India won the seat to Human Rights Council at United Nations today with the highest votes among all candidates.

India bagged 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific category, according to reports. The election was held by 193-member UN General Assembly. India was vying for a seat in the Asia Pacific category along with India, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Fiji and Philippines who had also staked a claim in the same regional group.&nbsp;

India's term will extend to the next three years starting January 1 next year.

The 18 new members were elected by an&nbsp;absolute majority through a secret ballot. Countries needed a minimum of 97 votes to get elected to the Council.

India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said India's win reflects the country's standing in the international community.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Voting for a Happy Outcome. 
 
Thanks to the support of all our friends <a href="https://twitter.com/UN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UN</a> , India wins seat to Human Rights Council with highest votes among all candidates.🙏🏽 <a href="https://t.co/zhpJAZEs7C">pic.twitter.com/zhpJAZEs7C</a>
— Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/AkbaruddinIndia/status/1050776635962740736?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 12, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

India had previously been elected to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council for the 2011-2014 and 2014-2017 term. Its last tenure had ended on December 31, 2017 and in accordance with the rules, it was not eligible for immediate re-election since it had already served two consecutive terms.

Created by the Assembly in March 2006 as the principal United Nations body dealing with human rights, the Human Rights Council comprises 47 elected Member States.

On the basis of equitable geographical distribution, Council seats are allocated to the five regional groups as follows: African States, 13 seats; Asia-Pacific States, 13 seats; Eastern European States, 6 seats; Latin American and Caribbean States, 8 seats; and Western European and other States, 7 seats.

All five of the General Assembly's regional groups had submitted competition-free slates, meaning that all candidates, regardless of their rights records, were virtually assured seats on the council.&nbsp;

On the eve of the elections, rights group Human Rights Watch had said UN member countries should oppose the candidacies of the Philippines and Eritrea for the Human Rights Council because of their "egregious human rights records".

Serious rights violations in Bahrain and Cameroon also raise significant concerns, it said.&nbsp;

Former president of Chile Michelle Bachelet assumed the role of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in September this year, succeeding Jordanian diplomat Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, who had in June this year released a first-ever report on Kashmir that was rejected by India.

India won the seat to Human Rights Council at United Nations today with the highest votes among all candidates. India bagged 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific category, according to reports.

India won the seat to Human Rights Council at United Nations today with the highest votes among all candidates. India bagged 188 votes in the Asia-Pacific category, according to reports. The election was held by 193-member UN General Assembly. India was vying for a seat in the Asia Pacific category along with India, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Fiji and Philippines who had also staked a claim in the same regional group. India's term will extend to the next three years starting January 1 next year. The 18 new members were elected by an absolute majority through a secret ballot. Countries needed a minimum of 97 votes to get elected to the Council. India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Syed Akbaruddin said India's win reflects the country's standing in the international community. Voting for a Happy Outcome. Thanks to the support of all our friends @UN , India wins seat to Human Rights Council with highest votes among all candidates.🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/zhpJAZEs7C — Syed Akbaruddin (@AkbaruddinIndia) October 12, 2018 × India had previously been elected to the Geneva-based Human Rights Council for the 2011-2014 and 2014-2017 term. Its last tenure had ended on December 31, 2017 and in accordance with the rules, it was not eligible for immediate re-election since it had already served two consecutive terms. Created by the Assembly in March 2006 as the principal United Nations body dealing with human rights, the Human Rights Council comprises 47 elected Member States. On the basis of equitable geographical distribution, Council seats are allocated to the five regional groups as follows: African States, 13 seats; Asia-Pacific States, 13 seats; Eastern European States, 6 seats; Latin American and Caribbean States, 8 seats; and Western European and other States, 7 seats. All five of the General Assembly's regional groups had submitted competition-free slates, meaning that all candidates, regardless of their rights records, were virtually assured seats on the council. On the eve of the elections, rights group Human Rights Watch had said UN member countries should oppose the candidacies of the Philippines and Eritrea for the Human Rights Council because of their "egregious human rights records". Serious rights violations in Bahrain and Cameroon also raise significant concerns, it said. Former president of Chile Michelle Bachelet assumed the role of UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in September this year, succeeding Jordanian diplomat Zeid Ra'ad al-Hussein, who had in June this year released a first-ever report on Kashmir that was rejected by India.

India wins UN Human Rights Council election with highest votes

Your Story: India-Pakistan foreign ministers attend SCO meet

Pakistan raised the Kashmir issue in the UN General Assembly on Saturday, saying the "unresolved dispute" is impacting achieving durable peace between India and Pakistan and remains a "blot on the conscience of humanity".

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, addressing the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, said Islamabad wanted a relationship with New Delhi based on "sovereign equality and mutual respect".&nbsp;

"We seek resolution of disputes through a serious and comprehensive dialogue that covers all issues of concern," he said in his address.&nbsp;

On the cancellation of the foreign minister-level talks on the margins of the General Assembly, Qureshi said Pakistan was to talk about all issues with India but New Delhi called off the dialogue, preferring "politics over peace".&nbsp;

"They used the pretext of stamps issued months ago...And depicting grave human rights violations, including pellet gun victims, as an excuse to back out from the talks," he said.&nbsp;

India had called off the meeting, citing the brutal killings of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad releasing postage stamps "glorifying" Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani.&nbsp;

"Dialogue is the only way to address long standing issues that have long bedeviled South Asia, and prevented the region from realising its true potential," he said, adding that the "unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute hinders the realisation of the goal of durable peace" between the two countries.&nbsp;

"For over seventy years now, it has remained on the agenda of the UN Security Council and a blot on the conscience of humanity," he said. Qureshi also said that Pakistan is ready to engage with India for meaningful confidence building, risk reduction and avoidance of arms race in the South Asian region.&nbsp;

Qureshi also said that if India ventures across the Line of Control, or acts upon its doctrine of "limited" war against Pakistan, "it will evoke a strong and matching response."

Describing Pakistan as a victim of terrorism, Qureshi said his country wanted to sit with India to discuss all issues, including terrorism, that have created violence in cities and towns, and have led to tens of thousands of casualties.

Pakistan also brought up the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian national who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in April last year on charges of espionage and terrorism. 
&nbsp;

Pakistan raised the Kashmir issue in the UN General Assembly on Saturday, saying the "unresolved dispute" is impacting achieving durable peace between India and Pakistan and remains a "blot on the conscience of humanity".

Pakistan raised the Kashmir issue in the UN General Assembly on Saturday, saying the "unresolved dispute" is impacting achieving durable peace between India and Pakistan and remains a "blot on the conscience of humanity". Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, addressing the General Debate of the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly, said Islamabad wanted a relationship with New Delhi based on "sovereign equality and mutual respect". "We seek resolution of disputes through a serious and comprehensive dialogue that covers all issues of concern," he said in his address. On the cancellation of the foreign minister-level talks on the margins of the General Assembly, Qureshi said Pakistan was to talk about all issues with India but New Delhi called off the dialogue, preferring "politics over peace". "They used the pretext of stamps issued months ago...And depicting grave human rights violations, including pellet gun victims, as an excuse to back out from the talks," he said. India had called off the meeting, citing the brutal killings of three policemen in Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad releasing postage stamps "glorifying" Kashmiri militant Burhan Wani. "Dialogue is the only way to address long standing issues that have long bedeviled South Asia, and prevented the region from realising its true potential," he said, adding that the "unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute hinders the realisation of the goal of durable peace" between the two countries. "For over seventy years now, it has remained on the agenda of the UN Security Council and a blot on the conscience of humanity," he said. Qureshi also said that Pakistan is ready to engage with India for meaningful confidence building, risk reduction and avoidance of arms race in the South Asian region. Qureshi also said that if India ventures across the Line of Control, or acts upon its doctrine of "limited" war against Pakistan, "it will evoke a strong and matching response." Describing Pakistan as a victim of terrorism, Qureshi said his country wanted to sit with India to discuss all issues, including terrorism, that have created violence in cities and towns, and have led to tens of thousands of casualties. Pakistan also brought up the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav, an Indian national who was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court in April last year on charges of espionage and terrorism.

Pak Foreign Minister rakes up Kashmir issue at UNGA, says it is impacting peace efforts between India

'Me Too must become We Too' says Ardern on gender equality

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described on Thursday what he said was a secret atomic warehouse in Tehran and accused Europe of appeasing Iran as he sought to rally support for US sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Netanyahu showed an aerial photograph of the Iranian capital marked with a red arrow and pointed to what he said was a previously secret warehouse holding nuclear-related material. He argued this showed Iran still sought to obtain nuclear weapons, despite its 2015 agreement with world powers to curb its program in exchange for loosening of sanctions.

Netanyahu spoke 4-1/2 months after US President Donald Trump withdrew from the accord, arguing it did too little to rein in Tehran`s nuclear ambitions and triggering the resumption of US economic sanctions on Iran.

Netanyahu said the site contained some 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of radioactive material that has since been moved and called on the UN atomic agency to inspect the location immediately with Geiger counters.

"I am disclosing for the first time that Iran has another secret facility in Tehran, a secret atomic warehouse for storing massive amounts of equipment and material from Iran`s secret nuclear programme," Netanyahu said.

The world will laugh at Netanyahu`s claims, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said, according to Fars News.

"The world will only laugh loudly at this type of false, meaningless and unnecessary speech and false shows," Qassemi said.

Iran`s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that there should be more scrutiny on Israel`s nuclear program.

"No arts &amp; craft show will ever obfuscate that Israel is only regime in our region with a *secret* and *undeclared* nuclear weapons program - including an *actual atomic arsenal*. Time for Israel to fess up and open its illegal nuclear weapons program to international inspectors," Zarif tweeted.

Netanyahu did not identify the material nor specifically suggest that Iran had actively violated the nuclear deal.&nbsp;

An outspoken opponent of the deal, Netanyahu has previously made allegations about Iran`s nuclear activities that are difficult or impossible to verify, including presenting a cartoon bomb to the General Assembly in 2012 warning of how close Tehran was to producing a nuclear device.

In April, Netanyahu presented what he said was evidence of a large secret archive of documents related to Iran`s clandestine nuclear weapons program at a different site in Tehran.

He said Israeli agents removed vast amounts of documents from that site. At the time, Iran said the documents were fake.

In a speech in which he said relatively little about efforts to achieve peace with the Palestinians, Netanyahu said Iran had since begun moving items out of the second site.

"Since we raided the atomic archive, they`ve been busy cleaning out the atomic warehouse. Just last month they removed 15 kilograms of radioactive material. You know what they did with it?" he said. "They took it out and they spread it around Tehran in an effort to hide the evidence."

He said Iranian officials still had a lot of work to do because there were some 15 shipping containers full of nuclear-related equipment and materials stored at the second site.

"This site contained as much as 300 tonnes - 300 tonnes - of nuclear-related equipment and materiel," he said.

Under the nuclear deal struck by Iran and six major powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear program in return for relief from US and other economic sanctions.

The International Atomic Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly said Tehran was abiding by its commitments to the deal, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), including in a document reviewed by Reuters on August 30.

France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia have stayed in the pact, vowing to save it despite the restoration of US sanctions and this week discussing a barter mechanism they hope may allow Iran to circumvent the US measures.

Netanyahu criticized Europe for doing so in unusually harsh language that evoked European nations` initial failure to confront Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

"While the United States is confronting Iran with new sanctions, Europe and others are appeasing Iran by trying to help it bypass those new sanctions," Netanyahu said.

A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States is aware of the facility Netanyahu announced and described it as a "warehouse" used to store "records and archives" from Iran’s nuclear program.

A second US intelligence official called Netanyahu’s comments "somewhat misleading. First, we have known about this facility for some time, and it’s full of file cabinets and paper, not aluminium tubes for centrifuges, and second, so far as anyone knows, there is nothing in it that would allow Iran to break out of the JCPOA any faster than it otherwise could."

The Israeli leader also lambasted Iran`s ballistic missile activity, identifying three locations near Beirut airport where he said Lebanon`s Hezbollah was converting missiles.

"In Lebanon, Iran is directing Hezbollah to build secret sites to convert inaccurate projectiles into precision-guided missiles, missiles that can target deep inside Israel within an accuracy of 10 metres (yards)," he said.

The IAEA, Iran and Hezbollah were not immediately available for comment.

The Israeli military released a video clip and photos of what it said were Hezbollah Shi`ite militia rocket building sites in Lebanon, shortly after Netanyahu`s address.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described on Thursday what he said was a secret atomic warehouse in Tehran and accused Europe of appeasing Iran as he sought to rally support for US sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described on Thursday what he said was a secret atomic warehouse in Tehran and accused Europe of appeasing Iran as he sought to rally support for US sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, Netanyahu showed an aerial photograph of the Iranian capital marked with a red arrow and pointed to what he said was a previously secret warehouse holding nuclear-related material. He argued this showed Iran still sought to obtain nuclear weapons, despite its 2015 agreement with world powers to curb its program in exchange for loosening of sanctions. Netanyahu spoke 4-1/2 months after US President Donald Trump withdrew from the accord, arguing it did too little to rein in Tehran`s nuclear ambitions and triggering the resumption of US economic sanctions on Iran. Netanyahu said the site contained some 15 kilograms (33 pounds) of radioactive material that has since been moved and called on the UN atomic agency to inspect the location immediately with Geiger counters. "I am disclosing for the first time that Iran has another secret facility in Tehran, a secret atomic warehouse for storing massive amounts of equipment and material from Iran`s secret nuclear programme," Netanyahu said. The world will laugh at Netanyahu`s claims, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said, according to Fars News. "The world will only laugh loudly at this type of false, meaningless and unnecessary speech and false shows," Qassemi said. Iran`s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that there should be more scrutiny on Israel`s nuclear program. "No arts & craft show will ever obfuscate that Israel is only regime in our region with a *secret* and *undeclared* nuclear weapons program - including an *actual atomic arsenal*. Time for Israel to fess up and open its illegal nuclear weapons program to international inspectors," Zarif tweeted. Netanyahu did not identify the material nor specifically suggest that Iran had actively violated the nuclear deal. An outspoken opponent of the deal, Netanyahu has previously made allegations about Iran`s nuclear activities that are difficult or impossible to verify, including presenting a cartoon bomb to the General Assembly in 2012 warning of how close Tehran was to producing a nuclear device. In April, Netanyahu presented what he said was evidence of a large secret archive of documents related to Iran`s clandestine nuclear weapons program at a different site in Tehran. He said Israeli agents removed vast amounts of documents from that site. At the time, Iran said the documents were fake. In a speech in which he said relatively little about efforts to achieve peace with the Palestinians, Netanyahu said Iran had since begun moving items out of the second site. "Since we raided the atomic archive, they`ve been busy cleaning out the atomic warehouse. Just last month they removed 15 kilograms of radioactive material. You know what they did with it?" he said. "They took it out and they spread it around Tehran in an effort to hide the evidence." He said Iranian officials still had a lot of work to do because there were some 15 shipping containers full of nuclear-related equipment and materials stored at the second site. "This site contained as much as 300 tonnes - 300 tonnes - of nuclear-related equipment and materiel," he said. Under the nuclear deal struck by Iran and six major powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - Tehran agreed to limit its nuclear program in return for relief from US and other economic sanctions. The International Atomic Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly said Tehran was abiding by its commitments to the deal, formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), including in a document reviewed by Reuters on August 30. France, Britain, Germany, China and Russia have stayed in the pact, vowing to save it despite the restoration of US sanctions and this week discussing a barter mechanism they hope may allow Iran to circumvent the US measures. Netanyahu criticized Europe for doing so in unusually harsh language that evoked European nations` initial failure to confront Nazi Germany in the 1930s. "While the United States is confronting Iran with new sanctions, Europe and others are appeasing Iran by trying to help it bypass those new sanctions," Netanyahu said. A US official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the United States is aware of the facility Netanyahu announced and described it as a "warehouse" used to store "records and archives" from Iran’s nuclear program. A second US intelligence official called Netanyahu’s comments "somewhat misleading. First, we have known about this facility for some time, and it’s full of file cabinets and paper, not aluminium tubes for centrifuges, and second, so far as anyone knows, there is nothing in it that would allow Iran to break out of the JCPOA any faster than it otherwise could." The Israeli leader also lambasted Iran`s ballistic missile activity, identifying three locations near Beirut airport where he said Lebanon`s Hezbollah was converting missiles. "In Lebanon, Iran is directing Hezbollah to build secret sites to convert inaccurate projectiles into precision-guided missiles, missiles that can target deep inside Israel within an accuracy of 10 metres (yards)," he said. The IAEA, Iran and Hezbollah were not immediately available for comment. The Israeli military released a video clip and photos of what it said were Hezbollah Shi`ite militia rocket building sites in Lebanon, shortly after Netanyahu`s address.

Israel PM Netanyahu claims secret Iranian nuclear site in UN speech

New Zealand's prime minister has been proclaimed a history maker for taking "first baby" -- daughter Neve -- into the United Nations General Assembly hall, shaking up what is still a boys' club of world leaders.

Photographs of Jacinda Ardern, 38, kissing and bouncing her three-month-old in the main hall at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit on the eve of the General Assembly have gone around the world and taken the internet by storm.

UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric confirmed on Tuesday that it had been the first time in the organization's 73-year history that a woman leader had taken her newborn into the assembly room.

"It's altogether a good thing and we were delighted to have Neve in the General Assembly hall. With only five per cent of world leaders women, we should do everything to make them feel as welcome as possible," he added.

The sight of Neve and her father, who is her chief caregiver, watching Ardern at work has attracted plenty of positive commentary in the United States, where many worry the Trump administration imperils women's rights.

"I cannot stress how much the @UN -- and the governments that comprise it -- need this," tweeted former US ambassador to the United Nations turned Harvard professor Samantha Power, herself a mother of two.

Ardern, currently the youngest woman leader in the world, is only the second female prime minister to give birth while serving in office, after Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto in 1990. She says she wants to blaze a trail for other women.

"I want to normalize it," Ardern told CNN.

"If we want to make workplaces more open, we need to acknowledge logistical challenges... by being more open it might create a path for other women."

She's also the first to admit she's not a typical working mother.

Media darling

"What I consistently acknowledge is that I have assistants who help Clarke with the ability to juggle his career and be our primary caregiver," she was quoted as saying by CNN.&nbsp;

Her television presenting partner has also been feted on American social media, fueling the love by tweeting a photograph of his daughter's UN ID designating her "New Zealand First Baby."

"I wish I could have captured the startled look on a Japanese delegation inside UN yesterday who walked into a meeting room in the middle of a nappy change. Great yarn for her 21st," he wrote.

Pregnancy, motherhood and governing have turned her into a poster child for feminism against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement in the United States.

Her first UN General Assembly outing has turned her into something of a media darling, conducting a whirlwind of television interviews, with a slot on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" still to come Wednesday.

Through it all, she has chosen to champion the modernity of a country of fewer than five million residents, already on its third female premier.

"I never grew up believing my gender would stand in the way of doing anything I wanted," she said.

"I credit the women who came before me and credit New Zealanders for welcoming me having a child... I'm proud of the nation."

Its a popularity she's no doubt enjoying. In power just under a year, she has been troubled by political difficulties at home in recent weeks following the resignation of two cabinet ministers.

New Zealand's prime minister has been proclaimed a history maker for taking "first baby" -- daughter Neve -- into the United Nations General Assembly hall, shaking up what is still a boys' club of world leaders.

New Zealand's prime minister has been proclaimed a history maker for taking "first baby" -- daughter Neve -- into the United Nations General Assembly hall, shaking up what is still a boys' club of world leaders. Photographs of Jacinda Ardern, 38, kissing and bouncing her three-month-old in the main hall at the Nelson Mandela Peace Summit on the eve of the General Assembly have gone around the world and taken the internet by storm. UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric confirmed on Tuesday that it had been the first time in the organization's 73-year history that a woman leader had taken her newborn into the assembly room. "It's altogether a good thing and we were delighted to have Neve in the General Assembly hall. With only five per cent of world leaders women, we should do everything to make them feel as welcome as possible," he added. The sight of Neve and her father, who is her chief caregiver, watching Ardern at work has attracted plenty of positive commentary in the United States, where many worry the Trump administration imperils women's rights. "I cannot stress how much the @UN -- and the governments that comprise it -- need this," tweeted former US ambassador to the United Nations turned Harvard professor Samantha Power, herself a mother of two. Ardern, currently the youngest woman leader in the world, is only the second female prime minister to give birth while serving in office, after Pakistan's Benazir Bhutto in 1990. She says she wants to blaze a trail for other women. "I want to normalize it," Ardern told CNN. "If we want to make workplaces more open, we need to acknowledge logistical challenges... by being more open it might create a path for other women." She's also the first to admit she's not a typical working mother. Media darling "What I consistently acknowledge is that I have assistants who help Clarke with the ability to juggle his career and be our primary caregiver," she was quoted as saying by CNN. Her television presenting partner has also been feted on American social media, fueling the love by tweeting a photograph of his daughter's UN ID designating her "New Zealand First Baby." "I wish I could have captured the startled look on a Japanese delegation inside UN yesterday who walked into a meeting room in the middle of a nappy change. Great yarn for her 21st," he wrote. Pregnancy, motherhood and governing have turned her into a poster child for feminism against the backdrop of the #MeToo movement in the United States. Her first UN General Assembly outing has turned her into something of a media darling, conducting a whirlwind of television interviews, with a slot on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" still to come Wednesday. Through it all, she has chosen to champion the modernity of a country of fewer than five million residents, already on its third female premier. "I never grew up believing my gender would stand in the way of doing anything I wanted," she said. "I credit the women who came before me and credit New Zealanders for welcoming me having a child... I'm proud of the nation." Its a popularity she's no doubt enjoying. In power just under a year, she has been troubled by political difficulties at home in recent weeks following the resignation of two cabinet ministers.

New Zealand PM Ardern makes UN history with first baby

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the United Nations General Assembly took a strict stand on terrorism stating that "no one should be allowed to support terror or its perpetrators."

She added that "terror and hateful ideologies" are growing across and beyond borders and are impacting lives.&nbsp;

"Our world is still beset with conflicts, terror &amp; hateful ideologies that are transcending borders and impacting our lives," Swaraj noted at Nelson Mandela Peace Summit at United Nations General Assembly.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Our world is still beset with conflicts, terror &amp; hateful ideologies that are transcending borders &amp; impacting our lives. No one should be allowed to support terror or its perpetration: EAM Sushma Swaraj at Nelson Mandela Peace Summit at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNGA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UNGA</a> <a href="https://t.co/qswLN7wEM5">pic.twitter.com/qswLN7wEM5</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1044329559133474816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 24, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Speaking at the Nelson Mandela Peace Conference at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said India considers <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-considers-madiba-its-own-sushma-swaraj-unga-167499">Mandela, fondly known as Madiba, as one of its own</a>.

"We Indians consider Madiba (Nelson Mandela) to be one of our own. We are proud to call him a Bharat Ratna. India cherishes its special relationship with Africa and its people. Our close bonds are reflected in the philosophy of Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi," she said.

(With inputs from ANI)&nbsp;

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the United Nations General Assembly took a strict stand on terrorism stating that "no one should be allowed to support terror or its perpetrators.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj at the United Nations General Assembly took a strict stand on terrorism stating that "no one should be allowed to support terror or its perpetrators." She added that "terror and hateful ideologies" are growing across and beyond borders and are impacting lives. "Our world is still beset with conflicts, terror & hateful ideologies that are transcending borders and impacting our lives," Swaraj noted at Nelson Mandela Peace Summit at United Nations General Assembly. Our world is still beset with conflicts, terror & hateful ideologies that are transcending borders & impacting our lives. No one should be allowed to support terror or its perpetration: EAM Sushma Swaraj at Nelson Mandela Peace Summit at #UNGA pic.twitter.com/qswLN7wEM5 — ANI (@ANI) September 24, 2018 × Speaking at the Nelson Mandela Peace Conference at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said India considers Mandela, fondly known as Madiba, as one of its own. "We Indians consider Madiba (Nelson Mandela) to be one of our own. We are proud to call him a Bharat Ratna. India cherishes its special relationship with Africa and its people. Our close bonds are reflected in the philosophy of Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi," she said. (With inputs from ANI)

No one should be allowed to support terror or its perpetrators: Sushma Swaraj at UNGA 

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday opened the world's largest diplomatic gathering with a stark warning of growing chaos and confusion as the rules-based global order comes under threat of breaking down.

Addressing the opening session of the UN General Assembly, Guterres said trust in the rules-based global order and among states was "at a breaking point" and international cooperation was becoming more difficult.

"Today, world order is increasingly chaotic. Power relations are less clear," Guterres told the 193-nation assembly just minutes before President Donald Trump was to take the podium.&nbsp;

"Universal values are being eroded. Democratic principles are under siege."

Guterres did not single out a country for criticism, but there are fears among UN diplomats that the world is being carved up into spheres of influence and a return to great power rivalry.

Trump's administration has made clear its distrust of international treaties, having scrapped the Iran nuclear deal, the Paris climate agreement and cut funding to the United Nations.

UN diplomats say the US stance has emboldened Russia and China to push their view of the global order in which human rights take a second seat to development and sovereignty rights.

"Today, with shifts in the balance of power, the risk of confrontation may increase," warned Guterres.

The human rights agenda is losing ground and "authoritarianism is on the rise," he said

Guterres urged world leaders to renew their commitment to a rules-based order, with the United Nations at its center to confront "massive, existential threats to people and planet."

"There is no way forward but collective, common-sense action for the common good," he said.

Drawing a list of global problems, Guterres acknowledged that peace efforts were failing and that respect for international humanitarian norms was unraveling. &nbsp;

"There is outrage at our inability to end the wars in Syria, Yemen and elsewhere", he said.

"The Rohingya people remain exiled, traumatized and in misery, still yearning for safety and justice."&nbsp;

The two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has become "more and more distant" while the nuclear threat "has not eased".

Guterres zeroed in on climate change as an urgent priority, warning that if no concrete action is taken in the next two years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the world risks facing runaway climate change.

"Climate change is moving faster than we are -- and its speed has provoked a sonic boom SOS across our world," he said.

About 130 world leaders are attending this year's annual session including Trump and Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani who also speaks on Tuesday. France's Emmanuel Macron, a champion of multilateralism, also has his turn at the podium on Tuesday.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday opened the world's largest diplomatic gathering with a stark warning of growing chaos and confusion as the rules-based global order comes under threat of breaking down.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday opened the world's largest diplomatic gathering with a stark warning of growing chaos and confusion as the rules-based global order comes under threat of breaking down. Addressing the opening session of the UN General Assembly, Guterres said trust in the rules-based global order and among states was "at a breaking point" and international cooperation was becoming more difficult. "Today, world order is increasingly chaotic. Power relations are less clear," Guterres told the 193-nation assembly just minutes before President Donald Trump was to take the podium. "Universal values are being eroded. Democratic principles are under siege." Guterres did not single out a country for criticism, but there are fears among UN diplomats that the world is being carved up into spheres of influence and a return to great power rivalry. Trump's administration has made clear its distrust of international treaties, having scrapped the Iran nuclear deal, the Paris climate agreement and cut funding to the United Nations. UN diplomats say the US stance has emboldened Russia and China to push their view of the global order in which human rights take a second seat to development and sovereignty rights. "Today, with shifts in the balance of power, the risk of confrontation may increase," warned Guterres. The human rights agenda is losing ground and "authoritarianism is on the rise," he said Guterres urged world leaders to renew their commitment to a rules-based order, with the United Nations at its center to confront "massive, existential threats to people and planet." "There is no way forward but collective, common-sense action for the common good," he said. Drawing a list of global problems, Guterres acknowledged that peace efforts were failing and that respect for international humanitarian norms was unraveling. "There is outrage at our inability to end the wars in Syria, Yemen and elsewhere", he said. "The Rohingya people remain exiled, traumatized and in misery, still yearning for safety and justice." The two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has become "more and more distant" while the nuclear threat "has not eased". Guterres zeroed in on climate change as an urgent priority, warning that if no concrete action is taken in the next two years to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the world risks facing runaway climate change. "Climate change is moving faster than we are -- and its speed has provoked a sonic boom SOS across our world," he said. About 130 world leaders are attending this year's annual session including Trump and Iranian leader Hassan Rouhani who also speaks on Tuesday. France's Emmanuel Macron, a champion of multilateralism, also has his turn at the podium on Tuesday.

UN chief warns of 'chaotic' world order as General Assembly opens

United States President Donald Trump on Monday opened the high-level meet of the United Nations General Assembly in New York with an event focusing on tackling the world drug problem.

Delivering the inaugural address at the event, Trump acknowledged the growing menace and vouched to stand united in fighting the same.

"It is a great honour to address you on an issue that affects every nation across the globe: the world drug problem. And a big problem it is. The scourge of drug addiction continues to claim too many lives in the United States and in nations around the world. Today, we commit to fighting the drug epidemic together," he said.

Furthermore, Trump highlighted a record increase in the production of cocaine and opium and an increase of 60 per cent in deaths resulting from the consumption of drugs.

"As the 2018 World Drug Report highlights, cocaine and opium production have hit record highs - incredibly - and global deaths caused by drug use have increased by 60 per cent from the year 2000 to 2015. So, in 15 years, it has gone up by 60 per cent, which is absolutely terrible," Trump said.

Calling for stern action against increasing drug addiction, Trump said, "As we know, illicit drugs are linked to organised crime, illegal financial flows, corruption, and terrorism.

It's vital for public health and national security that we fight drug addiction and stop all forms of trafficking and smuggling that provide the financial lifeblood for vicious transnational cartels. In the United States, we're taking aggressive action, securing our border, supporting law enforcement, devoting record funding to the opioid crisis, and promoting treatment and recovery."

The US President also congratulated newly-elected Columbian President Ivan Duque and praised him for the action taken against drug menace.

"Many nations here today are also taking bold action. Newly elected President Duque, Colombia, campaigned on an anti-drug platform and won a very, very impressive victory. Congratulations. We look forward to partnering with his new administration to eradicate coca production in his country. All of us must work together to dismantle drug production and defeat drug addiction," he added.

Speaking on the US' initiative "Global Call to Action on the World Drug Problem," Trump said, "The call is simple: reduce drug demand; cut off the supply of illicit drugs; expand treatment; and strengthen international cooperation. If we take these steps together, we can save the lives of countless people in all corners of the world. And when I say countless, I'm talking about millions and millions of people."

"I'm thrilled that every country in the room today has agreed to answer our call, and I want to thank each and every one of you for your commitment to this important initiative," he added.

The session was attended by leaders from across the world, including India's External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj.

Also present at the event were United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and National Security Advisor John Bolton.

Trump is slated to address the UNGA on Tuesday and is scheduled to chair the world body's Security Council meeting on Wednesday.&nbsp;

United States President Donald Trump on Monday opened the high-level meet of the United Nations General Assembly in New York with an event focusing on tackling the world drug problem.

United States President Donald Trump on Monday opened the high-level meet of the United Nations General Assembly in New York with an event focusing on tackling the world drug problem. Delivering the inaugural address at the event, Trump acknowledged the growing menace and vouched to stand united in fighting the same. "It is a great honour to address you on an issue that affects every nation across the globe: the world drug problem. And a big problem it is. The scourge of drug addiction continues to claim too many lives in the United States and in nations around the world. Today, we commit to fighting the drug epidemic together," he said. Furthermore, Trump highlighted a record increase in the production of cocaine and opium and an increase of 60 per cent in deaths resulting from the consumption of drugs. "As the 2018 World Drug Report highlights, cocaine and opium production have hit record highs - incredibly - and global deaths caused by drug use have increased by 60 per cent from the year 2000 to 2015. So, in 15 years, it has gone up by 60 per cent, which is absolutely terrible," Trump said. Calling for stern action against increasing drug addiction, Trump said, "As we know, illicit drugs are linked to organised crime, illegal financial flows, corruption, and terrorism. It's vital for public health and national security that we fight drug addiction and stop all forms of trafficking and smuggling that provide the financial lifeblood for vicious transnational cartels. In the United States, we're taking aggressive action, securing our border, supporting law enforcement, devoting record funding to the opioid crisis, and promoting treatment and recovery." The US President also congratulated newly-elected Columbian President Ivan Duque and praised him for the action taken against drug menace. "Many nations here today are also taking bold action. Newly elected President Duque, Colombia, campaigned on an anti-drug platform and won a very, very impressive victory. Congratulations. We look forward to partnering with his new administration to eradicate coca production in his country. All of us must work together to dismantle drug production and defeat drug addiction," he added. Speaking on the US' initiative "Global Call to Action on the World Drug Problem," Trump said, "The call is simple: reduce drug demand; cut off the supply of illicit drugs; expand treatment; and strengthen international cooperation. If we take these steps together, we can save the lives of countless people in all corners of the world. And when I say countless, I'm talking about millions and millions of people." "I'm thrilled that every country in the room today has agreed to answer our call, and I want to thank each and every one of you for your commitment to this important initiative," he added. The session was attended by leaders from across the world, including India's External Affairs Minister, Sushma Swaraj. Also present at the event were United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and National Security Advisor John Bolton. Trump is slated to address the UNGA on Tuesday and is scheduled to chair the world body's Security Council meeting on Wednesday.

Trump calls for action against global drug menace at UN

India confirms meeting of Indo-Pak Foreign ministers 

Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right as stated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."

The United Nations General Assembly declared May 3rd as World Press Freedom Day in December 1993.&nbsp;

It was meant as a day to celebrate the importance of free press across the globe, according to the&nbsp;United Nations.&nbsp;

This year’s global theme is ‘Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law’, and will cover issues of media and the transparency of the political process, the independence and media literacy of the judicial system, and the accountability of state institutions towards the public, UNESCO said.&nbsp;

However,&nbsp;harassment and attacks on journalists have&nbsp;been on the rise, at least 81 journalists were killed last year, according to the International Federation of Journalists.

The alarming data further informs that 262 journalists were imprisoned in 2017 -&nbsp;the highest ever recorded by the Committee to Protect Journalists.&nbsp;

Last week, in a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, 10 journalists were killed.&nbsp;

An initial&nbsp;blast set off the at check-point near Headquarters of Afghanistan's main intelligence agency killed mostly&nbsp;civilians including several journalists in the line of duty.

After the reporter arrived on the scene a second suicide bomb was detonated.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Attacks across Afghanistan today killed nearly 40 people, including 11 children. Afghan security forces, NATO soldiers and journalists were the intended targets. <a href="https://twitter.com/WmBrangham?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WmBrangham</a> details the deadly bombing <a href="https://t.co/joAnKFc7DO">pic.twitter.com/joAnKFc7DO</a>
— PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) <a href="https://twitter.com/NewsHour/status/991077948949065728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

The country where most journalists were killed was Mexico, followed by Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria.&nbsp;

The United Nations posted messages on 'World Press Freedom Day'.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
How would your life be without <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PressFreedom?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PressFreedom</a>? 
 
Stop censorship. 
Stop internet shutdowns. 
Stop attacks against journalists. 
 
Time for truth. 
Time for Press Freedom. 
 
3 May is <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldPressFreedomDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldPressFreedomDay</a>. 
 
? <a href="https://t.co/OAlNX2nRrV">https://t.co/OAlNX2nRrV</a> <a href="https://t.co/uzod9j2EVt">pic.twitter.com/uzod9j2EVt</a>
— UNESCO (@UNESCO) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNESCO/status/991924739445846021?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
"Every individual has the right to hold opinions without interference and to seek and receive information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers" - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HumanRights?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HumanRights</a> Declaration, Article 19. 
 
3 May is <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldPressFreedomDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldPressFreedomDay</a> 
 
? <a href="https://t.co/c8p2OOTT1a">https://t.co/c8p2OOTT1a</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PressFreedom?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PressFreedom</a> <a href="https://t.co/z4dCE34hsf">pic.twitter.com/z4dCE34hsf</a>
— UNESCO (@UNESCO) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNESCO/status/991808460839890945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/antonioguterres?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@antonioguterres</a>: “Promoting a free press is standing up for our right to truth”. 
 
On <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WorldPressFreedomDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WorldPressFreedomDay</a>: 
 
Join the call. 
 
Speak up. 
 
Defend your rights. 
 
Stand up for <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PressFreedom?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PressFreedom</a>. 
 
? <a href="https://t.co/OAlNX2nRrV">https://t.co/OAlNX2nRrV</a> <a href="https://t.co/ZpO4j5bxfW">pic.twitter.com/ZpO4j5bxfW</a>
— UNESCO (@UNESCO) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNESCO/status/991828345506729985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 2, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

The United Nations General Assembly declared 3rd May as World Press Freedom Day in December 1993

Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right as stated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights: "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." The United Nations General Assembly declared May 3rd as World Press Freedom Day in December 1993. It was meant as a day to celebrate the importance of free press across the globe, according to the United Nations. This year’s global theme is ‘Keeping Power in Check: Media, Justice and The Rule of Law’, and will cover issues of media and the transparency of the political process, the independence and media literacy of the judicial system, and the accountability of state institutions towards the public, UNESCO said. However, harassment and attacks on journalists have been on the rise, at least 81 journalists were killed last year, according to the International Federation of Journalists. The alarming data further informs that 262 journalists were imprisoned in 2017 - the highest ever recorded by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Last week, in a suicide attack in Kabul, Afghanistan, 10 journalists were killed. An initial blast set off the at check-point near Headquarters of Afghanistan's main intelligence agency killed mostly civilians including several journalists in the line of duty. After the reporter arrived on the scene a second suicide bomb was detonated. Attacks across Afghanistan today killed nearly 40 people, including 11 children. Afghan security forces, NATO soldiers and journalists were the intended targets. @WmBrangham details the deadly bombing pic.twitter.com/joAnKFc7DO — PBS NewsHour (@NewsHour) April 30, 2018 × The country where most journalists were killed was Mexico, followed by Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. The United Nations posted messages on 'World Press Freedom Day'. How would your life be without #PressFreedom? Stop censorship. Stop internet shutdowns. Stop attacks against journalists. Time for truth. Time for Press Freedom. 3 May is #WorldPressFreedomDay. ? https://t.co/OAlNX2nRrV pic.twitter.com/uzod9j2EVt — UNESCO (@UNESCO) May 3, 2018 × "Every individual has the right to hold opinions without interference and to seek and receive information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers" - #HumanRights Declaration, Article 19. 3 May is #WorldPressFreedomDay ? https://t.co/c8p2OOTT1a #PressFreedom pic.twitter.com/z4dCE34hsf — UNESCO (@UNESCO) May 2, 2018 × .@antonioguterres: “Promoting a free press is standing up for our right to truth”. On #WorldPressFreedomDay: Join the call. Speak up. Defend your rights. Stand up for #PressFreedom. ? https://t.co/OAlNX2nRrV pic.twitter.com/ZpO4j5bxfW — UNESCO (@UNESCO) May 2, 2018 ×

World Press Freedom Day: Transparency in political process on UNESCO's agenda

The first list for repatriation of Rohingya refugees, who entered into Bangladesh after fleeing violence in Myanmar&#39;s Rakhine State, will contain 1,00,000 names.

The Dhaka Tribune quoted a Bangladesh government official as saying, &quot;A database containing the names of 850,000 Rohingya refugees has already been created. In the first phase, we will provide them [Myanmar] with a list of 100,000 displaced Rohingyas.&quot;

The 17th meeting of National Task Force (NTF) on Rohingya is also scheduled to be held next Thursday to discuss these issues in detail.

&quot;Once they [Myanmar] scrutinize and send back the list, we will send the next list,&quot; the official added.

On Sunday, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) urged Myanmar to end the military campaign against Muslim Rohingyas.

The resolution forwarded by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was adopted by a vote of 122 to 10 with 24 abstentions on Sunday.

China and Russia along with some regional countries opposed the resolution, but despite their rejection, the resolution also called on UN&nbsp;Secretary General Antonio Guterres to assign a special envoy to the country.

Earlier on Monday, Bangladesh Health Minister Mohammed Nasim said Rohingya refugees would return to their homeland as soon as the international community and the UN&nbsp;pressured Myanmar into repatriating them.

Myanmar and Bangladesh had earlier this month formed Joint Working Group (JWG) to handle the repatriation of Rohingya refugees.

The crucial JWG with 15 each from Bangladesh and Myanmar will oversee the repatriation of over 6,00,000 Rohingya refugees who have taken shelter in Bangladesh to escape ethnic violence in the latter.

More than 655,000 Rohingyas have crossed into Bangladesh since August 25, escaping a military crackdown in Rakhine state, which many countries and human rights bodies have described as ethnic cleansing.

The military action, which was triggered after their posts became targets of terrorist attacks, invited ire of the international community.

On October 12, a United Nations&#39; report based on interviews conducted in Bangladesh found that brutal attacks against Rohingyas in the northern Rakhine state have been well-organised, coordinated and systematic, with the intent of not only driving the population out of Myanmar but preventing them from returning to their homes.

The Rakhine state is home to a majority of Muslims in Myanmar, who have been denied citizenship and long faced persecution in the Buddhist-majority country, especially from the extremists.

The 17th meeting of National Task Force (NTF) on Rohingya is also scheduled to be held next Thursday to discuss these issues in detail

The first list for repatriation of Rohingya refugees, who entered into Bangladesh after fleeing violence in Myanmar's Rakhine State, will contain 1,00,000 names. The Dhaka Tribune quoted a Bangladesh government official as saying, "A database containing the names of 850,000 Rohingya refugees has already been created. In the first phase, we will provide them [Myanmar] with a list of 100,000 displaced Rohingyas." The 17th meeting of National Task Force (NTF) on Rohingya is also scheduled to be held next Thursday to discuss these issues in detail. "Once they [Myanmar] scrutinize and send back the list, we will send the next list," the official added. On Sunday, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) urged Myanmar to end the military campaign against Muslim Rohingyas. The resolution forwarded by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) was adopted by a vote of 122 to 10 with 24 abstentions on Sunday. China and Russia along with some regional countries opposed the resolution, but despite their rejection, the resolution also called on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to assign a special envoy to the country. Earlier on Monday, Bangladesh Health Minister Mohammed Nasim said Rohingya refugees would return to their homeland as soon as the international community and the UN pressured Myanmar into repatriating them. Myanmar and Bangladesh had earlier this month formed Joint Working Group (JWG) to handle the repatriation of Rohingya refugees. The crucial JWG with 15 each from Bangladesh and Myanmar will oversee the repatriation of over 6,00,000 Rohingya refugees who have taken shelter in Bangladesh to escape ethnic violence in the latter. More than 655,000 Rohingyas have crossed into Bangladesh since August 25, escaping a military crackdown in Rakhine state, which many countries and human rights bodies have described as ethnic cleansing. The military action, which was triggered after their posts became targets of terrorist attacks, invited ire of the international community. On October 12, a United Nations' report based on interviews conducted in Bangladesh found that brutal attacks against Rohingyas in the northern Rakhine state have been well-organised, coordinated and systematic, with the intent of not only driving the population out of Myanmar but preventing them from returning to their homes. The Rakhine state is home to a majority of Muslims in Myanmar, who have been denied citizenship and long faced persecution in the Buddhist-majority country, especially from the extremists.

Rohingya repatriation: First list will contain 1 lakh names

At least two Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces amid protests over US President Donald Trump&#39;s Jerusalem move, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health.

According to Al Jazeera, the ministry in a statement said that two Palestinians were killed and over 70 others were injured during clashes with Israeli forces in northern Gaza near the border with Israel.

The dead men have been identified as Zakaria al-Kafarneh who died after being shot in the chest in clashes near Jabalia, in northern Gaza and Mohammed Mohaisen who died later in clashes in east of Gaza City, according to the reports.

Thousands of Palestinians participated in &quot;violent riots&quot; along the Gaza border and across the West Bank &quot;hurling firebombs and rocks and rolling burning tires&quot; at Israeli forces, the Israeli military stated.

Troops responded with tear gas and deployed live fire &quot;selectively toward main instigators,&quot; it added.

Protesters chanted &quot;Trump is a coward. Trump is a fool&quot;. Among the wounded one man was dressed as Santa Claus and also was holding a Palestinian flag.

This came a day after when in a major blow to the United States, 128 countries voted in favor of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution calling on Washington DC to withdraw its unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.

President Trump reversed decades of US&nbsp;policy on December 6 when he recognised Jerusalem as Israel&#39;s capital.

Trump&#39;s Jerusalem move has prompted international criticism and sparked protests across the world.

Jerusalem is considered a sacred place, which is home to Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites.

However, it is also a disputed territory, contested by both Israel and Palestine, which sees it as a capital of its future state.

According to Al Jazeera, the ministry in a statement said that two Palestinians were killed and over 70 others were injured during clashes with Israeli forces in northern Gaza near the border with Israel

At least two Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces amid protests over US President Donald Trump's Jerusalem move, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. According to Al Jazeera, the ministry in a statement said that two Palestinians were killed and over 70 others were injured during clashes with Israeli forces in northern Gaza near the border with Israel. The dead men have been identified as Zakaria al-Kafarneh who died after being shot in the chest in clashes near Jabalia, in northern Gaza and Mohammed Mohaisen who died later in clashes in east of Gaza City, according to the reports. Thousands of Palestinians participated in "violent riots" along the Gaza border and across the West Bank "hurling firebombs and rocks and rolling burning tires" at Israeli forces, the Israeli military stated. Troops responded with tear gas and deployed live fire "selectively toward main instigators," it added. Protesters chanted "Trump is a coward. Trump is a fool". Among the wounded one man was dressed as Santa Claus and also was holding a Palestinian flag. This came a day after when in a major blow to the United States, 128 countries voted in favor of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) resolution calling on Washington DC to withdraw its unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. President Trump reversed decades of US policy on December 6 when he recognised Jerusalem as Israel's capital. Trump's Jerusalem move has prompted international criticism and sparked protests across the world. Jerusalem is considered a sacred place, which is home to Jewish, Christian and Muslim holy sites. However, it is also a disputed territory, contested by both Israel and Palestine, which sees it as a capital of its future state.

2 Palestinians dead in clashes over Trump's Jerusalem move

Congratulatory messages have been pouring in for Justice Dalveer Bhandari on his re-election to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday.

Justice Bhandari was re-elected to the last seat of the Hague-based ICJ after Britain withdrew its candidate from the election.

&quot;I congratulate Justice Dalveer Bhandari on being re-elected to the International Court of Justice. His re-election is a proud moment for us,&quot; Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on Tuesday morning.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
I congratulate Justice Dalveer Bhandari on being re-elected to the International Court of Justice. His re-election is a proud moment for us.
&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/932831272929345536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 21, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

&quot;Vande Matram - India wins election to the International Court of Justice. JaiHind,&quot; tweeted External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.

Bhandari, India&#39;s nominee, received 183-193 votes in the United Nations General Assembly and secured all the 15 votes in the Security Council after separate and simultaneous elections were held at the UN headquarters in New York.

He will start his term from February 2018.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Dalveer Bhandari of India ???? is elected by <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNGA?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#UNGA</a> and the Security Council as a member of the International Court of Justice (<a href="https://twitter.com/CIJ_ICJ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cij_icj</a>) for the term 2018-2027. 
?? Watch Full &rarr; <a href="https://t.co/nqUvZqKq6v">https://t.co/nqUvZqKq6v</a> 
What is the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICJ?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ICJ</a>? Full explainer&rarr; <a href="https://t.co/diHJdvy9pU">https://t.co/diHJdvy9pU</a> <a href="https://t.co/eQr1uKkYP2">pic.twitter.com/eQr1uKkYP2</a>
&mdash; UN Web TV (@UNWebTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/UNWebTV/status/932736875198140416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 20, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

&nbsp;

Britain&#39;s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Matthew Rycroft congratulated the successful candidates, including Judge Bhandari of India.

&quot;If the UK could not win in this run-off, then we are pleased that it is a close friend like India that has done so instead. We will continue to cooperate closely with India, here in the United Nations and globally,&quot; he said.

Earlier, it appeared that there was a neck-and-neck contest between Bhandari and Greenwood.

&quot;We are naturally disappointed, but it was a competitive field with six strong candidates,&quot; Rycroft said.

Britain&#39;s withdrawal from the election to the prestigious world court would mean that there will not be a British judge on the UN&#39;s most powerful court for the first time in its history.

Justice Bhandari was re-elected to the last seat of the Hague-based ICJ after Britain withdrew its candidate from the election.

Congratulatory messages have been pouring in for Justice Dalveer Bhandari on his re-election to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday. Justice Bhandari was re-elected to the last seat of the Hague-based ICJ after Britain withdrew its candidate from the election. "I congratulate Justice Dalveer Bhandari on being re-elected to the International Court of Justice. His re-election is a proud moment for us," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted on Tuesday morning. I congratulate Justice Dalveer Bhandari on being re-elected to the International Court of Justice. His re-election is a proud moment for us. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 21, 2017 × "Vande Matram - India wins election to the International Court of Justice. JaiHind," tweeted External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. Bhandari, India's nominee, received 183-193 votes in the United Nations General Assembly and secured all the 15 votes in the Security Council after separate and simultaneous elections were held at the UN headquarters in New York. He will start his term from February 2018. Dalveer Bhandari of India ???? is elected by #UNGA and the Security Council as a member of the International Court of Justice (@cij_icj) for the term 2018-2027. ?? Watch Full → https://t.co/nqUvZqKq6v What is the #ICJ? Full explainer→ https://t.co/diHJdvy9pU pic.twitter.com/eQr1uKkYP2 — UN Web TV (@UNWebTV) November 20, 2017 × Britain's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Matthew Rycroft congratulated the successful candidates, including Judge Bhandari of India. "If the UK could not win in this run-off, then we are pleased that it is a close friend like India that has done so instead. We will continue to cooperate closely with India, here in the United Nations and globally," he said. Earlier, it appeared that there was a neck-and-neck contest between Bhandari and Greenwood. "We are naturally disappointed, but it was a competitive field with six strong candidates," Rycroft said. Britain's withdrawal from the election to the prestigious world court would mean that there will not be a British judge on the UN's most powerful court for the first time in its history.

'Proud moment for us': PM Modi on Justice Dalveer Bhandari's re-election to ICJ

India&#39;s Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday (September 22) met US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in New York during which they discussed the situation in South Asia and reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral issues.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session.

Spokesperson of India&#39;s Foreign Ministry, Raveesh Kumar said the two leaders discussed issues of trade, investment, defence, H-1B&nbsp;visa and also the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) during the meeting.

President Donald Trump has ordered a review of the US visa (H-1B) programme for bringing high-skilled foreign workers into the country, putting technology firms and the outsourcing companies that serve them on notice that possible changes may be ahead.

Critics of the program say most H-1B visas are awarded for lower-paid jobs at outsourcing firms, many based in India. That takes work away from Americans, lowers wages and keeps Americans from being trained in tech-related fields.

Trump has also threatened to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) - an immigration policy that allowed minors, who entered the country illegally, two-year period of deferred action from deportation.

Ms Swaraj is on a week-long visit to the US to attend the 72nd session of the UNGA. She will address the general assembly on September 23.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session

India's Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday (September 22) met US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in New York during which they discussed the situation in South Asia and reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral issues. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the annual United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) session. Spokesperson of India's Foreign Ministry, Raveesh Kumar said the two leaders discussed issues of trade, investment, defence, H-1B visa and also the DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) during the meeting. President Donald Trump has ordered a review of the US visa (H-1B) programme for bringing high-skilled foreign workers into the country, putting technology firms and the outsourcing companies that serve them on notice that possible changes may be ahead. Critics of the program say most H-1B visas are awarded for lower-paid jobs at outsourcing firms, many based in India. That takes work away from Americans, lowers wages and keeps Americans from being trained in tech-related fields. Trump has also threatened to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) - an immigration policy that allowed minors, who entered the country illegally, two-year period of deferred action from deportation. Ms Swaraj is on a week-long visit to the US to attend the 72nd session of the UNGA. She will address the general assembly on September 23.

H-1B?visa, defence feature in talks between Sushma Swaraj, US counterpart Tillerson

India and Pakistan&#39;s bitter relations and Pakistan&#39;s continuous terror operations in India may again call off this year&#39;s SAARC meeting, media reports said.

India has evidently shown its disinterest towards any South Asian meeting at the meeting of SAARC foreign ministers held on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly.&nbsp;

A media report quoted external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said &quot;Regional prosperity, connectivity and cooperation can take place only in an atmosphere of peace and security. It, however, remains at serious risk in the region&quot;.

Sushma Swaraj also added that SAARC failed to connect South Asia with other regions of the world and it could not develop a free trade system.

In the UNGA, India&#39;s major concern has been on maintaining peace and security in the South Asian region.

India has always played a lead role in in SAARC Summit. The country&#39;s disinterest makes it quite uncertain&nbsp;the event itself will take place.

The 2016 SAARC Summit was called off after India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan showed disinterest in the event that was scheduled to be held in Islamabad.&nbsp;

The three countries cited Pakistan&#39;s open support to terror as a reason for their disapproval.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The 2016 SAARC Summit was called off after India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan showed disinterest in the event that was scheduled to be held in Islamabad

India and Pakistan's bitter relations and Pakistan's continuous terror operations in India may again call off this year's SAARC meeting, media reports said. India has evidently shown its disinterest towards any South Asian meeting at the meeting of SAARC foreign ministers held on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly. A media report quoted external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj said "Regional prosperity, connectivity and cooperation can take place only in an atmosphere of peace and security. It, however, remains at serious risk in the region". Sushma Swaraj also added that SAARC failed to connect South Asia with other regions of the world and it could not develop a free trade system. In the UNGA, India's major concern has been on maintaining peace and security in the South Asian region. India has always played a lead role in in SAARC Summit. The country's disinterest makes it quite uncertain the event itself will take place. The 2016 SAARC Summit was called off after India, Bangladesh and Afghanistan showed disinterest in the event that was scheduled to be held in Islamabad. The three countries cited Pakistan's open support to terror as a reason for their disapproval.

Will India, Pakistan conflict again call off SAARC summit?

Pakistan refuses to be a &quot;scapegoat&quot; for Afghanistan&#39;s bloodshed or to fight wars for others, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told the United Nations on Thursday.

Addressing the UN General Assembly, Abbasi did not explicitly criticize US President Donald Trump&#39;s new strategy on Afghanistan but made clear his displeasure with the renewed onus on Pakistan.

&quot;Having suffered and sacrificed so much due to our role in the global counter terrorism campaign, it is especially galling for Pakistan to be blamed for the military or political stalemate in Afghanistan,&quot; Abbasi said.

&quot;We are not prepared to be anyone&#39;s scapegoat,&quot; he said.

&quot;What Pakistan is not prepared to do is to fight the Afghan war on Pakistan&#39;s soil. Nor can we endorse any failed strategy that will prolong and intensify the suffering of the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan and other regional countries,&quot; he said.

Abbasi said that 27,000 Pakistanis have been killed by extremists since the launch of the US war on terror after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

He called for a priority on eliminating extremists, including from the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda, in Afghanistan but ultimately a political solution with the Taliban.

US and Afghan officials have long accused Pakistan of playing a double game, with the powerful intelligence services -- not the civilian government -- maintaining ties with extremists.&nbsp;

US forces tracked down and killed Osama bin Laden in 2011 in Abbottabad, a popular resort for Pakistan&#39;s military elite.

Trump, unveiling a new strategy last month, pledged to take a tougher line on Pakistan -- making public what had long been more private US frustrations.

Trump has sent thousands more US troops into Afghanistan in a bid to defeat the Taliban, reversing his previous calls to end America&#39;s longest-ever war.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in his own speech to the United Nations appealed to Pakistan for dialogue, saying that the neighbors can work together to eliminate extremism.

Renewed attack on India 
Analysts say that Islamabad&#39;s role in Afghanistan is rooted in the security elite&#39;s fixation on historic rival India, which has warm ties with the post-Taliban government in Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Abbasi, who took office last month after his predecessor Nawaz Sharif was disqualified from office over a corruption scandal, used his UN address to renew Pakistan&#39;s condemnation of India&#39;s rule in Kashmir, the Himalayan territory divided between the two nuclear powers.

Accusing India of &quot;massive and indiscriminate force&quot; in Kashmir, Abbasi urged an international investigation and warned of escalation on their military frontier, the Line of Control.

&quot;Pakistan has acted with restraint. But if India does venture across the LoC, or acts upon its doctrine of limited war against Pakistan, it will evoke a strong and matching response,&quot; he said.

He was referring to an Indian strategic doctrine, rarely discussed openly, of a limited military response on Pakistan that is intended to stop short of triggering a nuclear reprisal.

India accuses Islamabad of training, arming and infiltrating militants into Kashmir. India considered but ultimately decided not to strike Pakistan after a bloody 2008 assault on Mumbai, which was planned by Pakistan-based extremists.

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi did not explicitly criticise US President Donald Trump's new strategy on Afghanistan but made clear his displeasure with the renewed onus on Pakistan

Pakistan refuses to be a "scapegoat" for Afghanistan's bloodshed or to fight wars for others, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi told the United Nations on Thursday. Addressing the UN General Assembly, Abbasi did not explicitly criticize US President Donald Trump's new strategy on Afghanistan but made clear his displeasure with the renewed onus on Pakistan. "Having suffered and sacrificed so much due to our role in the global counter terrorism campaign, it is especially galling for Pakistan to be blamed for the military or political stalemate in Afghanistan," Abbasi said. "We are not prepared to be anyone's scapegoat," he said. "What Pakistan is not prepared to do is to fight the Afghan war on Pakistan's soil. Nor can we endorse any failed strategy that will prolong and intensify the suffering of the people of Afghanistan and Pakistan and other regional countries," he said. Abbasi said that 27,000 Pakistanis have been killed by extremists since the launch of the US war on terror after the September 11, 2001 attacks. He called for a priority on eliminating extremists, including from the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda, in Afghanistan but ultimately a political solution with the Taliban. US and Afghan officials have long accused Pakistan of playing a double game, with the powerful intelligence services -- not the civilian government -- maintaining ties with extremists. US forces tracked down and killed Osama bin Laden in 2011 in Abbottabad, a popular resort for Pakistan's military elite. Trump, unveiling a new strategy last month, pledged to take a tougher line on Pakistan -- making public what had long been more private US frustrations. Trump has sent thousands more US troops into Afghanistan in a bid to defeat the Taliban, reversing his previous calls to end America's longest-ever war. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in his own speech to the United Nations appealed to Pakistan for dialogue, saying that the neighbors can work together to eliminate extremism. Renewed attack on India Analysts say that Islamabad's role in Afghanistan is rooted in the security elite's fixation on historic rival India, which has warm ties with the post-Taliban government in Afghanistan. Abbasi, who took office last month after his predecessor Nawaz Sharif was disqualified from office over a corruption scandal, used his UN address to renew Pakistan's condemnation of India's rule in Kashmir, the Himalayan territory divided between the two nuclear powers. Accusing India of "massive and indiscriminate force" in Kashmir, Abbasi urged an international investigation and warned of escalation on their military frontier, the Line of Control. "Pakistan has acted with restraint. But if India does venture across the LoC, or acts upon its doctrine of limited war against Pakistan, it will evoke a strong and matching response," he said. He was referring to an Indian strategic doctrine, rarely discussed openly, of a limited military response on Pakistan that is intended to stop short of triggering a nuclear reprisal. India accuses Islamabad of training, arming and infiltrating militants into Kashmir. India considered but ultimately decided not to strike Pakistan after a bloody 2008 assault on Mumbai, which was planned by Pakistan-based extremists.

Pakistan tells UN it won't be 'scapegoat' in Afghan war

He said the US, should it be threatened, would have no choice but to destroy North Korea

READ: Full text of Donald Trump's UN speech

At the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), a Maldives delegation while debating on &#39;Advancement of Women&#39;, on Monday urged that it should be ensured&nbsp;that women are not&nbsp;treated as &#39;followers&#39; or merely &#39;beneficiaries&#39;, but as &#39;leaders&#39;, &#39;contributors&#39; and &#39;agents of change&#39;.

&nbsp;

The statement was delivered by the second secretary at the permanent mission of the Maldives to the United Nations, Zeena Mohamed Didi, where&nbsp;she highlighted the country&rsquo;s &quot;efforts towards achieving gender equality&quot;.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&ldquo;Our policy to achieve gender equality is clear: continue to invest in girls and women, continue to give them the right tools to realise their true potential, and continue to introduce structural and normative changes to enable women to fight for their constitutionally guaranteed rights before the law. We believe that misinterpretation of tradition or religion is not a valid basis for discriminatory practices against women and girls.&rdquo;

&nbsp;

The statement also noted that the country&#39;s inclusive education policy guarantees that &quot;all girls have equal access to education&quot;, while the Employment Act guarantees that &quot;men and women have equal access to employment and equal pay for equal work&quot;.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;The government has set a goal to ensure that at least one-third of all the&nbsp;board members are women in the state-owned companies. At the national level, the government has also adopted measures to integrate gender perspectives in policy, planning, and budgeting.&quot;

&nbsp;

Despite the the country&#39;s achievements, the delegation said it is sharply conscious that four decades after&nbsp;the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and two decades after&nbsp;the adoption of the Beijing Declaration, the country has not been able to &quot;achieve a&nbsp;world where girls and women are able to fully enjoy their rights&quot;. &nbsp;

&nbsp;

The statement noted that the recently enacted Gender Equality Act, &ldquo;which is a groundbreaking legislation in the country&#39;s history&rdquo;, sets out the role of the government, business entities, non-governmental organisations and other employers in the implementation of this Act, It also requires the state and political parties to ensure that equal opportunities exist for women and men to participate at all levels in political life. The Act seeks to ensure gender equality in all spheres of society and give full effect to the equal rights guaranteed by the Maldives&rsquo; Constitution.

&nbsp;

&quot;Investing in women today means investing in the future of the world. We need to accelerate our efforts, both domestically and at the international front to ensure that we are indeed, leaving no one behind,&quot; the statement by the delegation reads.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(WION)&nbsp;

A Maldives delegation at UN General Assembly highlighted that women should be looked upon as 'agents of change'

At the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), a Maldives delegation while debating on 'Advancement of Women', on Monday urged that it should be ensured that women are not treated as 'followers' or merely 'beneficiaries', but as 'leaders', 'contributors' and 'agents of change'. The statement was delivered by the second secretary at the permanent mission of the Maldives to the United Nations, Zeena Mohamed Didi, where she highlighted the country’s "efforts towards achieving gender equality". “Our policy to achieve gender equality is clear: continue to invest in girls and women, continue to give them the right tools to realise their true potential, and continue to introduce structural and normative changes to enable women to fight for their constitutionally guaranteed rights before the law. We believe that misinterpretation of tradition or religion is not a valid basis for discriminatory practices against women and girls.” The statement also noted that the country's inclusive education policy guarantees that "all girls have equal access to education", while the Employment Act guarantees that "men and women have equal access to employment and equal pay for equal work". "The government has set a goal to ensure that at least one-third of all the board members are women in the state-owned companies. At the national level, the government has also adopted measures to integrate gender perspectives in policy, planning, and budgeting." Despite the the country's achievements, the delegation said it is sharply conscious that four decades after the adoption of the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and two decades after the adoption of the Beijing Declaration, the country has not been able to "achieve a world where girls and women are able to fully enjoy their rights". The statement noted that the recently enacted Gender Equality Act, “which is a groundbreaking legislation in the country's history”, sets out the role of the government, business entities, non-governmental organisations and other employers in the implementation of this Act, It also requires the state and political parties to ensure that equal opportunities exist for women and men to participate at all levels in political life. The Act seeks to ensure gender equality in all spheres of society and give full effect to the equal rights guaranteed by the Maldives’ Constitution. "Investing in women today means investing in the future of the world. We need to accelerate our efforts, both domestically and at the international front to ensure that we are indeed, leaving no one behind," the statement by the delegation reads. (WION)

Maldives highlights efforts to achieve gender equality at UN

Amid brewing tensions between India and Pakistan, Pakistan&#39;s top diplomat, Sartaj Aziz, today said that the two South Asian countries have decided to reduce tensions, Indian news agency PTI reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Referring to the first contact between the national security advisors &nbsp;(NSA) &nbsp;of the two countries following the September 18 Uri attack in Kashmir that killed at least 19 Indian soldiers, the adviser to Pakistan&#39;s Prime Minister on national security and foreign Affairs, Aziz, informed that India&#39;s NSA Ajit Doval and his Pakistani counterpart Nasir Janjua spoke over the&nbsp;phone and talked about diffusing tensions along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between the two countries.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;Pakistan wants to reduce tensions on LoC and focus on Kashmir,&quot; Pakistani broadcaster Geo News quoted him as saying.

&nbsp;

Indian Army last week said that it had carried out surgical strikes in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Wednesday across the terror launch pads. The surgical strikes were viewed as a retaliation to the militant attacks in Uri.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

A&nbsp;militant attack was also reported at the headquarter of Baramulla area of Kashmir on Sunday night that killed one security personnel.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Aziz also referred to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif&#39;s recent remarks at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and said that Sharif had explained to the world leaders that the incidents of border tensions would continue between both countries without the resolution of Kashmir dispute.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Indo-Pak border skirmishes&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Meanwhile, both the nations continue to accuse each other of violating ceasefire along the Indo-Pak border.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Indian Army today claimed that Pakistan targeted army posts and civilian post areas in the border town of Poonch, Reuters reported.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Public relations officer of Indian defence ministry, Manish Mehta, was quoted as saying by the international news agency that Indian forces gave a befitting reply to the ceasefire violations.

&nbsp;

&quot;Pakistan army carried out unprovoked ceasefire violations in Poonch sector in Shahpur area, using small arms, automatic (weapons) and mortar (shells). We have given them a befitting reply and ceasefire violation is still continuing,&quot; Mehta said in Jammu city.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&quot;Presently, we don&#39;t have any report of loss to civilians. However, we have not suffered any kind of causality or any kind of loss,&quot; he added.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

While on the other hand, AFP quoted a&nbsp;statement by Pakistan&#39;s military that read: &quot;Indian troops yet again resorted to unprovoked firing after midnight at the Line of Control (LoC) in Iftikharabad sector and Pakistani troops befittingly responded.&quot; &nbsp;According to the statement, the exchange ended in the morning.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(WION with inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

While diplomatic efforts are on to diffuse tensions, the two South Asian countries today accused each other of ceasefire violations

Amid brewing tensions between India and Pakistan, Pakistan's top diplomat, Sartaj Aziz, today said that the two South Asian countries have decided to reduce tensions, Indian news agency PTI reported. Referring to the first contact between the national security advisors (NSA) of the two countries following the September 18 Uri attack in Kashmir that killed at least 19 Indian soldiers, the adviser to Pakistan's Prime Minister on national security and foreign Affairs, Aziz, informed that India's NSA Ajit Doval and his Pakistani counterpart Nasir Janjua spoke over the phone and talked about diffusing tensions along the Line of Control (LoC), the de facto border between the two countries. "Pakistan wants to reduce tensions on LoC and focus on Kashmir," Pakistani broadcaster Geo News quoted him as saying. Indian Army last week said that it had carried out surgical strikes in Pakistan-administered Kashmir on Wednesday across the terror launch pads. The surgical strikes were viewed as a retaliation to the militant attacks in Uri. A militant attack was also reported at the headquarter of Baramulla area of Kashmir on Sunday night that killed one security personnel. Aziz also referred to Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's recent remarks at United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) and said that Sharif had explained to the world leaders that the incidents of border tensions would continue between both countries without the resolution of Kashmir dispute. Indo-Pak border skirmishes Meanwhile, both the nations continue to accuse each other of violating ceasefire along the Indo-Pak border. Indian Army today claimed that Pakistan targeted army posts and civilian post areas in the border town of Poonch, Reuters reported. Public relations officer of Indian defence ministry, Manish Mehta, was quoted as saying by the international news agency that Indian forces gave a befitting reply to the ceasefire violations. "Pakistan army carried out unprovoked ceasefire violations in Poonch sector in Shahpur area, using small arms, automatic (weapons) and mortar (shells). We have given them a befitting reply and ceasefire violation is still continuing," Mehta said in Jammu city. "Presently, we don't have any report of loss to civilians. However, we have not suffered any kind of causality or any kind of loss," he added. While on the other hand, AFP quoted a statement by Pakistan's military that read: "Indian troops yet again resorted to unprovoked firing after midnight at the Line of Control (LoC) in Iftikharabad sector and Pakistani troops befittingly responded." According to the statement, the exchange ended in the morning. (WION with inputs from agencies)

Pakistan, India NSAs agree to reduce tensions across border: Sartaj Aziz

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressed the United Nations General Assembly session in New York amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan.&nbsp; 
 
Pakistan&nbsp;expressed readiness for a &quot;serious and sustained dialogue&quot; with India for peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, especially Jammu and Kashmir. 
 
Sharif insisted resolution of the long-standing Kashmir dispute is imperative to achieving peace in the region.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;Confrontation should not be a strategy in South Asia, we want peace with India, we have gone a long way to start talks. India has put preconditions to talks. But I must say these talks are no favour to Pakistan. It is in the interest of both India and Pakistan to address the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Peace cannot be reached without talks on Kashmir,&quot; he said. 
 
But Pakistan&#39;s repeated attempts to raise the Kashmir issue at international fora have gained little traction. Pakistan has been on the backfoot after India claimed it had evidence that the recent Uri attack on the Indian Army base was carried out by Pakistan&#39;s banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM).&nbsp; 
 
India asserted that Pakistan is in complete denial of the recent Uri attack on the Indian Army base.&nbsp;Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup took to Twitter to slam Nawaz Sharif&#39;s UNGA speech. 
 
Swarup said Sharif&#39;s statement glorifying&nbsp;slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani at the UN shows&nbsp;Pakistan&#39;s continued attachment to terrorism. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Pak PM Sharif at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNGA?src=hash">#UNGA</a> glorifies Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in UN&#39;s highest forum. Shows continued Pak attachment to terrorism.
&mdash; Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/778660066794680321">September 21, 2016</a></blockquote>
 
The Pakistan Prime Minister had referred to slain Hizbul commander Burhan Wani as a &quot;young leader&quot; and said he has &quot;emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
Sharif said an indigenous uprising has been noted in the Indian state of Kashmir that has been met by brutal oppression from the Indian forces.&nbsp; 
 
Sharif called for a fact-finding mission to be sent by the United Nations to Kashmir to probe the atrocities. He said Pakistan &quot;fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination&quot;.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;I demand an independent inquiry into the extrajudicial killings in Kashmir, demand an end to the curfew.&quot; 
 
Sharif said Pakistan will also share a dossier with United Nations Secretary-General on the alleged Indian brutalities in Kashmir. 
 
Responding to Sharif&#39;s allegations, Swarup said India&#39;s only condition for talks is an end to terrorism. 
&nbsp;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
PM Sharif at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/UNGA?src=hash">#UNGA</a> says India poses unacceptable conditions to dialogue. India&#39;s only condition is an end to terrorism. This not acceptable?
&mdash; Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) <a href="https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/778659426098044929">September 21, 2016</a></blockquote>
 
Sharif stressed that economic development was Pakistan&#39;s priority but the goal can only be achieved through peace and stability in the region.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;My country has been the principal victim of terrorism including that &nbsp;supported, sponsored, financed from abroad. Thousands of our people have been injured in these terrorist attacks. &quot; 
 
He said such attacks have only strengthened Pakistan&#39;s resolve to fight the scourge of terrorism. 
 
&quot;We will not allow externally sponsored terrorism and threats of destabilisation to cause turbulence in Pakistan.&quot; 
 
He termed terrorism a global phenomenon and urged the international community to take collective action, &quot;The international community must take action, collectively and not unilaterally to fight the problem.&quot; 
 
&quot;We will not win the fight against violent extremism so long as we do not address the roots causes of violent extremism like socio-political injustice, denial of legitimate rights of nations and people,&quot; said Sharif. 
 
(WION)

India asserted that Pakistan's statement at the UN confirms it is harbouring banned terrorists and is in complete denial of the Uri attack

Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif addressed the United Nations General Assembly session in New York amid rising tensions between India and Pakistan. Pakistan expressed readiness for a "serious and sustained dialogue" with India for peaceful resolution of all outstanding disputes, especially Jammu and Kashmir. Sharif insisted resolution of the long-standing Kashmir dispute is imperative to achieving peace in the region. "Confrontation should not be a strategy in South Asia, we want peace with India, we have gone a long way to start talks. India has put preconditions to talks. But I must say these talks are no favour to Pakistan. It is in the interest of both India and Pakistan to address the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. Peace cannot be reached without talks on Kashmir," he said. But Pakistan's repeated attempts to raise the Kashmir issue at international fora have gained little traction. Pakistan has been on the backfoot after India claimed it had evidence that the recent Uri attack on the Indian Army base was carried out by Pakistan's banned terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM). India asserted that Pakistan is in complete denial of the recent Uri attack on the Indian Army base. Indian foreign ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup took to Twitter to slam Nawaz Sharif's UNGA speech. Swarup said Sharif's statement glorifying slain Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani at the UN shows Pakistan's continued attachment to terrorism. Pak PM Sharif at #UNGA glorifies Hizbul terrorist Burhan Wani in UN's highest forum. Shows continued Pak attachment to terrorism. — Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 21, 2016 The Pakistan Prime Minister had referred to slain Hizbul commander Burhan Wani as a "young leader" and said he has "emerged as the symbol of the latest Kashmiri Intifada, a popular and peaceful freedom movement." Sharif said an indigenous uprising has been noted in the Indian state of Kashmir that has been met by brutal oppression from the Indian forces. Sharif called for a fact-finding mission to be sent by the United Nations to Kashmir to probe the atrocities. He said Pakistan "fully supports the demand of the Kashmiri people for self-determination". "I demand an independent inquiry into the extrajudicial killings in Kashmir, demand an end to the curfew." Sharif said Pakistan will also share a dossier with United Nations Secretary-General on the alleged Indian brutalities in Kashmir. Responding to Sharif's allegations, Swarup said India's only condition for talks is an end to terrorism. PM Sharif at #UNGA says India poses unacceptable conditions to dialogue. India's only condition is an end to terrorism. This not acceptable? — Vikas Swarup (@MEAIndia) September 21, 2016 Sharif stressed that economic development was Pakistan's priority but the goal can only be achieved through peace and stability in the region. "My country has been the principal victim of terrorism including that supported, sponsored, financed from abroad. Thousands of our people have been injured in these terrorist attacks. " He said such attacks have only strengthened Pakistan's resolve to fight the scourge of terrorism. "We will not allow externally sponsored terrorism and threats of destabilisation to cause turbulence in Pakistan." He termed terrorism a global phenomenon and urged the international community to take collective action, "The international community must take action, collectively and not unilaterally to fight the problem." "We will not win the fight against violent extremism so long as we do not address the roots causes of violent extremism like socio-political injustice, denial of legitimate rights of nations and people," said Sharif. (WION)

Pakistan PM Sharif glorifies Hizbul's Burhan Wani in UN speech, India says it proves Pakistan supporting terrorism

In an attempt to reassure investors after Brexit, British Prime Minister Theresa May met Wall Street finance leaders on Monday to discuss the consequences of the vote. 
 
She met officials from Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and other banks discussing investments for a post-Brexit Europe. 
 
&quot;Every working day in the United Kingdom one million people wake up and go to work for an American company. And every day in the United States one million people wake up and go to work for a UK company,&quot; May told the business leaders. 
 
&quot;So you see there is reciprocity,&quot; said May, who is in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly. &quot;The UK is going to be out there. We will be looking &lrm;for business. And ladies and gentlemen, please feel free to invest in the UK.&quot; 
 
May asked the business leaders what issue they wanted to be addressed in the Brexit negotiations. She expressed confidence that she would yield a good trade deal with the European Union.&nbsp; 
 
The United States is the largest single inward investor into Britain. Five of its largest banks have already started talks with European regulators about procedures for obtaining banking licenses and meeting capital requirements in EU countries post Britain&#39;s exit.&nbsp; 
 
London and Brussels are expected to conduct lengthy talks after May triggers the EU treaty&#39;s Article 50. 
 
(WION with inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

May sought to rebuild economic confidence among US businesses, the largest investors in Britain

In an attempt to reassure investors after Brexit, British Prime Minister Theresa May met Wall Street finance leaders on Monday to discuss the consequences of the vote. She met officials from Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley and other banks discussing investments for a post-Brexit Europe. "Every working day in the United Kingdom one million people wake up and go to work for an American company. And every day in the United States one million people wake up and go to work for a UK company," May told the business leaders. "So you see there is reciprocity," said May, who is in New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly. "The UK is going to be out there. We will be looking ‎for business. And ladies and gentlemen, please feel free to invest in the UK." May asked the business leaders what issue they wanted to be addressed in the Brexit negotiations. She expressed confidence that she would yield a good trade deal with the European Union. The United States is the largest single inward investor into Britain. Five of its largest banks have already started talks with European regulators about procedures for obtaining banking licenses and meeting capital requirements in EU countries post Britain's exit. London and Brussels are expected to conduct lengthy talks after May triggers the EU treaty's Article 50. (WION with inputs from agencies)

British PM Theresa May meets Wall Street banks to discuss post-Brexit investments

World leaders are arriving in New York today to attend &nbsp;The UN Global Compact&nbsp;Leaders Summit&nbsp;2016 addressing &quot;large movements of refugees and migrants&quot; for the first time.&nbsp; 
 
The UN General Assembly is organising &nbsp;the Leaders summit on Tuesday where heads of the states will discuss large movements of refugees across nations and ways to respond to them in a humane manner.&nbsp; 
 
The aim of the meet is to &quot;strengthen governance of international migration and a unique opportunity for creating a more responsible, predictable system for responding to large movements of refugees and migrants,&quot; according to the United Nations.&nbsp; 
 
The leaders are expected to approve a document for a coordinated approach that will protect the human rights of refugees and migrants, Indian news agency PTI reported.&nbsp; 
 
UN&#39;s high commissioner for refugees, Fillipo Grandi told the Associated Press: &quot;It&#39;s very interesting because if we are able to translate that paper into a response in which many actors are going to participate, we will solve a lot of problems in emergency responses and in long-term refugee situations like the Syrian situation.&quot; 
 
However, the document is not legally binding and it plays a crucial role now when the United States and Europe are grappling with migrant issues.&nbsp; 
 
An earlier draft had called on countries to resettle 10 per cent of the refugee population each year. The draft was rejected by a number of countries drawing heavy criticism from human rights group as missed opportunity.&nbsp; 
 
The nations had objected to the language used in the draft which stated that &quot;children should never be detained&quot;. In the new agreement, this has been amended to &quot;children should seldom,if ever, be detained. &quot; 
 
Amnesty International secretary general Salil Shetty said: &quot;Instead of sharing responsibility, world leaders shirked it. The UN summit has been sabotaged by states acting in self-interest, leaving millions of refugees in dire situations around the world on the edge of a precipice.&quot; 
 
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, whose report on refugees and migrants forms the basis of summit document, said: &nbsp;&quot;While we all wish it could be a stronger outcome document ... All 193 member states had to agree on their commitment. As you will see, my report was a strong one.&quot; 
 
&quot;I hope that, as the two compacts are adopted over the coming year and a half, some stronger language and commitment and elements from the report will reappear in the course of this negotiation,&quot;he added.&nbsp; 
 
On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly summit, the US President Obama will host the Leaders&#39; Summit on Refugees on September 20. 
 
The event will be co-hosted by Canada, Ethiopia, Germany, Jordan, Mexico and Sweden. The Leaders Summit will discuss refugees only and will &quot;appeal to all governments to pledge significant new commitments on refugees.&quot;&nbsp; 
 
(WION with inputs from PTI) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
&nbsp;

World leaders are expected to approve a document at the Leaders summit for a coordinated approach to respond to refugees in a humane manner

World leaders are arriving in New York today to attend The UN Global Compact Leaders Summit 2016 addressing "large movements of refugees and migrants" for the first time. The UN General Assembly is organising the Leaders summit on Tuesday where heads of the states will discuss large movements of refugees across nations and ways to respond to them in a humane manner. The aim of the meet is to "strengthen governance of international migration and a unique opportunity for creating a more responsible, predictable system for responding to large movements of refugees and migrants," according to the United Nations. The leaders are expected to approve a document for a coordinated approach that will protect the human rights of refugees and migrants, Indian news agency PTI reported. UN's high commissioner for refugees, Fillipo Grandi told the Associated Press: "It's very interesting because if we are able to translate that paper into a response in which many actors are going to participate, we will solve a lot of problems in emergency responses and in long-term refugee situations like the Syrian situation." However, the document is not legally binding and it plays a crucial role now when the United States and Europe are grappling with migrant issues. An earlier draft had called on countries to resettle 10 per cent of the refugee population each year. The draft was rejected by a number of countries drawing heavy criticism from human rights group as missed opportunity. The nations had objected to the language used in the draft which stated that "children should never be detained". In the new agreement, this has been amended to "children should seldom,if ever, be detained. " Amnesty International secretary general Salil Shetty said: "Instead of sharing responsibility, world leaders shirked it. The UN summit has been sabotaged by states acting in self-interest, leaving millions of refugees in dire situations around the world on the edge of a precipice." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, whose report on refugees and migrants forms the basis of summit document, said: "While we all wish it could be a stronger outcome document ... All 193 member states had to agree on their commitment. As you will see, my report was a strong one." "I hope that, as the two compacts are adopted over the coming year and a half, some stronger language and commitment and elements from the report will reappear in the course of this negotiation,"he added. On the sidelines of the UN General Assembly summit, the US President Obama will host the Leaders' Summit on Refugees on September 20. The event will be co-hosted by Canada, Ethiopia, Germany, Jordan, Mexico and Sweden. The Leaders Summit will discuss refugees only and will "appeal to all governments to pledge significant new commitments on refugees." (WION with inputs from PTI)

UN to hold first-ever summit on refugees, migrants in New York to protect their rights

Balochistan activists have decided to take their fight for freedom to the doors of the United Nations.&nbsp; 
 
The activists from the oppressive establishment in Pakistan said they will now hold protests on September 13 outside the United Nations General Assembly. 
 
Baloch activists have found support in India for their freedom movement. They recently visited New Delhi to intensify their protests against the alleged human rights situation in Balochistan.&nbsp; 
 
Dilshad Baloch, a prominent activist thanked Indian prime minister Narendra Modi for lending support to the movement.&nbsp; 
 
He had requested other world leaders to also take note of the genocide in Balochistan. 
 
Following Modi&#39;s Independence Day speech, the United States had also expressed concern over the Baloch oppression. 
 
Washington has consistently urged all parties in Pakistan to resolve their differences peaceably and through a &quot;valid political process&quot;. 
 
India&#39;s junior minister Jitendra Singh had last week asserted that Balochistan is a very important security concern for India.&nbsp; 
 
He said Pakistan should put an end to &quot;operational atrocities&quot; unleashed by Islamabad in the region. 
 
&quot;You cannot allow your neighbourhood to be on fire because sooner or later it is going to impact you, you cannot build a heaven inside and leave a hell outside,&quot; the minister said. 
 
(WION) 
 
&nbsp;

Balochistan activists call attention to alleged human rights atrocities by Pakistan in the region

Balochistan activists have decided to take their fight for freedom to the doors of the United Nations. The activists from the oppressive establishment in Pakistan said they will now hold protests on September 13 outside the United Nations General Assembly. Baloch activists have found support in India for their freedom movement. They recently visited New Delhi to intensify their protests against the alleged human rights situation in Balochistan. Dilshad Baloch, a prominent activist thanked Indian prime minister Narendra Modi for lending support to the movement. He had requested other world leaders to also take note of the genocide in Balochistan. Following Modi's Independence Day speech, the United States had also expressed concern over the Baloch oppression. Washington has consistently urged all parties in Pakistan to resolve their differences peaceably and through a "valid political process". India's junior minister Jitendra Singh had last week asserted that Balochistan is a very important security concern for India. He said Pakistan should put an end to "operational atrocities" unleashed by Islamabad in the region. "You cannot allow your neighbourhood to be on fire because sooner or later it is going to impact you, you cannot build a heaven inside and leave a hell outside," the minister said. (WION)

Baloch activists to hold protests outside UNGA