The United Nations has made the first food aid delivery to thousands of people displaced by Boko Haram Islamists in the Nigerian town of Banki, where hundreds have starved to death since March, the UN said on Friday. 
 
Officials from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) delivered 30 tonnes of &quot;various lifesaving food items&quot; transported from neighbouring Cameroon, the OCHA said in a statement.&nbsp;The convoy reached Banki on Thursday and distributed food to the more than 25,000 people in the town, it said. 
 
&quot;An additional 700 kilograms of supplementary food for malnourished children was airlifted from the state capital Maiduguri to Banki on the same day.&quot;&nbsp;It was the first aid delivery to the thousands of internally displaced in the northeast region in the last four months following deadly Boko Haram raids. 
 
They have been without food and basic supplies and relied on paltry food handouts from soldiers who have been sharing their rations.&nbsp;Last month a soldier and a vigilante assisting the military in fighting Boko Haram told AFP at least 10 people were dying from hunger every day, highlighting warnings about a food crisis in the Sahel region. 
 
The vigilante said the cemetery in Banki, some 130 kilometres (80 miles) southeast of the Borno state capital Maiduguri, was dotted with 376 graves of displaced people who died of starvation.&nbsp;The soldier said people had been reduced to &quot;walking corpses&quot; facing imminent death without food aid. 
 
When Boko Haram intensified attacks on villages in the area, residents fled to Banki where a military detachment has been based since they retook it in September.&nbsp;The United Nations said in May that 9.2 million people living around Lake Chad, which forms the border of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger, were in desperate need of food. 
 
According to the OCHA aid distribution in Banki and other areas recently liberated by the Nigerian military was &quot;scaling up&quot; but more funds were needed to meet the &quot;lifesaving needs&quot; of people affected by Boko Haram violence in northeast Nigeria. 
 
Only 28 per cent of the $279 million required by the UN to help those affected by the violence has been realised, leaving a $200 million shortfall. 
 
The Borno state government and aid agencies have warned about acute food shortages in the Lake Chad region as a result of seven years of violence. 
 
Boko Haram&#39;s insurgency has left at least 20,000 dead in Nigeria and devastated infrastructure in the impoverished northeast. The unrest has also displaced more than 2.6 million.&nbsp;Nigeria&#39;s government has been encouraging people to return home since the recapture of swathes of territory lost to the Islamist militants in 2014 but most are still largely reliant on food handouts. 
 
There have been concerns about high death rates from severe acute malnutrition in camps for the internally displaced, while it is feared some inaccessible areas could be suffering from famine.&nbsp;A UN official compared the situation with the crisis in Darfur and South Sudan. 
 
(AFP)

The camps have seen high death rates from severe acute malnutrition in camps, even famine. A UN official compared it to the Darfur crisis

The United Nations has made the first food aid delivery to thousands of people displaced by Boko Haram Islamists in the Nigerian town of Banki, where hundreds have starved to death since March, the UN said on Friday. Officials from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) delivered 30 tonnes of "various lifesaving food items" transported from neighbouring Cameroon, the OCHA said in a statement. The convoy reached Banki on Thursday and distributed food to the more than 25,000 people in the town, it said. "An additional 700 kilograms of supplementary food for malnourished children was airlifted from the state capital Maiduguri to Banki on the same day." It was the first aid delivery to the thousands of internally displaced in the northeast region in the last four months following deadly Boko Haram raids. They have been without food and basic supplies and relied on paltry food handouts from soldiers who have been sharing their rations. Last month a soldier and a vigilante assisting the military in fighting Boko Haram told AFP at least 10 people were dying from hunger every day, highlighting warnings about a food crisis in the Sahel region. The vigilante said the cemetery in Banki, some 130 kilometres (80 miles) southeast of the Borno state capital Maiduguri, was dotted with 376 graves of displaced people who died of starvation. The soldier said people had been reduced to "walking corpses" facing imminent death without food aid. When Boko Haram intensified attacks on villages in the area, residents fled to Banki where a military detachment has been based since they retook it in September. The United Nations said in May that 9.2 million people living around Lake Chad, which forms the border of Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger, were in desperate need of food. According to the OCHA aid distribution in Banki and other areas recently liberated by the Nigerian military was "scaling up" but more funds were needed to meet the "lifesaving needs" of people affected by Boko Haram violence in northeast Nigeria. Only 28 per cent of the $279 million required by the UN to help those affected by the violence has been realised, leaving a $200 million shortfall. The Borno state government and aid agencies have warned about acute food shortages in the Lake Chad region as a result of seven years of violence. Boko Haram's insurgency has left at least 20,000 dead in Nigeria and devastated infrastructure in the impoverished northeast. The unrest has also displaced more than 2.6 million. Nigeria's government has been encouraging people to return home since the recapture of swathes of territory lost to the Islamist militants in 2014 but most are still largely reliant on food handouts. There have been concerns about high death rates from severe acute malnutrition in camps for the internally displaced, while it is feared some inaccessible areas could be suffering from famine. A UN official compared the situation with the crisis in Darfur and South Sudan. (AFP)

UN delivers food to starving displaced by Boko Haram

The United States warned on Monday it would raise concerns at the United Nations over the latest North Korean missile tests carried out in violation of Security Council resolutions. 
 
&quot;We strongly condemn this and North Korea&#39;s other recent missile tests, which violate UN Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea`s launches using ballistic missile technology,&quot; said Commander Gary Ross, a Pentagon spokesman, after Pyongyang test-fired three ballistic missiles. 
 
&quot;We intend to raise our concerns at the UN to bolster international resolve in holding the DPRK accountable for these provocative actions.&quot; 
 
(AFP)

North Korea missile launch came a week after issuing threats to respond to the planned deployment of a US anti-missile system in the South

The United States warned on Monday it would raise concerns at the United Nations over the latest North Korean missile tests carried out in violation of Security Council resolutions. "We strongly condemn this and North Korea's other recent missile tests, which violate UN Security Council Resolutions explicitly prohibiting North Korea`s launches using ballistic missile technology," said Commander Gary Ross, a Pentagon spokesman, after Pyongyang test-fired three ballistic missiles. "We intend to raise our concerns at the UN to bolster international resolve in holding the DPRK accountable for these provocative actions." (AFP)

US to raise concerns at UN over North Korea missile tests

The United Nations Security Council failed on Saturday to condemn the violence and unrest in Turkey, after Egypt objected to a statement that called on all parties to &quot;respect the democratically elected government of Turkey,&quot; diplomats said. 
 
The US-drafted statement, seen by Reuters, also expressed grave concern over the situation in Turkey, urged the parties to show restraint, avoid any violence or bloodshed, and called for an urgent end to the crisis and return to rule of law. 
 
Statements by the 15-member Security Council have to be agreed by consensus. 
 
&quot;We proposed different language that respects democratic and constitutional principles, but the Americans refused to engage,&quot; Egypt&#39;s UN ambassador Amr Aboulatta told Reuters. 
 
?Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is a former general who overthrew elected President Mohamed Mursi, of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, in 2013 after mass protests against Mursi. Turkey provided support for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. 
 
Diplomats said Egypt asked for a call for all parties to &quot;respect the democratically elected government of Turkey&quot; to be removed from the draft statement, saying the council is &quot;in no position to qualify, or label that government - or any other government for that matter - as democratically elected or not&quot;. 
 
After the United States and Britain objected to the proposed change to the text, Egypt proposed that the council call on the parties in Turkey to &quot;respect the democratic and constitutional principles and the rule of law,&quot; diplomats said. 
 
Negotiations on the text ended at this point, diplomats said. 
 
The Egyptian foreign ministry said that it was &quot;surprised that its proposed amendment was not taken up, and with the claim that it is obstructing the release of the statement.&quot; 
 
Turkish forces loyal to President Tayyip Erdogan largely crushed an attempted military coup on Saturday after crowds answered his call to take to the streets in support of the government and dozens of rebels abandoned their tanks. 
 
(Reuters)

Egyptian diplomats said the UN council is in no position to qualify or label any government as democratically elected or not

The United Nations Security Council failed on Saturday to condemn the violence and unrest in Turkey, after Egypt objected to a statement that called on all parties to "respect the democratically elected government of Turkey," diplomats said. The US-drafted statement, seen by Reuters, also expressed grave concern over the situation in Turkey, urged the parties to show restraint, avoid any violence or bloodshed, and called for an urgent end to the crisis and return to rule of law. Statements by the 15-member Security Council have to be agreed by consensus. "We proposed different language that respects democratic and constitutional principles, but the Americans refused to engage," Egypt's UN ambassador Amr Aboulatta told Reuters. ?Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is a former general who overthrew elected President Mohamed Mursi, of the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, in 2013 after mass protests against Mursi. Turkey provided support for the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Diplomats said Egypt asked for a call for all parties to "respect the democratically elected government of Turkey" to be removed from the draft statement, saying the council is "in no position to qualify, or label that government - or any other government for that matter - as democratically elected or not". After the United States and Britain objected to the proposed change to the text, Egypt proposed that the council call on the parties in Turkey to "respect the democratic and constitutional principles and the rule of law," diplomats said. Negotiations on the text ended at this point, diplomats said. The Egyptian foreign ministry said that it was "surprised that its proposed amendment was not taken up, and with the claim that it is obstructing the release of the statement." Turkish forces loyal to President Tayyip Erdogan largely crushed an attempted military coup on Saturday after crowds answered his call to take to the streets in support of the government and dozens of rebels abandoned their tanks. (Reuters)

Egypt blocks UN call to respect 'democratically elected' government in Turkey

As 90 people were reported killed and more than 1150 injured in Turkey during the attempted overnight coup by the military, the United Nations today said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is following closely and with concern the fast-moving developments in Turkey and has appealed for calm, non-violence and restraint. 
 
In a statement issued in New York, the UN spokesman said, &quot;At this moment of uncertainty in the country, the Secretary-General appeals for calm, non-violence and restraint. 
 
Preservation of fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and assembly, remain of vital importance.&quot;The Secretary-General underscores that military interference in the affairs of any state is unacceptable.&nbsp;It will be crucial to quickly and peacefully affirm civilian rule and constitutional order in accordance with principles of democracy,&quot; the spokesman added. 
 
North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said, &quot;Just spoke to Turkish FM. I call for calm, restraint &amp; full respect for Turkey`s democratic institutions and constitution.&quot; 
 
United States has called on all parties in Turkey to support President Erdogan&#39;s government against a coup attempt. 
 
Avoid bloodshed: India, US&nbsp; 
 
Speaking jointly after talks in Moscow, US secretary of state John Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said they hoped that stability would prevail in Turkey and bloodshed would be avoided. 
 
Meanwhile, India has called upon all sides to support democracy and mandate of the ballot, and avoid bloodshed. 
 
Turkey has a history of coups with governments ousted on three occasions in the last decades by full military coups. 
 
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the &quot;situation in the country is largely under control&quot;. He said a national curfew was announced, and other security forces had been called in to &quot;do what is necessary&quot;. He said 1563 soldiers detained in the coup attempt. 
 
(ANI)&nbsp;

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has appealed for calm, non-violence and restraint. Military interference is unacceptable he said

As 90 people were reported killed and more than 1150 injured in Turkey during the attempted overnight coup by the military, the United Nations today said Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is following closely and with concern the fast-moving developments in Turkey and has appealed for calm, non-violence and restraint. In a statement issued in New York, the UN spokesman said, "At this moment of uncertainty in the country, the Secretary-General appeals for calm, non-violence and restraint. Preservation of fundamental rights, including freedom of speech and assembly, remain of vital importance."The Secretary-General underscores that military interference in the affairs of any state is unacceptable. It will be crucial to quickly and peacefully affirm civilian rule and constitutional order in accordance with principles of democracy," the spokesman added. North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said, "Just spoke to Turkish FM. I call for calm, restraint & full respect for Turkey`s democratic institutions and constitution." United States has called on all parties in Turkey to support President Erdogan's government against a coup attempt. Avoid bloodshed: India, US Speaking jointly after talks in Moscow, US secretary of state John Kerry and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said they hoped that stability would prevail in Turkey and bloodshed would be avoided. Meanwhile, India has called upon all sides to support democracy and mandate of the ballot, and avoid bloodshed. Turkey has a history of coups with governments ousted on three occasions in the last decades by full military coups. Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the "situation in the country is largely under control". He said a national curfew was announced, and other security forces had been called in to "do what is necessary". He said 1563 soldiers detained in the coup attempt. (ANI)

International community reacts to attempted coup in Turkey, calls for calm

Implementing a UN resolution calling for the investigation of alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka during a war with separatist rebels is complicated and needs more consultations to build confidence, a senior US official said. 
 
The United States along with other Western countries have long demanded an international investigation into the killing of thousands of ethnic minority Tamils in the final weeks of the war, in 2009, under then Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. 
 
Both the military and Tamil rebels &quot;most likely&quot; committed war crimes including mass killings of civilians, during the 26-year war, the United Nations said in a landmark report last year. 
 
Sri Lanka has promised to implement the UN resolution adopted in October that calls for a special court with foreign judges to investigate. 
 
But President Maithripala Sirisena, who came to power last year, is facing resistance to an investigation from political rivals led by his predecessor, Rajapaksa. 
 
US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski said international participation in a special court had been emphasised because of &quot;an erosion in the confidence&quot; in Sri Lankas courts over the years.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;These are complicated issues and there needs to be a process of consultation with all in order to ensure these things are done in a way that earns confidence of the people,&quot; Malinowski told a group of reporters in Colombo late on Thursday. He said the UN resolution respected Sri Lankas sovereignty. 
 
&quot;Under the resolution, the government of Sri Lanka will determine the structure and the composition of the court,&quot; he said, noting that Sri Lanka had made a commitment to include some international participation in the investigation. 
 
The UN resolution also calls for an inquiry into missing people and progress in reconciliation. 
 
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra`ad Al Hussein said in an annual report last month Sri Lanka must rein in its military forces, prosecute war crimes and win the confidence of the Tamil minority. 
 
He also said witnesses must be protected under an effective transitional justice mechanism that should include international judges. 
 
Rajapaksa, while president, rejected international intervention in addressing rights abuses and denied visas for top UN officials who wanted to assess conditions in the South Asian country after the war ended in May 2009. 
 
(Reuters)

US, along with other countries, has long demanded an international investigation into the killing of thousands of Tamils

Implementing a UN resolution calling for the investigation of alleged war crimes in Sri Lanka during a war with separatist rebels is complicated and needs more consultations to build confidence, a senior US official said. The United States along with other Western countries have long demanded an international investigation into the killing of thousands of ethnic minority Tamils in the final weeks of the war, in 2009, under then Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa. Both the military and Tamil rebels "most likely" committed war crimes including mass killings of civilians, during the 26-year war, the United Nations said in a landmark report last year. Sri Lanka has promised to implement the UN resolution adopted in October that calls for a special court with foreign judges to investigate. But President Maithripala Sirisena, who came to power last year, is facing resistance to an investigation from political rivals led by his predecessor, Rajapaksa. US Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Tom Malinowski said international participation in a special court had been emphasised because of "an erosion in the confidence" in Sri Lankas courts over the years. "These are complicated issues and there needs to be a process of consultation with all in order to ensure these things are done in a way that earns confidence of the people," Malinowski told a group of reporters in Colombo late on Thursday. He said the UN resolution respected Sri Lankas sovereignty. "Under the resolution, the government of Sri Lanka will determine the structure and the composition of the court," he said, noting that Sri Lanka had made a commitment to include some international participation in the investigation. The UN resolution also calls for an inquiry into missing people and progress in reconciliation. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra`ad Al Hussein said in an annual report last month Sri Lanka must rein in its military forces, prosecute war crimes and win the confidence of the Tamil minority. He also said witnesses must be protected under an effective transitional justice mechanism that should include international judges. Rajapaksa, while president, rejected international intervention in addressing rights abuses and denied visas for top UN officials who wanted to assess conditions in the South Asian country after the war ended in May 2009. (Reuters)

US acknowledges complications in Sri Lanka war crimes investigation

Gunfire was once again heard in South Sudan&#39;s capital today as former rebels and government soldiers exchanged fire on the outskirts of the city. 
 
&quot;Gunshots, heavily armed exchange UN House area once again; going on now since approx 0825 (0525 GMT),&quot; the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Twitter. 
 
The UN runs a camp for people uprooted by the war close to where both former rebels and government soldiers are camped. 
 
Residents fled the area as the UN reported the use of mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and &quot;heavy ground assault weaponry&quot;. 
 
A spokesman for former rebel leader turned vice president Riek Machar blamed government troops. 
 
&quot;Our forces have been attacked at Jebel base,&quot; said James Gatdet Dak, who claimed the attack had been repulsed. &quot;We hope it will not escalate,&quot; he said. 
 
The outbreak of fighting today morning was the first since Friday when brief but heavy exchanges of fire left an estimated 150 soldiers dead on both sides, on the eve of the country&#39;s fifth anniversary of independence.&nbsp; 
 
There were no details of casualties from today&#39;s shooting. 
 
The recent violence in the world&#39;s youngest country represents yet another blow to a shaky peace deal that has so far failed to end the civil war that broke out in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup. 
 
(AFP)

The outbreak of fighting was the first since Friday when brief but heavy exchanges of fire left an estimated 150 soldiers dead on both sides

Gunfire was once again heard in South Sudan's capital today as former rebels and government soldiers exchanged fire on the outskirts of the city. "Gunshots, heavily armed exchange UN House area once again; going on now since approx 0825 (0525 GMT)," the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) said on Twitter. The UN runs a camp for people uprooted by the war close to where both former rebels and government soldiers are camped. Residents fled the area as the UN reported the use of mortars, rocket-propelled grenades and "heavy ground assault weaponry". A spokesman for former rebel leader turned vice president Riek Machar blamed government troops. "Our forces have been attacked at Jebel base," said James Gatdet Dak, who claimed the attack had been repulsed. "We hope it will not escalate," he said. The outbreak of fighting today morning was the first since Friday when brief but heavy exchanges of fire left an estimated 150 soldiers dead on both sides, on the eve of the country's fifth anniversary of independence. There were no details of casualties from today's shooting. The recent violence in the world's youngest country represents yet another blow to a shaky peace deal that has so far failed to end the civil war that broke out in December 2013 when President Salva Kiir accused Machar of plotting a coup. (AFP)

Fresh gunfire exchanged by former rebels and soldiers in South Sudan capital

Dubai: Iran will press on with its missile programme &quot;with full force&quot; based on national security needs, a foreign ministry spokesman was quoted as saying on Saturday, adding that critical comments by Germany&#39;s leader were unhelpful. 
 
Chancellor Angela Merkel told the parliament in Berlin on Thursday that missile launches by Iran earlier this year were inconsistent with a UN resolution urging it to refrain for up to eight years from missile work designed to deliver nuclear weapons. 
 
Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said Merkel&#39;s remarks were &quot;not constructive&quot; and would have no bearing on the programme, according to state news agency IRNA. 
 
Reiterating Tehran&#39;s assertion that the missiles are not designed to carry nuclear weapons, he added: &quot;Iran will continue with full force its missile programme based on its defensive plans and national security calculations.&quot; 
 
On Friday, Iran rejected as &quot;unrealistic&quot; a report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon criticising its missile launches as inconsistent with its deal with world powers to curb sensitive nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief. 
 
Reuters reported on Thursday that a confidential report by Ban had found the tests to be inconsistent &quot;with the constructive spirit&quot; of the July 2015 agreement. 
 
Responding to German intelligence reports that Iran has been trying to acquire nuclear technology in Germany, Berlin said on Friday that certain forces in Iran may be trying to undermine the nuclear deal. 
 
Germany&#39;s domestic intelligence agency said in its annual report that Iranian efforts to illegally procure technology, especially in the nuclear area, had continued at a &quot;high level&quot; in 2015. 
 
(Reuters)

It also criticised Angela Merkel who had said the missile launches were inconsistent with a 2015 UN resolution

Dubai: Iran will press on with its missile programme "with full force" based on national security needs, a foreign ministry spokesman was quoted as saying on Saturday, adding that critical comments by Germany's leader were unhelpful. Chancellor Angela Merkel told the parliament in Berlin on Thursday that missile launches by Iran earlier this year were inconsistent with a UN resolution urging it to refrain for up to eight years from missile work designed to deliver nuclear weapons. Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qasemi said Merkel's remarks were "not constructive" and would have no bearing on the programme, according to state news agency IRNA. Reiterating Tehran's assertion that the missiles are not designed to carry nuclear weapons, he added: "Iran will continue with full force its missile programme based on its defensive plans and national security calculations." On Friday, Iran rejected as "unrealistic" a report by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon criticising its missile launches as inconsistent with its deal with world powers to curb sensitive nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief. Reuters reported on Thursday that a confidential report by Ban had found the tests to be inconsistent "with the constructive spirit" of the July 2015 agreement. Responding to German intelligence reports that Iran has been trying to acquire nuclear technology in Germany, Berlin said on Friday that certain forces in Iran may be trying to undermine the nuclear deal. Germany's domestic intelligence agency said in its annual report that Iranian efforts to illegally procure technology, especially in the nuclear area, had continued at a "high level" in 2015. (Reuters)

Iran says it will continue with missile programme 'with full force'

Myanmar delegates will face some tough questions tomorrow at a key UN convention in Geneva regarding a controversial legislation which has attracted international criticism for discriminating on the basis of gender and religion. 
 
The four laws, which includes giving authorities the right to restrict the number of childbirths a women can have, may stand in violation of the convention on eradicating discrimination against women (CEDAW) which Myanmar joined in 1997, as well as for being anti-Islam. 
 
Introduced last year, this law was backed by nationalist monks and passed by the military-backed government of then-President U Thein Sein.&nbsp; 
 
However, the current government may not redress the matter. Although Daw Aung San Suu Kyi&rsquo;s NLD government has submitted a written clarification that the laws do not go breach UN&rsquo;s CEDAW policies, local newspaper The Myanmar Times quoted U Soe Kyi, the director general of the department of social welfare that the government had &ldquo;no plan&rdquo; to repeal the laws. 
 
Women&#39;s rights groups have been protesting against this law, but have found it difficult to influence the government to change it. 
 
International rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, has raised an alarm about the legislation curtailing religious and gender freedom, specially the birth control policy which is seen as a direct action against the displaced Muslim population in Rakhine State, known as Rohingya. 
 
In the past two weeks, there has been a spike in violence against Muslims in Myanmar including incidents of Buddhist mobs ransacking two mosques in separate towns. Buddhist dominated security force has been criticised for not actively pursuing the matter. 
 
(Agencies)

The four laws, which include childbirth restrictions, breach the convention against women discrimination, which Myanmar joined in 1997

Myanmar delegates will face some tough questions tomorrow at a key UN convention in Geneva regarding a controversial legislation which has attracted international criticism for discriminating on the basis of gender and religion. The four laws, which includes giving authorities the right to restrict the number of childbirths a women can have, may stand in violation of the convention on eradicating discrimination against women (CEDAW) which Myanmar joined in 1997, as well as for being anti-Islam. Introduced last year, this law was backed by nationalist monks and passed by the military-backed government of then-President U Thein Sein. However, the current government may not redress the matter. Although Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD government has submitted a written clarification that the laws do not go breach UN’s CEDAW policies, local newspaper The Myanmar Times quoted U Soe Kyi, the director general of the department of social welfare that the government had “no plan” to repeal the laws. Women's rights groups have been protesting against this law, but have found it difficult to influence the government to change it. International rights groups, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, has raised an alarm about the legislation curtailing religious and gender freedom, specially the birth control policy which is seen as a direct action against the displaced Muslim population in Rakhine State, known as Rohingya. In the past two weeks, there has been a spike in violence against Muslims in Myanmar including incidents of Buddhist mobs ransacking two mosques in separate towns. Buddhist dominated security force has been criticised for not actively pursuing the matter. (Agencies)

UN panel to question Myanmar's anti-women, anti-Islam legislation at Geneva meet

A Palestinian attacker fatally stabbed a US-Israeli teenager in her home at a Jewish settlement in the West Bank before being shot dead by security guards on Thursday.&nbsp; 
 
The Israeli army said the young Palestinian killed the 13-year-old in her bed after breaking into her home in the Kiryat Arba settlement outside the flashpoint city of Hebron. 
 
Security personnel rushed to the house and fired on the attacker, who wounded a guard before being shot dead, it said. 
 
Girl also held US citizenship&nbsp; 
 
The girl was taken to hospital in Jerusalem in critical condition and died of her wounds.&nbsp; 
 
The State Department said later that she also held US citizenship. 
 
The attacker was identified by the Palestinian health ministry as Mohammed Nasser Tarayra, 19, from the village of Bani Naim, just outside the city, in the south of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. 
 
Hallel Yaffa Ariel&#39;s family said she was attacked in her sleep, and the military released a photograph of her blood-spattered bedroom. 
 
As mourners visited the family home, the girl&#39;s father said she had been sleeping late after a dance performance the night before and that he had been on his way to the house to wake her for work when he heard of the attack. 
 
She worked in his winery during the summer vacation which just started, he told AFP.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;At the first moment I thought everything was well, but I knew deep in my heart she was not alive,&quot; said Amichai Ariel, 59 and added, &quot;I shouted at her.&quot; 
 
Assailaint&rsquo;s home village sealed off after attack&nbsp; 
 
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman after the attack, and the home village of the assailant was sealed off. 
 
Israeli work permits for members of Tarayra&#39;s extended family were also to be revoked and authorities began procedures aimed at demolishing his home, a measure often taken against attackers. 
 
&quot;I expect the Palestinian leadership to clearly and unequivocally condemn this vicious murder and take immediate action to stop the incitement,&quot; Netanyahu said. 
 
&quot;The entire world needs to condemn this murder just as it condemned the terrorist attacks in Orlando (Florida) and Brussels,&quot; he added.&nbsp; 
 
The European Union (EU) also expressed its &quot;deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the victim.&quot; 
 
&quot;Hallel Yaffa Ariel was brutally murdered in her home in Kiryat Arba,&quot; it said. &quot;There can be no justification for such acts of terror.&quot; 
 
Hours later in the town of Netanya, on the Mediterranean coast north of Tel Aviv, a Palestinian from the northern West Bank stabbed a man and woman, both Israelis, before being shot dead by a passing civilian, police said. 
 
 
A flashpoint city- Hebron 
 
Hebron has been a flashpoint in a spate of deadly unrest that has rocked Israel and the Palestinian territories since last October. 
 
Hundreds of Jewish settlers live in a tightly guarded enclave in the heart of the city of more than 200,000 Palestinians, a persistent source of tensions. 
 
In New York on Thursday, the UN envoy on Middle East peace said that a report by the diplomatic Quartet, expected to be release on Friday, demands Israel take urgent steps to halt the expansion of settlements. 
 
Nickolay Mladenov told the Security Council that ongoing Israeli construction in the West Bank was one of three &quot;negative trends&quot; that must be quickly reversed to keep the hope of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal alive. 
 
Palestinian incitement to violence and the Palestinian authority&#39;s lack of control over the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip also &quot;severely undermine hopes for peace&quot;, Mladenov said. 
 
Violence since October has killed at least 212 Palestinians, 33 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese. 
 
Most of the Palestinians were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities. 
 
Others were killed in clashes with security forces or by Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip. 
 
Negotiations between Israel, Palestine at a standstill since 2014&nbsp; 
 
Analysts say Palestinian frustration with Israeli occupation and settlement-building in the West Bank, the complete lack of progress in peace efforts and their own fractured leadership have fed the unrest. 
 
Israel says incitement by Palestinian leaders and media is a leading cause of the violence. 
 
On a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories this week, UN chief Ban Ki-moon condemned the recent wave of attacks as &quot;terrorism&quot;. 
 
But he urged Israel to address the &quot;key underlying causes of violence&quot; including &quot;growing Palestinian anger, the paralysis of the peace process, the nearly a half-century of occupation&quot;. 
 
Negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians have been at a standstill since a US-led initiative collapsed in April 2014. 
 
France, however, is planning to hold an international conference before the end of the year in a bid to restart the peace process. 
 
Israel opposes the French initiative, calling instead for bilateral negotiations, while Palestinian leaders have expressed support for it. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp;

She was a settler. The boy broke into her home in the West Bank, stabbed her while she was in bed

A Palestinian attacker fatally stabbed a US-Israeli teenager in her home at a Jewish settlement in the West Bank before being shot dead by security guards on Thursday. The Israeli army said the young Palestinian killed the 13-year-old in her bed after breaking into her home in the Kiryat Arba settlement outside the flashpoint city of Hebron. Security personnel rushed to the house and fired on the attacker, who wounded a guard before being shot dead, it said. Girl also held US citizenship The girl was taken to hospital in Jerusalem in critical condition and died of her wounds. The State Department said later that she also held US citizenship. The attacker was identified by the Palestinian health ministry as Mohammed Nasser Tarayra, 19, from the village of Bani Naim, just outside the city, in the south of the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Hallel Yaffa Ariel's family said she was attacked in her sleep, and the military released a photograph of her blood-spattered bedroom. As mourners visited the family home, the girl's father said she had been sleeping late after a dance performance the night before and that he had been on his way to the house to wake her for work when he heard of the attack. She worked in his winery during the summer vacation which just started, he told AFP. "At the first moment I thought everything was well, but I knew deep in my heart she was not alive," said Amichai Ariel, 59 and added, "I shouted at her." Assailaint’s home village sealed off after attack Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held talks with Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman after the attack, and the home village of the assailant was sealed off. Israeli work permits for members of Tarayra's extended family were also to be revoked and authorities began procedures aimed at demolishing his home, a measure often taken against attackers. "I expect the Palestinian leadership to clearly and unequivocally condemn this vicious murder and take immediate action to stop the incitement," Netanyahu said. "The entire world needs to condemn this murder just as it condemned the terrorist attacks in Orlando (Florida) and Brussels," he added. The European Union (EU) also expressed its "deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the victim." "Hallel Yaffa Ariel was brutally murdered in her home in Kiryat Arba," it said. "There can be no justification for such acts of terror." Hours later in the town of Netanya, on the Mediterranean coast north of Tel Aviv, a Palestinian from the northern West Bank stabbed a man and woman, both Israelis, before being shot dead by a passing civilian, police said. A flashpoint city- Hebron Hebron has been a flashpoint in a spate of deadly unrest that has rocked Israel and the Palestinian territories since last October. Hundreds of Jewish settlers live in a tightly guarded enclave in the heart of the city of more than 200,000 Palestinians, a persistent source of tensions. In New York on Thursday, the UN envoy on Middle East peace said that a report by the diplomatic Quartet, expected to be release on Friday, demands Israel take urgent steps to halt the expansion of settlements. Nickolay Mladenov told the Security Council that ongoing Israeli construction in the West Bank was one of three "negative trends" that must be quickly reversed to keep the hope of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal alive. Palestinian incitement to violence and the Palestinian authority's lack of control over the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip also "severely undermine hopes for peace", Mladenov said. Violence since October has killed at least 212 Palestinians, 33 Israelis, two Americans, an Eritrean and a Sudanese. Most of the Palestinians were carrying out knife, gun or car-ramming attacks, according to Israeli authorities. Others were killed in clashes with security forces or by Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip. Negotiations between Israel, Palestine at a standstill since 2014 Analysts say Palestinian frustration with Israeli occupation and settlement-building in the West Bank, the complete lack of progress in peace efforts and their own fractured leadership have fed the unrest. Israel says incitement by Palestinian leaders and media is a leading cause of the violence. On a visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories this week, UN chief Ban Ki-moon condemned the recent wave of attacks as "terrorism". But he urged Israel to address the "key underlying causes of violence" including "growing Palestinian anger, the paralysis of the peace process, the nearly a half-century of occupation". Negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians have been at a standstill since a US-led initiative collapsed in April 2014. France, however, is planning to hold an international conference before the end of the year in a bid to restart the peace process. Israel opposes the French initiative, calling instead for bilateral negotiations, while Palestinian leaders have expressed support for it. (AFP)

19-year-old Palestinian boy kills 13-year-old US-Israeli girl

North Korea&#39;s parliament awarded Kim Jong Un a new post today, adding to a long list of titles for the young leader. 
 
The North&#39;s state television said Kim was made chairman of the state affairs committee, a body that appears to be newly formed and whose function was not immediately clear. 
 
He also has the titles of the Dear Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the Workers&#39; Party of Korea, First Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People&#39;s Republic of Korea and Supreme Commander of the Korean People&#39;s Army. 
 
Kim, believed to be in his early 30s, attended the assembly meeting today. He also holds the rank of marshal in the North Korean military, and is more usually referred to &quot;our marshal&quot; in propaganda and common parlance. 
 
The parliament meets once or twice a year to formally approve budgets or policies set out by the ruling Workers&#39; Party. It also has the authority to grant Kim new titles or positions within North Korea&#39;s opaque leadership structure. 
 
The meeting was called to implement policy aims stated in a rare Workers&#39; Party congress in May, during which Kim Jong Un announced a five-year economic plan. 
 
On June 22, North Korea launched two Musudan intermediate-range missiles, drawing strong condemnation from South Korea, Japan and the United States for infringing UN sanctions designed to stop Pyongyang&#39;s nuclear and missile development programmes. 
 
North Korea referred to the missile as a &quot;Hwasong-10&quot; and said the test did not put the security of neighbouring countries at risk. 
 
(Reuters)

Kim was made chairman of the state affairs committee, a body that appears to be newly formed and whose function was not immediately clear

North Korea's parliament awarded Kim Jong Un a new post today, adding to a long list of titles for the young leader. The North's state television said Kim was made chairman of the state affairs committee, a body that appears to be newly formed and whose function was not immediately clear. He also has the titles of the Dear Respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the Workers' Party of Korea, First Chairman of the National Defence Commission of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Supreme Commander of the Korean People's Army. Kim, believed to be in his early 30s, attended the assembly meeting today. He also holds the rank of marshal in the North Korean military, and is more usually referred to "our marshal" in propaganda and common parlance. The parliament meets once or twice a year to formally approve budgets or policies set out by the ruling Workers' Party. It also has the authority to grant Kim new titles or positions within North Korea's opaque leadership structure. The meeting was called to implement policy aims stated in a rare Workers' Party congress in May, during which Kim Jong Un announced a five-year economic plan. On June 22, North Korea launched two Musudan intermediate-range missiles, drawing strong condemnation from South Korea, Japan and the United States for infringing UN sanctions designed to stop Pyongyang's nuclear and missile development programmes. North Korea referred to the missile as a "Hwasong-10" and said the test did not put the security of neighbouring countries at risk. (Reuters)

North Korean assembly awards leader Kim Jong Un fresh title

Condemning the terror attack at Istanbul&#39;s Ataturk International airport that killed 36 people and injured many others, the US and UN has called for stepped-up cooperation in fighting terrorism and has vowed &quot;steadfast&quot; support for Turkey. 
 
&quot;Ataturk international airport, like Brussels airport which was attacked earlier this year, is a symbol of international connections and the ties that bind us together,&quot; White House press secretary Josh Earnest said yesterday. 
 
US President Barack Obama was briefed on the explosions by his assistant for homeland security and counterterrorism Lisa Monaco. 
 
&quot;Our deepest condolences go out to the families and loved ones of those killed, and we wish a speedy recovery to those injured. We remain steadfast in our support for Turkey, our NATO ally and partner, along with all of our friends and allies around the world, as we continue to confront the threat of terrorism,&quot; he said. 
 
Condemning the terrorist attack at Istanbul&#39;s Ataturk International airport, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, expressed his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Turkey. 
 
&quot;The Secretary-General hopes that the perpetrators of this crime will be identified and brought to justice. He stands firmly by Turkey as it confronts this threat and stresses the need to intensify regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism,&quot; his spokesman said in a statement. 
 
US officials are in close touch with Turkish authorities throughout the investigation, state department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said. 
 
&quot;We stand in solidarity with our NATO ally Turkey in combating the threat of terrorism. Sadly, this murderous attack is only the latest in a series of attacks aimed at killing and maiming innocent civilians,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;Such attacks will only reinforce our determination to work with the government of Turkey to counter the scourge of terrorism and support all those across the region who are working to promote peace and reconciliation,&quot; Toner said in a statement. 
 
&quot;Today, we have another horrific event - senseless violence against innocent civilians. Freedom-loving people around the world must not waver in our commitment to defeat violent extremism,&quot; said senator James Lankford. He serves on the homeland security and intelligence committees. 
 
&quot;We continue to monitor reports of the horrific terror attack in Turkey. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and all affected,&quot; tweeted Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the powerful senate foreign relations committee. 
 
&quot;Terrorism will not prevail. We stand with our ally Turkey in the face of this heinous attack,&quot; tweeted Paul Ryan, speaker of the US house of representatives. 
 
&quot;I&#39;m horrified by the attacks in Istanbul, and my heart is with the victims and their families. I stand with the people of Turkey against terrorism,&quot; tweeted congresswoman Susan Brooks. 
 
(PTI)

Ban Ki-moon condemned the attack and stressed on the need to intensify regional and international efforts to combat terrorism

Condemning the terror attack at Istanbul's Ataturk International airport that killed 36 people and injured many others, the US and UN has called for stepped-up cooperation in fighting terrorism and has vowed "steadfast" support for Turkey. "Ataturk international airport, like Brussels airport which was attacked earlier this year, is a symbol of international connections and the ties that bind us together," White House press secretary Josh Earnest said yesterday. US President Barack Obama was briefed on the explosions by his assistant for homeland security and counterterrorism Lisa Monaco. "Our deepest condolences go out to the families and loved ones of those killed, and we wish a speedy recovery to those injured. We remain steadfast in our support for Turkey, our NATO ally and partner, along with all of our friends and allies around the world, as we continue to confront the threat of terrorism," he said. Condemning the terrorist attack at Istanbul's Ataturk International airport, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, expressed his deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Turkey. "The Secretary-General hopes that the perpetrators of this crime will be identified and brought to justice. He stands firmly by Turkey as it confronts this threat and stresses the need to intensify regional and international efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism," his spokesman said in a statement. US officials are in close touch with Turkish authorities throughout the investigation, state department deputy spokesman Mark Toner said. "We stand in solidarity with our NATO ally Turkey in combating the threat of terrorism. Sadly, this murderous attack is only the latest in a series of attacks aimed at killing and maiming innocent civilians," he said. "Such attacks will only reinforce our determination to work with the government of Turkey to counter the scourge of terrorism and support all those across the region who are working to promote peace and reconciliation," Toner said in a statement. "Today, we have another horrific event - senseless violence against innocent civilians. Freedom-loving people around the world must not waver in our commitment to defeat violent extremism," said senator James Lankford. He serves on the homeland security and intelligence committees. "We continue to monitor reports of the horrific terror attack in Turkey. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and all affected," tweeted Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the powerful senate foreign relations committee. "Terrorism will not prevail. We stand with our ally Turkey in the face of this heinous attack," tweeted Paul Ryan, speaker of the US house of representatives. "I'm horrified by the attacks in Istanbul, and my heart is with the victims and their families. I stand with the people of Turkey against terrorism," tweeted congresswoman Susan Brooks. (PTI)

US, UN condemn terror attack on Turkey international airport

Around 5,000 migrants were rescued from rubber dingies in the Mediterranean on Thursday, the Italian coastguard said, averting a potential high seas disaster. 
 
A coastguard spokesman pointed out it appeared many people had left the Libyan coast to attempt the perilous voyage across the sea to Europe during a spell of good weather. 
 
&quot;Around 5,000 people were saved in 43 rescue operations,&quot; the coastguard said in a statement. 
 
A body was found on board one of the rubber dinghies, a coastguard spokesman told AFP earlier. 
 
&quot;We registered a large number of voyages today, after several days of bad weather at sea had stopped people leaving Libya,&quot; the spokesman added. 
 
Most of the migrants were on the dinghies, while three wooden boats were being used by Libyan people traffickers, the coastguard said. 
 
The Italian navy also noted a mass movement of boats in the Mediterranean from &quot;the first light of dawn.&quot; 
 
Five Italian navy ships took part in the rescue operations, together with two vessels from the EU&#39;s Operation Sophia, which was set up to combat human smuggling in the Mediterranean, and another four from humanitarian organisations. 
 
More than 10,000 people have died crossing the Mediterranean to Europe in overcrowded boats since 2014, according to UN figures published earlier this month. 
 
This year alone more than 50,000 migrants and asylum seekers from Africa have managed to complete the journey to Italy, a country that, like Greece, acts mainly as a gateway to northern Europe for most of the newcomers. 
 
(AFP)&nbsp;

More than 10,000 people have died crossing the Mediterranean to Europe in overcrowded boats since 2014, according to UN figures

Around 5,000 migrants were rescued from rubber dingies in the Mediterranean on Thursday, the Italian coastguard said, averting a potential high seas disaster. A coastguard spokesman pointed out it appeared many people had left the Libyan coast to attempt the perilous voyage across the sea to Europe during a spell of good weather. "Around 5,000 people were saved in 43 rescue operations," the coastguard said in a statement. A body was found on board one of the rubber dinghies, a coastguard spokesman told AFP earlier. "We registered a large number of voyages today, after several days of bad weather at sea had stopped people leaving Libya," the spokesman added. Most of the migrants were on the dinghies, while three wooden boats were being used by Libyan people traffickers, the coastguard said. The Italian navy also noted a mass movement of boats in the Mediterranean from "the first light of dawn." Five Italian navy ships took part in the rescue operations, together with two vessels from the EU's Operation Sophia, which was set up to combat human smuggling in the Mediterranean, and another four from humanitarian organisations. More than 10,000 people have died crossing the Mediterranean to Europe in overcrowded boats since 2014, according to UN figures published earlier this month. This year alone more than 50,000 migrants and asylum seekers from Africa have managed to complete the journey to Italy, a country that, like Greece, acts mainly as a gateway to northern Europe for most of the newcomers. (AFP)

5,000 migrants rescued from rubber dingies in Mediterranean

John Ashe, a former United Nations General Assembly president accused by US prosecutors of taking $1.3 million in bribes from Chinese businessmen, has died at 61, his lawyer said on Wednesday. 
 
The death of Ashe, a former UN ambassador from Antigua and Barbuda who served as General Assembly president from 2013 to 2014 and was arrested in October on federal charges, was confirmed by his lawyer, Jeremy Schneider. 
 
Asked if his client had died from a heart attack as reported by an Antiguan media outlet, Schneider said that was his understanding. But he later clarified that he did not know the cause of death. 
 
Ashe&#39;s death marked a surprising turn in the corruption investigation, in which seven people have been charged to date. He had been in plea talks as recently as last month as prosecutors mulled further charges. 
 
The status of those plea talks was not immediately clear. Schneider said his client had been preparing for trial. 
 
A spokesman for Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara, whose office was pursuing the case, had no immediate comment. 
 
Prosecutors said Ashe received more than $500,000 in bribes from billionaire Macau real estate developer Ng Lap Seng to seek UN&rsquo;s support of a United Nations-sponsored conference centre in Macau that Ng&rsquo;s company would develop. 
 
Those bribes were paid through intermediaries that included Francis Lorenzo, a suspended deputy UN ambassador from the Dominican Republic, and Jeff Yin, Ng&rsquo;s assistant, prosecutors said. 
 
Lorenzo pleaded guilty in March while Ng and Yin have pleaded not guilty. 
 
Prosecutors said Ashe also received more than $800,000 from Chinese businessmen to support their interests within the United Nations and Antigua. 
 
Those bribes were arranged through Sheri Yan, who was the Global Sustainability Foundation&#39;s chief executive, and Heidi Hong Piao, the non-governmental organisation&rsquo;s finance director, prosecutors said. Both women pleaded guilty in January. 
 
Authorities said Ashe solicited bribes in various forms, including payments to cover a New Orleans family vacation and construction of a $30,000 basketball court at his house in Dobbs Ferry, New York. 
 
At the time of his death, Ashe had only been charged with tax fraud in connection with the bribes, amid questions about whether diplomatic immunity might preclude any bribery charges. 
 
But at a May 9 hearing, Assistant US Attorney Daniel Richenthal said prosecutors were planning to seek a new indictment in the case against Ashe. 
 
Ashe is survived by his wife, Anilla Cherian, and two children. 
 
(Reuters)

61-year-old John Ashe was accused of taking a bribe of more than $500,000 from a Chinese real estate developer in lieu of UN support

John Ashe, a former United Nations General Assembly president accused by US prosecutors of taking $1.3 million in bribes from Chinese businessmen, has died at 61, his lawyer said on Wednesday. The death of Ashe, a former UN ambassador from Antigua and Barbuda who served as General Assembly president from 2013 to 2014 and was arrested in October on federal charges, was confirmed by his lawyer, Jeremy Schneider. Asked if his client had died from a heart attack as reported by an Antiguan media outlet, Schneider said that was his understanding. But he later clarified that he did not know the cause of death. Ashe's death marked a surprising turn in the corruption investigation, in which seven people have been charged to date. He had been in plea talks as recently as last month as prosecutors mulled further charges. The status of those plea talks was not immediately clear. Schneider said his client had been preparing for trial. A spokesman for Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara, whose office was pursuing the case, had no immediate comment. Prosecutors said Ashe received more than $500,000 in bribes from billionaire Macau real estate developer Ng Lap Seng to seek UN’s support of a United Nations-sponsored conference centre in Macau that Ng’s company would develop. Those bribes were paid through intermediaries that included Francis Lorenzo, a suspended deputy UN ambassador from the Dominican Republic, and Jeff Yin, Ng’s assistant, prosecutors said. Lorenzo pleaded guilty in March while Ng and Yin have pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors said Ashe also received more than $800,000 from Chinese businessmen to support their interests within the United Nations and Antigua. Those bribes were arranged through Sheri Yan, who was the Global Sustainability Foundation's chief executive, and Heidi Hong Piao, the non-governmental organisation’s finance director, prosecutors said. Both women pleaded guilty in January. Authorities said Ashe solicited bribes in various forms, including payments to cover a New Orleans family vacation and construction of a $30,000 basketball court at his house in Dobbs Ferry, New York. At the time of his death, Ashe had only been charged with tax fraud in connection with the bribes, amid questions about whether diplomatic immunity might preclude any bribery charges. But at a May 9 hearing, Assistant US Attorney Daniel Richenthal said prosecutors were planning to seek a new indictment in the case against Ashe. Ashe is survived by his wife, Anilla Cherian, and two children. (Reuters)

Ex-UN General Assembly president in US bribery case dies

India has demanded that the UN slaps sanctions against the new Taliban leader in Afghanistan, saying it is &quot;sheer folly&quot; that the leader of a proscribed entity is not yet designated as a terrorist individual. 
 
&quot;It is sheer folly that the leader of a proscribed entity is not yet designated as a terrorist individual,&quot; India&#39;s permanent representative to the UN ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said at a security council debate on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) here yesterday. 
 
Supporting New Zealand&#39;s position that the anamoly should be corrected, Akbaruddin said the new Taliban leader should be sanctioned. 
 
The Taliban had named Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada, a conservative cleric in his 50s, as its new leader after Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in an American drone strike last month. 
 
US state department&#39;s deputy spokesperson Mark Toner had said in a press briefing then that Akhundzada was not on any kind of a terrorist designated list. 
 
Akbaruddin further emphasised that groups and individuals perpetrating violence against the people and government of Afghanistan cannot have safe havens and should not be allowed to exercise control and wield influence over any part of Afghanistan&#39;s territory. 
 
&quot;This, in our view, is critical for lasting peace in the country,&quot; he said adding that effective implementation of the security council sanctions regime including the 1267 ISIL/al-Qaeda sanctions and 1988 Taliban&#39;s regime should also be carried out &quot;consistently and with perseverance&quot; for it to serve as a strong deterrent to the listed entities and individuals. 
 
Previously, India has slammed the UN sanctions committee for taking a &quot;selective approach&quot; in tackling terrorism when a technical hold was put on its application to include the name of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar on the committee&#39;s list of designated terrorists. 
 
India had said in April that it finds it &quot;incomprehensible&quot; that while the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) was listed in the UN security council committee as far back as 2001 for its known terror activities and links to al Qaeda, the designation of the group&#39;s main leader, financier and motivator has been put on a technical hold. 
(PTI) 
 
 
&nbsp;

The Taliban has named Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada, a conservative cleric in his 50s, as the outfit's new leader

India has demanded that the UN slaps sanctions against the new Taliban leader in Afghanistan, saying it is "sheer folly" that the leader of a proscribed entity is not yet designated as a terrorist individual. "It is sheer folly that the leader of a proscribed entity is not yet designated as a terrorist individual," India's permanent representative to the UN ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said at a security council debate on the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) here yesterday. Supporting New Zealand's position that the anamoly should be corrected, Akbaruddin said the new Taliban leader should be sanctioned. The Taliban had named Mawlawi Haibatullah Akhundzada, a conservative cleric in his 50s, as its new leader after Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed in an American drone strike last month. US state department's deputy spokesperson Mark Toner had said in a press briefing then that Akhundzada was not on any kind of a terrorist designated list. Akbaruddin further emphasised that groups and individuals perpetrating violence against the people and government of Afghanistan cannot have safe havens and should not be allowed to exercise control and wield influence over any part of Afghanistan's territory. "This, in our view, is critical for lasting peace in the country," he said adding that effective implementation of the security council sanctions regime including the 1267 ISIL/al-Qaeda sanctions and 1988 Taliban's regime should also be carried out "consistently and with perseverance" for it to serve as a strong deterrent to the listed entities and individuals. Previously, India has slammed the UN sanctions committee for taking a "selective approach" in tackling terrorism when a technical hold was put on its application to include the name of Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar on the committee's list of designated terrorists. India had said in April that it finds it "incomprehensible" that while the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) was listed in the UN security council committee as far back as 2001 for its known terror activities and links to al Qaeda, the designation of the group's main leader, financier and motivator has been put on a technical hold. (PTI)

India slams UN for not slapping sanctions on new Afghan Taliban leader

North Korea appears to be readying another test of a powerful, new medium-range missile, following a series of failures for a ballistic weapons programme that aspires to threaten the US mainland, multiple reports said Tuesday. 
 
Japanese and South Korean media quoted official sources saying that North Korea looked to have deployed a so-called Musudan missile near its east coast. 
 
The North has made four failed attempts this year to test fly the Musudan, which has an estimated range of anywhere between 2,500 and 4,000 kilometres (1,550 to 2,500 miles). 
 
The lower range covers the whole of South Korea and Japan, while the upper range would include US military bases on Guam. 
 
&quot;We have detected signs that the North has deployed what appears to be a Musudan missile,&quot; South Korea&#39;s Yonhap news agency quoted an unidentified government official. 
 
Japan&#39;s Kyodo News agency and public broadcaster NHK both cited unidentified sources saying that preparations for a missile launch might be underway. 
 
The defence ministry in Seoul declined to confirm the reports, but said it was &quot;closely monitoring the situation.&quot; 
 
UN resolutions ban North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, even though it regularly fires short-range missiles into the sea off its east coast. 
 
In Tokyo, chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga partially confirmed a Kyodo report that Japan&#39;s military had been ordered to intercept any missile or falling parts that might threaten Japanese territory. 
 
&quot;We ordered the self-defence forces to take necessary steps to protect our people`s lives and property,&quot; Suga said. 
 
First unveiled as an indigenous missile at a military parade in Pyongyang in October 2010, the Musudan has never been successfully flight-tested. 
 
Three failures in April were seen as an embarrassment for the Pyongyang leadership, coming ahead of a rare ruling party congress that was meant to celebrate the country&#39;s achievements. 
? 
The latest attempt in May was also deemed to have failed. 
 
(AFP) 
&nbsp;

North Korea had four failed attempts at testing the Musudan missile which has a range of 1,550 to 2,500 miles

North Korea appears to be readying another test of a powerful, new medium-range missile, following a series of failures for a ballistic weapons programme that aspires to threaten the US mainland, multiple reports said Tuesday. Japanese and South Korean media quoted official sources saying that North Korea looked to have deployed a so-called Musudan missile near its east coast. The North has made four failed attempts this year to test fly the Musudan, which has an estimated range of anywhere between 2,500 and 4,000 kilometres (1,550 to 2,500 miles). The lower range covers the whole of South Korea and Japan, while the upper range would include US military bases on Guam. "We have detected signs that the North has deployed what appears to be a Musudan missile," South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted an unidentified government official. Japan's Kyodo News agency and public broadcaster NHK both cited unidentified sources saying that preparations for a missile launch might be underway. The defence ministry in Seoul declined to confirm the reports, but said it was "closely monitoring the situation." UN resolutions ban North Korea from any use of ballistic missile technology, even though it regularly fires short-range missiles into the sea off its east coast. In Tokyo, chief government spokesman Yoshihide Suga partially confirmed a Kyodo report that Japan's military had been ordered to intercept any missile or falling parts that might threaten Japanese territory. "We ordered the self-defence forces to take necessary steps to protect our people`s lives and property," Suga said. First unveiled as an indigenous missile at a military parade in Pyongyang in October 2010, the Musudan has never been successfully flight-tested. Three failures in April were seen as an embarrassment for the Pyongyang leadership, coming ahead of a rare ruling party congress that was meant to celebrate the country's achievements. ? The latest attempt in May was also deemed to have failed. (AFP)

North Korea prepares to test fire new medium-range missile

Israel on Monday won an election to chair the United Nations&#39; legal committee, the first time that it will head one of the world body&#39;s six permanent committees since joining the UN in 1949. 
 
While it is a largely symbolic and procedural role, chairing the committee will give Israel a chance to have a higher profile in routine affairs at the United Nations. 
 
The Legal Committee, or Sixth Committee, oversees issues related to international law. The General Assembly has six standing committees that report to it, on: disarmament, economic and financial issues, human rights, decolonization, the UN &nbsp;budget, and legal issues. 
 
&quot;I am proud to be the first Israeli elected to this position,&quot; Israel UN ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement. 
 
&quot;Israel is a world leader in international law and in fighting terrorism,&quot; he added. &quot;We are pleased to have the opportunity to share our knowledge with the countries of the world.&quot; 
 
Israel was a candidate for the regional Western European and Others Group (WEOG) and received a comfortable majority of votes - 109 out of 175 valid votes cast in the 193-nation assembly. Sweden was runner-up with 10 votes. 
 
Normally committee heads are elected by consensus without a vote. Opponents to the Israeli candidacy called for a vote, prompting a sharp reaction from the deputy US ambassador to the UN, David Pressman. 
 
&quot;Even a chair from (former leader Muammar) Gaddafi&#39;s Libya was elected by acclamation,&quot; he said in a statement. &quot;A vote should not have been called today.&quot; 
 
&quot;We need a United Nations that includes Israel, that brings Israel closer, not one that systematically pushes Israel away,&quot; he added. 
 
Israel was originally part of the Asia-Pacific Group along with other Middle Eastern and Asian nations, the majority of which are cool or openly hostile toward the Israeli state. Its transfer to WEOG gave it a chance to get elected to leadership posts and play a more active role at the UN. 
 
The chief Palestinian delegate at the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, complained about the results of the election, saying Arab and Muslim countries had tried to prevent an Israeli victory. 
 
Speaking to reporters, Mansour described Israel as &quot;the biggest violator of international law&quot; and predicted that Danon&#39;s election was &quot;threatening the work of the Sixth Committee.&quot; 
 
He said the Arab League and 57 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation had opposed Israel&#39;s election.

The legal committee oversees issues related to International law. This will give Israel a higher profile in routine affairs at the UN

Israel on Monday won an election to chair the United Nations' legal committee, the first time that it will head one of the world body's six permanent committees since joining the UN in 1949. While it is a largely symbolic and procedural role, chairing the committee will give Israel a chance to have a higher profile in routine affairs at the United Nations. The Legal Committee, or Sixth Committee, oversees issues related to international law. The General Assembly has six standing committees that report to it, on: disarmament, economic and financial issues, human rights, decolonization, the UN budget, and legal issues. "I am proud to be the first Israeli elected to this position," Israel UN ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement. "Israel is a world leader in international law and in fighting terrorism," he added. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to share our knowledge with the countries of the world." Israel was a candidate for the regional Western European and Others Group (WEOG) and received a comfortable majority of votes - 109 out of 175 valid votes cast in the 193-nation assembly. Sweden was runner-up with 10 votes. Normally committee heads are elected by consensus without a vote. Opponents to the Israeli candidacy called for a vote, prompting a sharp reaction from the deputy US ambassador to the UN, David Pressman. "Even a chair from (former leader Muammar) Gaddafi's Libya was elected by acclamation," he said in a statement. "A vote should not have been called today." "We need a United Nations that includes Israel, that brings Israel closer, not one that systematically pushes Israel away," he added. Israel was originally part of the Asia-Pacific Group along with other Middle Eastern and Asian nations, the majority of which are cool or openly hostile toward the Israeli state. Its transfer to WEOG gave it a chance to get elected to leadership posts and play a more active role at the UN. The chief Palestinian delegate at the United Nations, Riyad Mansour, complained about the results of the election, saying Arab and Muslim countries had tried to prevent an Israeli victory. Speaking to reporters, Mansour described Israel as "the biggest violator of international law" and predicted that Danon's election was "threatening the work of the Sixth Committee." He said the Arab League and 57 member states of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation had opposed Israel's election.

Israel elected to chair United Nations legal committee

Pope Francis today condemned the use of hunger as a &quot;weapon of war&quot; and lamented the fact that it was easier to move weapons across borders than the aid needed to keep civilians alive. 
 
Days after aid agencies were allowed to deliver food to the besieged Syrian town of Daraya for the first time since 2012, Francis said preventing supplies from reaching war zones was a violation of international law. 
 
On a visit to the headquarters of the World Food Programme (WFP), the pope said the world faced a &quot;strange paradox&quot;. 
 
&quot;Whereas forms of aid and development projects are obstructed by involved and incomprehensible political decisions, skewed ideological visions and impenetrable customs barriers, weaponry is not.&quot; 
 
&quot;In some cases, hunger itself is used as a weapon of war,&quot; he said in an address to the WFP, the Rome-based UN agency which is the largest provider of food aid worldwide. 
 
&quot;(Weapons) circulate with brazen and virtually absolute freedom in many parts of the world. As a result, wars are fed, not people,&quot; said Francis, who has often condemned arms manufacturing and trafficking. 
 
In January, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon accused both the Syrian government and rebels of using starvation as a weapon, calling the practice a war crime.. 
 
The Argentine pope said the rich world was increasingly desensitised, &quot;growing immune to other people&rsquo;s tragedies, seeing them as something &#39;natural&#39; ... all those human lives turn into one more news story.&quot; 
 
Francis, who in the past has condemned speculation in food commodities as undermining the fight against poverty and hunger, also condemned rich countries&#39; wasteful use of food. 
 
&quot;We have made the fruits of the earth &ndash; a gift to humanity &ndash; commodities for a few, thus engendering exclusion. The consumerism in which our societies are immersed has made us grow accustomed to excess and to the daily waste of food,&quot; he said. 
 
&quot;We need to be reminded that food discarded is, in a certain sense, stolen from the table of poor and the starving.&quot; 
 
&nbsp;

After four years aid agencies were allowed to deliver food to the besieged town of Daraya

Pope Francis today condemned the use of hunger as a "weapon of war" and lamented the fact that it was easier to move weapons across borders than the aid needed to keep civilians alive. Days after aid agencies were allowed to deliver food to the besieged Syrian town of Daraya for the first time since 2012, Francis said preventing supplies from reaching war zones was a violation of international law. On a visit to the headquarters of the World Food Programme (WFP), the pope said the world faced a "strange paradox". "Whereas forms of aid and development projects are obstructed by involved and incomprehensible political decisions, skewed ideological visions and impenetrable customs barriers, weaponry is not." "In some cases, hunger itself is used as a weapon of war," he said in an address to the WFP, the Rome-based UN agency which is the largest provider of food aid worldwide. "(Weapons) circulate with brazen and virtually absolute freedom in many parts of the world. As a result, wars are fed, not people," said Francis, who has often condemned arms manufacturing and trafficking. In January, UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon accused both the Syrian government and rebels of using starvation as a weapon, calling the practice a war crime.. The Argentine pope said the rich world was increasingly desensitised, "growing immune to other people’s tragedies, seeing them as something 'natural' ... all those human lives turn into one more news story." Francis, who in the past has condemned speculation in food commodities as undermining the fight against poverty and hunger, also condemned rich countries' wasteful use of food. "We have made the fruits of the earth – a gift to humanity – commodities for a few, thus engendering exclusion. The consumerism in which our societies are immersed has made us grow accustomed to excess and to the daily waste of food," he said. "We need to be reminded that food discarded is, in a certain sense, stolen from the table of poor and the starving."

"Feed people,not wars," pope says in address to UN food agency

Saudi Arabia&#39;s deputy crown prince flew to the United States today for meetings with US President Barack Obama and UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, Saudi media reported. 
 
The visit of Mohammed bin Salman, whose powers include his role as defence minister, comes amid a diplomatic row with the United Nations and policy differences with the United States over the war in Syria and relations with Iran. 
 
Prince Mohammed, spearheading an ambitious plan to revamp the economy of the world&#39;s top oil exporter, will also travel to California where he is expected to meet company executives in Silicon Valley, the Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat newspaper said. 
 
The royal court said in a statement late on Sunday that the prince would discuss ways of strengthening relations with the United States, which have cooled under Obama&#39;s presidency. 
 
Saudi Arabia, a leading supporter of Syrian rebels fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad, has been critical of what it sees as foot-dragging by Washington over efforts to end the conflict. 
 
It has also urged Obama to take a tougher stand on what Riyadh sees as Iranian meddling in the affairs of Arab states. Iran denies such interference. 
 
Asharq al-Awsat quoted Saudi sources as saying that Prince Mohammed, a son of King Salman, would start his visit in New York where he was expected to meet the UN chief today. 
 
Ban said last week that Saudi Arabia had exerted &quot;unacceptable&quot; pressure on the world body after a UN report blacklisted a Saudi-led military coalition for killing children in Yemen, a charge denied by the kingdom. 
 
The United Nations removed the coalition from the list after Riyadh threatened to cut its funding of UN programs, diplomatic sources said. 
 
The prince would then meet Obama as well as secretary of state John Kerry and defence secretary Ash Carter in Washington, the newspaper said. 
 
State news agency (SPA) said that a number of senior officials, including finance minister Ibrahim Alassaf and commerce and investment minister Majid al-Qusaibi were part of a delegation accompanying Prince Mohammed, but it did not specify who he would meet during the three-day visit. 
 
Under broad economic reforms announced last week, which aim to free Saudi Arabia of its dependence on oil exports, the kingdom is seeking a big increase in foreign investment and tie-ups with foreign companies in non-oil industries including the technology sector.

Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil importer, is seeking tie-ups with foreign companies in non-oil industries, like the technology sector

Saudi Arabia's deputy crown prince flew to the United States today for meetings with US President Barack Obama and UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, Saudi media reported. The visit of Mohammed bin Salman, whose powers include his role as defence minister, comes amid a diplomatic row with the United Nations and policy differences with the United States over the war in Syria and relations with Iran. Prince Mohammed, spearheading an ambitious plan to revamp the economy of the world's top oil exporter, will also travel to California where he is expected to meet company executives in Silicon Valley, the Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat newspaper said. The royal court said in a statement late on Sunday that the prince would discuss ways of strengthening relations with the United States, which have cooled under Obama's presidency. Saudi Arabia, a leading supporter of Syrian rebels fighting to oust President Bashar al-Assad, has been critical of what it sees as foot-dragging by Washington over efforts to end the conflict. It has also urged Obama to take a tougher stand on what Riyadh sees as Iranian meddling in the affairs of Arab states. Iran denies such interference. Asharq al-Awsat quoted Saudi sources as saying that Prince Mohammed, a son of King Salman, would start his visit in New York where he was expected to meet the UN chief today. Ban said last week that Saudi Arabia had exerted "unacceptable" pressure on the world body after a UN report blacklisted a Saudi-led military coalition for killing children in Yemen, a charge denied by the kingdom. The United Nations removed the coalition from the list after Riyadh threatened to cut its funding of UN programs, diplomatic sources said. The prince would then meet Obama as well as secretary of state John Kerry and defence secretary Ash Carter in Washington, the newspaper said. State news agency (SPA) said that a number of senior officials, including finance minister Ibrahim Alassaf and commerce and investment minister Majid al-Qusaibi were part of a delegation accompanying Prince Mohammed, but it did not specify who he would meet during the three-day visit. Under broad economic reforms announced last week, which aim to free Saudi Arabia of its dependence on oil exports, the kingdom is seeking a big increase in foreign investment and tie-ups with foreign companies in non-oil industries including the technology sector.

Saudi Prince to meet Obama to strengthen diplomatic ties

The United Nations said today that it will try to resettle a record 170,000 refugees urgently in need of a new home by next year. 
 
The projected resettlement figure from the UN refugee agency represents an increase of nearly 30,000 people compared with this year. 
But it is still less than 15 per cent of the 1.19 million refugees worldwide who will be &quot;in need of resettlement&quot; in 2017, the United Nations Human Right Commission (UNHCR) acknowledged in a report released today.&nbsp; 
 
That group mainly consists of refugees who the UN believes will not be able to return home or integrate in their current host country.&nbsp; 
But resettling 1.19 million people over a 12-month period is not feasible based on recent trends, UNHCR spokesman Leo Dobbs said.&nbsp; 
 
The agency therefore expects to recommend that the 170,000 people most in need of resettlement should be moved to third countries.&nbsp; 
Dobbs noted that the final decision in each case rests with prospective host countries, but in recent years the overwhelming majority of those recommended for resettlement have been given new homes. 
 
In 2015, UNHCR referred a record 134,000 people for resettlement and 104,000 in 2014. The projected figure for this year is 143,000.&nbsp; 
By nationality, Syrians led the list of resettlement cases last year at 20 per cent, followed by people from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq and Somalia.&nbsp; 
 
The European Union (EU) has agreed to a responsibility-sharing scheme, which foresees the relocation of 160,000 refugees who have crossed the Mediterranean Sea and landed in Italy or Greece.&nbsp; 
 
But only a few hundred have been resettled to date under the EU plan. 
 
Overall the UNHCR has estimated that there are currently more than 60 million people who have been forced from their homes worldwide.&nbsp; 
 
Of those, roughly 40 million are internally displaced within their home country, while just over 20 million are refugees who have fled across borders.

The European Union has agreed to a responsibility-sharing scheme wherein it will try to relocate the refugees to the Third World countries

The United Nations said today that it will try to resettle a record 170,000 refugees urgently in need of a new home by next year. The projected resettlement figure from the UN refugee agency represents an increase of nearly 30,000 people compared with this year. But it is still less than 15 per cent of the 1.19 million refugees worldwide who will be "in need of resettlement" in 2017, the United Nations Human Right Commission (UNHCR) acknowledged in a report released today. That group mainly consists of refugees who the UN believes will not be able to return home or integrate in their current host country. But resettling 1.19 million people over a 12-month period is not feasible based on recent trends, UNHCR spokesman Leo Dobbs said. The agency therefore expects to recommend that the 170,000 people most in need of resettlement should be moved to third countries. Dobbs noted that the final decision in each case rests with prospective host countries, but in recent years the overwhelming majority of those recommended for resettlement have been given new homes. In 2015, UNHCR referred a record 134,000 people for resettlement and 104,000 in 2014. The projected figure for this year is 143,000. By nationality, Syrians led the list of resettlement cases last year at 20 per cent, followed by people from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq and Somalia. The European Union (EU) has agreed to a responsibility-sharing scheme, which foresees the relocation of 160,000 refugees who have crossed the Mediterranean Sea and landed in Italy or Greece. But only a few hundred have been resettled to date under the EU plan. Overall the UNHCR has estimated that there are currently more than 60 million people who have been forced from their homes worldwide. Of those, roughly 40 million are internally displaced within their home country, while just over 20 million are refugees who have fled across borders.

Will try to resettle 170,000 refugees by next year: UN

Overall estimates say more than 60 million have been forced from their homes worldwide

UN to try resettling 170,000 refugees by next year, up 30,000 from 2016

An international aid convoy reached the Syrian government-besieged town of Daraya overnight, delivering food supplies for the first time since 2012, said&nbsp;a UN spokesman on Friday. 
 
Trucks from the UN and Syrian Arab Red Crescent brought a month&#39;s supply of food for 2,400 people as well as health and hygiene items for the entire estimated population of 4,000 in the rebel-held town near Damascus, spokesman Jens Laerke said. 
 
&quot;It was quite a feat,&quot; Laerke told in a news briefing, adding it was &quot;the first time in years&quot; that the world body had delivered food to Daraya, where malnutrition has been reported.

Trucks from the UN and Syrian Arab Red Crescent brought a month's supply for 2,400

An international aid convoy reached the Syrian government-besieged town of Daraya overnight, delivering food supplies for the first time since 2012, said a UN spokesman on Friday. Trucks from the UN and Syrian Arab Red Crescent brought a month's supply of food for 2,400 people as well as health and hygiene items for the entire estimated population of 4,000 in the rebel-held town near Damascus, spokesman Jens Laerke said. "It was quite a feat," Laerke told in a news briefing, adding it was "the first time in years" that the world body had delivered food to Daraya, where malnutrition has been reported.

UN convoy brings food to besieged Syrian town of Daraya

United Nations targets for HIV testing and treatment may seem expensive at first but are very cost-effective way to boost the survival rate in the long run. 
 
According to a research at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the University of Cape Town and the Yale School of Public Health, which estimated the likely impact of the so-called &quot;90-90-90&quot; program, concluded that the program is an economical way to increase survival, reduce the number of children orphaned by HIV, and contain the global AIDS epidemic. 
 
&quot;Based on our findings, there is nothing overstated about the suggestion that 90-90-90 could lay the foundation for a healthier, more just and equitable world for future generations,&quot; says Rochelle P. Walensky, of the MGH Division of Infectious Disease, who led the study that will appear in the May 31 online edition of Annals of Internal Medicine. 
 
&quot;Yes it would be very expensive, but it would be worth every penny&quot;, said Walensky Launched in September 2014 by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the 90-90-90 program has three key objectives - diagnosing 90 percent of HIV-infected persons worldwide; linking 90 percent of identified cases to antiretroviral therapy (ART); and achieving virologic suppression among 90 percent of ART recipients. 
 
The program`s overall goal is achieving viral suppression - reducing the viral load to an undetectable level - among 73 percent of HIV-infected persons worldwide by 2020, a marked improvement from current estimates of 24 percent.Critics have expressed concern that successful implementation of 90-90-90 would require unprecedented cash infusions from donor organizations such as the President`s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the Global Fund, and the World Bank.Countering this concern, study`s co-author Linda-Gail Bekker, notes, &quot;Recent funding from these sources has been flat. Our goal for this study was to provide donors and partner countries with pragmatic estimates of what it will cost and what return they can expect by investing in 90-90-90.&quot; 
 
Publication of the study coincides with a June 8-10 United Nations meeting of world leaders, HIV program implementers, government representatives and other key stakeholders to solidify a plan to put an end to the global AIDS epidemic by 2030.The research has been published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

U.N. program for battling AIDS is expensive but cost effective in the long run and boosts survival rate.

United Nations targets for HIV testing and treatment may seem expensive at first but are very cost-effective way to boost the survival rate in the long run. According to a research at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), the University of Cape Town and the Yale School of Public Health, which estimated the likely impact of the so-called "90-90-90" program, concluded that the program is an economical way to increase survival, reduce the number of children orphaned by HIV, and contain the global AIDS epidemic. "Based on our findings, there is nothing overstated about the suggestion that 90-90-90 could lay the foundation for a healthier, more just and equitable world for future generations," says Rochelle P. Walensky, of the MGH Division of Infectious Disease, who led the study that will appear in the May 31 online edition of Annals of Internal Medicine. "Yes it would be very expensive, but it would be worth every penny", said Walensky Launched in September 2014 by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the 90-90-90 program has three key objectives - diagnosing 90 percent of HIV-infected persons worldwide; linking 90 percent of identified cases to antiretroviral therapy (ART); and achieving virologic suppression among 90 percent of ART recipients. The program`s overall goal is achieving viral suppression - reducing the viral load to an undetectable level - among 73 percent of HIV-infected persons worldwide by 2020, a marked improvement from current estimates of 24 percent.Critics have expressed concern that successful implementation of 90-90-90 would require unprecedented cash infusions from donor organizations such as the President`s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the Global Fund, and the World Bank.Countering this concern, study`s co-author Linda-Gail Bekker, notes, "Recent funding from these sources has been flat. Our goal for this study was to provide donors and partner countries with pragmatic estimates of what it will cost and what return they can expect by investing in 90-90-90." Publication of the study coincides with a June 8-10 United Nations meeting of world leaders, HIV program implementers, government representatives and other key stakeholders to solidify a plan to put an end to the global AIDS epidemic by 2030.The research has been published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

UN''s ''90-90-90'' program may cost-effectively battle AIDS

Un, News on Un, stories on Un, articles on Un, Un stories at Wion, Un news, Un latest news