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At sea on ocean goals: India must lead to protect marine health interests
Shyam Saran
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Humanity is terrestrial, but its origins lie deep in the ocean. In 1967, when the world was negotiating the historic Law of the Sea, a Maltese diplomat, Arvid Prado said: 'The dark oceans were the womb of life; from the protecting oceans life emerged. We still bear in our bodies — in our blood, in the salty bitterness of our tears — the marks of this remote past.'
And the umbilical cord that ties us to the ocean is the stuff of life itself. The ocean generates half of the planet's oxygen. It absorbs 30 per cent of all carbon
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First Post
2 hours ago
- First Post
Gaza receives emergency food drops from Jordan, UAE, and Israel as UN warns of mass starvation
Jordanian and Emirati planes dropped food into Gaza on Sunday as Israel launched a limited 'tactical pause' in military operations to address a worsening hunger crisis. The UN has warned of famine-like conditions affecting hundreds of thousands. read more Jordanian and Emirati planes dropped food into Gaza on Sunday, as Israel began a limited 'tactical pause' in military operations to allow the UN and aid agencies to tackle a deepening hunger crisis. The Israeli military said it had also begun airdropping food into the Palestinian territory – making one drop of seven palettes – while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected what he characterised as UN 'lies' that his government was to blame for the dire humanitarian situation. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The army also dismissed allegations that it had been using starvation as a weapon, saying it had coordinated with the UN and international agencies to 'increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip'. UN emergency relief coordinator Tom Fletcher welcomed the tactical pauses, saying he was in 'contact with our teams on the ground who will do all we can to reach as many starving people as we can in this window'. But the UN's World Food Programme said a third of the population of Gaza had not eaten for days, and 470,000 people were 'enduring famine-like conditions' that were already leading to deaths. The Israeli decision came as international pressure mounted on Netanyahu's government to head off the risk of mass starvation in the territory. Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz joined the chorus of concern on Sunday, urging Netanyahu 'to provide the starving civilian population in Gaza with urgently needed humanitarian aid now.' Accusing the UN of fabricating 'pretexts and lies about Israel' blocking aid, Netanyahu said in remarks at an airbase that 'there are secure routes' for aid. 'There have always been, but today it's official. There will be no more excuses,' he added. Since Israel imposed a total blockade on aid entering Gaza on March 2, the situation inside the territory has deteriorated sharply. More than 100 NGOs warned this week of 'mass starvation'. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Though aid has trickled back in since late May, the UN and humanitarian agencies say Israeli restrictions remain excessive and road access inside Gaza is tightly controlled. 'Life's wish' The Jordanian military said its planes, working with the United Arab Emirates, had delivered 25 tonnes of aid in three parachute drops over Gaza on Sunday. Truckloads of flour were also seen arriving in northern Gaza through the Zikim area crossing from Israel, according to AFP journalists. The charity Oxfam's regional policy chief Bushra Khalidi called Israel's latest moves a 'welcome first step' but warned they could prove insufficient. 'Starvation won't be solved by a few trucks or airdrops,' she said. 'What's needed is a real humanitarian response: ceasefire, full access, all crossings open, and a steady, large-scale flow of aid into Gaza. 'We need a permanent ceasefire, a complete lifting of the siege.' In general, humanitarian officials are deeply sceptical airdrops can deliver enough food safely to tackle the hunger crisis facing Gaza's more than two million inhabitants. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD In Gaza City's Tel al-Hawa district, 30-year-old Suad Ishtaywi said her 'life's wish' was to simply feed her children. She spoke of her husband returning empty-handed from aid points daily. Chaotic scenes broke out at the site where Israel conducted its first food drop, witnesses told AFP. Samih Humeid, a 23-year-old from the Al-Karama neighbourhood of Gaza City, said dozens of people had gathered to rush towards the palettes of supplies parachuted onto the area. 'It felt like a war, everyone trying to grab whatever they could. Hunger is merciless. The quantities were extremely limited, not enough even for a few people, because hunger is everywhere. I only managed to get three cans of fava beans,' he said. In a social media post, the Israeli military announced it had 'carried out an airdrop of humanitarian aid as part of the ongoing efforts to allow and facilitate the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip'. AFP journalists saw Egyptian trucks crossing from Rafah, with cargo routed through Israel's Kerem Shalom checkpoint for inspection before entering Gaza. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Israeli army's daily pause from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm will be limited to areas where its troops are not currently operating – Al-Mawasi in the south, central Deir el-Balah and Gaza City in the north. Israel said 'designated secure routes' would also open across Gaza for aid convoys carrying food and medicine. The military said the measures should disprove 'the false claim of deliberate starvation'. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant, citing 'reasonable grounds' to suspect war crimes including starvation – charges Israel vehemently denies. Activists intercepted On Sunday, according to the Gaza civil defence agency, Israeli army fire killed 27 Palestinians, 12 of them near aid distribution areas. Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency and other parties. Separately, the Israeli navy brought an activist boat, the Handala operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, into the part of Ashdod, after intercepting and boarding it late Saturday to prevent it attempting to breach a maritime blockade of Gaza. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The legal rights centre Adalah told AFP its lawyers were in Ashdod and had met with 19 of the 21 detained activists and journalists from 10 countries. The other two detainees, dual US-Israeli nationals, had been transferred to Israeli police custody, the group said. Israel launched its military campaign in Gaza after Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures. The Israeli campaign has killed 59,733 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
Hans India
4 hours ago
- Hans India
Thailand, Cambodia agree to meet for ceasefire talks
Leaders from both Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to meet for ceasefire talks after US President Donald Trump issued warnings to both their Prime Ministers. Both Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and his Thai counterpart, Phumtham Wechayachai, issued statements agreeing to meet for ceasefire talks. These statements came after Trump issued warnings to the countries, threatening not to make any trade deals with them if the "deadly" clashes due to border conflicts continued. On one hand, the Cambodian PM, thanking Trump, mentioned that Cambodia agrees with the 'proposal for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire between the two armed forces", further adding that he had called for a ceasefire to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim, before this. On the other hand, a statement released from Thailand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs was more subtle and measured, seeking "sincere intention from the Cambodian side' and mentioning the fact that Thailand is interested in convening a bilateral dialogue to bring forward measures needed for the ceasefire, leading to the eventual resolution of the conflict. Trump allegedly had spoken to both Prime Ministers to go through with his attempts to restore peace. Trump, taking to X, via a few posts on Saturday, wrote that both countries have agreed to meet. "They have agreed to immediately meet and quickly work out a Ceasefire and, ultimately, PEACE!" he said, mentioning his 'diplomatic' efforts to bring peace. Trump also added: "They are also looking to get back to the 'Trading Table' with the United States, which we think is inappropriate to do until such time as the fighting STOPS". According to CNN, Trump wrote letters to both countries' leaders, warning them of a 36 per cent increase on most of their exports to the US, which will start from August 1. Officials reported that Thailand and Cambodia provided significant benefits to the US in an attempt to move forward with a trade agreement. Both countries have been involved in disputes ever since colonial France "drew" a border between them over a century ago. The clashes between Thailand and Cambodia began on Thursday, reportedly killing more than 12 people, injuring almost a dozen, and causing more than 150,000 civilians to be evacuated, according to officials from both sides. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged both sides to immediately agree to a ceasefire and to address any issues through dialogue, with a view to finding a lasting solution to the dispute, said Farhan Haq, the UN chief's deputy spokesperson, in a statement on Saturday.
Mint
6 hours ago
- Mint
India eyes tie-ups for affordable housing research, plans dedicated research centre
New Delhi: Centre is looking to forge global partnerships in research and data analytics to strengthen its affordable housing strategy under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana–urban (PMAY-U) and set up a dedicated research centre. Drawing from the experience of the first phase of the scheme the ministry of housing and urban affairs will focus on data compilation and statistical analysis to support interventions from the government for affordable housing and ensuring housing for all, said two people in the know of the developments. The Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee for the flagship urban housing scheme, has approved the creation of a research centre for affordable housing as part of PMAY-Urban 2.0 and also suggested study of international experiences in countries like France, Singapore and the Netherlands and consultation with global players including UN Habitat, they said. "The committee observed that data compilation and statistical analysis to understand housing dynamics keeping in view the vision of 'Viksit Bharat 2047' is the need of the hour. It would support housing-related policy interactions at the central and state levels with relevant data and knowledge inputs for better understanding housing related issues especially in the area of affordable housing, according to the committee," said one of the two people mentioned above. The person added that the Centre is focusing on statistical analysis for better implementation of the PMAY (Urban) 2.0. "The committee also suggested consultations with stakeholders like UN-Habitat for cross learnings," the person added. The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable towns and cities. UN-Habitat is the focal point for all urbanization and human settlement matters within the UN system. Data analytics is considered key for demand analysis in urban planning and UN-Habitat has been a pioneer in the collection of urban indicators data. According to its website, in India, UN-Habitat is devising an integrated and demand-driven approach that combines refining urban planning and design frameworks, providing infrastructure upgrading policy and technical guidance, implementing pilot projects for learning-by-doing and mainstreaming innovations through testing technology solutions to transform India's urban landscape. UN-Habitat's Strategic Plan 2020-2025 emphasizes on increased and secure access to land and adequate and affordable housing. The focus on data analytics gains significance as India's housing for all goal which was initially targeted to be achieved by 2022, is yet to be achieved and the second phase of the PMAY Urban scheme is aimed at providing all-weather houses to people in urban areas including through affordable housing projects and rental housing programmes. The Union cabinet in August last year approved PMAY-U 2.0, under which financial assistance is provided to 10 million urban poor and middle-class families through state government and union territories to build, buy or rent a house at an affordable cost in urban areas in five years. As of 18 June, a total of 709,979 housing units have been sanctioned under PMAY-U 2.0. On 21 July, Mint reported that vacant affordable homes had prompted the Centre to propose a temporary halt on new projects in some cities and submission of new projects under the second phase in those cities. According to data provided by the ministry to Parliament in March, out of the 118 million houses sanctioned under PMAY, about 90 million have been completed and 87.5 million occupied.
