The UN and the US today strongly condemned the &quot;senseless and cowardly bombing&quot; in Kabul which claimed at least <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/at-least-40-dead-140-wounded-after-massive-suicide-bomb-explosion-rocks-kabul-30897">95 lives and left 158 injured</a>, saying those responsible for it must be brought to justice.

Strongly condemning the Taliban-claimed assault - the second carried out by the militant group in the Afghan capital in a week, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in a statement said that indiscriminate attacks against civilians are grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, and can never be justified.

&quot;The Secretary-General strongly condemns the deadly attack today in central Kabul, which was claimed by the Taliban...Those responsible for today&#39;s attack must be brought to justice,&quot; said a statement attributable to UN Secretary General&#39;s spokesperson.

Condemning the attack, the US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert tweeted: &quot;We condemn today&#39;s cowardly bombing in Kabul and those who perpetrated it. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we stand with the brave people of #Afghanistan.&quot;

US Ambassador to Afghanistan John R Bass, in a statement, also condemned the &quot;senseless and cowardly bombing&quot; in Kabul and those who perpetrated it.

&quot;Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. My government and I stand with the brave people of Afghanistan.? Their work to create a peaceful, prosperous future for all the citizens of this country is the best response to terrorists and others who know only violence,&quot; he said.

Meanwhile, the White House said President Donald Trump is aware of the terrorist attack.

Eiffel Tower to go dark

The Eiffel Tower will cut its lights on Saturday night to commemorate those killed and wounded in a devastating ambulance bombing in Kabul, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said on Twitter.&nbsp;

&quot;Tonight at midnight the Eiffel Tower will go out in homage to the victims of the horrific attack that struck Kabul,&quot; Hidalgo said.&nbsp;

&quot;The city of Paris and Parisians are with the Afghan people who are once again facing terrorist barbarity.&quot;&nbsp;

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Ce soir, &agrave; minuit, <a href="https://twitter.com/LaTourEiffel?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@LaTourEiffel</a> s&#39;&eacute;teindra en hommage aux victimes de l&#39;ignoble attentat qui a frapp&eacute; le coeur de <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kaboul?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kaboul</a>. La Ville de <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Paris?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Paris</a>, les Parisiennes et les Parisiens sont aux c&ocirc;t&eacute;s du peuple afghan qui fait face une nouvelle fois &agrave; la barbarie terroriste. <a href="https://t.co/o0e8HCJKDU">pic.twitter.com/o0e8HCJKDU</a>
&mdash; Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) <a href="https://twitter.com/Anne_Hidalgo/status/957285839280713728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/kabul-explosion-the-perpetrators-of-these-dastardly-attacks-should-be-brought-to-justice-says-ministry-of-external-affairs-30922">India has also condemned the attack</a>&nbsp;with the External Affairs ministry calling the incident as &quot;barbaric and barbaric and dastardly&quot;.

The Ministry called the attack &quot;reprehensible&quot; noting that no justification for the tragedy would suffice.

&quot;The perpetrators of these attacks and their supporters should be brought to justice,&quot; the release noted. &nbsp;

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India strongly condemns the barbaric and dastardly terrorist attacks in Kabul today. Full Press Release available at <a href="https://t.co/pPMhgb3tdz">https://t.co/pPMhgb3tdz</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/IndianEmbKabul?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@IndianEmbKabul</a>
&mdash; Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/957235485033705472?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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President&nbsp;Ram Nath Kovind also expressed his regret on the incident.

&quot;Shocked at the&nbsp;news of the terrorist attack in Kabul. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families &amp; with those injured. India stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people &amp; government of Afghanistan in the fight against the forces of terror and evil,&quot; noted the President.&nbsp;

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Shocked at news of the terrorist attack in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Kabul?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Kabul</a>. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families &amp; with those injured. India stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people &amp; government of Afghanistan in the fight against the forces of terror and evil, tweets President Ram Nath Kovind. <a href="https://t.co/vnOlKenQE0">pic.twitter.com/vnOlKenQE0</a>
&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/957277311669121024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 27, 2018</a></blockquote>
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(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Condemning the attack, the US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert tweeted: 'We condemn today's cowardly bombing in Kabul'

The UN and the US today strongly condemned the "senseless and cowardly bombing" in Kabul which claimed at least 95 lives and left 158 injured, saying those responsible for it must be brought to justice. Strongly condemning the Taliban-claimed assault - the second carried out by the militant group in the Afghan capital in a week, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, in a statement said that indiscriminate attacks against civilians are grave violations of human rights and international humanitarian law, and can never be justified. "The Secretary-General strongly condemns the deadly attack today in central Kabul, which was claimed by the Taliban...Those responsible for today's attack must be brought to justice," said a statement attributable to UN Secretary General's spokesperson. Condemning the attack, the US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert tweeted: "We condemn today's cowardly bombing in Kabul and those who perpetrated it. Our thoughts are with the victims and their families, and we stand with the brave people of #Afghanistan." US Ambassador to Afghanistan John R Bass, in a statement, also condemned the "senseless and cowardly bombing" in Kabul and those who perpetrated it. "Our thoughts are with the victims and their families. My government and I stand with the brave people of Afghanistan.? Their work to create a peaceful, prosperous future for all the citizens of this country is the best response to terrorists and others who know only violence," he said. Meanwhile, the White House said President Donald Trump is aware of the terrorist attack. Eiffel Tower to go dark The Eiffel Tower will cut its lights on Saturday night to commemorate those killed and wounded in a devastating ambulance bombing in Kabul, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo said on Twitter. "Tonight at midnight the Eiffel Tower will go out in homage to the victims of the horrific attack that struck Kabul," Hidalgo said. "The city of Paris and Parisians are with the Afghan people who are once again facing terrorist barbarity." Ce soir, à minuit, @LaTourEiffel s'éteindra en hommage aux victimes de l'ignoble attentat qui a frappé le coeur de #Kaboul. La Ville de #Paris, les Parisiennes et les Parisiens sont aux côtés du peuple afghan qui fait face une nouvelle fois à la barbarie terroriste. pic.twitter.com/o0e8HCJKDU — Anne Hidalgo (@Anne_Hidalgo) January 27, 2018 × Meanwhile, India has also condemned the attack with the External Affairs ministry calling the incident as "barbaric and barbaric and dastardly". The Ministry called the attack "reprehensible" noting that no justification for the tragedy would suffice. "The perpetrators of these attacks and their supporters should be brought to justice," the release noted. India strongly condemns the barbaric and dastardly terrorist attacks in Kabul today. Full Press Release available at https://t.co/pPMhgb3tdz @IndianEmbKabul — Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) January 27, 2018 × President Ram Nath Kovind also expressed his regret on the incident. "Shocked at the news of the terrorist attack in Kabul. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families & with those injured. India stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people & government of Afghanistan in the fight against the forces of terror and evil," noted the President. Shocked at news of the terrorist attack in #Kabul. Our thoughts are with the bereaved families & with those injured. India stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the people & government of Afghanistan in the fight against the forces of terror and evil, tweets President Ram Nath Kovind. pic.twitter.com/vnOlKenQE0 — ANI (@ANI) January 27, 2018 × (With inputs from agencies)

Kabul explosion: UN, US condemn terrorist attack, Eiffel Tower to go dark

The United Nations Libya mission said it was alarmed by reports of &quot;brutal and outrageous summary executions&quot; in the eastern city of Benghazi on Wednesday after pictures emerged appearing to show at least nine people were shot dead at the site of a twin car bombing.

The UN&nbsp;Libya mission, UNSMIL, suggested in a tweet that the gunman was Mahmoud al-Werfalli, a special forces commander wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for allegedly carrying out a number of similar killings.

&quot;(The UN) demands the handing over of Mahmoud al-Werfalli immediately to (the ICC) as it documented at least 5 similar cases, in 2017 alone, carried out or ordered by al-Werfalli,&quot; UNSMIL said on its Twitter account.

&quot;Those responsible for committing or ordering summary executions are criminally liable under international law.&quot;

Reuters could not independently confirm the gunman&#39;s identity.

The photos, which were posted on social media and in local media, appear to show executions in front of Benghazi&#39;s Bayaat al-Radwan mosque, where a twin car bombing on Tuesday left at least 35 people dead.

One of the pictures shows a gunman dressed in military camouflage, pointing a weapon at the head of the first of a row of blindfolded men kneeling in blue jumpsuits in front of damaged mosque gates.

Another photo shows all but three of the people slumped forward on the road as the gunman makes his way along the line. It was unclear who the men were.

Al-Werfalli is from an elite unit attached to Khalifa Haftar&#39;s Libyan National Army (LNA), which controls Benghazi and battled Islamists and other opponents in the city until late last year.

After the ICC said it was seeking al-Werfalli&#39;s arrest in August, the LNA announced that it was investigating him and had detained him, though his whereabouts were unclear. The special forces dismissed the ICC warrant.

A spokesman for the LNA could not immediately be reached for comment on the pictures.

The pictures were posted as UN&nbsp;Libya envoy Ghassan Salame visited Benghazi on Wednesday, meeting Haftar at a military compound near the city and expressing condemnation of the car bombing.

Haftar, a divisive figure in Libya, has increasingly been courted by the international community as he has gained power on the ground. He is considered a likely candidate in elections that the U.N. has said it hopes can be organised by the end of 2018.

'Those responsible for committing or ordering summary executions are criminally liable under international law,' UN Libya mission

The United Nations Libya mission said it was alarmed by reports of "brutal and outrageous summary executions" in the eastern city of Benghazi on Wednesday after pictures emerged appearing to show at least nine people were shot dead at the site of a twin car bombing. The UN Libya mission, UNSMIL, suggested in a tweet that the gunman was Mahmoud al-Werfalli, a special forces commander wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for allegedly carrying out a number of similar killings. "(The UN) demands the handing over of Mahmoud al-Werfalli immediately to (the ICC) as it documented at least 5 similar cases, in 2017 alone, carried out or ordered by al-Werfalli," UNSMIL said on its Twitter account. "Those responsible for committing or ordering summary executions are criminally liable under international law." Reuters could not independently confirm the gunman's identity. The photos, which were posted on social media and in local media, appear to show executions in front of Benghazi's Bayaat al-Radwan mosque, where a twin car bombing on Tuesday left at least 35 people dead. One of the pictures shows a gunman dressed in military camouflage, pointing a weapon at the head of the first of a row of blindfolded men kneeling in blue jumpsuits in front of damaged mosque gates. Another photo shows all but three of the people slumped forward on the road as the gunman makes his way along the line. It was unclear who the men were. Al-Werfalli is from an elite unit attached to Khalifa Haftar's Libyan National Army (LNA), which controls Benghazi and battled Islamists and other opponents in the city until late last year. After the ICC said it was seeking al-Werfalli's arrest in August, the LNA announced that it was investigating him and had detained him, though his whereabouts were unclear. The special forces dismissed the ICC warrant. A spokesman for the LNA could not immediately be reached for comment on the pictures. The pictures were posted as UN Libya envoy Ghassan Salame visited Benghazi on Wednesday, meeting Haftar at a military compound near the city and expressing condemnation of the car bombing. Haftar, a divisive figure in Libya, has increasingly been courted by the international community as he has gained power on the ground. He is considered a likely candidate in elections that the U.N. has said it hopes can be organised by the end of 2018.

UN alarmed at reports of summary executions in Libya's Benghazi

Attacks on Rohingya Muslims appear to be continuing in Myanmar and it is not yet safe for the hundreds of thousands living in refugee camps in Bangladesh to begin returning home, a senior United Nations official said.

Many Rohingya want to return eventually to their villages in Myanmar, UNICEF deputy executive director Justin Forsyth said on Wednesday during a visit to the immense Kutupalong refugee camp. But they fear for their safety if they were to go back now, he said.

&ldquo;The situation isn&rsquo;t safe for the returns to begin,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I spoke to one young woman who had been on the phone to her aunt in Rakhine in Myanmar. And they were attacking villages even today.&rdquo;

More than 680,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar&rsquo;s Rakhine state beginning in August, after Myanmar security forces began &ldquo;clearance operations&rdquo; in their villages in the wake of attacks by Rohingya insurgents on police posts.

Forsyth&rsquo;s comments came as former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson resigned suddenly from an advisory panel on the crisis, calling it a &ldquo;whitewash and a cheerleading operation&rdquo; for Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

&ldquo;She blames all the problems that Myanmar is having on the international media, on the UN, on human rights groups, on other governments, and I think this is caused by the bubble that is around her, by individuals that are not giving her frank advice,&rdquo; Richardson, once a close friend of Suu Kyi, said on Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press in Yangon, Myanmar&rsquo;s largest city.

Richardson said Suu Kyi appeared to want the 10-member international advisory group, one in a string of Rohingya commissions set up by the Myanmar government, to endorse her policies.

&ldquo;I&rsquo;m not going to be part of it because I think there are serious issues of human rights violations, safety, citizenship, peace and stability that need to be addressed,&rdquo; said Richardson, who often works as an international troubleshooter. &ldquo;I just felt that my advice and counsel would not be heeded.&rdquo;

Gradual repatriations of Rohingya were to begin on Tuesday under agreements signed by Myanmar and Bangladesh, but Bangladeshi officials delayed the returns at the last minute, saying more time is needed amid questions about safety and whether the refugees were returning voluntarily.

Forsyth noted that international organisations do not have access to many areas affected by the crisis in Myanmar.

&ldquo;As well as security, we need to be able to provide humanitarian support for people when they return. And at the moment those conditions aren&rsquo;t in place,&rdquo; he said.

Rohingya have long faced repression in Myanmar. They are widely dismissed as having migrated illegally from Bangladesh and are denied some of the most basic rights, including the freedom of movement. In 1982, nearly all Rohingya were stripped of their citizenship rights.

Gradual repatriations of Rohingya were to begin on Tuesday under agreements signed by Myanmar and Bangladesh, but Bangladeshi officials delayed the returns at the last minute

Attacks on Rohingya Muslims appear to be continuing in Myanmar and it is not yet safe for the hundreds of thousands living in refugee camps in Bangladesh to begin returning home, a senior United Nations official said. Many Rohingya want to return eventually to their villages in Myanmar, UNICEF deputy executive director Justin Forsyth said on Wednesday during a visit to the immense Kutupalong refugee camp. But they fear for their safety if they were to go back now, he said. “The situation isn’t safe for the returns to begin,” he said. “I spoke to one young woman who had been on the phone to her aunt in Rakhine in Myanmar. And they were attacking villages even today.” More than 680,000 Rohingya fled Myanmar’s Rakhine state beginning in August, after Myanmar security forces began “clearance operations” in their villages in the wake of attacks by Rohingya insurgents on police posts. Forsyth’s comments came as former New Mexico governor Bill Richardson resigned suddenly from an advisory panel on the crisis, calling it a “whitewash and a cheerleading operation” for Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi. “She blames all the problems that Myanmar is having on the international media, on the UN, on human rights groups, on other governments, and I think this is caused by the bubble that is around her, by individuals that are not giving her frank advice,” Richardson, once a close friend of Suu Kyi, said on Wednesday in an interview with The Associated Press in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city. Richardson said Suu Kyi appeared to want the 10-member international advisory group, one in a string of Rohingya commissions set up by the Myanmar government, to endorse her policies. “I’m not going to be part of it because I think there are serious issues of human rights violations, safety, citizenship, peace and stability that need to be addressed,” said Richardson, who often works as an international troubleshooter. “I just felt that my advice and counsel would not be heeded.” Gradual repatriations of Rohingya were to begin on Tuesday under agreements signed by Myanmar and Bangladesh, but Bangladeshi officials delayed the returns at the last minute, saying more time is needed amid questions about safety and whether the refugees were returning voluntarily. Forsyth noted that international organisations do not have access to many areas affected by the crisis in Myanmar. “As well as security, we need to be able to provide humanitarian support for people when they return. And at the moment those conditions aren’t in place,” he said. Rohingya have long faced repression in Myanmar. They are widely dismissed as having migrated illegally from Bangladesh and are denied some of the most basic rights, including the freedom of movement. In 1982, nearly all Rohingya were stripped of their citizenship rights.

Not safe yet for Rohingya to return to Myanmar, UN official says

The United Nations will host a new round of peace talks on Syria next week in Vienna, a UN statement said Wednesday, just days before Russia opens a conference on ending the war.

The January 25-26 talks will be followed by a peace congress in Russia&#39;s Black Sea resort of Sochi on January 29 and 30 aimed at finding a settlement to the nearly seven-year war.

The UN said that special envoy Staffan de Mistura &quot;expects that delegations will be coming to Vienna prepared for substantive engagement with him.&quot;

It added that &quot;any political initiative by international actors should be assessed by its ability to contribute to and support the United Nations-facilitated Geneva political process and the full implementation of resolution 2254,&quot; a roadmap for ending the conflict set out in 2015.

Syria&#39;s six-year war has claimed more than 340,000 lives, forced millions to flee their homes and left Syria in ruins.

The January 25-26 talks will be followed by a peace congress in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi on January 29 and 30 aimed at finding a settlement to the nearly seven-year war

The United Nations will host a new round of peace talks on Syria next week in Vienna, a UN statement said Wednesday, just days before Russia opens a conference on ending the war. The January 25-26 talks will be followed by a peace congress in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi on January 29 and 30 aimed at finding a settlement to the nearly seven-year war. The UN said that special envoy Staffan de Mistura "expects that delegations will be coming to Vienna prepared for substantive engagement with him." It added that "any political initiative by international actors should be assessed by its ability to contribute to and support the United Nations-facilitated Geneva political process and the full implementation of resolution 2254," a roadmap for ending the conflict set out in 2015. Syria's six-year war has claimed more than 340,000 lives, forced millions to flee their homes and left Syria in ruins.

UN to host new round of peace talks on Syria next week

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday called for an immediate de-escalation in Syria after Israel carried out raids inside the war-torn country.

Guterres is &quot;following closely the alarming military escalation throughout Syria and the dangerous spillover across its borders,&quot; UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

Israel targeted what it said were Iranian positions inside Syria after one of its warplanes was hit by Syrian air defences and crashed.

The Israeli raids came after it intercepted what it said was an Iranian drone entering its airspace.

Guterres stressed that all concerned in Syria and in the region must abide by international law.

&quot;He calls on all to work for an immediate and unconditional de-escalation of violence and exercise restraint,&quot; Dujarric said.

It was the most serious confrontation between Iran and Israel since Syria&#39;s war began in 2011 and came amid growing alarm over Syrian government offensives against rebel-held Eastern Ghouta and Idlib.

The Syrian people are suffering &quot;though one of the most violent periods in nearly seven years of conflict,&quot; said the UN statement.

&quot;Over 1,000 civilian casualties from airstrikes were reported in the first week of February alone.&quot;

Guterres urged the parties to move quickly toward a political solution to end the war.

Israel&#39;s Ambassador Danny Danon called on the Security Council &quot;to condemn this dangerous act and to put an immediate end to Iranian provocations.&quot;

Diplomats, however, said there were no immediate plans to convene a council meeting despite the sharp rise in tensions.

The council is due to discuss the crisis in Syria on Wednesday. 
&nbsp;

The council is due to discuss the crisis in Syria on Wednesday

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Saturday called for an immediate de-escalation in Syria after Israel carried out raids inside the war-torn country. Guterres is "following closely the alarming military escalation throughout Syria and the dangerous spillover across its borders," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. Israel targeted what it said were Iranian positions inside Syria after one of its warplanes was hit by Syrian air defences and crashed. The Israeli raids came after it intercepted what it said was an Iranian drone entering its airspace. Guterres stressed that all concerned in Syria and in the region must abide by international law. "He calls on all to work for an immediate and unconditional de-escalation of violence and exercise restraint," Dujarric said. It was the most serious confrontation between Iran and Israel since Syria's war began in 2011 and came amid growing alarm over Syrian government offensives against rebel-held Eastern Ghouta and Idlib. The Syrian people are suffering "though one of the most violent periods in nearly seven years of conflict," said the UN statement. "Over 1,000 civilian casualties from airstrikes were reported in the first week of February alone." Guterres urged the parties to move quickly toward a political solution to end the war. Israel's Ambassador Danny Danon called on the Security Council "to condemn this dangerous act and to put an immediate end to Iranian provocations." Diplomats, however, said there were no immediate plans to convene a council meeting despite the sharp rise in tensions. The council is due to discuss the crisis in Syria on Wednesday.

UN chief calls for immediate de-escalation in Syria

Syria and Russian airstrikes in rebel-held areas have killed 230 civilians in the past week in some of the conflict&#39;s worst violence that may also constitute war crimes, the top United Nations human rights official said on Saturday.

Zeid Ra&#39;ad al-Hussein, UN&nbsp;High Commissioner for Human Rights, said his office had received reports including video footage of possible use of &quot;toxic agents&quot; on February&nbsp;4 in the rebel-held town of Saraqeb, Idlib province.

&quot;After seven years of paralysis in the (UN) Security Council, the situation in Syria is crying out to be referred to the International Criminal Court, as well as for a much more concerted effort by States to bring peace,&quot; Zeid said in a statement.

On Sunday, reports said that&nbsp;newborn babies had to be evacuated from a burning hospital and a small child had to be pulled from the rubble of a destroyed building after Russian jets launched a heavy airstrike bombardment on rebel-held areas in Syria&nbsp;resulting in one of the main hospitals, with newborn babies, being struck. The bombed hospital is located in Maarat al Numan

The UN&rsquo;s said it was&nbsp;&ldquo;extremely&rdquo; troubled by the recent uptick in violence in Idlib province and rebel-held areas in the Eastern Ghouta suburbs of Damascus, where since the beginning of the year.&nbsp;

Aso read:<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/un-security-council-considers-demand-for-30-day-syria-ceasefire-32385">&nbsp;UN Security Council considers demand for 30-day Syria ceasefire</a>

&ldquo;Over the last 48 hours, the scale and ferocity of attacks [in Idlib and Eastern Ghouta have] increased dramatically resulting in multiple reports of civilian casualties and airstrikes that have reportedly hit at least three hospitals,&rdquo; the commission said in a statement Tuesday.

Russia has waged a punishing aerial campaign against Syria&#39;s armed opposition since intervening in the civil war on the side of its ally, President Bashar Assad, in 2015.

&nbsp;

Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said his office had received reports including video footage of possible use of 'toxic agents' on February 4 in the rebel-held town of Saraqeb, Idlib province

Syria and Russian airstrikes in rebel-held areas have killed 230 civilians in the past week in some of the conflict's worst violence that may also constitute war crimes, the top United Nations human rights official said on Saturday. Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, said his office had received reports including video footage of possible use of "toxic agents" on February 4 in the rebel-held town of Saraqeb, Idlib province. "After seven years of paralysis in the (UN) Security Council, the situation in Syria is crying out to be referred to the International Criminal Court, as well as for a much more concerted effort by States to bring peace," Zeid said in a statement. On Sunday, reports said that newborn babies had to be evacuated from a burning hospital and a small child had to be pulled from the rubble of a destroyed building after Russian jets launched a heavy airstrike bombardment on rebel-held areas in Syria resulting in one of the main hospitals, with newborn babies, being struck. The bombed hospital is located in Maarat al Numan The UN’s said it was “extremely” troubled by the recent uptick in violence in Idlib province and rebel-held areas in the Eastern Ghouta suburbs of Damascus, where since the beginning of the year. Aso read: UN Security Council considers demand for 30-day Syria ceasefire “Over the last 48 hours, the scale and ferocity of attacks [in Idlib and Eastern Ghouta have] increased dramatically resulting in multiple reports of civilian casualties and airstrikes that have reportedly hit at least three hospitals,” the commission said in a statement Tuesday. Russia has waged a punishing aerial campaign against Syria's armed opposition since intervening in the civil war on the side of its ally, President Bashar Assad, in 2015.

230 civilians killed, hospital struck in Syrian, Russian airstrikes in past week: UN

Moscow has begun to send North Korean workers home as required by the UN Security Council resolution, the Russian envoy in Pyongyang said Wednesday, calling the ban a &quot;blow&quot; to the country&#39;s economy.

&quot;The ban on workers from North Korea will be a blow to the Russian economy but we scrupulously adhere the UN SC decision. Many governors have already started to deport (North Koreans),&quot; said the Russian Ambassador in Pyongyang Alexander Matsegora, RIA Novosti reported.

Asked to comment on the issue, the Russian foreign ministry&#39;s press-service said that Moscow strictly adheres to the resolution, which &quot;presumes repatriation of all DPRK migrant labourers in 24 months since its adoption&quot;.

&quot;Russia is acting in accordance with this document,&quot; it said, without confirming that some workers are being sent back ahead of the deadline.

&quot;DPRK citizens who are legally in our country will continue working in Russia until the expiry of the term imposed by the UN SC resolution.&quot;

The new sanctions boost against North Korea was passed in December and stipulated that all North Koreans working abroad should be sent back by the end of 2019.

Matsegora said about 35,000 North Korean workers were labouring in Russia, mostly in construction, agriculture and fisheries.&nbsp;

He said they earn wages comparable with Russian citizens and receive 40-50 percent of their salary, while the rest goes to the North Korean government.

The new sanctions boost against North Korea was passed by the UN in December and stipulated that all North Koreans working abroad should be sent back by the end of 2019

Moscow has begun to send North Korean workers home as required by the UN Security Council resolution, the Russian envoy in Pyongyang said Wednesday, calling the ban a "blow" to the country's economy. "The ban on workers from North Korea will be a blow to the Russian economy but we scrupulously adhere the UN SC decision. Many governors have already started to deport (North Koreans)," said the Russian Ambassador in Pyongyang Alexander Matsegora, RIA Novosti reported. Asked to comment on the issue, the Russian foreign ministry's press-service said that Moscow strictly adheres to the resolution, which "presumes repatriation of all DPRK migrant labourers in 24 months since its adoption". "Russia is acting in accordance with this document," it said, without confirming that some workers are being sent back ahead of the deadline. "DPRK citizens who are legally in our country will continue working in Russia until the expiry of the term imposed by the UN SC resolution." The new sanctions boost against North Korea was passed in December and stipulated that all North Koreans working abroad should be sent back by the end of 2019. Matsegora said about 35,000 North Korean workers were labouring in Russia, mostly in construction, agriculture and fisheries. He said they earn wages comparable with Russian citizens and receive 40-50 percent of their salary, while the rest goes to the North Korean government.

Russia sending back North Korean workers: Envoy

No one talks about it openly but it stares point blank at everyone&rsquo;s face in Congo. It is a reality but has not been addressed head-on. There are primary and secondary reasons for this development but it is making UN look partisan in Congo.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The robust peace-keeping programme in Congo has started to take a toll on its own forces. As UN forces actively engage militants, the UN, in turn, ends up becoming enemies of those who are opposed to the present regime. They end up becoming a party. This development is reflected in an increased attack on UN forces by the militant groups.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Added to this is the fact that Congolese Army is non-functional. The Congolese Army neither prevents cross-border terrorists from entering the country nor has the capacity to plug a vast open border. It is an open secret that they are neither paid well nor on time. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

The joke is that they have a different avatar every evening. The UN is trying to professionalise them but this association makes UN a suspect in the eyes of those who prefer an unprofessional and an oppressive Army.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Local population feels the UN has become partisan because of their association with the Congolese Army. The Congolese Army is considered as part of the problem and not the solution. This association, largely misinterpreted by the locals, makes the UN&#39;s work tougher.

&nbsp;

On top of it, the delay in elections has created a rift in the civil society where a section has started to believe that UN supports the incumbent government. So again, there is anger in people. But an aggressive agitation is absent. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

But what it does is that it affects the functioning of various missions of UN in Congo. The impact is silent but present. Officers who are part of the deployment say that one has to be extra careful these days. One does not only have to be neutral, one is being forced to look neutral. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

Officers keep this in mind all times during public out-reach programme. Indian Army&rsquo;s out-reach programme stems primarily from its experience of the Sadhbhava mission which it continues to run in parts of India which are disturbed.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Lastly, United Nations footprint is receding from many parts of Congo, giving enough advantage to local actors to create areas of influence. It is coming together of all these factors which makes the situation in Congo precarious. The only way to describe it as a sleeping volcano. One never knows, when it will burst.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)&nbsp;&nbsp;

Militant groups are increasingly attacking UN forces as they see the organisation as a party, and not a neutral force, in the current conflict in Congo.

No one talks about it openly but it stares point blank at everyone’s face in Congo. It is a reality but has not been addressed head-on. There are primary and secondary reasons for this development but it is making UN look partisan in Congo. The robust peace-keeping programme in Congo has started to take a toll on its own forces. As UN forces actively engage militants, the UN, in turn, ends up becoming enemies of those who are opposed to the present regime. They end up becoming a party. This development is reflected in an increased attack on UN forces by the militant groups. Added to this is the fact that Congolese Army is non-functional. The Congolese Army neither prevents cross-border terrorists from entering the country nor has the capacity to plug a vast open border. It is an open secret that they are neither paid well nor on time. The joke is that they have a different avatar every evening. The UN is trying to professionalise them but this association makes UN a suspect in the eyes of those who prefer an unprofessional and an oppressive Army. Local population feels the UN has become partisan because of their association with the Congolese Army. The Congolese Army is considered as part of the problem and not the solution. This association, largely misinterpreted by the locals, makes the UN's work tougher. On top of it, the delay in elections has created a rift in the civil society where a section has started to believe that UN supports the incumbent government. So again, there is anger in people. But an aggressive agitation is absent. But what it does is that it affects the functioning of various missions of UN in Congo. The impact is silent but present. Officers who are part of the deployment say that one has to be extra careful these days. One does not only have to be neutral, one is being forced to look neutral. Officers keep this in mind all times during public out-reach programme. Indian Army’s out-reach programme stems primarily from its experience of the Sadhbhava mission which it continues to run in parts of India which are disturbed. Lastly, United Nations footprint is receding from many parts of Congo, giving enough advantage to local actors to create areas of influence. It is coming together of all these factors which makes the situation in Congo precarious. The only way to describe it as a sleeping volcano. One never knows, when it will burst. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Congo is like a sleeping volcano, puts UN peacekeeping in jeopardy

Budget cuts are universal but the cut in the budget of United Nations has led to altering of tactical strategy by security forces deployed under the United Nations charter in Congo.

The Indian military is in charge of 15 odd&nbsp;bases in Congo&nbsp;down from 21 because of the budget cut made by the UN. For this reason, a battalion had to be sent back last year which reduced the number of Indian troops around&nbsp;3000&nbsp;to&nbsp;3700.&nbsp;Every penny is paid by the UN, while countries make contribution&nbsp;to the UN Peace Keeping Mission depending upon availability of the troops.

When WION spoke to officers in Goma, it discovered that the concept of Rapid Deployable Battalion and Protection by Projection concepts were born out of necessity and not changed circumstances. As bases get closed, it becomes imperative for the near-by existing bases to provide assistance to the civil society.

When WION contacted Brigadier Vivek Tyagi, Commander of Central Sector of Indian Forces in Congo, he said,&quot; With cuts, force optimisation was a necessity and it needs to be understood. The new concept of operation involving more lean and agile forces adopted by the UK became a functional imperative where challenges for military commander increases several fold.&quot;

This led to junking of the earlier concept of protection by presence. To achieve the aim of stabilisation, it became imperative for the security force to demonstrate its firepower and mobility to send the message that despite&nbsp;its absence it can act quickly to teach lesson to the law breakers. Indian Army covers an area which roughly equals the size of Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh in Congo. It statistically boils down to one person per 200 sq km.

This is happening at a time when elections are due in Congo by year end. Even Bangladesh, Ghana, Nepal, Egypt and Ukraine had to prune down their forces. Congo also reflects larger international reality of an insular America which&nbsp;feels burdened by world which it tries to lead in hesitatingly today. Sources say that more reduction is expected next year around as civilian administration also wants the presence of foreign forces to be reduced in Congo. 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Indian military is in charge of 15 odd bases in Congo which down from 21 because of the budget cut made by the UN

Budget cuts are universal but the cut in the budget of United Nations has led to altering of tactical strategy by security forces deployed under the United Nations charter in Congo. The Indian military is in charge of 15 odd bases in Congo down from 21 because of the budget cut made by the UN. For this reason, a battalion had to be sent back last year which reduced the number of Indian troops around 3000 to 3700. Every penny is paid by the UN, while countries make contribution to the UN Peace Keeping Mission depending upon availability of the troops. When WION spoke to officers in Goma, it discovered that the concept of Rapid Deployable Battalion and Protection by Projection concepts were born out of necessity and not changed circumstances. As bases get closed, it becomes imperative for the near-by existing bases to provide assistance to the civil society. When WION contacted Brigadier Vivek Tyagi, Commander of Central Sector of Indian Forces in Congo, he said," With cuts, force optimisation was a necessity and it needs to be understood. The new concept of operation involving more lean and agile forces adopted by the UK became a functional imperative where challenges for military commander increases several fold." This led to junking of the earlier concept of protection by presence. To achieve the aim of stabilisation, it became imperative for the security force to demonstrate its firepower and mobility to send the message that despite its absence it can act quickly to teach lesson to the law breakers. Indian Army covers an area which roughly equals the size of Chattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh in Congo. It statistically boils down to one person per 200 sq km. This is happening at a time when elections are due in Congo by year end. Even Bangladesh, Ghana, Nepal, Egypt and Ukraine had to prune down their forces. Congo also reflects larger international reality of an insular America which feels burdened by world which it tries to lead in hesitatingly today. Sources say that more reduction is expected next year around as civilian administration also wants the presence of foreign forces to be reduced in Congo.

WION in Congo: UN budget cuts lead to altering of strategy by Indian forces

The UN human rights chief warned today that possible acts of &quot;genocide and ethnic cleansing&quot; against Myanmar&#39;s Rohingya Muslim minority could fuel a religious-based conflict that spreads beyond the country&#39;s borders.

&quot;Myanmar faces a very serious crisis -- with a potentially severe impact on the security of the region,&quot; UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra&#39;ad Al Hussein said during a speech in Jakarta.

His remarks follow the publication of a report last week about mass graves of Rohingya in Myanmar&#39;s crisis-hit Rakhine state, where government troops have been accused of waging an ethnic cleansing campaign against the minority.

Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled to bordering Bangladesh since last August.

Myanmar denied the mass grave report and wider allegations of rights abuses, saying it launched a proportionate crackdown on Rohingya rebels.

But it has blocked reporters and UN investigators from independently accessing the conflict zone and investigating refugee claims about a genocide.

Zeid on Monday said Myanmar had enjoyed strong growth including a focus on socio-economic development in the Rakhine region, but that this could not mask &quot;institutionalised discrimination&quot; against the minority.

The UN rights chief is due to meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo as well as top government officials and rights groups during his three-day visit.

Among the issues expected to be discussed is a crackdown on the LGBT community in Indonesia, the world&#39;s largest Muslim-majority country.

Parliament is set to pass a long-dormant bill to make sex outside marriage illegal. Gay marriage does not exist in Indonesia, meaning homosexual relations would be effectively outlawed.&nbsp;

'Myanmar faces a very serious crisis -- with a potentially severe impact on the security of the region,' said Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein

The UN human rights chief warned today that possible acts of "genocide and ethnic cleansing" against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority could fuel a religious-based conflict that spreads beyond the country's borders. "Myanmar faces a very serious crisis -- with a potentially severe impact on the security of the region," UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said during a speech in Jakarta. His remarks follow the publication of a report last week about mass graves of Rohingya in Myanmar's crisis-hit Rakhine state, where government troops have been accused of waging an ethnic cleansing campaign against the minority. Nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled to bordering Bangladesh since last August. Myanmar denied the mass grave report and wider allegations of rights abuses, saying it launched a proportionate crackdown on Rohingya rebels. But it has blocked reporters and UN investigators from independently accessing the conflict zone and investigating refugee claims about a genocide. Zeid on Monday said Myanmar had enjoyed strong growth including a focus on socio-economic development in the Rakhine region, but that this could not mask "institutionalised discrimination" against the minority. The UN rights chief is due to meet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo as well as top government officials and rights groups during his three-day visit. Among the issues expected to be discussed is a crackdown on the LGBT community in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country. Parliament is set to pass a long-dormant bill to make sex outside marriage illegal. Gay marriage does not exist in Indonesia, meaning homosexual relations would be effectively outlawed.

Rohingya abuses could spark regional conflict: UN rights chief

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres Saturday called upon the Maldivian government to respect a landmark Supreme Court ruling ordering the release of nine political prisoners.

Guterres&#39; spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement released overnight that the UN chief believes the Maldives&#39; &quot;political stalemate&quot; can be resolved through &quot;all-party talks, which the United Nations continues to stand ready to facilitate.&quot;

&quot;He also calls on all to exercise restraint,&quot; Dujarric added.

The court ruled Thursday that the convictions of senior Maldivian opposition figures were &quot;questionable&quot; and &quot;politically motivated,&quot; overturned these rulings, and ordered new trials. It also reinstated 12 legislators who were expelled for defecting from President Abdulla Yameen&#39;s party.

The Supreme Court intervention represents a major setback for Yameen, and paves the way for the return of his rival Mohamed Nasheed -- whom he controversially defeated in 2013.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres Saturday called upon the Maldivian government to respect a landmark Supreme Court ruling ordering the release of nine political prisoners.

Guterres&#39; spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement released overnight that the UN chief believes the Maldives&#39; &quot;political stalemate&quot; can be resolved through &quot;all-party talks, which the United Nations continues to stand ready to facilitate.&quot;

&quot;He also calls on all to exercise restraint,&quot; Dujarric added.

Exiled former president Nasheed told AFP Friday that he intends to run for president, a day after the court&#39;s surprise decision to cut short his 13-year prison sentence for terrorism.

Tensions reignited in the Indian Ocean archipelago Friday, following clashes the previous night between opposition supporters and the police. Authorities used tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters.&nbsp;

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres Saturday called upon the Maldivian government to respect a landmark Supreme Court ruling ordering the release of nine political prisoners

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres Saturday called upon the Maldivian government to respect a landmark Supreme Court ruling ordering the release of nine political prisoners. Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement released overnight that the UN chief believes the Maldives' "political stalemate" can be resolved through "all-party talks, which the United Nations continues to stand ready to facilitate." "He also calls on all to exercise restraint," Dujarric added. The court ruled Thursday that the convictions of senior Maldivian opposition figures were "questionable" and "politically motivated," overturned these rulings, and ordered new trials. It also reinstated 12 legislators who were expelled for defecting from President Abdulla Yameen's party. The Supreme Court intervention represents a major setback for Yameen, and paves the way for the return of his rival Mohamed Nasheed -- whom he controversially defeated in 2013. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres Saturday called upon the Maldivian government to respect a landmark Supreme Court ruling ordering the release of nine political prisoners. Guterres' spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement released overnight that the UN chief believes the Maldives' "political stalemate" can be resolved through "all-party talks, which the United Nations continues to stand ready to facilitate." "He also calls on all to exercise restraint," Dujarric added. Exiled former president Nasheed told AFP Friday that he intends to run for president, a day after the court's surprise decision to cut short his 13-year prison sentence for terrorism. Tensions reignited in the Indian Ocean archipelago Friday, following clashes the previous night between opposition supporters and the police. Authorities used tear gas to disperse hundreds of protesters.

UN chief urges Maldives government to respect court ruling

North Korea is flouting sanctions by exporting coal, iron, steel and other banned commodities, earning nearly $200 million in revenue last year, a UN report said Friday.

A UN panel of experts also found evidence of military cooperation by North Korea to develop Syria&#39;s chemical weapons programs and to provide Myanmar with ballistic missiles.&nbsp;

North Korea &quot;continued to export almost all the commodities prohibited in the resolutions, generating nearly $200 million in revenue between January and September 2017,&quot; said the report by the experts seen by AFP.

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Coal shipments were delivered to China, Malaysia, South Korea, Russia and Vietnam by ships using &quot;a combination of multiple evasion techniques, routes and deceptive tactics,&quot; said the report.

The Security Council last year adopted a series of resolutions to tighten and expand exports bans aimed at cutting off revenue to North Korea&#39;s military programs.

The United States led the push for tough economic sanctions after North Korea&#39;s sixth nuclear test and a series of ballistic missile launches that raised fears that the US mainland could soon be within reach.

Seven ships have been barred from ports worldwide for violating UN sanctions with coal and petroleum transfers, but the experts said much more must be done to confront &quot;these rampant illicit activities.&quot;

The panel found that North Korea &quot;is already flouting the most recent resolutions by exploiting global oil supply chains, complicit foreign nationals, offshore company registries, and the international banking system.&quot;

Arming Syria, Myanmar 
Syria and Myanmar are continuing cooperation with North Korea&#39;s KOMID corporation, the country&#39;s main arms exporter, which is on a UN sanctions blacklist, the report said.

The panel uncovered more than 40 previously unreported shipments from North Korea between 2012 and 2017 to front companies for Syria&#39;s Scientific Studies Research Council, also known as CERS, a key institute for Syria&#39;s chemical program.&nbsp;

The investigations reveal &quot;substantial new evidence&quot; concerning Pyongyang&#39;s military cooperation with Damascus, including at least three visits by North Korean technicians to Syria in 2016.

A visit by a North Korean technical delegation in August 2016 involved the &quot;transfer of special resistance valves and thermometers known for use in chemical weapons programs,&quot; said the report.

A member-state that was not named told the panel that North Korean &quot;technicians continue to operate at chemical weapons and missile facilities at Barzei, Adra and Hama&quot; in Syria, said the report.

Syria however told the panel that there were no North Korean technicians in its territory and that the only experts it was hosting from the country were involved in sports.

A member-state, which was not named, also notified the panel that Myanmar had received &quot;ballistic missile systems from (North Korea) in addition to a range of conventional weapons, including multiple rocket launches and surface-to air missiles&quot;.&nbsp;

North Korean diplomats, in particular trade representatives, continue to provide logistical support for arms sales and help organize exchanges for military technicians, it said.

While sanctions have been significantly broadened, this &quot;expansion of the regime is yet to be matched by the requisite political will&quot; to implement the measures, the experts said.

The panel of experts said 2018 offered a &quot;critical window of opportunity before a potential miscalculation with disastrous implications for international peace and security.&quot; 
&nbsp;

Coal shipments were delivered to China, Malaysia, South Korea, Russia and Vietnam by ships using 'a combination of multiple evasion techniques, routes and deceptive tactics,' a UN report said

North Korea is flouting sanctions by exporting coal, iron, steel and other banned commodities, earning nearly $200 million in revenue last year, a UN report said Friday. A UN panel of experts also found evidence of military cooperation by North Korea to develop Syria's chemical weapons programs and to provide Myanmar with ballistic missiles. North Korea "continued to export almost all the commodities prohibited in the resolutions, generating nearly $200 million in revenue between January and September 2017," said the report by the experts seen by AFP. North Korea 'continued to export almost all the commodities prohibited in the resolutions, generating nearly $200 million in revenue between January and September 2017' × Coal shipments were delivered to China, Malaysia, South Korea, Russia and Vietnam by ships using "a combination of multiple evasion techniques, routes and deceptive tactics," said the report. The Security Council last year adopted a series of resolutions to tighten and expand exports bans aimed at cutting off revenue to North Korea's military programs. The United States led the push for tough economic sanctions after North Korea's sixth nuclear test and a series of ballistic missile launches that raised fears that the US mainland could soon be within reach. Seven ships have been barred from ports worldwide for violating UN sanctions with coal and petroleum transfers, but the experts said much more must be done to confront "these rampant illicit activities." The panel found that North Korea "is already flouting the most recent resolutions by exploiting global oil supply chains, complicit foreign nationals, offshore company registries, and the international banking system." Arming Syria, Myanmar Syria and Myanmar are continuing cooperation with North Korea's KOMID corporation, the country's main arms exporter, which is on a UN sanctions blacklist, the report said. The panel uncovered more than 40 previously unreported shipments from North Korea between 2012 and 2017 to front companies for Syria's Scientific Studies Research Council, also known as CERS, a key institute for Syria's chemical program. The investigations reveal "substantial new evidence" concerning Pyongyang's military cooperation with Damascus, including at least three visits by North Korean technicians to Syria in 2016. A visit by a North Korean technical delegation in August 2016 involved the "transfer of special resistance valves and thermometers known for use in chemical weapons programs," said the report. A member-state that was not named told the panel that North Korean "technicians continue to operate at chemical weapons and missile facilities at Barzei, Adra and Hama" in Syria, said the report. Syria however told the panel that there were no North Korean technicians in its territory and that the only experts it was hosting from the country were involved in sports. A member-state, which was not named, also notified the panel that Myanmar had received "ballistic missile systems from (North Korea) in addition to a range of conventional weapons, including multiple rocket launches and surface-to air missiles". North Korean diplomats, in particular trade representatives, continue to provide logistical support for arms sales and help organize exchanges for military technicians, it said. While sanctions have been significantly broadened, this "expansion of the regime is yet to be matched by the requisite political will" to implement the measures, the experts said. The panel of experts said 2018 offered a "critical window of opportunity before a potential miscalculation with disastrous implications for international peace and security."

North Korea flouting sanctions, earned $200 mn from banned exports: UN

A UN agency said at least 90 people are feared dead in boat capsize in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya.

&quot;At least 90 migrants are reported to have drowned, when a boat capsized off the coast of Libya this morning&quot;, the International Organization for Migration said in a statement.&nbsp;

Two people survived the tragedy while another person was rescued by a fishing boat.

&quot;10 bodies are reported to have washed up on Libyan shores,&quot; the statement added.

Two people survived the tragedy while another person was rescued by a fishing boat.

A UN agency said at least 90 people are feared dead in boat capsize in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Libya. "At least 90 migrants are reported to have drowned, when a boat capsized off the coast of Libya this morning", the International Organization for Migration said in a statement. Two people survived the tragedy while another person was rescued by a fishing boat. "10 bodies are reported to have washed up on Libyan shores," the statement added.

90 migrants feared dead in boat capsize off Libya: UN

The recent incidents of sexual assault on young girls in India and Pakistan are &quot;heart breaking&quot;, the spokesperson of the UN chief said, underlining that the world body is trying to address the issue through access to education and women empowerment.

He was responding to questions on recent incidents of rapes in India and Pakistan.

In India, an eight-month-old baby girl was raped last week by her 28-year-old cousin in New Delhi, a shocking incident that outraged the nation.

While in Pakistan last month, a seven-year-old girl was brutally raped and murdered allegedly by a serial killer, triggering a national outcry.

&quot;I think these two cases you referred to are heartbreaking,&quot; Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said while answering a question on UN&#39;s advice for the two countries on this &quot;vicious cycle&quot;.

&quot;What is clear is that no country on this planet is immune from the scourge of violence against women, violence against girls.?We see it in all country, north, south, east and west,&quot; Dujarric said.

Through various programmes, through UN-Women, UNFPA [United Nations Population Fund], UNICEF [United Nations Children&#39;s Fund] and others, the UN is working with governments to try to get messages through to communities to respecting girls, to respecting women, he said.

&quot;It&#39;s about equal rights. It&#39;s about access to health. It&#39;s about access to education. It&#39;s about empowerment of women. Through a number of its development programmes, the UN is trying to face the issue,&quot; said the spokesperson of the UN Secretary General.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

'I think these two cases you referred to are heartbreaking,' Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said

The recent incidents of sexual assault on young girls in India and Pakistan are "heart breaking", the spokesperson of the UN chief said, underlining that the world body is trying to address the issue through access to education and women empowerment. He was responding to questions on recent incidents of rapes in India and Pakistan. In India, an eight-month-old baby girl was raped last week by her 28-year-old cousin in New Delhi, a shocking incident that outraged the nation. While in Pakistan last month, a seven-year-old girl was brutally raped and murdered allegedly by a serial killer, triggering a national outcry. "I think these two cases you referred to are heartbreaking," Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, said while answering a question on UN's advice for the two countries on this "vicious cycle". "What is clear is that no country on this planet is immune from the scourge of violence against women, violence against girls.?We see it in all country, north, south, east and west," Dujarric said. Through various programmes, through UN-Women, UNFPA [United Nations Population Fund], UNICEF [United Nations Children's Fund] and others, the UN is working with governments to try to get messages through to communities to respecting girls, to respecting women, he said. "It's about equal rights. It's about access to health. It's about access to education. It's about empowerment of women. Through a number of its development programmes, the UN is trying to face the issue," said the spokesperson of the UN Secretary General.

Sexual assaults on young girls in India, Pakistan 'heartbreaking': UN

Three Catalan leaders imprisoned in Spain over their role in their region&#39;s independence crisis will take their case to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, their lawyers in London said on Thursday.

&quot;Their detention by Spain is an affront to human rights, designed to prevent them from performing their role as political representatives of the Catalan people,&quot; lawyer Ben Emmerson told reporters.

The three include deposed Catalan vice-president Oriol Junqueras, as well as the leaders of two grassroots separatist groups: Jordi Sanchez of the ANC and Jordi Cuixart of Omnium Cultural.

Sanchez and Cuixart are being investigated for sedition. Junqueras is also in custody pending a probe into his role in the region&#39;s independence drive.

&quot;This case does not ask the UN to adjudicate on the issue of Catalan independence but seeks the UN&#39;s reaffirmation that governments cannot repress political dissent through arbitrary detention,&quot; Emmerson said. &quot;Spain must release these men.&quot;

Junqueras was instrumental in Catalonia&#39;s attempt to break away from Spain via a referendum that took place on October 1 despite a court ban and a unilateral declaration of independence later that month.

Madrid then sacked the regional government including Junqueras, imposed direct rule on the semi-autonomous region, dissolved its parliament and called snap Catalan elections, which saw separatist parties retain their parliamentary majority in December.

The UN panel is made up of independent human rights cases and has addressed hundreds of cases including prominent figures such as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and Myanmar&#39;s Aung San Suu Kyi.

The little-known group hit the headlines in 2016 when it found that Assange was being &quot;arbitrarily detained&quot; at Ecuador&#39;s embassy in London, where he fled and sought asylum to avoid arrest.

The working group&#39;s opinions are not considered binding and states can demand a review of the decision within two months if they supply new information that challenges the basis of the decision.

Three Catalan leaders imprisoned in Spain over their role in their region's independence crisis will take their case to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, their lawyers in London said on Thursday

Three Catalan leaders imprisoned in Spain over their role in their region's independence crisis will take their case to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, their lawyers in London said on Thursday. "Their detention by Spain is an affront to human rights, designed to prevent them from performing their role as political representatives of the Catalan people," lawyer Ben Emmerson told reporters. The three include deposed Catalan vice-president Oriol Junqueras, as well as the leaders of two grassroots separatist groups: Jordi Sanchez of the ANC and Jordi Cuixart of Omnium Cultural. Sanchez and Cuixart are being investigated for sedition. Junqueras is also in custody pending a probe into his role in the region's independence drive. "This case does not ask the UN to adjudicate on the issue of Catalan independence but seeks the UN's reaffirmation that governments cannot repress political dissent through arbitrary detention," Emmerson said. "Spain must release these men." Junqueras was instrumental in Catalonia's attempt to break away from Spain via a referendum that took place on October 1 despite a court ban and a unilateral declaration of independence later that month. Madrid then sacked the regional government including Junqueras, imposed direct rule on the semi-autonomous region, dissolved its parliament and called snap Catalan elections, which saw separatist parties retain their parliamentary majority in December. The UN panel is made up of independent human rights cases and has addressed hundreds of cases including prominent figures such as WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi. The little-known group hit the headlines in 2016 when it found that Assange was being "arbitrarily detained" at Ecuador's embassy in London, where he fled and sought asylum to avoid arrest. The working group's opinions are not considered binding and states can demand a review of the decision within two months if they supply new information that challenges the basis of the decision.

Three jailed Catalan leaders appeal to UN panel: lawyers

A United Nations humanitarian task force has been unable to make deliveries to desperate Syrians for the past two months as President Bashar al-Assad&rsquo;s government has withheld approval for aid convoys, the UN humanitarian adviser said on Thursday.

Before they can move into besieged areas or across front lines, the convoys require letters from the government and security guarantees from armed groups.

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s an all-time low in giving us the facilitation letters,&rdquo; adviser Jan Egeland told reporters after meeting senior diplomats in Geneva.

Insurgents fighting Assad&rsquo;s forces were also creating obstacles, contributing to the worst situation since 2015, he said.

Egeland called on Russia, Turkey and Iran to de-escalate the fighting in Idlib governorate, which he said was &ldquo;screaming for a ceasefire&rdquo;.

&ldquo;When we need their ability to influence the parties the most, in this bleak hour for humanitarian work, humanitarian diplomacy seems to be totally impotent. We&rsquo;re getting nowhere at the moment.&rdquo;

This week Russia convened a Syrian peace congress in Sochi. Egeland said it had so far not resulted in any progress but he hoped that it would.

Air strikes hit two crowded markets in Idlib this week, killing at least 31 people, and have deprived hundreds of thousands of healthcare.

&ldquo;I told the members of the humanitarian task force, we cannot have conventional warfare in what is essentially a refugee camp,&rdquo; Egeland said.

Further north, a Turkish offensive in Afrin district has displaced about 15,000 people, Egeland said, adding: &ldquo;There are also reports...that local authorities have made it hard for people to flee from the Afrin area.&rdquo;

And outside Damascus, the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta, where almost 400,000 people are under siege and about 750 need urgent medical evacuation, desperately needs a pause in the fighting, he said.

&ldquo;We have indications from both sides that they want it, but it hasn&rsquo;t happened. And it&rsquo;s both sides that have to help us here. There are air raids, fighting from the government side, but there is a barrage of mortars and grenades going from this area going into civilian neighbourhoods in Damascus.&rdquo;

He also said 112 people had been killed by explosions in the town of Raqqa since it was recaptured from Islamic State fighters in October because people had been allowed back to their homes before the town had been cleared of bombs.

A United Nations humanitarian task force has been unable to make deliveries to desperate Syrians for the past two months as President Bashar al-Assad’s government has withheld approval for aid convoys, the UN humanitarian adviser said on Thursday

A United Nations humanitarian task force has been unable to make deliveries to desperate Syrians for the past two months as President Bashar al-Assad’s government has withheld approval for aid convoys, the UN humanitarian adviser said on Thursday. Before they can move into besieged areas or across front lines, the convoys require letters from the government and security guarantees from armed groups. “It’s an all-time low in giving us the facilitation letters,” adviser Jan Egeland told reporters after meeting senior diplomats in Geneva. Insurgents fighting Assad’s forces were also creating obstacles, contributing to the worst situation since 2015, he said. Egeland called on Russia, Turkey and Iran to de-escalate the fighting in Idlib governorate, which he said was “screaming for a ceasefire”. “When we need their ability to influence the parties the most, in this bleak hour for humanitarian work, humanitarian diplomacy seems to be totally impotent. We’re getting nowhere at the moment.” This week Russia convened a Syrian peace congress in Sochi. Egeland said it had so far not resulted in any progress but he hoped that it would. Air strikes hit two crowded markets in Idlib this week, killing at least 31 people, and have deprived hundreds of thousands of healthcare. “I told the members of the humanitarian task force, we cannot have conventional warfare in what is essentially a refugee camp,” Egeland said. Further north, a Turkish offensive in Afrin district has displaced about 15,000 people, Egeland said, adding: “There are also reports...that local authorities have made it hard for people to flee from the Afrin area.” And outside Damascus, the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta, where almost 400,000 people are under siege and about 750 need urgent medical evacuation, desperately needs a pause in the fighting, he said. “We have indications from both sides that they want it, but it hasn’t happened. And it’s both sides that have to help us here. There are air raids, fighting from the government side, but there is a barrage of mortars and grenades going from this area going into civilian neighbourhoods in Damascus.” He also said 112 people had been killed by explosions in the town of Raqqa since it was recaptured from Islamic State fighters in October because people had been allowed back to their homes before the town had been cleared of bombs.

UN calls on Russia, Iran and Turkey to break Syria aid deadlock

The last three years were the hottest on record, the United Nations weather agency said today, citing fresh global data underscoring the dramatic warming of the planet.

Consolidated data from five leading international weather agencies shows that &quot;2015, 2016 and 2017 have been confirmed as the three warmest years on record&quot;, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said.

It added that 2016 remains the hottest year ever measured, due to the warming effect of El Nino, while 2017 was the warmest non-El Nino year beating out 2015 by less than one hundredth of a degree.

&quot;The long-term temperature trend is far more important than the ranking of individual years, and that trend is an upward one,&quot; WMO secretary-general Petteri Taalas said in a statement.

The 21st century has so far been a period of the hottest weather, accounting for 17 of the 18 warmest years on record.

&quot;And the degree of warming during the past three years has been exceptional,&quot; Taalas added.

The WMO also highlighted the intensification of weather and climate related disasters, which hit record levels in the United States last year, while multiple countries were devastated by cyclones, floods and drought.

The WMO findings were based on data provided by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US space agency NASA, Britain&#39;s Met office, the European Centre for medium range weather forecasts and the Japan Meteorological Agency.

Using those inputs, the UN said that the average global surface temperature last year was 1.1 degrees Celsius (1.98 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels.

&quot;Basically, all of the warming in the last 60 years is attributable to human activities,&quot; said Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA&#39;s Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York.

Reacting to the results, experts warned that the planet is moving closer to a set of red lines laid out in the historic 2015 Paris climate agreement.

That treaty calls for capping global warming at &quot;well under&quot; two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

&quot;When even &#39;colder&#39; (non-El Nino) years are rewriting the warmest year record books we know we have a problem,&quot; said Dave Reay, the Carbon Management chair at the University of Edinburgh. 
&quot;Global temperatures will continue to bob up and down from year to year, but the climate tide beneath them is rising fast.&quot;

There is mounting global consensus on the need to slash CO2 and methane emissions, improve energy efficiency, and develop technologies to remove CO2 from the air.

But US President Donald Trump&#39;s decision to withdraw from the Paris accord has rattled the international community and complicated efforts at forging joint action -- even though many US state governments insist they remain committed to cut emissions.

Since industrialisation took off in the early 19th century, CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere have increased by nearly half, from 280 parts per million to 407 parts per million.

Trump will head to the World Economic Forum in Davos next week, an annual gathering of global elite, where he will confront some of the political and civil society leaders who fought hard for the Paris deal.

&quot;Collaborative efforts&quot; to combat unprecedented shared challenges will be a major theme of meeting, WEF boss Klaus Schwab said this week.

&quot;The record temperature should focus the minds of world leaders, including President Trump, on the scale and urgency of the risks that people, rich and poor, face around the world from climate change,&quot; said Bob Ward, policy director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the London School of Economics.&nbsp;

Consolidated data from five leading international weather agencies shows that "2015, 2016 and 2017 have been confirmed as the three warmest years on record", the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said

The last three years were the hottest on record, the United Nations weather agency said today, citing fresh global data underscoring the dramatic warming of the planet. Consolidated data from five leading international weather agencies shows that "2015, 2016 and 2017 have been confirmed as the three warmest years on record", the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) said. It added that 2016 remains the hottest year ever measured, due to the warming effect of El Nino, while 2017 was the warmest non-El Nino year beating out 2015 by less than one hundredth of a degree. "The long-term temperature trend is far more important than the ranking of individual years, and that trend is an upward one," WMO secretary-general Petteri Taalas said in a statement. The 21st century has so far been a period of the hottest weather, accounting for 17 of the 18 warmest years on record. "And the degree of warming during the past three years has been exceptional," Taalas added. The WMO also highlighted the intensification of weather and climate related disasters, which hit record levels in the United States last year, while multiple countries were devastated by cyclones, floods and drought. The WMO findings were based on data provided by the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, US space agency NASA, Britain's Met office, the European Centre for medium range weather forecasts and the Japan Meteorological Agency. Using those inputs, the UN said that the average global surface temperature last year was 1.1 degrees Celsius (1.98 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. "Basically, all of the warming in the last 60 years is attributable to human activities," said Gavin Schmidt, director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York. Reacting to the results, experts warned that the planet is moving closer to a set of red lines laid out in the historic 2015 Paris climate agreement. That treaty calls for capping global warming at "well under" two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). "When even 'colder' (non-El Nino) years are rewriting the warmest year record books we know we have a problem," said Dave Reay, the Carbon Management chair at the University of Edinburgh. "Global temperatures will continue to bob up and down from year to year, but the climate tide beneath them is rising fast." There is mounting global consensus on the need to slash CO2 and methane emissions, improve energy efficiency, and develop technologies to remove CO2 from the air. But US President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris accord has rattled the international community and complicated efforts at forging joint action -- even though many US state governments insist they remain committed to cut emissions. Since industrialisation took off in the early 19th century, CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere have increased by nearly half, from 280 parts per million to 407 parts per million. Trump will head to the World Economic Forum in Davos next week, an annual gathering of global elite, where he will confront some of the political and civil society leaders who fought hard for the Paris deal. "Collaborative efforts" to combat unprecedented shared challenges will be a major theme of meeting, WEF boss Klaus Schwab said this week. "The record temperature should focus the minds of world leaders, including President Trump, on the scale and urgency of the risks that people, rich and poor, face around the world from climate change," said Bob Ward, policy director at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment and the London School of Economics.

Last three years hottest on record: UN

Syria&#39;s opposition will attend fresh peace talks hosted by the United Nations in Vienna, its media office announced on Tuesday, but said dates were not yet confirmed.

In a written statement, the Syrian Negotiations Commission&#39;s press office said the opposition would take part in a new round of negotiations, which were &quot;the UN Geneva talks, but taking place in Vienna&quot;.

The dates for the talks were not yet confirmed, the SNC added.&nbsp;

The latest round of UN-backed Syria peace talks concluded in Geneva in mid-December with no notable progress towards ending the country&#39;s nearly seven-year war.

Talks were expected to resume on January 21 in Switzerland.

The UN declined to comment on the change of venue or confirm dates for the new round.&nbsp;

Several diplomatic tracks have thus far failed to resolve Syria&#39;s conflict.&nbsp;

Russia, a steadfast supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has announced it will host a peace congress on January 29 and 30 in the Black Sea resort of Sochi.

With regime ally Iran and rebel backer Turkey as co-hosts, the summit specifically aims to set up a new constitution for post-war Syria.

The SNC did not announce whether it was attending those talks, but dozens of Syrian rebel factions rejected the Sochi initiative in December.&nbsp;

Syria&#39;s government has said it would attend the Sochi talks.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The UN declined to comment on the change of venue or confirm dates for the new round.

Syria's opposition will attend fresh peace talks hosted by the United Nations in Vienna, its media office announced on Tuesday, but said dates were not yet confirmed. In a written statement, the Syrian Negotiations Commission's press office said the opposition would take part in a new round of negotiations, which were "the UN Geneva talks, but taking place in Vienna". The dates for the talks were not yet confirmed, the SNC added. The latest round of UN-backed Syria peace talks concluded in Geneva in mid-December with no notable progress towards ending the country's nearly seven-year war. Talks were expected to resume on January 21 in Switzerland. The UN declined to comment on the change of venue or confirm dates for the new round. Several diplomatic tracks have thus far failed to resolve Syria's conflict. Russia, a steadfast supporter of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has announced it will host a peace congress on January 29 and 30 in the Black Sea resort of Sochi. With regime ally Iran and rebel backer Turkey as co-hosts, the summit specifically aims to set up a new constitution for post-war Syria. The SNC did not announce whether it was attending those talks, but dozens of Syrian rebel factions rejected the Sochi initiative in December. Syria's government has said it would attend the Sochi talks.

Syria opposition to attend new UN-backed talks in Vienna

Arab states will soon embark on a diplomatic drive to persuade the United Nations to recognise a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war, Jordan&#39;s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said.

Six Arab foreign ministers met in Amman on Saturday to follow up on earlier decisions taken by the Arab League to counter US&nbsp;President Donald Trump&#39;s move in December to recognise Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital, a decision that overturned decades of US&nbsp;policy on the Middle East.

A committee made up of Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Palestinians and headed by Jordan was set up after an emergency meeting of the Arab League in Cairo shortly after Trump&#39;s decision that called on Washington to abandon its decision.

The Arab League said at the time the move would spur violence throughout the region and described Trump&#39;s announcement as a &quot;dangerous violation of international law&quot; which had no legal impact.

Safadi said the ministers would recommend a series of moves to a full ministerial meeting of the Arab League due later this month.&nbsp;

&quot;We will confront the decision by seeking a (UN) resolution, an international one, to recognise a Palestinian state on 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital,&quot; said Safadi.

He did not elaborate on the timing of the diplomatic moves nor say whether he was referring to a UN&nbsp;Security Council or General Assembly resolution.

Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the ministerial meeting would also discuss Washington&#39;s role in future Arab-Israeli peacemaking that members states said was now jeopardised by what they see as US&nbsp;bias towards Israel.

&quot;We want to lessen any losses on the Palestinian side and lessen the Israeli gains,&quot; Aboul Gheit added.

Arab states would also discuss whether to convene an extraordinary summit of their leaders or wait until a scheduled summit in the Saudi capital Riyadh at the end of March, he added.&nbsp;

Trump&rsquo;s recognition of Jerusalem has infuriated the Arab world and upset Western allies, who say it is a blow to peace efforts and risks sparking more violence in the region.

Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. Israel regards Jerusalem as its eternal and indivisible capital.

Most countries consider East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed after capturing it from Jordan in a 1967 war, to be occupied territory, and say the status of the city should be decided at future Israeli-Palestinian talks.

On December 18, the United States blocked a United Nations Security Council call for Trump&#39;s declaration on Jerusalem to be withdrawn.

Three days later, more than 120 countries defied Trump and voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital.

In 2012, the UN&nbsp;General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine in a resolution that said the status of Jerusalem should be resolved through negotiations.&nbsp;

Arab states will persuade the United Nations to recognise Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war

Arab states will soon embark on a diplomatic drive to persuade the United Nations to recognise a Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital on territory captured by Israel in the 1967 war, Jordan's Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said. Six Arab foreign ministers met in Amman on Saturday to follow up on earlier decisions taken by the Arab League to counter US President Donald Trump's move in December to recognise Jerusalem as Israel's capital, a decision that overturned decades of US policy on the Middle East. A committee made up of Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, the Palestinians and headed by Jordan was set up after an emergency meeting of the Arab League in Cairo shortly after Trump's decision that called on Washington to abandon its decision. The Arab League said at the time the move would spur violence throughout the region and described Trump's announcement as a "dangerous violation of international law" which had no legal impact. Safadi said the ministers would recommend a series of moves to a full ministerial meeting of the Arab League due later this month. "We will confront the decision by seeking a (UN) resolution, an international one, to recognise a Palestinian state on 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital," said Safadi. He did not elaborate on the timing of the diplomatic moves nor say whether he was referring to a UN Security Council or General Assembly resolution. Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the ministerial meeting would also discuss Washington's role in future Arab-Israeli peacemaking that members states said was now jeopardised by what they see as US bias towards Israel. "We want to lessen any losses on the Palestinian side and lessen the Israeli gains," Aboul Gheit added. Arab states would also discuss whether to convene an extraordinary summit of their leaders or wait until a scheduled summit in the Saudi capital Riyadh at the end of March, he added. Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem has infuriated the Arab world and upset Western allies, who say it is a blow to peace efforts and risks sparking more violence in the region. Palestinians claim East Jerusalem as the capital of a future state. Israel regards Jerusalem as its eternal and indivisible capital. Most countries consider East Jerusalem, which Israel annexed after capturing it from Jordan in a 1967 war, to be occupied territory, and say the status of the city should be decided at future Israeli-Palestinian talks. On December 18, the United States blocked a United Nations Security Council call for Trump's declaration on Jerusalem to be withdrawn. Three days later, more than 120 countries defied Trump and voted in favour of a United Nations General Assembly resolution calling for the United States to drop its recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. In 2012, the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly approved the de facto recognition of the sovereign state of Palestine in a resolution that said the status of Jerusalem should be resolved through negotiations.

Arab League to lobby UN to recognise Palestinian state

The United States and Russia clashed over Iran at the UN Security Council on Friday as a third straight day of pro-regime rallies were held following a wave of deadly protests.

US Ambassador Nikki Haley pushed for the meeting of the top UN body, arguing the unrest could escalate into full-blown conflict and drawing a comparison with Syria.

&quot;The Iranian regime is now on notice: the world will be watching what you do,&quot; Haley warned.

Russia opposed the US push for Iran to be discussed at the Security Council, arguing the protests pose no threat to international peace and security.

But Moscow stopped short of seeking to block the meeting.

A total of 21 people have died and hundreds have been arrested since December 28 as protests over economic woes turned against the regime as a whole, with attacks on government buildings and police stations.

Pro-regime rallies were held around Tehran Friday for the third day running with authorities seeking to put a lid on the violence. There were some reports of small anti-government demonstrations in provincial towns, but these could not be verified.

&quot;We obviously regret the loss of life as the result of demonstrations that weren&#39;t so peaceful,&quot; Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council.

&quot;However, let Iran deal with its own problems,&quot; he said.

Iranian officials have blamed a plot by the CIA, Israel and Saudi Arabia for the unrest that convulsed much of the country for five days -- part of the increasing tensions playing out between Iran and its neighbors since President Donald Trump came to power.

The United States has meanwhile piled pressure on Iran, with Trump pledging to help Iranians &quot;take back&quot; their government.

A threat to peace?

Washington has imposed unilateral sanctions on five Iranian companies linked to Tehran&#39;s ballistic missile program.

&quot;The Iranian people are rising up in over 79 locations throughout the country,&quot; Haley told the council.

&quot;It is a powerful exhibition of brave people who have become so fed up with their oppressive government that they are willing to risk their lives in protest.&quot;

Russia&#39;s envoy shot back that if the US view holds, the council should have also discussed the 2014 unrest in Ferguson, Missouri over the police shooting of a black teenager or the US crackdown on the Occupy Wall Street movement.

China also described the meeting as meddling in Iran&#39;s affairs, while Ethiopia, Kuwait and Sweden expressed reservations about the discussion.&nbsp;

Britain and France reiterated that Iran must respect the rights of protesters, but French Ambassador Francois Delattre said the &quot;events of the past days do not constitute a threat to peace and international security.&quot;

Iran&#39;s Ambassador Gholamali Khoshroo slammed the meeting as a &quot;farce&quot; and a &quot;waste of time&quot; and said the council should instead focus on addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or the war in Yemen.

CIA plot&nbsp;

It remains difficult to gauge who was involved in the anti-government unrest.

President Hassan Rouhani&#39;s supporters have blamed conservative rivals for stoking anger over economic issues, which quickly spiralled out of control.

The conservatives deny the accusations and say Rouhani must do more to help the poor.

Chief prosecutor Mohammad Jafar Montazeri blamed the unrest on a plot dating back four years by the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia, while also claiming there were efforts to infiltrate the Islamic State group into the country.

Many officials have nonetheless recognized the genuine economic grievances of many Iranians, particularly a jobless rate at close to 30 percent for young people.

Iran&#39;s economic growth rebounded to more than 12 percent last year after sanctions were lifted under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, but analysts say much of the windfall has come from renewed oil sales that generate few jobs.

Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said 42,000 people had taken part in the unrest nationwide.

It was higher than a previous figure of 15,000 given by the head of the Revolutionary Guards, but still far below the hundreds of thousands that took to the streets during the last major protest movement in 2009.

Nuclear waivers&nbsp;

Trump must decide next week whether to continue waiving nuclear-related sanctions suspended under the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.

Under the deal, Trump must actively lift certain sanctions every few months and the next deadline falls on January 12.

Trump&#39;s repeated tweets backing protesters during Iran&#39;s unrest was rebuffed by marchers on Friday.

&quot;Mr Trump passed laws against Iranians such as the immigration ban, and he called Iranians &#39;savages&#39;... and suddenly he is sympathizing and supporting Iranians and it is ridiculous,&quot; said Khalili, a government worker in Tehran.

The United States and Russia clashed over Iran at the UN Security Council on Friday

The United States and Russia clashed over Iran at the UN Security Council on Friday as a third straight day of pro-regime rallies were held following a wave of deadly protests. US Ambassador Nikki Haley pushed for the meeting of the top UN body, arguing the unrest could escalate into full-blown conflict and drawing a comparison with Syria. "The Iranian regime is now on notice: the world will be watching what you do," Haley warned. Russia opposed the US push for Iran to be discussed at the Security Council, arguing the protests pose no threat to international peace and security. But Moscow stopped short of seeking to block the meeting. A total of 21 people have died and hundreds have been arrested since December 28 as protests over economic woes turned against the regime as a whole, with attacks on government buildings and police stations. Pro-regime rallies were held around Tehran Friday for the third day running with authorities seeking to put a lid on the violence. There were some reports of small anti-government demonstrations in provincial towns, but these could not be verified. "We obviously regret the loss of life as the result of demonstrations that weren't so peaceful," Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council. "However, let Iran deal with its own problems," he said. Iranian officials have blamed a plot by the CIA, Israel and Saudi Arabia for the unrest that convulsed much of the country for five days -- part of the increasing tensions playing out between Iran and its neighbors since President Donald Trump came to power. The United States has meanwhile piled pressure on Iran, with Trump pledging to help Iranians "take back" their government. A threat to peace? Washington has imposed unilateral sanctions on five Iranian companies linked to Tehran's ballistic missile program. "The Iranian people are rising up in over 79 locations throughout the country," Haley told the council. "It is a powerful exhibition of brave people who have become so fed up with their oppressive government that they are willing to risk their lives in protest." Russia's envoy shot back that if the US view holds, the council should have also discussed the 2014 unrest in Ferguson, Missouri over the police shooting of a black teenager or the US crackdown on the Occupy Wall Street movement. China also described the meeting as meddling in Iran's affairs, while Ethiopia, Kuwait and Sweden expressed reservations about the discussion. Britain and France reiterated that Iran must respect the rights of protesters, but French Ambassador Francois Delattre said the "events of the past days do not constitute a threat to peace and international security." Iran's Ambassador Gholamali Khoshroo slammed the meeting as a "farce" and a "waste of time" and said the council should instead focus on addressing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict or the war in Yemen. CIA plot It remains difficult to gauge who was involved in the anti-government unrest. President Hassan Rouhani's supporters have blamed conservative rivals for stoking anger over economic issues, which quickly spiralled out of control. The conservatives deny the accusations and say Rouhani must do more to help the poor. Chief prosecutor Mohammad Jafar Montazeri blamed the unrest on a plot dating back four years by the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia, while also claiming there were efforts to infiltrate the Islamic State group into the country. Many officials have nonetheless recognized the genuine economic grievances of many Iranians, particularly a jobless rate at close to 30 percent for young people. Iran's economic growth rebounded to more than 12 percent last year after sanctions were lifted under a 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, but analysts say much of the windfall has come from renewed oil sales that generate few jobs. Interior Minister Abdolreza Rahmani Fazli said 42,000 people had taken part in the unrest nationwide. It was higher than a previous figure of 15,000 given by the head of the Revolutionary Guards, but still far below the hundreds of thousands that took to the streets during the last major protest movement in 2009. Nuclear waivers Trump must decide next week whether to continue waiving nuclear-related sanctions suspended under the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. Under the deal, Trump must actively lift certain sanctions every few months and the next deadline falls on January 12. Trump's repeated tweets backing protesters during Iran's unrest was rebuffed by marchers on Friday. "Mr Trump passed laws against Iranians such as the immigration ban, and he called Iranians 'savages'... and suddenly he is sympathizing and supporting Iranians and it is ridiculous," said Khalili, a government worker in Tehran.

US, Russia clash over Iran at the UN Security Council meet

Nikki Haley, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, called on the international community to speak out on the unfolding protests in Iran, saying the US would seek emergency UN talks on the situation.

&quot;The people of Iran are crying out for freedom,&quot; Haley said at a news conference. &quot;All freedom-loving people must stand with their cause.&quot;

She said the United States would be seeking emergency sessions of the UN Security Council and the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Commission in the coming days.

Haley rejected as &quot;complete nonsense&quot; charges by Iran&#39;s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that the five-day-old protests were being fomented by the country&#39;s &quot;enemies.&quot;

&quot;The freedoms that are enshrined in the United Nations charter are under attack in Iran. Dozens have already been killed. Hundreds have been arrested,&quot; she said.

&quot;If the Iranian dictatorship&#39;s history is any guide, we can expect more outrageous abuses in the days to come,&quot; she said.

'The people of Iran are crying out for freedom, all freedom-loving people must stand with their cause,' Haley said at a news conference

Nikki Haley, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, called on the international community to speak out on the unfolding protests in Iran, saying the US would seek emergency UN talks on the situation. "The people of Iran are crying out for freedom," Haley said at a news conference. "All freedom-loving people must stand with their cause." She said the United States would be seeking emergency sessions of the UN Security Council and the Geneva-based UN Human Rights Commission in the coming days. Haley rejected as "complete nonsense" charges by Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that the five-day-old protests were being fomented by the country's "enemies." "The freedoms that are enshrined in the United Nations charter are under attack in Iran. Dozens have already been killed. Hundreds have been arrested," she said. "If the Iranian dictatorship's history is any guide, we can expect more outrageous abuses in the days to come," she said.

US envoy calls for emergency UN session on Iran

The UN Security Council on Thursday denied international port access to four North Korean ships suspected of carrying or having transported goods banned by international sanctions targeting Pyongyang, diplomats told AFP.

The ban of the four vessels -- the Ul Ji Bong 6, Rung Ra 2, Sam Jong 2 and Rye Song Gang 1 -- brings the UN&#39;s total number of blocked ships to eight. The United States requested the most recent ban along with measures targeting ships registered in other countries, diplomats said on condition of anonymity.&nbsp;

But China only agreed to target the four ships flying North Korean flags, diplomats said, as part of international efforts to curb Pyongyang&#39;s missile and nuclear programs.

&quot;Only four ships have been accepted&quot; for the ban but &quot;the procedure remains open&quot; to include other vessels in the future, one diplomat said.

The list submitted by the US in December had also included ships flying flags from Belize, China, Hong Kong, Palau and Panama.

Shortly before the Council decision US President Donald Trump -- who has often hailed China&#39;s efforts to put pressure on North Korea -- sharply criticised Beijing for failing to cut off Pyongyang&#39;s oil supply.

&quot;Caught RED HANDED - very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea,&quot; Trump said on Twitter.&nbsp;

&quot;There will never be a friendly solution to the North Korea problem if this continues to happen!&quot;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Caught RED HANDED - very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea. There will never be a friendly solution to the North Korea problem if this continues to happen!
&mdash; Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/946416486054285314?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 28, 2017</a></blockquote>
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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

It was not immediately clear if Trump was referring to the report or US intelligence in his tweet, or if he was accusing China -- the North&#39;s main ally -- of directly violating sanctions targeting Pyongyang.

Transshipment at sea

In 2017, the Security Council has slapped three sets of sanctions on North Korea: one on August 5 targeting the iron, coal and fishing industries; another set on September 11 aimed at textiles and limiting oil supply; and the most recent on December 22 focused on refined petroleum products.

The US has denounced trafficking of banned goods that allows North Korea to stock up, particularly the transfer of cargo between different ships on the high seas.

Blocking suspected vessels from ports -- except in the case of humanitarian need as determined by the council&#39;s sanctions committee -- is provided for in the August resolution.

On October 5, the UN had already identified four ships &quot;carrying prohibited goods,&quot; resulting in a ban on port access that was a &quot;first in United Nations&quot; history, according to Hugh Griffiths, part of a UN panel of experts monitoring the application of sanctions on Pyongyang.

Those four vessels were registered in the Comoros, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Cambodia and North Korea, and were targeted for the illegal transport of coal, iron and North Korean fish.

South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, citing government sources in Seoul, reported earlier this week that US satellites had spotted Chinese ships selling oil to North Korean vessels dozens of times since October.

Washington remains convinced that only pressure from the government of Chinese President Xi Jinping will persuade Kim to back down and negotiate an end to the nuclear standoff.

The ban of the four vessels -- the Ul Ji Bong 6, Rung Ra 2, Sam Jong 2 and Rye Song Gang 1 -- brings the UN's total number of blocked ships to eight

The UN Security Council on Thursday denied international port access to four North Korean ships suspected of carrying or having transported goods banned by international sanctions targeting Pyongyang, diplomats told AFP. The ban of the four vessels -- the Ul Ji Bong 6, Rung Ra 2, Sam Jong 2 and Rye Song Gang 1 -- brings the UN's total number of blocked ships to eight. The United States requested the most recent ban along with measures targeting ships registered in other countries, diplomats said on condition of anonymity. But China only agreed to target the four ships flying North Korean flags, diplomats said, as part of international efforts to curb Pyongyang's missile and nuclear programs. "Only four ships have been accepted" for the ban but "the procedure remains open" to include other vessels in the future, one diplomat said. The list submitted by the US in December had also included ships flying flags from Belize, China, Hong Kong, Palau and Panama. Shortly before the Council decision US President Donald Trump -- who has often hailed China's efforts to put pressure on North Korea -- sharply criticised Beijing for failing to cut off Pyongyang's oil supply. "Caught RED HANDED - very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea," Trump said on Twitter. "There will never be a friendly solution to the North Korea problem if this continues to happen!" Caught RED HANDED - very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea. There will never be a friendly solution to the North Korea problem if this continues to happen! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2017 × It was not immediately clear if Trump was referring to the report or US intelligence in his tweet, or if he was accusing China -- the North's main ally -- of directly violating sanctions targeting Pyongyang. Transshipment at sea In 2017, the Security Council has slapped three sets of sanctions on North Korea: one on August 5 targeting the iron, coal and fishing industries; another set on September 11 aimed at textiles and limiting oil supply; and the most recent on December 22 focused on refined petroleum products. The US has denounced trafficking of banned goods that allows North Korea to stock up, particularly the transfer of cargo between different ships on the high seas. Blocking suspected vessels from ports -- except in the case of humanitarian need as determined by the council's sanctions committee -- is provided for in the August resolution. On October 5, the UN had already identified four ships "carrying prohibited goods," resulting in a ban on port access that was a "first in United Nations" history, according to Hugh Griffiths, part of a UN panel of experts monitoring the application of sanctions on Pyongyang. Those four vessels were registered in the Comoros, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Cambodia and North Korea, and were targeted for the illegal transport of coal, iron and North Korean fish. South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo, citing government sources in Seoul, reported earlier this week that US satellites had spotted Chinese ships selling oil to North Korean vessels dozens of times since October. Washington remains convinced that only pressure from the government of Chinese President Xi Jinping will persuade Kim to back down and negotiate an end to the nuclear standoff.

UN bars four North Korean ships from international ports

A Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen has killed 109 civilians in air strikes in the past 10 days, including 54 at a crowded market and 14 members of one family in a farm, the top UN&nbsp;official in the country said on Thursday.&nbsp;

UN&nbsp;resident coordinator Jamie McGoldrick called the fighting futile and absurd, an unusually direct criticism of the war in which the coalition, backed by the United States, Britain and others, is fighting the Iran-allied Houthi armed movement.

Citing initial reports from the UN&nbsp;human rights office, a statement by McGoldrick said air strikes hit a crowded market in Al Hayma sub-district of Attazziah in Taiz governorate on Tuesday, killing 54 and injuring 32.&nbsp;

Eight of the dead and six of the injured were children, according to the reports.

On the same day, an air strike on a farm in Attohayta district of Hodeidah governorate killed 14, and air strikes elsewhere killed a further 41 civilians and injured 43 over the past 10 days.

&quot;These incidents prove the complete disregard for human life that all parties, including the Saudi-led Coalition, continue to show in this absurd war that has only resulted in the destruction of the country and the incommensurate suffering of its people, who are being punished as part of a futile military campaign by both sides,&quot; McGoldrick said.

Under international law, the warring sides must spare civilians and civilian infrastructure, he added.

The United Nations has no up-to-date estimate of the death toll in Yemen, having said in August 2016 that according to medical centres at least 10,000 people had been killed.&nbsp;

The United Nations says Yemen is the world&#39;s worst humanitarian crisis, with about 8 million people on the brink of famine, a cholera epidemic that has infected 1 million people, and economic collapse in what was already one of the Arab world`s poorest countries.

Eight of the dead and six of the injured were children, according to the reports

A Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen has killed 109 civilians in air strikes in the past 10 days, including 54 at a crowded market and 14 members of one family in a farm, the top UN official in the country said on Thursday. UN resident coordinator Jamie McGoldrick called the fighting futile and absurd, an unusually direct criticism of the war in which the coalition, backed by the United States, Britain and others, is fighting the Iran-allied Houthi armed movement. Citing initial reports from the UN human rights office, a statement by McGoldrick said air strikes hit a crowded market in Al Hayma sub-district of Attazziah in Taiz governorate on Tuesday, killing 54 and injuring 32. Eight of the dead and six of the injured were children, according to the reports. On the same day, an air strike on a farm in Attohayta district of Hodeidah governorate killed 14, and air strikes elsewhere killed a further 41 civilians and injured 43 over the past 10 days. "These incidents prove the complete disregard for human life that all parties, including the Saudi-led Coalition, continue to show in this absurd war that has only resulted in the destruction of the country and the incommensurate suffering of its people, who are being punished as part of a futile military campaign by both sides," McGoldrick said. Under international law, the warring sides must spare civilians and civilian infrastructure, he added. The United Nations has no up-to-date estimate of the death toll in Yemen, having said in August 2016 that according to medical centres at least 10,000 people had been killed. The United Nations says Yemen is the world's worst humanitarian crisis, with about 8 million people on the brink of famine, a cholera epidemic that has infected 1 million people, and economic collapse in what was already one of the Arab world`s poorest countries.

UN says Saudi-led coalition raids in Yemen kill 109 civilians

The United Nations&#39;&nbsp;independent investigator into human rights in Myanmar has called for international pressure on China and Russia to try to get them to oppose human rights abuses in Myanmar.

UN&nbsp;special rapporteur Yanghee Lee, who was last week barred by the Myanmar government from visiting the country, singled out China and Russia because they had failed to back some moves in the UN&nbsp;aimed at trying to halt the Myanmar military&#39;s crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim community in Rakhine province.&nbsp;

&quot;I&rsquo;d like to ask the international community to continue to work with China and Russia to persuade them to stand on the side of human rights,&quot; Lee told Reuters in an interview.

Neither has joined the United States, the European Union, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in condemning the crackdown that has led to the exodus of what aid agencies estimate to be 655,000 refugees into Bangladesh.&nbsp;

In response to Lee, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that &quot;external actors&quot; adding pressure over human rights will not help to resolve the issue, and may make it more complicated.&nbsp;

This would not be in the interests of Myanmar, its neighbours or the international community, she said at a regular news briefing in Beijing on Thursday. &quot;We hope that countries or individuals external to the issue can create a positive environment that is more conducive to Myanmar resolving the issue for themselves,&quot; Hua added.

The Russian foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

The Russian government has previously warned against interfering in Myanmar&#39;s internal affairs. Russia&rsquo;s ambassador to Myanmar, Nikolay Listopadov has said it is &ldquo;against excessive intervention, because it won&rsquo;t lead to any constructive results.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Barrier to ICC

The Myanmar armed forces are accused by members of the Rohingya community and human rights advocates of carrying out killings, rapes and village burnings, in what top officials in the United Nations and United States have described as ethnic cleansing.

The Russian and Chinese stance is particularly important because either of them can block the UN&nbsp;Security Council from referring allegations of crimes against humanity to the International Criminal Court in the Hague.

The ICC cannot act against Myanmar without a referral because Myanmar is not an ICC member.

Myanmar has denied human rights abuses, saying its military is engaged in a legitimate counter-insurgency operation. The military exonerated itself of all accusations of atrocities in an internal investigation, which published its findings on November 13.

Myanmar&#39;s foreign affairs ministry has said Lee was not objective or impartial in a report she issued in July, and it wanted a fair investigator.

Lee said there had to be a fair, partial and independent investigation.

&quot;The families of the victims have a right to know what happened, and I think the people of Myanmar need to know what happened, because we&#39;re seeing, in front of our eyes, the worst humanitarian crisis.&quot;

Surveys of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh by aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres have shown at least 6,700 Rohingya were killed in Rakhine State in the month after violence flared in late August, the aid group said last week.

The special rapporteur also criticized recent government crackdowns on media in Myanmar, including the arrest this month of two Reuters journalists who had reported on the crisis in Rakhine.

She said that the authorities were creating &quot;a national gag&quot; that would prevent journalists from reporting what they see. &quot;That will have consequences on the general public too - people will not be able to speak as freely.&quot;

Myanmar has said the reporters &quot;illegally acquired information with the intention to share it with foreign media.&quot;

The United Nations'?independent investigator into human rights in Myanmar has called for international pressure on China and Russia

The United Nations' independent investigator into human rights in Myanmar has called for international pressure on China and Russia to try to get them to oppose human rights abuses in Myanmar. UN special rapporteur Yanghee Lee, who was last week barred by the Myanmar government from visiting the country, singled out China and Russia because they had failed to back some moves in the UN aimed at trying to halt the Myanmar military's crackdown on the Rohingya Muslim community in Rakhine province. "I’d like to ask the international community to continue to work with China and Russia to persuade them to stand on the side of human rights," Lee told Reuters in an interview. Neither has joined the United States, the European Union, and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in condemning the crackdown that has led to the exodus of what aid agencies estimate to be 655,000 refugees into Bangladesh. In response to Lee, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that "external actors" adding pressure over human rights will not help to resolve the issue, and may make it more complicated. This would not be in the interests of Myanmar, its neighbours or the international community, she said at a regular news briefing in Beijing on Thursday. "We hope that countries or individuals external to the issue can create a positive environment that is more conducive to Myanmar resolving the issue for themselves," Hua added. The Russian foreign ministry did not respond to a request for comment. The Russian government has previously warned against interfering in Myanmar's internal affairs. Russia’s ambassador to Myanmar, Nikolay Listopadov has said it is “against excessive intervention, because it won’t lead to any constructive results.” Barrier to ICC The Myanmar armed forces are accused by members of the Rohingya community and human rights advocates of carrying out killings, rapes and village burnings, in what top officials in the United Nations and United States have described as ethnic cleansing. The Russian and Chinese stance is particularly important because either of them can block the UN Security Council from referring allegations of crimes against humanity to the International Criminal Court in the Hague. The ICC cannot act against Myanmar without a referral because Myanmar is not an ICC member. Myanmar has denied human rights abuses, saying its military is engaged in a legitimate counter-insurgency operation. The military exonerated itself of all accusations of atrocities in an internal investigation, which published its findings on November 13. Myanmar's foreign affairs ministry has said Lee was not objective or impartial in a report she issued in July, and it wanted a fair investigator. Lee said there had to be a fair, partial and independent investigation. "The families of the victims have a right to know what happened, and I think the people of Myanmar need to know what happened, because we're seeing, in front of our eyes, the worst humanitarian crisis." Surveys of Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh by aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres have shown at least 6,700 Rohingya were killed in Rakhine State in the month after violence flared in late August, the aid group said last week. The special rapporteur also criticized recent government crackdowns on media in Myanmar, including the arrest this month of two Reuters journalists who had reported on the crisis in Rakhine. She said that the authorities were creating "a national gag" that would prevent journalists from reporting what they see. "That will have consequences on the general public too - people will not be able to speak as freely." Myanmar has said the reporters "illegally acquired information with the intention to share it with foreign media."

UN rights investigator calls for pressure on China, Russia over Myanmar abuses

The US says it has negotiated a $285 million cut to the UN&#39;s budget for 2018.&nbsp;

The budget cut comes a few days after a majority of UN member countries voted against US President Donald Trump&#39;s decision to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.&nbsp;

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/un-votes-128-9-to-reject-trump-decision-on-jerusalem-27409" target="_blank">India, over 100 countries vote at UN against Trump decision on Jerusalem</a>

&quot;We will no longer let the generosity of the American people be taken advantage of or remain unchecked,&quot; US ambassador the UN Nikki Haley said in a statement.

Haley added that &quot;inefficiency and overspending&quot; at the world body were &quot;well known&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;This historic reduction in spending -- in addition to many other moves toward a more efficient and accountable UN -- is a big step in the right direction.&quot;

Haley said the budget negotiations had generated several &quot;successes&quot; with financial cutbacks and a reduction of the UN&#39;s &quot;bloated management and support functions.&quot;

The negotiations had taken place on Sunday, with the UN General Assembly adopting a budget of $5.396 billion for 2018-2019, slightly below the $5.4 billion that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had sought.&nbsp;

The budget cut works out to 5 per cent&nbsp;of the UN&#39;s operating budget.&nbsp;

&quot;While we are pleased with the results of this year&#39;s budget negotiations, you can be sure we&#39;ll continue to look at ways to increase the UN&#39;s efficiency while protecting our interests,&quot; Haley added.

The United States is by far the largest contributor to the UN budget, providing for 22 per cent of the core budget.&nbsp;

The UN&#39;s operating budget is separate from its peacekeeping budget, which was cut by $600 million this year under pressure from the Donald Trump administration.&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP)

The US says it has negotiated a $285 million cut to the UN's budget for 2018

The US says it has negotiated a $285 million cut to the UN's budget for 2018. The budget cut comes a few days after a majority of UN member countries voted against US President Donald Trump's decision to move the US embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Also read: India, over 100 countries vote at UN against Trump decision on Jerusalem "We will no longer let the generosity of the American people be taken advantage of or remain unchecked," US ambassador the UN Nikki Haley said in a statement. Haley added that "inefficiency and overspending" at the world body were "well known". "This historic reduction in spending -- in addition to many other moves toward a more efficient and accountable UN -- is a big step in the right direction." Haley said the budget negotiations had generated several "successes" with financial cutbacks and a reduction of the UN's "bloated management and support functions." The negotiations had taken place on Sunday, with the UN General Assembly adopting a budget of $5.396 billion for 2018-2019, slightly below the $5.4 billion that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had sought. The budget cut works out to 5 per cent of the UN's operating budget. "While we are pleased with the results of this year's budget negotiations, you can be sure we'll continue to look at ways to increase the UN's efficiency while protecting our interests," Haley added. The United States is by far the largest contributor to the UN budget, providing for 22 per cent of the core budget. The UN's operating budget is separate from its peacekeeping budget, which was cut by $600 million this year under pressure from the Donald Trump administration. (With inputs from AFP)

US slashes UN budget after Jerusalem vote

The United States on Sunday applauded a $285-million-cut in the UN core budget, saying it was &quot;a big step in right direction.&quot;

The General Assembly adopted a budget of $5.396 billion for 2018-2019, slightly below the $5.4 billion that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had sought.

The United States is by far the largest contributor to the UN budget, providing for 22 percent of the core budget.&nbsp;

US Ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement that &quot;inefficiency and overspending&quot; at the world body were &quot;well known.&quot;

Haley said the budget negotiations had generated several &quot;successes&quot; with financial cutbacks and a reduction of the UN&#39;s &quot;bloated management and support functions.&quot;

&quot;We will no longer let the generosity of the American people be taken advantage of or remain unchecked,&quot; she said.

&quot;This historic reduction in spending -- in addition to many other moves toward a more efficient and accountable UN -- is a big step in the right direction.&quot;

&quot;While we are pleased with the results of this year&#39;s budget negotiations, you can be sure we&#39;ll continue to look at ways to increase the UN&#39;s efficiency while protecting our interests,&quot; she added.

The UN&#39;s operating budget is separate from its peacekeeping budget, which was cut by $600 million this year under pressure from the administration of US President Donald Trump.

The push for deeper cuts comes as Guterres is trying to build support for his plans for reform of the UN bureaucracy.

Guterres&#39; budget proposal was $200 million below the 2016-2017 biennial budget.&nbsp;

During a meeting held on the sidelines of the annual General Assembly debate in September, Trump said the United Nations had failed to reach its &quot;full potential due to bureaucracy and mismanagement.&quot;

&quot;We are not seeing the results in line with this investment,&quot; he said.

Last week, Trump threatened to cut funding to countries that supported a UN resolution rejecting his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital.

The General Assembly adopted a budget of $5.396 billion for 2018-2019

The United States on Sunday applauded a $285-million-cut in the UN core budget, saying it was "a big step in right direction." The General Assembly adopted a budget of $5.396 billion for 2018-2019, slightly below the $5.4 billion that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had sought. The United States is by far the largest contributor to the UN budget, providing for 22 percent of the core budget. US Ambassador Nikki Haley said in a statement that "inefficiency and overspending" at the world body were "well known." Haley said the budget negotiations had generated several "successes" with financial cutbacks and a reduction of the UN's "bloated management and support functions." "We will no longer let the generosity of the American people be taken advantage of or remain unchecked," she said. "This historic reduction in spending -- in addition to many other moves toward a more efficient and accountable UN -- is a big step in the right direction." "While we are pleased with the results of this year's budget negotiations, you can be sure we'll continue to look at ways to increase the UN's efficiency while protecting our interests," she added. The UN's operating budget is separate from its peacekeeping budget, which was cut by $600 million this year under pressure from the administration of US President Donald Trump. The push for deeper cuts comes as Guterres is trying to build support for his plans for reform of the UN bureaucracy. Guterres' budget proposal was $200 million below the 2016-2017 biennial budget. During a meeting held on the sidelines of the annual General Assembly debate in September, Trump said the United Nations had failed to reach its "full potential due to bureaucracy and mismanagement." "We are not seeing the results in line with this investment," he said. Last week, Trump threatened to cut funding to countries that supported a UN resolution rejecting his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

US hails UN budget cuts as 'step in right direction'

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/un-votes-128-9-to-reject-trump-decision-on-jerusalem-27409">As 128 nations defied the Trump</a> administration and approved a motion rejecting the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital, Israel&#39;s envoy to the United Nations said no&nbsp;General Assembly resolution &quot;will ever drive us from Jerusalem&quot;.

Israel&#39;s <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/un-votes-on-jerusalem-after-trump-warns-were-watching-27403">Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu </a>blasted the UN move, saying: &quot;Israel completely rejects this preposterous resolution. Jerusalem is our capital, always was, always will be.&quot;

&quot;But I do appreciate the fact that a growing number of countries refused to participate in this theatre of the absurd. So I appreciate it,&quot; &nbsp;Netanyahu added.

US ambassador Nikki Haley slammed the UN members asserting &quot;the United States will remember this day&quot;.&nbsp;

&quot;This vote will make a difference on how Americans look at the UN and on how we look at countries who disrespect us in the UN,&quot; Haley told the UN General Assembly.

Majority of 193 members rejected the UN move to recognize Jerusalem despite President Trump&#39;s threat to cut financial ties with member countries against the US move. There were 35 countries which abstained from voting.

Senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization(PLO) Hanan Ashrawi backing the UN move said: &quot;I am extremely encouraged that the vast majority of member states at the UN General Assembly did not succumb to American threats and blackmail.&quot;

&quot;128 countries told the US and Israel that what they are doing is wrong and unacceptable and they voted for Jerusalem, they did not accept the Israeli insults being hurled at them,&quot; Ashrawi said.

Ashrawi added that&nbsp;her organization will now pursue full UN membership including in other international organizations.

Guatemala, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Togo backed the US move, while Australia, Bhutan, Canada, Poland including Romania, Panama and several other countries abstained from voting.

Guatemala, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Togo backed the US move

As 128 nations defied the Trump administration and approved a motion rejecting the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, Israel's envoy to the United Nations said no General Assembly resolution "will ever drive us from Jerusalem". Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted the UN move, saying: "Israel completely rejects this preposterous resolution. Jerusalem is our capital, always was, always will be." "But I do appreciate the fact that a growing number of countries refused to participate in this theatre of the absurd. So I appreciate it," Netanyahu added. US ambassador Nikki Haley slammed the UN members asserting "the United States will remember this day". "This vote will make a difference on how Americans look at the UN and on how we look at countries who disrespect us in the UN," Haley told the UN General Assembly. Majority of 193 members rejected the UN move to recognize Jerusalem despite President Trump's threat to cut financial ties with member countries against the US move. There were 35 countries which abstained from voting. Senior member of the Palestine Liberation Organization(PLO) Hanan Ashrawi backing the UN move said: "I am extremely encouraged that the vast majority of member states at the UN General Assembly did not succumb to American threats and blackmail." "128 countries told the US and Israel that what they are doing is wrong and unacceptable and they voted for Jerusalem, they did not accept the Israeli insults being hurled at them," Ashrawi said. Ashrawi added that her organization will now pursue full UN membership including in other international organizations. Guatemala, Honduras, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, Togo backed the US move, while Australia, Bhutan, Canada, Poland including Romania, Panama and several other countries abstained from voting.

No General Assembly resolution will drive us out of Jerusalem: Israel

UN member-states were poised Thursday to vote on a motion rejecting US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital, after President Donald Trump threatened to cut funding to countries that back the measure.&nbsp;

Gathered in an emergency session, the General Assembly is to decide on a draft resolution reaffirming that the status of Jerusalem must be resolved through negotiations, and that any decision reached outside of that framework has no legal effect and must be rescinded.

Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki, addressing the assembly as the session got underway, appealed for support and referenced America&#39;s warning that it was &quot;taking names&quot; among countries that oppose it at the UN.

&quot;This organization is now undergoing an unprecedented test,&quot; al-Malki said.

&quot;History records names, it remembers names -- the names of those who stand by what is right and the names of those who speak falsehood. Today we are seekers of rights and peace.&quot;

Trump&#39;s decision on December 6 to recognize Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital broke with international consensus and unleashed protests across the Muslim world, prompting a flurry of appeals to the United Nations.&nbsp;

The status of the Holy City is one of the thorniest issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with both sides claiming it as their capital.

A draft resolution rejecting the US move was sent to the General Assembly after it was vetoed by the United States at the Security Council on Monday, although all other 14 council members voted in favor.

Trump warned that Washington would closely watch how nations voted on Thursday, suggesting there could be financial reprisals for countries that back the motion put forward by Yemen and Turkey on behalf of Arab and Muslim countries.

&quot;They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars and then they vote against us,&quot; Trump said at the White House.

&quot;Well, we&#39;re watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We&#39;ll save a lot. We don&#39;t care.&quot;

&#39;House of lies&#39; 
The draft resolution mirrors the text that was vetoed on Monday, and although it does not mention Trump&#39;s decision, it expresses &quot;deep regret at recent decisions&quot; concerning the city&#39;s status.&nbsp;

Ahead of the vote, Israel&#39;s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted the UN as a &quot;house of lies,&quot; saying Israel &quot;rejects outright this vote, even before it passes.&quot;

&quot;The attitude to Israel of many nations in the world, in all the continents, is changing outside of the UN walls, and will eventually filter into the UN as well -- the house of lies,&quot; he said.

Diplomats expect strong support for the resolution, which is non-binding, despite the US pressure to either abstain, vote against it or simply not turn up for the vote.&nbsp;

America&#39;s neighbors Canada and Mexico were both expected to abstain, according to diplomats.

On Tuesday, US Ambassador Nikki Haley sent an email to fellow UN envoys to put them on notice that &quot;the president will be watching this vote carefully and has requested I report back on those countries who voted against us.&quot;

&quot;We will take note of each and every vote on this issue,&quot; she wrote in the message seen by AFP.

And on Twitter she said &quot;the US will be taking names&quot; when ambassadors of the 193-nation assembly cast their votes.&nbsp;

&quot;Nikki, that was the right message,&quot; Trump said.

But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said UN member states should not be swayed by Trump&#39;s threat.

&quot;I am calling on the whole world: never sell your democratic will in return for petty dollars,&quot; he said in a televised speech in Ankara, predicting that &quot;the world will teach a very good lesson to America today.&quot;

Voting with their conscience 
No country has veto powers in the General Assembly, unlike in the 15-member Security Council where the United States, along with Britain, China, France and Russia, can block any resolution.

Among the 14 countries voting in favor on Monday were Britain, France, Italy, Japan and Ukraine who were expected to do the same at the assembly.

While resolutions by the General Assembly are non-binding, a strong vote in support of the resolution would carry political weight.

Israel seized the largely-Arab eastern sector of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it, claiming both sides of the city as its &quot;eternal and undivided capital.&quot;

But the Palestinians want the eastern sector as capital of their future state and fiercely oppose any Israeli attempt to extend sovereignty there.

Several UN resolutions call on Israel to withdraw from territory seized in 1967 and the draft resolution contains the same language as past motions adopted by the assembly.

UN member states will vote to reject the US's recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital

UN member-states were poised Thursday to vote on a motion rejecting US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital, after President Donald Trump threatened to cut funding to countries that back the measure. Gathered in an emergency session, the General Assembly is to decide on a draft resolution reaffirming that the status of Jerusalem must be resolved through negotiations, and that any decision reached outside of that framework has no legal effect and must be rescinded. Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad al-Malki, addressing the assembly as the session got underway, appealed for support and referenced America's warning that it was "taking names" among countries that oppose it at the UN. "This organization is now undergoing an unprecedented test," al-Malki said. "History records names, it remembers names -- the names of those who stand by what is right and the names of those who speak falsehood. Today we are seekers of rights and peace." Trump's decision on December 6 to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital broke with international consensus and unleashed protests across the Muslim world, prompting a flurry of appeals to the United Nations. The status of the Holy City is one of the thorniest issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with both sides claiming it as their capital. A draft resolution rejecting the US move was sent to the General Assembly after it was vetoed by the United States at the Security Council on Monday, although all other 14 council members voted in favor. Trump warned that Washington would closely watch how nations voted on Thursday, suggesting there could be financial reprisals for countries that back the motion put forward by Yemen and Turkey on behalf of Arab and Muslim countries. "They take hundreds of millions of dollars and even billions of dollars and then they vote against us," Trump said at the White House. "Well, we're watching those votes. Let them vote against us. We'll save a lot. We don't care." 'House of lies' The draft resolution mirrors the text that was vetoed on Monday, and although it does not mention Trump's decision, it expresses "deep regret at recent decisions" concerning the city's status. Ahead of the vote, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted the UN as a "house of lies," saying Israel "rejects outright this vote, even before it passes." "The attitude to Israel of many nations in the world, in all the continents, is changing outside of the UN walls, and will eventually filter into the UN as well -- the house of lies," he said. Diplomats expect strong support for the resolution, which is non-binding, despite the US pressure to either abstain, vote against it or simply not turn up for the vote. America's neighbors Canada and Mexico were both expected to abstain, according to diplomats. On Tuesday, US Ambassador Nikki Haley sent an email to fellow UN envoys to put them on notice that "the president will be watching this vote carefully and has requested I report back on those countries who voted against us." "We will take note of each and every vote on this issue," she wrote in the message seen by AFP. And on Twitter she said "the US will be taking names" when ambassadors of the 193-nation assembly cast their votes. "Nikki, that was the right message," Trump said. But Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said UN member states should not be swayed by Trump's threat. "I am calling on the whole world: never sell your democratic will in return for petty dollars," he said in a televised speech in Ankara, predicting that "the world will teach a very good lesson to America today." Voting with their conscience No country has veto powers in the General Assembly, unlike in the 15-member Security Council where the United States, along with Britain, China, France and Russia, can block any resolution. Among the 14 countries voting in favor on Monday were Britain, France, Italy, Japan and Ukraine who were expected to do the same at the assembly. While resolutions by the General Assembly are non-binding, a strong vote in support of the resolution would carry political weight. Israel seized the largely-Arab eastern sector of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six-Day War and later annexed it, claiming both sides of the city as its "eternal and undivided capital." But the Palestinians want the eastern sector as capital of their future state and fiercely oppose any Israeli attempt to extend sovereignty there. Several UN resolutions call on Israel to withdraw from territory seized in 1967 and the draft resolution contains the same language as past motions adopted by the assembly.

UN votes on Jerusalem after Trump warns 'we're watching'

Bangladesh and Myanmar on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to begin repatriating Rohingya refugees from January, despite rights groups warning that their safety is still not assured should they return.

The foreign secretaries of Bangladesh and Myanmar met in Dhaka to finalise the agreement signed on November 23 for the voluntary return of nearly three-quarters of a million stateless Rohingya living in refugee camps along the border.

A new working group would &quot;ensure commencement of repatriation within two months&quot; by developing a timetable for the verification of refugee identities and logistics of their return, Bangladesh&#39;s foreign ministry said in a statement.

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&quot;Now, we will start the next step of our work,&quot; Bangladesh foreign minister AH&nbsp;Mahmood Ali told reporters after the meeting.

The reaffirmation comes a day after Human Rights Watch, citing analysis of satellite imagery, said Myanmar&#39;s army burned down dozens of Rohingya homes within days of signing the repatriation deal with Bangladesh.

The watchdog said the deal was &quot;a public relations stunt&quot; and warned it contained no guarantee the Rohingya would be safe should they return to Myanmar&#39;s conflict-wracked Rakhine state.

An estimated 655,000 refugees from the stateless minority group have poured across the border into Bangladesh since August, fleeing what the US and United Nations have described as ethnic cleansing.

Last week the group Doctors Without Borders released a survey which found that nearly 7,000 Rohingya had been killed in the first month of the Rakhine violence.

The military has put the number in the hundreds and denied targeting civilians or committing atrocities, while Myanmar&#39;s leader Aung San Suu Kyi said major security operations stopped in early September.

Myanmar has in the past blamed fires in villages on Rohingya insurgents who on August 25 attacked security posts, killing a dozen police and triggering fierce army retribution.

Responding to international pressure, Suu Kyi&#39;s civilian government signed an agreement with Bangladesh to start the repatriation of the stateless Muslim refugees within two months.

The agreement promises the &quot;safe and voluntary return&quot; of displaced Rohingya in Bangladesh -- not just the latest 655,000 new arrivals but more than 70,000 from a separate influx in October 2016.

Testimonies gathered by AFP from displaced Rohingya in Bangladesh suggest few refugees wish to return to Myanmar, where many saw their villages burned to ashes and loved ones killed.

The persecuted minority has been the target of past pogroms in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, which does not recognise the group as a genuine ethnicity and has stripped them of citizenship.

Aid groups have warned Myanmar they would boycott any new camps for Rohingya returnees, saying refugees must be allowed to settle in their own homes and not forced into ghetto-like conditions.

The foreign secretaries of Bangladesh and Myanmar met in Dhaka to finalise the agreement signed on November 23 for the voluntary return of nearly 750,000 Rohingya refugees

Bangladesh and Myanmar on Tuesday reaffirmed their commitment to begin repatriating Rohingya refugees from January, despite rights groups warning that their safety is still not assured should they return. The foreign secretaries of Bangladesh and Myanmar met in Dhaka to finalise the agreement signed on November 23 for the voluntary return of nearly three-quarters of a million stateless Rohingya living in refugee camps along the border. A new working group would "ensure commencement of repatriation within two months" by developing a timetable for the verification of refugee identities and logistics of their return, Bangladesh's foreign ministry said in a statement. The reaffirmation comes a day after Human Rights Watch, citing analysis of satellite imagery, said Myanmar's army burned down dozens of Rohingya homes within days of signing the repatriation deal with Bangladesh × "Now, we will start the next step of our work," Bangladesh foreign minister AH Mahmood Ali told reporters after the meeting. The reaffirmation comes a day after Human Rights Watch, citing analysis of satellite imagery, said Myanmar's army burned down dozens of Rohingya homes within days of signing the repatriation deal with Bangladesh. The watchdog said the deal was "a public relations stunt" and warned it contained no guarantee the Rohingya would be safe should they return to Myanmar's conflict-wracked Rakhine state. An estimated 655,000 refugees from the stateless minority group have poured across the border into Bangladesh since August, fleeing what the US and United Nations have described as ethnic cleansing. Last week the group Doctors Without Borders released a survey which found that nearly 7,000 Rohingya had been killed in the first month of the Rakhine violence. The military has put the number in the hundreds and denied targeting civilians or committing atrocities, while Myanmar's leader Aung San Suu Kyi said major security operations stopped in early September. Myanmar has in the past blamed fires in villages on Rohingya insurgents who on August 25 attacked security posts, killing a dozen police and triggering fierce army retribution. Responding to international pressure, Suu Kyi's civilian government signed an agreement with Bangladesh to start the repatriation of the stateless Muslim refugees within two months. The agreement promises the "safe and voluntary return" of displaced Rohingya in Bangladesh -- not just the latest 655,000 new arrivals but more than 70,000 from a separate influx in October 2016. Testimonies gathered by AFP from displaced Rohingya in Bangladesh suggest few refugees wish to return to Myanmar, where many saw their villages burned to ashes and loved ones killed. The persecuted minority has been the target of past pogroms in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, which does not recognise the group as a genuine ethnicity and has stripped them of citizenship. Aid groups have warned Myanmar they would boycott any new camps for Rohingya returnees, saying refugees must be allowed to settle in their own homes and not forced into ghetto-like conditions.

Rohingya refugees to start returning to Myanmar from January: Officials

The United Nations Security Council is considering a draft resolution that would insist any decisions on the status of Jerusalem have no legal effect and must be rescinded after US&nbsp;President Donald Trump recognized the city as Israel&#39;s capital.&nbsp;

The one-page Egyptian-drafted text, which was circulated to the 15-member council on Saturday and seen by Reuters, does not specifically mention the United States or Trump. Diplomats say it has broad support but will likely be vetoed by Washington.

The council could vote early next week, diplomats said. A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Britain, Russia or China to pass.

Trump abruptly reversed decades of US policy this month when he recognized Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital, generating outrage from Palestinians. Trump also plans to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv.

After the decision, Arab foreign ministers agreed to seek a UN&nbsp;Security Council resolution. While the draft is unlikely to be adopted, it would further isolate Trump over the Jerusalem issue.&nbsp;

The US&nbsp;mission to the United Nations declined to comment on the draft. US&nbsp;Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has praised Trump&#39;s decision as &quot;the just and right thing to do.&quot;

The draft UN&nbsp;resolution &quot;affirms that any decisions and actions which purport to have altered, the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council.&quot;

It calls upon all countries to refrain establishing diplomatic missions in Jerusalem.

Israel considers the city its eternal and indivisible capital and wants all embassies based there.&nbsp;

&ldquo;No vote or debate will change the clear reality that Jerusalem&rdquo; is the capital of Israel, Israel&#39;s ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said in a statement.&nbsp;

Palestinians want the capital of an independent Palestinian state to be in the city&#39;s eastern sector, which Israel captured in a 1967 war and annexed in a move never recognized internationally.&nbsp;

The draft council resolution &quot;demands that all states comply with Security Council resolutions regarding the Holy City of Jerusalem, and not to recognize any actions or measures contrary to those resolutions.&quot;

A UN&nbsp;Security Council resolution adopted in December last year &quot;underlines that it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations.&quot;

That resolution was approved with 14 votes in favor and an abstention by former U.S. President Barack Obama&#39;s administration.&nbsp;

The United Nations Security Council is considering a draft resolution that would insist any decisions on the status of Jerusalem have no legal effect and must be rescinded after US?President Donald Trump recognized the city as Israel's capital

The United Nations Security Council is considering a draft resolution that would insist any decisions on the status of Jerusalem have no legal effect and must be rescinded after US President Donald Trump recognized the city as Israel's capital. The one-page Egyptian-drafted text, which was circulated to the 15-member council on Saturday and seen by Reuters, does not specifically mention the United States or Trump. Diplomats say it has broad support but will likely be vetoed by Washington. The council could vote early next week, diplomats said. A resolution needs nine votes in favor and no vetoes by the United States, France, Britain, Russia or China to pass. Trump abruptly reversed decades of US policy this month when he recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital, generating outrage from Palestinians. Trump also plans to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem from Tel Aviv. After the decision, Arab foreign ministers agreed to seek a UN Security Council resolution. While the draft is unlikely to be adopted, it would further isolate Trump over the Jerusalem issue. The US mission to the United Nations declined to comment on the draft. US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has praised Trump's decision as "the just and right thing to do." The draft UN resolution "affirms that any decisions and actions which purport to have altered, the character, status or demographic composition of the Holy City of Jerusalem have no legal effect, are null and void and must be rescinded in compliance with relevant resolutions of the Security Council." It calls upon all countries to refrain establishing diplomatic missions in Jerusalem. Israel considers the city its eternal and indivisible capital and wants all embassies based there. “No vote or debate will change the clear reality that Jerusalem” is the capital of Israel, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, said in a statement. Palestinians want the capital of an independent Palestinian state to be in the city's eastern sector, which Israel captured in a 1967 war and annexed in a move never recognized internationally. The draft council resolution "demands that all states comply with Security Council resolutions regarding the Holy City of Jerusalem, and not to recognize any actions or measures contrary to those resolutions." A UN Security Council resolution adopted in December last year "underlines that it will not recognize any changes to the 4 June 1967 lines, including with regard to Jerusalem, other than those agreed by the parties through negotiations." That resolution was approved with 14 votes in favor and an abstention by former U.S. President Barack Obama's administration.

UN council mulls call for US Jerusalem decision to be withdrawn

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov had held talks with China`s ambassador to Russia Li Hui.

The interaction was primarily about Moscow and Beijing coordinating action on North Korea at the U.N. Security Council.

The officials exchanged views on &quot;joint steps,&quot; the ministry said in a statement.

The officials exchanged views on 'joint steps,' the ministry said in a statement.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday that Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov had held talks with China`s ambassador to Russia Li Hui. The interaction was primarily about Moscow and Beijing coordinating action on North Korea at the U.N. Security Council. The officials exchanged views on "joint steps," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia and China discuss coordination on North Korea

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