Twitter is being flooded by pro-Saudi posts in defence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who has been accused of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/mohammed-bin-salman-caught-spying-jeff-bezos-accused-saudi-prince-of-hacking-his-phone-275857">hacking Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos' iPhone</a>.

Hundreds and thousands of tweets have been shared by Saudi government officials and pro-Saudi media organisations in retaliation to the accusation on the Crown Prince.&nbsp;

Riyadh dismissed the accusations on Tuesday and called them <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/describing-as-absurd-saudi-arabia-rejects-hacking-jeff-bezos-phone-reports-275917">absurd</a>.&nbsp;

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Recent media reports that suggest the Kingdom is behind a hacking of Mr. Jeff Bezos' phone are absurd. We call for an investigation on these claims so that we can have all the facts out.
— Saudi Embassy (@SaudiEmbassyUSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SaudiEmbassyUSA/status/1219792870389035008?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
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"I think 'absurd' is exactly the right word," Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud told Reuters in an interview in Davos. "The idea that the crown prince would hack Jeff Bezos’ phone is absolutely silly," he added

Since Thursday, the microblogging website has gone abuzz with #BoycottAmazonproducts - a hashtag believed to have started by a pro-government account with over 50,000 followers.&nbsp;

Also read: '<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/jeff-all-of-what-you-hear-or-told-its-not-true-saudi-crown-princes-text-to-bezos-276150">Jeff all of what you hear or told... it's not true': Saudi Crown Prince Salman's text to Bezos</a>

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On Thursday, disinformation analyst Ben Nimmo said that over 8,000 pro-Saudi tweets called for action to boycott Amazon products - a number that is only expected to have grown manifold by Friday.&nbsp;

"Indeed, here it goes: call from fans of MBS to boycott Amazon products. 8.5k tweets since the morning in Arabic, a handful in English," Nimmo tweeted out yesterday.&nbsp;

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Indeed, here it goes: call from fans of MBS to boycott Amazon products. 
 
8.5k tweets since the morning in Arabic, a handful in English. <a href="https://t.co/704haHu82I">https://t.co/704haHu82I</a>
— Ben Nimmo (@benimmo) <a href="https://twitter.com/benimmo/status/1220286211992039429?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
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UN experts have called for an immediate investigation into the allegations on Saudi crown prince being involved in a plot to hack the phone of Amazon boss and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos.

On Wednesday, UN special rapporteurs Agnes Callamard and David Kaye said they had information pointing to the "possible involvement" of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the alleged 2018 cyberattack, which preceded alleged threats by the National Enquirer to publish intimate photographs of the billionaire tech tycoon.

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B7%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%A7_%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AC%D8%A7%D8%AA_%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B2%D9%88%D9%86?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#قاطعوا_منتجات_امازون</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BoycottAmazonproducts?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BoycottAmazonproducts</a> 
Done ✅ 🇸🇦 <a href="https://t.co/5FjiCs3a3C">pic.twitter.com/5FjiCs3a3C</a>
— رغـــد .. 🕊 (@Raghod501) <a href="https://twitter.com/Raghod501/status/1220266727499583488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Callamard, the special rapporteur for extra-judicial killings, and Kaye, special rapporteur for free expression, said in a statement that they believed the hack was carried out "in an effort to influence, if not silence, The Washington Post’s reporting on Saudi Arabia" and called for an "immediate investigation by US and other relevant authorities," news agency Reuters reported.&nbsp;

As per reports, the call for an investigation is based on a 17-page forensic report drawn up by Washington-based FTI Consulting, reportedly commissioned by the Amazon chief.&nbsp;

The report suggests that Bezos's iPhone X was hijacked by a malicious video file which was sent to him on May 1, 2018, from a WhatsApp account used by the crown prince.&nbsp;

The hacking is said to have taken place before Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's cold-blooded killing in October 2018. Khashoggi was a Washington Post columnist and critic of the crown prince.

(With inputs from Reuters)

 
&nbsp;

Twitter is being flooded by pro-Saudi posts in defence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who has been accused of hacking Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos' iPhone.

Twitter is being flooded by pro-Saudi posts in defence of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who has been accused of hacking Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos' iPhone. Hundreds and thousands of tweets have been shared by Saudi government officials and pro-Saudi media organisations in retaliation to the accusation on the Crown Prince. Riyadh dismissed the accusations on Tuesday and called them absurd. Recent media reports that suggest the Kingdom is behind a hacking of Mr. Jeff Bezos' phone are absurd. We call for an investigation on these claims so that we can have all the facts out. — Saudi Embassy (@SaudiEmbassyUSA) January 22, 2020 × "I think 'absurd' is exactly the right word," Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud told Reuters in an interview in Davos. "The idea that the crown prince would hack Jeff Bezos’ phone is absolutely silly," he added Since Thursday, the microblogging website has gone abuzz with #BoycottAmazonproducts - a hashtag believed to have started by a pro-government account with over 50,000 followers. Also read: 'Jeff all of what you hear or told... it's not true': Saudi Crown Prince Salman's text to Bezos × On Thursday, disinformation analyst Ben Nimmo said that over 8,000 pro-Saudi tweets called for action to boycott Amazon products - a number that is only expected to have grown manifold by Friday. "Indeed, here it goes: call from fans of MBS to boycott Amazon products. 8.5k tweets since the morning in Arabic, a handful in English," Nimmo tweeted out yesterday. Indeed, here it goes: call from fans of MBS to boycott Amazon products. 8.5k tweets since the morning in Arabic, a handful in English. https://t.co/704haHu82I — Ben Nimmo (@benimmo) January 23, 2020 × UN experts have called for an immediate investigation into the allegations on Saudi crown prince being involved in a plot to hack the phone of Amazon boss and Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos. On Wednesday, UN special rapporteurs Agnes Callamard and David Kaye said they had information pointing to the "possible involvement" of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in the alleged 2018 cyberattack, which preceded alleged threats by the National Enquirer to publish intimate photographs of the billionaire tech tycoon. #قاطعوا_منتجات_امازون #BoycottAmazonproducts Done ✅ 🇸🇦 pic.twitter.com/5FjiCs3a3C — رغـــد .. 🕊 (@Raghod501) January 23, 2020 × Callamard, the special rapporteur for extra-judicial killings, and Kaye, special rapporteur for free expression, said in a statement that they believed the hack was carried out "in an effort to influence, if not silence, The Washington Post’s reporting on Saudi Arabia" and called for an "immediate investigation by US and other relevant authorities," news agency Reuters reported. As per reports, the call for an investigation is based on a 17-page forensic report drawn up by Washington-based FTI Consulting, reportedly commissioned by the Amazon chief. The report suggests that Bezos's iPhone X was hijacked by a malicious video file which was sent to him on May 1, 2018, from a WhatsApp account used by the crown prince. The hacking is said to have taken place before Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi's cold-blooded killing in October 2018. Khashoggi was a Washington Post columnist and critic of the crown prince. (With inputs from Reuters)

Angry Saudis tweet to boycott Amazon over Crown Prince's alleged involvement in hacking Bezos' phone

A United Nations report today revealed that half a billion people around the world are unable to find reasonably paid work, leading to poverty and increasing the class disparity, The Guardian reported.

In the study, UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO) said that more than 473 million people around the world don't have access to means of employment or are employed in jobs that are unable to fulfil their needs.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/2153-billionaires-have-more-money-than-46-billion-people-combined-oxfam-275420">2,153 billionaires have more money than 4.6 billion people combined -&nbsp;Oxfam</a>

The report comes in at a time when international leaders are gathering at the World Economic Forum&nbsp;at a Swiss Ski resort in&nbsp;Davos, Switzerland.

The world has been witnessing trade tensions which have slowed down economic growth. The UN agency claims that this could slow down the efforts to alleviate poverty in low-income countries and could take the focus away from decarbonising the world economy.

<h6><img alt="eeee" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="4dbfdb44-6cdb-4b27-acc7-dd89f88442c3" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design_55.jpg" /> 
A street vendor sells chicken on a cart alongside a street in Rawalpindi on January 20, 2020 | AFP 
&nbsp;</h6>

After a long lull in the arena of unemployment, the number rose for the first time in a decade. This may be attributed to slowing economies, which has, in turn, put 2.5 million out of work, taking the total figure of unemployed people to 190 million.

Guy Ryder, the director-general of the ILO, said: ''For millions of ordinary people, it’s increasingly difficult to build better lives through work''.

The world currently has a working-age population of 5.7 billion people. According to ILO, around 165 million people are employed but unable to find work that pays an adequate amount of money to cater to their needs.

Additionally, 119 million people have given up on searching for jobs or had no access to the job market. Besides the officially unemployed people, more than 473 million in the world remain affected.

<h6><img alt="oooo" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="dc432c2b-fbcc-49fb-b0c2-6d5f3780dee8" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Untitled%20design%20%282%29_47.jpg" /> 
A labourer sleeps on sacks as traffic moves past him in a wholesale market in the old quarters of Delhi, India, January 7, 2020 | Reuters 
&nbsp;</h6>

“Persisting and substantial work-related inequalities and exclusion are preventing them from finding decent work and better futures. That’s an extremely serious finding that has profound and worrying implications for social cohesion”, Ryder added.

The ILO further implied that the world is missing out on a huge pool of human talent that could trigger long-lasting economic and social benefits.

Owing to the lack of well-paying jobs, more than 630 million workers worldwide lived in extreme or moderate poverty with incomes lesser than $3.20 a day. These people are at the biggest risk of destitution.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/sharp-slwodown-in-india-a-drag-on-world-economy-275527">Sharp slowdown in India drag on world economy, says IMF</a>

A United Nations report today revealed that half a billion people around the world are unable to find reasonably paid work, leading to poverty and increasing the class disparity, The Guardian reported.

A United Nations report today revealed that half a billion people around the world are unable to find reasonably paid work, leading to poverty and increasing the class disparity, The Guardian reported. In the study, UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO) said that more than 473 million people around the world don't have access to means of employment or are employed in jobs that are unable to fulfil their needs. Also read: 2,153 billionaires have more money than 4.6 billion people combined - Oxfam The report comes in at a time when international leaders are gathering at the World Economic Forum at a Swiss Ski resort in Davos, Switzerland. The world has been witnessing trade tensions which have slowed down economic growth. The UN agency claims that this could slow down the efforts to alleviate poverty in low-income countries and could take the focus away from decarbonising the world economy. A street vendor sells chicken on a cart alongside a street in Rawalpindi on January 20, 2020 | AFP After a long lull in the arena of unemployment, the number rose for the first time in a decade. This may be attributed to slowing economies, which has, in turn, put 2.5 million out of work, taking the total figure of unemployed people to 190 million. Guy Ryder, the director-general of the ILO, said: ''For millions of ordinary people, it’s increasingly difficult to build better lives through work''. The world currently has a working-age population of 5.7 billion people. According to ILO, around 165 million people are employed but unable to find work that pays an adequate amount of money to cater to their needs. Additionally, 119 million people have given up on searching for jobs or had no access to the job market. Besides the officially unemployed people, more than 473 million in the world remain affected. A labourer sleeps on sacks as traffic moves past him in a wholesale market in the old quarters of Delhi, India, January 7, 2020 | Reuters “Persisting and substantial work-related inequalities and exclusion are preventing them from finding decent work and better futures. That’s an extremely serious finding that has profound and worrying implications for social cohesion”, Ryder added. The ILO further implied that the world is missing out on a huge pool of human talent that could trigger long-lasting economic and social benefits. Owing to the lack of well-paying jobs, more than 630 million workers worldwide lived in extreme or moderate poverty with incomes lesser than $3.20 a day. These people are at the biggest risk of destitution. Also read: Sharp slowdown in India drag on world economy, says IMF

More than 473 million people can't find reasonably paying work: United Nations report

World leaders have agreed to UN arms embargo on Libya and to stop providing military support to the country's warring factions. However, the Berlin Summit failed to achieve its main goal of brokering a seize fire. Libya's warring factions and their allies met in Berlin in the first major international summit on the Libyan conflict in recent years. German chancellor Angela Merkel called for a political solution but she did not rule out military intervention in the North African countries civil war.

Libya peace summit in Berlin: World leaders agree on UN arms embargo

Russia's ambassador to India Nikolay Kudashev has backed New Delhi's position on Jammu and Kashmir. Speaking on the sidelines of the global conclave in New Delhi he said that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan and must never be raised at the United Nations.

Russia backs India on Kashmir, says Kashmir is a bilateral issue

India's Ministry of External Affairs has responded to China's attempt to raise the Kashmir issue at the United Nations Security Council. MEA spokesperson Ravish Kumar said that Pakistan has misused the UN Security Council's stage through China. He added that the issue of Kashmir has to be solved bilaterally by India and Pakistan.

WION Dispatch: Pakistan peddling baseless allegations, says India MEA spokesperson Ravish Kumar

WION exclusively spoke with Estonia Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu on his meeting with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on 15 January in New Delhi. Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu discussed Estonia’s principles for its membership in the UN Security Council in 2021 and 2022, India’s campaign for elected membership, and opportunities for even closer bilateral relations. The ministers also discussed reforming the UN, how to enhance economic cooperation and digital and cyber issues.

WION Exclusive conversation with Estonia Foreign Minister Urmas Reinsalu

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

India's permanent representative to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin has ripped into Pakistan at the UN Security Council. Akbaruddin asked Pakistan to stop peddling falsehoods and said that Islamabad epitomised 'dark arts'. WION's Palki Sharma explains. #Gravitas #UN #Pakistan #IndianEnvoy #UN #SyedAkbaruddin

Gravitas: Indian Envoy at the UN, Pakistan must stop peddling lies

Yemen's <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/after-yemen-ex-presidents-death-houthi-leader-reaches-out-to-salehs-party-25930">Houthi </a>group did not launch an attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities in September, according to a confidential report by&nbsp;UN&nbsp;sanctions monitors seen by Reuters on Wednesday, bolstering a US&nbsp;accusation that Iran was responsible.

The United States, European powers and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/saudi-arabia-appeals-for-calm-after-killing-of-iranian-general-qasem-soleimani-272563">Saudi Arabia</a> blamed Iran for the September&nbsp;14 attack on the Saudi Aramco oil plants in Abqaiq and Khurais, dismissing a quick claim of responsibility by the Iran-allied Houthis. Tehran denied any involvement.

The report by the independent&nbsp;UN&nbsp;experts to the Security Council Yemen sanctions committee said, "That despite their claims to the contrary, the Houthi forces did not launch the attacks on Abqaiq and Khurais on 14 September 2019."

The findings of the&nbsp;UN report come amid escalating tensions in the region after the United States killed Iranian General <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/now-its-time-for-iraqi-response-to-us-drone-strike-says-paramilitary-chief-qais-al-khazali-272966">Qasem Soleimani</a> in Baghdad and Tehran retaliated by firing missiles at military facilities housing US&nbsp;troops in Iraq.&nbsp;

The&nbsp;UN&nbsp;investigators said they doubted that the drones and land-attack cruise missiles used in the September 14&nbsp;attack "have a sufficient range to have been launched from Yemeni territory under the control of the Houthis."

"The panel notes that Abqaiq and Khurais were approached respectively from a north/northwestern and north/northeastern direction, rather than from the south, as one would expect in the case of a launch from Yemeni territory," the report said.

The investigators, who monitor sanctions on Yemen, also said they do not believe that "those comparatively sophisticated weapons were developed and manufactured in Yemen." They were not tasked with identifying who was responsible for the Saudi attack.

The attacks that targeted the Abqaiq and the Khurais oil plants caused a spike in oil prices, fires, and damage, and shut down more than 5 per cent&nbsp;of global oil supply. Saudi Arabia said on October 3 that it had fully restored oil output.

The Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, signaled in September that Riyadh was waiting for results of&nbsp;UN&nbsp;investigations before announcing how his country would respond.

"The United Nations sent people to be part of the investigation, other countries have sent experts to be part of the investigation," he told reporters in New York. "When the team that's investigating has concluded its investigations we will make the announcements publicly."

Reuters reported in November that Iran's Supreme Leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-fully-respect-iraqs-sovereignty-says-irans-un-ambassador-after-ballistic-missile-strike-273064">Ayatollah Ali Khamenei</a> had approved the attack on the Saudi oil facilities, but with strict conditions: Iranian forces had to avoid hitting any civilians or Americans. Iran rejected the version of events that four people described to Reuters.

UN&nbsp;experts monitoring&nbsp;UN&nbsp;sanctions on Iran and Yemen traveled to Saudi Arabia days after the September attack.

UN&nbsp;Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council in a separate report on December&nbsp;10 on the implementation of an arms embargo and other restrictions on Iran - that the United Nations was "unable to independently corroborate" that missiles and drones used in the attacks "are of Iranian origin."

The report seen by Reuters on Wednesday is from the independent panel of experts that reports twice a year to the Security Council on the implementation of sanctions related to the conflict in Yemen that were imposed in 2014 and 2015.

It was submitted to the&nbsp;UN&nbsp;Security Council Yemen sanctions committee on December 27, but will not be made public until later this month or next month.

A proxy war has been playing out in Yemen between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015, backing government forces fighting the Iran-allied Houthis. The Houthis have been subject to a separate arms embargo since 2015. Iran has repeatedly denied supplying weapons to the Houthis.

"The Houthi forces continue to receive military support in the form of assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, anti-tank guided missiles, as well as more sophisticated cruise missile systems," the report found.

"Some of those weapons have technical characteristics similar to arms manufactured in Iran," it said.

Yemen's Houthi group did not launch an attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities in September, according to a confidential report by UN sanctions monitors seen by Reuters on Wednesday, bolstering a US accusation that Iran was responsible.

Yemen's Houthi group did not launch an attack on Saudi Arabia's oil facilities in September, according to a confidential report by UN sanctions monitors seen by Reuters on Wednesday, bolstering a US accusation that Iran was responsible. The United States, European powers and Saudi Arabia blamed Iran for the September 14 attack on the Saudi Aramco oil plants in Abqaiq and Khurais, dismissing a quick claim of responsibility by the Iran-allied Houthis. Tehran denied any involvement. The report by the independent UN experts to the Security Council Yemen sanctions committee said, "That despite their claims to the contrary, the Houthi forces did not launch the attacks on Abqaiq and Khurais on 14 September 2019." The findings of the UN report come amid escalating tensions in the region after the United States killed Iranian General Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad and Tehran retaliated by firing missiles at military facilities housing US troops in Iraq. The UN investigators said they doubted that the drones and land-attack cruise missiles used in the September 14 attack "have a sufficient range to have been launched from Yemeni territory under the control of the Houthis." "The panel notes that Abqaiq and Khurais were approached respectively from a north/northwestern and north/northeastern direction, rather than from the south, as one would expect in the case of a launch from Yemeni territory," the report said. The investigators, who monitor sanctions on Yemen, also said they do not believe that "those comparatively sophisticated weapons were developed and manufactured in Yemen." They were not tasked with identifying who was responsible for the Saudi attack. The attacks that targeted the Abqaiq and the Khurais oil plants caused a spike in oil prices, fires, and damage, and shut down more than 5 per cent of global oil supply. Saudi Arabia said on October 3 that it had fully restored oil output. The Saudi minister of state for foreign affairs, Adel al-Jubeir, signaled in September that Riyadh was waiting for results of UN investigations before announcing how his country would respond. "The United Nations sent people to be part of the investigation, other countries have sent experts to be part of the investigation," he told reporters in New York. "When the team that's investigating has concluded its investigations we will make the announcements publicly." Reuters reported in November that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had approved the attack on the Saudi oil facilities, but with strict conditions: Iranian forces had to avoid hitting any civilians or Americans. Iran rejected the version of events that four people described to Reuters. UN experts monitoring UN sanctions on Iran and Yemen traveled to Saudi Arabia days after the September attack. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the Security Council in a separate report on December 10 on the implementation of an arms embargo and other restrictions on Iran - that the United Nations was "unable to independently corroborate" that missiles and drones used in the attacks "are of Iranian origin." The report seen by Reuters on Wednesday is from the independent panel of experts that reports twice a year to the Security Council on the implementation of sanctions related to the conflict in Yemen that were imposed in 2014 and 2015. It was submitted to the UN Security Council Yemen sanctions committee on December 27, but will not be made public until later this month or next month. A proxy war has been playing out in Yemen between Iran and Saudi Arabia. The Saudi-led coalition intervened in 2015, backing government forces fighting the Iran-allied Houthis. The Houthis have been subject to a separate arms embargo since 2015. Iran has repeatedly denied supplying weapons to the Houthis. "The Houthi forces continue to receive military support in the form of assault rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, anti-tank guided missiles, as well as more sophisticated cruise missile systems," the report found. "Some of those weapons have technical characteristics similar to arms manufactured in Iran," it said.

UN investigators find Yemen's Houthis did not carry out Saudi oil attack

Foreign envoys from 17 nations nations,including the United Nations, have reached Kashmir as the newly formed UT enters sixth month of complete lockdown and internet shutdown. #ForeignEnvoys #JammuAndKashmir #UnitedNations

Foreign envoys from 17 nations arrive in Srinagar

As temperatures drop below freezing on Wednesday (December 18) in Ciudad Juarez, Mexican officials tried to move an encampment of migrant asylum seekers - including around 200 young children - to shelters.

Mexican children shiver in tents at US border as temperature freezes

In what was widely denounced as one of the worst outcomes in a quarter-century of climate negotiations, United Nations talks ended early Sunday morning with the United States and other big polluters blocking even a nonbinding measure that would have encouraged countries to adopt more ambitious targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions next year. #UN #UNClimateTalks

Your Story: UN climate talks fail, no deal after extended climate talks

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women has slammed Pakistan saying that religious freedom in the country continues to "deteriorate" under the leadership of the present government.

The discriminatory legislation by the Imran&nbsp;Khan-led government has empowered people with "extremist mindsets" to carry out attacks on religious minorities, the UN report stated.&nbsp;

The Commission added that Christian and Hindu communities in Pakistan, especially the females, are "particularly vulnerable" to violation of such rights.

In its 47-page detailed report titled, 'Pakistan- religious freedom under attack', the UN commission expressed concern over the volatile human rights situation in Pakistan.

The report has outlined major issues like increasing "weaponisation and politicisation" of the blasphemy laws and the anti-Ahmadiyya legislation that are being used by Islamist groups not only to persecute religious minorities but also to gain political ground.

The commission in its report has cited several prominent examples to substantiate that the minorities in the country are reduced to second class citizens...

The report contended that blasphemy laws in Pakistan, which criminalise anyone who insults Islam, are often misused to lodge false cases against the minorities.

As per the report, each year, hundreds of women under the age of 18 are abducted and forced to convert and marry Muslim men with little or no hopes for being returned to their families.

Following these observations, the Commission has asked the Pakistan government to take more effective steps to prevent sectarian violence and hold the perpetrators of religious attacks to account. 
&nbsp;

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women has slammed Pakistan saying that religious freedom in the country continues to "deteriorate" under the leadership of the present government.

The United Nations Commission on the Status of Women has slammed Pakistan saying that religious freedom in the country continues to "deteriorate" under the leadership of the present government. The discriminatory legislation by the Imran Khan-led government has empowered people with "extremist mindsets" to carry out attacks on religious minorities, the UN report stated. The Commission added that Christian and Hindu communities in Pakistan, especially the females, are "particularly vulnerable" to violation of such rights. In its 47-page detailed report titled, 'Pakistan- religious freedom under attack', the UN commission expressed concern over the volatile human rights situation in Pakistan. The report has outlined major issues like increasing "weaponisation and politicisation" of the blasphemy laws and the anti-Ahmadiyya legislation that are being used by Islamist groups not only to persecute religious minorities but also to gain political ground. The commission in its report has cited several prominent examples to substantiate that the minorities in the country are reduced to second class citizens... The report contended that blasphemy laws in Pakistan, which criminalise anyone who insults Islam, are often misused to lodge false cases against the minorities. As per the report, each year, hundreds of women under the age of 18 are abducted and forced to convert and marry Muslim men with little or no hopes for being returned to their families. Following these observations, the Commission has asked the Pakistan government to take more effective steps to prevent sectarian violence and hold the perpetrators of religious attacks to account.

United Nations slams Pakistan over religious freedom

Hassan Rouhani calls it the budget of resistance, he defiant in the face of U.S Sanctions.

IRAN: Iran President Hassan Unveils a 'RESISTANCE' budget

Greta calls on leaders to listen to indigenous voices.

Greta's power speech at U.N summit

Iran said on Thursday a letter from three European powers to the U.N. Security Council accusing Tehran of having nuclear-capable ballistic missiles showed their "miserable incompetence" in fulfilling their commitments to a 2015 nuclear deal.

"Latest E3 letter to UNSG on missiles is a desperate falsehood to cover up their miserable incompetence in fulfilling bare minimum of their own #JCPOA obligations," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad&nbsp;Zarif&nbsp;tweeted, referring to the deal by its formal acronym. He urged Britain, France and Germany not to bow to "US&nbsp;bullying".

The British, German and French ambassadors, in a letter circulated on Wednesday, called on U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to inform the Security Council in his next report that Iran’s missile programme was “inconsistent” with a U.N. resolution that had endorsed the nuclear deal reached between Iran and six world powers.

The letter surfaced at a time of heightened friction between Iran and the West, with Tehran rolling back its commitments under the deal step by step in response to Washington’s pullout from the pact last year and reimposition of sanctions on Iran that has crippled its economy.

Britain, France and Germany have sought to salvage the pact, under which Iran undertook to curtail its disputed uranium enrichment programme in return for relief from sanctions. But Tehran has criticised the three European powers for failing to shield Iran's economy from the US&nbsp;penalties.

The United States, Iran's arch-foe, and its Arab allies view Tehran’s ballistic missile programme as a Middle East security threat. Tehran says its missile development activity is solely defensive in nature.

Iran said on Thursday a letter from three European powers to the U.N. Security Council accusing Tehran of having nuclear-capable ballistic missiles showed their "miserable incompetence" in fulfilling their commitments to a 2015 nuclear deal.

Iran said on Thursday a letter from three European powers to the U.N. Security Council accusing Tehran of having nuclear-capable ballistic missiles showed their "miserable incompetence" in fulfilling their commitments to a 2015 nuclear deal. "Latest E3 letter to UNSG on missiles is a desperate falsehood to cover up their miserable incompetence in fulfilling bare minimum of their own #JCPOA obligations," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted, referring to the deal by its formal acronym. He urged Britain, France and Germany not to bow to "US bullying". The British, German and French ambassadors, in a letter circulated on Wednesday, called on U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to inform the Security Council in his next report that Iran’s missile programme was “inconsistent” with a U.N. resolution that had endorsed the nuclear deal reached between Iran and six world powers. The letter surfaced at a time of heightened friction between Iran and the West, with Tehran rolling back its commitments under the deal step by step in response to Washington’s pullout from the pact last year and reimposition of sanctions on Iran that has crippled its economy. Britain, France and Germany have sought to salvage the pact, under which Iran undertook to curtail its disputed uranium enrichment programme in return for relief from sanctions. But Tehran has criticised the three European powers for failing to shield Iran's economy from the US penalties. The United States, Iran's arch-foe, and its Arab allies view Tehran’s ballistic missile programme as a Middle East security threat. Tehran says its missile development activity is solely defensive in nature.

EU powers' letter to U.N. on Iran's missiles shows 'miserable incompetence': Javad Zarif

Parents from around the globe Thursday said governments locked in negotiations at<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../war-against-nature-must-stop-un-chief-says- before-climate-talks-265593"> UN talks in Madrid</a> must beat back the threat of global warming to "give our children the future that they deserve".

"Our children are being handed a broken world on the verge of climate chaos and ecological breakdown," they said in an open declaration from 222 associations in 27 countries.&nbsp;

"As parents, seeing this is agonising."

The plea comes the day before young climate strikers led by Swedish teen activist <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../hundreds-of-thousands-protest-in-europe-asia- ahead-of-un-climate-summit-265346">Greta Thunberg</a> plan to march through the Spanish capital under the Friday for Futures banner. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The student-led movement,&nbsp;sparked by Thunberg's solo protests last year in front of Sweden's parliament, saw millions pour into the streets worldwide ahead of a UN climate summit in September.

"Many of the delegates at COP25 are also parents and we appeal to these delegates in particular," the declaration said.

"Addressing the climate crisis is not the responsibility of our children –- it’s our job as adults and parents to act."

The 12-day UN talks, underway since Monday, are mired in the small print of the 2015 Paris climate treaty's "rule book".

Despite a crescendo of public alarm, the world's major carbon polluters have shown little or no willingness to improve on carbon cutting pledges that, collectively, are not deep enough to prevent catastrophic warming, say scientists.&nbsp;&nbsp;

"Every person in the negotiations has a responsibility to act to ensure our children’s rights are safeguarded, and to disregard vested corporate interests," said Isabella Prata, a mother of two, from Parents For Future Brazil.

&nbsp;

<h3>'Letting Down Humanity'</h3>

Protecting future generations is a recurring theme at the talks, echoes by leaders and front-line diplomats alike.&nbsp;

On Monday, as 40 heads of state took turns working similar themes, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen at one point held up a stuffed polar bear.

"All of you, just like me, are so-called decision-makers, and probably have children or grandchildren who you love," he said in a scolding tone.&nbsp;

"Think about those children when you take a decision on behalf of your country," he continued. "Because our children will later think about us -- about what we did, or what we did not do."&nbsp;

Costa Rica's President Carlos Alvarado made it even more personal.

"I have a six year old kid," he said at a gathering of leaders from climate vulnerable nations. "If we are not courageous enough to take action in these weeks, we will not only be failing me and my kid, we will be letting down humanity."&nbsp;

The Paris Agreement calls for capping global warming at "well below" two degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, but the greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change keep rising.

Scientists reported this week in Madrid that CO2 emissions will rise just over 0.5 percent in 2019, to about 42 billion tonnes per year -- the equivalent of five million tonnes per hour.

Earth's average surface temperature -- which has already gone up more than 1C -- are on track to rise another two or three degrees, even if nations keep their Paris treaty promises. &nbsp;

"At our current rate of emissions, we are dangerously close to reaching tipping points which could unravel human civilisation within our own and our children’s lifetimes," the declaration said.

"We are at a turning point in the story of our species and you, the delegates of this influential UN climate summit, have an opportunity to choose what happens next."

"We know that you can and we trust that you will."

Parents from around the globe Thursday said governments locked in negotiations at UN talks in Madrid must beat back the threat of global warming to "give our children the future that they deserve".

Parents from around the globe Thursday said governments locked in negotiations at UN talks in Madrid must beat back the threat of global warming to "give our children the future that they deserve". "Our children are being handed a broken world on the verge of climate chaos and ecological breakdown," they said in an open declaration from 222 associations in 27 countries. "As parents, seeing this is agonising." The plea comes the day before young climate strikers led by Swedish teen activist Greta Thunberg plan to march through the Spanish capital under the Friday for Futures banner. The student-led movement, sparked by Thunberg's solo protests last year in front of Sweden's parliament, saw millions pour into the streets worldwide ahead of a UN climate summit in September. "Many of the delegates at COP25 are also parents and we appeal to these delegates in particular," the declaration said. "Addressing the climate crisis is not the responsibility of our children –- it’s our job as adults and parents to act." The 12-day UN talks, underway since Monday, are mired in the small print of the 2015 Paris climate treaty's "rule book". Despite a crescendo of public alarm, the world's major carbon polluters have shown little or no willingness to improve on carbon cutting pledges that, collectively, are not deep enough to prevent catastrophic warming, say scientists. "Every person in the negotiations has a responsibility to act to ensure our children’s rights are safeguarded, and to disregard vested corporate interests," said Isabella Prata, a mother of two, from Parents For Future Brazil. 'Letting Down Humanity' Protecting future generations is a recurring theme at the talks, echoes by leaders and front-line diplomats alike. On Monday, as 40 heads of state took turns working similar themes, Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen at one point held up a stuffed polar bear. "All of you, just like me, are so-called decision-makers, and probably have children or grandchildren who you love," he said in a scolding tone. "Think about those children when you take a decision on behalf of your country," he continued. "Because our children will later think about us -- about what we did, or what we did not do." Costa Rica's President Carlos Alvarado made it even more personal. "I have a six year old kid," he said at a gathering of leaders from climate vulnerable nations. "If we are not courageous enough to take action in these weeks, we will not only be failing me and my kid, we will be letting down humanity." The Paris Agreement calls for capping global warming at "well below" two degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels, but the greenhouse gas emissions that drive climate change keep rising. Scientists reported this week in Madrid that CO2 emissions will rise just over 0.5 percent in 2019, to about 42 billion tonnes per year -- the equivalent of five million tonnes per hour. Earth's average surface temperature -- which has already gone up more than 1C -- are on track to rise another two or three degrees, even if nations keep their Paris treaty promises. "At our current rate of emissions, we are dangerously close to reaching tipping points which could unravel human civilisation within our own and our children’s lifetimes," the declaration said. "We are at a turning point in the story of our species and you, the delegates of this influential UN climate summit, have an opportunity to choose what happens next." "We know that you can and we trust that you will."

'Do it for our children,' parents plead at U.N. climate meet

Afghan residents prayed and lit candles on Wednesday (December 4) after six people, including the head of a Japanese aid agency, were killed in a gun attack on an NGO vehicle.

Prayers held after gunmen kill head of Japan aid agency, five others in Afghanistan

At least 58 migrants drowned as their boat sank near the Mauritanian coast after a week at sea, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../greek-camps-near-capacity-as-refugees-face- long-wait-for-asylum-259734">International Organization for Migration</a> said Thursday.

The U.N. agency said another 83 people swam to shore, while survivors said at least 150 people including women and children were aboard the vessel, which had set sail from The Gambia on November 27.

They said the boat was running low on fuel as it was nearing the coast of the northwestern African nation.

"The Mauritanian authorities are very efficiently coordinating the response with the agencies currently present in Nouadhibou," said Laura Lungarotti, IOM's chief of mission in Mauritania.

"Our common priority is to take care of all those who survived and bring them the support they need," she added.

The injured are being treated in hospital in Nouadhibou, Mauritania's westernmost town on the Atlantic coast, the IOM statement said.

Mauritanian authorities are in contact with Gambian consular services "to ensure that the necessary support is provided to the migrants", the statement said.

The Gambian Ambassador to Mauritania is headed to Nouadhibou, it added.

At least 58 migrants drowned as their boat sank near the Mauritanian coast after a week at sea, the International Organization for Migration said Thursday. The U.

At least 58 migrants drowned as their boat sank near the Mauritanian coast after a week at sea, the International Organization for Migration said Thursday. The U.N. agency said another 83 people swam to shore, while survivors said at least 150 people including women and children were aboard the vessel, which had set sail from The Gambia on November 27. They said the boat was running low on fuel as it was nearing the coast of the northwestern African nation. "The Mauritanian authorities are very efficiently coordinating the response with the agencies currently present in Nouadhibou," said Laura Lungarotti, IOM's chief of mission in Mauritania. "Our common priority is to take care of all those who survived and bring them the support they need," she added. The injured are being treated in hospital in Nouadhibou, Mauritania's westernmost town on the Atlantic coast, the IOM statement said. Mauritanian authorities are in contact with Gambian consular services "to ensure that the necessary support is provided to the migrants", the statement said. The Gambian Ambassador to Mauritania is headed to Nouadhibou, it added.

Dozens of migrants drown as boat sinks off Mauritania: U.N.

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

Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi will be confirmed as the new director-general of the UN's nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday, with the growing crisis over Iran's nuclear programme at the top of his in-tray.

Who is Rafael Grossi?&nbsp;

The veteran diplomat, who has been serving as Argentina's ambassador to the IAEA, will be the agency's first leader from Latin America.

Grossi previously held high-level posts at the agency between 2010 and 2013, bringing him into contact with Iranian officials at a time when international negotiations over Iran's nuclear activities were intensifying.

According to the former French ambassador to Iran Francois Nicoullaud, he will able to draw on "solid experience in proliferation matters".

"He is someone of a very high calibre who comes from an important country in the nuclear field," says Nicoullaud.

A current Vienna-based diplomat said Grossi was expected to bring "a lot of energy and innovation" to the post, with a particular focus on pushing gender parity within the agency and promoting the role of nuclear energy in fighting climate change.

Grossi will be taking over from Yukiya Amano, who died in July at the age of 72 having been in post since 2009.

While the US is thought to have lobbied in his favour, diplomats say Grossi has stressed his belief in the importance of the agency's impartiality.

Iran crisis looms

Grossi begins his tenure amid a growing crisis over Iran's nuclear programme.

The IAEA is charged with monitoring the implementation of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which seems in danger of imminent collapse.

Diplomats from Iran and other remaining parties to the deal,&nbsp;the UK, France, Germany, China and Russia,&nbsp;will gather in Vienna on Friday to discuss ways forward for the crumbling deal.

Since May, Iran has taken a series of measures breaking limits on its nuclear activities laid down in the deal, including on the amount and the enrichment level of its uranium stockpile.

Iran insists it has the right to do this in retaliation for the US's withdrawal from the deal in 2018 and subsequent re-imposition of sanctions, which have placed a huge strain on the Iranian economy.

Iran has said another step away from the deal is likely in early January, with some speculation that it could announce that is increasing its uranium enrichment level yet further.

Ali Vaez from the International Crisis Group says the point of collapse could be in a matter of weeks.

"The Iranians are simply running out of measures that are easy to reverse and non-controversial," he says.

Vaez adds that a fresh Iranian move to breach the deal could finally push the European signatories to trigger the so-called "dispute resolution mechanism" foreseen in the 2015 accord,&nbsp;and that in turn would lead to the automatic resumption of UN sanctions on Iran.

The return of those sanctions would mark the "death blow" of the agreement, according to Kelsey Davenport of the Arms Control Association.

In such a scenario, says Vaez, "we will have a major non-proliferation crisis on our hands in the sense that the Russians and the Chinese have already declared they would not recognise the return of (sanctions)".

Some expect that in this scenario Iran would leave the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).

Undeclared site

There have been other points of friction between Iran and the IAEA in recent months.

The agency has been asking Iran to provide explanations for the presence of uranium particles at an undeclared site it took samples from in the spring.

While the IAEA has not named the site in question, diplomatic sources have previously said the agency asked Iran about a site in the Turquzabad district of Tehran, where Israel has alleged secret atomic activity in the past.

Added to this is an incident in October in which an IAEA inspector was briefly prevented from leaving Iran after triggering a security alarm.

She was allowed to return to Vienna but the IAEA has condemned her treatment as "not acceptable". One Vienna-based diplomat said that Tehran had received little support in the matter, "even from countries that normally do sympathise with Iran."

Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi will be confirmed as the new director-general of the UN's nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday, with the growing crisis over Iran's nuclear programme at the top of his in-tray.

Argentine diplomat Rafael Grossi will be confirmed as the new director-general of the UN's nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Monday, with the growing crisis over Iran's nuclear programme at the top of his in-tray. Who is Rafael Grossi? The veteran diplomat, who has been serving as Argentina's ambassador to the IAEA, will be the agency's first leader from Latin America. Grossi previously held high-level posts at the agency between 2010 and 2013, bringing him into contact with Iranian officials at a time when international negotiations over Iran's nuclear activities were intensifying. According to the former French ambassador to Iran Francois Nicoullaud, he will able to draw on "solid experience in proliferation matters". "He is someone of a very high calibre who comes from an important country in the nuclear field," says Nicoullaud. A current Vienna-based diplomat said Grossi was expected to bring "a lot of energy and innovation" to the post, with a particular focus on pushing gender parity within the agency and promoting the role of nuclear energy in fighting climate change. Grossi will be taking over from Yukiya Amano, who died in July at the age of 72 having been in post since 2009. While the US is thought to have lobbied in his favour, diplomats say Grossi has stressed his belief in the importance of the agency's impartiality. Iran crisis looms Grossi begins his tenure amid a growing crisis over Iran's nuclear programme. The IAEA is charged with monitoring the implementation of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which seems in danger of imminent collapse. Diplomats from Iran and other remaining parties to the deal, the UK, France, Germany, China and Russia, will gather in Vienna on Friday to discuss ways forward for the crumbling deal. Since May, Iran has taken a series of measures breaking limits on its nuclear activities laid down in the deal, including on the amount and the enrichment level of its uranium stockpile. Iran insists it has the right to do this in retaliation for the US's withdrawal from the deal in 2018 and subsequent re-imposition of sanctions, which have placed a huge strain on the Iranian economy. Iran has said another step away from the deal is likely in early January, with some speculation that it could announce that is increasing its uranium enrichment level yet further. Ali Vaez from the International Crisis Group says the point of collapse could be in a matter of weeks. "The Iranians are simply running out of measures that are easy to reverse and non-controversial," he says. Vaez adds that a fresh Iranian move to breach the deal could finally push the European signatories to trigger the so-called "dispute resolution mechanism" foreseen in the 2015 accord, and that in turn would lead to the automatic resumption of UN sanctions on Iran. The return of those sanctions would mark the "death blow" of the agreement, according to Kelsey Davenport of the Arms Control Association. In such a scenario, says Vaez, "we will have a major non-proliferation crisis on our hands in the sense that the Russians and the Chinese have already declared they would not recognise the return of (sanctions)". Some expect that in this scenario Iran would leave the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Undeclared site There have been other points of friction between Iran and the IAEA in recent months. The agency has been asking Iran to provide explanations for the presence of uranium particles at an undeclared site it took samples from in the spring. While the IAEA has not named the site in question, diplomatic sources have previously said the agency asked Iran about a site in the Turquzabad district of Tehran, where Israel has alleged secret atomic activity in the past. Added to this is an incident in October in which an IAEA inspector was briefly prevented from leaving Iran after triggering a security alarm. She was allowed to return to Vienna but the IAEA has condemned her treatment as "not acceptable". One Vienna-based diplomat said that Tehran had received little support in the matter, "even from countries that normally do sympathise with Iran."

Rafael Grossi to become new director-general of UN's nuclear watchdog IAEA amid Iran tensions

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../dhl-to-debut-zero-emission-electric-delivery- vans-in-us-cities-264556">Greenhouse gas emissions</a> surged to a record level last year and world temperatures could rise by more than twice the globally agreed warming limit if nothing is done, a U.N. report showed on Tuesday.

The "Emissions Gap Report" is one of several studies released ahead of U.N. climate talks in Madrid next week aimed at spurring world leaders to limit climate change.

It measures the amount of emissions cuts needed to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, as agreed in the key <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../worlds-energy-watchdog-is-undermining- climate-change-battle-critics-say-261730">2015 Paris Agreement</a>. The U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change last year warned of huge global changes if that target is not met, such as the loss of nearly all coral reefs and most Arctic sea ice.

Under current national pledges to cut emissions, "temperatures can be expected to rise by 3.2C this century, bringing wide-ranging and destructive climate impacts," said a summary of the report by the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP).

"Being a grandfather - we don't want to leave that for our grandkids," the report's lead author John Christensen told a news conference.

The report said the safest temperature threshold set in Paris - of 1.5C - was still achievable, but would require emissions cuts of 7.6 per cent&nbsp;a year between 2020-2030, the report said. Limiting the rise to 2C it would mean annual cuts of 2.7 per cent.

"We are talking about transformational change now - incremental change simply will not make it. We simply need to transform societies in the next 10 years," Christensen said.

"The longer you wait, the more difficult it becomes."

The report showed that emissions, including those from land-use change such as deforestation, had not yet peaked and rose to a record 55.3 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2018.

Christensen said some of those that had met their targets comfortably, such as Turkey and Russia, should tighten them significantly.

The report named the United States as one of several large emitters alongside Brazil and Japan falling short of its own targets, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This month, the Trump administration filed paperwork to quit the Paris Agreement in the first step of a formal withdrawal process.

Countries face a 2020 deadline to set more ambitious emissions cut pledges.

"Had we done it 10 years ago, it would have been easier," said Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director. "But the time is now and the opportunity is now."

Greenhouse gas emissions surged to a record level last year and world temperatures could rise by more than twice the globally agreed warming limit if nothing is done, a U.

Greenhouse gas emissions surged to a record level last year and world temperatures could rise by more than twice the globally agreed warming limit if nothing is done, a U.N. report showed on Tuesday. The "Emissions Gap Report" is one of several studies released ahead of U.N. climate talks in Madrid next week aimed at spurring world leaders to limit climate change. It measures the amount of emissions cuts needed to limit global temperature rises to 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels, as agreed in the key 2015 Paris Agreement. The U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change last year warned of huge global changes if that target is not met, such as the loss of nearly all coral reefs and most Arctic sea ice. Under current national pledges to cut emissions, "temperatures can be expected to rise by 3.2C this century, bringing wide-ranging and destructive climate impacts," said a summary of the report by the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP). "Being a grandfather - we don't want to leave that for our grandkids," the report's lead author John Christensen told a news conference. The report said the safest temperature threshold set in Paris - of 1.5C - was still achievable, but would require emissions cuts of 7.6 per cent a year between 2020-2030, the report said. Limiting the rise to 2C it would mean annual cuts of 2.7 per cent. "We are talking about transformational change now - incremental change simply will not make it. We simply need to transform societies in the next 10 years," Christensen said. "The longer you wait, the more difficult it becomes." The report showed that emissions, including those from land-use change such as deforestation, had not yet peaked and rose to a record 55.3 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2018. Christensen said some of those that had met their targets comfortably, such as Turkey and Russia, should tighten them significantly. The report named the United States as one of several large emitters alongside Brazil and Japan falling short of its own targets, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This month, the Trump administration filed paperwork to quit the Paris Agreement in the first step of a formal withdrawal process. Countries face a 2020 deadline to set more ambitious emissions cut pledges. "Had we done it 10 years ago, it would have been easier," said Inger Andersen, UNEP Executive Director. "But the time is now and the opportunity is now."

Greenhouse emissions hit new record, could bring 'destructive' effects: U.N.

The United Nations urged <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hezbollah-says-its-arms-wont-be-twisted-as-lebanon-crisis-deepens-261378">Lebanon</a> on Tuesday to form a competent new government that would be better placed to seek international aid, warning the country was in a critical financial and economic situation.

Lebanon's banks and schools were shut in a new wave of disruption as politicians struggled to agree on a new government to steer the country out of its worst economic crisis since the 1975-90 civil war.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fuel-shortage-price-hikes-squeeze-protest-hit-lebanon-261109">Lebanon has been swept by weeks of protests</a> fuelled by anger at the ruling elite, including several former civil war militia leaders, widely perceived to have overseen rampant state corruption for decades.

The top UN&nbsp;official in Lebanon called for the urgent formation of a cabinet made up of people known "for their competence and integrity" that would be "trusted by the people". Such a government would be in "a better position to appeal for support from Lebanon’s international partners".

"The financial and economic situation is critical, and the government and other authorities cannot wait any longer to start addressing it," the UN&nbsp;Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jan Kubis, said after meeting President Michel Aoun along with a group of foreign ambassadors.

The head of an importers' syndicate said restrictions on payments abroad were getting worse and further bank closures were not helping.

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Aoun said formal consultations with MPs to nominate a new prime minister and form the cabinet would be held soon. Ahead of the formal discussions, politicians have been trying to agree on the composition of the government to replace caretaker Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri's outgoing cabinet.

Bank branches, which were closed for nearly half of October, shut again as staff went on strike over security fears, a union leader said, citing intimidation by customers demanding access to their money and by protesters who have gathered at banks.

The union, representing bank employees, called for the closure to continue on Wednesday.

The economic crisis stems largely from a slowdown of capital inflows which has led to a scarcity of US&nbsp;dollars and generated a black market where the Lebanese pound has weakened below its official pegged rate.

A foreign exchange dealer said a dollar cost 1,820 pounds, about the level on Friday when banks were last open and around 20% weaker than the pegged rate of 1,507.5 pounds. Some retailers used the higher rate for the purchase of goods priced in dollars, although it did not appear on official receipts.

Sluggish economy

Since reopening on November&nbsp;1 after a two-week closure, banks have been seeking to prevent capital flight by imposing restrictions on dollar withdrawals and transfers abroad.

"We aim to meet with the Association of Banks in Lebanon today and decide how we're going to work together to solve this issue so that bank employees are not harassed," President of the Federation of Syndicates of Bank Employees George al-Hajj said.

ATM machines will be stocked so that depositors do not feel "punished" by the strike action, Hajj said.

Lebanon's central bank said on Monday that bank deposits were secure and it had the ability to preserve the stability of the pegged Lebanese pound.

Hani Bohsali, general manager of Bohsali Foods and president of the Syndicate of Importers of Foodstuffs, Consumer Products and Drinks, which represents around 50 importers, said while some shortages were being felt these were not yet "strategic".

"There is a lack of outgoing transfers, so in return there is a lack of inflow of goods, and suppliers are now starting to hold shipments that have not been paid for," he said.

While some payments had been processed since banks reopened, he added: "The trend is negative, it is decreasing".

"People are angry"

At a news conference, central bank governor Riad Salameh said on Monday capital controls were not on the table and there would be no haircut - or value-reduction - on deposits.

Schools were also closed on Tuesday, a decision the education minister announced because of calls for a wider strike and out of respect for "students' right to express their views".

Protesters rallied in several towns and cities, and in Tripoli they blocked the main highway linking the northern city, Lebanon's second biggest, to Beirut with burning tyres.

"People are angry, the authorities colluded against us and are delaying us. They are not sympathising with our feelings, nor our pain, nor with the time we are spending on the streets," said one of the protesters, Rabih al-Zein.

The United Nations urged Lebanon on Tuesday to form a competent new government that would be better placed to seek international aid, warning the country was in a critical financial and economic situation.

The United Nations urged Lebanon on Tuesday to form a competent new government that would be better placed to seek international aid, warning the country was in a critical financial and economic situation. Lebanon's banks and schools were shut in a new wave of disruption as politicians struggled to agree on a new government to steer the country out of its worst economic crisis since the 1975-90 civil war. Lebanon has been swept by weeks of protests fuelled by anger at the ruling elite, including several former civil war militia leaders, widely perceived to have overseen rampant state corruption for decades. The top UN official in Lebanon called for the urgent formation of a cabinet made up of people known "for their competence and integrity" that would be "trusted by the people". Such a government would be in "a better position to appeal for support from Lebanon’s international partners". "The financial and economic situation is critical, and the government and other authorities cannot wait any longer to start addressing it," the UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon, Jan Kubis, said after meeting President Michel Aoun along with a group of foreign ambassadors. The head of an importers' syndicate said restrictions on payments abroad were getting worse and further bank closures were not helping. × Aoun said formal consultations with MPs to nominate a new prime minister and form the cabinet would be held soon. Ahead of the formal discussions, politicians have been trying to agree on the composition of the government to replace caretaker Prime Minister Saad al-Hariri's outgoing cabinet. Bank branches, which were closed for nearly half of October, shut again as staff went on strike over security fears, a union leader said, citing intimidation by customers demanding access to their money and by protesters who have gathered at banks. The union, representing bank employees, called for the closure to continue on Wednesday. The economic crisis stems largely from a slowdown of capital inflows which has led to a scarcity of US dollars and generated a black market where the Lebanese pound has weakened below its official pegged rate. A foreign exchange dealer said a dollar cost 1,820 pounds, about the level on Friday when banks were last open and around 20% weaker than the pegged rate of 1,507.5 pounds. Some retailers used the higher rate for the purchase of goods priced in dollars, although it did not appear on official receipts. Sluggish economy Since reopening on November 1 after a two-week closure, banks have been seeking to prevent capital flight by imposing restrictions on dollar withdrawals and transfers abroad. "We aim to meet with the Association of Banks in Lebanon today and decide how we're going to work together to solve this issue so that bank employees are not harassed," President of the Federation of Syndicates of Bank Employees George al-Hajj said. ATM machines will be stocked so that depositors do not feel "punished" by the strike action, Hajj said. Lebanon's central bank said on Monday that bank deposits were secure and it had the ability to preserve the stability of the pegged Lebanese pound. Hani Bohsali, general manager of Bohsali Foods and president of the Syndicate of Importers of Foodstuffs, Consumer Products and Drinks, which represents around 50 importers, said while some shortages were being felt these were not yet "strategic". "There is a lack of outgoing transfers, so in return there is a lack of inflow of goods, and suppliers are now starting to hold shipments that have not been paid for," he said. While some payments had been processed since banks reopened, he added: "The trend is negative, it is decreasing". "People are angry" At a news conference, central bank governor Riad Salameh said on Monday capital controls were not on the table and there would be no haircut - or value-reduction - on deposits. Schools were also closed on Tuesday, a decision the education minister announced because of calls for a wider strike and out of respect for "students' right to express their views". Protesters rallied in several towns and cities, and in Tripoli they blocked the main highway linking the northern city, Lebanon's second biggest, to Beirut with burning tyres. "People are angry, the authorities colluded against us and are delaying us. They are not sympathising with our feelings, nor our pain, nor with the time we are spending on the streets," said one of the protesters, Rabih al-Zein.

United Nations urges Lebanon to form government of 'competence', banks close

The United Nations Headquarters in New York City will be closed on weekends&nbsp;owing to the ongoing cash crisis.

On October 8<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/united-nations-may-run-out-of-money-by-end-of-the-month-secretary-general-antonio-guterres-254359"> Secretary-General Antonio Guterres</a> had said that the United Nations is running a deficit of $230 million and may run out of money by the end of October.

As of October 10 2019, 131 Member States have paid their regular budget assessments in full.

The 34 member states which paid their regular budget assessments in full before January 31, 2019, include India, Australia, and Canada.

Additional 97 states paid their dues in full by in the period after January 31 and leading up to October 10 2019. These include the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, France, Russia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

In a letter sent out earlier this month intended for the 37,000 employees at the U.N. secretariat and obtained by AFP, Guterres said unspecified "additional stop-gap measures" would have to be taken to ensure salaries and entitlements are paid.

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The UNHQ buildings in NYC will be closed on weekends (Saturday-Sunday) due to the ongoing cash crisis. 
 
Has your country made its contribution to this year's regular UN budget yet? 
 
See which countries are on the honour roll: <a href="https://t.co/vyLe4dEHjb">https://t.co/vyLe4dEHjb</a> <a href="https://t.co/VG3jSXIi4O">pic.twitter.com/VG3jSXIi4O</a>
— United Nations (@UN) <a href="https://twitter.com/UN/status/1185270571988176896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 18, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Majority of the member countries (127) paid their dues in the month of September with the least number of payments (37) coming in the month of January.

"Member States have paid only 70 per cent of the total amount needed for our regular budget operations in 2019. This translates into a cash shortage of $230 million at the end of September. We run the risk of depleting our backup liquidity reserves by the end of the month," he wrote.

To cut costs, Guterres mentioned postponing conferences and meetings and reducing services, while also restricting official travel to only essential activities and taking measures to save energy.

Guterres had asked member states earlier this year to up contributions to the world body to head off cash flow problems, but they refused, a U.N. official said on condition of anonymity.

"The ultimate responsibility for our financial health lies with the Member States," Guterres said.

Not including what it pays for peacekeeping operations, the U.N.'s operating budget for 2018-2019 is close to $5.4 billion, with the United States contributing 22 per cent.

(With inputs from AFP)

The United Nations Headquarters in New York City will be closed on weekends owing to the ongoing cash crisis. On October 8 Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had said that the United Nations is running a deficit of $230 million and may run out of money by the end of October.

The United Nations Headquarters in New York City will be closed on weekends owing to the ongoing cash crisis. On October 8 Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had said that the United Nations is running a deficit of $230 million and may run out of money by the end of October. As of October 10 2019, 131 Member States have paid their regular budget assessments in full. The 34 member states which paid their regular budget assessments in full before January 31, 2019, include India, Australia, and Canada. Additional 97 states paid their dues in full by in the period after January 31 and leading up to October 10 2019. These include the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, France, Russia, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. In a letter sent out earlier this month intended for the 37,000 employees at the U.N. secretariat and obtained by AFP, Guterres said unspecified "additional stop-gap measures" would have to be taken to ensure salaries and entitlements are paid. The UNHQ buildings in NYC will be closed on weekends (Saturday-Sunday) due to the ongoing cash crisis. Has your country made its contribution to this year's regular UN budget yet? See which countries are on the honour roll: https://t.co/vyLe4dEHjb pic.twitter.com/VG3jSXIi4O — United Nations (@UN) October 18, 2019 × Majority of the member countries (127) paid their dues in the month of September with the least number of payments (37) coming in the month of January. "Member States have paid only 70 per cent of the total amount needed for our regular budget operations in 2019. This translates into a cash shortage of $230 million at the end of September. We run the risk of depleting our backup liquidity reserves by the end of the month," he wrote. To cut costs, Guterres mentioned postponing conferences and meetings and reducing services, while also restricting official travel to only essential activities and taking measures to save energy. Guterres had asked member states earlier this year to up contributions to the world body to head off cash flow problems, but they refused, a U.N. official said on condition of anonymity. "The ultimate responsibility for our financial health lies with the Member States," Guterres said. Not including what it pays for peacekeeping operations, the U.N.'s operating budget for 2018-2019 is close to $5.4 billion, with the United States contributing 22 per cent. (With inputs from AFP)

United Nations headquarters to stay shut on weekends due to cash crisis

The UN said Friday that it would send a team of investigators to Ecuador, following an invitation from the government, to investigate alleged violations committed during recent deadly protests.

The United Nations rights office said that three of its staff members would visit from October 20 through November 8 to look into allegations of abuses, including by state security forces.

The announcement came after President Lenin Moreno and indigenous leaders reached an agreement Sunday to end nearly two weeks of violent protests against austerity measures adopted to obtain a multi-billion-dollar loan from the IMF.

The demonstrations, which left eight people dead and some 1,300 injured, were sparked when Moreno scrapped fuel subsidies to obtain a $4.2 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, causing prices to double.

"Our Office has received allegations of human rights violations committed by state security forces, as well as reports of crimes committed by third parties," UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva.

She also voiced concern about reports of arrests, including of political actors and elected officials, in connection with the protests that erupted on October 3.

Shamdasani said the UN welcomed Ecuador’s willingness to engage with the rights office.&nbsp;

She said UN investigators would seek to meet with government officials, indigenous leaders, representatives of civil society, journalists and others to gather first-hand information on the violence.

The UN, she said, was calling "on the authorities to conduct a prompt, effective, transparent, independent, and impartial investigations into all human rights violations and abuses committed in the context of the protests."

The UN said Friday that it would send a team of investigators to Ecuador, following an invitation from the government, to investigate alleged violations committed during recent deadly protests.

The UN said Friday that it would send a team of investigators to Ecuador, following an invitation from the government, to investigate alleged violations committed during recent deadly protests. The United Nations rights office said that three of its staff members would visit from October 20 through November 8 to look into allegations of abuses, including by state security forces. The announcement came after President Lenin Moreno and indigenous leaders reached an agreement Sunday to end nearly two weeks of violent protests against austerity measures adopted to obtain a multi-billion-dollar loan from the IMF. The demonstrations, which left eight people dead and some 1,300 injured, were sparked when Moreno scrapped fuel subsidies to obtain a $4.2 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund, causing prices to double. "Our Office has received allegations of human rights violations committed by state security forces, as well as reports of crimes committed by third parties," UN rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told reporters in Geneva. She also voiced concern about reports of arrests, including of political actors and elected officials, in connection with the protests that erupted on October 3. Shamdasani said the UN welcomed Ecuador’s willingness to engage with the rights office. She said UN investigators would seek to meet with government officials, indigenous leaders, representatives of civil society, journalists and others to gather first-hand information on the violence. The UN, she said, was calling "on the authorities to conduct a prompt, effective, transparent, independent, and impartial investigations into all human rights violations and abuses committed in the context of the protests."

UN to probe rights abuses in Ecuador after deadly protests

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria called on Wednesday for an immediate <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/arrests-extortion-detention-syrians-warned-against-heading-home-256255">end to hostilities along its border with Turkey</a>, where Ankara has launched an assault and Damascus advanced its forces after United States&nbsp;troops pulled out.

Geir Pedersen raised Turkey's week-old incursion into northeastern Syria in talks in Damascus Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem.

Pedersen told Reuters TV the U.N. was extremely concerned about the humanitarian consequences of the crisis and called for an "immediate cessation of hostilities".

Moualem was quoted by state news agency SANA as saying <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hundreds-of-syria-kurds-seek-refuge-in-iraq-256251">Turkey's aggression was prolonging the crisis in Syria</a> and undermining efforts to secure a political settlement.

Pedersen's trip had been planned to discuss preparations for the first meeting of Syria's Constitutional Committee, due to take place in Geneva on October&nbsp;30.

A congress convened by Russia, a leading ally of Syrian President Bashir al-Assad, has asked the United Nations to form the 150-member committee to draft a new constitution after many rounds of talks to end the war had failed.

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria called on Wednesday for an immediate end to hostilities along its border with Turkey, where Ankara has launched an assault and Damascus advanced its forces after United States troops pulled out.

The United Nations Special Envoy for Syria called on Wednesday for an immediate end to hostilities along its border with Turkey, where Ankara has launched an assault and Damascus advanced its forces after United States troops pulled out. Geir Pedersen raised Turkey's week-old incursion into northeastern Syria in talks in Damascus Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moualem. Pedersen told Reuters TV the U.N. was extremely concerned about the humanitarian consequences of the crisis and called for an "immediate cessation of hostilities". Moualem was quoted by state news agency SANA as saying Turkey's aggression was prolonging the crisis in Syria and undermining efforts to secure a political settlement. Pedersen's trip had been planned to discuss preparations for the first meeting of Syria's Constitutional Committee, due to take place in Geneva on October 30. A congress convened by Russia, a leading ally of Syrian President Bashir al-Assad, has asked the United Nations to form the 150-member committee to draft a new constitution after many rounds of talks to end the war had failed.

United Nations Syria envoy calls for ceasefire in northeast border area

Hundreds of people were killed or wounded in violence related to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/unidentified-gunmen-kill-prosecutor-in-ghor-province-255800">Afghanistan's recent presidential election</a> season as the Taliban sought to undermine the democratic process, a United Nations agency said Tuesday.

The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that 85 people were killed and another 373 wounded in election violence during the period from June 8 to September 30.

On polling day alone, 28 civilians were killed and 249 injured. Children accounted for more than one-third of the victims.

Despite the high toll, Afghan security forces said election day was a success because the Taliban failed to pull off any large-scale attacks that stole the headlines.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/policeman-killed-4-others-injured-in-bomb-blast-in-southern-afghanistan-255057">The majority of Taliban attacks</a> involved the use of rockets, grenades and mortars, as well as homemade bombs planted near polling centres, including schools, the report found.

On July 28, the same day as the election campaign started, militants targeted the office of Ghani's running mate Amrullah Saleh in Kabul, killing 21 people and wounding another 50.

"These attacks, along with public statements made by the Taliban, revealed a deliberate campaign intended to undermine the electoral process and deprive Afghan citizens of their right to participate in this important political process, freely and without fear," Tadamichi Yamamoto, the U.N. secretary-general's special representative for Afghanistan, said in a statement.

The casualty figures are actually a substantial improvement in the run-up to parliamentary elections held a year ago, when UNAMA tallied 226 deaths and 781 injuries.

Final election turnout figures have yet to be released but it appears participation in this year's first-round presidential vote is at record low levels.

Voters stayed away, wary of repeated Taliban threats to attack polling stations and also despondent about the chances of their ballots being fairly counted in a country that has seen systemic and large-scale electoral fraud.

The Independent Election Commission, however, insists multiple safeguards including biometric verification will make this year's vote the cleanest yet.

Preliminary results are due Saturday, though officials have suggested this date will be pushed back a few days.

The race is seen as a two-horse steeplechase between President Ashraf Ghani and his top rival Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah.

If no one wins a majority of more than 50 per cent, the elections will go to a second round.

Hundreds of people were killed or wounded in violence related to Afghanistan's recent presidential election season as the Taliban sought to undermine the democratic process, a United Nations agency said Tuesday.

Hundreds of people were killed or wounded in violence related to Afghanistan's recent presidential election season as the Taliban sought to undermine the democratic process, a United Nations agency said Tuesday. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) reported that 85 people were killed and another 373 wounded in election violence during the period from June 8 to September 30. On polling day alone, 28 civilians were killed and 249 injured. Children accounted for more than one-third of the victims. Despite the high toll, Afghan security forces said election day was a success because the Taliban failed to pull off any large-scale attacks that stole the headlines. The majority of Taliban attacks involved the use of rockets, grenades and mortars, as well as homemade bombs planted near polling centres, including schools, the report found. On July 28, the same day as the election campaign started, militants targeted the office of Ghani's running mate Amrullah Saleh in Kabul, killing 21 people and wounding another 50. "These attacks, along with public statements made by the Taliban, revealed a deliberate campaign intended to undermine the electoral process and deprive Afghan citizens of their right to participate in this important political process, freely and without fear," Tadamichi Yamamoto, the U.N. secretary-general's special representative for Afghanistan, said in a statement. The casualty figures are actually a substantial improvement in the run-up to parliamentary elections held a year ago, when UNAMA tallied 226 deaths and 781 injuries. Final election turnout figures have yet to be released but it appears participation in this year's first-round presidential vote is at record low levels. Voters stayed away, wary of repeated Taliban threats to attack polling stations and also despondent about the chances of their ballots being fairly counted in a country that has seen systemic and large-scale electoral fraud. The Independent Election Commission, however, insists multiple safeguards including biometric verification will make this year's vote the cleanest yet. Preliminary results are due Saturday, though officials have suggested this date will be pushed back a few days. The race is seen as a two-horse steeplechase between President Ashraf Ghani and his top rival Chief Executive Abdullah Abdullah. If no one wins a majority of more than 50 per cent, the elections will go to a second round.

Afghanistan election campaign witnessed 85 deaths, 373 injured civilians: United Nations

Understanding United Nations' Financial Woes United Nations is cash-strapped. Secretary-General himself says that U.N. is facing a cash shortage of $230 Million. Remember U.N. owes India a huge debt. It also uses India's peacekeeping forces, but hasn't offered India a permanent membership at the UNSC. This report explains

Gravitas: United Nations is running out of funds

Sixteen-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has made it her mission to lower greenhouse gas emissions and make the world a greener, more sustainable place. She was widely celebrated after her speech at the United Nations this September. But many critics have said she is being used. World leaders&nbsp;have criticised her and have divided views over Greta becoming face of the climate change movement.

While there are many who support Greta’s climate change movement, US President Donald Trump has already criticised Greta Thunberg for her speech at the U.N. Even, the Australian PM Scott Morrison is not far behind to take a jibe at young climate change activists, he criticised her saying that 'let kids be kids', adult should do the work.

Russian President Vladimir Putin recently dismissed Greta as poorly informed teenager and said that someone is using the teenager to make money out of it. Targeting her speech and activism, Putin called her “poorly informed teenager who is telling developing countries that they should keep living in poverty. While sending a contemptuous and passionate admonishment to the UN leaders in New York, the 16-year-old climate activist accused five of the world's prime leaders of betraying younger generations through inadequate action on the deteriorating climate conditions. Greta’s complaint accuses Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, and Turkey of inaction on global warming that violates the UN convention on the rights of the child. After this accusation, French president Emmanuel Macron told that her stance is very radical and likely to "antagonize societies.”

From news commentators to world leaders and even one of the biggest fashion brand like Louis Vuitton are dismissing Greta’s activism against climate change and the number of people panning her has been piling up, one of the leading US News channel called Thunberg’s United Nations speech “chilling,” and ran segment about how climate change “hysteria” is changing American youth.

However, it's important to note that there are people who have been supporting her too and she has been an inspiration for many youths who are raising issues which matters to the world.

From Trudeau joining climate march in Montreal to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s offer to lend&nbsp;his electric car to Thunberg, Greta has gathered support from the world. Even Prince Harry thinks there's an emergency and the world's children are striking.

Detractors have dismissed Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, a Nobel prize nominee as mentally ill, hysterical and a millennial individualist after she pleaded with world officials last week to address the climate crisis. Thunberg has Asperger's syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder often characterised by social awkwardness, difficulty interpreting social cues, and an obsessive preoccupation with a particular interest.

But in reality, Thunberg is cutting through—rather than displaying sentiments and emotions. What certain leaders do not wish to acknowledge is that asking for action on climate change is entirely rational. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) &nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Sixteen-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has made it her mission to lower greenhouse gas emissions and make the world a greener, more sustainable place. She was widely celebrated after her speech at the United Nations this September.

Sixteen-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has made it her mission to lower greenhouse gas emissions and make the world a greener, more sustainable place. She was widely celebrated after her speech at the United Nations this September. But many critics have said she is being used. World leaders have criticised her and have divided views over Greta becoming face of the climate change movement. While there are many who support Greta’s climate change movement, US President Donald Trump has already criticised Greta Thunberg for her speech at the U.N. Even, the Australian PM Scott Morrison is not far behind to take a jibe at young climate change activists, he criticised her saying that 'let kids be kids', adult should do the work. Russian President Vladimir Putin recently dismissed Greta as poorly informed teenager and said that someone is using the teenager to make money out of it. Targeting her speech and activism, Putin called her “poorly informed teenager who is telling developing countries that they should keep living in poverty. While sending a contemptuous and passionate admonishment to the UN leaders in New York, the 16-year-old climate activist accused five of the world's prime leaders of betraying younger generations through inadequate action on the deteriorating climate conditions. Greta’s complaint accuses Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, and Turkey of inaction on global warming that violates the UN convention on the rights of the child. After this accusation, French president Emmanuel Macron told that her stance is very radical and likely to "antagonize societies.” From news commentators to world leaders and even one of the biggest fashion brand like Louis Vuitton are dismissing Greta’s activism against climate change and the number of people panning her has been piling up, one of the leading US News channel called Thunberg’s United Nations speech “chilling,” and ran segment about how climate change “hysteria” is changing American youth. However, it's important to note that there are people who have been supporting her too and she has been an inspiration for many youths who are raising issues which matters to the world. From Trudeau joining climate march in Montreal to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s offer to lend his electric car to Thunberg, Greta has gathered support from the world. Even Prince Harry thinks there's an emergency and the world's children are striking. Detractors have dismissed Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, a Nobel prize nominee as mentally ill, hysterical and a millennial individualist after she pleaded with world officials last week to address the climate crisis. Thunberg has Asperger's syndrome, an autism spectrum disorder often characterised by social awkwardness, difficulty interpreting social cues, and an obsessive preoccupation with a particular interest. But in reality, Thunberg is cutting through—rather than displaying sentiments and emotions. What certain leaders do not wish to acknowledge is that asking for action on climate change is entirely rational. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Greta Thunberg: To be or not to be

The U.N's nuclear watchdog said Friday Iran had taken "a step in the right direction" towards dealing with questions on its nuclear programme but cautioned that the issues have not been "completely addressed".

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) did not detail what the questions related to but said it was "discussing substance" with the Iranians.

There has been "engagement" from Tehran in recent weeks on questions relating to its nuclear safeguards declarations to the agency, IAEA acting head Cornel Feruta told journalists in Vienna.

"(That) engagement doesn't mean that the issues are completely addressed but it's a step in the right direction," he added.

Feruta said the queries did not touch directly on the faltering 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers but rather on Iran's separate safeguards agreement with the agency.

Diplomatic sources in Vienna say the agency has been waiting for information from the Iranians relating to samples taken earlier this year from a warehouse near the capital Tehran.

In 2018, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of using the site for undeclared nuclear activity.

At the beginning of September, Feruta had meetings with high-level officials in Tehran and subsequently urged Iran to "respond promptly" to the IAEA's questions, adding: "Time is of the essence."

On Friday, he said the IAEA had "been having a very active dialogue with Iran at both technical and higher levels in the past few weeks."

Feruta met Iran's atomic energy agency chief Ali Akbar Salehi during the IAEA's General Conference in Vienna in late September, followed by meetings with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his deputy Abbas Araghchi during the UN General Assembly in New York.

"I think the message we sent out in September and also during my visit to Tehran was understood by the Iranian officials and as a result, we have this engagement on these particular issues," Feruta said.

The latest developments come a week after the IAEA reported that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-uses-advanced-centrifuges-in-new-nuclear-deal-breach-iaea-252257">Iran had started using advanced models of centrifuges</a> to enrich uranium, a fresh breach of the 2015 deal.

Iran has been progressively abandoning commitments under the deal in response to the US withdrawal from the pact and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-demands-united-states-pay-more-for-a-wider-deal-252151">re-imposition of sanctions.</a>

The U.N's nuclear watchdog said Friday Iran had taken "a step in the right direction" towards dealing with questions on its nuclear programme but cautioned that the issues have not been "completely addressed".

The U.N's nuclear watchdog said Friday Iran had taken "a step in the right direction" towards dealing with questions on its nuclear programme but cautioned that the issues have not been "completely addressed". The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) did not detail what the questions related to but said it was "discussing substance" with the Iranians. There has been "engagement" from Tehran in recent weeks on questions relating to its nuclear safeguards declarations to the agency, IAEA acting head Cornel Feruta told journalists in Vienna. "(That) engagement doesn't mean that the issues are completely addressed but it's a step in the right direction," he added. Feruta said the queries did not touch directly on the faltering 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers but rather on Iran's separate safeguards agreement with the agency. Diplomatic sources in Vienna say the agency has been waiting for information from the Iranians relating to samples taken earlier this year from a warehouse near the capital Tehran. In 2018, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused Iran of using the site for undeclared nuclear activity. At the beginning of September, Feruta had meetings with high-level officials in Tehran and subsequently urged Iran to "respond promptly" to the IAEA's questions, adding: "Time is of the essence." On Friday, he said the IAEA had "been having a very active dialogue with Iran at both technical and higher levels in the past few weeks." Feruta met Iran's atomic energy agency chief Ali Akbar Salehi during the IAEA's General Conference in Vienna in late September, followed by meetings with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his deputy Abbas Araghchi during the UN General Assembly in New York. "I think the message we sent out in September and also during my visit to Tehran was understood by the Iranian officials and as a result, we have this engagement on these particular issues," Feruta said. The latest developments come a week after the IAEA reported that Iran had started using advanced models of centrifuges to enrich uranium, a fresh breach of the 2015 deal. Iran has been progressively abandoning commitments under the deal in response to the US withdrawal from the pact and re-imposition of sanctions.

U.N. nuclear watchdog says Iran taking 'step in right direction'

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi lost his cool on being asked to name the 58 countries that Prime Minister Imran Khan commended for backing Islamabad on its stance on the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/youth-from-jammu-and-kashmir-line-up-to-join-indian-army-in-srinagar-253536">Kashmir</a> issue at the UNHRC.

During a talk show on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-summons-indian-envoy-following-ceasefire-violation-along-line-of-control-253275">Pakistan </a>TV channel Express-News, Qureshi was asked the question as he had repeatedly endorsed Khan's statement that 58 countries had supported Islamabad on the Kashmir issue, reported Sputnik news agency.

"On whose agenda are you working?"Khan snapped at talk show host Javed Chaudhry.

"Are you going to tell me or decide which countries have or have not supported Pakistan at the UN? You may write whatever you want!"

On being again pressed for endorsing Khan's comment on his own Twitter handle, Qureshi said, No! No! Show me the tweet I have written, not what Prime Minister Khan has written. You have said my tweet shows that to me. I want my tweet."

Oddly still, after the minister was shown the tweet, Qureshi said he found nothing wrong in the tweet. "I stand by what I have said. What is so surprising in this whose agenda are you following?.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi lost his cool on being asked to name the 58 countries that Prime Minister Imran Khan commended for backing Islamabad on its stance on the Kashmir issue at the UNHRC.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi lost his cool on being asked to name the 58 countries that Prime Minister Imran Khan commended for backing Islamabad on its stance on the Kashmir issue at the UNHRC. During a talk show on Pakistan TV channel Express-News, Qureshi was asked the question as he had repeatedly endorsed Khan's statement that 58 countries had supported Islamabad on the Kashmir issue, reported Sputnik news agency. "On whose agenda are you working?"Khan snapped at talk show host Javed Chaudhry. "Are you going to tell me or decide which countries have or have not supported Pakistan at the UN? You may write whatever you want!" On being again pressed for endorsing Khan's comment on his own Twitter handle, Qureshi said, No! No! Show me the tweet I have written, not what Prime Minister Khan has written. You have said my tweet shows that to me. I want my tweet." Oddly still, after the minister was shown the tweet, Qureshi said he found nothing wrong in the tweet. "I stand by what I have said. What is so surprising in this whose agenda are you following?.

Qureshi loses cool when asked to name 58 countries supporting Islamabad on Kashmir issue

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