"UN Security Council Not Fixable In Current Format": US Ex Envoy To NDTV

Former US ambassador to the UN John Bolton today told NDTV that the United Nations is a huge organisation and that many bodies of the global body are irrelevant. He said the UN's massive size is a part of its problems.

"Some of the specialised and technical agencies do good work when they stay out of politics. But the Security Council and the General Assembly, the Human Rights Council are paralysed and therefore largely irrelevant," Mr Bolton told NDTV.

"I am not sure if there is any way to bring meaningful reform. Many people have tried over the years, many suggestions have been given. It's very hard to see if any of them can be brought to bear," he added.

Mr Bolton's comments come at a time when the world is beset by wars, humanitarian crises and other problems, bringing the focus back to whether the UN is becoming incapable of ensuring multilateral responses to solve serious global problems.

On how the UN can address some of the problems - if it can - the former diplomat said it is important to look at some of the particular pieces of the UN because some pieces are clearly much much better than others when they do the work they are supposed to do.

"Some of them are obscure, such as the World Intellectual Property Organisation which deals with a hugely important subject matter and so far we should keep our fingers crossed it has done good work," Mr Bolton said.

On the other end of the spectrum, the Security Council, for example, is not fixable at its current state, he said.

"The Security Council I don't think is fixable in its current format where you have Russia and China in this increasingly close axis with China as the dominant partner determined to pursue their own interests. It is not the Cold War, but not also dissimilar to the gridlock that was the cold war," he said.

Mr Bolton shared some suggestions as to what kinds of reforms may work.

"The reforms that I have suggested are based on my very long experience in the UN system, and that is we need to change the funding system. I would eliminate the system of cess contribution where every nation pays a percentage of the budget of different UN bodies, and replace it with entirely voluntary contributions," Mr Bolton said.

"This is a radical theory that if something doesn't work, then you shouldn't have to pay for it. You should put your money in an institution that does work and I think that reform has very little chance of being adopted by the members," he said. "But that I think is something that might actually wake the UN up," he added.

India has also been aspiring to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council. It recently received a huge boost after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer backed India's bid for the permanent membership, days after US President Joe Biden and France's Emmanuel Macron made a similar pitch.

At present, the UNSC comprises five permanent members and 10 non-permanent member countries which are elected for a two-year term by the General Assembly. The five permanent members are Russia, the UK, China, France, and the United States, which have the power to veto any substantive resolution.

"We want to see permanent African representation on the Council, Brazil, India, Japan, and Germany as permanent members, and more seats for elected members as well," Mr Starmer had said.

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"Will Have To Restore Demolished Structures If...": Supreme Court To Gujarat

The Supreme Court on Friday cautioned authorities in Gujarat over demolitions in the state, saying if it finds that they acted in contempt of its recent order against such action, it will ask them to restore the structures.

A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan was hearing a plea seeking initiation of contempt proceedings against the Gujarat authorities for alleged violation of the Supreme Court's September 17 order in which it had said there should be no demolition of properties, including those belonging to people accused of crimes, across the country without its permission.

The bench refused to pass an order of status quo on the demolition near the Somnath temple in Gujarat.

On September 28, the authorities in Gujarat carried out a demolition drive to clear encroachments on government land near the Somnath temple in Gir Somnath district.

The administration had said religious structures and concrete houses were demolished during the drive that freed around 15 hectares of government land valued at Rs 60 crore.

Senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, appearing for petitioner Summast Patni Muslim Jamat, said that despite the top court's order, the authorities in Gujarat have demolished structures.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Gujarat authorities, said the structures were abutting the sea and were around 340 metres away from the Somnath temple.

"This falls within the exception carved out by your lordships," the top law officer said.

In its order last month, the Supreme Court had said, "We further clarify that our order would not be applicable if there is an unauthorised structure in any public place such as road, street, footpath, abutting railway line or any river body or water bodies and also, to cases where there is an order for demolition made by a court of law".

During the hearing on Friday, the bench observed, "If we find that they are in contempt of our order, not only we will be sending them to jail but we will ask them to restore all this." Without issuing a notice on the plea, the bench asked Mr Mehta to file a response and posted the matter for hearing on October 16.

Senior advocate Hegde said notices issued to people there (area where demolitions were carried out) did not speak of any demolition, even though the demolition drive was conducted on September 28.

There were 45 houses, 10 mosques and five dargahs in the area spanning 57 acres, he said.

The top court had dealt with a similar matter from Assam on September 30 and besides issuing a notice on that plea, it had asked the parties to maintain the status quo, he added.

Mr Mehta said he would file a reply to the petition.

The matter pertains to government land and the proceedings started in 2023. Notices were issued by the authority concerned and a personal hearing was given to the parties, he said.

People had approached several authorities, including the Waqf Tribunal, but no interim injunction was granted, he added.

"We will not issue a notice, you file your reply," the bench told Mr Mehta.

When Mr Hegde requested the bench that the status quo be maintained, Mr Mehta said somebody had filed a petition before the Gujarat High Court for the same but it was refused.

"We have made it clear that in case we find that they are in contempt, we will direct them to restore the position as it was," the bench said, adding that its earlier order applies equally to everyone.

On October 1, the Supreme Court had reserved its verdict on a batch of pleas which alleged that properties, including belonging those accused of crime, were being demolished in several states.

The top court had said it would lay down pan-India guidelines on demolition of properties. It had said in its September 17 order that it would continue till it decides the matter. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Trinamool Leader Arrested In RG Kar Hospital Corruption Case: CBI

A doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital and an alleged confidant of its former principal Sandip Ghosh, Ashish Pande, has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the corruption case it is investigating alongside the horrific rape-murder of a young doctor that had shocked the country. Officials of the Central agency claimed Ashish Pande is also a member of Trinamool Congress and is associated with its student wing.  There, however, has been no confirmation or comment on the matter from the Trinamool Congress. 

He will be produced in court Friday. 

This is the fifth arrest in the corruption case. 

Earlier, the agency had arrested Sandip Ghosh and three others -- his bodyguard Afsar Ali, Suman Hazra and Biplab Sinha, vendors supplying medical equipment to the hospital when Ghosh was the principal.

Ashish Pandey, who is also employed at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, is reportedly associated with the Trinamool Congress Students' Wing - TMCP. He was allegedly the TMCP unit president of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad (students' unit) state president and party spokesperson Trinankur Bhattacharya told news agency Press Trust of India: "We are yet to hear details about the case. But as of now, we can say that the law will take its own course and we have faith in the justice system." 

Ashish Pandey was earlier mentioned in the list of 59 people at the hospital who were issued show-cause notices by the hospital administration and asked to appear before an inquiry committee set up after the rape and murder of the second year post-graduate student. 

Ashish Pandey had to be rescued by security personnel after he was heckled and pushed by the protesting junior doctors when he went to the hospital to appear before the inquiry committee looking into complaints of harassment and intimidation on campus. 

Leader of Opposition in the Bengal assembly Suvendu Adhikari asserted that Pandey was a "strongman of the TMC, who was part of the propagator of the threat culture in state-run medical colleges".

"With his arrest and interrogation, CBI will be able to reach to the bottom of this culture at medical colleges and find out all those involved," Mr Adhikari was quoted as saying by PTI.

Sandip Ghosh was arrested by the CBI in connection with the case registered after allegations of financial irregularities surfaced. The Calcutta High Court had handed over the investigation to the CBI after the Kolkata Police registered a case based on complaints filed with the police.

The financial irregularities case involves irregularities in award of contracts, getting the infrastructure-related tasks of the hospital done by individuals or firms instead of getting them done by the state public works department (PWD), the sale of biomedical waste which is illegal, and sale of selling organs from unidentified bodies brought for postmortem, at "lucrative prices" outside.

Sandip Ghosh has also been arrested in connection with the rape-murder case and has undergone two polygraph tests.  He and the police officer who initially investigated the rape and murder of the doctor have been accused of attempting to hide evidence and sabotage the investigation. 

The trainee doctor was raped and murdered inside the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College on August 9. The key suspect, civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, a was seen on CCTV during investigation after the doctor's body was found. 

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"India Is The Strongest Team...": Ex-Pakistan Captain's Open Admission

Former Pakistan cricketer Ramiz Raja opened up on Ravichandran Ashwin's performance in the India-Bangladesh Test series and said that the 38-year-old has not received the kind of status as an all-rounder that he deserves. In the recently concluded two-match Test series, Ashwin picked 11 wickets; he was also the highest wicket-taker along with Jasprit Bumrah. With the bat, he scored 114 runs at a strike rate of 83.21 in the two-match series. Ashwin was also named the 'Player of the Series' following his stunning display against the visitors.

The India spinner played a crucial 113-run knock from 133 balls in the first inning against Bangladesh in the Chennai Test. The 38-year-old bagged a six-wicket haul in the second inning, which helped the hosts clinch a 280-run win over Bangladesh in the first Test match.

Speaking on his official YouTube channel, Ramiz said that it was an amazing Test series for Ashwin against Bangladesh. The former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman also praised the India spinner's performance in the Chennai Test.

"See how the bowlers supported Rohit Sharma in this victory innings. Fast bowlers dominated in the first inning and spinners shined in the second inning. It was an amazing Test series for Ashwin. He scoring a century at home and also taking six wickets is an amazing mastery and an amazing all-round ability, perhaps he has not got the kind of status in cricket that he should get as an all-rounder," Ramiz said.

The former cricketer added that the 38-year-old doesn't make any drama and performs at every opportunity.

"Ashwin is no less than anyone else, he scores century at every opportunity, and takes wickets at every opportunity and doesn't show too much pride, doesn't make any drama after taking a wicket, doesn't make any drama after scoring a century," he added.

Talking about India's series win over Bangladesh, Ramiz Raja said that Rohit Sharma's side is the strongest team to beat on their home soil.

"India won the Test match easily against Bangladesh. At this point, India is the strongest team to beat on their home soil... Bangladesh had to do a lot to give a tough time to such a successful team because winning a Test match can only be a dream for any visiting team. Bangladesh didn't have the capacity to challenge India...," he further added.

Recapping the match, after two days of missed action, Bangladesh, having put to bat first by India, resumed their innings on day four. Momimul Haque (107 in 194 balls, with 17 fours and a six) hit a century that took Bangladesh to 233. Jasprit Bumrah picked up three, while Siraj, Ravichandran Ashwin and Akash Deep picked up two. Ravindra Jadeja got one scalp.

With a relentless hunger for piling up runs on the board, India went after Bangladesh bowlers and declared on a score of 285/9. Yashasvi Jaiswal (72 in 51 balls, with 12 fours and two sixes) and KL Rahul (68 in 43 balls, with seven fours and two sixes) hit quickfire fifties while Rohit (23), Virat Kohli (47) and Shubman Gill (39) also played quickfire knocks. Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Shakib al Hasan picked up four wickets each.

With a 52-run lead, India's bowlers delivered a performance that forced the visitors to scamper for survival. Shadnam Islam did score a half-century, but Bangladesh folded on 146. Ashwin, Jadeja, and Bumrah got three scalps each.

India comfortably chased down the target of 95 runs and clinched a 7-wicket win, with Jaiswal (51 in 45 balls with eight fours and a six) and Virat (29 in 37 balls, with four boundaries) being key scorers.

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