It's time for UN Security Council reform, says Tharoor Washington: Aspiring for a permanent seat at the powerful UN Security Council, India has renewed its call for reforming and expanding the 15-membered highest decision making body of the United Nations, to make it more reflective of the 21st century realities. "Now that we have renovated the Chamber, it is time to renovate the institution," Union Minister for Human Resources Development Shashi Tharoor said during a ceremony to mark the inauguration of the renovated chamber of the Security Council at the UN headquarters in New York.

"India calls for reform because we believe in the UN... We believe it has done well enough to be worth reforming," Tharoor said, delivering a strong message at the ceremony to celebrate the reopening of the UN Security Council chamber, which had undergone extensive renovations at the expense of Norway, the country which had originally gifted the room to the world body in April 1952.

"This event is a reminder that institutions and places that looked fresh and relevant in 1952 need extensive repair work to bring them up to date for 2013. What was true of the fixtures, wallpaper and electronics of the Security Council is also true of its composition and working methods," he said.

"Just last week India lost 5 of its soldiers in South Sudan. The bodies of our brave peacekeepers have come home to much grief and mourning but not one voice has been raised in our political space to question why Indian lives are being 
11:45 PM, Apr 17, 2013

India, Germany will step up pressure for UNSC seat
by IANS
New Delhi/Berlin: India and Germany will jointly intensify efforts to gain permanent membership in an expanded United Nations Security Council as also for broader reform of the world organisation, top ministers of the two sides say. "Security Council reform was naturally one of our focus areas of discussions. We have decided to continue to collaborate with Germany and intensify the pressures," Indian External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid told this IANS...  
05:43 AM, Apr 15, 2013

India hopes Macedonia will support resolution on UNSC reforms Welcoming Macedonia's support to New Delhi's candidature for permanent UN Security Council membership, India on Tuesday hoped the European country would also extend support for the G-4 Resolution seeking reforms in the working of the UN Security Council. ...  
11:11 PM, Mar 05, 2013

Strauss awarded MCC honorary life membership
by AFP
Strauss, 35, guided England to consecutive Ashes victories over Australia in 2009 and 2011 before announcing his retirement from all forms of cricket in August last year. ...  
06:27 PM, Feb 04, 2013

UK's Cameron to deliver long-awaited EU speech British Prime Minister David Cameron is set to deliver his hotly anticipated speech about his plans for Britain's membership of the European Union this week, Foreign Secretary William Hague said on Sunday. After months of speculation, Cameron had been scheduled to deliver the speech on Friday in the Netherlands, but it was postponed because of a hostage crisis involving Britons at a gas plant in Algeria. ...  
08:05 PM, Jan 20, 2013

Sachin deserves Membership of Order of Australia: Gilly Gilchrist said Sachin has helped in forging relations between the two countries. ...  
05:33 PM, Oct 29, 2012

UN restores Libya membership in human rights panel United Nations: The UN General Assembly on Friday restored Libya's membership in the UN Human Rights Council, ending a suspension the United Nations imposed on Tripoli as civil war broke out there. Libyan Deputy UN Ambassador Ibrahim Dabbashi introduced a resolution to the 193-nation assembly that had UN member states "welcoming the commitments made by Libya to uphold its obligations under international human rights law, to promote and protect human...  
01:43 AM, Nov 19, 2011

China backs India's UN 'aspiration' Sanya (China): China on Thursday recorded its recognition of India's "status" in global affairs and said it "supports" its "aspiration" to play a greater role in the world body, a nuanced expression that could be seen as a step forward towards backing New Delhi's bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. The Chinese position was reflected in a declaration issued here after a Summit of Brazil-Russia-India-China-South Africa...  
06:43 PM, Apr 14, 2011

Obama quits Chicago church after long controversy London: Australia coach Mickey Arthur has promised an aggressive approach from his side when they face England in their upcoming one-day international series. Australia have arrived in England for five one-dayers against their oldest foes which will serve as something of a scene-setter for next year's tour where they will look to regain the Ashes. But while England may be the world's top-ranked Test side, Australia are the number ones...  
08:15 PM, Jun 01, 2008

Abhishek joins the Platinum Club American Express has selected Abhishek Bachchan as brand ambassador to promote the new Platinum Club. ...  
08:04 PM, Nov 07, 2006

Membership up as rich take Left turn
by IANS
CPI-M sees a steep rise in membership with more and more of the affluent sections signing up. ...  
11:57 AM, Oct 24, 2006