcity. The earthy colour scheme of the collection captures the severity of the drought while the designs symbolize the effects of this environmental force. What follows is a rapid transformation to Water, as this symbolizes the presence of Lord Indra. The free-flowing drapes and shimmering silk, which is also the signature of Shantanu & Nikhil, mimic the personification of the serene waters and the beauty of the ice caps. The drapes and tassels represent the ebb and flow of life-giving streams and embody the dynamic nature of water. Lastly, we have also tried to capture a glimpse of divine intervention in the form of rain and thunder in the form of metallic elements, to restore the balance of life.

Being the only Indian designer showcasing at the Sustainable Fashion Summit alongside international fashion houses such as LVMH and Stella McCartney is truly an honour. How has the Indian fashion landscape evolved over the years?

Shantanu & Nikhil: We are so thrilled to be showcasing Maison Shantanu & Nikhil’s latest collection ‘Indra’ on a global platform hosted by the United Nations Climate Change Conference COP 28 in Dubai. It is not only taking Indian Couture Fashion to the global forefront but also the rich cultural heritage depicted by the intricate weaves of the Indian artisans.

India’s diverse cultural tapestry provides a unique foundation for sustainable fashion, where age-old techniques and artisanal skills seamlessly merge with contemporary design principles. In a time where climate change is a pressing area of concern, we are glad to be contributing to the cause through our creative endeavours of showcasing Indra.

Please elaborate on the design techniques and the colour palette used in this collection.

Shantanu & Nikhil: The design techniques of Indra are a seamless integration of the signature Shantanu & Nikhil ethos, the intricacy of Indian craftsmanship and a global perspective on contemporary fashion. The colour palette starts earthy, alluding to the severity of the drought and scarcity of water. As the show goes on, there is a rapid transformation to water- and the mighty force of Lord Indra. There are free-flowing silhouettes in shimmering silk, drapes and tassels and intricate metallic elements that create a transcendental aura, all tied together by Shantanu & Nikhil’s craftsmanship.

 Sustainability has been a largely discussed topic recently, what is your take on sustainability in Indian fashion?

Shantanu & Nikhil: In the global conversation on sustainable fashion, we hope that we bring a perspective that highlights the symbiotic relationship between cultural heritage and environmental consciousness through our brand Shantanu & Nikhil. By seamlessly integrating India’s rich traditions into the contemporary sustainable fashion narrative, we hope that we are the conversation-starters that strive to redefine luxury as a harmonious blend of timeless elegance, ethical practices, and cultural pride.

 Due to sustainable practices coming into play, what is the biggest change that the couture industry has faced in the recent past?

Shantanu & Nikhil: Couture, from its very origins, has always been about creating something timeless. Each piece of apparel has been crafted to transcend time and has rested upon the tenets of mindful consumption. Given that the current climate crisis is one that no one can turn a blind eye to anymore, we feel we need to come together as an industry to channel our efforts and do our bit.

Being an ever-evolving brand and always following the ‘Anti-trend’ path, how do you plan to evolve and appeal more to the younger generation?

Shantanu & Nikhil: The deep-rooted emotion of being ‘Anti-trend’ within our brand gives us a sense of elasticity to continuously reinvent. Being trend-centric is market driven but being anti-trend is about driving the market & that’s our philosophy. We believe that disruption & innovation are the only two pillars that we as a brand stand on- from revolutionising the millennial ceremonial wardrobe and to now carving out a new repertoire- S&N by Shantanu & Nikhil; we continue to put constant effort to stay ahead of ourselves and showcase brand resiliency.

With the steady innovations and the pace at which the fashion industry is moving, every designer must experiment and expand their horizon. If anything at all, it’s a boon that the new generation is willing to break rules and experiment with their style quotient. It helps us as designers in breaking our barriers concerning their latest collections as well as further pushes the glass ceiling. We’re gearing towards a new generation that is unafraid to claim their space and we truly admire their grit. We have been experimenting with new silhouettes- introducing new drapes in menswear and feel the audience was also welcoming towards a brand narrative like this. The lines between the stereotypes of gender are blurring and so is the fashion scenario with regards to that.

Please tell us about your future collections and what is in the pipeline

Shantanu & Nikhil: We have an exciting pipeline. We will be launching the third edition of SNCC, that is Shantanu & Nikhil Cricket Club and also be gearing up for our milestone anniversary next year.

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-Top News Europe

UN refugee agency says needs $400m by end of Dec

Among them, nearly 36.5 million have fled across borders and are living as refugees, according to UNHCR — a number that has doubled in the past seven years and looks set to rise…reports Asian Lite News

Humanitarian agencies are facing dire funding shortages to address a multitude of global crises, the United Nations refugee agency warned Wednesday, saying it alone needed $400 million by the end of the year.

Addressing the opening of the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi called on donors to strengthen their support.

“Many humanitarian organizations are facing severe funding challenges,” he said, pointing out that “UNHCR alone is lacking $400 million to end the year with the minimum of needed resources.”

That, he said, was “a shortfall we have not experienced in years, and we are all looking with much concern at 2024.” From Russia’s war in Ukraine, the civil war in Sudan and a humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, conflicts and crises had fueled record displacement even before the Gaza war erupted.

The number of people displaced worldwide passed 114 million by the end of September, an all-time high.

Grandi said that amounts to “114 million shattered dreams, disrupted lives, interrupted hopes. It is a figure that reflects a crisis — many crises — of humanity.”

Among them, nearly 36.5 million have fled across borders and are living as refugees, according to UNHCR — a number that has doubled in the past seven years and looks set to rise.

“A major human catastrophe is unfolding in the Gaza Strip,” Grandi warned, lamenting that “so far the Security Council has failed to stop the violence.” While the war that erupted after Hamas’s unprecedented attack inside Israel on October 7 falls outside of UNHCR’s mandate, Grandi said the agency expects it could spur “more civilian deaths and suffering, and also further displacement that threatens the region.”

While keeping a strong focus on Gaza, he appealed to the international community: “Please do not lose sight of other pressing humanitarian and refugee crises.”

He pointed to the millions displaced by conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan, the plight of Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, and the millions who have fled due to conflict and insecurity in Syria, Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and across the Sahel.

More than 3,000 people, including heads of state and government and more than 300 refugees, were taking part in the second edition of the forum, which will run through Friday.

Grandi appealed to participants to make the forum “a moment of unity, in which all of us join forces to ensure that those who flee because their life, freedom and security are threatened can find protection, and that everything is done to resolve their exile as soon as possible.”

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