New York

UNITED NATIONS, May 30 (APP): UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on governments to embrace together the goals of phasing out coal, enhancing climate commitments, and investing in the international development goals so as to rise to ‘the biggest challenge of our lives’.

The world needs a global partnership to beat COVID-19, achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and address climate change, the UN chief said n a video message to a key international partnerships summit — the 2021 P4G — in Seoul, South Korea.

UNITED NATIONS, May 29 (Xinhua) -- China's permanent representative to the United Nations, Zhang Jun, on Saturday paid tribute to UN peacekeepers and reiterated China's commitment to UN peacekeeping.

In a video message for the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, which falls on May 29, Zhang extended his deepest respect and appreciation to all the peacekeepers deployed around the world. He paid the highest tribute to more than 4,000 UN peacekeepers who gave their lives to the cause of peace.

UNITED NATIONS, May 28 (APP): India’s abstention on a resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council Thursday that called for the establishment of an international independent commission to investigate Israel’s aggression in Gaza marked a decisive shift in its Middle East policy — away from Palestine and towards Israel, diplomats said.

The 47-member Council, which is based in Geneva, adopted the resolution put forward by Pakistan on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) by a vote of 24-9, with 14 abstentions.

UNITED NATIONS , May 27 (APP): There is a 40% chance of the world temporarily hitting the 1.5C temperature rise threshold in one of the next five years, the UN weather agency warns in a new report issued on Thursday.

The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said there was a 40% chance of the watershed global warming mark being met during the time frame, and these odds are increasing with time.

NEW YORK (AP) — Exxon Mobil’s shareholders have voted to replace at least two of the company’s 12 board members with directors who are seen as better suited to fight climate change, bolster Exxon’s finances and guide it through a transition to cleaner energy.

UNITED NATIONS, May 26 (APP): Pakistan has called for reinforcing the concept of protection of civilians and accountability in all situations of armed conflict, including in Palestine and Jammu and Kashmir, saying there should be no impunity for violators of international law.

UNITED NATIONS, May 25 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday called for a transformation of extractive industries to support sustainable development and a transition to a green economy.

"We have all heard talk of the resource curse. Our shared responsibility is to ensure that the benefits of mineral resources reach all people in society, not just elites, while safeguarding the natural environment today and for future generations," Guterres told a virtual global roundtable on transforming extractive industries for sustainable development.

NEW YORK (AP) — New York prosecutors have convened a special grand jury to consider evidence in a criminal investigation into former President Donald Trump’s business dealings, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Tuesday.

The development signals that the Manhattan district attorney’s office was moving toward seeking charges as a result of its two-year investigation, which included a lengthy legal battle to obtain Trump’s tax records.

UNITED NATIONS, May 25 (APP): With Pakistan abstaining, the UN General Assembly has voted to include the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) and the prevention of genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity as part of its permanent agenda, after a contentious debate.

The 193-member Assembly did so by adopting a resolution, sponsored by a group of states, with a vote of 115 in favour to 15 against, with 28 abstentions.

New York, May 24 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived here Sunday on his first visit to the US after India entered the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member in January this year and is expected to meet UN chief Antonio Guterres and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Jaishankar is expected to meet the UN Secretary General on Tuesday morning and will visit Washington DC where he will meet Blinken.

It is the first visit by a senior Indian minister to the US after President Joe Biden assumed office in January.