The coronavirus pandemic&nbsp;has starkly exposed inequalities worldwide and could set back human development for the first time since 1990, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

It said the crisis had, though, revealed the strength of collective action in the face of a common threat and urged the world to show the same force on climate change.

''The Covid-19 pandemic is unleashing a human development crisis,''&nbsp;the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in a report.

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Other shocks such as the financial crisis of 2007-2009 or the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014-2016 have dealt a blow but did not prevent year-on-year development gains overall, said UNDP head Achim Steiner.

''Covid-19, with its triple hit to health, education, and income, may change this trend,''&nbsp;he added.

Besides deaths from Covid-19, which have now topped 320,000, the crisis could indirectly mean an extra 6,000 children die each day from preventable causes in the next six months, UNDP said.

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Six out of 10 children globally are not getting an education due to school closures, and with deep recessions hitting most economies, the decline in UNDP's human development index would be equivalent to erasing all the progress of the past six years.

The decline is affecting rich and poor nations, but is expected to be far steeper in developing countries that are less able to cope with the pandemic’s social and economic fallout.

''If we fail to bring equity into the policy toolkit, many will fall further behind,''&nbsp;said Pedro Conceição, director of the UNDP office that produces its annual Human Development Report.

''This is particularly important for the 'new necessities'&nbsp;of the 21st century, such as access to the internet, which is helping us to benefit from tele-education, telemedicine, and to work from home,''&nbsp;he added in a statement.

UNDP estimated that 86 per cent of children in primary education are effectively out of school in countries with low development, because they lack the tools for web-based learning, compared with just 20 per cent in the wealthiest nations.

Expanding access to the internet in low- and middle-income countries would cost US$100 billion, about 15 per cent of the income they will lose this year and 1 per cent of the fiscal stimulus the world has committed in response to Covid-19, the report said.

The coronavirus pandemic has starkly exposed inequalities worldwide and could set back human development for the first time since 1990, the United Nations said on Wednesday.

The coronavirus pandemic has starkly exposed inequalities worldwide and could set back human development for the first time since 1990, the United Nations said on Wednesday. It said the crisis had, though, revealed the strength of collective action in the face of a common threat and urged the world to show the same force on climate change. ''The Covid-19 pandemic is unleashing a human development crisis,'' the UN Development Programme (UNDP) said in a report. Also read: US: COVID-19 vaccine produces antibodies in mice, guinea pigs Other shocks such as the financial crisis of 2007-2009 or the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014-2016 have dealt a blow but did not prevent year-on-year development gains overall, said UNDP head Achim Steiner. ''Covid-19, with its triple hit to health, education, and income, may change this trend,'' he added. Besides deaths from Covid-19, which have now topped 320,000, the crisis could indirectly mean an extra 6,000 children die each day from preventable causes in the next six months, UNDP said. Also read: NASA finds evidence of parallel universe where time runs backward Six out of 10 children globally are not getting an education due to school closures, and with deep recessions hitting most economies, the decline in UNDP's human development index would be equivalent to erasing all the progress of the past six years. The decline is affecting rich and poor nations, but is expected to be far steeper in developing countries that are less able to cope with the pandemic’s social and economic fallout. ''If we fail to bring equity into the policy toolkit, many will fall further behind,'' said Pedro Conceição, director of the UNDP office that produces its annual Human Development Report. ''This is particularly important for the 'new necessities' of the 21st century, such as access to the internet, which is helping us to benefit from tele-education, telemedicine, and to work from home,'' he added in a statement. UNDP estimated that 86 per cent of children in primary education are effectively out of school in countries with low development, because they lack the tools for web-based learning, compared with just 20 per cent in the wealthiest nations. Expanding access to the internet in low- and middle-income countries would cost US$100 billion, about 15 per cent of the income they will lose this year and 1 per cent of the fiscal stimulus the world has committed in response to Covid-19, the report said.

Coronavirus pandemic may reverse human development for first time in three decades: UN

An attempt by Estonia and Germany to overcome an impasse between the United States and China at the United Nations Security Council instead appeared on Thursday to have reinforced their stalemate over action on the coronavirus pandemic.

For more than seven weeks the 15-member council has been trying to agree on a text that ultimately aims to back a March 23 call by UN&nbsp;chief Antonio Guterres for a ceasefire in global conflicts so the world can focus on the pandemic.

But talks on a resolution drafted by France and Tunisia have been stymied by a stand-off between China and the United States over whether to urge support for the World Health Organization. The United States does not want a reference to the global health body, while China has insisted it be included.

So on Tuesday, Estonia and Germany circulated a new streamlined draft text to the Security Council that simply focuses on backing Guterres and calling for a 90-day humanitarian truce in conflicts around the world. It does not reference WHO.

“All we want to see is a resolution that states the ceasefire,” US&nbsp;Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft said during a Thursday online conversation with the Institute of Politics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

“It doesn’t matter what country puts forth that resolution. What matters is that it’s streamlined, it speaks about the global ceasefire and making sure that humanitarian aid is reaching those people that are most in need,” she said, signaling support for Estonia and Germany’s draft.

However, a Chinese diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the French and Tunisian draft resolution, which made a veiled reference to the WHO, “still enjoys the overwhelming support from the members and represents the best way forward.”

“There is no possibility for adoption of the German and Estonian draft,” the diplomat said.

Washington has halted funding for the WHO, a UN&nbsp;agency, after President Donald Trump accused it of being “China-centric” and promoting China’s “disinformation” about the outbreak, assertions the WHO denies.

It appeared last week that the Security Council had reached a compromise on the French and Tunisian-drafted resolution. Instead of naming the WHO, the draft referenced “specialized health agencies.” The WHO is the only such agency.

But Washington rejected that language, diplomats said. The Chinese diplomat said Beijing had agreed to the compromise.

While the Security Council - charged with maintaining international peace and security - cannot do much to deal with the coronavirus itself, diplomats and analysts say it can project global unity by backing Guterres’ ceasefire call.

An attempt by Estonia and Germany to overcome an impasse between the United States and China at the United Nations Security Council instead appeared on Thursday to have reinforced their stalemate over action on the coronavirus pandemic.

An attempt by Estonia and Germany to overcome an impasse between the United States and China at the United Nations Security Council instead appeared on Thursday to have reinforced their stalemate over action on the coronavirus pandemic. For more than seven weeks the 15-member council has been trying to agree on a text that ultimately aims to back a March 23 call by UN chief Antonio Guterres for a ceasefire in global conflicts so the world can focus on the pandemic. But talks on a resolution drafted by France and Tunisia have been stymied by a stand-off between China and the United States over whether to urge support for the World Health Organization. The United States does not want a reference to the global health body, while China has insisted it be included. So on Tuesday, Estonia and Germany circulated a new streamlined draft text to the Security Council that simply focuses on backing Guterres and calling for a 90-day humanitarian truce in conflicts around the world. It does not reference WHO. “All we want to see is a resolution that states the ceasefire,” US Ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft said during a Thursday online conversation with the Institute of Politics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “It doesn’t matter what country puts forth that resolution. What matters is that it’s streamlined, it speaks about the global ceasefire and making sure that humanitarian aid is reaching those people that are most in need,” she said, signaling support for Estonia and Germany’s draft. However, a Chinese diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the French and Tunisian draft resolution, which made a veiled reference to the WHO, “still enjoys the overwhelming support from the members and represents the best way forward.” “There is no possibility for adoption of the German and Estonian draft,” the diplomat said. Washington has halted funding for the WHO, a UN agency, after President Donald Trump accused it of being “China-centric” and promoting China’s “disinformation” about the outbreak, assertions the WHO denies. It appeared last week that the Security Council had reached a compromise on the French and Tunisian-drafted resolution. Instead of naming the WHO, the draft referenced “specialized health agencies.” The WHO is the only such agency. But Washington rejected that language, diplomats said. The Chinese diplomat said Beijing had agreed to the compromise. While the Security Council - charged with maintaining international peace and security - cannot do much to deal with the coronavirus itself, diplomats and analysts say it can project global unity by backing Guterres’ ceasefire call.

US-China deadlock over United Nations coronavirus action deepens

World leaders are "unlikely" to participate in the annual UN general assembly that will be held in New York in September due to coronavirus pandemic, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.&nbsp;

With an interview with a French magazine,&nbsp;UN chief said that he has been looking at "various alternatives" possible due to digital technology and he will present it to the member states.&nbsp;

According to many UN envoys, the meeting is most likely to be held by a videoconference. This year will also mark the 75th anniversary for the United Nations.&nbsp;

One of the anonymous ambassadors told the AFP that this year "the procedures are certainly going to be atypical, hybrid, different" and "much lighter in terms of a physical presence."

The ambassador also said that he does not understand how the United Nations will manage such an "enormous" mass gathering in New York.&nbsp;

New York has been the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States since mid-March. UN employees and diplomats have worked from home.&nbsp;

Despite the UN headquarters is open to all but very few people are working there and the Security Council and the General Assembly meet via videoconferencing. These working conditions are predicted to stay at least till June end.&nbsp;

The annual General Assembly is scheduled to begin on September 15 and the world leaders will begin their respective speeches on September 22.&nbsp;

It is the largest annual diplomatic gathering in the world and it features events on the sidelines of New York, as well as thousands of bilateral and multilateral meetings.

The meeting has never been cancelled since 1945, but it has been delayed. It has been delayed twice, once during the 1964 financial crisis within the organization and because several members were facing the loss of their voting rights. The second time when it got delayed was during the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York.&nbsp;

World leaders are "unlikely" to participate in the annual UN general assembly that will be held in New York in September due to coronavirus pandemic, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said.

World leaders are "unlikely" to participate in the annual UN general assembly that will be held in New York in September due to coronavirus pandemic, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. With an interview with a French magazine, UN chief said that he has been looking at "various alternatives" possible due to digital technology and he will present it to the member states. According to many UN envoys, the meeting is most likely to be held by a videoconference. This year will also mark the 75th anniversary for the United Nations. One of the anonymous ambassadors told the AFP that this year "the procedures are certainly going to be atypical, hybrid, different" and "much lighter in terms of a physical presence." The ambassador also said that he does not understand how the United Nations will manage such an "enormous" mass gathering in New York. New York has been the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in the United States since mid-March. UN employees and diplomats have worked from home. Despite the UN headquarters is open to all but very few people are working there and the Security Council and the General Assembly meet via videoconferencing. These working conditions are predicted to stay at least till June end. The annual General Assembly is scheduled to begin on September 15 and the world leaders will begin their respective speeches on September 22. It is the largest annual diplomatic gathering in the world and it features events on the sidelines of New York, as well as thousands of bilateral and multilateral meetings. The meeting has never been cancelled since 1945, but it has been delayed. It has been delayed twice, once during the 1964 financial crisis within the organization and because several members were facing the loss of their voting rights. The second time when it got delayed was during the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York.

World leaders 'unlikely' to meet at UN General Assembly in September: Antonio Guterres

The coronavirus pandemic requires an unprecedented global response, and reducing the funding of the World Health Organization (WHO), is untimely, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a Russian news agency.

The coronavirus pandemic requires an unprecedented global response, and reducing the funding of the World Health Organization (WHO), is untimely, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told a Russian news agency. Guterres' remark comes at the backdrop US President Donald Trump`s decision to cut the funding to the health organisation over negligence, claiming that the UN health agency had impeded the global response to the pandemic. "Once we have finally turned the page on COVID-19, there will be time to look back fully and understand how such a disease emerged and spread its devastation so quickly across the globe, and how all those involved reacted to the crisis. The lessons learned will be essential to address similar challenges effectively, as they may arise in the future," Guterres said. UN chief further said that "now is not that time. Nor is it the time to reduce the resources for the operations of the WHO or any other humanitarian organization in the fight against the virus." He described the coronavirus pandemic as "unprecedented in our lifetime" and therefore requiring an "unprecedented response." "The World Health Organization is leading our response to the pandemic by supporting countries to prepare and to address the virus, with special attention to the most vulnerable countries," the UN chief said. (With inputs from ANI)

Reducing funding of WHO is untimely, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

The rise in domestic violence amid lockdown due to COVID-19 has been reported in different countries. United Nations' Secretary General Antonio Guterres urged all the nations across the globe to end gender violence rises amid the lockdown due to COVID-19 outbreak.

Surge in domestic violence cases during coronavirus crisis

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will help launch a global initiative on Friday to accelerate work to fight COVID-19, the World Health Organization said, but the United States said it will not take part.

The WHO said late on Thursday it would to announce a "landmark collaboration" on Friday to speed development of safe, effective drugs, tests and vaccines to prevent, diagnose and treat COVID-19.

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WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told a UN&nbsp;briefing on Friday that Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would take part in the 1300 GMT announcement, led by WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

British foreign minister Dominic Raab and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres were also to take part, diplomatic sources told Reuters.

"Today is a kind of political commitment from all these partners to make sure that when we have all these new tools no one is left behind, that those who can afford vaccines or therapeutics can buy them and (put) them at the disposal of the population," Chaib said.

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"It is very important to make sure that you have equitable access to quality, efficient, new tools for COVID-19," she said.

A spokesman for the US mission in Geneva told Reuters the United States would not take part.

"There will be no US official participation", he said in an email reply to a query. "We look forward to learning more about this initiative in support of international cooperation to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 as soon as possible."

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US&nbsp;President Donald Trump has lambasted the WHO as being slow to react to the outbreak and being "China-centric" and announced a suspension of funding.

Asked to confirm whether the United States was going to be participating at the meeting, a WHO source said: "No, but almost everyone else is."

Vaccine trials

More than 2.7 million people have been infected with the disease, which has claimed nearly 190,000 lives since emerging in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, according to a Reuters tally.

More than 100 potential COVID-19 vaccines are being developed, including six already in clinical trials, said Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of the GAVI vaccine alliance, a public-private partnership that leads immunisation campaigns in poor countries.

"We need to ensure that there are enough vaccines for everyone, we are going to need global leadership to identify and prioritise vaccine candidates," he told a separate Geneva news briefing before taking part in the formal WHO announcement.

Global manufacturing capacity must be ramped up ahead of choosing "a winner" vaccine, Berkley said, noting that GAVI and the World Bank were looking at the issue.

"We can't have a repeat of what happened in 2009, the H1N1 vaccine, when there was not enough supply for developing countries or when supply did come it came much later," he said.

Another important questions was how well a vaccine would work in people most at risk from COVID-19, Berkley said.

"How well do they work in the elderly, are they single or multiple dose etc?" he said, noting that older people had weaker immune systems.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will help launch a global initiative on Friday to accelerate work to fight COVID-19, the World Health Organization said, but the United States said it will not take part.

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will help launch a global initiative on Friday to accelerate work to fight COVID-19, the World Health Organization said, but the United States said it will not take part. The WHO said late on Thursday it would to announce a "landmark collaboration" on Friday to speed development of safe, effective drugs, tests and vaccines to prevent, diagnose and treat COVID-19. Also read: 2.7 million in New York may have coronavirus, survey suggests WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told a UN briefing on Friday that Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen would take part in the 1300 GMT announcement, led by WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. British foreign minister Dominic Raab and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres were also to take part, diplomatic sources told Reuters. "Today is a kind of political commitment from all these partners to make sure that when we have all these new tools no one is left behind, that those who can afford vaccines or therapeutics can buy them and (put) them at the disposal of the population," Chaib said. Also read: 'Fake' meat gains popularity as China recovers from coronavirus pandemic "It is very important to make sure that you have equitable access to quality, efficient, new tools for COVID-19," she said. A spokesman for the US mission in Geneva told Reuters the United States would not take part. "There will be no US official participation", he said in an email reply to a query. "We look forward to learning more about this initiative in support of international cooperation to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 as soon as possible." Also read: Nicotine to help fight coronavirus? French authorities limit sale of product US President Donald Trump has lambasted the WHO as being slow to react to the outbreak and being "China-centric" and announced a suspension of funding. Asked to confirm whether the United States was going to be participating at the meeting, a WHO source said: "No, but almost everyone else is." Vaccine trials More than 2.7 million people have been infected with the disease, which has claimed nearly 190,000 lives since emerging in the central Chinese city of Wuhan late last year, according to a Reuters tally. More than 100 potential COVID-19 vaccines are being developed, including six already in clinical trials, said Dr. Seth Berkley, CEO of the GAVI vaccine alliance, a public-private partnership that leads immunisation campaigns in poor countries. "We need to ensure that there are enough vaccines for everyone, we are going to need global leadership to identify and prioritise vaccine candidates," he told a separate Geneva news briefing before taking part in the formal WHO announcement. Global manufacturing capacity must be ramped up ahead of choosing "a winner" vaccine, Berkley said, noting that GAVI and the World Bank were looking at the issue. "We can't have a repeat of what happened in 2009, the H1N1 vaccine, when there was not enough supply for developing countries or when supply did come it came much later," he said. Another important questions was how well a vaccine would work in people most at risk from COVID-19, Berkley said. "How well do they work in the elderly, are they single or multiple dose etc?" he said, noting that older people had weaker immune systems.

World leaders to launch WHO COVID-19 plan, but US won't take part

United Nations' Secretary General Antonio Guterres urges all the nations across the globe to end gender violence rises amid the lockdown due to COVID-19 outbreak.

U.N Secretary General urge nations to end domestic violence rises amid lockdown

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres requested countries across the world to lay down their weapons in support of the bigger battle against COVID-19. He called for an immediate global ceasefire in all corners of the world. He said, "It is time to put the armed conflict on lockdown and focus together on the true fight of our lives.”

UN Chief calls for Global ceasefire amid coronavirus outbreak: Focus on true fight of lives

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called women's inequality "stupid" and a cause for global shame. He pledged to press governments to end discriminatory laws in the face of a "strong and relentless pushback" against women's rights.

UN Chief Slams Gender Inequality

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres on Friday made an impassioned call for ending the ongoing conflict in Syria.

''This man-made humanitarian nightmare for the long-suffering Syrian people must stop. It must stop now," he said but did not offer any specific plan for curbing the bloodshed in the final rebel holdout.

"The message is clear: There is no military solution for the Syrian crisis. The only possible solution remains political."

Guterres recalled that he had repeatedly called for an "immediate ceasefire" in Idlib, and urged all parties to avoid any escalation in the fighting.

"It is crucial to break the vicious circle of violence and suffering," he said.

The latest offensive in the regions of Aleppo and Idlib has uprooted nearly 1 million people - most of them are women and children.&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP)&nbsp;

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres on Friday made an impassioned call for ending the ongoing conflict in Syria. ''This man-made humanitarian nightmare for the long-suffering Syrian people must stop.

The United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres on Friday made an impassioned call for ending the ongoing conflict in Syria. ''This man-made humanitarian nightmare for the long-suffering Syrian people must stop. It must stop now," he said but did not offer any specific plan for curbing the bloodshed in the final rebel holdout. "The message is clear: There is no military solution for the Syrian crisis. The only possible solution remains political." Guterres recalled that he had repeatedly called for an "immediate ceasefire" in Idlib, and urged all parties to avoid any escalation in the fighting. "It is crucial to break the vicious circle of violence and suffering," he said. The latest offensive in the regions of Aleppo and Idlib has uprooted nearly 1 million people - most of them are women and children. (With inputs from AFP)

UN secretary-general calls for an end to 'humanitarian nightmare' in Syria 

In Pakistan, UN Chief Antonio Guterres praised Pakistan for hosting Afghan refugees. Did the Secretary General ignore Islamabad's role in backing terrorists in Afghanistan? Wion's palki gets you a report.

Gravitas: UN Chief lauds Pakistan's 'generosity'

In Pakistan, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres made an offer to mediate a peace agreement between India and Pakistan. From another corner of the world, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had a message for Guterres.

Gravitas: India rebuffs UN Chief on Kashmir

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has arrived in Pakistan for a three-day visit.&nbsp;

Guterres was received by Munir Akram who is Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations at the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi.

This is the first visit by a UN chief to Pakistan since 2014 though Guterres had earlier visited the country when he was the UN high commissioner for refugees.

During his visit, Guterres will call on President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan. The chief will also hold a meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi.

He will also be speaking at an international conference called '40 years of hosting Afghan refugees in Pakistan.'

Several US officials will also be attending the event.

The UN&nbsp;chief's other engagements include meeting with the youth and participating in an event on Pakistan's polio vaccination campaign.

Guterres will also be visiting Lahore from where he will leave for the Kartappur sahib corridor.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has arrived in Pakistan for a three-day visit. Guterres was received by Munir Akram who is Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations at the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has arrived in Pakistan for a three-day visit. Guterres was received by Munir Akram who is Pakistan's permanent representative to the United Nations at the Nur Khan airbase in Rawalpindi. This is the first visit by a UN chief to Pakistan since 2014 though Guterres had earlier visited the country when he was the UN high commissioner for refugees. During his visit, Guterres will call on President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan. The chief will also hold a meeting with Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi. He will also be speaking at an international conference called '40 years of hosting Afghan refugees in Pakistan.' Several US officials will also be attending the event. The UN chief's other engagements include meeting with the youth and participating in an event on Pakistan's polio vaccination campaign. Guterres will also be visiting Lahore from where he will leave for the Kartappur sahib corridor.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres arrives in Pakistan for three-day visit

Antonio Guterres, the secretary-general of the United Nations, arrived in Islamabad on Sunday for a four-day visit to the nation.

UN Chief Guterres calls for Indo-Pak dialogue

Afghan boys sell fresh fruit on carts, signs are written in Dari or Pashto, and restaurants in the bustling bazaar sell Afghan dishes such as Kabuli pulao.

But this "mini Kabul" is in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-plans-talks-with-afghanistan-un-over-return-of-afghan-refugees-1517">Pakistan</a>, which this week marks 40 years of hosting Afghan refugees.

It is a grim milestone for entire generations of families who fled war to create a life in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/latest-south-asia-news-united-nations-general-secretary-antonio-guterres-will-visit-pakistan-on-sunday-280009">Pakistan</a>, but still face an uncertain future and no clear path to citizenship.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/latest-south-asia-news-united-nations-general-secretary-antonio-guterres-will-visit-pakistan-on-sunday-280009">UN general secretary Antonio Guterres to visit Pakistan</a>

"We spent an entire life here," says Niaz Mohammed, a 50-year-old labourer from Afghanistan's Nangarhar province who fled to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/latest-south-asia-news-united-nations-general-secretary-antonio-guterres-will-visit-pakistan-on-sunday-280009">Pakistan </a>in the 1980s.

"We had weddings and marriages here, our kids were born here ... We have jobs and work here, while there's no peace in Afghanistan. That's why we are happy here."

On Sunday <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/latest-south-asia-news-united-nations-general-secretary-antonio-guterres-will-visit-pakistan-on-sunday-280009">UN Secretary General</a> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/latest-south-asia-news-united-nations-general-secretary-antonio-guterres-will-visit-pakistan-on-sunday-280009">Antonio Guterres</a> will arrive in Islamabad for a conference the United Nations says will "send a global reminder about the fate of millions of Afghans living as refugees".

"The main challenge right now is to continue to provide support to Pakistan in hosting them ... and also give access to skills and education for the young Afghan population here," Indrika Ratwatte, Asia director of the UN refugee agency UNHCR, told AFP on Friday.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-plans-talks-with-afghanistan-un-over-return-of-afghan-refugees-1517">Pakistan plans talks with Afghanistan, UN over return of Afghan refugees</a>

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-plans-talks-with-afghanistan-un-over-return-of-afghan-refugees-1517">Pakistan </a>is one of the largest refugee-hosting nations in the world, home to an estimated 2.4 million registered and undocumented people who have fled Afghanistan, some as far back as the Soviet invasion of 1979.

Many live in camps, while others have built lives for themselves in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-plans-talks-with-afghanistan-un-over-return-of-afghan-refugees-1517">Pakistan</a>'s cities, paying rent and contributing to the economy.

"Mini Kabul", the bustling Refugee Market in the northwestern city of Peshawar is home to some 5,000 shops -- all run by Afghan refugees.

But their status has always been temporary, with deadlines set for them to leave Pakistan repeatedly pushed back as the conflict in Afghanistan worsens.

Many Pakistanis view them with suspicion, accusing them of spurring militancy and criminality, and calling for them to be sent home.

Even those who have spent decades in the country cannot own property or obtain identity cards, and were only recently allowed to open bank accounts.

Shortly after he came to power, Prime Minister Imran Khan vowed to grant them citizenship but the controversial promise sparked outrage, and has not been spoken of since.

Afghan boys sell fresh fruit on carts, signs are written in Dari or Pashto, and restaurants in the bustling bazaar sell Afghan dishes such as Kabuli pulao. But this "mini Kabul" is in Pakistan, which this week marks 40 years of hosting Afghan refugees.

Afghan boys sell fresh fruit on carts, signs are written in Dari or Pashto, and restaurants in the bustling bazaar sell Afghan dishes such as Kabuli pulao. But this "mini Kabul" is in Pakistan, which this week marks 40 years of hosting Afghan refugees. It is a grim milestone for entire generations of families who fled war to create a life in Pakistan, but still face an uncertain future and no clear path to citizenship. Also read: UN general secretary Antonio Guterres to visit Pakistan "We spent an entire life here," says Niaz Mohammed, a 50-year-old labourer from Afghanistan's Nangarhar province who fled to Pakistan in the 1980s. "We had weddings and marriages here, our kids were born here ... We have jobs and work here, while there's no peace in Afghanistan. That's why we are happy here." On Sunday UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will arrive in Islamabad for a conference the United Nations says will "send a global reminder about the fate of millions of Afghans living as refugees". "The main challenge right now is to continue to provide support to Pakistan in hosting them ... and also give access to skills and education for the young Afghan population here," Indrika Ratwatte, Asia director of the UN refugee agency UNHCR, told AFP on Friday. Also read: Pakistan plans talks with Afghanistan, UN over return of Afghan refugees Pakistan is one of the largest refugee-hosting nations in the world, home to an estimated 2.4 million registered and undocumented people who have fled Afghanistan, some as far back as the Soviet invasion of 1979. Many live in camps, while others have built lives for themselves in Pakistan's cities, paying rent and contributing to the economy. "Mini Kabul", the bustling Refugee Market in the northwestern city of Peshawar is home to some 5,000 shops -- all run by Afghan refugees. But their status has always been temporary, with deadlines set for them to leave Pakistan repeatedly pushed back as the conflict in Afghanistan worsens. Many Pakistanis view them with suspicion, accusing them of spurring militancy and criminality, and calling for them to be sent home. Even those who have spent decades in the country cannot own property or obtain identity cards, and were only recently allowed to open bank accounts. Shortly after he came to power, Prime Minister Imran Khan vowed to grant them citizenship but the controversial promise sparked outrage, and has not been spoken of since.

In 'mini Kabul', Afghan refugees mark 40 years in Pakistan

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-rights-recommendations-to-be-taken-seriously-maduro-229391">United Nations</a> general secretary <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/world-cannot-afford-another-gulf-war-says-un-chief-after-us-kills-iran-general-271986">Antonio Guterres</a> will visit Pakistan on Sunday.

The UN&nbsp;chief will hold talks with the Pakistani Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/dialogue-between-india-pakistan-is-an-essential-element-united-nations-secretary-general-antonio-guterres-250473">Imran Khan </a>as well as foreign minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/dialogue-between-india-pakistan-is-an-essential-element-united-nations-secretary-general-antonio-guterres-250473">Shah Mehmood Qureshi</a> and President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/dialogue-between-india-pakistan-is-an-essential-element-united-nations-secretary-general-antonio-guterres-250473">Arif Alvi</a>.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/dialogue-between-india-pakistan-is-an-essential-element-united-nations-secretary-general-antonio-guterres-250473">Dialogue between India, Pakistan essential element: UN&nbsp;Secretary-General António Guterres</a>

His talks will mostly revolve around climate and development issues.&nbsp;The two-day conference will be inaugurated by Prime Minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/dialogue-between-india-pakistan-is-an-essential-element-united-nations-secretary-general-antonio-guterres-250473">Imran Khan</a>.

On Monday, Guterres will attend a conference on Afghan refugees in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/dialogue-between-india-pakistan-is-an-essential-element-united-nations-secretary-general-antonio-guterres-250473">Pakistan</a>.&nbsp;On Tuesday, Guterres will visit the holy Sikh shrine of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistani-cleric-threatens-sikh-pilgrims-from-visiting-kartarpur-gurdwara-265922">Kartarpur Sahib</a>.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistani-cleric-threatens-sikh-pilgrims-from-visiting-kartarpur-gurdwara-265922">Pakistani cleric threatens Sikh pilgrims from visiting Kartarpur Gurdwara</a>

Kartarpur was a major peace initiative between Pakistan and India.&nbsp;When the peace corridor was opened by both sides, Guterres had welcomed the move calling it a move aimed at inter-faith harmony.

Guterres will be joined by 14-member delegation and&nbsp;the attention of the entire&nbsp;world's media will be on him.&nbsp;Reports indicate that Islamabad will try to internationalise Kashmir once again during Guterres' visit something the world body has refused to do multiple times.

The United Nations general secretary Antonio Guterres will visit Pakistan on Sunday. The UN chief will hold talks with the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan as well as foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and President Arif Alvi.

The United Nations general secretary Antonio Guterres will visit Pakistan on Sunday. The UN chief will hold talks with the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan as well as foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and President Arif Alvi. Also read: Dialogue between India, Pakistan essential element: UN Secretary-General António Guterres His talks will mostly revolve around climate and development issues. The two-day conference will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Imran Khan. On Monday, Guterres will attend a conference on Afghan refugees in Pakistan. On Tuesday, Guterres will visit the holy Sikh shrine of Kartarpur Sahib. Also read: Pakistani cleric threatens Sikh pilgrims from visiting Kartarpur Gurdwara Kartarpur was a major peace initiative between Pakistan and India. When the peace corridor was opened by both sides, Guterres had welcomed the move calling it a move aimed at inter-faith harmony. Guterres will be joined by 14-member delegation and the attention of the entire world's media will be on him. Reports indicate that Islamabad will try to internationalise Kashmir once again during Guterres' visit something the world body has refused to do multiple times.

UN general secretary Antonio Guterres to visit Pakistan; set to visit Kartarpur

The United Nations has thanked India for the timely payment of its regular budget assessment dues. India is the fourth nations for doing so, paying its dues ahead of the February 1, 2020 deadline.&nbsp;

India paid $23,396,496 in total to the United Nations on January 10. Armenia, Portugal and Ukraine were the three countries ahead of India in paying their dues on time.&nbsp;

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin tweeted on the same saying &nbsp;"Very few have already made it..."

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Very few have already made it... 
Hope many, many more make it... 
 
Check out which <a href="https://twitter.com/UN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UN</a> members r on <a href="https://twitter.com/UN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UN</a> 2020 Honor Roll already.<a href="https://t.co/9puqL8Zlrd">https://t.co/9puqL8Zlrd</a> <a href="https://t.co/HLFhI34kFN">pic.twitter.com/HLFhI34kFN</a>
— Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/AkbaruddinIndia/status/1215826742499315712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 11, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"Very few have already made it... Hope many, many more make it... Check out which @UN members r &nbsp;on @UN 2020 Honor Roll already," Akbaruddin's tweet read.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-among-34-un-nations-to-pay-regular-annual-dues-within-stipulated-time-254631">India among 34 UN&nbsp;nations to pay regular annual dues within stipulated time</a>

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In October 2019, the United Nations shared a document which showed India among 34 nations that paid their regular annual dues within the stipulated time of 30 days.&nbsp;

Out of 129, only 34 members paid their regular budget assessments in full within the 30-day due period specified in the UN's Financial Regulation.

The UN's operating budget for 2018-2019 was close to $5.4 billion which didn't include the money for peacekeeping operations. India's contribution was $23,253,808 last year.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke about the United Nation's worst deficit in nearly a decade last year.&nbsp;

"The organisation runs the risk of depleting its liquidity reserves by the end of the month and defaulting on payments to staff and vendors," an official statement read.&nbsp;

The United Nations has thanked India for the timely payment of its regular budget assessment dues. India is the fourth nations for doing so, paying its dues ahead of the February 1, 2020 deadline.

The United Nations has thanked India for the timely payment of its regular budget assessment dues. India is the fourth nations for doing so, paying its dues ahead of the February 1, 2020 deadline. India paid $23,396,496 in total to the United Nations on January 10. Armenia, Portugal and Ukraine were the three countries ahead of India in paying their dues on time. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin tweeted on the same saying "Very few have already made it..." Very few have already made it... Hope many, many more make it... Check out which @UN members r on @UN 2020 Honor Roll already.https://t.co/9puqL8Zlrd pic.twitter.com/HLFhI34kFN — Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) January 11, 2020 × "Very few have already made it... Hope many, many more make it... Check out which @UN members r on @UN 2020 Honor Roll already," Akbaruddin's tweet read. Also read: India among 34 UN nations to pay regular annual dues within stipulated time × In October 2019, the United Nations shared a document which showed India among 34 nations that paid their regular annual dues within the stipulated time of 30 days. Out of 129, only 34 members paid their regular budget assessments in full within the 30-day due period specified in the UN's Financial Regulation. The UN's operating budget for 2018-2019 was close to $5.4 billion which didn't include the money for peacekeeping operations. India's contribution was $23,253,808 last year. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres spoke about the United Nation's worst deficit in nearly a decade last year. "The organisation runs the risk of depleting its liquidity reserves by the end of the month and defaulting on payments to staff and vendors," an official statement read.

India becomes fourth nation to pay UN dues on time, world body thanks New Delhi

In less than a month after President Putin said "nobody knows what causes climate change", the Russian government admitted that climate change has had a "prominent and increasing effect" on people's lives.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nobody-knows-origins-of-global-climate-change-putin-in-annual-press-conference-269149">Also Read:&nbsp;Nobody knows origins of global climate change, says&nbsp;Putin</a>

The Russian government now aims to "use the advantages" of warmer temperatures.

The document which was published in&nbsp;Russia's government website informs that climate change leads to increased risks to health and also increases the prospect of natural disasters while pushing animals from their natural habitat.

According to the report, the government planned to lower the losses of climate change with measures which included building dams and encouraging the use of drought-resistant crops.

Last month, Russian President Putin while addressing his year-end press conference had said: "Nobody knows the origins of global climate change," adding, "we know that in the history of our Earth there have been periods of warming and cooling and it could depend on processes in the universe."

"A small angle in the axis in the rotation of the Earth or its orbit around the Sun could push the planet into serious climate changes," Putin told 1,800 journalists gathered at the Moscow press conference.

Putin, however, added that the country "must undertake maximum efforts to ensure that the climate does not change dramatically."

"For our country, this process is very serious," he said. "We will undertake efforts to minimise the consequences for our country," Putin asserted.

Putin has repeatedly said climate change was due to man-made emissions while denying several scientific data.

Russia had adopted the Paris climate accord in September last year even as the US pulled out.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had said last month that he was disappointed with the results of COP25, calling it a "lost opportunity".

In less than a month after President Putin said "nobody knows what causes climate change", the Russian government admitted that climate change has had a "prominent and increasing effect" on people's lives.

In less than a month after President Putin said "nobody knows what causes climate change", the Russian government admitted that climate change has had a "prominent and increasing effect" on people's lives. Also Read: Nobody knows origins of global climate change, says Putin The Russian government now aims to "use the advantages" of warmer temperatures. The document which was published in Russia's government website informs that climate change leads to increased risks to health and also increases the prospect of natural disasters while pushing animals from their natural habitat. According to the report, the government planned to lower the losses of climate change with measures which included building dams and encouraging the use of drought-resistant crops. Last month, Russian President Putin while addressing his year-end press conference had said: "Nobody knows the origins of global climate change," adding, "we know that in the history of our Earth there have been periods of warming and cooling and it could depend on processes in the universe." "A small angle in the axis in the rotation of the Earth or its orbit around the Sun could push the planet into serious climate changes," Putin told 1,800 journalists gathered at the Moscow press conference. Putin, however, added that the country "must undertake maximum efforts to ensure that the climate does not change dramatically." "For our country, this process is very serious," he said. "We will undertake efforts to minimise the consequences for our country," Putin asserted. Putin has repeatedly said climate change was due to man-made emissions while denying several scientific data. Russia had adopted the Paris climate accord in September last year even as the US pulled out. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had said last month that he was disappointed with the results of COP25, calling it a "lost opportunity".

Now, Russia unveils new climate plan

UN&nbsp;Secretary-General <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/migration-is-a-solution-to-global-problems-antonio-guterres-3196">Antonio Guterres </a>has repeatedly expressed concern to Washington over&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/us-visa-cut-for-pakistan-citizens-reduced-from-five-years-to-three-months-report-201472">US&nbsp;visa&nbsp;</a>delays&nbsp;for officials from&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;and other countries, a&nbsp;UN&nbsp;spokesman said on Thursday after Moscow accused Guterres of turning a blind eye.

Moscow says Washington has deliberately delayed issuing&nbsp;visas to&nbsp;Russian officials traveling to the&nbsp;UN&nbsp;headquarters in New York, a move&nbsp;Russia&nbsp;has said could further damage strained relations.

The&nbsp;Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday accused Guterres of ignoring the&nbsp;US&nbsp;visa&nbsp;delays.

"For many months, the Secretary-General and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-rights-recommendations-to-be-taken-seriously-maduro-229391">United Nations</a> Legal Counsel have repeatedly conveyed their concerns and the legal position of the Organization to senior representatives of the host country,"&nbsp;UN&nbsp;spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Dujarric said Guterres and his team continued to follow the matter closely.

The latest report from the&nbsp;UN&nbsp;Committee on relations with the United States as a host of&nbsp;UN&nbsp;headquarters in New York noted that other countries including China, North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Cuba had also complained about&nbsp;US&nbsp;visa&nbsp;delays.

According to the report, the United States said it takes its responsibilities as&nbsp;UN&nbsp;host country seriously but added that Washington "reserved the right to exclude individuals in certain limited cases where there was clear and convincing evidence that the individual was traveling to the host country primarily for purposes that were outside the scope of United Nations business and were prejudicial to the host country's national security."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly expressed concern to Washington over US visa delays for officials from Russia and other countries, a UN spokesman said on Thursday after Moscow accused Guterres of turning a blind eye.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly expressed concern to Washington over US visa delays for officials from Russia and other countries, a UN spokesman said on Thursday after Moscow accused Guterres of turning a blind eye. Moscow says Washington has deliberately delayed issuing visas to Russian officials traveling to the UN headquarters in New York, a move Russia has said could further damage strained relations. The Russian Foreign Ministry on Wednesday accused Guterres of ignoring the US visa delays. "For many months, the Secretary-General and the United Nations Legal Counsel have repeatedly conveyed their concerns and the legal position of the Organization to senior representatives of the host country," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. Dujarric said Guterres and his team continued to follow the matter closely. The latest report from the UN Committee on relations with the United States as a host of UN headquarters in New York noted that other countries including China, North Korea, Iran, Syria, and Cuba had also complained about US visa delays. According to the report, the United States said it takes its responsibilities as UN host country seriously but added that Washington "reserved the right to exclude individuals in certain limited cases where there was clear and convincing evidence that the individual was traveling to the host country primarily for purposes that were outside the scope of United Nations business and were prejudicial to the host country's national security."

United Nations rebuffs Russia accusation that United States visa delays being ignored

A major <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/cop25-meet-hammers-through-contested-climate-deal-268380">climate summit wrapped up in Madrid</a> on Sunday with a compromise deal that left little to show, prompting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to lament a "lost opportunity" to act.

Almost a fortnight of COP25 talks just squeezed out hard-earned compromises from countries over a global warming battle plan that fell well short of what science says is needed to tackle the climate crisis.

"I am disappointed with the results of COP25," Guterres said. "The international community lost an important opportunity to show increased ambition on mitigation, adaptation and finance to tackle the climate crisis."

The summit's final declaration "expresses the urgent need" for new carbon cutting commitments to close the gap between current emissions and the Paris treaty goal of capping temperature at below two degrees, host country Spain said.

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"Today, the citizens of the world are asking for us to move ahead faster and better," Carolina Schmidt, Chilean environment minister and President of COP25, told the closing plenary.

But Tina Eonemto Stege, climate envoy for the Marshall Islands, denounced the response as inadequate for facing an existential threat of rising sea levels.

"Unfortunately, the new text we adopted this morning does not reflect anything near what we would have wanted. It is the bare minimum and we regret that countries could not agree on a more ambitious text," Stege said.

Green youth activist Greta Thunberg -- named 2019 Person of the Year by Time magazine -- on Friday slammed world leaders for "still trying to run away from their responsibilities" while demanding a "year of action" in 2020.&nbsp;

Following a year of deadly extreme weather and weekly protests by millions of young people, Madrid negotiators were under pressure to send a clear signal that governments were willing to double down.

The summit -- moved at the last minute from Chile due to unrest -- at times teetered on the brink of collapse as rich polluters, emerging powerhouses and climate-vulnerable nations groped for common ground in the face of competing national interests.

"Based on the adopted text, there is a glimmer of hope that the heart of the Paris Agreement is still beating," Mohamed Adow, Director of Power Shift, said.&nbsp;

"But its pulse is very weak." &nbsp;

Negotiators from nearly 200 nations came to Spain's capital with the aim of finalising the rulebook for the 2015 Paris accord, which enjoins nations to limit global temperature to below two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit).

'Missing in action'

With the accord set to become operational next year, it had been hoped COP 25 would show the world that governments would be moved by protests, irrefutable science, and deadly storms and wildfires that marked 2019 to redouble their efforts.

But greater ambition -- how far each country is willing to slash carbon emissions or assist less wealthy peers to do likewise -- has largely failed to materialise, leaving some veteran observers aghast.

"Never have I seen such a disconnect between what the science requires and what the climate negotiations are delivering in terms of meaningful action," said Alden Meyer, director of strategy and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists and a 28-year veteran of the climate process.

"Most of the world's biggest emitting countries are missing in action and resisting calls to raise their ambition."

The push for &nbsp;strengthening &nbsp;voluntary carbon cutting plans is led by small-island and least-developed states, along with the European Union.

These have called out nations they see as blocking consensus -- notably the United States, Australia and Saudi Arabia.

China and India, the world's No. 1 and No. 4 carbon emitters, made it clear they see no need to improve on their current emissions reduction plans, which run to 2030.

These emerging giants chose instead to emphasise the historical responsibility of rich nations to lead the way and provide financing to poor countries.&nbsp;

"Major players who needed to deliver in Madrid did not live up to expectations," said Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation and, as France's top negotiator, a main architect of the Paris Agreement.

"But thanks to a progressive alliance of small island states, European, African and Latin American countries, we obtained the best possible outcome, against the will of big polluters."

'Loss and damage'

The summit was also meant to finalise a chapter on carbon markets in the Paris rulebook.

Instead, the focus now switches to next year's COP 26 in Glasgow, when the true Paris deadline falls.

The US, which is leaving the Paris deal next year, was accused of playing spoiler on a number of issues. &nbsp;

This included so-called "loss and damage" funding to help disaster-hit countries repair and rebuild.&nbsp;

"The US has not come here in good faith," said Harjeet Singh, climate lead with charity ActionAid.&nbsp;

"They continue to block the world's efforts to help people whose lives have been turned upside down by climate change."

Even if all countries implement their current plans under Paris, Earth is on course to warm more than 3C by 2100.

A major climate summit wrapped up in Madrid on Sunday with a compromise deal that left little to show, prompting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to lament a "lost opportunity" to act.

A major climate summit wrapped up in Madrid on Sunday with a compromise deal that left little to show, prompting UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to lament a "lost opportunity" to act. Almost a fortnight of COP25 talks just squeezed out hard-earned compromises from countries over a global warming battle plan that fell well short of what science says is needed to tackle the climate crisis. "I am disappointed with the results of COP25," Guterres said. "The international community lost an important opportunity to show increased ambition on mitigation, adaptation and finance to tackle the climate crisis." The summit's final declaration "expresses the urgent need" for new carbon cutting commitments to close the gap between current emissions and the Paris treaty goal of capping temperature at below two degrees, host country Spain said. × "Today, the citizens of the world are asking for us to move ahead faster and better," Carolina Schmidt, Chilean environment minister and President of COP25, told the closing plenary. But Tina Eonemto Stege, climate envoy for the Marshall Islands, denounced the response as inadequate for facing an existential threat of rising sea levels. "Unfortunately, the new text we adopted this morning does not reflect anything near what we would have wanted. It is the bare minimum and we regret that countries could not agree on a more ambitious text," Stege said. Green youth activist Greta Thunberg -- named 2019 Person of the Year by Time magazine -- on Friday slammed world leaders for "still trying to run away from their responsibilities" while demanding a "year of action" in 2020. Following a year of deadly extreme weather and weekly protests by millions of young people, Madrid negotiators were under pressure to send a clear signal that governments were willing to double down. The summit -- moved at the last minute from Chile due to unrest -- at times teetered on the brink of collapse as rich polluters, emerging powerhouses and climate-vulnerable nations groped for common ground in the face of competing national interests. "Based on the adopted text, there is a glimmer of hope that the heart of the Paris Agreement is still beating," Mohamed Adow, Director of Power Shift, said. "But its pulse is very weak." Negotiators from nearly 200 nations came to Spain's capital with the aim of finalising the rulebook for the 2015 Paris accord, which enjoins nations to limit global temperature to below two degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit). 'Missing in action' With the accord set to become operational next year, it had been hoped COP 25 would show the world that governments would be moved by protests, irrefutable science, and deadly storms and wildfires that marked 2019 to redouble their efforts. But greater ambition -- how far each country is willing to slash carbon emissions or assist less wealthy peers to do likewise -- has largely failed to materialise, leaving some veteran observers aghast. "Never have I seen such a disconnect between what the science requires and what the climate negotiations are delivering in terms of meaningful action," said Alden Meyer, director of strategy and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists and a 28-year veteran of the climate process. "Most of the world's biggest emitting countries are missing in action and resisting calls to raise their ambition." The push for strengthening voluntary carbon cutting plans is led by small-island and least-developed states, along with the European Union. These have called out nations they see as blocking consensus -- notably the United States, Australia and Saudi Arabia. China and India, the world's No. 1 and No. 4 carbon emitters, made it clear they see no need to improve on their current emissions reduction plans, which run to 2030. These emerging giants chose instead to emphasise the historical responsibility of rich nations to lead the way and provide financing to poor countries. "Major players who needed to deliver in Madrid did not live up to expectations," said Laurence Tubiana, CEO of the European Climate Foundation and, as France's top negotiator, a main architect of the Paris Agreement. "But thanks to a progressive alliance of small island states, European, African and Latin American countries, we obtained the best possible outcome, against the will of big polluters." 'Loss and damage' The summit was also meant to finalise a chapter on carbon markets in the Paris rulebook. Instead, the focus now switches to next year's COP 26 in Glasgow, when the true Paris deadline falls. The US, which is leaving the Paris deal next year, was accused of playing spoiler on a number of issues. This included so-called "loss and damage" funding to help disaster-hit countries repair and rebuild. "The US has not come here in good faith," said Harjeet Singh, climate lead with charity ActionAid. "They continue to block the world's efforts to help people whose lives have been turned upside down by climate change." Even if all countries implement their current plans under Paris, Earth is on course to warm more than 3C by 2100.

United Nation climate talks a 'lost opportunity': UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

Confronted with a climate crisis threatening civilisation itself, humanity must choose between hope and surrender, UN chief Antonio Guterres told the opening plenary of the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-thousands-protest-in-europe-asia-ahead-of-un-climate-summit-265346">UN COP25</a> climate conference Tuesday.

"One is the path of surrender, where we have sleepwalked past the point of no return, jeopardising the health and safety of everyone on this planet," Guterres said.

"Do we really want to be remembered as the generation that buried its head in the sand, that fiddled while the planet burned?"

In an impassioned appeal, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/war-against-nature-must-stop-un-chief-says-before-climate-talks-265593">UN chief</a> worked through a long list of worrying signs, including new figures released Tuesday by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO).

The last five years have been the hottest ever recorded, the WMO said, and the concentration of planet warming CO2 in the atmosphere has reached levels not seen in three to five million years.

"The last time there was a comparable concentration," Guterres said, "the temperature was two to three degrees Celsius warmer, and sea levels were 10 to 20 metres higher than today."

The 2015 Paris Agreement calls for capping global warming at "well under" 2C, and 1.5C if possible.

A major UN science report reset the threshold for a climate-safe world from 2C to 1.5C.&nbsp;

"Permafrost in the Arctic is thawing 70 years ahead of projections," Guterres continued. "Antarctica is melting three times as fast as a decade ago. Ocean levels are rising quicker than expected."

"More than two-thirds of the world’s megacities are located by the sea."

More than 150 million people will find themselves in coastal flood zones by 2050, according to recent research.

To prevent temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees, the global economy must be carbon neutral by mid-century, a landmark UN report said last year.&nbsp;

"The best available science, through the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) tells us today that going beyond that (1.5C) would lead us to catastrophic disaster," Guterres said.

Confronted with a climate crisis threatening civilisation itself, humanity must choose between hope and surrender, UN chief Antonio Guterres told the opening plenary of the UN COP25 climate conference Tuesday.

Confronted with a climate crisis threatening civilisation itself, humanity must choose between hope and surrender, UN chief Antonio Guterres told the opening plenary of the UN COP25 climate conference Tuesday. "One is the path of surrender, where we have sleepwalked past the point of no return, jeopardising the health and safety of everyone on this planet," Guterres said. "Do we really want to be remembered as the generation that buried its head in the sand, that fiddled while the planet burned?" In an impassioned appeal, the UN chief worked through a long list of worrying signs, including new figures released Tuesday by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). The last five years have been the hottest ever recorded, the WMO said, and the concentration of planet warming CO2 in the atmosphere has reached levels not seen in three to five million years. "The last time there was a comparable concentration," Guterres said, "the temperature was two to three degrees Celsius warmer, and sea levels were 10 to 20 metres higher than today." The 2015 Paris Agreement calls for capping global warming at "well under" 2C, and 1.5C if possible. A major UN science report reset the threshold for a climate-safe world from 2C to 1.5C. "Permafrost in the Arctic is thawing 70 years ahead of projections," Guterres continued. "Antarctica is melting three times as fast as a decade ago. Ocean levels are rising quicker than expected." "More than two-thirds of the world’s megacities are located by the sea." More than 150 million people will find themselves in coastal flood zones by 2050, according to recent research. To prevent temperatures from rising more than 1.5 degrees, the global economy must be carbon neutral by mid-century, a landmark UN report said last year. "The best available science, through the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) tells us today that going beyond that (1.5C) would lead us to catastrophic disaster," Guterres said.

Choose hope or climate surrender: UN chief at climate change conference in Madrid

The world must stop a "war against nature" and find more political will to combat climate change, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday, the eve of a two-week global climate summit in Madrid.

Around the world, extreme weather ranging from wildfires to floods is being linked to manmade global warming, putting pressure on the summit to strengthen the implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement on limiting the rise in temperature.

"Our war against nature must stop, and we know that it is possible," Guterres said ahead of the December 2-13 summit.

"We simply have to stop digging and drilling and take advantage of the vast possibilities offered by renewable energy and nature-based solutions."

Cuts in emissions of greenhouse gases - mostly from burning carbon-based fossil fuels - that have been agreed so far under the Paris deal are not enough to limit temperature rises to a goal of between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius (2.7-3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.

Many countries are not even meeting those commitments, and political will is lacking, Guterres said.

President Donald Trump for his part has started withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement, while the deforestation of the Amazon basin - a crucial carbon reservoir - is accelerating and China has tilted back towards building more coal-fired power plants.

Seventy countries have committed to a goal of 'carbon neutrality' or 'climate neutrality' by 2050.

This means they would balance out greenhouse emissions, for instance through carbon capture technology or by planting trees.

But Guterres said these pledges were not enough.

"We also see clearly that the world's largest emitters are not pulling their weight," he said, "and without them, our goal is unreachable."

Last year's U.N. climate summit in Poland yielded a framework for reporting and monitoring emissions pledges and updating plans for further cuts. But sticking points remain, not least over an article on how to put a price on emissions, and so allow them to be traded.

"I don't even want to entertain the possibility that we do not agree on article 6," Guterres said. "We are here to approve guidelines to implement article 6, not to find excuses not to do it."

Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has accepted an invitation to become U.N. special envoy on climate action and climate finance from Jan. 1, Guterres said.

The world must stop a "war against nature" and find more political will to combat climate change, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday, the eve of a two-week global climate summit in Madrid.

The world must stop a "war against nature" and find more political will to combat climate change, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday, the eve of a two-week global climate summit in Madrid. Around the world, extreme weather ranging from wildfires to floods is being linked to manmade global warming, putting pressure on the summit to strengthen the implementation of the 2015 Paris Agreement on limiting the rise in temperature. "Our war against nature must stop, and we know that it is possible," Guterres said ahead of the December 2-13 summit. "We simply have to stop digging and drilling and take advantage of the vast possibilities offered by renewable energy and nature-based solutions." Cuts in emissions of greenhouse gases - mostly from burning carbon-based fossil fuels - that have been agreed so far under the Paris deal are not enough to limit temperature rises to a goal of between 1.5 and 2 degrees Celsius (2.7-3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. Many countries are not even meeting those commitments, and political will is lacking, Guterres said. President Donald Trump for his part has started withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement, while the deforestation of the Amazon basin - a crucial carbon reservoir - is accelerating and China has tilted back towards building more coal-fired power plants. Seventy countries have committed to a goal of 'carbon neutrality' or 'climate neutrality' by 2050. This means they would balance out greenhouse emissions, for instance through carbon capture technology or by planting trees. But Guterres said these pledges were not enough. "We also see clearly that the world's largest emitters are not pulling their weight," he said, "and without them, our goal is unreachable." Last year's U.N. climate summit in Poland yielded a framework for reporting and monitoring emissions pledges and updating plans for further cuts. But sticking points remain, not least over an article on how to put a price on emissions, and so allow them to be traded. "I don't even want to entertain the possibility that we do not agree on article 6," Guterres said. "We are here to approve guidelines to implement article 6, not to find excuses not to do it." Bank of England Governor Mark Carney has accepted an invitation to become U.N. special envoy on climate action and climate finance from Jan. 1, Guterres said.

'War against nature must stop,' U.N. chief says before climate talks

A car bomb killed at least 13 people in a Turkish-held border town in northeast Syria Saturday, as thousands of Kurds in the wider region protested against "Turkish occupation".

The bombing ripped through Tal Abyad, one of several once Kurdish-controlled towns seized by Turkey last month in a deadly cross-border offensive.

The blast came despite a truce last week to halt the Turkish assault that began on October 9 and sparked the latest humanitarian disaster of Syria's eight-year war.

On Saturday, an AFP correspondent in Tal Abyad saw the remains of two motorbikes ablaze in the middle of a rubble-strewn street.

A group of men carried the severely burnt body of a victim onto the back of a pickup truck, as a veiled young woman stood aghast by the side of the street.

Turkey's defence ministry said 13 civilians were killed in the attack, which it blamed on Kurdish fighters.&nbsp;

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, reported 14 people -- pro-Ankara fighters and civilians -- had been killed in the explosion.

"To displace true owners of the land and to settle Syrian refugees in Turkey to their homes in NE Syria, the Turkish army and its proxies are now creating chaos in Til Abyad by explosions targeting civilians," Mustafa Bali, a spokesman for the Kurdish-led Syrian Defence Forces tweeted.

"Turkey is responsible for civilian casualties in the region it controls," he said.

Meanwhile, in the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli, thousands of Syrian Kurds marched in the streets to protest what they view as a Turkish invasion.

"No to Turkish occupation," they cried, brandishing flags of their once semi-autonomous region and its fighters.

In the German capital Berlin, the police said around 1,000 people protested to "stop the war" against the Kurds, while hundreds in Paris called for sanctions against Turkey.

US troops return?

The truce deal signed last week between Ankara and Moscow demands Kurdish fighters withdraw from the border.

It hands a 120-kilometre-long (70-mile-long) stretch of borderland including Tal Abyad over to Turkey and provides for joint Russian-Turkish patrols along with other parts of the frontier -- the first of which started on Friday.

Ankara views Syrian Kurdish fighters as "terrorists", and wants to expel them from areas along its southern border.

But Turkey also hopes to resettle there some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees it hosts on its own soil.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday told Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the United Nations would study Ankara's plans for repatriation.

The Turkish attack last month came after US President Donald Trump said he had ordered US troops to leave northern Syria.

But on Saturday, US troops visited Kurdish forces in Qamishli in the second such spotting of American forces in northeastern Syria since that announcement.

Tan armoured vehicles flying the American flag pulled up at the headquarters of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, the de-facto army of Syria's Kurds.

The SDF have been a key US partner in fighting the Islamic State jihadist group, backed by airstrikes by a US-led coalition.

A source who attended a meeting with the Americans on Saturday said they wanted to return to set up a military post in Qamishli.

'No confidence'

The US withdrawal was largely seen as a betrayal of its Kurdish partners, who were forced to seek help from the Russia-backed Damascus regime to contain the Turkish attack.

In an interview published Saturday, SDF commander-in-chief Mazloum Abdi said he distrusted both the Syrian government and Russia, but had no other choice but to work with them.

"We have no confidence, but it's not possible to solve Syria's problems without using the political path. We must negotiate," he told Italy's La Repubblica newspaper.

The SDF expelled IS jihadists from their last patch of territory in Syria in March.&nbsp;

But the extremists continue to claim deadly attacks in SDF-held areas, and this week they announced they had a new leader after their former chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a US raid.

After years of war against IS, the SDF guard around 12,000 suspected jihadist fighters in overcrowded jails.

Syria's war has spiralled into a complex conflict involving word powers since it started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

A car bomb killed at least 13 people in a Turkish-held border town in northeast Syria Saturday, as thousands of Kurds in the wider region protested against "Turkish occupation".

A car bomb killed at least 13 people in a Turkish-held border town in northeast Syria Saturday, as thousands of Kurds in the wider region protested against "Turkish occupation". The bombing ripped through Tal Abyad, one of several once Kurdish-controlled towns seized by Turkey last month in a deadly cross-border offensive. The blast came despite a truce last week to halt the Turkish assault that began on October 9 and sparked the latest humanitarian disaster of Syria's eight-year war. On Saturday, an AFP correspondent in Tal Abyad saw the remains of two motorbikes ablaze in the middle of a rubble-strewn street. A group of men carried the severely burnt body of a victim onto the back of a pickup truck, as a veiled young woman stood aghast by the side of the street. Turkey's defence ministry said 13 civilians were killed in the attack, which it blamed on Kurdish fighters. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based war monitor, reported 14 people -- pro-Ankara fighters and civilians -- had been killed in the explosion. "To displace true owners of the land and to settle Syrian refugees in Turkey to their homes in NE Syria, the Turkish army and its proxies are now creating chaos in Til Abyad by explosions targeting civilians," Mustafa Bali, a spokesman for the Kurdish-led Syrian Defence Forces tweeted. "Turkey is responsible for civilian casualties in the region it controls," he said. Meanwhile, in the Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli, thousands of Syrian Kurds marched in the streets to protest what they view as a Turkish invasion. "No to Turkish occupation," they cried, brandishing flags of their once semi-autonomous region and its fighters. In the German capital Berlin, the police said around 1,000 people protested to "stop the war" against the Kurds, while hundreds in Paris called for sanctions against Turkey. US troops return? The truce deal signed last week between Ankara and Moscow demands Kurdish fighters withdraw from the border. It hands a 120-kilometre-long (70-mile-long) stretch of borderland including Tal Abyad over to Turkey and provides for joint Russian-Turkish patrols along with other parts of the frontier -- the first of which started on Friday. Ankara views Syrian Kurdish fighters as "terrorists", and wants to expel them from areas along its southern border. But Turkey also hopes to resettle there some of the 3.6 million Syrian refugees it hosts on its own soil. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday told Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan the United Nations would study Ankara's plans for repatriation. The Turkish attack last month came after US President Donald Trump said he had ordered US troops to leave northern Syria. But on Saturday, US troops visited Kurdish forces in Qamishli in the second such spotting of American forces in northeastern Syria since that announcement. Tan armoured vehicles flying the American flag pulled up at the headquarters of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, the de-facto army of Syria's Kurds. The SDF have been a key US partner in fighting the Islamic State jihadist group, backed by airstrikes by a US-led coalition. A source who attended a meeting with the Americans on Saturday said they wanted to return to set up a military post in Qamishli. 'No confidence' The US withdrawal was largely seen as a betrayal of its Kurdish partners, who were forced to seek help from the Russia-backed Damascus regime to contain the Turkish attack. In an interview published Saturday, SDF commander-in-chief Mazloum Abdi said he distrusted both the Syrian government and Russia, but had no other choice but to work with them. "We have no confidence, but it's not possible to solve Syria's problems without using the political path. We must negotiate," he told Italy's La Repubblica newspaper. The SDF expelled IS jihadists from their last patch of territory in Syria in March. But the extremists continue to claim deadly attacks in SDF-held areas, and this week they announced they had a new leader after their former chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed in a US raid. After years of war against IS, the SDF guard around 12,000 suspected jihadist fighters in overcrowded jails. Syria's war has spiralled into a complex conflict involving word powers since it started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests.

At least 13 dead in car bomb in Syrian border town

India is among 34 United Nations member states which paid their regular annual dues within the stipulated time.

In a document shared by the United Nations, as of 27 October 2019, 129 member states have paid their regular budget assessments in full.

Out of 129, only 34 members have paid their regular budget assessments in full within the 30-day due period specified in the U.N.'s Financial Regulation.

The UN's operating budget for 2018-2019 is close to $5.4 billion excluding the money for peacekeeping operations. Meanwhile, India has contributed $23,253,808 this year.

Although 129 States out of 193 have now paid their regular annual dues, only 70 per cent of the total assessment for the year till September had been paid, versus 78 per cent this time last year.

The United Nations is facing the worst cash crisis in nearly a decade and it might not be able to pay the salaries to its officials next month, said the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

In a statement issued by his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, Guterres said he had written to the Member States, "about the worst cash crisis facing the United Nations in nearly a decade. The organisation runs the risk of depleting its liquidity reserves by the end of the month and defaulting on payments to staff and vendors."

The United Nations is facing the deepest deficit of the decade.

Addressing the budget-setting Fifth Committee of the General Assembly on Tuesday morning, the Secretary-General said, "this month, we will reach the deepest deficit of the decade."

He said that the Organisation risks "exhausting the closed peacekeeping cash reserves and entering November without enough cash to cover payrolls."

Dujarric, while talking to reporters said, other states needed to pay "urgently and in full".

India is among 34 United Nations member states which paid their regular annual dues within the stipulated time. In a document shared by the United Nations, as of 27 October 2019, 129 member states have paid their regular budget assessments in full.

India is among 34 United Nations member states which paid their regular annual dues within the stipulated time. In a document shared by the United Nations, as of 27 October 2019, 129 member states have paid their regular budget assessments in full. Out of 129, only 34 members have paid their regular budget assessments in full within the 30-day due period specified in the U.N.'s Financial Regulation. The UN's operating budget for 2018-2019 is close to $5.4 billion excluding the money for peacekeeping operations. Meanwhile, India has contributed $23,253,808 this year. Although 129 States out of 193 have now paid their regular annual dues, only 70 per cent of the total assessment for the year till September had been paid, versus 78 per cent this time last year. The United Nations is facing the worst cash crisis in nearly a decade and it might not be able to pay the salaries to its officials next month, said the Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. In a statement issued by his Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric, Guterres said he had written to the Member States, "about the worst cash crisis facing the United Nations in nearly a decade. The organisation runs the risk of depleting its liquidity reserves by the end of the month and defaulting on payments to staff and vendors." The United Nations is facing the deepest deficit of the decade. Addressing the budget-setting Fifth Committee of the General Assembly on Tuesday morning, the Secretary-General said, "this month, we will reach the deepest deficit of the decade." He said that the Organisation risks "exhausting the closed peacekeeping cash reserves and entering November without enough cash to cover payrolls." Dujarric, while talking to reporters said, other states needed to pay "urgently and in full".

India among 34 U.N. nations to pay regular annual dues within stipulated time