International Friendship Day 2026 is observed worldwide on Thursday, July 30. The annual occasion celebrates the importance of friendship in building peaceful, supportive and inclusive communities. It encourages people to appreciate their friends, strengthen meaningful relationships and promote kindness across cultural and social differences. While July 30 is recognised as the official International Day of Friendship by the United Nations, India follows another popular tradition. Fr

India rebukes Pakistan at the United Nations over cross-border terrorism, rejects Islamabad's statements on Jammu and Kashmir and reiterates that the Union Territory remains an integral part of India. The remarks also reaffirm New Delhi's position on the Indus Water Treaty and regional security. India UN statement on Kashmir India strongly criticised Pakistan during a high-level debate at the U

Iran says the US military campaign delivered no strategic gains, as Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi urges Europe to defend international law and warns that states supporting attacks could deepen regional instability. Iran says US war brought no gains Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said the United States had secured no strategic gains from its military campaign agai

India has officially launched its campaign for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2028-29 term, presenting a new diplomatic framework called "SHANTI" as the foundation of its global engagement strategy. The campaign was unveiled by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar at the United Nations headquarters in New York, where he highlighted India's experience in peacekeeping, multilateral diplomacy and international

India condemns conflict-related sexual violence at UN India has called for stronger global action against conflict-related sexual violence, describing it as a weapon used to spread fear, suppress communities and deepen humanitarian crises. Speaking during a United Nations Security Council debate in New York, India's Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador P. Har

Israel says it killed a senior Hamas intelligence leader involved in planning the October 7 attack, as violence continues in Gaza despite a ceasefire, with reports of additional casualties from a separate drone strike. The Israel Defense Forces said on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, that Iyad Ahmed Abd al Rahman Shambari, a senior figure in Hamas’s military intelligence wing, was killed in the Gaza Strip. According to the IDF, Shambari led the operations department within Hamas military intelligence and played a key role in planning the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the ongoing war. The IDF statement did not specify the exact time of the strike or provide additional operational details. The Israeli military has repeatedly targeted senior Hamas figures as part of its broader campaign in Gaza following the large-scale assault that prompted Israel’s ground offensive in the enclave. A ceasefire announced on Friday, October 10, 2025, has largely reduced large-scale combat, but violence has continued across Gaza. The Gaza health ministry, which operates under Hamas authority, reported that at least 818 Palestinians have been killed since the truce began. The United Nations has previously considered such figures broadly reliable, though independent verification remains limited. Separately, Gaza’s civil defense agency said four people were killed and six others injured in a drone strike targeting a vehicle in the western Al Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City. A Gaza security official identified two of the victims as Hamas commander Iyad al Shanbari and his son Salah. The identities of the other two individuals were not disclosed. There was no immediate independent confirmation of the identities of those killed in that strike. The IDF has not publicly commented on the specific incident described by local authorities. The developments underscore ongoing instability in Gaza despite the ceasefire, with sporadic strikes and casualties continuing to be reported.

It reflects procedural voting dynamics despite criticism The United States, joined by the United Arab Emirates and supported by several European governments, condemned a United Nations decision made on Monday, April 28, 2026, to appoint Iran as one of the vice presidents at a major nuclear treaty conference in New York. Iran’s appointment through Non-Aligned Movement voting bloc The controversy emerged as the 11th Review Conference of

Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, on Monday, April 27, 2026, appealed to the United Nations Security Council to push for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, warning that the ongoing bl

India remains steadfast in its fight against terrorism in all its forms, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said while addressing the High-Level Segment of the 61st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council virtually on Wednesday. He asserted that attacks on innocent civilians can never be justified under any circumstances and called for a unified global response rooted in a zero tolerance approach to terrorism. Speaking at the UNHRC session, Jaishankar urged the Unite

A senior Iranian cleric closely aligned with the country’s leadership has called for the execution of detained protesters and issued direct threats toward the United States, further intensifying tensions as Iran continues a sweeping crackdown on nationwide unrest. Speaking during Friday prayers in Tehran, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami delivered a forceful sermon that was broadcast on state radio and echoed by chants from worshippers gathered in the capital. Khatami, known for his hardli

India delivered a firm rebuttal to Pakistan at the United Nations after Islamabad once again raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir during a session of the General Assembly, reiterating New Delhi’s position that the matter is an internal issue and not subject to international mediation. Indian officials accused Pakistan of repeatedly misusing multilateral forums to promote a divisive political narrative that does not reflect realities on the ground. The response followed comments m

India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has sharply criticised the United Nations, saying the global body has become increasingly ineffective and paralysed by internal divisions. Speaking in New Delhi at the release of a commemorative postage stamp marking the 80th anniversary of the United Nations, Jaishankar said the organisation’s decision-making has failed to reflect the realities of its membership or the priorities of the modern world. He emphasised that meaningful reforms are

US President Donald Trump has described a sequence of unusual technical failures during his visit to the United Nations as acts of deliberate sabotage. He has ordered the Secret Service to open a probe into the incidents, which he labeled as a “triple sabotage” attempt aimed at undermining both his speech and his safety. Trump recounted the events in detail, stressing that what happened was no coincidence and demanding that the UN preserve all relevant security recordings.