Almost 2.3 million people, or nearly half of the population, in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region need aid as fighting continues to rage in several parts of the region, a UN report said.

The report, the most comprehensive public assessment of the humanitarian situation in Tigray since conflict erupted there on November 4, was posted online late on Thursday.

Notably, Ethiopia's own estimates of people in need of aid are even higher than UN figures. The UN said 950,000 needed aid before the conflict and another 1.3 million would now need help.

The report said food supplies were very limited, looting was widespread and insecurity remained high.

Federal government troops are fighting the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), a political party that was governing the province. The government declared victory in late November though the TPLF vowed to fight on.

Ethiopia's National Defence Force said late on Thursday that four senior TPLF members had been killed and nine arrested.

The state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation said on Friday that Sebhat Nega, a founding member of the TPLF, had also been captured. The whereabouts of TPFL leader and other members of the party's central committee and many high-ranking former military officers remain unknown.

The findings in the humanitarian report stem from two missions conducted at the end of December by UN and government agencies. They said the humanitarian situation was dire and two out of four refugee camps in Tigray remained inaccessible.

The report said fighting was reported in rural areas as well as on the periphery of regional capital Mekelle and the towns of Shire and Sheraro, among other locations.

The fact-finding teams also said schools, hospitals and administrative offices had been looted and damaged. They said only five out of 40 hospitals in Tigray were physically accessible, with another four reachable by mobile networks.

Also, the health facilities in the major cities that were partially functioning had "limited to no stock of supplies and absence of health workers". The disruption might also coincide with a massive spike in COVID-19 cases, the report said.

(with inputs)

Almost 2.3 million people, or nearly half of the population, in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region need aid as fighting continues to rage in several parts of the region, a UN report said.

Almost 2.3 million people, or nearly half of the population, in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region need aid as fighting continues to rage in several parts of the region, a UN report said. The report, the most comprehensive public assessment of the humanitarian situation in Tigray since conflict erupted there on November 4, was posted online late on Thursday. Notably, Ethiopia's own estimates of people in need of aid are even higher than UN figures. The UN said 950,000 needed aid before the conflict and another 1.3 million would now need help. The report said food supplies were very limited, looting was widespread and insecurity remained high. Federal government troops are fighting the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), a political party that was governing the province. The government declared victory in late November though the TPLF vowed to fight on. Ethiopia's National Defence Force said late on Thursday that four senior TPLF members had been killed and nine arrested. The state-run Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation said on Friday that Sebhat Nega, a founding member of the TPLF, had also been captured. The whereabouts of TPFL leader and other members of the party's central committee and many high-ranking former military officers remain unknown. The findings in the humanitarian report stem from two missions conducted at the end of December by UN and government agencies. They said the humanitarian situation was dire and two out of four refugee camps in Tigray remained inaccessible. The report said fighting was reported in rural areas as well as on the periphery of regional capital Mekelle and the towns of Shire and Sheraro, among other locations. The fact-finding teams also said schools, hospitals and administrative offices had been looted and damaged. They said only five out of 40 hospitals in Tigray were physically accessible, with another four reachable by mobile networks. Also, the health facilities in the major cities that were partially functioning had "limited to no stock of supplies and absence of health workers". The disruption might also coincide with a massive spike in COVID-19 cases, the report said. (with inputs)

UN assesses Ethiopia's Tigray crisis, says almost 2.3 M people need aid

India will chair the crucial Taliban and Libya sanctions committees and the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the UN Security Council during its tenure as non-permanent member of the powerful 15-nation UN body.

India, which has been at the forefront of the years-long efforts to reform the UNSC, began its two-year tenure at the Council on Friday last.

"The UN Security Council establishes subsidiary bodies on specific issues, including on the sanctions regimes.

"I'm happy to announce that India has been asked to chair three important committees of the Security Council, which include the Taliban Sanctions Committee, Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and the Libyan Sanctions Committee,"&nbsp;India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said in a video message on Thursday.

Tirumurti said the Taliban Sanctions Committee, also known as the 1988 Sanctions Committee, has always been a "high priority"&nbsp;for India, keeping in mind the country's strong interest and commitment to peace, security, development and progress of Afghanistan.

?Our chairing this committee at this juncture will help keep the focus on the presence of terrorists and their sponsors threatening the peace process in Afghanistan. It has been our view that peace process and violence cannot go hand in hand,? he said.

Tirumurti will chair the CTC in 2022, the year in which India will commemorate the 75th anniversary of its independence.

"India will also chair the Counter-Terrorism Committee in 2022, which coincides with the 75th anniversary of India's independence. The chairing of this committee has a special resonance for India, which has not only been in the forefront of fighting terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism, but has also been one of its biggest victims,"&nbsp;he said.

Tirumurti said the Libya Sanctions Committee, also called the 1970 Sanctions Committee, is a very important&nbsp;subsidiary body of the Council, which implements the sanctions regime, including a two-way arms embargo on Libya and assets freeze, a travel ban and measures on illicit export of petroleum.

"We will be assuming the chair of this committee at a critical juncture, when there is international focus on Libya and on the peace process,"&nbsp;he said.

The three committees are highly significant subsidiary bodies of the UNSC and India chairing them is a ringing endorsement of the country's leadership to steer the panels. India is a leading voice at the UN in the fight against the global scourge of terrorism, particularly the threat posed in the region by cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan.

India has underscored that the fight against terrorism will be a key priority for it as it sits at the UN high-table for the 2021-22 term.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said as a Council member, India will not hesitate to raise its voice against the enemies of humanity, including terrorism and will always speak in support of peace, security and prosperity.

Former Indian Ambassador to the UN, Hardeep Singh Puri, had chaired the CTC for the term 2011-12 when India was last in the UNSC as the non-permanent member.

The CTC, established in the wake of the 9/11 terror attack in the US, works to bolster the ability of UN member states to prevent terrorist acts both within their borders and across regions. It is assisted by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), which carries out the policy decisions of the body, conducts expert assessments of each member state and facilitates counter-terrorism technical assistance to countries.

Tirumurti thanked Permanent Representative of St Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Rhonda King, who, as the chair of the informal Working Group on Security Council Working Methods, had steered this process to its logical conclusion.

The 1988 Sanctions Committee relating to Taliban oversees the sanctions measures imposed by the Security Council.

Individuals and entities are designated on the 1988 Sanctions List as individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with the Taliban in constituting a threat to the peace, stability and security of Afghanistan.

The committee designates individuals and entities for participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts; supplying, selling or transferring arms; recruiting and supporting acts or activities of groups, undertakings and entities associated with the Taliban. The listed entities and individuals are subject to an assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo.

Under the Libya Sanctions Committee, all member states are required to prevent the sale or supply of arms and related material to Libya; prevent the entry into or transit through their territories of all listed individuals; freeze all funds, other financial assets and economic resources that are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the listed individuals or entities.

The Flag State of a designated vessel is required to direct the vessel not to load, transport, or discharge petroleum, including crude oil and refined petroleum products, from Libya, among other measures.

In 2021, India, Norway, Kenya, Ireland and Mexico join non-permanent members Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam and the five permanent members China, France, Russia, UK and the US in the Council. It is the eighth time that the country has had a seat on the powerful horseshoe table.

India will chair the crucial Taliban and Libya sanctions committees and the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the UN Security Council during its tenure as non-permanent member of the powerful 15-nation UN body.

India will chair the crucial Taliban and Libya sanctions committees and the Counter-Terrorism Committee of the UN Security Council during its tenure as non-permanent member of the powerful 15-nation UN body. India, which has been at the forefront of the years-long efforts to reform the UNSC, began its two-year tenure at the Council on Friday last. "The UN Security Council establishes subsidiary bodies on specific issues, including on the sanctions regimes. "I'm happy to announce that India has been asked to chair three important committees of the Security Council, which include the Taliban Sanctions Committee, Counter-Terrorism Committee (CTC) and the Libyan Sanctions Committee," India's Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador T S Tirumurti said in a video message on Thursday. Tirumurti said the Taliban Sanctions Committee, also known as the 1988 Sanctions Committee, has always been a "high priority" for India, keeping in mind the country's strong interest and commitment to peace, security, development and progress of Afghanistan. ?Our chairing this committee at this juncture will help keep the focus on the presence of terrorists and their sponsors threatening the peace process in Afghanistan. It has been our view that peace process and violence cannot go hand in hand,? he said. Tirumurti will chair the CTC in 2022, the year in which India will commemorate the 75th anniversary of its independence. "India will also chair the Counter-Terrorism Committee in 2022, which coincides with the 75th anniversary of India's independence. The chairing of this committee has a special resonance for India, which has not only been in the forefront of fighting terrorism, especially cross-border terrorism, but has also been one of its biggest victims," he said. Tirumurti said the Libya Sanctions Committee, also called the 1970 Sanctions Committee, is a very important subsidiary body of the Council, which implements the sanctions regime, including a two-way arms embargo on Libya and assets freeze, a travel ban and measures on illicit export of petroleum. "We will be assuming the chair of this committee at a critical juncture, when there is international focus on Libya and on the peace process," he said. The three committees are highly significant subsidiary bodies of the UNSC and India chairing them is a ringing endorsement of the country's leadership to steer the panels. India is a leading voice at the UN in the fight against the global scourge of terrorism, particularly the threat posed in the region by cross-border terrorism emanating from Pakistan. India has underscored that the fight against terrorism will be a key priority for it as it sits at the UN high-table for the 2021-22 term. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said as a Council member, India will not hesitate to raise its voice against the enemies of humanity, including terrorism and will always speak in support of peace, security and prosperity. Former Indian Ambassador to the UN, Hardeep Singh Puri, had chaired the CTC for the term 2011-12 when India was last in the UNSC as the non-permanent member. The CTC, established in the wake of the 9/11 terror attack in the US, works to bolster the ability of UN member states to prevent terrorist acts both within their borders and across regions. It is assisted by the Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), which carries out the policy decisions of the body, conducts expert assessments of each member state and facilitates counter-terrorism technical assistance to countries. Tirumurti thanked Permanent Representative of St Vincent and the Grenadines Ambassador Rhonda King, who, as the chair of the informal Working Group on Security Council Working Methods, had steered this process to its logical conclusion. The 1988 Sanctions Committee relating to Taliban oversees the sanctions measures imposed by the Security Council. Individuals and entities are designated on the 1988 Sanctions List as individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with the Taliban in constituting a threat to the peace, stability and security of Afghanistan. The committee designates individuals and entities for participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts; supplying, selling or transferring arms; recruiting and supporting acts or activities of groups, undertakings and entities associated with the Taliban. The listed entities and individuals are subject to an assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo. Under the Libya Sanctions Committee, all member states are required to prevent the sale or supply of arms and related material to Libya; prevent the entry into or transit through their territories of all listed individuals; freeze all funds, other financial assets and economic resources that are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by the listed individuals or entities. The Flag State of a designated vessel is required to direct the vessel not to load, transport, or discharge petroleum, including crude oil and refined petroleum products, from Libya, among other measures. In 2021, India, Norway, Kenya, Ireland and Mexico join non-permanent members Estonia, Niger, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tunisia and Vietnam and the five permanent members China, France, Russia, UK and the US in the Council. It is the eighth time that the country has had a seat on the powerful horseshoe table.

India to chair UNSC's crucial Taliban and Libya sanctions committees, panel on counter-terrorism

The United Nations voiced alarm Thursday at the arrest of 53 prominent figures in Hong Kong on charges of "subversion", in comments Beijing said "interfered in China's sovereignty".

In an operation involving 1,000 officers, Hong Kong police arrested the activists for "subversion", a new national security crime that carries up to life in prison.&nbsp;

"We are deeply concerned about the arrests on Wednesday of 53 political activists, academics, former legislators, current district councillors, and lawyers in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and we call for their immediate release," UN rights office spokeswoman Liz Throssell said in a statement.

"Yesterday's arrests were the latest in a series of detentions related to the exercise of fundamental freedoms, including the right to peaceful assembly, in Hong Kong," she said.

Most of those arrested were released on bail late Thursday, many accusing authorities of criminalising dissent.

Wednesday's arrests under a new security law were seen as the latest salvo in Beijing's battle to stamp out dissent in the semi-autonomous city after millions hit the streets in 2019 with huge and sometimes violent democracy protests.

"These latest arrests indicate that – as had been feared – the offence of subversion under the National Security Law is indeed being used to detain individuals for exercising legitimate rights to participate in political and public life," Throssell said.

'Chaos and turbulence'&nbsp;

The Chinese mission to the UN in Geneva condemned her comments, with spokesman Liu Yuyin saying his country "categorically rejects the unwarranted remarks.

"These comments severely interfered in China’s sovereignty and internal affairs," he said in a statement.

He insisted that all the 53 people arrested by Hong Kong police on Wednesday were involved in a "plot", which if left unchecked would have plunged Hong Kong into "chaos and turbulence".

"Regretably, by reversing the right and wrong and distorting human rights, the OHCHR (UN rights office) ... turns itself to accomplice of the anti-China forces and disruptors in Hong Kong," Liu said.

"This is a grave violation of the UN Charter and outright breach of the OHCHR’s mandate as a UN body."

In her statement, Throssell had meanwhile pointed out that the UN rights office and rights experts had repeatedly warned that offences like subversion under the new law, passed last June, were "vague and overly broad, facilitating abusive or arbitrary implementation."

"We stress that exercise of the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly and through freely chosen representatives, is a fundamental right" under international law and Hong Kong's Basic Law.

The UN rights office, she said, called on authorities to "refrain from using the National Security Law to suppress the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association."

"We also urge the authorities to guarantee the right to freedom of expression in the context of ongoing investigations, including by allowing journalists and news organisations to fully and freely exercise their legitimate functions."

 
&nbsp;

The United Nations voiced alarm Thursday at the arrest of 53 prominent figures in Hong Kong on charges of "subversion", in comments Beijing said "interfered in China's sovereignty".

The United Nations voiced alarm Thursday at the arrest of 53 prominent figures in Hong Kong on charges of "subversion", in comments Beijing said "interfered in China's sovereignty". In an operation involving 1,000 officers, Hong Kong police arrested the activists for "subversion", a new national security crime that carries up to life in prison. "We are deeply concerned about the arrests on Wednesday of 53 political activists, academics, former legislators, current district councillors, and lawyers in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, and we call for their immediate release," UN rights office spokeswoman Liz Throssell said in a statement. "Yesterday's arrests were the latest in a series of detentions related to the exercise of fundamental freedoms, including the right to peaceful assembly, in Hong Kong," she said. Most of those arrested were released on bail late Thursday, many accusing authorities of criminalising dissent. Wednesday's arrests under a new security law were seen as the latest salvo in Beijing's battle to stamp out dissent in the semi-autonomous city after millions hit the streets in 2019 with huge and sometimes violent democracy protests. "These latest arrests indicate that – as had been feared – the offence of subversion under the National Security Law is indeed being used to detain individuals for exercising legitimate rights to participate in political and public life," Throssell said. 'Chaos and turbulence' The Chinese mission to the UN in Geneva condemned her comments, with spokesman Liu Yuyin saying his country "categorically rejects the unwarranted remarks. "These comments severely interfered in China’s sovereignty and internal affairs," he said in a statement. He insisted that all the 53 people arrested by Hong Kong police on Wednesday were involved in a "plot", which if left unchecked would have plunged Hong Kong into "chaos and turbulence". "Regretably, by reversing the right and wrong and distorting human rights, the OHCHR (UN rights office) ... turns itself to accomplice of the anti-China forces and disruptors in Hong Kong," Liu said. "This is a grave violation of the UN Charter and outright breach of the OHCHR’s mandate as a UN body." In her statement, Throssell had meanwhile pointed out that the UN rights office and rights experts had repeatedly warned that offences like subversion under the new law, passed last June, were "vague and overly broad, facilitating abusive or arbitrary implementation." "We stress that exercise of the right to take part in the conduct of public affairs, directly and through freely chosen representatives, is a fundamental right" under international law and Hong Kong's Basic Law. The UN rights office, she said, called on authorities to "refrain from using the National Security Law to suppress the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association." "We also urge the authorities to guarantee the right to freedom of expression in the context of ongoing investigations, including by allowing journalists and news organisations to fully and freely exercise their legitimate functions."

UN says 'deeply concerned' at Hong Kong dissident arrests, China rejects criticism

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will pay a virtual visit to London on Sunday. This will be his first such online effort since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out early last year.

The itinerary will include a Sunday event marking the 75th anniversary of the first session of the United Nations General Assembly, which was held at Central Hall in Westminster.&nbsp;

The visit was originally planned to take place in person, but due to Britain's worsening public health situation, London instead arranged for a virtual meeting.

Guterres is expected to call for a renewed global partnership in the face of the challenges currently facing the world, according to his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.&nbsp;

On Monday and Tuesday, he is set to participate in a session dedicated to the fight against climate change and will meet for bilateral talks with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his foreign minister Dominic Raab and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, according to Dujarric.&nbsp;

Other than private family trips to Portugal, his home country, Guterres -- whose term ends at the end of the year -- has hardly traveled since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic.

In December, he was able to make an official trip to Germany to speak to the Bundestag.&nbsp;

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will pay a virtual visit to London on Sunday. This will be his first such online effort since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out early last year.

UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres will pay a virtual visit to London on Sunday. This will be his first such online effort since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out early last year. The itinerary will include a Sunday event marking the 75th anniversary of the first session of the United Nations General Assembly, which was held at Central Hall in Westminster. The visit was originally planned to take place in person, but due to Britain's worsening public health situation, London instead arranged for a virtual meeting. Guterres is expected to call for a renewed global partnership in the face of the challenges currently facing the world, according to his spokesman Stephane Dujarric. On Monday and Tuesday, he is set to participate in a session dedicated to the fight against climate change and will meet for bilateral talks with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, his foreign minister Dominic Raab and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, according to Dujarric. Other than private family trips to Portugal, his home country, Guterres -- whose term ends at the end of the year -- has hardly traveled since the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. In December, he was able to make an official trip to Germany to speak to the Bundestag.

UN chief to pay virtual visit to Britain

India has underlined its commitment to supporting African countries "as per African priorities and without conditionalities", Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Wednesday, stressing that the full respect for national ownership can never be over-emphasised.

India welcomes the evolution and rise of Africa as a key factor in the contemporary world, he said while speaking at the UN Security Council Open Debate on "Maintenance of international peace and security: Challenges of maintaining peace and security in fragile contexts.''

"We are committed to supporting African countries in this endeavour, as per African priorities and without conditionalities," Shringla said.

India will continue to support Africa's aspirations and work towards empowering it for a future that is founded on the principles of inclusivity, sustainability, transparency and socio-economic development with dignity and respect, he said.

Shringla said that this is in keeping with the "Ten Guiding Principles of India''s engagement with Africa", as enunciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to Parliament of Uganda in July 2018.

He underscored that full respect for national ownership can never be over-emphasised.

"We should recognise the primacy of national governments and national ownership in identifying and driving priorities, strategies and activities for sustaining peace," he said.

Mr Shringla told the Council that the regional impact of fragility is often underestimated.

"Fragile states have a direct negative spill over effect on neighbouring states, including that of refugee flows, safe havens for terrorists, organised crime, epidemics, weapons trafficking among others. Climate change, water scarcity and resource wars are adding new dimensions to the existing complexity," he said.

India also stressed that there is a strong correlation of the state's fragility with poverty; terrorism, radicalism and violent extremism; pandemics; or the predations of regional powers and international actors.

Shringla highlighted that the international community must not fail to acknowledge that the legacy of colonialism constitutes the foundational basis of the current instabilities that plague the African continent.

He cautioned that "we should not paint all fragility issues with the same brush. We are primarily concerned with situations directly affecting the maintenance of international peace and security."

Noting that while democracy is "undoubtedly" gaining ground in Africa, especially through peaceful transfers of power, Shringla pointed out that African countries, particularly in the Sahel, Central Africa and the Horn of Africa continue to face complex challenges.

"The principal driving factors are chronic political instability; weak governance structures; institutional weaknesses; ethnic divisions; and the presence of terrorist and armed groups," he said, adding that over-exploitation of diminishing resources, mainly in the Lake Chad basin and Great Lakes region, are also exacerbating the problem.

He voiced concern that the Libyan conflict and resulting instability continue to have a negative impact on its neighbours and that the COVID-19 pandemic has only made the situation worse in some countries.

Voicing concern that Africa today is facing serious challenges posed by the growth of terrorism, particularly in the Sahel and Horn of Africa, Mr Shringla said initiatives such as AMISOM, G-5 Sahel Joint Force and Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) need more robust support from the Security Council and the international community.

He also stressed that the Security Council needs to introspect that while more than half of the country issues on the Council's agenda pertain to Africa, the African continent does not even have a single voice amongst the permanent membership to defend its own interests.

"We need to correct this historical anomaly, and collectively support the Ezulwini consensus," he said.

Reflecting on fragile situations, particularly in the African continent, Mr Shringla pointed out that the Security Council should remain respectful of the regional approach adopted by countries, in collaboration with regional organisations to address common challenges.

The collaboration between the UN and the African Union and sub-regional organisations has yielded positive results, he said.

There is need to ensure that the UN and its presence on the ground, its Peacekeeping Operations and Special Political Missions, are sufficiently mandated and resourced to implement a comprehensive understanding of peace and security, he said.

"Having contributed significantly to UN peacekeeping in Africa for six decades, we have seen how peacekeeping missions are struggling to implement ambitious mandates. Peacekeeping missions should have a clear and well thought out exit strategy," Shringla said.

Highlighting India's strong development partnership with Africa, Mr Shringla said New Delhi has reached out to 43 African countries; executed 189 developmental projects in 37 African countries; and around 77 projects are under execution with a total outlay of 12.86 billion dollars.

India supplied critical medicines to several countries in Africa to help them fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

Responding to the call of Secretary General Antonio Guterres, India has upgraded its peacekeeping hospitals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan during the peak of the pandemic.

India has underlined its commitment to supporting African countries "as per African priorities and without conditionalities", Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Wednesday, stressing that the full respect for national ownership can never be over-emphasised.

India has underlined its commitment to supporting African countries "as per African priorities and without conditionalities", Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Wednesday, stressing that the full respect for national ownership can never be over-emphasised. India welcomes the evolution and rise of Africa as a key factor in the contemporary world, he said while speaking at the UN Security Council Open Debate on "Maintenance of international peace and security: Challenges of maintaining peace and security in fragile contexts.'' "We are committed to supporting African countries in this endeavour, as per African priorities and without conditionalities," Shringla said. India will continue to support Africa's aspirations and work towards empowering it for a future that is founded on the principles of inclusivity, sustainability, transparency and socio-economic development with dignity and respect, he said. Shringla said that this is in keeping with the "Ten Guiding Principles of India''s engagement with Africa", as enunciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his address to Parliament of Uganda in July 2018. He underscored that full respect for national ownership can never be over-emphasised. "We should recognise the primacy of national governments and national ownership in identifying and driving priorities, strategies and activities for sustaining peace," he said. Mr Shringla told the Council that the regional impact of fragility is often underestimated. "Fragile states have a direct negative spill over effect on neighbouring states, including that of refugee flows, safe havens for terrorists, organised crime, epidemics, weapons trafficking among others. Climate change, water scarcity and resource wars are adding new dimensions to the existing complexity," he said. India also stressed that there is a strong correlation of the state's fragility with poverty; terrorism, radicalism and violent extremism; pandemics; or the predations of regional powers and international actors. Shringla highlighted that the international community must not fail to acknowledge that the legacy of colonialism constitutes the foundational basis of the current instabilities that plague the African continent. He cautioned that "we should not paint all fragility issues with the same brush. We are primarily concerned with situations directly affecting the maintenance of international peace and security." Noting that while democracy is "undoubtedly" gaining ground in Africa, especially through peaceful transfers of power, Shringla pointed out that African countries, particularly in the Sahel, Central Africa and the Horn of Africa continue to face complex challenges. "The principal driving factors are chronic political instability; weak governance structures; institutional weaknesses; ethnic divisions; and the presence of terrorist and armed groups," he said, adding that over-exploitation of diminishing resources, mainly in the Lake Chad basin and Great Lakes region, are also exacerbating the problem. He voiced concern that the Libyan conflict and resulting instability continue to have a negative impact on its neighbours and that the COVID-19 pandemic has only made the situation worse in some countries. Voicing concern that Africa today is facing serious challenges posed by the growth of terrorism, particularly in the Sahel and Horn of Africa, Mr Shringla said initiatives such as AMISOM, G-5 Sahel Joint Force and Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) need more robust support from the Security Council and the international community. He also stressed that the Security Council needs to introspect that while more than half of the country issues on the Council's agenda pertain to Africa, the African continent does not even have a single voice amongst the permanent membership to defend its own interests. "We need to correct this historical anomaly, and collectively support the Ezulwini consensus," he said. Reflecting on fragile situations, particularly in the African continent, Mr Shringla pointed out that the Security Council should remain respectful of the regional approach adopted by countries, in collaboration with regional organisations to address common challenges. The collaboration between the UN and the African Union and sub-regional organisations has yielded positive results, he said. There is need to ensure that the UN and its presence on the ground, its Peacekeeping Operations and Special Political Missions, are sufficiently mandated and resourced to implement a comprehensive understanding of peace and security, he said. "Having contributed significantly to UN peacekeeping in Africa for six decades, we have seen how peacekeeping missions are struggling to implement ambitious mandates. Peacekeeping missions should have a clear and well thought out exit strategy," Shringla said. Highlighting India's strong development partnership with Africa, Mr Shringla said New Delhi has reached out to 43 African countries; executed 189 developmental projects in 37 African countries; and around 77 projects are under execution with a total outlay of 12.86 billion dollars. India supplied critical medicines to several countries in Africa to help them fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Responding to the call of Secretary General Antonio Guterres, India has upgraded its peacekeeping hospitals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan during the peak of the pandemic.

We support Africa's empowerment with transparency, inclusivity: India at UN

India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla has made a pitch for New Delhi's support to Africa at the United Nations Security Council, not only backing an African seat at the council but also highlighting India's partnership for the continent.&nbsp; &nbsp;

He said, "India&nbsp;welcomes the evolution and rise of Africa as a key factor in the contemporary world. We are committed to supporting African countries in this endeavour, as per African priorities and without conditionalities."&nbsp;

Adding, "India will continue to support Africa’s aspirations and work towards empowering Africa for a future that is founded on the principles of inclusivity, sustainability, transparency, and socio-economic development with dignity and respect."

India has executed 189 developmental projects in 37 African countries and currently, around 77 projects are under execution. New Delhi has committed US$ 1.7 billion as soft loans for solar projects in the continent and has offered 50,000 scholarships to African students.

On no African representation at the UNSC, Shringla said, "the African continent does not even have a single voice amongst the permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council to defend its own interests. This historical anomaly needs to be corrected by supporting the Ezulwini consensus."

African Union's Ezulwini Consensus calls for African seats at the top UN body which is 5 permanent members, none from Africa.&nbsp;&nbsp;

India's top diplomat also pointed out how India reached out to the continent amid the pandemic. He said,"&nbsp;India has supplied critical medicines to several countries in Africa to help them fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Premier Indian institutions and hospitals have been linked to 16 African countries to offer tele-education and tele-medicine services through the e-Vidya Bharati and e-Arogya Bharati portals."

In addition to India's FS, other world leaders present at the UNSC meeting were UN&nbsp;Secretary-General Antonio Guterres,&nbsp;Chairperson of the African Union Commission&nbsp;Moussa Faki Mahamat,&nbsp;Former President of Liberia&nbsp;Ellen Johnson Sirleaf,&nbsp;Tunisian President,&nbsp;Kaïs Saïed, Niger's President Issoufou Mahamadou, Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta,&nbsp;Prime Minister&nbsp;of&nbsp;Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph E. Gonsalves, Ireland's&nbsp;Taoiseach&nbsp;Micheál Martin, Norway's Foreign minister Ine Eriksen Søreide, Mexico's FM Marcelo Ebrard Casaubón, UK's&nbsp;Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa&nbsp;James Cleverly, Vietnam's&nbsp;Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs&nbsp;Le Hoai Trung and France's&nbsp;Minister of State for Tourism, French Nationals Abroad and Francophonie,&nbsp;Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne.

India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla has made a pitch for New Delhi's support to Africa at the United Nations Security Council, not only backing an African seat at the council but also highlighting India's partnership for the continent.

India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Shringla has made a pitch for New Delhi's support to Africa at the United Nations Security Council, not only backing an African seat at the council but also highlighting India's partnership for the continent. He said, "India welcomes the evolution and rise of Africa as a key factor in the contemporary world. We are committed to supporting African countries in this endeavour, as per African priorities and without conditionalities." Adding, "India will continue to support Africa’s aspirations and work towards empowering Africa for a future that is founded on the principles of inclusivity, sustainability, transparency, and socio-economic development with dignity and respect." India has executed 189 developmental projects in 37 African countries and currently, around 77 projects are under execution. New Delhi has committed US$ 1.7 billion as soft loans for solar projects in the continent and has offered 50,000 scholarships to African students. On no African representation at the UNSC, Shringla said, "the African continent does not even have a single voice amongst the permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council to defend its own interests. This historical anomaly needs to be corrected by supporting the Ezulwini consensus." African Union's Ezulwini Consensus calls for African seats at the top UN body which is 5 permanent members, none from Africa. India's top diplomat also pointed out how India reached out to the continent amid the pandemic. He said," India has supplied critical medicines to several countries in Africa to help them fight the COVID-19 pandemic. Premier Indian institutions and hospitals have been linked to 16 African countries to offer tele-education and tele-medicine services through the e-Vidya Bharati and e-Arogya Bharati portals." In addition to India's FS, other world leaders present at the UNSC meeting were UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, Former President of Liberia Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Tunisian President, Kaïs Saïed, Niger's President Issoufou Mahamadou, Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph E. Gonsalves, Ireland's Taoiseach Micheál Martin, Norway's Foreign minister Ine Eriksen Søreide, Mexico's FM Marcelo Ebrard Casaubón, UK's Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa James Cleverly, Vietnam's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung and France's Minister of State for Tourism, French Nationals Abroad and Francophonie, Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne.

India welcomes the rise of Africa, says Foreign Secretary Shringla at UNSC

With India being part of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as the non-permanent member from January 1, 2021, and UN 75 years of celebration (2020) hangover rolling over to next year, the debate on UNSC reforms continues, with no worthwhile progress, despite high pitch for reforms made by many countries including India.&nbsp;

The fact that unilateral and multilateral interventions without UNSC sanctions continue to happen, UN hesitancy and alleged delay to declare coronavirus as pandemic are being seen as arm-twisting by Permanent Five (P5) member. And UNSC passing resolution to grant stipend to UN designated global terrorist, and diluting global response to biggest security challenge of the century are some examples to justify poor credibility of UN/UNSC in absence of reforms.&nbsp;

It’s also a fact that there is no other alternative organisation to UN, with as much recognition and membership of various countries, having a large number of missions of various kinds to its credit, and for various global roles. But it needs to be reformed to meet the aspirations of developing countries.&nbsp;

Thomas G Weiss argues that had the United Nations not existed, we would have to invent it. So why not to use our analytical toolkits to repair it?

Reforms unavoidable

UNSC was composed by victors of the Second World War in 1945 to suit their interests and the UN Charter was designed accordingly, giving to themselves the permanent membership and veto power in the council. The geopolitical, strategic, economic realities have changed considerably since then, but the UNSC has not reformed itself to these global realities.&nbsp;

With global economic and population fulcrum shifting to Indo-Pacific, inadequate Asian representation and no African and Latin American representation are pushing UN to irrelevance, unless it reforms itself.&nbsp;

With non-permanent status, it can be a part of resolutions for next two years -- setting the agenda when it gets monthly Presidency twice and at best try to create an environment of reforms.&nbsp;

The need for UNSC reforms has been emphasised by most of the UN secretary generals during their tenures. Antonio Guterres once expressed: “The Security Council we have now does not correspond to today's world. I have encouraged member states to have a serious dialogue on this. I want to continue this dialogue at the UN General Assembly, but the permanent members do not agree.”&nbsp;

This indicates the helplessness of UN in dealing with P5 on the subject.&nbsp;

Indian PM Modi in his address on 75th Anniversary of UN had urged that "reform in the responses, in the processes, and in the very character of the UN is the need of the hour".&nbsp; 
Many other countries have expressed similar sentiments since last three decades. &nbsp;

What needs to be reformed?

UNSC in current form is not representative of the developing world and global needs -- with primacy of policy being a political tool in hands of P5.

By 1992, India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan (referred as G4) had put up their claims and logic for demanding inclusion as permanent members. India has been part of UN since inception, has the world's second-largest population and is the world's largest democracy suited to represent South Asia, having contributed maximum peacekeepers to UN so far, has a strong case.&nbsp;

Brazil is the largest country in Latin America (unrepresented continent) and fifth largest in the world. Japan and Germany are one of the largest financial donors to UN.&nbsp;

Besides G4 countries South Africa (largest economy in African Continent) is also a claimant, as the Continent remains unrepresented on high table of permanent members.&nbsp;

The pitch for reforms of G4 was lowered by their regional rivals like Italy, Pakistan, Mexico and Egypt, which started formulation of another interest group, known to be "Uniting for Consensus" opposing G4 becoming permanent members with a veto power.&nbsp;

The efforts for expansion of UNSC and reforms were also made in the form of the General Assembly Task Force on Security Council Reform and 2005 Kofi Annan’s Plan to expand to 24 member UNSC, with various combinations for equitable representation, but none of the initiatives have worked so far.

Reforms in the UNSC also requires an amendment to the UN charter, in accordance with Article 108, which highlights that any reform of the Security Council not only requires the support of at least two-thirds of UN member states, but also all the permanent members.

The stance of P5 members to expansion has been varying as per their national interest, like most P5 members agree to Indian inclusion, except China.

Veto power: The bone of contention!

Reforms to improve effectiveness and responsiveness of UN to international security challenges are meaningless without the reform of the UNSC veto power with P5 -- which enables any one of them to prevent the adoption of any "substantive" draft council resolution, regardless of its level of international support.&nbsp;

There have been many proposals since inception from totally abolishing veto power to selectively using for vital national security issues and requiring agreement from multiple states before exercising the veto, thereby following consensus principle.&nbsp;

The roadblock is that Articles 108 and 109 of the United Nations Charter grant the P5 veto over any amendments to the Charter, requiring them to approve of any modifications to the UNSC veto power that they themselves hold. It thus becomes obvious that even if one member of P5 doesn’t agree to any reform, the UNSC cannot be reformed.

It has been seen in past that the UNSC, in some of major global security issues, could not arrive at a consensus and interventions happened by countries mainly from P5 without UNSC resolution. US entry in Iraq war or Warsaw Pact war in Afghanistan are few cases in point.&nbsp;

Holding veto power by any P5 member, therefore, doesn’t guarantee that a resolution howsoever important will get through in its favour. But it certainly guarantees that no resolution against its interest will go through in UNSC. It therefore gives a lucrative power which P5 members will not like to give up or share.&nbsp;

The G4 members sometime back had agreed to compromise to become permanent members without veto power, but it means very little in terms of reforms.&nbsp;

Today the Permanent members (P5) countries in UNSC being a divided house, the veto power is the biggest obstacle in getting through any resolution, even for the global benefit, if it happens to be against national interest of any one of the P5 members or their allies/partners.&nbsp;

The UNSC has thus become an organisation, which can pass strong resolutions against weak countries, weak resolutions against strong countries and no resolution against P5 countries, and its implementation also follows the same power structure and politics.&nbsp;

To address an extreme security crisis, breach of the peace or act of aggression, wherein the use of armed force is necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security, if the P5 fail to reach unanimity to discharge this primary responsibility, the UNGA can immediately consider to make appropriate recommendations (with two third majority) to members for collective measures, as per UNGA resolution 377 (Uniting for peace), but these provisions have sparingly been applied due to possible backlash from P5.&nbsp;

Suggested model&nbsp;

Besides the existing P5 members, an expansion of UNSC from five to 10 permanent members, with the addition of G4 and South Africa will provide equitable regional representation besides balancing developing and developed world to meet the aspirations of humanity. These ten countries account for nine out of ten largest economies and eight out of ten largest defence budgets. The rotational election of non-permanent members the numbers, which was increased from six to 10 in 1965, could continue on regional representational basis as hitherto fore. The expansion of P5 without veto power makes very little impact on the problems, because of which the reforms are required. Ideally the veto power should be abolished, but I don’t think P5 will like to part with their trump card, which makes them powerful in UN.&nbsp;

Will UNSC reforms ever happen?

Under the given charter, articles and structures, there is a very little hope for UNSC reforms in near future unless the lack of reforms can push the credibility crisis of UN to a degree that it becomes unsustainable for it to function, or incidences of side-lining UN increase manifold.&nbsp;

Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (2015) has aptly said if the UN Security Council does not appoint new permanent members then its primacy may be challenged by some of the new emerging countries.

There is also a possibility that if UN doesn’t reform itself, it may lose relevance and alternate global and regional groupings may assume greater importance with issue based consensus in like-minded groupings for unilateral/multilateral actions. More global pressure from middle powers like G4 may force an expansion of UNSC as a possibility, but abolition of veto power in current set up is unlikely, as it makes P5 powerful to an extent that the threat of using veto sometimes forces a change in drafting of resolution, even if it’s not in best interest of humanity. No P5 member is likely to compromise this power in its own national interest, which is generally prioritised before global interest, thus making reformation process a mirage.

(Major General SB Asthana can be reached at Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+ as Shashi Asthana, @asthana_shashi on twitter, and personnel sitehttps://asthanawrites.org/email shashiasthana29@gmail.comLinkedIn Profilewww.linkedin.com/in/shashi-asthana-4b3801a6 &nbsp;YouTubelinkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl50YRTBrOCVIxDtHfhvQDQ?view_as=subscriber)

(Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

With India being part of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as the non-permanent member from January 1, 2021, and UN 75 years of celebration (2020) hangover rolling over to next year, the debate on UNSC reforms continues, with no worthwhile progress, despite high pitch for reforms made by many countries including India.

With India being part of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) as the non-permanent member from January 1, 2021, and UN 75 years of celebration (2020) hangover rolling over to next year, the debate on UNSC reforms continues, with no worthwhile progress, despite high pitch for reforms made by many countries including India. The fact that unilateral and multilateral interventions without UNSC sanctions continue to happen, UN hesitancy and alleged delay to declare coronavirus as pandemic are being seen as arm-twisting by Permanent Five (P5) member. And UNSC passing resolution to grant stipend to UN designated global terrorist, and diluting global response to biggest security challenge of the century are some examples to justify poor credibility of UN/UNSC in absence of reforms. It’s also a fact that there is no other alternative organisation to UN, with as much recognition and membership of various countries, having a large number of missions of various kinds to its credit, and for various global roles. But it needs to be reformed to meet the aspirations of developing countries. Thomas G Weiss argues that had the United Nations not existed, we would have to invent it. So why not to use our analytical toolkits to repair it? Reforms unavoidable UNSC was composed by victors of the Second World War in 1945 to suit their interests and the UN Charter was designed accordingly, giving to themselves the permanent membership and veto power in the council. The geopolitical, strategic, economic realities have changed considerably since then, but the UNSC has not reformed itself to these global realities. With global economic and population fulcrum shifting to Indo-Pacific, inadequate Asian representation and no African and Latin American representation are pushing UN to irrelevance, unless it reforms itself. With non-permanent status, it can be a part of resolutions for next two years -- setting the agenda when it gets monthly Presidency twice and at best try to create an environment of reforms. The need for UNSC reforms has been emphasised by most of the UN secretary generals during their tenures. Antonio Guterres once expressed: “The Security Council we have now does not correspond to today's world. I have encouraged member states to have a serious dialogue on this. I want to continue this dialogue at the UN General Assembly, but the permanent members do not agree.” This indicates the helplessness of UN in dealing with P5 on the subject. Indian PM Modi in his address on 75th Anniversary of UN had urged that "reform in the responses, in the processes, and in the very character of the UN is the need of the hour". Many other countries have expressed similar sentiments since last three decades. What needs to be reformed? UNSC in current form is not representative of the developing world and global needs -- with primacy of policy being a political tool in hands of P5. By 1992, India, Brazil, Germany, and Japan (referred as G4) had put up their claims and logic for demanding inclusion as permanent members. India has been part of UN since inception, has the world's second-largest population and is the world's largest democracy suited to represent South Asia, having contributed maximum peacekeepers to UN so far, has a strong case. Brazil is the largest country in Latin America (unrepresented continent) and fifth largest in the world. Japan and Germany are one of the largest financial donors to UN. Besides G4 countries South Africa (largest economy in African Continent) is also a claimant, as the Continent remains unrepresented on high table of permanent members. The pitch for reforms of G4 was lowered by their regional rivals like Italy, Pakistan, Mexico and Egypt, which started formulation of another interest group, known to be "Uniting for Consensus" opposing G4 becoming permanent members with a veto power. The efforts for expansion of UNSC and reforms were also made in the form of the General Assembly Task Force on Security Council Reform and 2005 Kofi Annan’s Plan to expand to 24 member UNSC, with various combinations for equitable representation, but none of the initiatives have worked so far. Reforms in the UNSC also requires an amendment to the UN charter, in accordance with Article 108, which highlights that any reform of the Security Council not only requires the support of at least two-thirds of UN member states, but also all the permanent members. The stance of P5 members to expansion has been varying as per their national interest, like most P5 members agree to Indian inclusion, except China. Veto power: The bone of contention! Reforms to improve effectiveness and responsiveness of UN to international security challenges are meaningless without the reform of the UNSC veto power with P5 -- which enables any one of them to prevent the adoption of any "substantive" draft council resolution, regardless of its level of international support. There have been many proposals since inception from totally abolishing veto power to selectively using for vital national security issues and requiring agreement from multiple states before exercising the veto, thereby following consensus principle. The roadblock is that Articles 108 and 109 of the United Nations Charter grant the P5 veto over any amendments to the Charter, requiring them to approve of any modifications to the UNSC veto power that they themselves hold. It thus becomes obvious that even if one member of P5 doesn’t agree to any reform, the UNSC cannot be reformed. It has been seen in past that the UNSC, in some of major global security issues, could not arrive at a consensus and interventions happened by countries mainly from P5 without UNSC resolution. US entry in Iraq war or Warsaw Pact war in Afghanistan are few cases in point. Holding veto power by any P5 member, therefore, doesn’t guarantee that a resolution howsoever important will get through in its favour. But it certainly guarantees that no resolution against its interest will go through in UNSC. It therefore gives a lucrative power which P5 members will not like to give up or share. The G4 members sometime back had agreed to compromise to become permanent members without veto power, but it means very little in terms of reforms. Today the Permanent members (P5) countries in UNSC being a divided house, the veto power is the biggest obstacle in getting through any resolution, even for the global benefit, if it happens to be against national interest of any one of the P5 members or their allies/partners. The UNSC has thus become an organisation, which can pass strong resolutions against weak countries, weak resolutions against strong countries and no resolution against P5 countries, and its implementation also follows the same power structure and politics. To address an extreme security crisis, breach of the peace or act of aggression, wherein the use of armed force is necessary to maintain or restore international peace and security, if the P5 fail to reach unanimity to discharge this primary responsibility, the UNGA can immediately consider to make appropriate recommendations (with two third majority) to members for collective measures, as per UNGA resolution 377 (Uniting for peace), but these provisions have sparingly been applied due to possible backlash from P5. Suggested model Besides the existing P5 members, an expansion of UNSC from five to 10 permanent members, with the addition of G4 and South Africa will provide equitable regional representation besides balancing developing and developed world to meet the aspirations of humanity. These ten countries account for nine out of ten largest economies and eight out of ten largest defence budgets. The rotational election of non-permanent members the numbers, which was increased from six to 10 in 1965, could continue on regional representational basis as hitherto fore. The expansion of P5 without veto power makes very little impact on the problems, because of which the reforms are required. Ideally the veto power should be abolished, but I don’t think P5 will like to part with their trump card, which makes them powerful in UN. Will UNSC reforms ever happen? Under the given charter, articles and structures, there is a very little hope for UNSC reforms in near future unless the lack of reforms can push the credibility crisis of UN to a degree that it becomes unsustainable for it to function, or incidences of side-lining UN increase manifold. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan (2015) has aptly said if the UN Security Council does not appoint new permanent members then its primacy may be challenged by some of the new emerging countries. There is also a possibility that if UN doesn’t reform itself, it may lose relevance and alternate global and regional groupings may assume greater importance with issue based consensus in like-minded groupings for unilateral/multilateral actions. More global pressure from middle powers like G4 may force an expansion of UNSC as a possibility, but abolition of veto power in current set up is unlikely, as it makes P5 powerful to an extent that the threat of using veto sometimes forces a change in drafting of resolution, even if it’s not in best interest of humanity. No P5 member is likely to compromise this power in its own national interest, which is generally prioritised before global interest, thus making reformation process a mirage. (Major General SB Asthana can be reached at Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+ as Shashi Asthana, @asthana_shashi on twitter, and personnel sitehttps://asthanawrites.org/email shashiasthana29@gmail.comLinkedIn Profilewww.linkedin.com/in/shashi-asthana-4b3801a6 YouTubelinkhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl50YRTBrOCVIxDtHfhvQDQ?view_as=subscriber) (Disclaimer: The views of the writer do not represent the views of WION or ZMCL. Nor does WION or ZMCL endorse the views of the writer.)

India at UNSC: How long it has to wait for the permanent seat?

It's a new beginning for India as it enters the United Nations Security Council for a 2-year-term. What will be India's agenda? What values with guide its approach? What powers will India have? Palki Sharma has the details.

Gravitas: India enters the UN Security Council

U.S has escalated tariff war at the end of the year with its one time biggest trade ally European union amid an ongoing civil aircraft dispute between Washington and brussels. The U.S has increased tariffs on certain EU products including aircraft related parts and wine from France and Germany

U.S. hikes tariffs amid EU disputes, slaps tariffs on French ,German products as well

As of 2013, Israel had been condemned in 45 resolutions by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Since the creation of the Council in 2006, it has resolved almost more resolutions condemning Israel than on the rest of the world combined.&nbsp;

In the year 2020, The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a total of 17 resolutions criticizing Israel versus six resolutions singling out any other country, according to a tally by pro-Israel watchdog UN Watch.&nbsp;

According to The Times of Israel, Israel and activists have long slammed the UN for routinely adopting decision after decision directed against Israel, saying it exploits an overwhelming automatic majority that votes to censure Jerusalem no matter the subject.&nbsp;

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a number of resolutions saying that the strategic relationship with the United States encourages Israel to pursue aggressive and expansionist policies and practices.

(With inputs from agencies)

As of 2013, Israel had been condemned in 45 resolutions by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Since the creation of the Council in 2006, it has resolved almost more resolutions condemning Israel than on the rest of the world combined.

As of 2013, Israel had been condemned in 45 resolutions by the United Nations Human Rights Council. Since the creation of the Council in 2006, it has resolved almost more resolutions condemning Israel than on the rest of the world combined. In the year 2020, The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a total of 17 resolutions criticizing Israel versus six resolutions singling out any other country, according to a tally by pro-Israel watchdog UN Watch. According to The Times of Israel, Israel and activists have long slammed the UN for routinely adopting decision after decision directed against Israel, saying it exploits an overwhelming automatic majority that votes to censure Jerusalem no matter the subject. The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a number of resolutions saying that the strategic relationship with the United States encourages Israel to pursue aggressive and expansionist policies and practices. (With inputs from agencies)

UN criticised Israel 17 times in 2020, singled out any other country just 6 times

The United Nations has refused to take a position on Pakistan's&nbsp;claims of Indian forces firing at UN Vehicles at the Line of control.

In response to a WION question, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for UN Secretary-General said United Nations Military Observer Group (UNMOGIP) vehicle carrying UN military observers "was impacted by an unidentified object" while "conducting routine monitoring activities" near Rawalakot as "part of its mandate to observe and report on ceasefire violations at the Line of Control (LOC) in Jammu and Kashmir."

UN Spokesperson did not identify it as an act of Indian troops as claimed by the Pakistani Army. Farhan said, "UNMOGIP personnel and the driver were not harmed but the vehicle sustained some damage" and the mission is "currently investigating the incident."

At the daily presser, in response to questions posed by Indian and Pakistani reporters, he said, "we are aware what both sides have been saying", reiterating, "at this stage, we are simply aware that vehicle was hit by an unidentified object"

Pakistan's Army had released pictures of damaged UN vehicles on Friday, claiming it was damaged by Indian forces. The Indian Army dismissed the Pakistani allegations saying it did not fire at the UN Vehicles.

Top Indian government sources termed the Pakistani allegations as "completely false, factually incorrect and baseless". The sources said no firing was done by Indian troops at the particular sector where UN vehicles were present since movements of "UN vehicles are known in advance" and therefore "the question does not arise of any such firing."

Interesting to point out that in 2017, Pakistan had claimed that Indian troops had targeted UN vehicles. At that time the UN said that there is "no evidence" of vehicles being targeted by gunfire

The United Nations has refused to take a position on Pakistan's claims of Indian forces firing at UN Vehicles at the Line of control. In response to a WION question, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for UN Secretary-General said United Nations Military Observer Group (UNMOGIP) vehicle carrying UN military observers "was impacted by an unidentified object" while "conducting routine monitoring activities" near Rawalakot as "part of its mandate to observe and report on ceasefire violations at the Line of Control (LOC) in Jammu and Kashmir.

The United Nations has refused to take a position on Pakistan's claims of Indian forces firing at UN Vehicles at the Line of control. In response to a WION question, Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for UN Secretary-General said United Nations Military Observer Group (UNMOGIP) vehicle carrying UN military observers "was impacted by an unidentified object" while "conducting routine monitoring activities" near Rawalakot as "part of its mandate to observe and report on ceasefire violations at the Line of Control (LOC) in Jammu and Kashmir." UN Spokesperson did not identify it as an act of Indian troops as claimed by the Pakistani Army. Farhan said, "UNMOGIP personnel and the driver were not harmed but the vehicle sustained some damage" and the mission is "currently investigating the incident." At the daily presser, in response to questions posed by Indian and Pakistani reporters, he said, "we are aware what both sides have been saying", reiterating, "at this stage, we are simply aware that vehicle was hit by an unidentified object" Pakistan's Army had released pictures of damaged UN vehicles on Friday, claiming it was damaged by Indian forces. The Indian Army dismissed the Pakistani allegations saying it did not fire at the UN Vehicles. Top Indian government sources termed the Pakistani allegations as "completely false, factually incorrect and baseless". The sources said no firing was done by Indian troops at the particular sector where UN vehicles were present since movements of "UN vehicles are known in advance" and therefore "the question does not arise of any such firing." Interesting to point out that in 2017, Pakistan had claimed that Indian troops had targeted UN vehicles. At that time the UN said that there is "no evidence" of vehicles being targeted by gunfire

UN refuses to take position on Pakistan's claims of India firing at agency's vehicles

The reports emerging from Pakistan regarding attacks on UN vehicles by Indian troops along the Line of Control are completely false, baseless and factually incorrect, official sources have said.

The Pakistan army had earlier accused the Indian side of “deliberately” targetting a United Nations Military Observers (UNMO) vehicle in the Chirikot Sector along the Line of Control.

"The Indian Army resorted to unprovoked fire in the Chirikot Sector of the Line of Control. Indian troops deliberately targetted a United Nations vehicle with two UN military observers on board," the Pakistan Army said in a statement.

In response, sources from the Indian military said there was no firing from their side in that sector on Friday. Since movements of UN vehicles are known in advance, the question does not arise of any such firing, the sources said, adding the allegations are baseless.

"The reports emerging from the Pakistan side regarding attacks on UN vehicles are completely false and factually incorrect," said a source.

Military sources also rejected the allegation by the Pakistan Army. "Reports of targetting United Nations vehicle are not true," said a military source.&nbsp;

The reports emerging from Pakistan regarding attacks on UN vehicles by Indian troops along the Line of Control are completely false, baseless and factually incorrect, official sources have said.

The reports emerging from Pakistan regarding attacks on UN vehicles by Indian troops along the Line of Control are completely false, baseless and factually incorrect, official sources have said. The Pakistan army had earlier accused the Indian side of “deliberately” targetting a United Nations Military Observers (UNMO) vehicle in the Chirikot Sector along the Line of Control. "The Indian Army resorted to unprovoked fire in the Chirikot Sector of the Line of Control. Indian troops deliberately targetted a United Nations vehicle with two UN military observers on board," the Pakistan Army said in a statement. In response, sources from the Indian military said there was no firing from their side in that sector on Friday. Since movements of UN vehicles are known in advance, the question does not arise of any such firing, the sources said, adding the allegations are baseless. "The reports emerging from the Pakistan side regarding attacks on UN vehicles are completely false and factually incorrect," said a source. Military sources also rejected the allegation by the Pakistan Army. "Reports of targetting United Nations vehicle are not true," said a military source.

India dismisses Pakistan’s claim of army targetting UN vehicle along LoC

A 29-year-old Indian entrepreneur is among the seven winners of the prestigious "Young Champions of the Earth" 2020 prize given by the UN environment agency to global change-makers using innovative ideas and ambitious action to help solve some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges.

Vidyut Mohan, an engineer, is the co-founder of "Takachar", a social enterprise enabling farmers to prevent open burning of their waste farm residues and earn extra income by converting them into value-added chemicals like activated carbon on-site, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a statement on Tuesday.

I've always been passionate about energy access and creating income opportunities for poor communities, Mohan was quoted as saying in the statement. (That) is at the heart of finding answers to the difficult question of balancing economic growth and climate change mitigation in developing countries, he said.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a message that in the middle of a global pandemic, with societies struggling, economies stretched to their limits, and escalating biodiversity and climate crisis, we need to act boldly and urgently to repair our relationship with nature and take the path of sustainable development.&nbsp;

He said that the Young Champions of the Earth inspire and mobilise.

UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said globally, young people are leading the way in calling for meaningful and immediate solutions to the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.

We must listen. As we enter this decisive decade where we work to cut emissions and protect and restore ecosystems, UNEP Young Champions demonstrate that all of us can contribute, starting where we are with what we have. Every single act for nature counts, and we need the entire spectrum of humanity to share this global responsibility and this profound opportunity, Andersen said.

Takachar buys rice husks, straw, and coconut shells from farmers and turns them into charcoal, saving the debris from the fires, which are also a driver of climate change. Since Takachar was launched in 2018, Mohan and its co-founder Kevin Kung have worked with about 4,500 farmers and processed 3,000 tonnes of crops, UNEP said.&nbsp;

Mark Radka, chief of the energy and climate branch at UNEP's Economy Division, said the open burning of agricultural residues is a big source of air pollution in many parts of the world and Takachar's innovative technology can help farmers turn what is currently thought of as waste into a valuable resource while helping clean up our environment. 
 
Slowly and gradually all funding streams available and support services are turning towards sustainability. Companies are going to lose if they don't become sustainable in the long run, Mohan, a 2019 Echoing Green Fellow and a 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 awardee, said.

By deploying small-scale, low-cost portable biomass upgrading equipment, Takachar enables rural farmers to earn 40 per cent more by converting their crop residues into fuels, fertilisers and value-added chemicals like activated carbon (AC) on-site.

By choosing activated carbon (AC) as the starting market, Takachar brings this value chain to the doorstep of farmers and hence reduces air pollution associated with crop residue burning, while ensuring a stable, renewable, pollution free and financially lucrative raw material supply for the AC industry vs. Traditional fossil based sources.

By 2030, Takachar will impact 300 million farmers affected by this problem, create USD 4 billion/year equivalent in additional rural income and jobs, and mitigate one gigaton/year of CO2 equivalent, UNEP added.

This year's Young Champions were selected by a global jury of experts following a competitive public nomination. Each will receive $10,000 in seed funding and tailored training to help scale up their ideas. The Young Champions of the Earth prize is awarded every year to seven entrepreneurs under the age of 30 with bold ideas for sustainable environmental change.

The other awardees are 29-year-old Nzambi Matee from Kenya, a materials engineer and head of Gjenge Makers, which produces sustainable low-cost construction materials made of recycled plastic waste and sand; 29-year old Xiaoyuan Ren from China who leads MyH2O, a data platform that tests and records the quality of groundwater across a thousand villages in rural China into an app so residents know where to find clean water.

Lefteris Arapakis, 26, from Greece founded the start-up Enaleia, through which the team trains, empowers and incentivises the local fishing community to collect plastic from the sea, allowing both fish stocks and the ecosystem to recover; 30-year old Max Hidalgo Quinto from Peru founded Yawa, building portable wind turbines that harvest up to 300 litres of water per day from atmospheric humidity and mist.

Niria Alicia Garcia, 28, from the US coordinates - alongside a community of indigenous activists - the annual Run 4 Salmon event using virtual reality to bring to life the historical journey of the Sacramento chinook salmon along California's largest watershed, raising awareness of this invaluable ecosystem, the species and people it supports; 24-year old Fatemah Alzelzela from Kuwait started Eco Star, a non-profit recycling initiative that exchanges trees and plants for waste from homes, schools and businesses in Kuwait.&nbsp;

A 29-year-old Indian entrepreneur is among the seven winners of the prestigious "Young Champions of the Earth" 2020 prize given by the UN environment agency to global change-makers using innovative ideas and ambitious action to help solve some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges.

A 29-year-old Indian entrepreneur is among the seven winners of the prestigious "Young Champions of the Earth" 2020 prize given by the UN environment agency to global change-makers using innovative ideas and ambitious action to help solve some of the world's most pressing environmental challenges. Vidyut Mohan, an engineer, is the co-founder of "Takachar", a social enterprise enabling farmers to prevent open burning of their waste farm residues and earn extra income by converting them into value-added chemicals like activated carbon on-site, UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a statement on Tuesday. I've always been passionate about energy access and creating income opportunities for poor communities, Mohan was quoted as saying in the statement. (That) is at the heart of finding answers to the difficult question of balancing economic growth and climate change mitigation in developing countries, he said. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a message that in the middle of a global pandemic, with societies struggling, economies stretched to their limits, and escalating biodiversity and climate crisis, we need to act boldly and urgently to repair our relationship with nature and take the path of sustainable development. He said that the Young Champions of the Earth inspire and mobilise. UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen said globally, young people are leading the way in calling for meaningful and immediate solutions to the triple planetary crises of climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. We must listen. As we enter this decisive decade where we work to cut emissions and protect and restore ecosystems, UNEP Young Champions demonstrate that all of us can contribute, starting where we are with what we have. Every single act for nature counts, and we need the entire spectrum of humanity to share this global responsibility and this profound opportunity, Andersen said. Takachar buys rice husks, straw, and coconut shells from farmers and turns them into charcoal, saving the debris from the fires, which are also a driver of climate change. Since Takachar was launched in 2018, Mohan and its co-founder Kevin Kung have worked with about 4,500 farmers and processed 3,000 tonnes of crops, UNEP said. Mark Radka, chief of the energy and climate branch at UNEP's Economy Division, said the open burning of agricultural residues is a big source of air pollution in many parts of the world and Takachar's innovative technology can help farmers turn what is currently thought of as waste into a valuable resource while helping clean up our environment. Slowly and gradually all funding streams available and support services are turning towards sustainability. Companies are going to lose if they don't become sustainable in the long run, Mohan, a 2019 Echoing Green Fellow and a 2020 Forbes 30 Under 30 awardee, said. By deploying small-scale, low-cost portable biomass upgrading equipment, Takachar enables rural farmers to earn 40 per cent more by converting their crop residues into fuels, fertilisers and value-added chemicals like activated carbon (AC) on-site. By choosing activated carbon (AC) as the starting market, Takachar brings this value chain to the doorstep of farmers and hence reduces air pollution associated with crop residue burning, while ensuring a stable, renewable, pollution free and financially lucrative raw material supply for the AC industry vs. Traditional fossil based sources. By 2030, Takachar will impact 300 million farmers affected by this problem, create USD 4 billion/year equivalent in additional rural income and jobs, and mitigate one gigaton/year of CO2 equivalent, UNEP added. This year's Young Champions were selected by a global jury of experts following a competitive public nomination. Each will receive $10,000 in seed funding and tailored training to help scale up their ideas. The Young Champions of the Earth prize is awarded every year to seven entrepreneurs under the age of 30 with bold ideas for sustainable environmental change. The other awardees are 29-year-old Nzambi Matee from Kenya, a materials engineer and head of Gjenge Makers, which produces sustainable low-cost construction materials made of recycled plastic waste and sand; 29-year old Xiaoyuan Ren from China who leads MyH2O, a data platform that tests and records the quality of groundwater across a thousand villages in rural China into an app so residents know where to find clean water. Lefteris Arapakis, 26, from Greece founded the start-up Enaleia, through which the team trains, empowers and incentivises the local fishing community to collect plastic from the sea, allowing both fish stocks and the ecosystem to recover; 30-year old Max Hidalgo Quinto from Peru founded Yawa, building portable wind turbines that harvest up to 300 litres of water per day from atmospheric humidity and mist. Niria Alicia Garcia, 28, from the US coordinates - alongside a community of indigenous activists - the annual Run 4 Salmon event using virtual reality to bring to life the historical journey of the Sacramento chinook salmon along California's largest watershed, raising awareness of this invaluable ecosystem, the species and people it supports; 24-year old Fatemah Alzelzela from Kuwait started Eco Star, a non-profit recycling initiative that exchanges trees and plants for waste from homes, schools and businesses in Kuwait.

Indian entrepreneur named among 'Young Champions of the Earth' winners by UN environment agency

Ethiopia's government said on Friday it was returning Eritrean refugees to camps they had fled in the northern region of Tigray, a move that alarmed the United Nations refugee agency after a month-long conflict that is believed to have killed thousands of people.

The United Nations and other aid agencies say they have been denied access to some 96,000 refugees in Tigray since fighting erupted on Nov. 4 between the government and a rebellious regional force. They are concerned about food and security in the camps, which they have not been permitted to visit since the conflict broke out.

The government says it has now defeated forces loyal to the region's former ruling Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), and it is safe for refugees who fled to the capital Addis Ababa to return to Tigray.

"A large number of misinformed refugees are moving out in an irregular manner," the government said in a statement on Friday.

"The government is safely returning those refugees to their respective camps," the statement said, adding that food was being transported to the camps.

TPLF leaders say they are fighting back on various fronts. Claims by all sides in the conflict are near-impossible to verify because most communications to Tigray are down and the government tightly controls access.

FRANTIC CALLS

Reuters received frantic calls from refugees in the capital who had been told they would be bussed back to Tigray but feared they were being taken back to Eritrea - the neighbouring country they originally fled.

"Please come, please come, the buses are here!" one woman yelled as children wept in the background.

Another woman said Eritreans faced mounting hostility from Tigrayans who accuse Eritrea of sending troops into&nbsp;Ethiopia&nbsp;to help Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government battle the TPLF.

Both countries deny this, although the U.S. State Department said on Thursday it believes reports of Eritrean military involvement in the conflict in&nbsp;Ethiopia&nbsp;are "credible".

"Some Tigrayan people beat up my husband," the refugee said. "People there were saying – 'your country is coming here and attacking us. So you - we will kill you too.' We were getting so scared."

Refugees may be facing additional dangers.

TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael said in text messages to Reuters this month that Eritrean soldiers had raided two camps in Tigray and abducted some residents, but provided no evidence. Eritrea denies this.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said on Friday the agency had received similar reports.

"Over the last month we have received an overwhelming number of disturbing reports of Eritrean refugees in Tigray being killed, abducted and forcibly returned to Eritrea. If confirmed, these actions would constitute a major violation of international law," he said in a statement.

The presence of Eritrean troops on&nbsp;Ethiopian soil would alarm Western allies and risk further inflaming the conflict.

Eritrea has long faced accusations of large scale rights abuses. It accuses Western powers of smear campaigns and luring Eritreans abroad, which they deny.

France, Britain, Germany, the United States, Estonia and Belgium plan to raise the humanitarian situation in Tigray during a closed-door U.N. Security Council meeting Monday and have asked for a U.N. aid official to brief, diplomats said.

FOOD FOR REFUGEES

There are four main camps for Eritrean refugees in Tigray - Shimelba, Hitsats, Mai-Ayni and Adi Harush.

The UNHCR was not informed of any planned relocation of refugees in&nbsp;Ethiopia, Babar Baloch, a UNHCR spokesman, told reporters in Geneva. He called the reports "alarming."

He added, "While we cannot speculate at this time, any refoulement would be absolutely unacceptable.” Refoulement means forcing refugees to return to the country they fled from.

Ato Addisu, deputy head of&nbsp;Ethiopia's state-run Agency for Refugee and Returnee Affairs, said, "A return to Eritrea would never happen unless they request by themselves – this is against international law".

Around 580 refugees were on the buses to Tigray, he told Reuters.

The prime minister's office dismissed concerns that the war was preventing aid reaching civilians.

"Suggestions that humanitarian assistance is impeded due to active military combat ... within the Tigray region is untrue and undermines ... work to stabilise the region," it said in a statement on Friday.

Ethiopia's government said on Friday it was returning Eritrean refugees to camps they had fled in the northern region of Tigray, a move that alarmed the United Nations refugee agency after a month-long conflict that is believed to have killed thousands of people.

Ethiopia's government said on Friday it was returning Eritrean refugees to camps they had fled in the northern region of Tigray, a move that alarmed the United Nations refugee agency after a month-long conflict that is believed to have killed thousands of people. The United Nations and other aid agencies say they have been denied access to some 96,000 refugees in Tigray since fighting erupted on Nov. 4 between the government and a rebellious regional force. They are concerned about food and security in the camps, which they have not been permitted to visit since the conflict broke out. The government says it has now defeated forces loyal to the region's former ruling Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), and it is safe for refugees who fled to the capital Addis Ababa to return to Tigray. "A large number of misinformed refugees are moving out in an irregular manner," the government said in a statement on Friday. "The government is safely returning those refugees to their respective camps," the statement said, adding that food was being transported to the camps. TPLF leaders say they are fighting back on various fronts. Claims by all sides in the conflict are near-impossible to verify because most communications to Tigray are down and the government tightly controls access. FRANTIC CALLS Reuters received frantic calls from refugees in the capital who had been told they would be bussed back to Tigray but feared they were being taken back to Eritrea - the neighbouring country they originally fled. "Please come, please come, the buses are here!" one woman yelled as children wept in the background. Another woman said Eritreans faced mounting hostility from Tigrayans who accuse Eritrea of sending troops into Ethiopia to help Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government battle the TPLF. Both countries deny this, although the U.S. State Department said on Thursday it believes reports of Eritrean military involvement in the conflict in Ethiopia are "credible". "Some Tigrayan people beat up my husband," the refugee said. "People there were saying – 'your country is coming here and attacking us. So you - we will kill you too.' We were getting so scared." Refugees may be facing additional dangers. TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael said in text messages to Reuters this month that Eritrean soldiers had raided two camps in Tigray and abducted some residents, but provided no evidence. Eritrea denies this. The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said on Friday the agency had received similar reports. "Over the last month we have received an overwhelming number of disturbing reports of Eritrean refugees in Tigray being killed, abducted and forcibly returned to Eritrea. If confirmed, these actions would constitute a major violation of international law," he said in a statement. The presence of Eritrean troops on Ethiopian soil would alarm Western allies and risk further inflaming the conflict. Eritrea has long faced accusations of large scale rights abuses. It accuses Western powers of smear campaigns and luring Eritreans abroad, which they deny. France, Britain, Germany, the United States, Estonia and Belgium plan to raise the humanitarian situation in Tigray during a closed-door U.N. Security Council meeting Monday and have asked for a U.N. aid official to brief, diplomats said. FOOD FOR REFUGEES There are four main camps for Eritrean refugees in Tigray - Shimelba, Hitsats, Mai-Ayni and Adi Harush. The UNHCR was not informed of any planned relocation of refugees in Ethiopia, Babar Baloch, a UNHCR spokesman, told reporters in Geneva. He called the reports "alarming." He added, "While we cannot speculate at this time, any refoulement would be absolutely unacceptable.” Refoulement means forcing refugees to return to the country they fled from. Ato Addisu, deputy head of Ethiopia's state-run Agency for Refugee and Returnee Affairs, said, "A return to Eritrea would never happen unless they request by themselves – this is against international law". Around 580 refugees were on the buses to Tigray, he told Reuters. The prime minister's office dismissed concerns that the war was preventing aid reaching civilians. "Suggestions that humanitarian assistance is impeded due to active military combat ... within the Tigray region is untrue and undermines ... work to stabilise the region," it said in a statement on Friday.

Ethiopia returning Eritrean refugees to Tigray camps; UN shows concern

Ethiopian government has announced on Friday that it is now returning back Eritrean refugees to Tigray camps. The U.N has raised concerns over the sudden move by the Ethiopian government. U.N calls out Ethiopia's sudden relocation plan completely unacceptable.

Ethiopia returning Eritrean refugees to Tigray camps

A UN-backed tribunal will on Friday sentence a Hezbollah member convicted of the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafic Hariri, with prosecutors demanding a life term.

Hariri served as Lebanon's prime minister until he resigned in October 2004. He was killed in February 2005 when a suicide bomber detonated a van filled with explosives as his armoured convoy drove past. As well as those killed, another 226 were wounded in the blast.

Salim Ayyash was found guilty in absentia of murder on August 18 by the Netherlands-based Special Tribunal for Lebanon over the suicide bombing that killed the Sunni billionaire politician and 21 other people.&nbsp;

Ayyash remains on the run, with Hassan Nasrallah, the head of the Shiite Hezbollah movement, refusing to hand him over.

Prosecutors in a hearing in November said a life term was the "only just and proportionate sentence" for Ayyash, given that it was the "most serious terrorist attack that has occurred on Lebanese soil."

They have also demanded seizure of Ayyash's assets.

Legal experts said the sentencing was still important, even without Ayyash in the dock.

The UN Security Council agreed in 2007 to establish the court, billed as the world's first international tribunal set up to probe terrorist crimes.

It opened its doors in 2009, although the Hariri trial itself did not formally start until 2014.

Ayyash faces a separate case at the tribunal over three other deadly attacks on Lebanese politicians in 2004 and 2005.

(with inputs from AFP)

A UN-backed tribunal will on Friday sentence a Hezbollah member convicted of the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafic Hariri, with prosecutors demanding a life term.

A UN-backed tribunal will on Friday sentence a Hezbollah member convicted of the 2005 assassination of former Lebanese premier Rafic Hariri, with prosecutors demanding a life term. Hariri served as Lebanon's prime minister until he resigned in October 2004. He was killed in February 2005 when a suicide bomber detonated a van filled with explosives as his armoured convoy drove past. As well as those killed, another 226 were wounded in the blast. Salim Ayyash was found guilty in absentia of murder on August 18 by the Netherlands-based Special Tribunal for Lebanon over the suicide bombing that killed the Sunni billionaire politician and 21 other people. Ayyash remains on the run, with Hassan Nasrallah, the head of the Shiite Hezbollah movement, refusing to hand him over. Prosecutors in a hearing in November said a life term was the "only just and proportionate sentence" for Ayyash, given that it was the "most serious terrorist attack that has occurred on Lebanese soil." They have also demanded seizure of Ayyash's assets. Legal experts said the sentencing was still important, even without Ayyash in the dock. The UN Security Council agreed in 2007 to establish the court, billed as the world's first international tribunal set up to probe terrorist crimes. It opened its doors in 2009, although the Hariri trial itself did not formally start until 2014. Ayyash faces a separate case at the tribunal over three other deadly attacks on Lebanese politicians in 2004 and 2005. (with inputs from AFP)

UN-backed court to sentence killer of Lebanon's Hariri

Ethiopia's prime minister shifted focus away from war on Wednesday, opening a cross-border highway to Kenya at the opposite end of his country, while the United Nations voiced alarm at continuing fighting in the northern Tigray region.

Abiy Ahmed cut the ribbon on a mega-highway linking south Ethiopia with Kenya's Indian Ocean port of Mombasa, alongside Kenyan counterpart President Uhuru Kenyatta, reflecting Ethiopian aspirations to become a regional powerhouse.

"Just like the infrastructure, we should work on peace and security," he said at the border town of Moyale, refraining from mentioning Tigray. "Peace is a foundation for everything we are aspiring to transform (in) the life our people."

War since Nov. 4 between Ethiopia's federal forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) is thought to have killed thousands and displaced more than 950,000 people, according to U.N. estimates, some 50,000 of them into Sudan.

The United Nations agreed a deal with the government last week for safe access to Tigray, home to more than 5 million people, of whom 600,000 needed food aid even before the war.

But the shooting at, and then detention of, a U.N. security team on its way to a refugee camp by Ethiopian federal forces on Sunday highlighted difficulties implementing that deal. The government said the U.N. team had defied two checkpoints.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres acknowledged the problems and said Ethiopia and the United Nations had now agreed on joint missions to assess humanitarian needs.

He said the aim was "to make sure that there is full access to the whole of the territory and full capacity to start a humanitarian operation based on real needs, and without any kind of discrimination."

The conflict may also hurt an economy that had been soaring, albeit from a low base, becoming the world's fastest growing in 2017, driven by agricultural exports and heavy infrastructure spending it hoped would drive a manufacturing boom.

Ethiopia was for years trying to position itself as an emerging industrial hub that would draw its 115 million population - the second largest in Africa - off subsistence farms and into factories.

For more than a decade, the government poured billions of dollars into hydro-electric dams, industrial parks, railways and highways. Then when Abiy took power in 2018, he began opening up sectors like telecoms to private investment.

Those aspirations are now at risk. Instability that began even before the Tigray conflict - due to ethnic clashes and other problems - may scare off investors already skittish about the impact of COVID-19 and rapidly-rising Ethiopian government debt. Foreign textiles firms worry about existing investments.

'WORRYING, VOLATILE'

U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said in Geneva that events in Tigray were still "worrying and volatile" and called for civilians to be protected.

"Fighting continues between federal forces and the TPLF, and affiliated militias on both sides," she told reporters, citing clashes near the towns of Mekelle, Sherero, Axum and Abiy Addi.

A government spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. TPLF leaders could not be reached.

Guterres said the United Nations had information about "sporadic fighting in different areas of the country," but also that in the past few days there had been "an increase of security and control." He said he could not "fully confirm" the information.

Abiy declared victory after capturing the regional capital Mekelle, but TPLF leaders say their combat continues from surrounding hills.

About 1,000 federal soldiers held by the TPLF, some of whom were abducted on Nov. 3, the day before the war erupted, were freed in an operation by the federal army and police, state-controlled media said late on Wednesday, without elaborating.

Both sides' claims are difficult to check, as most communications in Tigray are down and access is severely restricted. Journalists need a permit to travel outside the capital Addis Ababa.

The United States believes Eritrean soldiers have crossed into Ethiopia to help Abiy's government, despite denials from both nations, a U.S. government source and five regional diplomats told Reuters.

Abiy and Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki signed a peace pact ending two decades of hostilities in 2018 and now regard the TPLF as a mutual foe.

"We have no proof of the presence of Eritrean troops inside Ethiopia," said Guterres. "I confronted the prime minister with that question, and he guaranteed to me that they have not entered Tigrayan territory."

Ethiopia's prime minister shifted focus away from war on Wednesday, opening a cross-border highway to Kenya at the opposite end of his country, while the United Nations voiced alarm at continuing fighting in the northern Tigray region.

Ethiopia's prime minister shifted focus away from war on Wednesday, opening a cross-border highway to Kenya at the opposite end of his country, while the United Nations voiced alarm at continuing fighting in the northern Tigray region. Abiy Ahmed cut the ribbon on a mega-highway linking south Ethiopia with Kenya's Indian Ocean port of Mombasa, alongside Kenyan counterpart President Uhuru Kenyatta, reflecting Ethiopian aspirations to become a regional powerhouse. "Just like the infrastructure, we should work on peace and security," he said at the border town of Moyale, refraining from mentioning Tigray. "Peace is a foundation for everything we are aspiring to transform (in) the life our people." War since Nov. 4 between Ethiopia's federal forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) is thought to have killed thousands and displaced more than 950,000 people, according to U.N. estimates, some 50,000 of them into Sudan. The United Nations agreed a deal with the government last week for safe access to Tigray, home to more than 5 million people, of whom 600,000 needed food aid even before the war. But the shooting at, and then detention of, a U.N. security team on its way to a refugee camp by Ethiopian federal forces on Sunday highlighted difficulties implementing that deal. The government said the U.N. team had defied two checkpoints. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres acknowledged the problems and said Ethiopia and the United Nations had now agreed on joint missions to assess humanitarian needs. He said the aim was "to make sure that there is full access to the whole of the territory and full capacity to start a humanitarian operation based on real needs, and without any kind of discrimination." The conflict may also hurt an economy that had been soaring, albeit from a low base, becoming the world's fastest growing in 2017, driven by agricultural exports and heavy infrastructure spending it hoped would drive a manufacturing boom. Ethiopia was for years trying to position itself as an emerging industrial hub that would draw its 115 million population - the second largest in Africa - off subsistence farms and into factories. For more than a decade, the government poured billions of dollars into hydro-electric dams, industrial parks, railways and highways. Then when Abiy took power in 2018, he began opening up sectors like telecoms to private investment. Those aspirations are now at risk. Instability that began even before the Tigray conflict - due to ethnic clashes and other problems - may scare off investors already skittish about the impact of COVID-19 and rapidly-rising Ethiopian government debt. Foreign textiles firms worry about existing investments. 'WORRYING, VOLATILE' U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said in Geneva that events in Tigray were still "worrying and volatile" and called for civilians to be protected. "Fighting continues between federal forces and the TPLF, and affiliated militias on both sides," she told reporters, citing clashes near the towns of Mekelle, Sherero, Axum and Abiy Addi. A government spokesman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. TPLF leaders could not be reached. Guterres said the United Nations had information about "sporadic fighting in different areas of the country," but also that in the past few days there had been "an increase of security and control." He said he could not "fully confirm" the information. Abiy declared victory after capturing the regional capital Mekelle, but TPLF leaders say their combat continues from surrounding hills. About 1,000 federal soldiers held by the TPLF, some of whom were abducted on Nov. 3, the day before the war erupted, were freed in an operation by the federal army and police, state-controlled media said late on Wednesday, without elaborating. Both sides' claims are difficult to check, as most communications in Tigray are down and access is severely restricted. Journalists need a permit to travel outside the capital Addis Ababa. The United States believes Eritrean soldiers have crossed into Ethiopia to help Abiy's government, despite denials from both nations, a U.S. government source and five regional diplomats told Reuters. Abiy and Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki signed a peace pact ending two decades of hostilities in 2018 and now regard the TPLF as a mutual foe. "We have no proof of the presence of Eritrean troops inside Ethiopia," said Guterres. "I confronted the prime minister with that question, and he guaranteed to me that they have not entered Tigrayan territory."

Ethiopia shifts focus from war to economy, UN worries about Tigray

Earth remains on course to warm more than 3 degrees Celsius by the century's end despite a dip in greenhouse gas emissions due to the pandemic and pledges to curb pollution, the UN said Wednesday.

In its annual assessment of emissions levels, the UN's Environment Programme found that 2020's 7-percent fall in carbon pollution would have "negligible impact" on warming without a broad and rapid shift away from fossil fuels.

The Emissions Gap report analyses the gulf between action required under the Paris climate deal and emissions cuts currently planned by countries.&nbsp;

It found that a "green recovery" from the pandemic, in which emerging net-zero pledges are accelerated, could shave 25 percent off of emissions by 2030.

This would bring the world closer to levels required to limit warming to 2C (3.6 Farenheit), as stipulated under Paris.&nbsp;

With just over 1C of warming since pre-industrial times, Earth is already experiencing stronger and more frequent droughts, wildfires and superstorms rendered deadlier by rising seas.&nbsp;

"The year 2020 is on course to be one of the warmest on record, while wildfires, storms and droughts continue to wreak havoc," said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen.

She said Wednesday's report showed that a green pandemic recovery "can take a huge slice out of greenhouse gas emissions and help slow climate change".

UNEP said last year that emissions must fall 7.6 percent annually through 2030 in order to keep the more ambitious Paris temperature goal of 1.5C in play.&nbsp;

While 2020 is likely to see emissions fall broadly in line with that figure, it took an unprecedented slowdown in industry, travel and manufacturing to achieve.&nbsp;

Experts fear that a rebound in carbon emissions is nearly inevitable in 2021; last week the UN said that countries planned to increase fossil fuel production by 2 percent each year this decade.

To limit warming to 1.5C it said oil, gas and coal production instead must fall 6 percent each year.

Wednesday's assessment found that emissions in 2019 -- a year scientists still hope will represent a peak in annual carbon pollution -- stood at 59.1 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent.

This represents a 2.6 percent increase compared with 2018, largely driven by an increase in forest fires, UNEP said.&nbsp;

- Emissions inequality -

It said reduced travel, industrial activity and electrical generation due to the pandemic would see emissions fall 7 percent compared with last year.&nbsp;

But that would only translate to a 0.01C reduction of global warming by 2050.&nbsp;

UNEP said a green recovery from Covid-19 would see emissions hit 44 GT in 2030 compared with a predicted 59 GT, giving humanity a 66 percent change of holding temperature rises under 2C.

This would need widespread switches to renewable energy, direct support for zero-emission technology and infrastructure, reducing fossil fuel subsidies, no new coal plants and widespread reforestation, it said.&nbsp;

Yet the pandemic recovery already appears to have support for high pollution industries already figured in, with only a quarter of G20 nations dedicating spending shares to low-carbon measures.&nbsp;

The report also layed bare the vast inequality when it comes to carbon pollution: the wealthiest 1 percent account for more than twice the combined emissions of the poorest 50 percent.&nbsp;

UNEP said this group needed to slash its carbon footprint by a factor of 30 to stay in line with the Paris targets.&nbsp;

Earth remains on course to warm more than 3 degrees Celsius by the century's end despite a dip in greenhouse gas emissions due to the pandemic and pledges to curb pollution, the UN said Wednesday.

Earth remains on course to warm more than 3 degrees Celsius by the century's end despite a dip in greenhouse gas emissions due to the pandemic and pledges to curb pollution, the UN said Wednesday. In its annual assessment of emissions levels, the UN's Environment Programme found that 2020's 7-percent fall in carbon pollution would have "negligible impact" on warming without a broad and rapid shift away from fossil fuels. The Emissions Gap report analyses the gulf between action required under the Paris climate deal and emissions cuts currently planned by countries. It found that a "green recovery" from the pandemic, in which emerging net-zero pledges are accelerated, could shave 25 percent off of emissions by 2030. This would bring the world closer to levels required to limit warming to 2C (3.6 Farenheit), as stipulated under Paris. With just over 1C of warming since pre-industrial times, Earth is already experiencing stronger and more frequent droughts, wildfires and superstorms rendered deadlier by rising seas. "The year 2020 is on course to be one of the warmest on record, while wildfires, storms and droughts continue to wreak havoc," said UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen. She said Wednesday's report showed that a green pandemic recovery "can take a huge slice out of greenhouse gas emissions and help slow climate change". UNEP said last year that emissions must fall 7.6 percent annually through 2030 in order to keep the more ambitious Paris temperature goal of 1.5C in play. While 2020 is likely to see emissions fall broadly in line with that figure, it took an unprecedented slowdown in industry, travel and manufacturing to achieve. Experts fear that a rebound in carbon emissions is nearly inevitable in 2021; last week the UN said that countries planned to increase fossil fuel production by 2 percent each year this decade. To limit warming to 1.5C it said oil, gas and coal production instead must fall 6 percent each year. Wednesday's assessment found that emissions in 2019 -- a year scientists still hope will represent a peak in annual carbon pollution -- stood at 59.1 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent. This represents a 2.6 percent increase compared with 2018, largely driven by an increase in forest fires, UNEP said. - Emissions inequality - It said reduced travel, industrial activity and electrical generation due to the pandemic would see emissions fall 7 percent compared with last year. But that would only translate to a 0.01C reduction of global warming by 2050. UNEP said a green recovery from Covid-19 would see emissions hit 44 GT in 2030 compared with a predicted 59 GT, giving humanity a 66 percent change of holding temperature rises under 2C. This would need widespread switches to renewable energy, direct support for zero-emission technology and infrastructure, reducing fossil fuel subsidies, no new coal plants and widespread reforestation, it said. Yet the pandemic recovery already appears to have support for high pollution industries already figured in, with only a quarter of G20 nations dedicating spending shares to low-carbon measures. The report also layed bare the vast inequality when it comes to carbon pollution: the wealthiest 1 percent account for more than twice the combined emissions of the poorest 50 percent. UNEP said this group needed to slash its carbon footprint by a factor of 30 to stay in line with the Paris targets.

World set for 3C warming despite pandemic, pledges: UN

The United Nations announced Tuesday it has raised more than $370 million for its emergency fund to help respond to crises in 2021.

More than 50 donors pledged money to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), managed by the under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, Mark Lowcock, according to a statement.

The donors were not identified.

"This fund is one of the fastest ways to help people trapped both in sudden-onset and deteriorating crises, as well as underfunded ones that are not at the top of the world’s radar," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during a videoconference of donors held at the body's headquarters.

Created in 2005, the fund "has helped millions of people get food, health care, shelter and protection this year," Lowcock said.

In 2020, CERF helped 65 million people in 52 countries and territories, for a total amount of more than $900 million. The money was used to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and other diseases, as well as for relief from conflicts or natural disasters, or to avoid famine, according to the statement.

The donors' conference for the emergency fund comes a few days after the UN published its estimate of humanitarian needs for 160 million people in 2021, a total of $35 billion.

The United Nations announced Tuesday it has raised more than $370 million for its emergency fund to help respond to crises in 2021. More than 50 donors pledged money to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), managed by the under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, Mark Lowcock, according to a statement.

The United Nations announced Tuesday it has raised more than $370 million for its emergency fund to help respond to crises in 2021. More than 50 donors pledged money to the UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF), managed by the under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs, Mark Lowcock, according to a statement. The donors were not identified. "This fund is one of the fastest ways to help people trapped both in sudden-onset and deteriorating crises, as well as underfunded ones that are not at the top of the world’s radar," said UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres during a videoconference of donors held at the body's headquarters. Created in 2005, the fund "has helped millions of people get food, health care, shelter and protection this year," Lowcock said. In 2020, CERF helped 65 million people in 52 countries and territories, for a total amount of more than $900 million. The money was used to fight the Covid-19 pandemic and other diseases, as well as for relief from conflicts or natural disasters, or to avoid famine, according to the statement. The donors' conference for the emergency fund comes a few days after the UN published its estimate of humanitarian needs for 160 million people in 2021, a total of $35 billion.

UN raises $370 million for 2021 emergency fund

After several UK parliamentarians and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the United Nations Chief has also addressed the ongoing farmers' protest in India.&nbsp;

"As to the question of India, what I would say to you is what I've said to others when raising these issues is that people have a right to demonstrate peacefully, and authorities need to let them do so," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for the UN Secretary-General.

Watch |&nbsp;

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Thousands of farmers are demonstrating from several days at border areas of the national capital against three farm laws that were approved in September.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/diljit-dosanjh-makes-surprise-appearance-at-singhu-border-to-support-farmers-347750">Diljit Dosanjh makes surprise appearance at Singhu border to support farmers</a>

Earlier, Trudeau extended his support to the protests despite strong opposition from New Delhi, calling it India's internal matter.&nbsp;

At least 36 parliamentarians of various parties in the UK have also written a letter to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to take up the matter with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar as it affects many British Sikhs and Punjabis.&nbsp;

"This is an issue of particular concern to Sikhs in the UK and those linked to Punjab, although it also heavily impacts on other Indian states. Many British Sikhs and Punjabis have taken this matter up with their MPs, as they are directly affected with family members and ancestral land in Punjab," the content of the letter said.

"This is a joint letter calling for representation to be made by yourself to your Indian counterpart about the impact on British Sikhs and Punjabis, with longstanding links to land and farming in India."&nbsp;

After several UK parliamentarians and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the United Nations Chief has also addressed the ongoing farmers' protest in India. "As to the question of India, what I would say to you is what I've said to others when raising these issues is that people have a right to demonstrate peacefully, and authorities need to let them do so," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for the UN Secretary-General.

After several UK parliamentarians and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the United Nations Chief has also addressed the ongoing farmers' protest in India. "As to the question of India, what I would say to you is what I've said to others when raising these issues is that people have a right to demonstrate peacefully, and authorities need to let them do so," said Stephane Dujarric, the spokesman for the UN Secretary-General. Watch | Thousands of farmers are demonstrating from several days at border areas of the national capital against three farm laws that were approved in September. Also read | Diljit Dosanjh makes surprise appearance at Singhu border to support farmers Earlier, Trudeau extended his support to the protests despite strong opposition from New Delhi, calling it India's internal matter. At least 36 parliamentarians of various parties in the UK have also written a letter to Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab to take up the matter with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar as it affects many British Sikhs and Punjabis. "This is an issue of particular concern to Sikhs in the UK and those linked to Punjab, although it also heavily impacts on other Indian states. Many British Sikhs and Punjabis have taken this matter up with their MPs, as they are directly affected with family members and ancestral land in Punjab," the content of the letter said. "This is a joint letter calling for representation to be made by yourself to your Indian counterpart about the impact on British Sikhs and Punjabis, with longstanding links to land and farming in India."

UN chief comments on farmers protest in India

The United Nations on Friday said that the fighting in the conflicted region of Tigray in Ethiopia still continues, hampering the efforts to deliver humanitarian aid.

Last week, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared victory a month after the fighting began, causing bombings, ground combat, among other things by both the sides.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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However, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) vowed to continue fighting.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ethiopia-united-nations-agree-on-humanitarian-access-to-war-hit-tigray-347175">Ethiopia, United Nations agree on humanitarian access to war-hit Tigray</a>

"We have reports of fighting still going on in many parts of Tigray. This is concerning and it's a complex situation for us," Saviano Abreu, spokesman for the UN's humanitarian coordination office told news agency AFP.&nbsp;

The UN on Wednesday said it had reached a deal to carry out aid work in areas of Tigray that were run by the government.&nbsp;

However, three UN officials confirmed to AFP that security assessments are ongoing and aid was not expected to come before next week.&nbsp;

"Basically, at the moment there is no access," an official said. &nbsp;

The conflict in Tigray has caused a humanitarian crisis as thousands of people have already lost their lives and tens of thousands are seeking refuge in Sudan.&nbsp;

The UN has also been warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in the region.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The United Nations on Friday said that the fighting in the conflicted region of Tigray in Ethiopia still continues, hampering the efforts to deliver humanitarian aid.

The United Nations on Friday said that the fighting in the conflicted region of Tigray in Ethiopia still continues, hampering the efforts to deliver humanitarian aid. Last week, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared victory a month after the fighting began, causing bombings, ground combat, among other things by both the sides. Watch | However, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) vowed to continue fighting. Also read | Ethiopia, United Nations agree on humanitarian access to war-hit Tigray "We have reports of fighting still going on in many parts of Tigray. This is concerning and it's a complex situation for us," Saviano Abreu, spokesman for the UN's humanitarian coordination office told news agency AFP. The UN on Wednesday said it had reached a deal to carry out aid work in areas of Tigray that were run by the government. However, three UN officials confirmed to AFP that security assessments are ongoing and aid was not expected to come before next week. "Basically, at the moment there is no access," an official said. The conflict in Tigray has caused a humanitarian crisis as thousands of people have already lost their lives and tens of thousands are seeking refuge in Sudan. The UN has also been warning of a humanitarian catastrophe in the region.

Fighting in Ethiopia's Tigray continues; humanitarian aid stalled: UN

Pakistan faces another rejection. Over 100 nations at UN declined to support the Pakistan resolution. Pakistan's resolution on Islamophobia get's rejected due to its poor track record of safeguarding minorities.

Pakistan resolution on Islamophobia gets rejected by 100 Nations

United Nations on Friday expressed its concern over Human Rights conditions in Belarus. The country has been roiled with protests in number of cities. UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said that the human rights situation in Belarus has seen a "continued deterioration" in recent weeks.

"I regret to report that since the (UN human rights) council's urgent debate on Belarus in September, there has been no improvement in the human rights situation in the country. On the contrary, recent weeks have seen continued deterioration, particularly with respect to the right of peaceful assembly," she told the council.

Continuous protests have rocked Belarus ever since country's strongman Alexander Lukashenko claimed to have won sixth presidential term in elections held in August. The opposition alleges that the elections were rigged and political novice Svetlana Tikhanovskaya -- who ran against Lukashenko in the place of her jailed husband -- was the true winner of the polls. The country has seen widespread protests ever since.

In recent weeks, authorities imposed an intense crackdown in which hundreds were detained and protesters were prevented from gathering in central Minsk.

Bachelet pointed to reports that more than 27,000 people had been arrested since the August 9 vote, with around 1,000 reportedly arrested on November 8 and 700 on November 15.

Senior citizens were among some of the peaceful protesters taken into custody.

The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights decried "multiple and credible reports of people beaten by members of the security forces during and after their transport to police stations or detention centres," warning that such incidents could amount to torture.

She also voiced particular alarm over the "numerous allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in custody," pointing to the some 2,000 complaints reportedly lodged by the end of October.&nbsp;

Among those rounded up since August were 373 journalists, including six who remain in detention, Bachelet said, stressing that lawyers associated with the opposition were also under pressure, with some facing criminal charges and others disbarred.

Most of the diplomats who participated in the hybrid session echoed Bachelet's concerns, denouncing police violence and the crackdown on protesters.

Some, including Russia, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela, came to Belarus's defence&nbsp;

Russian ambassador Gennady Gatilov reminded the council of police violence in a range of other countries, including in France and the United States.

"The champions of human rights are very discreet about all of that," he said.

(With AFP inputs)

United Nations on Friday expressed its concern over Human Rights conditions in Belarus. The country has been roiled with protests in number of cities. UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said that the human rights situation in Belarus has seen a "continued deterioration" in recent weeks.

United Nations on Friday expressed its concern over Human Rights conditions in Belarus. The country has been roiled with protests in number of cities. UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet said that the human rights situation in Belarus has seen a "continued deterioration" in recent weeks. "I regret to report that since the (UN human rights) council's urgent debate on Belarus in September, there has been no improvement in the human rights situation in the country. On the contrary, recent weeks have seen continued deterioration, particularly with respect to the right of peaceful assembly," she told the council. Continuous protests have rocked Belarus ever since country's strongman Alexander Lukashenko claimed to have won sixth presidential term in elections held in August. The opposition alleges that the elections were rigged and political novice Svetlana Tikhanovskaya -- who ran against Lukashenko in the place of her jailed husband -- was the true winner of the polls. The country has seen widespread protests ever since. In recent weeks, authorities imposed an intense crackdown in which hundreds were detained and protesters were prevented from gathering in central Minsk. Bachelet pointed to reports that more than 27,000 people had been arrested since the August 9 vote, with around 1,000 reportedly arrested on November 8 and 700 on November 15. Senior citizens were among some of the peaceful protesters taken into custody. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights decried "multiple and credible reports of people beaten by members of the security forces during and after their transport to police stations or detention centres," warning that such incidents could amount to torture. She also voiced particular alarm over the "numerous allegations of torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in custody," pointing to the some 2,000 complaints reportedly lodged by the end of October. Among those rounded up since August were 373 journalists, including six who remain in detention, Bachelet said, stressing that lawyers associated with the opposition were also under pressure, with some facing criminal charges and others disbarred. Most of the diplomats who participated in the hybrid session echoed Bachelet's concerns, denouncing police violence and the crackdown on protesters. Some, including Russia, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela, came to Belarus's defence Russian ambassador Gennady Gatilov reminded the council of police violence in a range of other countries, including in France and the United States. "The champions of human rights are very discreet about all of that," he said. (With AFP inputs)

Belarus: UN worried about 'continued deterioration' of human rights conditions

The United Nations said Friday that fighting continued "in many parts" of Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, complicating efforts to deliver humanitarian aid despite an agreement granting the UN access to territory under federal control.

"We have reports of fighting still going on in many parts of Tigray. This is concerning and it's a complex situation for us," Saviano Abreu, spokesman for the UN's humanitarian coordination office, told AFP.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced military operations in Tigray a month ago, saying they were targeting leaders of the region's ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

Thousands have died, according to the International Crisis Group, and tens of thousands of refugees have streamed across the border into Sudan.

Last week Abiy declared victory and said fighting was "completed" after federal forces entered the regional capital Mekele, but the TPLF has vowed to fight on.

The UN has been warning of a possible humanitarian catastrophe within Tigray, though a communications blackout has made it difficult to assess conditions on the ground.

On Wednesday the UN announced it had reached an agreement to administer aid in government-controlled areas of Tigray.

But as of Friday security assessments were still being conducted, and three UN officials told AFP that aid was not expected to arrive before next week.

"Basically, at the moment there is no access," one official said, arguing that the UN and the government "should have held off" on announcing the deal until preparations were further along.

"When you go public in the fashion they did, it creates expectations for people who think, 'Access has been given, why is help not reaching us?'" the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject.

The UN is continuing to negotiate "with all parties to the conflict" to ensure unfettered access, Abreu said.&nbsp;

"We have been granted this access, this agreement with the federal government. But we also have to have the same kind of agreement with all parties to the conflict to make sure we actually have unconditional free access to Tigray," he said.&nbsp;

Tigrayan leader Debretsion Gebremichael said Thursday that fighting occurred "around Mekele", and several diplomats also told AFP that clashes persisted in multiple locations in Tigray.

The United Nations said Friday that fighting continued "in many parts" of Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, complicating efforts to deliver humanitarian aid despite an agreement granting the UN access to territory under federal control.

The United Nations said Friday that fighting continued "in many parts" of Ethiopia's northern Tigray region, complicating efforts to deliver humanitarian aid despite an agreement granting the UN access to territory under federal control. "We have reports of fighting still going on in many parts of Tigray. This is concerning and it's a complex situation for us," Saviano Abreu, spokesman for the UN's humanitarian coordination office, told AFP. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced military operations in Tigray a month ago, saying they were targeting leaders of the region's ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). Thousands have died, according to the International Crisis Group, and tens of thousands of refugees have streamed across the border into Sudan. Last week Abiy declared victory and said fighting was "completed" after federal forces entered the regional capital Mekele, but the TPLF has vowed to fight on. The UN has been warning of a possible humanitarian catastrophe within Tigray, though a communications blackout has made it difficult to assess conditions on the ground. On Wednesday the UN announced it had reached an agreement to administer aid in government-controlled areas of Tigray. But as of Friday security assessments were still being conducted, and three UN officials told AFP that aid was not expected to arrive before next week. "Basically, at the moment there is no access," one official said, arguing that the UN and the government "should have held off" on announcing the deal until preparations were further along. "When you go public in the fashion they did, it creates expectations for people who think, 'Access has been given, why is help not reaching us?'" the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the subject. The UN is continuing to negotiate "with all parties to the conflict" to ensure unfettered access, Abreu said. "We have been granted this access, this agreement with the federal government. But we also have to have the same kind of agreement with all parties to the conflict to make sure we actually have unconditional free access to Tigray," he said. Tigrayan leader Debretsion Gebremichael said Thursday that fighting occurred "around Mekele", and several diplomats also told AFP that clashes persisted in multiple locations in Tigray.

UN says Tigray fighting hampers aid delivery despite deal

Ethiopia and the United Nations have agreed to channel humanitarian access&nbsp;to the northern region of Tigray.

Federal troops have been battling the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and have captured the regional capital Mekelle. A month of war is believed to have killed thousands of combatants and civilians in the region.

The accord "seeks to enable unimpeded, sustained and secure access for humanitarian personnel and services in areas under the control of the federal government in Tigray and the bordering areas of Amhara and Afar regions", Xinhua news agency quoted the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) as saying in a statement on Wednesday. 
 
An assessment and response mission already is under way to the east in Afar`s border areas to reach the internally displaced. 
 
"We, along with our humanitarian partners in Ethiopia, are engaging with the federal government and all parties to the conflict to ensure that humanitarian action in Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions is strictly based on needs," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. 
 
The agreement aims to help people without distinction of any kind other than the urgency of their needs, Dujarric told a regular press briefing. 
 
The world organization and humanitarian partners have been seeking access to the affected areas for weeks. 
 
More than 800,000 people are already in urgent need of assistance in Tigray, including about 96,000 Eritrean refugees and nearly 600,000 people who were relying on food aid, humanitarians said. 
 
About 46,000 people fled into Sudan, the UN Refugee Agency reported earlier in the week. 
&nbsp;

The pact announced by UN officials will allow relief into government-controlled areas of Tigray.

The Ethiopian conflict has forced more than 45,000 refugees to flee into Sudan, displaced many more within Tigray and worsened suffering in a region where 600,000 people already depended on food aid even before hostilities broke out on November 4.

Four Ethiopian employees of two foreign aid agencies were killed in a camp for Eritrean refugees in Tigray last month, a humanitarian and a diplomatic source said.

Also, food is said to be running out for 96,000 Eritrean refugees in Tigray who have fled repression in their own country, and medics in Mekelle are falling short of painkillers, gloves and bodybags, the International Committee of the Red Cross said.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared victory after the fall of Mekelle on Saturday, but there has has been little verifiable information from the highland city of 500,000 people since.

TPLF leaders fled for the hills, from where they say they continue to fight.

Abiy, who hails from the larger Oromo and Amharic ethic groups, calls the Tigrayan leaders criminals opposing national unity and plotting attacks in Addis Ababa and elsewhere.

Federal police blamed the TPLF, without proof, for a small blast in the capital on Wednesday that injured an officer lightly. There was no immediate response from the TPLF.

"Wars are not like taps that you turn on and then turn off. This is going to be a very long, drawn-out process," Horn of Africa expert Rashid Abdi told an online forum.

(with inputs from agencies)

Ethiopia and the United Nations have agreed to channel humanitarian access to the northern region of Tigray. Federal troops have been battling the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and have captured the regional capital Mekelle.

Ethiopia and the United Nations have agreed to channel humanitarian access to the northern region of Tigray. Federal troops have been battling the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and have captured the regional capital Mekelle. A month of war is believed to have killed thousands of combatants and civilians in the region. The accord "seeks to enable unimpeded, sustained and secure access for humanitarian personnel and services in areas under the control of the federal government in Tigray and the bordering areas of Amhara and Afar regions", Xinhua news agency quoted the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) as saying in a statement on Wednesday. An assessment and response mission already is under way to the east in Afar`s border areas to reach the internally displaced. "We, along with our humanitarian partners in Ethiopia, are engaging with the federal government and all parties to the conflict to ensure that humanitarian action in Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions is strictly based on needs," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The agreement aims to help people without distinction of any kind other than the urgency of their needs, Dujarric told a regular press briefing. The world organization and humanitarian partners have been seeking access to the affected areas for weeks. More than 800,000 people are already in urgent need of assistance in Tigray, including about 96,000 Eritrean refugees and nearly 600,000 people who were relying on food aid, humanitarians said. About 46,000 people fled into Sudan, the UN Refugee Agency reported earlier in the week. The pact announced by UN officials will allow relief into government-controlled areas of Tigray. The Ethiopian conflict has forced more than 45,000 refugees to flee into Sudan, displaced many more within Tigray and worsened suffering in a region where 600,000 people already depended on food aid even before hostilities broke out on November 4. Four Ethiopian employees of two foreign aid agencies were killed in a camp for Eritrean refugees in Tigray last month, a humanitarian and a diplomatic source said. Also, food is said to be running out for 96,000 Eritrean refugees in Tigray who have fled repression in their own country, and medics in Mekelle are falling short of painkillers, gloves and bodybags, the International Committee of the Red Cross said. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed declared victory after the fall of Mekelle on Saturday, but there has has been little verifiable information from the highland city of 500,000 people since. TPLF leaders fled for the hills, from where they say they continue to fight. Abiy, who hails from the larger Oromo and Amharic ethic groups, calls the Tigrayan leaders criminals opposing national unity and plotting attacks in Addis Ababa and elsewhere. Federal police blamed the TPLF, without proof, for a small blast in the capital on Wednesday that injured an officer lightly. There was no immediate response from the TPLF. "Wars are not like taps that you turn on and then turn off. This is going to be a very long, drawn-out process," Horn of Africa expert Rashid Abdi told an online forum. (with inputs from agencies)

Ethiopia, United Nations agree on humanitarian access to war-hit Tigray

Post the World Health Organization's recommendation, a United Nations commission voted on Wednesday to remove cannabis for medicinal uses from the list of world's most dangerous drugs.&nbsp;

The Commission for Narcotic Drugs, that includes 53 member states, narrowly voted 27-25 in favour of removing cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/argentina-to-allow-medicinal-marijuana-to-be-grown-at-home-342930">Argentina to allow medicinal marijuana to be grown at home</a>&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

Earlier, cannabis was put listed alongside highly addictive opioids like heroin.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/new-zealand-euthanasia-gets-immense-support-suspense-on-marijuana-continues-339009">New Zealand: Euthanasia gets immense support, suspense on marijuana continues</a>

The decision was a "big step forward" for recognising the positive impact of cannabis on the health of people, said Dirk Heitepriem, a vice president at Canopy Growth, a Canadian cannabis organisation, as quoted by The New York Times.&nbsp;

"We hope this will empower more countries to create frameworks which allow patients in need to get access to treatment."

The vote comes after the WHO in 2019 recommended that "cannabis and cannabis resin should be scheduled at a level of control that will prevent harm caused by cannabis use and at the same time will not act as a barrier to access and to research and development of cannabis-related preparation for medical use."

The UN health agency has also found that marijuana doesn't pose any significant risk of death and has shown encouraging signs to alleviate pain and treat epilepsy.&nbsp;

Post the World Health Organization's recommendation, a United Nations commission voted on Wednesday to remove cannabis for medicinal uses from the list of world's most dangerous drugs.

Post the World Health Organization's recommendation, a United Nations commission voted on Wednesday to remove cannabis for medicinal uses from the list of world's most dangerous drugs. The Commission for Narcotic Drugs, that includes 53 member states, narrowly voted 27-25 in favour of removing cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV of the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. Also read | Argentina to allow medicinal marijuana to be grown at home Earlier, cannabis was put listed alongside highly addictive opioids like heroin. Also read | New Zealand: Euthanasia gets immense support, suspense on marijuana continues The decision was a "big step forward" for recognising the positive impact of cannabis on the health of people, said Dirk Heitepriem, a vice president at Canopy Growth, a Canadian cannabis organisation, as quoted by The New York Times. "We hope this will empower more countries to create frameworks which allow patients in need to get access to treatment." The vote comes after the WHO in 2019 recommended that "cannabis and cannabis resin should be scheduled at a level of control that will prevent harm caused by cannabis use and at the same time will not act as a barrier to access and to research and development of cannabis-related preparation for medical use." The UN health agency has also found that marijuana doesn't pose any significant risk of death and has shown encouraging signs to alleviate pain and treat epilepsy.

UN removes cannabis from list of world's most dangerous drugs

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday rejected a bill approved by parliament that would have suspended U.N. inspections and boosted uranium enrichment, saying it was "harmful" to diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring the 2015 nuclear deal and easing US&nbsp;sanctions.

The tug-of-war over the bill, which gained momentum after the killing of a prominent Iranian nuclear scientist last month, reflects the rivalry between Rouhani, a relative moderate, and hard-line lawmakers who dominate parliament and favor a more confrontational approach&nbsp;to the West.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/un-security-council-unlikely-to-act-on-iran-scientist-killing-diplomats-346796">UN Security Council unlikely to act on Iran scientist killing: Diplomats&nbsp;</a>

The bill would have suspended U.N. inspections of&nbsp;Iran's nuclear facilities and to "produce and store 120 kilogrammes per year of uranium enriched to 20 percent"&nbsp;if European nations failed to provide relief from crippling US&nbsp;sanctions on the country's oil and banking sectors. That level falls short of the threshold needed for nuclear weapons but is higher than that required for civilian purposes.

Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Rouhani said his administration, "does not agree with the bill and considers it harmful to the ongoing diplomatic work." He implied the lawmakers were positioning themselves ahead of elections planned for June.

He said there had been speculation in the media that he had not gone to parliament because of the bill.

"Not going to parliament is solely because of (coronavirus) safety guidelines," he said.

The Iranian parliament's backing on Tuesday of a plan to end nuclear inspections after the assassination of the country's top nuclear scientist has met immediate opposition from the government.

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Deputies supported a draft bill "for the lifting of sanctions and protection of the Iranian people's interests", saying they wanted to achieve the objectives of "martyred" scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.

Fakhrizadeh was assassinated on a major road outside Tehran on Friday in a bomb and gun attack that the Islamic republic has blamed on its arch foe Israel.

"The government has explicitly announced that it does not agree with (this) plan" which it considers "neither necessary nor useful", foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told a news conference Tuesday.

Seemingly in response to Israel's characterisation of Fakhrizadeh as the father of a secret nuclear weapons programme, Khatibzadeh said that the scientist had been "one of the main assistants behind the scenes in discussions" that led to the 2015 accord.

State news agency IRNA on Tuesday released undated pictures of Fakhrizadeh&nbsp;being awarded a medal by&nbsp;Iran's President Hassan Rouhani for his "contribution" to the Vienna agreement. &nbsp;

The multilateral accord has been hanging by a thread since 2018, when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States and reimposed sanctions that have battered&nbsp;Iran's economy.

The Islamic republic has retaliated by gradually rolling back most of its commitments under the nuclear deal.

In its latest report last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;had enriched uranium over the 3.67 percent limit set out in the 2015 accord.

The UN's nuclear watchdog said that&nbsp;Iran&nbsp;had not exceeded the threshold of 4.5 percent and that the country was still complying with its strict inspections regime.

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday,&nbsp;Iran's government spokesman Ali Rabiei emphasised that the only institution mandated to make decisions on the country's nuclear programme was the Supreme National Security Council.

He also noted that any decisions made by that body require approval by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.&nbsp;

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday rejected a bill approved by parliament that would have suspended U.N. inspections and boosted uranium enrichment, saying it was "harmful" to diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring the 2015 nuclear deal and easing US sanctions.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday rejected a bill approved by parliament that would have suspended U.N. inspections and boosted uranium enrichment, saying it was "harmful" to diplomatic efforts aimed at restoring the 2015 nuclear deal and easing US sanctions. The tug-of-war over the bill, which gained momentum after the killing of a prominent Iranian nuclear scientist last month, reflects the rivalry between Rouhani, a relative moderate, and hard-line lawmakers who dominate parliament and favor a more confrontational approach to the West. Also read| UN Security Council unlikely to act on Iran scientist killing: Diplomats The bill would have suspended U.N. inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities and to "produce and store 120 kilogrammes per year of uranium enriched to 20 percent" if European nations failed to provide relief from crippling US sanctions on the country's oil and banking sectors. That level falls short of the threshold needed for nuclear weapons but is higher than that required for civilian purposes. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting, Rouhani said his administration, "does not agree with the bill and considers it harmful to the ongoing diplomatic work." He implied the lawmakers were positioning themselves ahead of elections planned for June. He said there had been speculation in the media that he had not gone to parliament because of the bill. "Not going to parliament is solely because of (coronavirus) safety guidelines," he said. The Iranian parliament's backing on Tuesday of a plan to end nuclear inspections after the assassination of the country's top nuclear scientist has met immediate opposition from the government. Deputies supported a draft bill "for the lifting of sanctions and protection of the Iranian people's interests", saying they wanted to achieve the objectives of "martyred" scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. Fakhrizadeh was assassinated on a major road outside Tehran on Friday in a bomb and gun attack that the Islamic republic has blamed on its arch foe Israel. "The government has explicitly announced that it does not agree with (this) plan" which it considers "neither necessary nor useful", foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told a news conference Tuesday. Seemingly in response to Israel's characterisation of Fakhrizadeh as the father of a secret nuclear weapons programme, Khatibzadeh said that the scientist had been "one of the main assistants behind the scenes in discussions" that led to the 2015 accord. State news agency IRNA on Tuesday released undated pictures of Fakhrizadeh being awarded a medal by Iran's President Hassan Rouhani for his "contribution" to the Vienna agreement. The multilateral accord has been hanging by a thread since 2018, when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the United States and reimposed sanctions that have battered Iran's economy. The Islamic republic has retaliated by gradually rolling back most of its commitments under the nuclear deal. In its latest report last month, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran had enriched uranium over the 3.67 percent limit set out in the 2015 accord. The UN's nuclear watchdog said that Iran had not exceeded the threshold of 4.5 percent and that the country was still complying with its strict inspections regime. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Iran's government spokesman Ali Rabiei emphasised that the only institution mandated to make decisions on the country's nuclear programme was the Supreme National Security Council. He also noted that any decisions made by that body require approval by supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Iran's President Hassan Rouhani says parliament nuclear bill 'harmful'

United Nations' estimates has suggested that nearly $35 Billion needed to provide aid to the needy in 2021 as the pandemic left millions of people in crisis.

UN estimates suggest nearly $35 Bn needed to provide aid to needy in 2021

Around 3.2 billion people across the world live in agricultural areas with high or very high water shortages or scarcity, of whom 1.2 billion people live in areas with very high water constraints, according to data from a report.

A report titled 'The State of Food and Agriculture 2020:Overcoming water challenges in agriculture' by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations published on Thursday shows&nbsp;fresh water available for each person has plunged by a fifth over two decades.

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About 1.5 billion individuals are enduring serious water shortage or even dry spell, as a blend of atmosphere breakdown, rising interest and helpless administration has made horticulture progressively troublesome across wraps of the globe.&nbsp;

The UN cautioned on Thursday that billions of individuals would confront hunger and broad ongoing food deficiencies because of disappointments to save water assets, and to handle the atmosphere emergency.&nbsp;

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Qu Dongyu, chief general of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stated: "We should pay attention to exceptionally both water shortage (the irregularity among gracefully and interest for freshwater assets) and water deficiencies (reflected in deficient precipitation designs) for they are presently the truth we as a whole live with … Water deficiencies and shortage in farming must be tended to quickly and intensely."&nbsp;

He said that the UN's reasonable advancement objectives, which incorporate clearing out yearning and improving admittance to clean water, were still close enough however substantially more should have been done to improve cultivating rehearses the world over and to oversee assets impartially.&nbsp;

The association's State of Food and Agriculture 2020 report found that 50 million individuals in sub-Saharan Africa live in territories where serious dry season effects affects cropland and pastureland once at regular intervals. In excess of a tenth of the world's rainfed cropland is liable to visit dry spell, as is about 14% of the world's pastureland.&nbsp;

Rainfed agribusiness speaks to 60% of worldwide harvest creation, and 80% of land under development, with the rest profiting by water system. Notwithstanding, water system is no panacea: over 60% of inundated cropland around the globe is profoundly water pushed. Water system of some unacceptable kind can squander water, exhausting non-inexhaustible assets, for example, underground springs, and helpless administration can bring about certain ranchers missing out on water assets – for example, on account of downstream homesteads, if streams and streams are shown dry to upstream water system.&nbsp;

Little scope and rancher drove water system frameworks are regularly more effective than enormous scope extends, the report found. Enormous scope state-supported plans in Asia, for example, have depended on taking advantage of groundwater, squeezing that asset. However, little scope ranchers around the globe face additional troubles, for example, an absence of secure residency over water rights, and little admittance to fund and credit.&nbsp;

Separate exploration has as of late indicated that the world's farmland is progressively being amassed in less hands, with enormous organizations and global proprietors assuming control over wraps of creation, while little ranchers – whose homesteads are frequently run along more earth supportable lines – are progressively being pushed out. About 1% of the world's homesteads work 70% of the universes' farmland.&nbsp;

Food creation must change to lessen ozone harming substance emanations and attempt to fight off atmosphere breakdown, however even this isn't clear, the FAO cautioned. "As the world expects to move to solid eating regimens – regularly made out of moderately water-serious nourishments, for example, vegetables, nuts, poultry and dairy items – the economical utilization of water assets will be perpetually significant," said Qu, previous bad habit priest of horticulture and country issues in China. "Rainfed farming gives the biggest portion of worldwide food creation. In any case, for it to keep on doing as such, we should improve how we oversee water assets from restricted precipitation."&nbsp;

The current year's FAO report centered around water, however a significant part of the association's work this year has been to attempt to stem the potential for the Covid pandemic to offer ascent to inescapable food deficiencies. The association approached governments recently to keep worldwide gracefully chains and food markets open, regardless of the movement limitations coming about because of the pandemic, and these calls appear to have generally been noticed.&nbsp;

The world's reaps this year have commonly been acceptable, with certain special cases, yet a few territories of Africa are as yet under danger of extreme food issues.

&nbsp;

Around 3.2 billion people across the world live in agricultural areas with high or very high water shortages or scarcity, of whom 1.2 billion people live in areas with very high water constraints, according to data from a report.

Around 3.2 billion people across the world live in agricultural areas with high or very high water shortages or scarcity, of whom 1.2 billion people live in areas with very high water constraints, according to data from a report. A report titled 'The State of Food and Agriculture 2020:Overcoming water challenges in agriculture' by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations published on Thursday shows fresh water available for each person has plunged by a fifth over two decades. About 1.5 billion individuals are enduring serious water shortage or even dry spell, as a blend of atmosphere breakdown, rising interest and helpless administration has made horticulture progressively troublesome across wraps of the globe. The UN cautioned on Thursday that billions of individuals would confront hunger and broad ongoing food deficiencies because of disappointments to save water assets, and to handle the atmosphere emergency. Qu Dongyu, chief general of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), stated: "We should pay attention to exceptionally both water shortage (the irregularity among gracefully and interest for freshwater assets) and water deficiencies (reflected in deficient precipitation designs) for they are presently the truth we as a whole live with … Water deficiencies and shortage in farming must be tended to quickly and intensely." He said that the UN's reasonable advancement objectives, which incorporate clearing out yearning and improving admittance to clean water, were still close enough however substantially more should have been done to improve cultivating rehearses the world over and to oversee assets impartially. The association's State of Food and Agriculture 2020 report found that 50 million individuals in sub-Saharan Africa live in territories where serious dry season effects affects cropland and pastureland once at regular intervals. In excess of a tenth of the world's rainfed cropland is liable to visit dry spell, as is about 14% of the world's pastureland. Rainfed agribusiness speaks to 60% of worldwide harvest creation, and 80% of land under development, with the rest profiting by water system. Notwithstanding, water system is no panacea: over 60% of inundated cropland around the globe is profoundly water pushed. Water system of some unacceptable kind can squander water, exhausting non-inexhaustible assets, for example, underground springs, and helpless administration can bring about certain ranchers missing out on water assets – for example, on account of downstream homesteads, if streams and streams are shown dry to upstream water system. Little scope and rancher drove water system frameworks are regularly more effective than enormous scope extends, the report found. Enormous scope state-supported plans in Asia, for example, have depended on taking advantage of groundwater, squeezing that asset. However, little scope ranchers around the globe face additional troubles, for example, an absence of secure residency over water rights, and little admittance to fund and credit. Separate exploration has as of late indicated that the world's farmland is progressively being amassed in less hands, with enormous organizations and global proprietors assuming control over wraps of creation, while little ranchers – whose homesteads are frequently run along more earth supportable lines – are progressively being pushed out. About 1% of the world's homesteads work 70% of the universes' farmland. Food creation must change to lessen ozone harming substance emanations and attempt to fight off atmosphere breakdown, however even this isn't clear, the FAO cautioned. "As the world expects to move to solid eating regimens – regularly made out of moderately water-serious nourishments, for example, vegetables, nuts, poultry and dairy items – the economical utilization of water assets will be perpetually significant," said Qu, previous bad habit priest of horticulture and country issues in China. "Rainfed farming gives the biggest portion of worldwide food creation. In any case, for it to keep on doing as such, we should improve how we oversee water assets from restricted precipitation." The current year's FAO report centered around water, however a significant part of the association's work this year has been to attempt to stem the potential for the Covid pandemic to offer ascent to inescapable food deficiencies. The association approached governments recently to keep worldwide gracefully chains and food markets open, regardless of the movement limitations coming about because of the pandemic, and these calls appear to have generally been noticed. The world's reaps this year have commonly been acceptable, with certain special cases, yet a few territories of Africa are as yet under danger of extreme food issues.

More than 3 billion people affected by water shortages: Report

France is split over plans to ban virginity testing, with some campaigners calling the procedure barbaric and others warning of violent repercussions for some Muslim women.

Women in at least 20 countries are subjected to virginity tests, sometimes by force, as families, lovers, or potential employers use them to assess their virtue, honour, or social value, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

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In Europe, the tests are issued in Belgium, the Netherlands, Britain, Sweden, and Spain, according to the WHO.

Virginity tests in France are&nbsp;most commonly used by Muslims and also by some Roma families who want proof of virginity pre-wedlock.

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In picture: Women protest in France against&nbsp;virginity testing/Reuters

The United Nations says the test is painful, inaccurate, and a violation of human rights, with no place in modern society.

But not everyone agrees, with some experts predicting unintended fallout from France’s proposed ban, which is part of a wider Islamic separatism bill due in parliament next month.

Doctors say it could mean women paying excessive fees for illegal tests or risking violent repercussions from family members, partners, or putative in-laws if they lack proof.

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“Penalising doctors is to close the only door for patients, where they could have found help and advice,” said Ghada Hatem-Gantzer, a gynaecologist in Paris and chief medic at the Maison des Femmes, a local women’s violence shelter.

“It is undoubtedly promoting a black market for certificates that dubious pharmacies will charge dearly for,” she added.

Before issuing a virginity certificate, a doctor usually inspects a woman’s hymen – the thin tissue that may partially cover her vagina – checking for tears or measuring the opening.

It is not clear how many tests are carried out each year, but doctors say they mostly check teenaged girls or young women, often under family pressure.

“There is no data, either official or unofficial, on the number of requests for virginity certificates,” said Martine Hatchuel, another Paris-based gynaecologist.

“Personally I have around two to four requests per year…almost always very young girls brought by their mothers.”

Doctors say single women fear rejection if they cannot show a certificate to families where traditional gender expectations hold sway when it comes to sex before marriage.

“Their motivation is always: ‘it is my parents/my step family/my in-laws who demand it, if it were up to me I wouldn’t ask for anything,’” said Hatem-Gantzer.

But she said the girls and young women who came to her were unanimous in declaring: “‘I don’t want to stay an old maid.’”

Also read|<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/legitimising-violence-emmanuel-macron-slams-reports-calling-france-islamophobic-343406">&nbsp;'Legitimising violence': Emmanuel Macron slams reports calling France islamophobic</a>

Muslims

The French government does not collect such data but think tanks and statistical groups say France has Europe’s largest Muslim minority: about 5 million or 7-8 per cent&nbsp;of the population.

Virginity certificates can help protect women who are suspected of having illicit sex from possible retribution, said Liza Hammer of Collectif Nta Rajel, a French feminist collective for North African emigrees.

“If you want to deal with this issue then women must be taken care of, not prevented from having a piece of paper they need to save their lives,” she said.

Under draft legislation, President Emmanuel Macron is proposing a year in prison and a 15,000-euro ($17,875) fine for any medical professional who issues a virginity certificate.

The rules are part of legislation aimed at reinforcing secular values and fighting what Macron calls an “Islamist separatism” that he said threatens to overrun some communities.

France’s interior and health ministries were not available for comment.

Violent reprisals

While not in favour of the tests, doctors and women’s rights groups worry that some girls and women might fall victim to abuse without a certificate to attest to their virginity.

“In certain extreme situations, the only way out for women is to break up with their family or to turn to the virginity (testing) market,” the French abortion advice group ANCIC said in a statement.

“Professionals need to make the choice that seems the most ethical to them,” the association said.

In an open letter to a French newspaper, a group of 10 doctors called the tests barbaric, backward and sexist.

But they said that banning them could be still worse if doctors fear women might be at risk without their certification.

“To prevent that (test being carried out) would be a disservice to the cause of the patient,” they said.

Better education would do more than a ban to end traditional gender constraints, said ANCIC, the abortion group.

Punishing doctors does not address the root cause - fear and ignorance in Muslim communities, said the group of doctors.

Claudia Garcia-Moreno, the WHO’s lead on Violence against Women, agreed, saying “culturally sensitive” education must go hand in hand with any ban to prevent tests from going underground.

“It needs to include women and girls understanding their rights and protections,” she said.

For Hatem-Gantzer, who sees the fallout from virginity fights first hand at her Paris shelter, a ban will not quickly change such deeply-entrenched attitudes.

“Our only way out is to educate young people relentlessly and to meet their parents to convince them. It’s more tiring and expensive than banning, but it’s more effective,” she said.

France is split over plans to ban virginity testing, with some campaigners calling the procedure barbaric and others warning of violent repercussions for some Muslim women.

France is split over plans to ban virginity testing, with some campaigners calling the procedure barbaric and others warning of violent repercussions for some Muslim women. Women in at least 20 countries are subjected to virginity tests, sometimes by force, as families, lovers, or potential employers use them to assess their virtue, honour, or social value, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). In Europe, the tests are issued in Belgium, the Netherlands, Britain, Sweden, and Spain, according to the WHO. Virginity tests in France are most commonly used by Muslims and also by some Roma families who want proof of virginity pre-wedlock. In picture: Women protest in France against virginity testing/Reuters The United Nations says the test is painful, inaccurate, and a violation of human rights, with no place in modern society. But not everyone agrees, with some experts predicting unintended fallout from France’s proposed ban, which is part of a wider Islamic separatism bill due in parliament next month. Doctors say it could mean women paying excessive fees for illegal tests or risking violent repercussions from family members, partners, or putative in-laws if they lack proof. “Penalising doctors is to close the only door for patients, where they could have found help and advice,” said Ghada Hatem-Gantzer, a gynaecologist in Paris and chief medic at the Maison des Femmes, a local women’s violence shelter. “It is undoubtedly promoting a black market for certificates that dubious pharmacies will charge dearly for,” she added. Before issuing a virginity certificate, a doctor usually inspects a woman’s hymen – the thin tissue that may partially cover her vagina – checking for tears or measuring the opening. It is not clear how many tests are carried out each year, but doctors say they mostly check teenaged girls or young women, often under family pressure. “There is no data, either official or unofficial, on the number of requests for virginity certificates,” said Martine Hatchuel, another Paris-based gynaecologist. “Personally I have around two to four requests per year…almost always very young girls brought by their mothers.” Doctors say single women fear rejection if they cannot show a certificate to families where traditional gender expectations hold sway when it comes to sex before marriage. “Their motivation is always: ‘it is my parents/my step family/my in-laws who demand it, if it were up to me I wouldn’t ask for anything,’” said Hatem-Gantzer. But she said the girls and young women who came to her were unanimous in declaring: “‘I don’t want to stay an old maid.’” Also read| 'Legitimising violence': Emmanuel Macron slams reports calling France islamophobic Muslims The French government does not collect such data but think tanks and statistical groups say France has Europe’s largest Muslim minority: about 5 million or 7-8 per cent of the population. Virginity certificates can help protect women who are suspected of having illicit sex from possible retribution, said Liza Hammer of Collectif Nta Rajel, a French feminist collective for North African emigrees. “If you want to deal with this issue then women must be taken care of, not prevented from having a piece of paper they need to save their lives,” she said. Under draft legislation, President Emmanuel Macron is proposing a year in prison and a 15,000-euro ($17,875) fine for any medical professional who issues a virginity certificate. The rules are part of legislation aimed at reinforcing secular values and fighting what Macron calls an “Islamist separatism” that he said threatens to overrun some communities. France’s interior and health ministries were not available for comment. Violent reprisals While not in favour of the tests, doctors and women’s rights groups worry that some girls and women might fall victim to abuse without a certificate to attest to their virginity. “In certain extreme situations, the only way out for women is to break up with their family or to turn to the virginity (testing) market,” the French abortion advice group ANCIC said in a statement. “Professionals need to make the choice that seems the most ethical to them,” the association said. In an open letter to a French newspaper, a group of 10 doctors called the tests barbaric, backward and sexist. But they said that banning them could be still worse if doctors fear women might be at risk without their certification. “To prevent that (test being carried out) would be a disservice to the cause of the patient,” they said. Better education would do more than a ban to end traditional gender constraints, said ANCIC, the abortion group. Punishing doctors does not address the root cause - fear and ignorance in Muslim communities, said the group of doctors. Claudia Garcia-Moreno, the WHO’s lead on Violence against Women, agreed, saying “culturally sensitive” education must go hand in hand with any ban to prevent tests from going underground. “It needs to include women and girls understanding their rights and protections,” she said. For Hatem-Gantzer, who sees the fallout from virginity fights first hand at her Paris shelter, a ban will not quickly change such deeply-entrenched attitudes. “Our only way out is to educate young people relentlessly and to meet their parents to convince them. It’s more tiring and expensive than banning, but it’s more effective,” she said.

France debates virginity testing as activists fear violent repercussions for women

Pakistan has given UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres a dossier accusing India of stoking terrorism on its soil.

This came a day after India provided a dossier to some UN Security Council members accusing militants from Pakistan of attempting an attack in the disputed Indian territory Kashmir.

The tit-for-tat move comes ahead of India joining the 15-member council for a two-year term starting January 1, 2021.

Pakistan's UN Ambassador Munir Akram accused India of violating international law, the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions by sponsoring terrorism.

He said Pakistan called on Guterres and the international community "to take note of Indian terrorism and subversion against Pakistan and to prevail on India to desist from these illegal and aggressive activities."

A spokesperson for India's mission to the United Nations in New York denied the charges.

"Pakistan can cry hoarse from the rooftops. But they cannot change the fact that they are the epicenter of terrorism," the spokesperson said. "Their lies have no takers."

The Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir has long been a flashpoint between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan, with both claiming Kashmir in full but ruling it in part.&nbsp; 
UN peacekeepers have been deployed since 1949 to observe a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir.

India said on Monday that four militants, belonging to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad, made their way into Indian Kashmir through a tunnel last week and opened fire when their truck was stopped for a routine inspection.

Pakistan has rejected allegations of any involvement in the alleged attack and said they were aimed at diverting attention from India's repression of the people of Kashmir.

The UN Security Council blacklisted the head of the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed in May last year after China dropped its objection to the move, ending a decade-long diplomatic impasse.

(with inputs from Reuters)

Pakistan has given UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres a dossier accusing India of stoking terrorism on its soil. This came a day after India provided a dossier to some UN Security Council members accusing militants from Pakistan of attempting an attack in the disputed Indian territory Kashmir.

Pakistan has given UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres a dossier accusing India of stoking terrorism on its soil. This came a day after India provided a dossier to some UN Security Council members accusing militants from Pakistan of attempting an attack in the disputed Indian territory Kashmir. The tit-for-tat move comes ahead of India joining the 15-member council for a two-year term starting January 1, 2021. Pakistan's UN Ambassador Munir Akram accused India of violating international law, the UN Charter and Security Council resolutions by sponsoring terrorism. He said Pakistan called on Guterres and the international community "to take note of Indian terrorism and subversion against Pakistan and to prevail on India to desist from these illegal and aggressive activities." A spokesperson for India's mission to the United Nations in New York denied the charges. "Pakistan can cry hoarse from the rooftops. But they cannot change the fact that they are the epicenter of terrorism," the spokesperson said. "Their lies have no takers." The Himalayan region of Jammu and Kashmir has long been a flashpoint between nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan, with both claiming Kashmir in full but ruling it in part. UN peacekeepers have been deployed since 1949 to observe a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in Jammu and Kashmir. India said on Monday that four militants, belonging to the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad, made their way into Indian Kashmir through a tunnel last week and opened fire when their truck was stopped for a routine inspection. Pakistan has rejected allegations of any involvement in the alleged attack and said they were aimed at diverting attention from India's repression of the people of Kashmir. The UN Security Council blacklisted the head of the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed in May last year after China dropped its objection to the move, ending a decade-long diplomatic impasse. (with inputs from Reuters)

Pakistan gives UN a dossier on India after India submits one on it

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