India declares its support for Iran’s presidency of the Conference on Disarmament; Al-Shabaab carries out attack on UN office in Mogadishu; UN report warns India of PPP mode of investment; Indian NGO wins UN award
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    • Reports noted that India declared its support for Iran’s presidency of the UN’s panel on nuclear disarmament, the Conference on Disarmament. Despite voting twice against Iran’s nuclear programme at the IAEA, India believes that Iran has a place like other nations. 1

    In another development, according to reports, the Islamist militant group, al-Shabaab carried out a deadly assault on the main UN compound in the Somali capital of Mogadishu. According to reports, four foreign UN security staff and four local guards were killed in the gun battle which left seven insurgent fighters dead. Since the al-Shabaab was driven out of Mogadishu two years ago, the assault was the first significant attack on UN premises. 2

    Meanwhile, a United Nations report warned India that by opting for public private partnership (PPP) mode of investment for raising its public infrastructure, it was at a greater risk. The Global Assessment Report on disaster risk reduction warned that India’s huge infrastructure was exposed to disaster risk. It has also warned India of greater economic losses from unsafe public property facing disaster risk. 3

    In other developments, according to reports, an Indian NGO, the Foundation for Ecological Security was awarded the Land for Life Award 2013 instituted by the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, for its work on assisting village communities in sustainable management of common lands in India. The NGO was chosen for its efforts in empowering communities to take ownership of their local land, mobilising communities at a large scale and in influencing policy. 4

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