Over the past week 130 world leaders and more than 50 ministers addressed the annual high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, but fewer than 12 per cent&nbsp;of those to stand at the lectern were women.

"We have to be courageous enough ... to call people out, delegation by delegation, when you meet them," UN&nbsp;Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told reporters on Tuesday after the last country had spoken in the 193-member General Assembly.

"It's clear and abundant in the hall, when you're sitting at the podium and you're looking down, it's true - I'm searching for the women and that has to get better," she added.

Only four countries did not address the six day meeting - Niger, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Madagascar, diplomats said.

Of the 189 member countries who spoke there were 88 heads of state and 42 heads of government, said senior U.N. official Movses Abelian. The remaining speakers were made up of deputy leaders and ministers, along with six ambassadors.

Among the speakers were 21 women - six heads of state, four heads of government, one vice president, nine ministers and one vice minister, Abelian told reporters.

In his speech, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa drew applause on the first day of the General Assembly when he said that women made up 50 per cent&nbsp;of South Africa's cabinet and that he had been accompanied to New York by an all-female delegation.

"It should be a matter of concern to us all that the majority of people who are sitting in this assembly are men," he said. "The question we have to ask - where are the women of the world? The women of the world have a right to be here."

Within the United Nations there is gender parity among the top level of under-secretaries-general, according to U.N. data. Throughout the entire UN&nbsp;system, women make up 44 per cent&nbsp;of international staff.

* The longest speech, at 38 minutes, was given by Burkina Faso's Minister of State and Civil Service Bassolma Bazie, while the shortest, at about 10 minutes, was Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Abelian said.

* While 190 countries spoke about the COVID-19 pandemic during the high-level General Assembly in 2021, only about 40 countries did this year.

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Over the past week 130 world leaders and more than 50 ministers addressed the annual high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, but fewer than 12 per cent of those to stand at the lectern were women.

Over the past week 130 world leaders and more than 50 ministers addressed the annual high-level meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, but fewer than 12 per cent of those to stand at the lectern were women. "We have to be courageous enough ... to call people out, delegation by delegation, when you meet them," UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed told reporters on Tuesday after the last country had spoken in the 193-member General Assembly. "It's clear and abundant in the hall, when you're sitting at the podium and you're looking down, it's true - I'm searching for the women and that has to get better," she added. Only four countries did not address the six day meeting - Niger, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Madagascar, diplomats said. Of the 189 member countries who spoke there were 88 heads of state and 42 heads of government, said senior U.N. official Movses Abelian. The remaining speakers were made up of deputy leaders and ministers, along with six ambassadors. Among the speakers were 21 women - six heads of state, four heads of government, one vice president, nine ministers and one vice minister, Abelian told reporters. In his speech, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa drew applause on the first day of the General Assembly when he said that women made up 50 per cent of South Africa's cabinet and that he had been accompanied to New York by an all-female delegation. "It should be a matter of concern to us all that the majority of people who are sitting in this assembly are men," he said. "The question we have to ask - where are the women of the world? The women of the world have a right to be here." Within the United Nations there is gender parity among the top level of under-secretaries-general, according to U.N. data. Throughout the entire UN system, women make up 44 per cent of international staff. * The longest speech, at 38 minutes, was given by Burkina Faso's Minister of State and Civil Service Bassolma Bazie, while the shortest, at about 10 minutes, was Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Abelian said. * While 190 countries spoke about the COVID-19 pandemic during the high-level General Assembly in 2021, only about 40 countries did this year. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Gender disparity: Women speakers at UN General Assembly were less than 12%

Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd (M &amp; M) will invest Rs 201 crore in tranches to acquire a 55 per cent stake in ride-hailing company Meru Travel Solutions.

With this investment, Meru will be a subsidiary of the company along with Meru Mobility Tech, V-Link Automotive Services and V-Link Fleet Solutions.

The acquisition will be completed in stages and the first tranche will be in October 2019 with Rs 103.5 crore being the primary investment. The move follows after Mahindra Electric and Meru announced a joint electric vehicle pilot project in Hyderabad.

"With this investment, the terms of conditions give Mahindra the right to appoint a majority of directors to the board of Meru along with control of the composition of the board of directors," M &amp; M said in a statement.

Meru started operation in 2006 and conducts business of cab-hailing and radio taxi services across Mumbai, Delhi NCR and Bengaluru. However, its revenue has consistently dipped over the past couple of years.

In the last fiscal ended March, the holding entity reported consolidated revenue of Rs 156.6 crore, down from Rs 277 crore in FY17 and Rs 190 crore in FY18. With this investment from Mahindra, Meru will be able to take on Uber and Ola.

Once the deal closes, private equity firm True North will see its stake in Meru come down from 80 per cent to 35 per cent. It has invested about Rs 575 crore and will look to exit in the next two to three years.

Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd (M & M) will invest Rs 201 crore in tranches to acquire a 55 per cent stake in ride-hailing company Meru Travel Solutions. With this investment, Meru will be a subsidiary of the company along with Meru Mobility Tech, V-Link Automotive Services and V-Link Fleet Solutions.

Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd (M & M) will invest Rs 201 crore in tranches to acquire a 55 per cent stake in ride-hailing company Meru Travel Solutions. With this investment, Meru will be a subsidiary of the company along with Meru Mobility Tech, V-Link Automotive Services and V-Link Fleet Solutions. The acquisition will be completed in stages and the first tranche will be in October 2019 with Rs 103.5 crore being the primary investment. The move follows after Mahindra Electric and Meru announced a joint electric vehicle pilot project in Hyderabad. "With this investment, the terms of conditions give Mahindra the right to appoint a majority of directors to the board of Meru along with control of the composition of the board of directors," M & M said in a statement. Meru started operation in 2006 and conducts business of cab-hailing and radio taxi services across Mumbai, Delhi NCR and Bengaluru. However, its revenue has consistently dipped over the past couple of years. In the last fiscal ended March, the holding entity reported consolidated revenue of Rs 156.6 crore, down from Rs 277 crore in FY17 and Rs 190 crore in FY18. With this investment from Mahindra, Meru will be able to take on Uber and Ola. Once the deal closes, private equity firm True North will see its stake in Meru come down from 80 per cent to 35 per cent. It has invested about Rs 575 crore and will look to exit in the next two to three years.

Mahindra and Mahindra acquires 55 per cent stake in Meru Cabs for Rs 201 crore

The annual retail inflation eased for the second straight month in February to 4.44 percent, as food prices fell, government data showed on Monday.&nbsp;

The retail inflation in January was 5.07 per cent.

Retail inflation, measured by Consumer Price Index (CPI) stayed above 5 percent in January and December, mainly due to hardening housing, fuel and food prices, while inching towards RBI&rsquo;s upper tolerance level of inflation at 6 percent.

In February 2017, however, it was 3.65 per cent.

It was 4.88 per cent in November last year.

Data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showed that the rate of price rise in the consumer food segment was lower at 3.26 per cent in February, as against 4.7 per cent in the previous month.

Inflation in vegetables was 17.57 per cent last month, down from 26.97 per cent in January), and for fruits, it was 4.80 per cent (as against 6.24 per cent).

Milk and its products too were less expensive with inflation print of 4.21 per cent, cereals and products at 2.10 per cent, meat &amp; fish at 3.31 per cent while for eggs the prices grew at a slower pace of 8.51 per cent.

Inflation for the fuel and light category was at 6.80 per cent in February (against 7.73 per cent in January). However, the rate of price increase was higher for transport and communication services at 2.39 per cent (1.97 per cent January).&nbsp;

(With inputs from Agencies)

The annual retail inflation eased for the second straight month in February to 4.44 percent, as food prices fell, government data showed on Monday. The retail inflation in January was 5.07 per cent. Retail inflation, measured by Consumer Price Index (CPI) stayed above 5 percent in January and December, mainly due to hardening housing, fuel and food prices, while inching towards RBI’s upper tolerance level of inflation at 6 percent. In February 2017, however, it was 3.65 per cent. It was 4.88 per cent in November last year. Data released by the Central Statistics Office (CSO) showed that the rate of price rise in the consumer food segment was lower at 3.26 per cent in February, as against 4.7 per cent in the previous month. Inflation in vegetables was 17.57 per cent last month, down from 26.97 per cent in January), and for fruits, it was 4.80 per cent (as against 6.24 per cent). Milk and its products too were less expensive with inflation print of 4.21 per cent, cereals and products at 2.10 per cent, meat & fish at 3.31 per cent while for eggs the prices grew at a slower pace of 8.51 per cent. Inflation for the fuel and light category was at 6.80 per cent in February (against 7.73 per cent in January). However, the rate of price increase was higher for transport and communication services at 2.39 per cent (1.97 per cent January). (With inputs from Agencies)

Retail inflation falls to 4.4% in February on cheaper food and fuel

The annual retail inflation accelerated in December to a 17-month high of 5.21 per cent, government data showed on Friday, mainly driven by faster rises in prices of food and fuel products.

Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast December&#39;s CPI inflation to rise to 5.10 per cent from November&#39;s 4.88 per cent.

In December, the Reserve Bank of India held its policy rate and reiterated a neutral stance but said that &quot;all possibilities are on the table&quot; depending on how price pressures and growth pan out.

For the six months through March, the RBI slightly raised its inflation projection - already above its 4 percent medium-term target - to 4.3-4.7 per cent.

Factors that indicate higher December inflation are increased prices for some foods and the impact of higher pay for government employees.

The annual retail inflation accelerated in December to a 17-month high of 5.21 per cent, government data showed on Friday, mainly driven by faster rises in prices of food and fuel products. Analysts polled by Reuters had forecast December's CPI inflation to rise to 5.10 per cent from November's 4.88 per cent. In December, the Reserve Bank of India held its policy rate and reiterated a neutral stance but said that "all possibilities are on the table" depending on how price pressures and growth pan out. For the six months through March, the RBI slightly raised its inflation projection - already above its 4 percent medium-term target - to 4.3-4.7 per cent.

December retail inflation hits 17-month high of 5.21 per cent

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