United Nations

World Ozone Day 2022: Celebrating exemplary success of global environment deal

World Ozone Day 2022: Celebrating exemplary success of global environment deal

September 16, 2022

As we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the stellar success of the Montreal Protocol, as the agreement to save the ozone layer from depletion, is called, it is also timely to look at the recurring failures in finding a similar agreement that is not only workable but also exemplar...

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Way ahead for Agnipath and Agniveer: Rescuing planet on fire

Way ahead for Agnipath and Agniveer: Rescuing planet on fire

July 5, 2022

The recent decision by the central government to dramatically change recruitment and tenure policies for the soldiers of the Indian defence forces has attracted a sharp controversy with proponents and opponents of the revised policies engaged in a very public and high-profile spa...

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BJP’s Islamophobia boomerangs as Islamic nations seek apology

BJP’s Islamophobia boomerangs as Islamic nations seek apology

June 6, 2022

It is a sight that few in India, leave alone the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, would have expected to see in a country that has been very friendly to India for the past several decades, ever since the two established diplomatic relations. Photographs of Indian Prime Minister Nar...

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Despite rising inflation, RBI holds interest rates at lowest-ever

Despite rising inflation, RBI holds interest rates at lowest-ever

April 9, 2022

The Monetary Policy Committee of the Reserve Bank of India that ended its two-day meeting on Friday has decided to keep the repo and reverse repo rates at 4 pc and 3.5 pc respectively, the lowest-ever levels for both the benchmark rates. The decision was taken even as the MPC and...

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France brings Indo-Pacific to centre stage in European Union

France brings Indo-Pacific to centre stage in European Union

February 23, 2022

Even while the global attention has been fixated on the volatile security situation in Ukraine and the mounting tensions between an increasingly assertive Russia and the Western powers, France hosted a unique gathering of almost 60 ministers and senior representatives from around...

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Unwanted close encounters in Space

Unwanted close encounters in Space

January 23, 2022

Last month, China lodged a vocal protest at the United Nations against the United States, accusing its multi-billionaire Elon Musk’s SpaceX of irresponsible and unsafe behaviour in the Space on multiple occasions. China said that the manoeuvres by SpaceX had brought it perilous...

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Migrant deaths reach new highs in 2021

Migrant deaths reach new highs in 2021

January 3, 2022

About a fortnight ago, the International Organisation for Migration, the United Nations body in charge of migrants and their interests, said that over 160 migrants had died off the coast of Libya as they were trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea and reach Italian coasts. Last we...

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Indian Smart Cities and urban planning drowns under repeated floods

Indian Smart Cities and urban planning drowns under repeated floods

August 9, 2021

India has been undergoing rapid urbanisation as millions of people continue to migrate to the nearest city in search of better opportunities. This has already pushed the ratio of urban population higher in the country. Studies estimate that between now and 2030, another 500 milli...

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UNSDGs: Sustainable development remains a goal too far

UNSDGs: Sustainable development remains a goal too far

July 13, 2021

In many ways it was heartening to see that the G7 Summit 2021, held in the United Kingdom on June 11-13, delved in detail on topics beyond business, trade, investment, strategy and power. For once, it took up issues that concern people and their well-being – health, poverty, ed...

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Transforming small cities into smart cities: SRMIST & TERRE Policy

Transforming small cities into smart cities: SRMIST & TERRE Policy

May 26, 2021

SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST), Chennai, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with TERRE Policy Centre which is a non-profit organisation dedicated to United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Our campus in Chennai is like a small city and our aim ...

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India donates Covid19 vaccines for UN Peacekeeping Force

India donates Covid19 vaccines for UN Peacekeeping Force

March 30, 2021

We had forgotten them in pandemic pandemonium. But make no mistake, they are also front-line workers. The UN Peace Keeping Forces (UNPKF) provide most needed global security services in the areas that need them the most. In 2020, they provided security and stability in war-torn p...

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Senior citizens on International Day of Older Persons 2020: Anxious, abandoned & ailing

Senior citizens on International Day of Older Persons 2020: Anxious, abandoned & ailing

October 1, 2020

“Most of the older persons here have lost their sense of general awareness and don’t understand what the pandemic is all about. Since it is difficult to make them understand the risks involved and how to take precautions to keep themselves safe, we have no option but to keep ...

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