Amid the rise in cross-border B2C e-commerce trade, India is taking the lead in setting up a ‘global online dispute resolution (ODR) platform’ to resolve disagreements in online transactions between businesses and consumers, Consumer Affairs Secretary Rohit Kumar Singh said on Thursday.

“The UN has accepted India’s proposal and asked us to develop a framework on global online dispute resolution with a focus on resolving cross-border B2C e-commerce disputes,” Singh told reporters here.

India is hosting the first conference in the national capital on Friday to deliberate on the framework of this ODR.

Representatives of several countries, including the US, the UK, and Thailand, are expected to attend, he added.

Currently, there are a few platforms, such as the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) and Singapore Declaration 2018, that handle business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce disputes, Singh said.

Now that B2C e-commerce is growing, there is a need for a global online resolution platform to address the grievances of cross-border transactions, he added.

From drinks, cellphones, and ashes to roses, fans have been throwing objects at artists at concerts lately. Recently, Pakistani singer Atif Aslam became the latest artist subject to unruly fan behaviour that has affected fellow singer Arijit Singh, Canadian rapper Drake, Bebe Rexha, Cardi B and more. An enthusiastic fan showered money on the Pakistani artist as he performed on stage. However, the singer’s response is winning hearts on the internet. 

The singer paused the show mid-way and called the fan up to the stage. Mr Aslam said, “My friend, Donate this money, don’t throw it at me, this is just disrespect to the money.”

The video was posted on X, formerly Twitter by user Faizi. The caption of the video reads, “”My friend, Donate this money, don’t throw it at me, this is just disrespect to the money” How calmly he requested and gave a message to the jahil pakistanis who made this thing a culture. What a man he his, one and only undisputed pakistani star whom you should admire.”

See the video here:

“My friend, Donate this money, don’t throw it at me, this is just disrespect to the money” How calmly he requested and gave a message to the jahil pakistanis who made this thing a culture. What a man he his, one and only undisputed pakistani star whom you should admire @itsaadee pic.twitter.com/KOSvUMvSha

— Faizi (@faizanriaz7_) October 24, 2023

Since being posted, the video has amassed more than 1.2 lakh views on X and has attracted several comments. 

A user wrote, “A true gentleman. Knows how to teach people a lesson without offending them.”

“Exactly. Even throwing money, putting it in mouth and giving it during wedding, especially baraat and Sangeet dances is such an insult to money,” another user wrote. 

“It’s a good and honest gesture still some people have something negative to say,” the third user commented. 

“Now thats a classy guy,” the fourth user remarked. 

“He’s a solid guy and I agree. You should never throw money. However rich you could be,” the fifth user commented. 

Former Miss World Contestant Sherika De Armas, who represented Uruguay in the Miss World competition in 2015, died on October 13 at the age of 26 after her battle with cervical cancer, as per a report in the New York Post. Ms De Armas had undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatment. 

Her death sent shockwaves through Uruguay and around the world. “Fly high, little sister. Always and forever,” her brother, Mayk’ De Armas, said on social media. Miss Universe Uruguay 2022 Carla Romero, mourned that Ms De Armas was “too evolved for this world. One of the most beautiful women I have ever met in my life.”

“I will always remember you, not only for all the support you gave me and how much you wanted to see me grow, but for your affection, your joy, the friends we shared and that remain with me today”, Lola de los Santos, Miss Uruguay 2021, said while paying tribute. She also shared a set of pictures and videos to remember Ms De Armas.

The 26-year-old was not in the top 30 at the 2015 Miss World contest organised in China. However, she was “one of the only six 18-year-olds to compete” in the pageant.

In an interview with NetUruguay at that time, she had said. “I always wanted to be a model, whether a beauty model, an advertising model or a catwalk model. I like everything related to fashion and I think that within a beauty pageant, any girl’s dream is to have the opportunity to participate in Miss Universe. I am very happy to be able to live this experience full of challenges.”

She had also launched her make-up line and sold products related to hair and personal care known as Shey de Armas Studio. The model also devoted her time to the Perez Scremini Foundation, which treats children with cancer.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer in women. “In 2018, an estimated 570,000 women were diagnosed with cervical cancer worldwide and about 311,000 women died from the disease. Effective primary (HPV vaccination) and secondary prevention approaches (screening for, and treating precancerous lesions) will prevent most cervical cancer cases,” they said on the website.