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Three resolutions on the refugee crisis in Ukraine

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Following Russia’s decision to push for a vote on a Security Council resolution that makes no mention of its attack on its smaller neighbor, the United Nations will face three resolutions on the increasing humanitarian situation in Ukraine on Wednesday.

The United Nations General Assembly is set to begin debating two competing resolutions on Wednesday morning: one backed by Ukraine and Western nations that explicitly blames Russia for the increasing humanitarian situation, and the other sponsored by South Africa that does not.

The third resolution, sponsored by Russia and severely criticized for failing to mention its invasion of Ukraine, will be voted on by the Security Council. . Last Friday, Russia called off a council vote on the measure because diplomats expected it would be massively defeated, with many abstentions and few “yes” votes, while at least nine votes are required for approval and no vetoes.

Dmitry Polyansky, Russia’s deputy UN ambassador, informed reporters on Tuesday that Russia has requested a vote on Wednesday. It was set to take place following the Security Council’s planned discussion on cooperation with the Arab League on Wednesday morning.

Polyansky stated that if Western countries do not support the Russian resolution, it will be a “reflection of their dishonesty” and refusal to support a purely humanitarian action “without any politicization,” as prior humanitarian resolutions issued by the 15-member council have been.

Russia canceled Friday’s vote on its resolution “because they recognized they didn’t have support for that resolution,” according to US Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield. She stated that there is still no support.

After Russia made it obvious after two weeks of deliberations in the Security Council that it would veto their text, France and Mexico decided to take their humanitarian resolution to the 193-member General Assembly. The humanitarian situation is linked to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The two nations, along with 20 others, including Ukraine and the United States, wrote to the assembly president on Monday, requesting that the extraordinary session of the General Assembly be reconvened on Wednesday to vote on the resolution.

South Africa circulated a competing draught resolution on Monday that is identical to the Russian language before the Security Council but does not name Russian aggression. On Tuesday, it was transmitted to the United Nations General Assembly.

As a first step toward improving the deteriorating humanitarian situation, the South African draught calls for “immediate suspension of hostilities” and urges “political engagement, talks, mediation, and other peaceful means aimed at attaining sustainable peace.”

According to a list of speakers acquired by The Associated Press on Tuesday night, 61 countries intended to address the assembly on the topic. As a result, the vote could take place either Wednesday evening or Thursday morning.

Ukraine and South Africa were the first two speakers, each presenting the Western-backed resolution they support and helped design. Although Security Council resolutions, General Assembly resolutions are not legally enforceable, they do have strength in terms of representing international opinion because they lack veto power.

Supporters of the French-Mexican resolution hoped to garner the same vote for the draught as they did for a resolution passed by the assembly on March 2 that demanded an immediate end to Russia’s military operations in Ukraine and the departure of all Russian forces. Supporters welcomed the resolution as proof of Russia’s global isolation as it passed 141-5 with 35 abstentions.

“Russia is the offender here, and it is outrageous for Russia to believe it can bring up a humanitarian settlement,” Thomas-Greenfield said. “Russia needs to stop fighting.” It must halt the slaughter of Ukrainians. It must cease targeting civilians and evicting people from their homes, resulting in a humanitarian disaster.”

The French-Mexican draught resolution reiterates the March 2 demand that Russia ceases its military offensive in Ukraine and evacuate all soldiers, as well as protection for all people and critical infrastructure.

The proposal condemns Russia’s action against Ukraine, claiming that the “dire humanitarian repercussions” are “on a magnitude that the world community has not seen in Europe in decades.” It also condemns Russia’s shelling, bombing, and “besiegement” of highly populated cities, especially Mariupol in the south.

The draught resolution expresses strong opposition to assaults on people and “civilian objects,” such as evacuation convoys, and calls on all parties to “protect civilians escaping armed conflict and violence.”It also necessitates that assistance workers have unrestricted access to their transportation, supplies, and equipment.

Russia’s suggested humanistic resolution, which was distributed a day after France and Mexico announced that their text will be presented to the UN General Assembly, makes no mention of the war. It simply asks for the protection of civilians “in vulnerable situations” as well as safe passage for humanitarian aid and individuals fleeing Ukraine.

It supports UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres’ appeal for engagement and negotiations, as well as a negotiated cease-fire that allows “all civilians” to be evacuated quickly.

Russia’s plan goes on to declare that “the parties concerned must agree on humanitarian pauses to this aim,” but never names the parties involved. Russian authorities assert that they did not initiate the conflict, and they have wrongly dismissed reports of Russian military defeats or civilian deaths in Ukraine. Russian forces, according to state media and government authorities, are only targeting military targets.

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With Chants Of “Pudhchya Varshi Lavkar Ya,” Panvel bids Goodbye to Ganapati Bappa

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Panvel locals said a tearful goodbye to their beloved Ganapati Bappa on Sunday, wishing him to return early the following year, as the joyous sounds of Ganesh Chaturthi reverberated throughout the city (pudhchya varshi lavkar ya). The community was heavily involved in the 1.5-day immersion, which got underway on Saturday with “Ganpati Bappa Morya” shouts.

This year, 89 specified locations were enabled by the Panvel Municipal Corporation, with oversight from Municipal Commissioner Mangesh Chitale.

This comprised 48 man-made ponds with distinct pools for Shadu clay and plaster of Paris (POP) Ganpati’s in addition to 41 natural immersion places. The locations have all the necessary amenities, including Nirmalya Kalash, stage setups, electrical systems, CCTV, and security personnel.

At 5 p.m., the immersion procedure began, and it lasted until 11 p.m. Department representatives, including Commissioner Chitale, kept a careful eye on the planning and administration.

Commendably, five unique ‘Nirmalya Raths,’ as proposed by Deputy Commissioner Dr. Vaibhav Vidhate, were set up to gather Nirmalya from more than 250 Ganesha Mandals spread across the municipal territory. The objectives of this program were to promote environmental sustainability and efficient garbage management. Approximately 1,500 tons of Nirmalya were collected during the immersion. Dedicated crews are cleaning up the Visarjan Ghats, and plans are in place to turn this garbage into agar batti and incense sticks.

 In addition, the Panvel Municipal Corporation honored followers who placed a high value on environmental preservation by submerging idols made of plaster of Paris and Shadu clay in the man-made lakes. In appreciation of their commitment to a greener Ganeshotsav, certificates were given out.

Municipal Commissioner Mangesh Chitale said, “This year’s immersion activities have set a benchmark for community participation and environmental stewardship, reflecting the city’s commitment to preserving cultural traditions while promoting sustainability.”

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Mumbai Traffic Blues, Good Bye! Travel Time To The Badlapur-Navi Mumbai Tunnel To Be Reduced To 20 Minutes

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The new tunnel that would link Badlapur and Navi Mumbai is expected to cut the journey time in half, to only 20 minutes. The tunnel connects Bendsheel village in Badlapur to Rayate in Kalyan Taluka as part of the Vadodara-JNPT expressway project. This would integrate Badlapur into a larger network that connects key towns like Navi Mumbai, Palghar, Gujarat, and Mumbai.

This four-lane, 22-meter-wide tunnel is an essential part of a bigger project that aims to guarantee the seamless flow of traffic between Vadodara and Mumbai. With the new road, the 550 km trip from JNPT Port in Mumbai to Vadodara, which currently takes 10–12 hours, would only take 4-5 hours.

Plastering has started on the tunnel, a significant project milestone that indicates how quickly the construction has progressed.

Additionally, the tunnel will be essential for facilitating speedier freight movement to the JNPT port, which will promote economic growth by facilitating access to the future Navi Mumbai Airport. Along the route, this can result in the development of warehouses and commercial centers, creating additional job possibilities for the surrounding towns.

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For Navi Mumbaikar’s, Ganeshotsav This Year Is More Greener

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This year, Ganeshotsav, a period marked by elaborate festivities and cultural displays, is also being used as a means of raising awareness of environmental issues. Encouraging the theme of “Eco-Idol to Save Environment,” households in Navi Mumbai are choosing biodegradable idols and integrating eco-friendly activities into their festival fun.

The creation and immersion of idols has changed significantly this year, making it a unique Ganeshotsav. Family eco-friendly Ganesha idols made of clay and other biodegradable materials are becoming more popular than plaster of paris (POP) idols, thanks to the efforts of Sri Bal Gangadhar Tilak to integrate ancient customs. This shift indicates a dedication to protecting nearby water bodies and an increasing understanding of environmental challenges.

Many homes are increasingly coordinating their activities with environmental considerations, while still adhering to the custom of doing Ganesh puja for one to ten days. The idols’ themes are as varied as the festivities themselves. While some homes are highlighting recent successes, like winning the World Cup, others are drawing attention to urgent societal challenges, like the recent Wayanad catastrophes.

In honor of winning the World Cup, Dr. Lokhande and his family at Mahavir Hospital in Koparkhairane have decided to celebrate with a clay statue of Ganesha dressed as a cricket player. Experienced idol builder Santosh Chaulkar has been hard at work creating more than a hundred clay idols especially for homes in the Koparkhairane node.

Big housing complexes like Nerul’s NRI Complex are acting together in addition to individual initiatives. It is suggested that locals retrieve the clay from submerged idols and give it back to the craftspeople in the area. By reusing the clay to construct new idols, this program seeks to establish a sustainable cycle that reduces waste and promotes ecological balance.

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