India on Thursday welcomed the listing of<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/masood-azhar-named-global-terrorist-how-it-will-affect-the-jem-chief-215077"> Jaish-e-Mohammed</a> chief <a href="https://www.wionews.com/pakistan/jem-chief-masood-azhar-designated-as-a-global-terrorist-in-un-sanctions-list-215076">Masood Azhar</a> as a <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/all-members-should-abide-by-un-sanctions-committees-decision-on-masood-azhar-un-chief-antonio-guterres-215365">global terrorist by the UN</a> and said that India would not “negotiate” with any country on matters related to the security of the country.

"We do not negotiate with any country on terrorism and on matters related to the security of the country. China has already given its reason why the hold has been lifted," said Official Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar.

The decision on Masood Azhar came a decade after it first pushed for banning the Pakistan-based terrorist by the world body.

In its reaction, the External Affairs Ministry said Azhar's designation as a UN proscribed terrorist is a step in the right direction and that India will continue its efforts to bring terror groups and their leaders to justice.

"Elements being introduced to divert attention from Pakistan on this diplomatic setback that they have suffered. They can't welcome the decision, they can’t criticize the decision, the only option left for them is to pick up some holes," Raveesh Kumar added.

Meanwhile, reacting to the listing by the UN, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson was quoted as saying that it will "immediately enforce UN sanctions" imposed on Azhar. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

India on Thursday welcomed the listing of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN and said that India would not “negotiate” with any country on matters related to the security of the country.

India on Thursday welcomed the listing of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN and said that India would not “negotiate” with any country on matters related to the security of the country. "We do not negotiate with any country on terrorism and on matters related to the security of the country. China has already given its reason why the hold has been lifted," said Official Spokesperson, Ministry of External Affairs Raveesh Kumar. The decision on Masood Azhar came a decade after it first pushed for banning the Pakistan-based terrorist by the world body. In its reaction, the External Affairs Ministry said Azhar's designation as a UN proscribed terrorist is a step in the right direction and that India will continue its efforts to bring terror groups and their leaders to justice. "Elements being introduced to divert attention from Pakistan on this diplomatic setback that they have suffered. They can't welcome the decision, they can’t criticize the decision, the only option left for them is to pick up some holes," Raveesh Kumar added. Meanwhile, reacting to the listing by the UN, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson was quoted as saying that it will "immediately enforce UN sanctions" imposed on Azhar. (With inputs from agencies)

We do not negotiate with any country on terrorism: India on Masood Azhar

Watch Gravitas full segment and know what has been the most trending and important stories of the day. Watch this video to know more.

Watch: WION Gravitas, 1st May, 2019

Big diplomatic win for India as sources say that China has agreed to list JeM chief Masood Azhar as a UN designated terrorist.

Finally China supports the listing of Masood Azhar as Un designated terrorist: Sources

In a major diplomatic victory for India, the man behind several terror attacks in the country including Pulwama terror attack, Masood Azhar has finally been listed as an international terrorist by the United Nation security council's 1267 committee.

Breaking News: Global terrorist tag for JeM chief Masood Azhar

In a major diplomatic victory for India, the man behind several terror attacks in the country including Pulwama terror attack, Masood Azhar has finally been listed as an international terrorist by the United Nation security council's 1267 committee. China earlier on Wednesday removed its hold on the listing of Masood Azhar, the chief of Pakistan based and united nations listed terror group. Watch this video to know more.

"Big Victory": PM Narendra Modi on JeM chief Masood Azhar being banned by UN

In a major diplomatic victory for India on Wednesday, Jaish-e-Mohammad founder and Pakistani citizen Masood Azhar has finally been listed as an international terrorist by the United Nation Security Council's 1267 committee. China, earlier on Wednesday, removed its hold on the listing of Masood Azhar, the man behind several terror attacks in India.

JeM chief Masood Azhar designated global terrorist by UN

China said on Tuesday that the vexed issue of designating Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN will be "properly resolved" but it did not give any timeline

'Will be properly resolved': China on Masood Azhar's listing as global terrorist by UN

China said on Tuesday that the vexed issue of designating Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist by the UN will be "properly resolved" but it did not give any timeline, days after Chinese President Xi Jinping met Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan in Beijing. Watch this video to know more.

China: Support issue of Masood Azhar listing

The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday said that that all evidence of terrorist activities of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed and its leader Masood Azhar have been shared with China.&nbsp;

The MEA stated that the 1267 Sanctions Committee and other UN-authorised bodies will now take a decision on Azhar's listing, adding that "India will continue to pursue all avenues to ensure that terrorist leaders who are involved in heinous attacks on our citizens are brought to justice."&nbsp;

The MEA's response was to a media query on discussions with China on the 1267 listing of JeM leader Masood Azhar during foreign secretary <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/foreign-secretary-vijay-gokhale-visits-china-talks-on-masood-azhar-possible-212484">Vijay Gokhale's recent visit to Beijing</a>.&nbsp;

Gokhale's visit comes even as India and China mark one year since the Wuhan informal summit that took place in April 2018.

Foreign secretary Gokhale also called on the Chinese foreign minister and state councillor Wang Yi.

Meanwhile when asked about if Masood Azhar was raised by India during the talks, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said, "The common interests of China and India are far greater than the differences between the two sides."

"We hope that the two sides will continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation and maintain the positive momentum of the sound development of bilateral relations. In this regard, China is ready to work with India," he added.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/firmly-oppose-forcing-new-resolution-through-unsc-on-masood-azhar-china-211140">China on Wednesday dismissed reports</a> that it had been served an ultimatum until April 23 by the US, UK and France to lift its "technical hold" on designating Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist but claimed that the vexed issue is moving towards settlement.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said, "I don't know where you get such information."

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MEA: It's now for the 1267 Sanctions Committee&amp;other authorized bodies of UN to take a decision on listing of Masood Azhar. India will continue to pursue all avenues to ensure that terrorist leaders who are involved in heinous attacks on our citizens are brought to justice. (2/2) <a href="https://t.co/HsQzEMGgiA">https://t.co/HsQzEMGgiA</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1120277138412855298?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/will-not-be-pressured-by-anyone-on-masood-azhar-pakistan-foreign-office-211606">Pakistan will not be "pressured"</a> by anyone on the issue of banning Masood Azhar, a top official here said on Thursday, a day after China dismissed reports that the US, the UK and France have served an ultimatum to Beijing to lift its "technical hold" on designating the JeM chief as a global terrorist by the UN.

Pak's foreign office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said that Pakistan has a clear stance on Azhar.

After the Pulwama attack, a fresh proposal to designate Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council was moved by France, the UK and the US.

However, China blocked the bid by putting a "technical hold" on the proposal. Following this, the US backed by the UK and France moved directly to UN Security Council (UNSC) to blacklist Azhar.

China, a veto-wielding member of the UNSC, had opposed the move, saying the issue should be resolved at the 1267 Committee itself which also functioned under the top UN body.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday said that that all evidence of terrorist activities of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed and its leader Masood Azhar have been shared with China.

The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday said that that all evidence of terrorist activities of Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed and its leader Masood Azhar have been shared with China. The MEA stated that the 1267 Sanctions Committee and other UN-authorised bodies will now take a decision on Azhar's listing, adding that "India will continue to pursue all avenues to ensure that terrorist leaders who are involved in heinous attacks on our citizens are brought to justice." The MEA's response was to a media query on discussions with China on the 1267 listing of JeM leader Masood Azhar during foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale's recent visit to Beijing. Gokhale's visit comes even as India and China mark one year since the Wuhan informal summit that took place in April 2018. Foreign secretary Gokhale also called on the Chinese foreign minister and state councillor Wang Yi. Meanwhile when asked about if Masood Azhar was raised by India during the talks, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang said, "The common interests of China and India are far greater than the differences between the two sides." "We hope that the two sides will continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation and maintain the positive momentum of the sound development of bilateral relations. In this regard, China is ready to work with India," he added. China on Wednesday dismissed reports that it had been served an ultimatum until April 23 by the US, UK and France to lift its "technical hold" on designating Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist but claimed that the vexed issue is moving towards settlement. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang said, "I don't know where you get such information." MEA: It's now for the 1267 Sanctions Committee&other authorized bodies of UN to take a decision on listing of Masood Azhar. India will continue to pursue all avenues to ensure that terrorist leaders who are involved in heinous attacks on our citizens are brought to justice. (2/2) https://t.co/HsQzEMGgiA — ANI (@ANI) April 22, 2019 × Meanwhile, Pakistan will not be "pressured" by anyone on the issue of banning Masood Azhar, a top official here said on Thursday, a day after China dismissed reports that the US, the UK and France have served an ultimatum to Beijing to lift its "technical hold" on designating the JeM chief as a global terrorist by the UN. Pak's foreign office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said that Pakistan has a clear stance on Azhar. After the Pulwama attack, a fresh proposal to designate Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council was moved by France, the UK and the US. However, China blocked the bid by putting a "technical hold" on the proposal. Following this, the US backed by the UK and France moved directly to UN Security Council (UNSC) to blacklist Azhar. China, a veto-wielding member of the UNSC, had opposed the move, saying the issue should be resolved at the 1267 Committee itself which also functioned under the top UN body. (With inputs from agencies)

All evidence on Masood Azhar, Jaish shared with China, will continue to pursue all avenues: India 

The 1984<a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/videos/bhopal-gas-tragedy-survivor-recalls-deadly-night-of-1984-181233&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwj6yajfnN7hAhWD7XMBHd9QDaYQFggEMAA&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw0etMfj4aUZqsuMiHCVal_B"> Bhopal gas tragedy which killed thousands of people</a> is among the world's "major industrial accidents" of the 20th century, a UN report has said, warning that 2.78 million workers die from occupational accidents and work-related diseases each year.

The report released by the UN labour agency International Labour Organization (ILO) said in 1984, at least 30 tons of methyl isocyanate gas, which was released from the Union Carbide pesticide plant in the Madhya Pradesh capital, <a href="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.wionews.com/india-news/bhopal-gas-tragedy-34-years-after-incident-survivors-continue-to-fight-for-proper-rehabilitation-181022&amp;sa=U&amp;ved=0ahUKEwj6yajfnN7hAhWD7XMBHd9QDaYQFggHMAE&amp;client=internal-uds-cse&amp;cx=006054055338965708568:09spwrlibei&amp;usg=AOvVaw1Ih3TY4m_vvtElvGptMXUT">affected more than 600,000 workers and nearby inhabitants</a>.

"The Government figures estimate that there have been 15,000 deaths as a result of the disaster over the years. Toxic material remains and thousands of survivors and their descendants have suffered from respiratory diseases and from damage to internal organs and immune systems," it said.

The report titled 'The Safety and Health at the Heart of the Future of Work - Building on 100 years of experience' said the Bhopal disaster was among the world's "major industrial accidents after 1919".

Among the other nine major industrial disasters after 1919 listed in the report are the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear disasters as well as the Rana Plaza building collapse.

In the Chernobyl disaster in April 1986, one of four nuclear reactors at the Chernobyl power station in Ukraine exploded, releasing at least 100 times more radiation than the atom bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima.

The explosion killed 31 people immediately and thousands of people in the aftermath.

"The number of casualties in the region increases every year due to long term effects including a sharp increase in thyroid cancer," the report said.

Following a major 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami which struck north-eastern Japan in March 2011, the Fukushima nuclear power plants experienced equipment failures which caused a series of explosions, fires and radiation releases, causing injuries to plant workers and emergency responders, it said.

In one of the worst industrial disasters in Bangladesh, the Rana Plaza building in Dhaka collapsed in April 2013. The building, which housed five garment factories, killed at least 1,132 people and injured more than 2,500.

According to recent estimates released by the ILO, each year 2.78 million workers die from occupational accidents and work-related diseases (of which 2.4 million are disease-related).

An additional 374 million workers suffer from non-fatal occupational accidents. It is estimated that lost work days globally represent almost four per cent of the world's GDP, and in some countries, this rises to six per cent or more.

The report attributes stress, excessively-long working hours and disease to worker casualty every year, underlining ILO's message that no paid work should threaten a worker's wellbeing, safety or life.

The agency also identified several new or existing occupational risks of growing concern, that affect women more than men.

These include modern working practices overall, world population growth, increased digital connectivity and climate change, which are believed to account for losses of almost four per cent of the global economy.

"The world of work has changed, we're working differently, we're working longer hours, we're using more technology," ILO's Manal Azzi told UN News.

"The report says 36 per cent of workers are working excessive long hours, meaning more than 48 hours per week," she said.

Noting that "people are increasingly asked to produce more and more, they have no time to rest," Azzi highlighted that women are particularly at risk because they tend to be the primary carer for children or parents and lack the time to exercise.

"Not only do you work when you're at your office but then you're working at home as well," Azzi said, adding that "so it's a lot of sedentary work and that affects cardiovascular diseases as well".

The greatest proportion of work-related deaths&nbsp;86 per cent&nbsp;come from disease, according to the ILO, with some 6,500 people a day dying from occupational diseases, compared to 1,000 from fatal occupational accidents.

The greatest causes of mortality are circulatory diseases (31 per cent), work-related cancers (26 per cent) and respiratory diseases (17 per cent).

"As well as the economic cost we must recognise the immeasurable human suffering such illnesses and accidents cause. These are all-the-more tragic because they are largely preventable," Azzi said.

Launched during the ILO's centenary year&nbsp;and ahead of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28, the report underlines the life-saving value of promoting prevention, to save lives and encourage healthy working environments.

"Serious consideration should also be given to the recommendation of the ILO's Global Commission on the Future of Work, that occupational safety and health be recognised as a fundamental principle and right at work," Azzi said.

The report said that new risks may emerge whereas other risks may be on the rise.

"While the road ahead presents many new challenges to safety and health at work, it is important for governments, employers and workers, and other stakeholders to seize the opportunities to create a safe and healthy future of work for all," it said.

Since 1919, the ILO has adopted more than 40 international labour standards promoting occupational health and safety.

The 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy which killed thousands of people is among the world's "major industrial accidents" of the 20th century, a UN report has said, warning that 2.

The 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy which killed thousands of people is among the world's "major industrial accidents" of the 20th century, a UN report has said, warning that 2.78 million workers die from occupational accidents and work-related diseases each year. The report released by the UN labour agency International Labour Organization (ILO) said in 1984, at least 30 tons of methyl isocyanate gas, which was released from the Union Carbide pesticide plant in the Madhya Pradesh capital, affected more than 600,000 workers and nearby inhabitants. "The Government figures estimate that there have been 15,000 deaths as a result of the disaster over the years. Toxic material remains and thousands of survivors and their descendants have suffered from respiratory diseases and from damage to internal organs and immune systems," it said. The report titled 'The Safety and Health at the Heart of the Future of Work - Building on 100 years of experience' said the Bhopal disaster was among the world's "major industrial accidents after 1919". Among the other nine major industrial disasters after 1919 listed in the report are the Chernobyl and Fukushima nuclear disasters as well as the Rana Plaza building collapse. In the Chernobyl disaster in April 1986, one of four nuclear reactors at the Chernobyl power station in Ukraine exploded, releasing at least 100 times more radiation than the atom bombs dropped on Nagasaki and Hiroshima. The explosion killed 31 people immediately and thousands of people in the aftermath. "The number of casualties in the region increases every year due to long term effects including a sharp increase in thyroid cancer," the report said. Following a major 9.0 magnitude earthquake and tsunami which struck north-eastern Japan in March 2011, the Fukushima nuclear power plants experienced equipment failures which caused a series of explosions, fires and radiation releases, causing injuries to plant workers and emergency responders, it said. In one of the worst industrial disasters in Bangladesh, the Rana Plaza building in Dhaka collapsed in April 2013. The building, which housed five garment factories, killed at least 1,132 people and injured more than 2,500. According to recent estimates released by the ILO, each year 2.78 million workers die from occupational accidents and work-related diseases (of which 2.4 million are disease-related). An additional 374 million workers suffer from non-fatal occupational accidents. It is estimated that lost work days globally represent almost four per cent of the world's GDP, and in some countries, this rises to six per cent or more. The report attributes stress, excessively-long working hours and disease to worker casualty every year, underlining ILO's message that no paid work should threaten a worker's wellbeing, safety or life. The agency also identified several new or existing occupational risks of growing concern, that affect women more than men. These include modern working practices overall, world population growth, increased digital connectivity and climate change, which are believed to account for losses of almost four per cent of the global economy. "The world of work has changed, we're working differently, we're working longer hours, we're using more technology," ILO's Manal Azzi told UN News. "The report says 36 per cent of workers are working excessive long hours, meaning more than 48 hours per week," she said. Noting that "people are increasingly asked to produce more and more, they have no time to rest," Azzi highlighted that women are particularly at risk because they tend to be the primary carer for children or parents and lack the time to exercise. "Not only do you work when you're at your office but then you're working at home as well," Azzi said, adding that "so it's a lot of sedentary work and that affects cardiovascular diseases as well". The greatest proportion of work-related deaths 86 per cent come from disease, according to the ILO, with some 6,500 people a day dying from occupational diseases, compared to 1,000 from fatal occupational accidents. The greatest causes of mortality are circulatory diseases (31 per cent), work-related cancers (26 per cent) and respiratory diseases (17 per cent). "As well as the economic cost we must recognise the immeasurable human suffering such illnesses and accidents cause. These are all-the-more tragic because they are largely preventable," Azzi said. Launched during the ILO's centenary year and ahead of the World Day for Safety and Health at Work on April 28, the report underlines the life-saving value of promoting prevention, to save lives and encourage healthy working environments. "Serious consideration should also be given to the recommendation of the ILO's Global Commission on the Future of Work, that occupational safety and health be recognised as a fundamental principle and right at work," Azzi said. The report said that new risks may emerge whereas other risks may be on the rise. "While the road ahead presents many new challenges to safety and health at work, it is important for governments, employers and workers, and other stakeholders to seize the opportunities to create a safe and healthy future of work for all," it said. Since 1919, the ILO has adopted more than 40 international labour standards promoting occupational health and safety.

Bhopal gas tragedy among world's 'major industrial accidents' of 20th century: UN report

As UN Reels Under Financial Crisis, Here's A Look At UN's Performance With Respect To India. UN reels under financial crisis, has to pay dues to India. New Delhi, for its part, abides by all the regulations, but still gets a raw deal from the global body. Palki looks at UN's financial woes and the trackrecord with respect to India

India abides by UN regulations, but let down

United Nations Has To Pay $38 Million To India. UN Is Facing Financial Trouble & Is Struggling To Pay Countries For Contributing To Peacekeeping Missions $38 Million, that's the amount that UN owes to India for contributing to peacekeeping missions. Why is it so? What do UN peacekeeping mission do? Palki explains

Gravitas: UN owes India $38 Million due for peacekeeping missions

The battle for Libya's capital intensifies as the UN Security Council prepares to meet to discuss the crisis gripping the North African country, where armed rivals are locked in a deadly power struggle.

Libya crisis: Fight between Pro-GNA & Pro-Haftar forces continues

Ever imagine living in floating cities? In a bid to create sustainable living spaces, the United Nations has achieved another feat and unveiled a unique concept of 'floating cities'.

The first UN Roundtable on floating cities began a day ago in New York, United States with an aim to find an alternative and a solution for the present day living spaces.&nbsp;

As per reports, the UN seems to be all convinced with the project presented by the BjarkeIngels Group and a company called Oceanix. The concept offers the ideation of floating cities harbouring completely self-sufficient communities built on water, housing as many as 10,000 residents.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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A <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FloatingCities?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FloatingCities</a> is a city built on water and can withstand Natural disasters. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 
The United Nations just unveiled a concept for a floating city that can hold around 10,000 residents.<a href="https://t.co/H0LKpRjd6r">https://t.co/H0LKpRjd6r</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SDG11?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SDG11</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LeavingNoOneBehind?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LeavingNoOneBehind</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MaimunahSharif?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MaimunahSharif</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/VictorKisob?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@VictorKisob</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WBG_Cities?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WBG_Cities</a>
— UN-Habitat (@UNHABITAT) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNHABITAT/status/1113704629534187520?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Not just this, the design can withstand natural disasters. &nbsp; &nbsp;

"#FloatingCities: #ClimateChange &amp; rising sea levels pose a huge threat to millions of people. If we are to mitigate against this global challenge, we need new solutions that are scalable. Time is now to #innovate &amp; consider all ideas including Sustainable Floating Cities," Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat tweeted out.&nbsp;

"FloatingCities is a city built on water and can withstand Natural disasters. The United Nations just unveiled a concept for a floating city that can hold around 10,000 residents," read a tweet by UN-Habitat.&nbsp;

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Cities should be built knowing that they will be on the frontlines of climate-related risks – from rising sea levels to storms. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/FloatingCities?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#FloatingCities</a> can be part of our arsenal of tools. I am delighted that <a href="https://twitter.com/UN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UN</a> &amp; partners are working on solutions for a sustainable future. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GlobalGoals?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GlobalGoals</a> <a href="https://t.co/KdIv9Oe4ro">pic.twitter.com/KdIv9Oe4ro</a>
— Amina J Mohammed (@AminaJMohammed) <a href="https://twitter.com/AminaJMohammed/status/1113612403118358528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Amina J Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General at the UN tweeted out lauding the concept, stating that "floating cities can be part of our arsenal of tools".

"Cities should be built knowing that they will be on the frontlines of climate-related risks – from rising sea levels to storms. #FloatingCities can be part of our arsenal of tools. I am delighted that @UN &amp; partners are working on solutions for a sustainable future. #GlobalGoals," her tweet read.&nbsp;

While the UN-Habitat is yet to give out more details on the project, we, in the meanwhile, can sit and think of actually living in an alternative space amid water - something we only thought made top stuff for blockbuster, sci-fi movies.&nbsp;

Ever imagine living in floating cities? In a bid to create sustainable living spaces, the United Nations has achieved another feat and unveiled a unique concept of 'floating cities'.

Ever imagine living in floating cities? In a bid to create sustainable living spaces, the United Nations has achieved another feat and unveiled a unique concept of 'floating cities'. The first UN Roundtable on floating cities began a day ago in New York, United States with an aim to find an alternative and a solution for the present day living spaces. As per reports, the UN seems to be all convinced with the project presented by the BjarkeIngels Group and a company called Oceanix. The concept offers the ideation of floating cities harbouring completely self-sufficient communities built on water, housing as many as 10,000 residents. A #FloatingCities is a city built on water and can withstand Natural disasters. The United Nations just unveiled a concept for a floating city that can hold around 10,000 residents.https://t.co/H0LKpRjd6r#SDG11#LeavingNoOneBehind @MaimunahSharif @VictorKisob @WBG_Cities — UN-Habitat (@UNHABITAT) April 4, 2019 × Not just this, the design can withstand natural disasters. "#FloatingCities: #ClimateChange & rising sea levels pose a huge threat to millions of people. If we are to mitigate against this global challenge, we need new solutions that are scalable. Time is now to #innovate & consider all ideas including Sustainable Floating Cities," Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat tweeted out. "FloatingCities is a city built on water and can withstand Natural disasters. The United Nations just unveiled a concept for a floating city that can hold around 10,000 residents," read a tweet by UN-Habitat. Cities should be built knowing that they will be on the frontlines of climate-related risks – from rising sea levels to storms. #FloatingCities can be part of our arsenal of tools. I am delighted that @UN & partners are working on solutions for a sustainable future. #GlobalGoals pic.twitter.com/KdIv9Oe4ro — Amina J Mohammed (@AminaJMohammed) April 4, 2019 × Amina J Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General at the UN tweeted out lauding the concept, stating that "floating cities can be part of our arsenal of tools". "Cities should be built knowing that they will be on the frontlines of climate-related risks – from rising sea levels to storms. #FloatingCities can be part of our arsenal of tools. I am delighted that @UN & partners are working on solutions for a sustainable future. #GlobalGoals," her tweet read. While the UN-Habitat is yet to give out more details on the project, we, in the meanwhile, can sit and think of actually living in an alternative space amid water - something we only thought made top stuff for blockbuster, sci-fi movies.

UN unveils concept of floating cities that can withstand natural disasters, house 10,000 residents

Heavy bombardment by the Syrian army of the jihadist-controlled Idlib region has killed 22 civilians, a monitor said Thursday, the latest violence to threaten a seven-month-old truce.

The ceasefire was brokered by the main foreign backers of the warring parties in September to head off a government offensive that prompted UN warnings of humanitarian disaster for the region's three million residents.

But since the region was overrun by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham alliance led by former Al-Qaeda fighters in January, the fragile truce has come under mounting assault.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem accused Turkey, which signed the September deal on behalf of the rebels, of failing to honour its commitments and warned that his government's patience was running out.

The UN humanitarian affairs office said the escalating violence threatened aid deliveries to some 2.7 million people in need.

In the latest flare-up, army artillery and rocket fire on the Idlib towns of Kafrnabel and Maaret al-Noman killed 13 people on Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.

It came after the shelling of adjacent jihadist-held areas of Hama and Aleppo provinces killed nine people late on Wednesday, the Britain-based watchdog said.

The UN humanitarian office said that the escalating violence had already killed 90 civilians in the Idlib region in March, nearly half of them children.

More than 86,500 people fled their homes in February and March as a result of the escalation, it added.&nbsp;

The UN expressed concern over "increased shelling along front lines, an intensification of air strikes and a growing number of attacks involving improvised explosive devices in urban areas."&nbsp;

The Syrian foreign minister said his government was growing impatient to recapture Idlib, the last region outside its control apart from the Kurdish-held north and northeast where Washington retains a troop presence.

Muallem said Turkey had failed to ensure the withdrawal of jihadist forces from a planned buffer zone along the front line as stipulated by the truce agreed in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.

"It is known that Turkey is responsible for a delay in implementing" the deal, he said at a joint press conference with his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Arreaza.&nbsp;

"Honestly, we are still waiting for the Sochi deal to be implemented but our patience has its limits and we must liberate this land.

"We are losing patience," he warned.

More than half of the population of the Idlib region have already fled government offensives on other rebel-held regions of Syria.

Many live in tent cities where they are dependent on humanitarian aid and deeply vulnerable to a resurgence of all-out conflict.

At least 370,000 people have died in Syria since the civil war erupted in 2011.

Heavy bombardment by the Syrian army of the jihadist-controlled Idlib region has killed 22 civilians, a monitor said Thursday, the latest violence to threaten a seven-month-old truce.

Heavy bombardment by the Syrian army of the jihadist-controlled Idlib region has killed 22 civilians, a monitor said Thursday, the latest violence to threaten a seven-month-old truce. The ceasefire was brokered by the main foreign backers of the warring parties in September to head off a government offensive that prompted UN warnings of humanitarian disaster for the region's three million residents. But since the region was overrun by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham alliance led by former Al-Qaeda fighters in January, the fragile truce has come under mounting assault. Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem accused Turkey, which signed the September deal on behalf of the rebels, of failing to honour its commitments and warned that his government's patience was running out. The UN humanitarian affairs office said the escalating violence threatened aid deliveries to some 2.7 million people in need. In the latest flare-up, army artillery and rocket fire on the Idlib towns of Kafrnabel and Maaret al-Noman killed 13 people on Thursday, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. It came after the shelling of adjacent jihadist-held areas of Hama and Aleppo provinces killed nine people late on Wednesday, the Britain-based watchdog said. The UN humanitarian office said that the escalating violence had already killed 90 civilians in the Idlib region in March, nearly half of them children. More than 86,500 people fled their homes in February and March as a result of the escalation, it added. The UN expressed concern over "increased shelling along front lines, an intensification of air strikes and a growing number of attacks involving improvised explosive devices in urban areas." The Syrian foreign minister said his government was growing impatient to recapture Idlib, the last region outside its control apart from the Kurdish-held north and northeast where Washington retains a troop presence. Muallem said Turkey had failed to ensure the withdrawal of jihadist forces from a planned buffer zone along the front line as stipulated by the truce agreed in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi. "It is known that Turkey is responsible for a delay in implementing" the deal, he said at a joint press conference with his Venezuelan counterpart Jorge Arreaza. "Honestly, we are still waiting for the Sochi deal to be implemented but our patience has its limits and we must liberate this land. "We are losing patience," he warned. More than half of the population of the Idlib region have already fled government offensives on other rebel-held regions of Syria. Many live in tent cities where they are dependent on humanitarian aid and deeply vulnerable to a resurgence of all-out conflict. At least 370,000 people have died in Syria since the civil war erupted in 2011.

Army shelling kills 22 civilians in Syria's Idlib: Monitor

Britain, France and Germany are <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-missile-programme-defensive-after-us-alleges-it-carried-out-missile-test-180909">accusing Iran of developing missile technology</a>, following recent activities, that they said was inconsistent with a UN resolution, and are calling for a full UN report, according to a letter released Tuesday.

The European trio cited Iran's launch of a space vehicle and the unveiling of two new ballistic missiles in February as forming "part of trend of increased activity inconsistent" with the resolution, according to the letter sent to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

UN Security Council Resolution 2231 — adopted just after the 2015 nuclear deal — calls on Iran "not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons."&nbsp;

Tehran insists that its missile program is defensive and that it has no intention of developing a nuclear capability.

The three countries asked Guterres to "report fully and thoroughly on Iranian ballistic missile activity" in his next report, which is expected in June.

The letter from the European countries, which are signatories to the nuclear deal along with the United States and Russia, came nearly a month after the United States made a similar appeal to the council, saying it was time to bring back tougher international restrictions on Tehran.

President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the nuclear accord in May last year and reimposed sanctions on Iran, citing concerns about missile development among its reasons.

At a council meeting in December, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for tighter restrictions on Iran to curb its missile program but Russia flatly asserted that there was no proof that Iran's missiles can carry a nuclear payload.

The European countries said the Safir space launch vehicle used for a satellite blastoff on February 6 is based on two other missiles and uses technology closely related to the development of long-range and intercontinental ballistic missiles.

On February 7, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards unveiled the Dezful surface-to-surface missile which they claimed had a range of 1,000 kilometers, according to the letter sent on March 25.

During a public display in Tehran on February 4, Iran revealed a variant of the Khorramshahr ballistic missile that the letter said was "potentially an intermediate-range ballistic missile."

Iran reined in most of its nuclear program under the landmark nuclear deal with major powers but has kept up development of its ballistic missile technology.

Britain, France and Germany are accusing Iran of developing missile technology, following recent activities, that they said was inconsistent with a UN resolution, and are calling for a full UN report, according to a letter released Tuesday.

Britain, France and Germany are accusing Iran of developing missile technology, following recent activities, that they said was inconsistent with a UN resolution, and are calling for a full UN report, according to a letter released Tuesday. The European trio cited Iran's launch of a space vehicle and the unveiling of two new ballistic missiles in February as forming "part of trend of increased activity inconsistent" with the resolution, according to the letter sent to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres. UN Security Council Resolution 2231 — adopted just after the 2015 nuclear deal — calls on Iran "not to undertake any activity related to ballistic missiles designed to be capable of delivering nuclear weapons." Tehran insists that its missile program is defensive and that it has no intention of developing a nuclear capability. The three countries asked Guterres to "report fully and thoroughly on Iranian ballistic missile activity" in his next report, which is expected in June. The letter from the European countries, which are signatories to the nuclear deal along with the United States and Russia, came nearly a month after the United States made a similar appeal to the council, saying it was time to bring back tougher international restrictions on Tehran. President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the nuclear accord in May last year and reimposed sanctions on Iran, citing concerns about missile development among its reasons. At a council meeting in December, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo called for tighter restrictions on Iran to curb its missile program but Russia flatly asserted that there was no proof that Iran's missiles can carry a nuclear payload. The European countries said the Safir space launch vehicle used for a satellite blastoff on February 6 is based on two other missiles and uses technology closely related to the development of long-range and intercontinental ballistic missiles. On February 7, the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guards unveiled the Dezful surface-to-surface missile which they claimed had a range of 1,000 kilometers, according to the letter sent on March 25. During a public display in Tehran on February 4, Iran revealed a variant of the Khorramshahr ballistic missile that the letter said was "potentially an intermediate-range ballistic missile." Iran reined in most of its nuclear program under the landmark nuclear deal with major powers but has kept up development of its ballistic missile technology.

UK, France, Germany accuse Iran of developing missile technology

Diplomats and activists on Monday denounced intense Chinese lobbying, pressure and even threats to rein in criticism of Beijing during last month's session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) charged that the Chinese mission in Geneva had sent a letter to a number of missions urging them to stay away from a US-organised event on March 13 about China's treatment of Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang province.

The letter, signed by Ambassador Yu Jianhua and seen by AFP, tells countries "not to co-sponsor, participate in or be present at this side event... in the interest of our bilateral relations and continued multilateral cooperation."

HRW slammed these "threats", with the organisation's Geneva director John Fisher warning that the public outcry over the treatment of Muslim minorities had "sent China into panic mode."

Chinese officials, he said in a statement, are now "using public as well as private pressure to block concerted international action."

The Chinese mission did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation and comment.

But several diplomats confirmed to AFP that their missions had received the letter ahead of the event.

It took place on the sidelines of the rights council's three-week session and focused on allegations that upwards of one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic minorities are being held in detention centres in Xinjiang.

China maintains instead that the Uighurs and others are at "campuses" for vocational training set up to counter radicalisation.

Xinjiang, which shares a border with several countries including Pakistan and Afghanistan, has long seen violent unrest, which China claims is orchestrated by an organised "terrorist" movement seeking the region's independence.

But many Uighurs and Xinjiang experts say the violence stems largely from spontaneous outbursts of anger at Chinese cultural and religious repression, and that Beijing plays up terrorism to justify tight control of the resource-rich region.

'Stage-manage everything'

On Monday, several diplomats backed HRW's claim that China had exerted significant pressure on countries to speak on its behalf during the conclusion of a review of its rights record before the council on March 15.

"They were doing their best to stage-manage everything," a Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP.

"When you see how few countries spoke up about Xinjiang, I am sure it did have an effect," the diplomat added.

"They are not staying idle," another Western diplomat said.

According to HRW, Chinese officials pressured the UN to remove elements provided by UN experts and NGOs from the so-called Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report and tried to block the accreditation of Uighur activist Dolkun Isa.

A UN official told AFP that "receiving pressure from governments attempting to silence critics is fairly common, but a particularly high number of these complaints come from China about the credibility of participants."

"This session was particularly bad," acknowledged the UN official, who asked not to be named.

HRW also charged that China had intentionally pushed friendly states to flood the speakers' list for the 20 minutes allocated to countries' concluding remarks.

Nearly 100 countries requested the right to speak -- over three times more than usual in this situation --&nbsp; but only 13 were permitted to take the floor.

In advance, the rights council drew the name of the first country, Mali, from a hat, and from there countries were called upon in alphabetical order, through to the Philippines.

This meant that most critical voices from Europe and North America were not called upon, with only Norway speaking up against China's Xinjiang policies.

Non-governmental organisations were also given a chance to speak, but there too, groups praising China grabbed six of the 10 available speaking slots.

"It speaks volumes that China felt it necessary to twist arms and mount propaganda displays to try to suppress scrutiny of its rights record," Fisher said.

Diplomats and activists on Monday denounced intense Chinese lobbying, pressure and even threats to rein in criticism of Beijing during last month's session of the UN Human Rights Council.

Diplomats and activists on Monday denounced intense Chinese lobbying, pressure and even threats to rein in criticism of Beijing during last month's session of the UN Human Rights Council. Human Rights Watch (HRW) charged that the Chinese mission in Geneva had sent a letter to a number of missions urging them to stay away from a US-organised event on March 13 about China's treatment of Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in Xinjiang province. The letter, signed by Ambassador Yu Jianhua and seen by AFP, tells countries "not to co-sponsor, participate in or be present at this side event... in the interest of our bilateral relations and continued multilateral cooperation." HRW slammed these "threats", with the organisation's Geneva director John Fisher warning that the public outcry over the treatment of Muslim minorities had "sent China into panic mode." Chinese officials, he said in a statement, are now "using public as well as private pressure to block concerted international action." The Chinese mission did not immediately respond to a request for confirmation and comment. But several diplomats confirmed to AFP that their missions had received the letter ahead of the event. It took place on the sidelines of the rights council's three-week session and focused on allegations that upwards of one million Uighurs and other mostly Muslim Turkic minorities are being held in detention centres in Xinjiang. China maintains instead that the Uighurs and others are at "campuses" for vocational training set up to counter radicalisation. Xinjiang, which shares a border with several countries including Pakistan and Afghanistan, has long seen violent unrest, which China claims is orchestrated by an organised "terrorist" movement seeking the region's independence. But many Uighurs and Xinjiang experts say the violence stems largely from spontaneous outbursts of anger at Chinese cultural and religious repression, and that Beijing plays up terrorism to justify tight control of the resource-rich region. 'Stage-manage everything' On Monday, several diplomats backed HRW's claim that China had exerted significant pressure on countries to speak on its behalf during the conclusion of a review of its rights record before the council on March 15. "They were doing their best to stage-manage everything," a Western diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP. "When you see how few countries spoke up about Xinjiang, I am sure it did have an effect," the diplomat added. "They are not staying idle," another Western diplomat said. According to HRW, Chinese officials pressured the UN to remove elements provided by UN experts and NGOs from the so-called Universal Periodic Review (UPR) report and tried to block the accreditation of Uighur activist Dolkun Isa. A UN official told AFP that "receiving pressure from governments attempting to silence critics is fairly common, but a particularly high number of these complaints come from China about the credibility of participants." "This session was particularly bad," acknowledged the UN official, who asked not to be named. HRW also charged that China had intentionally pushed friendly states to flood the speakers' list for the 20 minutes allocated to countries' concluding remarks. Nearly 100 countries requested the right to speak -- over three times more than usual in this situation -- but only 13 were permitted to take the floor. In advance, the rights council drew the name of the first country, Mali, from a hat, and from there countries were called upon in alphabetical order, through to the Philippines. This meant that most critical voices from Europe and North America were not called upon, with only Norway speaking up against China's Xinjiang policies. Non-governmental organisations were also given a chance to speak, but there too, groups praising China grabbed six of the 10 available speaking slots. "It speaks volumes that China felt it necessary to twist arms and mount propaganda displays to try to suppress scrutiny of its rights record," Fisher said.

Diplomats, activists decry Chinese 'threats' at UN rights council

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/lok-sabha-polls-2019-facebook-removes-687-pages-accounts-linked-to-congress-it-cell-ahead-of-elections-207189">Lok Sabha polls 2019: Facebook removes 687 pages, accounts linked to Congress IT cell ahead of elections</a>

Facebook Inc said on Monday it was removing 687 pages and accounts linked to the Congress party, just days before voting begins in a general election, because of “coordinated inauthentic behaviour” on the social media platform.&nbsp;

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/indias-february-infrastructure-output-grows-21-per-cent-207225">India's February infrastructure output grows 2.1 per cent&nbsp;</a>

India's infrastructure output grew at 2.1 percent in February from a year earlier, government data showed on Monday.

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/listing-of-masood-azhar-as-global-terrorist-china-claims-positive-progress-made-207217">Listing of Masood Azhar as global terrorist: China claims 'positive progress' made</a>

China on Monday claimed that "positive progress" has been made to resolve the issue of the UN designating Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist and accused the US of scuttling the UN's efforts by taking the matter directly to the Security Council.&nbsp;

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/british-mps-to-vote-yet-again-tonight-on-various-brexit-options-207229">British MPs to vote yet again tonight on various Brexit options</a>

British MPs will try again to chart a new Brexit path on Monday after rejecting Prime Minister Theresa May's deal for a third time, but the EU warned its patience was wearing thin.

Less than two weeks before Britain risks crashing out of the European Union, MPs will hold a second round of votes on various options to try to break the political deadlock.

 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/money-laundering-case-robert-vadra-gets-anticipatory-bail-cant-leave-country-without-permission-207216">Money-laundering case: Robert Vadra gets anticipatory bail, cannot leave </a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/money-laundering-case-robert-vadra-gets-anticipatory-bail-cant-leave-country-without-permission-207216">country</a><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/money-laundering-case-robert-vadra-gets-anticipatory-bail-cant-leave-country-without-permission-207216"> without permission</a>

A special CBI court here granted anticipatory bail on Monday to Robert Vadra and his close aide Manoj Arora in the money-laundering case against them.

Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar, while granting the bail to the duo, directed them to furnish personal bail bonds of Rs 5 lakh each and surety of a like amount.

Lok Sabha polls 2019: Facebook removes 687 pages, accounts linked to Congress IT cell ahead of elections Facebook Inc said on Monday it was removing 687 pages and accounts linked to the Congress party, just days before voting begins in a general election, because of “coordinated inauthentic behaviour” on the social media platform.

Lok Sabha polls 2019: Facebook removes 687 pages, accounts linked to Congress IT cell ahead of elections Facebook Inc said on Monday it was removing 687 pages and accounts linked to the Congress party, just days before voting begins in a general election, because of “coordinated inauthentic behaviour” on the social media platform. India's February infrastructure output grows 2.1 per cent India's infrastructure output grew at 2.1 percent in February from a year earlier, government data showed on Monday. Listing of Masood Azhar as global terrorist: China claims 'positive progress' made China on Monday claimed that "positive progress" has been made to resolve the issue of the UN designating Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist and accused the US of scuttling the UN's efforts by taking the matter directly to the Security Council. British MPs to vote yet again tonight on various Brexit options British MPs will try again to chart a new Brexit path on Monday after rejecting Prime Minister Theresa May's deal for a third time, but the EU warned its patience was wearing thin. Less than two weeks before Britain risks crashing out of the European Union, MPs will hold a second round of votes on various options to try to break the political deadlock. Money-laundering case: Robert Vadra gets anticipatory bail, cannot leave country without permission A special CBI court here granted anticipatory bail on Monday to Robert Vadra and his close aide Manoj Arora in the money-laundering case against them. Special CBI Judge Arvind Kumar, while granting the bail to the duo, directed them to furnish personal bail bonds of Rs 5 lakh each and surety of a like amount.

News brief: Big stories of the day

China on Monday claimed that "positive progress" has been made to resolve the issue of the UN designating Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist and accused the US of scuttling the UN's efforts by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/masood-azhar-listing-as-global-terrorist-us-calls-for-public-voting-at-un-security-council-206170">taking the matter directly to the Security Council</a>.

China last week defended its repeated attempts to block the listing of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Azhar as a global terrorist and refuted the US allegation that Beijing's action amounted to protecting violent Islamic groups from sanctions.

China criticised the US for taking the issue — of listing Azhar as an international terrorist — directly to the UN Security Council after Beijing put a technical hold on the US, UK and French resolution to declare him a&nbsp;global terrorist at the UN's 1267 committee which deals with counter-terrorism issues.

"After the application for designation of Azhar was proposed (in the 1267 committee), China is in close communication and coordination with various parties and made positive progress. The US knows that very well," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing here on Monday.

Asked to clarify whether the progress he meant was to resolve the vexed issue of listing Azhar, Geng said "yes. The US knows that very well". He, however, did not elaborate.

China has so far blocked the move four times in recent years. It recently blocked a US, UK and France resolution in the counter terrorism 1267 committee with "technical hold" saying that it provides time and space for the relevant parties to hold talks after the Pulwama terrorist attack. 
Following this, the US directly moved a resolution in the UN Security Council last week to blacklist Azhar which China said amounted to undermining the 1267 Committee.

This is the first-time Beijing spoke of progress to resolve it.

"We believe under the current circumstances forcing a draft resolution at the Security Council is not a constructive move and set a bad example?, Geng said.

Lashing out at the US for taking the Azhar issue to the UNSC from the 1267 Committee which also functioned under UNSC framework, Geng claimed support from majority of UNSC members to China's stand that the issue should be resolved by the 1267 Committee.

?We hope various parties will meet each other half way and continue to properly solve this issue under the 1267 Committee framework. Last Friday, UNSC members exchanged views on the US proposed draft resolution. The majority believes that efforts should be made to solve the issues under 1267 Committee framework," he said.

?They are not in favour of forcing the draft resolution. China has been working with various parties and is making progress. The US knows that very well and yet, it insists on pushing the Security Council to adopt the draft resolution," he said.

?This cannot be justified and is not in accordance with the rules and practices of the Security Council. It is setting a bad example that will only complicate the matter. It is also not conducive for peace and stability in South Asia. China is opposed to this," he said.

To another question about criticism that the US is making hasty efforts to list Azhar by bypassing procedures to benefit BJP in India's General Elections, Geng said the US' stand is not conducive to peace and stability in South Asia.

?It is setting a bad example that will only complicate the matter. It is also not conducive for peace and stability in South Asia. The General Elections is the domestic affair of India. We do not comment on that," he said.

About Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan performing the ground breaking ceremony of the international airport at Gwadar being constructed by a Chinese company, Geng said ?China and Pakistan, under the framework of Belt and Road Initiative, have entered into mutually beneficial cooperation. The example you mentioned is just one case in this regard. We appreciate the Prime Minister's attendance of the ceremony, we have confidence the progress of the two countries' practical cooperation, which is important for the welfare of our people, the region and the wider world?, he said.&nbsp;

China on Monday claimed that "positive progress" has been made to resolve the issue of the UN designating Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist and accused the US of scuttling the UN's efforts by taking the matter directly to the Security Council.

China on Monday claimed that "positive progress" has been made to resolve the issue of the UN designating Pakistan-based JeM chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist and accused the US of scuttling the UN's efforts by taking the matter directly to the Security Council. China last week defended its repeated attempts to block the listing of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Azhar as a global terrorist and refuted the US allegation that Beijing's action amounted to protecting violent Islamic groups from sanctions. China criticised the US for taking the issue — of listing Azhar as an international terrorist — directly to the UN Security Council after Beijing put a technical hold on the US, UK and French resolution to declare him a global terrorist at the UN's 1267 committee which deals with counter-terrorism issues. "After the application for designation of Azhar was proposed (in the 1267 committee), China is in close communication and coordination with various parties and made positive progress. The US knows that very well," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang told a media briefing here on Monday. Asked to clarify whether the progress he meant was to resolve the vexed issue of listing Azhar, Geng said "yes. The US knows that very well". He, however, did not elaborate. China has so far blocked the move four times in recent years. It recently blocked a US, UK and France resolution in the counter terrorism 1267 committee with "technical hold" saying that it provides time and space for the relevant parties to hold talks after the Pulwama terrorist attack. Following this, the US directly moved a resolution in the UN Security Council last week to blacklist Azhar which China said amounted to undermining the 1267 Committee. This is the first-time Beijing spoke of progress to resolve it. "We believe under the current circumstances forcing a draft resolution at the Security Council is not a constructive move and set a bad example?, Geng said. Lashing out at the US for taking the Azhar issue to the UNSC from the 1267 Committee which also functioned under UNSC framework, Geng claimed support from majority of UNSC members to China's stand that the issue should be resolved by the 1267 Committee. ?We hope various parties will meet each other half way and continue to properly solve this issue under the 1267 Committee framework. Last Friday, UNSC members exchanged views on the US proposed draft resolution. The majority believes that efforts should be made to solve the issues under 1267 Committee framework," he said. ?They are not in favour of forcing the draft resolution. China has been working with various parties and is making progress. The US knows that very well and yet, it insists on pushing the Security Council to adopt the draft resolution," he said. ?This cannot be justified and is not in accordance with the rules and practices of the Security Council. It is setting a bad example that will only complicate the matter. It is also not conducive for peace and stability in South Asia. China is opposed to this," he said. To another question about criticism that the US is making hasty efforts to list Azhar by bypassing procedures to benefit BJP in India's General Elections, Geng said the US' stand is not conducive to peace and stability in South Asia. ?It is setting a bad example that will only complicate the matter. It is also not conducive for peace and stability in South Asia. The General Elections is the domestic affair of India. We do not comment on that," he said. About Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan performing the ground breaking ceremony of the international airport at Gwadar being constructed by a Chinese company, Geng said ?China and Pakistan, under the framework of Belt and Road Initiative, have entered into mutually beneficial cooperation. The example you mentioned is just one case in this regard. We appreciate the Prime Minister's attendance of the ceremony, we have confidence the progress of the two countries' practical cooperation, which is important for the welfare of our people, the region and the wider world?, he said.

Listing of Masood Azhar as global terrorist: China claims 'positive progress' made 

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China's ambassador to India said Sunday that the matter of JeM chief Masood Azhar's listing as a global terrorist "will be resolved". He added that "this is only a technical hold which means there is time for continued consultations".&nbsp;

Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui told reporters Sunday that the Chinese side "fully understands" the matter regarding Masood Azhar's listing and that it understands India’s concerns.

Zhaohui added that after last year's summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan, China, the cooperation between the two countries "is on right track".&nbsp;

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Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui to ANI: This matter (Masood Azhar on UNSC 1267 list) will be resolved, this is only a technical hold which means there is time for continued consultations. It will be resolved believe me. <a href="https://t.co/vSFhDZB9mu">pic.twitter.com/vSFhDZB9mu</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1107175231532208129?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
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"We're satisfied with this cooperation and are optimistic about the future," the ambassador said during Holi celebrations at the Chinese Embassy in Delhi.&nbsp;

Indian Prime Minister and Chinese President Xi Jinping met four times last year starting with famous informal Wuhan summit followed by meetings on the sidelines of SCO, BRICS and G20.

Zhaohui's remarks come a day after India said, on Saturday, that it is cautiously confident that eventually Masood Azhar, will be listed as a global terrorist.&nbsp;

India continues to work with members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) regarding his blacklisting under the United Nations.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/will-show-patience-with-china-as-long-as-it-takes-india-on-blacklisting-masood-azhar-203687">India, on Saturday, expressed optimism</a> stating that it will continue to push for Azhar's blacklisting for "as long as it takes".&nbsp;

China has been blocking the listing of Azhar as a terrorist since 2009 and last week put a hold on his listing again for the fourth time. The hold continues for 9 months before which a decision on the JeM chief's blacklisting has to be made.

WION has learnt that New Delhi is willing to give more time to Beijing and is in touch with it. New Delhi said that China understands that terror remains a major challenge and that there are a number of terror groups located in Pakistan.

A government source told WION that India will wait patiently and will not rest until Azhar is listed, adding that New Delhi is prepared for a long haul.

China's ambassador to India said Sunday that the matter of JeM chief Masood Azhar's listing as a global terrorist "will be resolved". He added that "this is only a technical hold which means there is time for continued consultations".

China's ambassador to India said Sunday that the matter of JeM chief Masood Azhar's listing as a global terrorist "will be resolved". He added that "this is only a technical hold which means there is time for continued consultations". Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui told reporters Sunday that the Chinese side "fully understands" the matter regarding Masood Azhar's listing and that it understands India’s concerns. Zhaohui added that after last year's summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Wuhan, China, the cooperation between the two countries "is on right track". Chinese Ambassador to India Luo Zhaohui to ANI: This matter (Masood Azhar on UNSC 1267 list) will be resolved, this is only a technical hold which means there is time for continued consultations. It will be resolved believe me. pic.twitter.com/vSFhDZB9mu — ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2019 × "We're satisfied with this cooperation and are optimistic about the future," the ambassador said during Holi celebrations at the Chinese Embassy in Delhi. Indian Prime Minister and Chinese President Xi Jinping met four times last year starting with famous informal Wuhan summit followed by meetings on the sidelines of SCO, BRICS and G20. Zhaohui's remarks come a day after India said, on Saturday, that it is cautiously confident that eventually Masood Azhar, will be listed as a global terrorist. India continues to work with members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) regarding his blacklisting under the United Nations. India, on Saturday, expressed optimism stating that it will continue to push for Azhar's blacklisting for "as long as it takes". China has been blocking the listing of Azhar as a terrorist since 2009 and last week put a hold on his listing again for the fourth time. The hold continues for 9 months before which a decision on the JeM chief's blacklisting has to be made. WION has learnt that New Delhi is willing to give more time to Beijing and is in touch with it. New Delhi said that China understands that terror remains a major challenge and that there are a number of terror groups located in Pakistan. A government source told WION that India will wait patiently and will not rest until Azhar is listed, adding that New Delhi is prepared for a long haul.

Masood Azhar 'issue will be resolved... this is only a technical hold': Chinese ambassador to India

The US, France and the UK are believed to be in intense "good faith" discussions with China to arrive at a "compromise", including on the language on the UN designation of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/will-show-patience-with-china-as-long-as-it-takes-india-on-blacklisting-masood-azhar-203687">Masood Azhar as a global terrorist</a>, according to people familiar with the matter.

On Wednesday, China blocked for the fourth consecutive time a resolution at the UN Security Council Committee on designating Azhar, head of the JeM terror group, as a global terrorist.

The proposal to designate Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council was moved by France, the UK and the US on February 27, days after a suicide bomber of the JeM killed 44 CRPF soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama, leading to a flare-up in tensions between India and Pakistan.

If the fresh efforts by the US, France and the UK does not end up in the formal designation of Azhar, the three permanent members are planning to soon move a resolution for his listing in the most powerful wing of the UN which would be preceded by an open debate on the issue, according to people familiar with the matter.

India had expressed disappointment over the Chinese stance and the original co-sponsors of the resolution had warned they will consider "other actions" to achieve their goal.

While the internal consultations of the Security Council committee remain private, this time several Council members, frustrated at China's unreasonable stance to protect a terrorist, privately spoke to the media the negative role being played by Beijing.

"If China continues to block this designation, responsible member-states may be forced to pursue other actions at the Security Council. It shouldn't have to come to that," a Security Council diplomat told PTI on Wednesday in an unusual tough warning to Beijing.

In the last 50 hours, it is believed that the original sponsors of the Azhar resolution are having intense "good faith" consultations with China on what many familiar with the matter describe as a "compromise". This probably means Azhar would be designated as a global terrorist by the UN body, but the language of designation would include a language acceptable to China.

China is believed to have suggested "certain changes" in the language of the terrorist designation. The US, Britain and France are believed to be currently looking at the suggestions. It is understood that there is back-and-forth exchange of texts on the matter.&nbsp;

The three countries have indicated that they are willing to accommodate Chinese request for changes in the language as long as it does not change the substance of the resolution and it ends up designating Azhar as a UN global terrorist.

But unlike in the past, the US, France, Britain and other members of the Security Council are not willing to wait for long to conclude their discussion with China.

It is learnt that China has been informed by these countries that they are seriously looking for other options, in particular an open debate followed by a vote on a resolution to designate Azhar as a global terrorist, pretty soon.

Not months, not weeks but days. This is what Beijing has been conveyed.

At the same time, officials of these countries believe that China this time has been much more co-operative than in the past. But in case at any point the three countries get a feeling that China is not doing a good faith negotiation on the "compromise formula" that is being negotiated, they are ready with the other move.

China, after its decision to put a technical hold on the resolution, has invited criticism and its stance has also resulted in an outrage in India.

Beijing would have to calculate the risk of being isolate globally on the issue of fight against terrorism or signing off to a compromised language that would designate Azhar as a global terrorist, since except China, all other UNSC members supported the resolution.

Getting Chinese support to designate Azhar as a global terrorist, at the UN, in any format, would be considered as a terrific accomplishment. The very fact that there has been discussions going on between China and the US, Britain and France, is considered as a positive development.

Those familiar with China's working pattern are still not confident and that's the reason why they are seriously working on other options including an open debate in the Security Council, where Beijing might find it difficult to defend a terrorist in public.&nbsp;

The US, France and the UK are believed to be in intense "good faith" discussions with China to arrive at a "compromise", including on the language on the UN designation of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, according to people familiar with the matter.

The US, France and the UK are believed to be in intense "good faith" discussions with China to arrive at a "compromise", including on the language on the UN designation of Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, according to people familiar with the matter. On Wednesday, China blocked for the fourth consecutive time a resolution at the UN Security Council Committee on designating Azhar, head of the JeM terror group, as a global terrorist. The proposal to designate Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council was moved by France, the UK and the US on February 27, days after a suicide bomber of the JeM killed 44 CRPF soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama, leading to a flare-up in tensions between India and Pakistan. If the fresh efforts by the US, France and the UK does not end up in the formal designation of Azhar, the three permanent members are planning to soon move a resolution for his listing in the most powerful wing of the UN which would be preceded by an open debate on the issue, according to people familiar with the matter. India had expressed disappointment over the Chinese stance and the original co-sponsors of the resolution had warned they will consider "other actions" to achieve their goal. While the internal consultations of the Security Council committee remain private, this time several Council members, frustrated at China's unreasonable stance to protect a terrorist, privately spoke to the media the negative role being played by Beijing. "If China continues to block this designation, responsible member-states may be forced to pursue other actions at the Security Council. It shouldn't have to come to that," a Security Council diplomat told PTI on Wednesday in an unusual tough warning to Beijing. In the last 50 hours, it is believed that the original sponsors of the Azhar resolution are having intense "good faith" consultations with China on what many familiar with the matter describe as a "compromise". This probably means Azhar would be designated as a global terrorist by the UN body, but the language of designation would include a language acceptable to China. China is believed to have suggested "certain changes" in the language of the terrorist designation. The US, Britain and France are believed to be currently looking at the suggestions. It is understood that there is back-and-forth exchange of texts on the matter. The three countries have indicated that they are willing to accommodate Chinese request for changes in the language as long as it does not change the substance of the resolution and it ends up designating Azhar as a UN global terrorist. But unlike in the past, the US, France, Britain and other members of the Security Council are not willing to wait for long to conclude their discussion with China. It is learnt that China has been informed by these countries that they are seriously looking for other options, in particular an open debate followed by a vote on a resolution to designate Azhar as a global terrorist, pretty soon. Not months, not weeks but days. This is what Beijing has been conveyed. At the same time, officials of these countries believe that China this time has been much more co-operative than in the past. But in case at any point the three countries get a feeling that China is not doing a good faith negotiation on the "compromise formula" that is being negotiated, they are ready with the other move. China, after its decision to put a technical hold on the resolution, has invited criticism and its stance has also resulted in an outrage in India. Beijing would have to calculate the risk of being isolate globally on the issue of fight against terrorism or signing off to a compromised language that would designate Azhar as a global terrorist, since except China, all other UNSC members supported the resolution. Getting Chinese support to designate Azhar as a global terrorist, at the UN, in any format, would be considered as a terrific accomplishment. The very fact that there has been discussions going on between China and the US, Britain and France, is considered as a positive development. Those familiar with China's working pattern are still not confident and that's the reason why they are seriously working on other options including an open debate in the Security Council, where Beijing might find it difficult to defend a terrorist in public.

US, France and UK in intense discussions with China on Azhar listing at United Nations

In what seems to be a curious case of irony, Pakistan took a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-un-wwf-team-to-visit-balakot-to-take-witness-account-on-loss-of-trees-by-iaf-strike-201682">team of United Nations and World Wildlife Fund to Balakot</a> to assess the damage done to trees in the aftermath of India's strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camps, however, it did not allow the UN ombudsman to meet 26/11 mastermind, Hafiz Saeed. The move, yet again, exposes Pakistan's dual policy on terror.

Officials from Pakistan's Ministry of Climate Change told WION that a team of United Nations and World Wildlife Fund visited Balakot to take an account on the loss of trees in the strikes on Thursday. A follow up visit happened on Friday.

These were UN diplomats from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) who are stationed in Islamabad. Pakistan has claimed that 19 trees were damaged in the strikes by India and were part of a project called "Billion Tree Tsunami" launched by its government.

Pak Prime Minister's advisor and federal minister on climate change Malik Amin Aslam said, "UN's environment assembly is in Nairobi next week, we will raise the issue... expose India".

When asked about Pakistan involving the UN on the trees damaged by Balakot strikes, India's environment minister Harsh Vardhan said, "it is not worth commenting".

The development comes even as Islamabad denied a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistan-blocks-un-team-from-interviewing-jud-chief-hafiz-saeed-201836">visa to UN ombudsman to "interview" Hafiz Saeed</a> who had applied for his delisting from the UN terror list.&nbsp;

For a delisting, the applicant has to be personally interviewed by UN ombudsman for which they wanted to travel to Pakistan. The UN official had to settle for a video interview of Hafiz Saeed who was informed about the UN decision not to delist him on March 6.

There has not been any reaction from Pakistan's foreign office as to why they did not give UN ombudsman visa to travel to the country.

It is believed that Islamabad feared that any UN official's meet with Hafiz Saeed could have led to more issues for the country which is under global pressure to act on terrorist groups it has been supporting.

In what seems to be a curious case of irony, Pakistan took a team of United Nations and World Wildlife Fund to Balakot to assess the damage done to trees in the aftermath of India's strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camps, however, it did not allow the UN ombudsman to meet 26/11 mastermind, Hafiz Saeed.

In what seems to be a curious case of irony, Pakistan took a team of United Nations and World Wildlife Fund to Balakot to assess the damage done to trees in the aftermath of India's strikes on Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camps, however, it did not allow the UN ombudsman to meet 26/11 mastermind, Hafiz Saeed. The move, yet again, exposes Pakistan's dual policy on terror. Officials from Pakistan's Ministry of Climate Change told WION that a team of United Nations and World Wildlife Fund visited Balakot to take an account on the loss of trees in the strikes on Thursday. A follow up visit happened on Friday. These were UN diplomats from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) who are stationed in Islamabad. Pakistan has claimed that 19 trees were damaged in the strikes by India and were part of a project called "Billion Tree Tsunami" launched by its government. Pak Prime Minister's advisor and federal minister on climate change Malik Amin Aslam said, "UN's environment assembly is in Nairobi next week, we will raise the issue... expose India". When asked about Pakistan involving the UN on the trees damaged by Balakot strikes, India's environment minister Harsh Vardhan said, "it is not worth commenting". The development comes even as Islamabad denied a visa to UN ombudsman to "interview" Hafiz Saeed who had applied for his delisting from the UN terror list. For a delisting, the applicant has to be personally interviewed by UN ombudsman for which they wanted to travel to Pakistan. The UN official had to settle for a video interview of Hafiz Saeed who was informed about the UN decision not to delist him on March 6. There has not been any reaction from Pakistan's foreign office as to why they did not give UN ombudsman visa to travel to the country. It is believed that Islamabad feared that any UN official's meet with Hafiz Saeed could have led to more issues for the country which is under global pressure to act on terrorist groups it has been supporting.

Pak lets UN team assess loss of trees in Balakot; bars meeting with Hafiz Saeed

The United Nations has asked foreign investors and social media firms to ensure that they support human rights in Myanmar. The country, as is well known, is in the midst of a brutal conflict with its Rohingya Muslims. 730000 of these hapless people have fled Myanmar. The United Nation’s suggestion is a prudent one and can be an effective tool to ensure that human rights are not abrogated by states, not only with respect to Myanmar but also in general terms.

Human rights accrue to people by virtue of being human. These are an intrinsic good which must not only be protected but also promoted. But, in practice, what is observed is that there is tension between human rights, states and sovereignty thereof. &nbsp;Overlaying these countervailing forces to human rights is geopolitics which does not attach much import and significance to these. Often times, states, even in the developed world, are in breach of human rights in one form or the other. Consider the United States whose self-perception is that of a liberal democracy wherein the individual rules the roost, so to speak. But, in practice, besides obvious structural and institutional issues with African Americans, access to justice is prohibitively expensive making, in the process, a mockery of individual and human rights. 
 
In the less developed world, especially in conflict zones, there is a deep and visceral tension between human rights and state(s). Owing to the precedence of state interests or raison d’etat, and other prosaic matters, states abrogating and violating human rights do so almost with impunity, usually behind the shield of state sovereignty. 
 
This is a reality that can be observed with empirical precision as far as the killing fields of Syria, Myanmar, and other places. The international state system and the foreign policies of states, oriented as they are toward state interests have proven to be woefully inadequate in protecting and promoting human rights. Where then can relief be found?

In markets. Perhaps. 
&nbsp; 
While much has been made of “de-globalisation” and allied trends, the fact is that even though the large megatrend of globalisation might have slowed down, but it has not disappeared. Globalisation is real and while its momentum might have dissipated, it is a historical reality that can neither be wished away nor be made to disappear. The relevance of globalisation to human rights and to the thematic issue dwelt upon in this essay is that counterintuitively perhaps, the propelling forces of the idea and its practice can be used to protect human rights. The reference here is to markets. 
 
In a globalised world where autarky or self-sufficiency is passé and where interdependence is the norm, markets can be employed to discipline states. Capital flows, both portfolio and foreign direct investment, the quest for the Rate of Return and yield, among other things, constitute the sine qua non of economic growth, in this day and age. And, economic growth not only is essential for obvious reasons but it also accords legitimacy to regimes and governments. Stop the tap, so to speak, a given nation-state can be brought to its knees. Obiter dictum, while financial economists can debate the extent of the correlation between financial markets and the real economy, that there is a link is almost indubitable. If markets take a tumble, the real economy is impinged upon, pretty drastically at times, as was demonstrated all too eloquently in and during the 2008 financial crisis.

The key here lies with investors who, as an assorted and a diverse class, can choose to punish and discipline a given state that is killing, maiming, and persecuting its own people. Minds of the policy and political elite of the “target country” can then be concentrated with such poignancy and alacrity that no sanctions or reproach by other states or non-state organisations can do. The United Nations, as an international body, is hamstrung by issues of a structural nature, the most potent of which is state sovereignty and the shield it accords to states who can do whatever they live within their respective jurisdictions. The states constituting the international system are too caught up by raison d’etat to do anything substantive about human rights. It might, however, be markets that can constitute a robust disciplinary force that not only protect but promote human rights.

It is here that the United Nations’ suggestion to investors, with respect to Myanmar, becomes relevant. Let foreign investors see Myanmar as a test case and let it be the starting point for and of markets to be used for good.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.) 
&nbsp;

The United Nations has asked foreign investors and social media firms to ensure that they support human rights in Myanmar. The country, as is well known, is in the midst of a brutal conflict with its Rohingya Muslims.

The United Nations has asked foreign investors and social media firms to ensure that they support human rights in Myanmar. The country, as is well known, is in the midst of a brutal conflict with its Rohingya Muslims. 730000 of these hapless people have fled Myanmar. The United Nation’s suggestion is a prudent one and can be an effective tool to ensure that human rights are not abrogated by states, not only with respect to Myanmar but also in general terms. Human rights accrue to people by virtue of being human. These are an intrinsic good which must not only be protected but also promoted. But, in practice, what is observed is that there is tension between human rights, states and sovereignty thereof. Overlaying these countervailing forces to human rights is geopolitics which does not attach much import and significance to these. Often times, states, even in the developed world, are in breach of human rights in one form or the other. Consider the United States whose self-perception is that of a liberal democracy wherein the individual rules the roost, so to speak. But, in practice, besides obvious structural and institutional issues with African Americans, access to justice is prohibitively expensive making, in the process, a mockery of individual and human rights. In the less developed world, especially in conflict zones, there is a deep and visceral tension between human rights and state(s). Owing to the precedence of state interests or raison d’etat, and other prosaic matters, states abrogating and violating human rights do so almost with impunity, usually behind the shield of state sovereignty. This is a reality that can be observed with empirical precision as far as the killing fields of Syria, Myanmar, and other places. The international state system and the foreign policies of states, oriented as they are toward state interests have proven to be woefully inadequate in protecting and promoting human rights. Where then can relief be found? In markets. Perhaps. While much has been made of “de-globalisation” and allied trends, the fact is that even though the large megatrend of globalisation might have slowed down, but it has not disappeared. Globalisation is real and while its momentum might have dissipated, it is a historical reality that can neither be wished away nor be made to disappear. The relevance of globalisation to human rights and to the thematic issue dwelt upon in this essay is that counterintuitively perhaps, the propelling forces of the idea and its practice can be used to protect human rights. The reference here is to markets. In a globalised world where autarky or self-sufficiency is passé and where interdependence is the norm, markets can be employed to discipline states. Capital flows, both portfolio and foreign direct investment, the quest for the Rate of Return and yield, among other things, constitute the sine qua non of economic growth, in this day and age. And, economic growth not only is essential for obvious reasons but it also accords legitimacy to regimes and governments. Stop the tap, so to speak, a given nation-state can be brought to its knees. Obiter dictum, while financial economists can debate the extent of the correlation between financial markets and the real economy, that there is a link is almost indubitable. If markets take a tumble, the real economy is impinged upon, pretty drastically at times, as was demonstrated all too eloquently in and during the 2008 financial crisis. The key here lies with investors who, as an assorted and a diverse class, can choose to punish and discipline a given state that is killing, maiming, and persecuting its own people. Minds of the policy and political elite of the “target country” can then be concentrated with such poignancy and alacrity that no sanctions or reproach by other states or non-state organisations can do. The United Nations, as an international body, is hamstrung by issues of a structural nature, the most potent of which is state sovereignty and the shield it accords to states who can do whatever they live within their respective jurisdictions. The states constituting the international system are too caught up by raison d’etat to do anything substantive about human rights. It might, however, be markets that can constitute a robust disciplinary force that not only protect but promote human rights. It is here that the United Nations’ suggestion to investors, with respect to Myanmar, becomes relevant. Let foreign investors see Myanmar as a test case and let it be the starting point for and of markets to be used for good. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL.)

Myanmar crisis: In conflict zones, there exists a deep conflict between human rights and states

Breaking News: Pakistan allows UN team to visit Balakot

An estimated 2.7 million people have left Venezuela since 2015, the UN said Friday, warning that the exodus amid a devastating political and economic crisis looked set to continue "unabated."

The figure from the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) marks an increase from December when 2.3 million people were estimated to have fled the country.

UNHCR and the UN migration agency IOM said in a joint statement that an average of 5,000 people left Venezuela every day in 2018, noting that neighbouring countries especially Colombia have taken on most of the burden.&nbsp;

"These figures underscore the strain on host communities and the continued need for support from the international community, at a time when the world’s attention is on political developments inside Venezuela," Eduardo Stein, joint UNHCR-IOM Special Representative for Venezuela, said in a statement.&nbsp;

UN agencies have estimated that 3.4 million Venezuelans are currently living abroad, a figure that includes those who left before President Nicolas Maduro's government was engulfed in crisis.&nbsp;

The total number of Venezuelans living outside the country is expected to hit 5.3 million by year's end, according to the UN. &nbsp;

An estimated 2.7 million people have left Venezuela since 2015, the UN said Friday, warning that the exodus amid a devastating political and economic crisis looked set to continue "unabated.

An estimated 2.7 million people have left Venezuela since 2015, the UN said Friday, warning that the exodus amid a devastating political and economic crisis looked set to continue "unabated." The figure from the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) marks an increase from December when 2.3 million people were estimated to have fled the country. UNHCR and the UN migration agency IOM said in a joint statement that an average of 5,000 people left Venezuela every day in 2018, noting that neighbouring countries especially Colombia have taken on most of the burden. "These figures underscore the strain on host communities and the continued need for support from the international community, at a time when the world’s attention is on political developments inside Venezuela," Eduardo Stein, joint UNHCR-IOM Special Representative for Venezuela, said in a statement. UN agencies have estimated that 3.4 million Venezuelans are currently living abroad, a figure that includes those who left before President Nicolas Maduro's government was engulfed in crisis. The total number of Venezuelans living outside the country is expected to hit 5.3 million by year's end, according to the UN.

2.7 million people have fled Venezuela since 2015: UN

The global <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/unemployment-major-challenge-facing-india-imf-127132">unemployment</a> rate inched down last year, the UN said Wednesday, warning though that jobs often failed to guarantee decent living, with some 700 million workers wallowing in poverty.&nbsp;

Unemployment around the world fell last year to 5.0 percent — from 5.1 percent in 2017 — for the first time dropping to the level seen before the global financial crisis hit in 2008, the International Labour Organisation said.

But in its flagship "World Employment and Social Outlook" trends report, the ILO also raised serious red flags about the health of the planet's job market.&nbsp;

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Deborah Greenfield, ILO's deputy director-general, told journalists in Geneva that the decline in global unemployment "is projected to stall", amid "uncertainty on many fronts," and a "deteriorating economic outlook".

The UN agency said it expected the jobless rate to remain at roughly the same level this year and in 2020, although the number of unemployed people should swell by two million to a total of 174 million next year as a result of the expanding labour force.

In particular, the report highlighted the hundreds of millions of people who remain poor despite holding one or more jobs.

In fact, it found that a majority of the 3.3 billion people employed around the globe last year suffered a "lack of material well-being, economic security, equal opportunities or scope for human development."

"Being in employment does not always guarantee a decent living," ILO research director Damian Grimshaw said in a statement, pointing out that "a full 700 million people are living in extreme or moderate poverty despite having employment."

The report found that a full 61 percent of all workers worldwide, or two billion people, are in so-called informal employment, with little to no social and contractual protections.

Greenfield cautioned that some new and emerging business models, such as using new technologies to create temporary work through web-based platforms for things like ride-sharing services, could expand that number if not regulated properly.

"Without the right policy measures it could easily add to the informal labour force," she said.

Among other issues highlighted in the report was the lack of progress in closing the gender gap in labour force participation, especially in the Arab states, North Africa and southern Asia.

ILO found that just 48 percent of women are in the workforce, compared to 75 percent of men, meaning that around three in five employed people last year were men.

In the Arab states, for instance, the report found that the unemployment rate for men stood at 15.6 percent -- three times that for men.

The global unemployment rate inched down last year, the UN said Wednesday, warning though that jobs often failed to guarantee decent living, with some 700 million workers wallowing in poverty.

The global unemployment rate inched down last year, the UN said Wednesday, warning though that jobs often failed to guarantee decent living, with some 700 million workers wallowing in poverty. Unemployment around the world fell last year to 5.0 percent — from 5.1 percent in 2017 — for the first time dropping to the level seen before the global financial crisis hit in 2008, the International Labour Organisation said. But in its flagship "World Employment and Social Outlook" trends report, the ILO also raised serious red flags about the health of the planet's job market. The ILO also raised, in its flagship 'World Employment and Social Outlook' trends report, serious red flags about the health of the planet's job market × Deborah Greenfield, ILO's deputy director-general, told journalists in Geneva that the decline in global unemployment "is projected to stall", amid "uncertainty on many fronts," and a "deteriorating economic outlook". The UN agency said it expected the jobless rate to remain at roughly the same level this year and in 2020, although the number of unemployed people should swell by two million to a total of 174 million next year as a result of the expanding labour force. In particular, the report highlighted the hundreds of millions of people who remain poor despite holding one or more jobs. In fact, it found that a majority of the 3.3 billion people employed around the globe last year suffered a "lack of material well-being, economic security, equal opportunities or scope for human development." "Being in employment does not always guarantee a decent living," ILO research director Damian Grimshaw said in a statement, pointing out that "a full 700 million people are living in extreme or moderate poverty despite having employment." The report found that a full 61 percent of all workers worldwide, or two billion people, are in so-called informal employment, with little to no social and contractual protections. Greenfield cautioned that some new and emerging business models, such as using new technologies to create temporary work through web-based platforms for things like ride-sharing services, could expand that number if not regulated properly. "Without the right policy measures it could easily add to the informal labour force," she said. Among other issues highlighted in the report was the lack of progress in closing the gender gap in labour force participation, especially in the Arab states, North Africa and southern Asia. ILO found that just 48 percent of women are in the workforce, compared to 75 percent of men, meaning that around three in five employed people last year were men. In the Arab states, for instance, the report found that the unemployment rate for men stood at 15.6 percent -- three times that for men.

Global unemployment down, but too many working poor: UN

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