Pakistan blocks India's attempt for UNSC membership

Islamabad (IANS) Pakistan has again blocked India's attempt to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), which it is showcasing as its diplomatic success against New Delhi.

India lacked minimum support from…

UN Deputy Chief commends India localising development monitoring

United Nations (IANS) Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed has commended India's efforts to localise the monitoring of progress in implementing the UN's sustainable development goals (SDGs).

In her message to a session on the Indian…

SL majority parties threaten no confidence motion against Ranil Wickremesingeh

Colombo (IANS) Leading Sri Lanka's politics into further chaos, a majority of the political parties have threatened to bring a no confidence motion against the Prime Minister and Acting President Ranil Wickremesingeh.

Opposition parties…

Staff-level agreement between Pakistan, IMF reached

Islamabad (IANS) Pakistan has finally reached a staff level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as it announced agreement on the completion of two outstanding programme reviews, along with an increase of total loan size from 6 billion…

Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Egypt set to join BRICS

Moscow (IANS) Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Egypt plan to join BRICS, and their potential membership bids could be discussed and answered at next year's summit in South Africa, BRICS International Forum President Purnima Anand told Russian media on…

UNGA pushes UNSC reform negotiations to next session; India looks at alternatives

United Nations (IANS) The General Assembly has yet again pushed the negotiations for Security Council reforms to the next session and India has raised the possibility of looking at alternatives to the deadlocked process.

The Assembly unanimously…

Sri Lankan PM appointed Acting President: Speaker

Colombo (IANS) Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Acting President in accordance with the Article 37.1 of the Constitution, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardhane said on Wednesday.

He…

Palestinians disappointed with US policy ahead of Biden's visit

Ramallah (IANS) Ahead of US President Joe Biden's first visit to the Middle East, the Palestinians are disappointed with the US' failure to present any new peace initiative and fulfill its promises on the Palestinian cause.

Biden is…

Amid curfew and emergency, SL protesters exhort people to flock to Colombo

Colombo (IANS) With President Gotabaya Rajapaksa failing to announce his resignation by 1 p.m. local time on Wednesday as promised, angry protesters surrounded the office of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, who is tipped to be acting president…

UN expert speculates if becoming most populous nation strengthens India's claim to UNSC

United Nations (IANS) A UN population expert has speculated that India becoming the world's most populous country could strengthen its claim to a permanent seat on the Security Council.

UN Population Division Director John Wilmoth said…