Betwa Sharma

Stories by Betwa Sharma

665 million Indians still defecate in open: UN

665 million Indians still defecate in open: UN

Rediff.com   15 Oct 2009

A joint study by the World Health organisation and UNICEF 'Diarrhoea: Why Children Are Still Dying and What Can Be Done', also pointed out that India has the largest number of persons that defecate in the open worldwide.

Obama deserves Nobel Prize, says Tharoor

Obama deserves Nobel Prize, says Tharoor

Rediff.com   14 Oct 2009

"The image of the US is in the finest shape it's been in a very long time, and that's because the rest of the world believes in the kind of leadership President Obama is bringing to his task," the former UN Under Secretary General said at the Colbert Report news show. "He has given us hope," Tharoor said.

Global crisis: Ex-minister advocates reforms

Global crisis: Ex-minister advocates reforms

Rediff.com   13 Oct 2009

Noting that the economic crisis had underlined an urgent need for reform in the international financial structure, member of parliament Saifuddin Soz called for a greater role for developing nations in norm-setting and decision-making bodies like the International Monetary Fund.

UN hails, Taliban condemns Nobel Prize for Obama

UN hails, Taliban condemns Nobel Prize for Obama

Rediff.com   9 Oct 2009

United Nations chief Ban Ki Moon on Friday came out strongly in support of the Nobel Peace Prize for United States President Barack Obama and termed the Norwegian Committee's decision 'a very wise' one. "The Nobel Peace Committee has made their decision, and this should be respected, and I wholeheartedly support it," he told journalists. Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said, "He has done nothing for peace in Afghanistan. We condemn the award."

More women needed on peace missions: India

More women needed on peace missions: India

Rediff.com   7 Oct 2009

Presently, women comprise only 8 per cent of UN police officers and about 2 per cent of the military personnel deployed in peacekeeping operations.

Hunger on the rise, warns UN

Hunger on the rise, warns UN

Rediff.com   29 Sep 2009

Announcing a partnership between the UN World Food Programme and the Millenia Villages Project, WFP chief Josette Sheeran said, "Hunger is on the march and is right now the most threatening Millennium Development Goal".

India, US to go ahead with nuclear deal: Clinton

India, US to go ahead with nuclear deal: Clinton

Rediff.com   26 Sep 2009

The United States on Saturday said India's position on the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty and the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty will not impact the nuclear agreement between the two countries and expressed hope about moving forward with the landmark agreement."We've said before that the resolution that was passed on Thursday unanimously by the United Nations Security Council does not have any bearing on our bilateral civil nuclear cooperation," said an US official.

Krishna defends India's stand on CTBT

Krishna defends India's stand on CTBT

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2009

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has said that the country has taken a 'principled' stand on the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) and there is no scope for change in its position unless a number of other developments take place to address the concerns.This comes after a high-level conference on disarmament in the United Nations on Thursday, addressed by UN General Secretary Ban Ki Moon, asked India and eight other countries to ratify the agreement.

India concerned over latest US aid to Pak

India concerned over latest US aid to Pak

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2009

With the United States Senate voting to triple the non-military aid to Pakistan at $1.5 billion, India on Friday once again expressed concern over such funds being diverted by Islamabad to support hostile operations against it. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, who is in New York to participate in the opening session of the United Nation General Assembly, said New Delhi was concerned as former Pakistan President Parvez Musharraf had himself disclosed startling facts.

Gadhafi against expansion of UNSC

Gadhafi against expansion of UNSC

Rediff.com   25 Sep 2009

Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi has opposed the expansion of the United Nations Security Council by including countries like India which would spur a 'competition' with nations like Pakistan wanting to get in.

Join NPT: UNSC asks 'other states'

Join NPT: UNSC asks 'other states'

Rediff.com   24 Sep 2009

The United Nations Security Council on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution asking all non-Non Proliferation Treaty states to join the treaty at an unprecedented summit chaired by United States President Barack Obama who signalled that these countries, which include India, must come on board.

Obama seeks new era of engagement with world

Obama seeks new era of engagement with world

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2009

US President Barack Obama, on Friday, sought a new era of engagement with the world where power is no longer a "zero-sum game" as he asked them to share responsibility for tackling key challenges of security and prosperity.

India discusses resettlement of Tamils with Lanka

India discusses resettlement of Tamils with Lanka

Rediff.com   23 Sep 2009

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna met his Sri Lankan counterpart Rohitha Bogollagama in New York and discussed the issue of the resettlement of over 280,000 IDPs in the island nation. "The discussion covered the settlement of displaced persons primarily," Krishna said, adding, "They have told us that the process of de-mining is going on. Simultaneously the resettlement also is being done." Colombo has come under strong international criticism for human rights violations

Climate accord: India to be an active player

Climate accord: India to be an active player

Rediff.com   22 Sep 2009

"We are not part of the problem but we want to be part of the solution," Environment minister Jairam Ramesh said, ahead of a U N climate summit of 100 world leaders beginning in New York on Tuesday.

India briefs UN about views on climate change

India briefs UN about views on climate change

Rediff.com   17 Sep 2009

During talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Principal Secretary T K A Nair, Ban inquired about India's views on climate change both in terms of the developments at the national level and the climate summit to be held at the headquarters, next week, Indian authorities said on Thursday.

Hit the dance floor!

Hit the dance floor!

Rediff.com   6 Oct 2008

The best places to celebrate Navratri across America

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