Pakistan's Desperate Efforts To Internationalise The Kashmir Issue Suffers A Major Setback. It's a major setback for Pakistan. Islamabad's attempt to internationalise the Kashmir issue fails spectacularly as UN says that it will go by the UN Charter and Simla agreement. Palki explains what this development means for Pakistan.

WION Gravitas: UN Chief rejects Pakistan's mediation request

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed hope that all member states will abide by the decision of the sanctions committee of the world body which imposed an arms embargo, asset freeze and travel ban on Pakistan-based JeM chief <a href="https://www.wionews.com/pakistan/jem-chief-masood-azhar-designated-as-a-global-terrorist-in-un-sanctions-list-215076">Masood Azhar.</a>

The UN sanctions committee on the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda on Wednesday announced the designation of Azhar, leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), over its ties to Al-Qaida.

The JeM has claimed responsibility for the Pulwama suicide attack that killed 40 CRPF soldiers and led to a spike in military tensions between India and Pakistan.

In response to a question on Guterres' reaction, his spokesman said: "This is the work of a well-established mechanism through the Sanctions Committee of the Security Council. It is a big part of the United Nations work in the fight against terrorism".

"It's always good when all member states of the security council agree on something. We would, of course, hope that all member states abide by those decisions," he said.

The United Nations designated Azhar as a "global terrorist" after China lifted its hold on a proposal to blacklist him.

The US, France along with the UK had moved the proposal to designate Azhar as a "global terrorist" in the UN Security Council's 1267 Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee in February.

A Security Council member said that Germany, Belgium and Poland also co-sponsored the proposal, adding that there has been new unity and these three delegations also supported the proposal to list Azhar.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed hope that all member states will abide by the decision of the sanctions committee of the world body which imposed an arms embargo, asset freeze and travel ban on Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has expressed hope that all member states will abide by the decision of the sanctions committee of the world body which imposed an arms embargo, asset freeze and travel ban on Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar. The UN sanctions committee on the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda on Wednesday announced the designation of Azhar, leader of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), over its ties to Al-Qaida. The JeM has claimed responsibility for the Pulwama suicide attack that killed 40 CRPF soldiers and led to a spike in military tensions between India and Pakistan. In response to a question on Guterres' reaction, his spokesman said: "This is the work of a well-established mechanism through the Sanctions Committee of the Security Council. It is a big part of the United Nations work in the fight against terrorism". "It's always good when all member states of the security council agree on something. We would, of course, hope that all member states abide by those decisions," he said. The United Nations designated Azhar as a "global terrorist" after China lifted its hold on a proposal to blacklist him. The US, France along with the UK had moved the proposal to designate Azhar as a "global terrorist" in the UN Security Council's 1267 Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee in February. A Security Council member said that Germany, Belgium and Poland also co-sponsored the proposal, adding that there has been new unity and these three delegations also supported the proposal to list Azhar.

All members should abide by UN sanctions committee's decision on Masood Azhar: UN chief Antonio Guterres

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/congress-manifesto-some-ideas-positively-dangerous-says-bjp-207472">Lok Sabha polls 2019: Congress releases manifesto, BJP says some of its ideas 'positively dangerous'</a>

The BJP said Tuesday that some of the ideas in the Congress manifesto were "positively dangerous".&nbsp;

The pushback — the Congress manifesto had been released earlier on Tuesday — was launched by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who said the ideas were "an agenda for the Balkanisation of India".&nbsp;

Jaitley was by and large referring to what the Congress manifesto has said about Kashmir.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/avoiding-temptation-rbi-likely-to-cut-key-rate-by-just-25-basis-points-207455">Reserve Bank of India likely to cut interest rate by 0.25%: Analysts</a>

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to cut its policy interest rate by 25 basis points on Thursday, despite some analysts believing the country's weakening economic growth and subdued inflation outlook warrant a larger reduction.

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/what-exactly-does-the-congress-manifesto-promise-207487">What exactly does the Congress manifesto say?&nbsp;</a>

The Congress released its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday, and the BJP was quick to say some of the ideas in it were "positively dangerous".&nbsp;

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley went so far as to say some of the ideas in the manifesto were "an agenda for the Balkanisation of India". But what else does the 55-page long Congress manifesto called "Hum Nibhayenge" or "We Will Deliver" say?&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-chief-antonio-guterres-warns-against-rising-anti-muslim-hatred-207514">UN chief Antonio Guterres warns against rising anti-Muslim hatred</a>

UN chief Antonio Guterres warned Tuesday against growing hatred of Muslims, less than a month after a deadly attack on mosques in New Zealand killed at least 50 people.

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-lawmakers-to-try-to-force-pm-may-to-seek-further-brexit-delay-207516">British MPs to try to force PM May to ask for another Brexit delay</a>

A group of British lawmakers said on Tuesday they would try to pass a law which would force Prime Minister Theresa May to seek a delay to Britain's departure from the European Union and thus prevent a chaotic no-deal Brexit on April 12.

Lok Sabha polls 2019: Congress releases manifesto, BJP says some of its ideas 'positively dangerous' The BJP said Tuesday that some of the ideas in the Congress manifesto were "positively dangerous".

Lok Sabha polls 2019: Congress releases manifesto, BJP says some of its ideas 'positively dangerous' The BJP said Tuesday that some of the ideas in the Congress manifesto were "positively dangerous". The pushback — the Congress manifesto had been released earlier on Tuesday — was launched by Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley who said the ideas were "an agenda for the Balkanisation of India". Jaitley was by and large referring to what the Congress manifesto has said about Kashmir. Reserve Bank of India likely to cut interest rate by 0.25%: Analysts The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is likely to cut its policy interest rate by 25 basis points on Thursday, despite some analysts believing the country's weakening economic growth and subdued inflation outlook warrant a larger reduction. What exactly does the Congress manifesto say? The Congress released its manifesto for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections on Tuesday, and the BJP was quick to say some of the ideas in it were "positively dangerous". Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley went so far as to say some of the ideas in the manifesto were "an agenda for the Balkanisation of India". But what else does the 55-page long Congress manifesto called "Hum Nibhayenge" or "We Will Deliver" say? UN chief Antonio Guterres warns against rising anti-Muslim hatred UN chief Antonio Guterres warned Tuesday against growing hatred of Muslims, less than a month after a deadly attack on mosques in New Zealand killed at least 50 people. British MPs to try to force PM May to ask for another Brexit delay A group of British lawmakers said on Tuesday they would try to pass a law which would force Prime Minister Theresa May to seek a delay to Britain's departure from the European Union and thus prevent a chaotic no-deal Brexit on April 12.

News brief: Big stories of the day

UN chief Antonio Guterres warned Tuesday against growing hatred of Muslims, less than a month after a deadly attack on mosques in New Zealand killed at least 50 people.

His remarks came during a speech at Egypt's Al-Azhar, the Sunni Muslim world's foremost religious institution, where he met Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb.&nbsp;

"Around the world, we are seeing ever-rising anti-Muslim hatred, anti-Semitism, racism and xenophobia," the UN secretary general said.&nbsp;

He cited the March 15 New Zealand mosque attacks by a white supremacist as well as a 2018 synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh that killed 11 people and is believed to be the deadliest against Jews in US history.&nbsp;

Guterres warned of a surge in hate speech he said was "entering the mainstream, spreading like wildfire through social media".&nbsp;

"We see it spreading in liberal democracies and as well as in authoritarian states."

Guterres is on a two-day trip to Egypt, Following his visit to Al-Azhar, he was scheduled to meet President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.&nbsp;

On Sunday, he attended an Arab League summit in Tunisia.&nbsp;

UN chief Antonio Guterres warned Tuesday against growing hatred of Muslims, less than a month after a deadly attack on mosques in New Zealand killed at least 50 people.

UN chief Antonio Guterres warned Tuesday against growing hatred of Muslims, less than a month after a deadly attack on mosques in New Zealand killed at least 50 people. His remarks came during a speech at Egypt's Al-Azhar, the Sunni Muslim world's foremost religious institution, where he met Grand Imam Ahmed al-Tayeb. "Around the world, we are seeing ever-rising anti-Muslim hatred, anti-Semitism, racism and xenophobia," the UN secretary general said. He cited the March 15 New Zealand mosque attacks by a white supremacist as well as a 2018 synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh that killed 11 people and is believed to be the deadliest against Jews in US history. Guterres warned of a surge in hate speech he said was "entering the mainstream, spreading like wildfire through social media". "We see it spreading in liberal democracies and as well as in authoritarian states." Guterres is on a two-day trip to Egypt, Following his visit to Al-Azhar, he was scheduled to meet President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. On Sunday, he attended an Arab League summit in Tunisia.

UN chief Antonio Guterres warns against rising anti-Muslim hatred

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed peace efforts in Yemen and the crisis in Venezuela with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on Thursday, a UN spokesman said.

The 35-minute meeting at UN headquarters was requested by Pompeo.

Pompeo and the UN chief "discussed the situation in Yemen, in particular the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement and the importance of the parties to begin phase 1 of the redeployment from Hodeida," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

"They also discussed the situation in Venezuela and the region", he added, without providing details.&nbsp;

Yemen's government and Huthi rebels have agreed on the first phase of a redeployment of forces from the Red Sea port of Hodeida, in line with a ceasefire deal reached in Sweden in December.

The port is the entry point for the bulk of humanitarian aid and supplies to Yemen, where millions are on the brink of famine.

UN envoy Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on Tuesday that he expected the pullback of forces to begin in the coming days, but by Thursday there had been no movement on the ground.&nbsp;

On Venezuela, the UN chief has called for serious political negotiations to end a standoff between leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim president, and President Nicolas Maduro.

The United States is leading a push to recognize Guaido, backed by about 50 countries including Britain, France, Germany and several Latin American nations such as Brazil, Argentina and Colombia. &nbsp;

Fears are growing of a violent confrontation over Guaido's bid to bring US humanitarian aid into the country from Colombia, in defiance of the government which accuses Washington of using aid for regime change.&nbsp;

The United Nations has said that aid should not be politicized.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed peace efforts in Yemen and the crisis in Venezuela with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on Thursday, a UN spokesman said.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo discussed peace efforts in Yemen and the crisis in Venezuela with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in New York on Thursday, a UN spokesman said. The 35-minute meeting at UN headquarters was requested by Pompeo. Pompeo and the UN chief "discussed the situation in Yemen, in particular the implementation of the Stockholm Agreement and the importance of the parties to begin phase 1 of the redeployment from Hodeida," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. "They also discussed the situation in Venezuela and the region", he added, without providing details. Yemen's government and Huthi rebels have agreed on the first phase of a redeployment of forces from the Red Sea port of Hodeida, in line with a ceasefire deal reached in Sweden in December. The port is the entry point for the bulk of humanitarian aid and supplies to Yemen, where millions are on the brink of famine. UN envoy Martin Griffiths told the Security Council on Tuesday that he expected the pullback of forces to begin in the coming days, but by Thursday there had been no movement on the ground. On Venezuela, the UN chief has called for serious political negotiations to end a standoff between leader Juan Guaido, who has declared himself interim president, and President Nicolas Maduro. The United States is leading a push to recognize Guaido, backed by about 50 countries including Britain, France, Germany and several Latin American nations such as Brazil, Argentina and Colombia. Fears are growing of a violent confrontation over Guaido's bid to bring US humanitarian aid into the country from Colombia, in defiance of the government which accuses Washington of using aid for regime change. The United Nations has said that aid should not be politicized.

Pompeo discusses Yemen, Venezuela in talks with UN chief

The world is "losing the race" against climate change, UN chief Antonio Guterres warned Thursday at the elite Davos forum, demanding bolder action from governments to arrest catastrophic warming.

"Climate change is the defining issue of our time. We are losing the race," he said on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos, which has featured much hand-wringing on the crisis this week.

"It is absolutely central to reverse this trend."

Following a UN summit last month in Poland, which was designed to advance the Paris climate accord, Guterres said he was "not hopeful" that nations would find the necessary resolve.

But he stressed: "We need political will and we need governments&nbsp;who understand that this is the most important priority of our times."

The Paris accord has been shaken by the withdrawal of the United States under President Donald Trump, and by threats to do the same by Brazil's new hard-right leader, Jair Bolsonaro.

The UN secretary-general said the commitments made in Paris were already "not enough".&nbsp;

"If what we agreed in Paris would be materialised, the temperature would rise more than 3.0 degrees (Celsius)," he said on a Facebook Live broadcast from Davos.

"We need countries to make stronger commitments," Guterres said, calling for more measures to mitigate against climate change and adapt to it, along with financial aid for poorer countries.

A WEF survey ahead of the Davos meeting found climate change was the leading concern of forum participants around the world, noting in particular the growing frequency of extreme weather events.

Without stronger political action corporate executives in Davos such as Patrick Pouyanne, CEO of French energy giant Total, have been touting their own measures to transition to a greener economy.&nbsp;

"We don't look to renewables to be green," he told the CNBC channel in Davos on Thursday, noting that electricity is the fastest-growing segment of the energy market.

"We look to renewables because it's the best way to go in to this electricity market, but the electricity market will require also natural gas, so natural gas and renewables."&nbsp;

'Suicide pact'&nbsp;

But activists say companies are not doing nearly enough.

One vocal voice in Davos this week has been Swedish 16-year-old Greta Thunberg, who has inspired a wave of climate protests by schoolchildren around the world after delivering a fiery speech at the UN climate summit in Katowice, Poland last month.&nbsp;

"They (companies) have known exactly what priceless values they have been sacrificing to continue making unimaginable amounts of money," she told AFP in an interview.

Former secretary of state John Kerry, who signed the Paris accord for the United States in 2016, said 38 out of the 50 US states were implementing their own climate policies despite Trump's withdrawal and vocal scepticism on climate change.

The Paris pact was based partly on the expectation that the private sector would step up with new investment in areas such as batteries and solar panels, he noted.

"It's not happening enough, and even in Katowice recently, you saw the fight that was taking place, just to be able to try to be reasonable here," Kerry said in Davos Tuesday, also on CNBC.

"We're heading towards 4.0 degrees Centigrade increase in this century, and the passive indifference that most countries are accepting is basically a mutual suicide pact."

Another idea long in the mix of the climate debate is a carbon tax, which would factor in the polluting price of fossil fuels so as to discourage their use over time.&nbsp;

That has been anathema for many governments, including the United States well before Trump.&nbsp;

But it is gaining ground anew under an initiative by the Climate Leadership Council that is backed by 27 Nobel economics laureates and four former chairs of the Federal Reserve.

Ted Halstead, president of the US organisation, has been in Davos this week selling the idea of US households getting back the revenue raised, in the form of lump-sum rebates.

"A carbon tax offers the most cost-effective lever to reduce carbon emissions at the scale and speed that is necessary," signatories to the initiative said in a statement last week.

The world is "losing the race" against climate change, UN chief Antonio Guterres warned Thursday at the elite Davos forum, demanding bolder action from governments to arrest catastrophic warming.

The world is "losing the race" against climate change, UN chief Antonio Guterres warned Thursday at the elite Davos forum, demanding bolder action from governments to arrest catastrophic warming. "Climate change is the defining issue of our time. We are losing the race," he said on the margins of the World Economic Forum in Davos, which has featured much hand-wringing on the crisis this week. "It is absolutely central to reverse this trend." Following a UN summit last month in Poland, which was designed to advance the Paris climate accord, Guterres said he was "not hopeful" that nations would find the necessary resolve. But he stressed: "We need political will and we need governments who understand that this is the most important priority of our times." The Paris accord has been shaken by the withdrawal of the United States under President Donald Trump, and by threats to do the same by Brazil's new hard-right leader, Jair Bolsonaro. The UN secretary-general said the commitments made in Paris were already "not enough". "If what we agreed in Paris would be materialised, the temperature would rise more than 3.0 degrees (Celsius)," he said on a Facebook Live broadcast from Davos. "We need countries to make stronger commitments," Guterres said, calling for more measures to mitigate against climate change and adapt to it, along with financial aid for poorer countries. A WEF survey ahead of the Davos meeting found climate change was the leading concern of forum participants around the world, noting in particular the growing frequency of extreme weather events. Without stronger political action corporate executives in Davos such as Patrick Pouyanne, CEO of French energy giant Total, have been touting their own measures to transition to a greener economy. "We don't look to renewables to be green," he told the CNBC channel in Davos on Thursday, noting that electricity is the fastest-growing segment of the energy market. "We look to renewables because it's the best way to go in to this electricity market, but the electricity market will require also natural gas, so natural gas and renewables." 'Suicide pact' But activists say companies are not doing nearly enough. One vocal voice in Davos this week has been Swedish 16-year-old Greta Thunberg, who has inspired a wave of climate protests by schoolchildren around the world after delivering a fiery speech at the UN climate summit in Katowice, Poland last month. "They (companies) have known exactly what priceless values they have been sacrificing to continue making unimaginable amounts of money," she told AFP in an interview. Former secretary of state John Kerry, who signed the Paris accord for the United States in 2016, said 38 out of the 50 US states were implementing their own climate policies despite Trump's withdrawal and vocal scepticism on climate change. The Paris pact was based partly on the expectation that the private sector would step up with new investment in areas such as batteries and solar panels, he noted. "It's not happening enough, and even in Katowice recently, you saw the fight that was taking place, just to be able to try to be reasonable here," Kerry said in Davos Tuesday, also on CNBC. "We're heading towards 4.0 degrees Centigrade increase in this century, and the passive indifference that most countries are accepting is basically a mutual suicide pact." Another idea long in the mix of the climate debate is a carbon tax, which would factor in the polluting price of fossil fuels so as to discourage their use over time. That has been anathema for many governments, including the United States well before Trump. But it is gaining ground anew under an initiative by the Climate Leadership Council that is backed by 27 Nobel economics laureates and four former chairs of the Federal Reserve. Ted Halstead, president of the US organisation, has been in Davos this week selling the idea of US households getting back the revenue raised, in the form of lump-sum rebates. "A carbon tax offers the most cost-effective lever to reduce carbon emissions at the scale and speed that is necessary," signatories to the initiative said in a statement last week.

'We are losing the race' on climate change: UN chief Antonio Guterres

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged the international community to offer support on carrying out the agreement on steps toward denuclearization between the United States and North Korea.

"Implementing today's and previous agreements reached, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions, will require patience and support from the global community,” UN&nbsp;spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.&nbsp;

Guterres had earlier complained after North Korea dismantled its nuclear sites without the presence of UN experts with just foreign journalists invited. The UN chief this time, however, welcomed the talks in Singapore between Trump and Kim.

President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held their first face-to-face meeting after months of uncertainty over the summit. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere with both leaders comfortable with each other with Trump repeatedly praising the North Korean leader.

President Trump said the deal with Kim was a "great thing for China".

China had earlier praised the Trump-Kim meeting calling it an "epoch-making event" and promised to play a "constructive role".

Russia has a positive assessment of the deal between US&nbsp;President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but "the devil is in the detail", TASS news agency cited Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Tuesday.

"Now we can only welcome the fact that an important step forward has been made. Of course, the devil is in the detail, and we have yet to delve into specifics. But the impulse, as far as we understand, has been given," Ryabkov said.

Iran, on the other hand, warned North Korea against accepting any nuclear deal with US President Donald Trump. Nobakht was quoted by a news agency describing US President Donald Trump as a man "who revokes his signature while abroad," Reuters reported.&nbsp;

India called summit a "positive development" and welcomed the event. "This is a positive development. India has always supported all efforts to bring about peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy. We hope that the outcomes of the US-DPRK Summit will be implemented, thus paving the way for lasting peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula," a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) read.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held their first face-to-face meeting after months of uncertainty over the summit

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged the international community to offer support on carrying out the agreement on steps toward denuclearization between the United States and North Korea. "Implementing today's and previous agreements reached, in accordance with relevant Security Council resolutions, will require patience and support from the global community,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. Guterres had earlier complained after North Korea dismantled its nuclear sites without the presence of UN experts with just foreign journalists invited. The UN chief this time, however, welcomed the talks in Singapore between Trump and Kim. President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un held their first face-to-face meeting after months of uncertainty over the summit. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere with both leaders comfortable with each other with Trump repeatedly praising the North Korean leader. President Trump said the deal with Kim was a "great thing for China". China had earlier praised the Trump-Kim meeting calling it an "epoch-making event" and promised to play a "constructive role". Russia has a positive assessment of the deal between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but "the devil is in the detail", TASS news agency cited Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov as saying on Tuesday. "Now we can only welcome the fact that an important step forward has been made. Of course, the devil is in the detail, and we have yet to delve into specifics. But the impulse, as far as we understand, has been given," Ryabkov said. Iran, on the other hand, warned North Korea against accepting any nuclear deal with US President Donald Trump. Nobakht was quoted by a news agency describing US President Donald Trump as a man "who revokes his signature while abroad," Reuters reported. India called summit a "positive development" and welcomed the event. "This is a positive development. India has always supported all efforts to bring about peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and diplomacy. We hope that the outcomes of the US-DPRK Summit will be implemented, thus paving the way for lasting peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula," a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) read. (With inputs from agencies)

UN chief urges support for US-North Korea agreement

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has thanked India for its "strong and sustained" support to peacekeeping as he honoured the memory of the 163 Indian peacekeepers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty.

He also referred to the 125-strong women peacekeepers of the Indian Formed Police Unit deployed with the UN mission in Liberia, the first ever such contingent, calling them "an inspiration to all".&nbsp;

"I thank the Government of India for their strong and sustained support to UN peacekeeping? You have indeed given a very strong contribution to global solidarity and to international peace and security," Guterres said while addressing a tea reception hosted by India at the world body's headquarters yesterday on the occasion of the International Day of Peacekeeping.&nbsp;

Guterres said India has always been one of the largest troop contributing country to peacekeeping operations and currently about 7,700 Indian peacekeepers are deployed around the world, a majority in South Sudan and Congo.&nbsp;

He said there was a need to recognise the enormous importance of women soldiers and women police for making a difference in local communities. "This is a pioneer initiative from India that needs to be underlined," he said.&nbsp;

Guterres paid tributes to the 163 peacekeepers from India who sacrificed their lives serving in various peacekeeping missions.&nbsp;

He noted that India has lost the highest number of peacekeepers in UN peacekeeping's 70-year history. Of the 3,737 peacekeepers who have died since 1948, 163 have been from India, which is the highest total from any troop-contributing country.

"The total 163 Indian peacekeepers, the highest number of all troop-contributing countries, have given their lives for peace. We recognize their service and sacrifice as well as the service and sacrifice of all those from all countries that have fallen in the line of duty," he said.&nbsp;

Guterres said troop-contributing countries have made enormous sacrifices and have troops in the "most dangerous locations in the world to protect the lives of citizens of other countries."

He also referred to the 125-strong women peacekeepers of the Indian Formed Police Unit deployed with the UN mission in Liberia

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has thanked India for its "strong and sustained" support to peacekeeping as he honoured the memory of the 163 Indian peacekeepers who sacrificed their lives in the line of duty. He also referred to the 125-strong women peacekeepers of the Indian Formed Police Unit deployed with the UN mission in Liberia, the first ever such contingent, calling them "an inspiration to all". "I thank the Government of India for their strong and sustained support to UN peacekeeping? You have indeed given a very strong contribution to global solidarity and to international peace and security," Guterres said while addressing a tea reception hosted by India at the world body's headquarters yesterday on the occasion of the International Day of Peacekeeping. Guterres said India has always been one of the largest troop contributing country to peacekeeping operations and currently about 7,700 Indian peacekeepers are deployed around the world, a majority in South Sudan and Congo. He said there was a need to recognise the enormous importance of women soldiers and women police for making a difference in local communities. "This is a pioneer initiative from India that needs to be underlined," he said. Guterres paid tributes to the 163 peacekeepers from India who sacrificed their lives serving in various peacekeeping missions. He noted that India has lost the highest number of peacekeepers in UN peacekeeping's 70-year history. Of the 3,737 peacekeepers who have died since 1948, 163 have been from India, which is the highest total from any troop-contributing country. "The total 163 Indian peacekeepers, the highest number of all troop-contributing countries, have given their lives for peace. We recognize their service and sacrifice as well as the service and sacrifice of all those from all countries that have fallen in the line of duty," he said. Guterres said troop-contributing countries have made enormous sacrifices and have troops in the "most dangerous locations in the world to protect the lives of citizens of other countries."

UN Chief thanks India for strong, sustained support to peacekeeping

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the Cold War is back “with a vengeance”.

He said the Middle East is in such “chaos” that it has become a danger to international peace and security — and Syria “represents the most serious threat”.

"The Cold War is back with a vengeance, but with a difference," he said. "The mechanisms and the safeguards to manage the risks of escalation that existed in the past no longer seem to be present."

He urged countries to "act responsibly in these dangerous circumstances".

"Increasing tensions and the inability to reach a compromise in the establishment of an accountability mechanism (for chemical weapons use in Syria) threaten to lead to a full-blown military escalation," Guterres told the Security Council on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported.

"In my contacts with you -- especially with the permanent members of the Security Council -- I have been reiterating my deep concerns about the risks of the current impasse and stressed the need to avoid the situation spiralling out of control. This is exactly the risk we face today -- that things spiral out of control," said the UN chief.

"It is our common duty to stop it."

"In Syria, we see confrontations and proxy wars involving several national armies, a number of armed opposition groups, many national and international militia, foreign fighters from everywhere in the world, and various terrorist organisations," he told the Security Council, which was convening at the request of Russia.

Western powers said an alleged Syrian chemical massacre must not go unanswered even as the United Nations secretary-general warned against a "full-blown military escalation."

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has warned that the Cold War is back “with a vengeance”. He said the Middle East is in such “chaos” that it has become a danger to international peace and security — and Syria “represents the most serious threat”. "The Cold War is back with a vengeance, but with a difference," he said. "The mechanisms and the safeguards to manage the risks of escalation that existed in the past no longer seem to be present." He urged countries to "act responsibly in these dangerous circumstances". "Increasing tensions and the inability to reach a compromise in the establishment of an accountability mechanism (for chemical weapons use in Syria) threaten to lead to a full-blown military escalation," Guterres told the Security Council on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported. "In my contacts with you -- especially with the permanent members of the Security Council -- I have been reiterating my deep concerns about the risks of the current impasse and stressed the need to avoid the situation spiralling out of control. This is exactly the risk we face today -- that things spiral out of control," said the UN chief. "It is our common duty to stop it." "In Syria, we see confrontations and proxy wars involving several national armies, a number of armed opposition groups, many national and international militia, foreign fighters from everywhere in the world, and various terrorist organisations," he told the Security Council, which was convening at the request of Russia.

Cold War is back with a vengeance, UN chief Antonio Guterres warns

As the tensions along the Indo-Pak border intensify, UN chief Antonio Guterres called on to both the countries for dialogue.&nbsp;

Guterres ruled out any possibility of mediation and urged India and Pakistan to address their issues. &nbsp;

Un officials noted that although the United Nations is always available for mediation, nothing can be achieved if the countries don&#39;t reach a consensus. &nbsp;

While Pakistan has always sought mediation, India often stands against any third-party intervention, especially in resolving the Kashmir issue.

&quot;We&#39;re obviously aware. We&#39;re following this, what&#39;s been going on, really for the last 10 days,&quot; UN Secretary-General&#39;s spokesman Stephane Dujarric noted.&nbsp;

&quot;As in any issue...If there are multiple parties, everyone needs to agree on involving the UN. That is true of any mediation effort,&quot; Dujarric said.

&quot;The Secretary-General would encourage both sides to address any outstanding issues through dialogue,&quot; he said.

The Indo-Pak ties have been under pressure owing to a series of attacks carried out by Pakistan-based terror groups.

The recent incidents of ceasefire violations have caused severe casualties on both sides and have strained the relationship further.&nbsp;

The Indo-Pak ties have been under pressure owing to a series of attacks carried out by Pakistan-based terror groups

As the tensions along the Indo-Pak border intensify, UN chief Antonio Guterres called on to both the countries for dialogue. Guterres ruled out any possibility of mediation and urged India and Pakistan to address their issues. Un officials noted that although the United Nations is always available for mediation, nothing can be achieved if the countries don't reach a consensus. While Pakistan has always sought mediation, India often stands against any third-party intervention, especially in resolving the Kashmir issue. "We're obviously aware. We're following this, what's been going on, really for the last 10 days," UN Secretary-General's spokesman Stephane Dujarric noted. "As in any issue...If there are multiple parties, everyone needs to agree on involving the UN. That is true of any mediation effort," Dujarric said. "The Secretary-General would encourage both sides to address any outstanding issues through dialogue," he said. The Indo-Pak ties have been under pressure owing to a series of attacks carried out by Pakistan-based terror groups. The recent incidents of ceasefire violations have caused severe casualties on both sides and have strained the relationship further.

No mediation on Kashmir unless India and Pakistan arrive at consensus: UN Chief

Antonio Guterres was sworn in Monday as the ninth secretary-general of the United Nations, saying the world body must change to better confront global crises such as the war in Syria.

During a solemn ceremony at the General Assembly, the former prime minister of Portugal placed a hand on the UN charter and took the oath of office administered by the president of the General Assembly, Peter Thomson.

The first former head of government at the UN helm, Guterres takes over from Ban Ki-moon on January 1 amid ongoing bloodshed in Syria and questions over how the US role in the world could shift under president-elect Donald Trump.

&quot;This organisation is the cornerstone of multilateralism&nbsp;and has contributed to decades of relative peace, but the challenges are now surpassing our ability to respond,&quot; Guterres said in an address.

&quot;The UN must be ready to change.&quot;

The 67-year-old socialist politician said the United Nations must &quot;recognise its shortcomings and reform the way it works,&quot; singling out the failure to prevent crisis as a serious weakness.

The UN&#39;s refugee chief for a decade, Guterres was sworn in as Syrian forces were on the verge of retaking the entire city of Aleppo, a potential turning point in the nearly six-year war.

&quot;This is a war in which everybody is losing. This became a threat for everybody around the world,&quot; Guterres later told journalists. &quot;It is high time to put an end to this nonsense.&quot;

Guterres vowed to &quot;engage personally&quot; in conflict resolution, signalling a more pro-active approach to the role of secretary-general than under the 72-year-old Ban, the South Korean who led the world body for two five-year terms.

The election of Guterres has energised UN diplomats who see him as a skilled politician, able to overcome divisions that have crippled the United Nations, notably over Syria.

But Trump&#39;s shock election has raised questions over Washington&#39;s future role in the world and its relationship with the United Nations -- as the world body&#39;s biggest financial backer.

Fear driving decisions

The new UN chief will begin work just weeks before Trump takes office on January 20.&nbsp;

&quot;Fear is driving the decisions of many people around the world,&quot; Guterres said, in a reference to the surge of populism that propelled Trump to the White House.

Citizens worldwide are losing confidence in their governments and in global institutions, he said, adding that it was &quot;time to reconstruct relations between people and leaders&quot;.

He pledged to show the new US administration a &quot;clear will to cooperate in relation to the enormous challenges we will be facing together&quot;.

Guterres laid out three priorities for change during his five-year term: work for peace, support sustainable development and improve internal UN management.

The 71-year-old United Nations has been criticised for its clunky bureaucracy, which has at times slowed down the response to global emergencies.

Guterres vowed to press ahead with gender parity at the United Nations, saying it was a priority to appoint more women to senior posts.

Among the appointments expected soon, Nigeria&#39;s Environment Minister Amina Mohammed is tipped to become UN deputy secretary-general, diplomats say.&nbsp;

An engineer by training and a practising Catholic, Guterres fought for migrants&#39; rights as UN High Commissioner for Refugees from June 2005 to December 2015.

He served as prime minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002, anchoring his country to the European Union and working to raise living standards.

US Ambassador Samantha Power praised Guterres as &quot;the man for the job in such challenging times&quot;.

(AFP)

The former prime minister of Portugal pledged to 'exercise in all loyalty, discretion and conscience' in his duties as UN head

Antonio Guterres was sworn in Monday as the ninth secretary-general of the United Nations, saying the world body must change to better confront global crises such as the war in Syria. During a solemn ceremony at the General Assembly, the former prime minister of Portugal placed a hand on the UN charter and took the oath of office administered by the president of the General Assembly, Peter Thomson. The first former head of government at the UN helm, Guterres takes over from Ban Ki-moon on January 1 amid ongoing bloodshed in Syria and questions over how the US role in the world could shift under president-elect Donald Trump. "This organisation is the cornerstone of multilateralism and has contributed to decades of relative peace, but the challenges are now surpassing our ability to respond," Guterres said in an address. "The UN must be ready to change." The 67-year-old socialist politician said the United Nations must "recognise its shortcomings and reform the way it works," singling out the failure to prevent crisis as a serious weakness. The UN's refugee chief for a decade, Guterres was sworn in as Syrian forces were on the verge of retaking the entire city of Aleppo, a potential turning point in the nearly six-year war. "This is a war in which everybody is losing. This became a threat for everybody around the world," Guterres later told journalists. "It is high time to put an end to this nonsense." Guterres vowed to "engage personally" in conflict resolution, signalling a more pro-active approach to the role of secretary-general than under the 72-year-old Ban, the South Korean who led the world body for two five-year terms. The election of Guterres has energised UN diplomats who see him as a skilled politician, able to overcome divisions that have crippled the United Nations, notably over Syria. But Trump's shock election has raised questions over Washington's future role in the world and its relationship with the United Nations -- as the world body's biggest financial backer. Fear driving decisions The new UN chief will begin work just weeks before Trump takes office on January 20. "Fear is driving the decisions of many people around the world," Guterres said, in a reference to the surge of populism that propelled Trump to the White House. Citizens worldwide are losing confidence in their governments and in global institutions, he said, adding that it was "time to reconstruct relations between people and leaders". He pledged to show the new US administration a "clear will to cooperate in relation to the enormous challenges we will be facing together". Guterres laid out three priorities for change during his five-year term: work for peace, support sustainable development and improve internal UN management. The 71-year-old United Nations has been criticised for its clunky bureaucracy, which has at times slowed down the response to global emergencies. Guterres vowed to press ahead with gender parity at the United Nations, saying it was a priority to appoint more women to senior posts. Among the appointments expected soon, Nigeria's Environment Minister Amina Mohammed is tipped to become UN deputy secretary-general, diplomats say. An engineer by training and a practising Catholic, Guterres fought for migrants' rights as UN High Commissioner for Refugees from June 2005 to December 2015. He served as prime minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002, anchoring his country to the European Union and working to raise living standards. US Ambassador Samantha Power praised Guterres as "the man for the job in such challenging times". (AFP)

Antonio Guterres sworn in as new UN chief

Outgoing UN chief Ban ki-Moon expressed alarm over the humanitarian situation in the Syrian city of Aleppo on Monday, news agency AFP reported.&nbsp;

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&ldquo;The secretary-general is alarmed over reports of atrocities against a large number of civilians, including women and children, in recent hours in Aleppo,&quot; a spokesperson for Ban ki-Moon said. &nbsp;

&quot;While stressing that the United Nations is not able to independently verify these reports, the secretary-general is conveying his grave concern to the relevant parties,&quot; AFP quoted Stephane Dujarric as saying.

Ban has urged all sides, particularly Syria&#39;s government and its allies, to protect civilians, the BBC reported.

AFP reported that the rebels have now lost more than 90 per cent of eastern Aleppo, territory that they used to hold.

&ldquo;The battle in eastern Aleppo should end quickly. They (rebels) don&rsquo;t have much time. They either have to surrender or die,&rdquo; said Lieutenant General Zaid al-Saleh, head of the Syrian government&rsquo;s local security committee, according to the Guardian.

Tens of thousands of civilians are also believed to be in the rebel enclave, according to the BBC.

An AFP correspondent in government-held west Aleppo said celebratory gunfire could be heard late Monday.

The fall of Aleppo would be a massive blow to the rebels, and leave the government in control of the country&#39;s five major cities.

Ban will step down as secretary-general at the end of the year, completing a 10-year tenure, and will be replaced by Antonio Guterres, who was sworn in Monday.

(WION with inputs from agencies)

Outgoing UN chief Ban Ki-moon urged all sides, particularly Syria's government and its allies, to protect civilians

Outgoing UN chief Ban ki-Moon expressed alarm over the humanitarian situation in the Syrian city of Aleppo on Monday, news agency AFP reported. “The secretary-general is alarmed over reports of atrocities against a large number of civilians, including women and children, in recent hours in Aleppo," a spokesperson for Ban ki-Moon said. "While stressing that the United Nations is not able to independently verify these reports, the secretary-general is conveying his grave concern to the relevant parties," AFP quoted Stephane Dujarric as saying. Ban has urged all sides, particularly Syria's government and its allies, to protect civilians, the BBC reported. AFP reported that the rebels have now lost more than 90 per cent of eastern Aleppo, territory that they used to hold. “The battle in eastern Aleppo should end quickly. They (rebels) don’t have much time. They either have to surrender or die,” said Lieutenant General Zaid al-Saleh, head of the Syrian government’s local security committee, according to the Guardian. Tens of thousands of civilians are also believed to be in the rebel enclave, according to the BBC. An AFP correspondent in government-held west Aleppo said celebratory gunfire could be heard late Monday. The fall of Aleppo would be a massive blow to the rebels, and leave the government in control of the country's five major cities. Ban will step down as secretary-general at the end of the year, completing a 10-year tenure, and will be replaced by Antonio Guterres, who was sworn in Monday. (WION with inputs from agencies)

UN chief alarmed by reports of atrocities against civilians in Aleppo

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, once seen as the front-runner to become the next president of South Korea if he decides to run, has slipped to second place in public support amid a political crisis engulfing the current leader, a poll suggests.

Ban has been expected to join the conservative Saenuri Party of President Park Geun-hye if he runs for the top post in the election scheduled in December 2017, although the UN chief has yet to declare he is considering a run.

Support for Ban slipped to 17.1 per cent in an opinion poll conducted last week according to Realmeter on Monday, the first time he has dropped from first place since June when South Korean pollsters began including him among potential candidates.

He was overtaken by the likely candidate for the opposition Democratic Party of Korea, Moon Jae-in, who received 20.9 per cent, the poll, conducted with 2,528 people, showed.

Park&#39;s presidency has been rocked by a scandal involving an old friend, Choi Soon-sil, who is alleged to have used her closeness to the president to meddle in state affairs.

Park, 64, has publicly apologised twice for the scandal but her approval rating has plunged to just 5 percent according to a Gallup poll released on Friday, the lowest since such polling began in 1988.&nbsp;

Ban&#39;s support base was expected primarily to be older voters and those in the conservative southeastern region, the same voter bloc that was core to Park&#39;s election win in 2012.

The decline in Ban&#39;s support came amid a rapid flight of Park and Saenuri supporters, Realmeter said in an analysis.

Park last week named a new prime minister and finance minister but the moves were denounced by opposition parties as a bid to divert attention from the scandal.

Tens of thousands of people, possibly as many as 100,000 according to rally organisers, filled the streets of downtown Seoul on Saturday calling for Park to step down.&nbsp;

(Reuters)

Ban Ki-moon has been overtaken by the likely candidate for the opposition Democratic Party of Korea, Moon Jae-in

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, once seen as the front-runner to become the next president of South Korea if he decides to run, has slipped to second place in public support amid a political crisis engulfing the current leader, a poll suggests. Ban has been expected to join the conservative Saenuri Party of President Park Geun-hye if he runs for the top post in the election scheduled in December 2017, although the UN chief has yet to declare he is considering a run. Support for Ban slipped to 17.1 per cent in an opinion poll conducted last week according to Realmeter on Monday, the first time he has dropped from first place since June when South Korean pollsters began including him among potential candidates. He was overtaken by the likely candidate for the opposition Democratic Party of Korea, Moon Jae-in, who received 20.9 per cent, the poll, conducted with 2,528 people, showed. Park's presidency has been rocked by a scandal involving an old friend, Choi Soon-sil, who is alleged to have used her closeness to the president to meddle in state affairs. Park, 64, has publicly apologised twice for the scandal but her approval rating has plunged to just 5 percent according to a Gallup poll released on Friday, the lowest since such polling began in 1988. Ban's support base was expected primarily to be older voters and those in the conservative southeastern region, the same voter bloc that was core to Park's election win in 2012. The decline in Ban's support came amid a rapid flight of Park and Saenuri supporters, Realmeter said in an analysis. Park last week named a new prime minister and finance minister but the moves were denounced by opposition parties as a bid to divert attention from the scandal. Tens of thousands of people, possibly as many as 100,000 according to rally organisers, filled the streets of downtown Seoul on Saturday calling for Park to step down. (Reuters)

UN chief drops to second place as popular choice for South Korea president: Poll

Portugal&#39;s former prime minister Antonio Guterres is still the frontrunner to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations following a third straw poll held Monday, diplomats said. 
 
Guterres, who served as UN refugee chief for 10 years, received 11 votes of encouragement, three &quot;discourage&quot; votes and one &quot;no opinion&quot; during the informal vote by the 15-member Security Council. 
 
It is the third time that the 67-year-old has taken the number one spot in the contest to succeed Ban Ki-moon, who steps down on December 31 after 10 years as the world`s top diplomat. 
 
During the first round, Guterres took the lead with 12 &quot;encourage&quot; votes and three &quot;no opinion,&quot; but he picked up two &quot;discourage&quot; votes in the second straw poll, along with 11 encouragements and two &quot;no opinion.&quot; 
 
While Guterres&#39;s ranking dropped slightly in the third straw poll, diplomats said he still held a strong lead in the race to take the helm of the world body. 
 
&quot;He remains well ahead of the pack,&quot; a Security Council diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity. 
 
Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak made a surprise showing as the runner-up, climbing up the rankings with nine encouragements, five discourage votes and one &quot;no opinion.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
He took the sixth position in the last round. 
 
The 15 ambassadors including those from the powerful five -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- met behind closed doors to rate the candidates with ballots marked &quot;encourage,&quot; &quot;discourage&quot; or &quot;no opinion.&quot; 
 
The Security Council is trying to come up with a shortlist of candidates before putting forward a nominee, possibly in October, to be endorsed by the General Assembly. UNESCO chief Irina Bokova of Bulgaria and Serbia`s ex-foreign minister Vuk Jeremic tied for the third spot, with seven encouragements and five &quot;discourage&quot; votes, plus three &quot;no opinion.&quot; 
 
Bokova became the leading woman in the race, just ahead of Argentina`s Susanna Malcorra, who picked up seven encouragements, seven &quot;discourage votes and one &quot;no opinion.&quot; 
Lower down the rankings, New Zealand`s ex-prime minister and current UN Development Program chief Helen Clark took the number six spot, just below Macedonia`s ex-foreign minister Srgjan Kerim. 
 
Clark picked up six encouragements, eight &quot;discourage&quot; votes and one &quot;no opinion,&quot; compared to six encouragements, seven &quot;discourage&quot; votes and two &quot;no opinion&quot; for Kerim. 
Slovenia`s former president Danilo Turk, who had made a strong showing as the runnerup in the first round, dropped to the bottom tier, with five encouragements, six &quot;discourage&quot; votes and four &quot;no opinion&quot;. 
 
The last spots went to former UN climate negotiator Christiana Figueres and ex-foreign minister Natalia Gherman of Moldova, who both picked up two encouragements, 12 &quot;discourage&quot; votes and one no opinion. 
 
The results of the straw poll were not publicly announced, but the council president communicated them to the candidates to give them an indication of the level of support in the council. 
 
As with the two first straw polls, the results were quickly leaked to the media. 
 
Council members are facing calls to pick the first woman after eight men in the job, and to give preference to a candidate from eastern Europe, the only region that has yet to be represented in the post. 
 
Russia has said it will give priority to eastern European candidates&nbsp;but has not ruled out that contenders from other regions could be qualified for the post. 
 
Of the 10 candidates now still in the running, six are from eastern Europe. Five are women. 
Only two have dropped out of the race thus far, but others are expected to withdraw after this latest straw poll. 
 
(AFP)

He has received 11 ''encouragement'' votes, three "discourage" and one "no opinion" in the informal vote by the 15-member Security Council

Portugal's former prime minister Antonio Guterres is still the frontrunner to become the next secretary-general of the United Nations following a third straw poll held Monday, diplomats said. Guterres, who served as UN refugee chief for 10 years, received 11 votes of encouragement, three "discourage" votes and one "no opinion" during the informal vote by the 15-member Security Council. It is the third time that the 67-year-old has taken the number one spot in the contest to succeed Ban Ki-moon, who steps down on December 31 after 10 years as the world`s top diplomat. During the first round, Guterres took the lead with 12 "encourage" votes and three "no opinion," but he picked up two "discourage" votes in the second straw poll, along with 11 encouragements and two "no opinion." While Guterres's ranking dropped slightly in the third straw poll, diplomats said he still held a strong lead in the race to take the helm of the world body. "He remains well ahead of the pack," a Security Council diplomat said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Slovak Foreign Minister Miroslav Lajcak made a surprise showing as the runner-up, climbing up the rankings with nine encouragements, five discourage votes and one "no opinion." He took the sixth position in the last round. The 15 ambassadors including those from the powerful five -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- met behind closed doors to rate the candidates with ballots marked "encourage," "discourage" or "no opinion." The Security Council is trying to come up with a shortlist of candidates before putting forward a nominee, possibly in October, to be endorsed by the General Assembly. UNESCO chief Irina Bokova of Bulgaria and Serbia`s ex-foreign minister Vuk Jeremic tied for the third spot, with seven encouragements and five "discourage" votes, plus three "no opinion." Bokova became the leading woman in the race, just ahead of Argentina`s Susanna Malcorra, who picked up seven encouragements, seven "discourage votes and one "no opinion." Lower down the rankings, New Zealand`s ex-prime minister and current UN Development Program chief Helen Clark took the number six spot, just below Macedonia`s ex-foreign minister Srgjan Kerim. Clark picked up six encouragements, eight "discourage" votes and one "no opinion," compared to six encouragements, seven "discourage" votes and two "no opinion" for Kerim. Slovenia`s former president Danilo Turk, who had made a strong showing as the runnerup in the first round, dropped to the bottom tier, with five encouragements, six "discourage" votes and four "no opinion". The last spots went to former UN climate negotiator Christiana Figueres and ex-foreign minister Natalia Gherman of Moldova, who both picked up two encouragements, 12 "discourage" votes and one no opinion. The results of the straw poll were not publicly announced, but the council president communicated them to the candidates to give them an indication of the level of support in the council. As with the two first straw polls, the results were quickly leaked to the media. Council members are facing calls to pick the first woman after eight men in the job, and to give preference to a candidate from eastern Europe, the only region that has yet to be represented in the post. Russia has said it will give priority to eastern European candidates but has not ruled out that contenders from other regions could be qualified for the post. Of the 10 candidates now still in the running, six are from eastern Europe. Five are women. Only two have dropped out of the race thus far, but others are expected to withdraw after this latest straw poll. (AFP)

Portugal's Guterres still leads race to be UN chief

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