Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Sunday called Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan a chaprasi&nbsp;(peon), adding that Islamabad is run by the military, ISI and terrorists.

"Imran Khan is nothing but a 'chaprasi'&nbsp;because the country (Pakistan) is run by the military, ISI and terrorists, and Imran Khan is just one of the 'chaprasi'&nbsp;of the government. He may be called the Prime Minister, but he is a 'chaprasi'," Swamy said while addressing a press conference in Tripura.

"There is only one solution to Pakistan. Balochis don't want to be part of Pakistan, Sindhis don't want to be part of Pakistan, Pashtuns don't want to be part of Pakistan, so break Pakistan into four parts - these three (Baloch, Sindh, Pashtun) and the residual West Punjab.... I also think that (External Affairs Minister) Sushma Swaraj should not waste her breath speaking about Pakistan in the UN because Pakistan gets psychic pleasure when India abuses it. Just ignore Pakistan, prepare your military and one day break it up into four," he added.

Swamy's statement comes after Swaraj on Saturday used the United Nations platform to highlight the serious issue of Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism and human rights violations in India.

Meanwhile, speaking on Bangladesh, Swamy said, "India will continue to support it, but Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should be warned to stop those mad people from demolishing Hindu temples, converting Hindu temples into Masjid and converting Hindus to Muslims.

If Bangladesh does not stop torturing the Hindus, I would recommend that our government invades Bangladesh and takes it over."

Swamy was in Agartala to attend a programme of 'Sanskritik Gaurav Sansthan'&nbsp;Tripura unit.&nbsp;

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Sunday called Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan a chaprasi (peon), adding that Islamabad is run by the military, ISI and terrorists.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Sunday called Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan a chaprasi (peon), adding that Islamabad is run by the military, ISI and terrorists. "Imran Khan is nothing but a 'chaprasi' because the country (Pakistan) is run by the military, ISI and terrorists, and Imran Khan is just one of the 'chaprasi' of the government. He may be called the Prime Minister, but he is a 'chaprasi'," Swamy said while addressing a press conference in Tripura. "There is only one solution to Pakistan. Balochis don't want to be part of Pakistan, Sindhis don't want to be part of Pakistan, Pashtuns don't want to be part of Pakistan, so break Pakistan into four parts - these three (Baloch, Sindh, Pashtun) and the residual West Punjab.... I also think that (External Affairs Minister) Sushma Swaraj should not waste her breath speaking about Pakistan in the UN because Pakistan gets psychic pleasure when India abuses it. Just ignore Pakistan, prepare your military and one day break it up into four," he added. Swamy's statement comes after Swaraj on Saturday used the United Nations platform to highlight the serious issue of Pakistan-sponsored cross-border terrorism and human rights violations in India. Meanwhile, speaking on Bangladesh, Swamy said, "India will continue to support it, but Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina should be warned to stop those mad people from demolishing Hindu temples, converting Hindu temples into Masjid and converting Hindus to Muslims. If Bangladesh does not stop torturing the Hindus, I would recommend that our government invades Bangladesh and takes it over." Swamy was in Agartala to attend a programme of 'Sanskritik Gaurav Sansthan' Tripura unit.

ISI, Army and terrorists run Pakistan; Imran Khan a 'chaprasi': Subramanian Swamy

Diplomats gathering in South Korea Monday will find themselves in the awkward position of vetting and validating a major UN scientific report that underscores the failure of their governments to take stronger action on climate.

The UN special report on global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels began as a request from the 195 nations that inked the Paris Agreement in 2015.

That landmark pact called for capping the rise in global temperature to "well-below" 2C, and invited countries to submit voluntary national plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

To the surprise of many -- especially scientists, who had based nearly a decade of research on the assumption that 2C was the politically acceptable guardrail for a climate-safe world -- the treaty also called for a good-faith effort to cap warming at the lower threshold.

At the same time, countries asked the UN's climate science authority, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to detail what a 1.5C world would look like, and how hard it might be to prevent a further rise in temperature.

Three years and many drafts later, the answer has come in the form of a 400-page report -- grounded in an assessment of 6,000 peer-reviewed studies -- that delivers a stark, double-barrelled message: 1.5C is enough to unleash climate mayhem, and the pathways to avoiding an even hotter world require a swift and complete transformation not just of the global economy, but of society too.

With only one degree Celsius of warming so far, the world has seen a climate-enhanced crescendo of deadly heatwaves, wild fires and floods, along with superstorms swollen by rising seas.

- Line-by-line vetting - 
"I don't know how you can possibly read this and find it anything other than wildly alarming," said Peter Frumhoff, director of science and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a Washington-based research and advocacy group, referring to the draft Summary for Policy Makers.

Government representatives -- often the same ones in the trenches at UN climate negotiations -- will spend the entire week going through the 22-page executive summary, line-by-line.

With scientists at their elbow, they will check it against the underlying report and, if the past is any guide, attempt to blunt conclusions deemed inconvenient by their governments. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"Some countries, such as Saudi Arabia, have threatened to be obstructionist," said one of the report's authors.&nbsp;

China is said to have reservations on the chapters outlining policy options, concerned that some of the measures outlined may be too ambitious.

But the joker in the pack is the United States, several delates and observers noted.

"This is the first report coming up for approval since the Trump administration took office," said Michael Oppenheimer, a professor of geosciences and international affairs at Princeton University, and an IPCC author on a another report-in-progress.&nbsp;

"That's a real wild card."

US a 'wild card'

There are few clues as to what the United States might say or do in Incheon, which has left a lot of people nervous.

"The US could, as they have in the past, support the science," said one contributing author.&nbsp;

"Or they could become obstructionist -- maybe Fox News will decide to shine a spotlight on the meeting."

A State Department spokesperson confirmed to AFP that veteran climate diplomat Trigg Talley will head the US delegation, a development one veteran IPCC author described as "reassuring."

"Never in the history of the IPCC has there been a report that is so politically charged," said Henri Waisman, a senior researcher at the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, and one of the report's 86 authors.

Governments looking for a straightforward answer to the question of whether the 1.5C target can be reached are likely to be disappointed, he added.

"The report isn't going to simply say 'yes' or 'no'," he told AFP.

"Our goal was to put as much information as possible into the hands of policy makers so they can step up to their responsibilities."

Many scientists say the goal is feasible on paper, but would require political will and economic transformations that are not on the near-term horizon.

"In my view, 1.5C stabilisation is extremely difficult if not impossible at this point, while 2C stabilisation is an uphill challenge but doable," Michael Mann, director of the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University, told AFP.

Diplomats gathering in South Korea Monday will find themselves in the awkward position of vetting and validating a major UN scientific report that underscores the failure of their governments to take stronger action on climate.

Diplomats gathering in South Korea Monday will find themselves in the awkward position of vetting and validating a major UN scientific report that underscores the failure of their governments to take stronger action on climate. The UN special report on global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above preindustrial levels began as a request from the 195 nations that inked the Paris Agreement in 2015. That landmark pact called for capping the rise in global temperature to "well-below" 2C, and invited countries to submit voluntary national plans for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To the surprise of many -- especially scientists, who had based nearly a decade of research on the assumption that 2C was the politically acceptable guardrail for a climate-safe world -- the treaty also called for a good-faith effort to cap warming at the lower threshold. At the same time, countries asked the UN's climate science authority, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), to detail what a 1.5C world would look like, and how hard it might be to prevent a further rise in temperature. Three years and many drafts later, the answer has come in the form of a 400-page report -- grounded in an assessment of 6,000 peer-reviewed studies -- that delivers a stark, double-barrelled message: 1.5C is enough to unleash climate mayhem, and the pathways to avoiding an even hotter world require a swift and complete transformation not just of the global economy, but of society too. With only one degree Celsius of warming so far, the world has seen a climate-enhanced crescendo of deadly heatwaves, wild fires and floods, along with superstorms swollen by rising seas. - Line-by-line vetting - "I don't know how you can possibly read this and find it anything other than wildly alarming," said Peter Frumhoff, director of science and policy at the Union of Concerned Scientists, a Washington-based research and advocacy group, referring to the draft Summary for Policy Makers. Government representatives -- often the same ones in the trenches at UN climate negotiations -- will spend the entire week going through the 22-page executive summary, line-by-line. With scientists at their elbow, they will check it against the underlying report and, if the past is any guide, attempt to blunt conclusions deemed inconvenient by their governments. "Some countries, such as Saudi Arabia, have threatened to be obstructionist," said one of the report's authors. China is said to have reservations on the chapters outlining policy options, concerned that some of the measures outlined may be too ambitious. But the joker in the pack is the United States, several delates and observers noted. "This is the first report coming up for approval since the Trump administration took office," said Michael Oppenheimer, a professor of geosciences and international affairs at Princeton University, and an IPCC author on a another report-in-progress. "That's a real wild card." US a 'wild card' There are few clues as to what the United States might say or do in Incheon, which has left a lot of people nervous. "The US could, as they have in the past, support the science," said one contributing author. "Or they could become obstructionist -- maybe Fox News will decide to shine a spotlight on the meeting." A State Department spokesperson confirmed to AFP that veteran climate diplomat Trigg Talley will head the US delegation, a development one veteran IPCC author described as "reassuring." "Never in the history of the IPCC has there been a report that is so politically charged," said Henri Waisman, a senior researcher at the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations, and one of the report's 86 authors. Governments looking for a straightforward answer to the question of whether the 1.5C target can be reached are likely to be disappointed, he added. "The report isn't going to simply say 'yes' or 'no'," he told AFP. "Our goal was to put as much information as possible into the hands of policy makers so they can step up to their responsibilities." Many scientists say the goal is feasible on paper, but would require political will and economic transformations that are not on the near-term horizon. "In my view, 1.5C stabilisation is extremely difficult if not impossible at this point, while 2C stabilisation is an uphill challenge but doable," Michael Mann, director of the Earth System Science Center at Pennsylvania State University, told AFP.

UN report spotlights government inaction on climate

UN chief Antonio Guterres has said that the Rohingya people are one of the most discriminated against people in the world, emphasising that there must be accountability for the gross violations and abuses committed in Myanmar's Rakhine state.

According to the UN estimates, nearly 700,000 minority Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh to escape violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state since August 25 last year when the army launched a military crackdown.

"Addressing the systematic discrimination against the Rohingya in Myanmar is essential&nbsp;to ensure they have legal recognition, freedom of movement and equal access to education, health services, employment and other rights," UN Secretary-General Guterres told PTI in an exclusive interview ahead of his three-day visit to India that begins Monday.

"There can be no peace and reconciliation without ensuring that all people in Myanmar&nbsp;regardless of their ethnicity or religion ? can have equal enjoyment of their rights," Guterres said.

Responding to a question on the worsening Rohingya crisis, Guterres said he had visited Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh in July this year and had met with refugees and heard "heartbreaking" stories of massive violence&nbsp;of killings, of rape, of torture, of house or villages burnt. As High Commissioner for Refugees, Guterres had twice visited Northern Rakhine state.

Almost a million Rohingya refugees live in Cox's Bazar under tarpaulins, on steep, sandy slopes 25,000 of whom are said to be at the highest risk of landslides.

"I have no doubt that the Rohingya people are one of the most, if not the most, discriminated against people in the world, lacking any recognition of their most basic rights, starting with the recognition of their right to citizenship by their own country&nbsp;Myanmar," he said.

In April, Guterres had appointed Christine Schraner Burgener as his Special Envoy on Myanmar.&nbsp;

She is undertaking a process of broad consultations, including with the Government and the military, and with civil society, women's groups and Member

States in the region and beyond to help address the pressing situation in Rakhine State, advance the peace process and support broader democratization and human rights issues.

Guterres called on "accountability" for the gross violations and abuses committed in the Rakhine State.&nbsp;

"Holding perpetrators accountable is critical to end the cycle of violence and prevent the recurrence of violations, to give Rohingya refugees the confidence to return to Myanmar to rebuild their lives, and to give hope for a new future to those who remain in Rakhine," he said.

The UN has called for different accountability options to be considered, he said adding that very strong recommendations have been made by the UN

Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar appointed by the Human Rights Council. Effective international cooperation will be critical to ensuring that accountability mechanisms are credible, transparent, impartial, independent and comply with Myanmar's obligations under international law, Guterres said.

This August marked one year since hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people fled persecution and violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state and sought refuge in neighbouring Bangladesh.&nbsp;

Bangladesh now hosts nearly one million refugees, most of whom are Rohingya women and children who have taken refuge since the start of the violence.

Myanmar does not recognise Rohingya as an ethnic group and insists that they are Bangladeshi migrants living illegally in the country. 
Guterres further said that the world faces urgent challenges, from climate change and inequality to armed conflict and intolerance, especially targeting migrants and refugees.&nbsp;

"We must raise our ambition across the board. But this is also an era in which we have the technology, the knowledge and the wealth to move our world forward leaving no one behind."

"At a time of fragmentation and polarisation, the world must be reminded of the value of international cooperation," he said.

He made a call to harness the power of diversity, with people of different traditions and backgrounds coming together at the United Nations to share burdens, solve problems and seize opportunities, to resolve today's complex challenges. "We must continue to heed that voice of grace and reason&nbsp;that voice of morality and solidarity. Our world needs it now more than ever,"&nbsp;he said in the email interview.&nbsp;

UN chief Antonio Guterres has said that the Rohingya people are one of the most discriminated against people in the world, emphasising that there must be accountability for the gross violations and abuses committed in Myanmar's Rakhine state.

UN chief Antonio Guterres has said that the Rohingya people are one of the most discriminated against people in the world, emphasising that there must be accountability for the gross violations and abuses committed in Myanmar's Rakhine state. According to the UN estimates, nearly 700,000 minority Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh to escape violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state since August 25 last year when the army launched a military crackdown. "Addressing the systematic discrimination against the Rohingya in Myanmar is essential to ensure they have legal recognition, freedom of movement and equal access to education, health services, employment and other rights," UN Secretary-General Guterres told PTI in an exclusive interview ahead of his three-day visit to India that begins Monday. "There can be no peace and reconciliation without ensuring that all people in Myanmar regardless of their ethnicity or religion ? can have equal enjoyment of their rights," Guterres said. Responding to a question on the worsening Rohingya crisis, Guterres said he had visited Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh in July this year and had met with refugees and heard "heartbreaking" stories of massive violence of killings, of rape, of torture, of house or villages burnt. As High Commissioner for Refugees, Guterres had twice visited Northern Rakhine state. Almost a million Rohingya refugees live in Cox's Bazar under tarpaulins, on steep, sandy slopes 25,000 of whom are said to be at the highest risk of landslides. "I have no doubt that the Rohingya people are one of the most, if not the most, discriminated against people in the world, lacking any recognition of their most basic rights, starting with the recognition of their right to citizenship by their own country Myanmar," he said. In April, Guterres had appointed Christine Schraner Burgener as his Special Envoy on Myanmar. She is undertaking a process of broad consultations, including with the Government and the military, and with civil society, women's groups and Member States in the region and beyond to help address the pressing situation in Rakhine State, advance the peace process and support broader democratization and human rights issues. Guterres called on "accountability" for the gross violations and abuses committed in the Rakhine State. "Holding perpetrators accountable is critical to end the cycle of violence and prevent the recurrence of violations, to give Rohingya refugees the confidence to return to Myanmar to rebuild their lives, and to give hope for a new future to those who remain in Rakhine," he said. The UN has called for different accountability options to be considered, he said adding that very strong recommendations have been made by the UN Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar appointed by the Human Rights Council. Effective international cooperation will be critical to ensuring that accountability mechanisms are credible, transparent, impartial, independent and comply with Myanmar's obligations under international law, Guterres said. This August marked one year since hundreds of thousands of Rohingya people fled persecution and violence in Myanmar's Rakhine state and sought refuge in neighbouring Bangladesh. Bangladesh now hosts nearly one million refugees, most of whom are Rohingya women and children who have taken refuge since the start of the violence. Myanmar does not recognise Rohingya as an ethnic group and insists that they are Bangladeshi migrants living illegally in the country. Guterres further said that the world faces urgent challenges, from climate change and inequality to armed conflict and intolerance, especially targeting migrants and refugees. "We must raise our ambition across the board. But this is also an era in which we have the technology, the knowledge and the wealth to move our world forward leaving no one behind." "At a time of fragmentation and polarisation, the world must be reminded of the value of international cooperation," he said. He made a call to harness the power of diversity, with people of different traditions and backgrounds coming together at the United Nations to share burdens, solve problems and seize opportunities, to resolve today's complex challenges. "We must continue to heed that voice of grace and reason that voice of morality and solidarity. Our world needs it now more than ever," he said in the email interview.

There must be accountability for gross violations, abuses committed in Rakhine state: UN chief

Eritrea's foreign minister on Saturday called for sanctions against his country to be lifted as a result of the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/long-separated-by-war-ethiopians-and-eritreans-reunite-154994">peace deal with Ethiopia</a> and demanded compensation for the economic hardship.

Two months after the peace deal was signed, the UN Security Council has not moved to lift the arms embargo and targeted sanctions imposed on Eritrea in 2009 for its alleged support to armed groups in Somalia, which Asmara denies.

"The sanctions imposed on Eritrea for the last nine years have entailed considerable economic damage to the country and unnecessary hardships on its people," Foreign Minister Osman Mohammed Saleh told the UN General Assembly.&nbsp;

Eritreans "are not only calling for the imminent rescinding of sanctions, they are asking and deserve amends for the damage incurred and opportunities forfeited," he added.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki signed a declaration of peace in July that formally ended two decades of hostility.

Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia in the early 1990s, and war broke out later that decade over a border dispute.&nbsp;

A 2002 UN-backed boundary demarcation was meant to settle the dispute for good, but Ethiopia refused to abide by it.

A turnaround began in June when Abiy announced that Ethiopia would hand back to Eritrea disputed areas including the flashpoint town of Badme where the first shots of the border war were fired.

Addressing the world body, the Eritrean foreign minister said the peace deal would now allow both countries to channel their resources into much-needed economic development.

Slamming the "unwarranted sanctions," Saleh accused countries at the Security Council of resorting to procedural measures to block a lifting a sanctions.

He did not name the countries but diplomats said the United States, backed by Britain and France, wanted Eritrea to show progress on human rights as a condition for ending sanctions.

Human rights groups say Eritrea's record on free speech and press freedom ranks among one of the worst in the world. 
The foreign minister said it was "astounding" that countries wanted to prolong sanctions "in light of the widely acclaimed peace."

In his address to the assembly on Thursday, Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu also called on the Security Council to "now seriously" consider lifting sanctions on Eritrea.

The Security Council is due to review sanctions on Eritrea in November.

Eritrea's foreign minister on Saturday called for sanctions against his country to be lifted as a result of the peace deal with Ethiopia and demanded compensation for the economic hardship.

Eritrea's foreign minister on Saturday called for sanctions against his country to be lifted as a result of the peace deal with Ethiopia and demanded compensation for the economic hardship. Two months after the peace deal was signed, the UN Security Council has not moved to lift the arms embargo and targeted sanctions imposed on Eritrea in 2009 for its alleged support to armed groups in Somalia, which Asmara denies. "The sanctions imposed on Eritrea for the last nine years have entailed considerable economic damage to the country and unnecessary hardships on its people," Foreign Minister Osman Mohammed Saleh told the UN General Assembly. Eritreans "are not only calling for the imminent rescinding of sanctions, they are asking and deserve amends for the damage incurred and opportunities forfeited," he added. Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrea's President Isaias Afwerki signed a declaration of peace in July that formally ended two decades of hostility. Eritrea gained its independence from Ethiopia in the early 1990s, and war broke out later that decade over a border dispute. A 2002 UN-backed boundary demarcation was meant to settle the dispute for good, but Ethiopia refused to abide by it. A turnaround began in June when Abiy announced that Ethiopia would hand back to Eritrea disputed areas including the flashpoint town of Badme where the first shots of the border war were fired. Addressing the world body, the Eritrean foreign minister said the peace deal would now allow both countries to channel their resources into much-needed economic development. Slamming the "unwarranted sanctions," Saleh accused countries at the Security Council of resorting to procedural measures to block a lifting a sanctions. He did not name the countries but diplomats said the United States, backed by Britain and France, wanted Eritrea to show progress on human rights as a condition for ending sanctions. Human rights groups say Eritrea's record on free speech and press freedom ranks among one of the worst in the world. The foreign minister said it was "astounding" that countries wanted to prolong sanctions "in light of the widely acclaimed peace." In his address to the assembly on Thursday, Ethiopia's Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu also called on the Security Council to "now seriously" consider lifting sanctions on Eritrea. The Security Council is due to review sanctions on Eritrea in November.

Eritrea at UN demands compensation for sanctions

The 'despicable insinuation' made by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan dishonours the memory of innocent lives lost to militant attack on a school in Pakistan in 2014, said Indian Counsellor in the Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Eenam Gambhir, on Saturday.

Gambhir's speech came after Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi insinuated in his speech to the UN general assembly on Saturday that India was linked to the massacre of children in a 2014 terrorist attack on a school in Peshawar.

Gambhir added that Pakistan was having the taste of its own medicine where it couldn't manage the militancy fuelled by its state. Can Pakistan deny that it's the host and patron of 132 of the UN designated terrorists and 22 terrorist entities sanctioned under the 1267 and 1988 UN Security Council Sanctions regime as of today, asked Gambhir.

On December 16, 2014, six gunmen affiliated with the militant organization Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had opened fire on the Army Public School in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, killing 149.

India has long accused Pakistan of encouraging separatist Muslim militants fighting Indian rule in the Indian part of Kashmir. The militants occasionally launch bloody attacks in Indian towns and cities.

India, earlier this month, decided to drop the idea of the proposed meeting with Pakistan, the first such high-level talk planned in years between the nuclear rivals, with the newly elected government in Pakistan, to protest the killing of Indian security personnel.

The 'despicable insinuation' made by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan dishonours the memory of innocent lives lost to militant attack on a school in Pakistan in 2014, said Indian Counsellor in the Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Eenam Gambhir, on Saturday.

The 'despicable insinuation' made by the Foreign Minister of Pakistan dishonours the memory of innocent lives lost to militant attack on a school in Pakistan in 2014, said Indian Counsellor in the Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Eenam Gambhir, on Saturday. Gambhir's speech came after Pakistan's Foreign Minister, Shah Mahmood Qureshi insinuated in his speech to the UN general assembly on Saturday that India was linked to the massacre of children in a 2014 terrorist attack on a school in Peshawar. Gambhir added that Pakistan was having the taste of its own medicine where it couldn't manage the militancy fuelled by its state. Can Pakistan deny that it's the host and patron of 132 of the UN designated terrorists and 22 terrorist entities sanctioned under the 1267 and 1988 UN Security Council Sanctions regime as of today, asked Gambhir. On December 16, 2014, six gunmen affiliated with the militant organization Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) had opened fire on the Army Public School in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar, killing 149. India has long accused Pakistan of encouraging separatist Muslim militants fighting Indian rule in the Indian part of Kashmir. The militants occasionally launch bloody attacks in Indian towns and cities. India, earlier this month, decided to drop the idea of the proposed meeting with Pakistan, the first such high-level talk planned in years between the nuclear rivals, with the newly elected government in Pakistan, to protest the killing of Indian security personnel.

'Despicable insinuation' of Pakistan on 2014 school attack draws India’s fury at UN

The UN envoy to Libya told AFP that it will be difficult to hold elections as hoped on December 10, following a new wave of fighting in the North African nation.

"There is still a lot to do. It may not be possible to respect the date of December 10," Ghassan Salame said in an interview.

Rival Libyan leaders agreed to a Paris-brokered deal in May to hold a nationwide election by the end of the year.

But Salame said that the polls may not be organised before three or four months.

"We can hold elections in the near future, yes. But certainly not now," he added in the interview on Saturday evening at the heavily fortified UN mission in Tripoli.

Clashes between militias in suburbs of the capital have left more than 100 people dead since late August.

Libya remains divided between the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli and a rival administration in the east that enjoys support from Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates.

The GNA was set up under a 2015 UN-brokered deal that raised hopes of an easing of the chaos that followed the 2011 NATO-backed armed uprising which ousted Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi.

The Paris meeting brought together for the first time GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj and military strongman Khalifa Haftar, whose self-styled Libyan National Army dominates the country's east.

Also present were Aguila Saleh Issa, the parliament speaker based in the eastern city of Tobruk, and Khalid Al-Mishri, the head of the High Council of State.

The Paris agreement set a September 16 deadline for conditions to be met for parliamentary and presidential elections to be held by the end of this year.

This was to be based on a new constitution that would have to be put to a referendum, as well as a new electoral law.

But many observers have said the timetable was overly ambitious given ongoing instability and territorial disputes across the country, along with an economy that is flagging despite Libya's vast oil wealth.

The United Nations is hoping that elections will help turn the page on years of chaos in Libya.

On Monday France called for stronger UN sanctions on Libyans who stand in the way of a political solution.

Logistical problems&nbsp;

The clashes that erupted on Tripoli's southern outskirts on August 27 were between rival militias both from and outside the capital.

The UN brokered a ceasefire on September 4, but fighting resumed within days.

By the time the guns fell silent again on Wednesday, the fighting had left at least 117 dead and more than 400 wounded, according to the GNA.

Salame said the hopes of holding polls in December were made more "difficult" by the delayed adoption of the electoral law, which finally happened last week.

"If everything goes well, the referendum could take place before the end of the year", but the elections could only be organised in "three to four months" depending on the security situation, the envoy said.

"We still need a parliamentary electoral law and another for the presidential (elections)," said the Lebanese diplomat.

Salame said there were also logistical problems after a deadly suicide attack by the Islamic State group severely damaged the electoral commission headquarters.

The attack has "greatly delayed" the work of the commission whose offices would soon be moved, he said.

Once it relocates, the commission would launch a new voter registration campaign "in the coming weeks".

Salame said the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) was helping the GNA to sift through thousands of people -- civilian and militia -- to be registered as regular security forces.

Some of them could become regular police officers, but "there will be militiamen who will have to look for a job elsewhere", said the envoy.

On the political front, Salame reaffirmed his support for the GNA, while stressing the need to reform it.

The UN envoy to Libya told AFP that it will be difficult to hold elections as hoped on December 10, following a new wave of fighting in the North African nation.

The UN envoy to Libya told AFP that it will be difficult to hold elections as hoped on December 10, following a new wave of fighting in the North African nation. "There is still a lot to do. It may not be possible to respect the date of December 10," Ghassan Salame said in an interview. Rival Libyan leaders agreed to a Paris-brokered deal in May to hold a nationwide election by the end of the year. But Salame said that the polls may not be organised before three or four months. "We can hold elections in the near future, yes. But certainly not now," he added in the interview on Saturday evening at the heavily fortified UN mission in Tripoli. Clashes between militias in suburbs of the capital have left more than 100 people dead since late August. Libya remains divided between the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) based in Tripoli and a rival administration in the east that enjoys support from Egypt, Russia and the United Arab Emirates. The GNA was set up under a 2015 UN-brokered deal that raised hopes of an easing of the chaos that followed the 2011 NATO-backed armed uprising which ousted Libyan dictator Moamer Kadhafi. The Paris meeting brought together for the first time GNA head Fayez al-Sarraj and military strongman Khalifa Haftar, whose self-styled Libyan National Army dominates the country's east. Also present were Aguila Saleh Issa, the parliament speaker based in the eastern city of Tobruk, and Khalid Al-Mishri, the head of the High Council of State. The Paris agreement set a September 16 deadline for conditions to be met for parliamentary and presidential elections to be held by the end of this year. This was to be based on a new constitution that would have to be put to a referendum, as well as a new electoral law. But many observers have said the timetable was overly ambitious given ongoing instability and territorial disputes across the country, along with an economy that is flagging despite Libya's vast oil wealth. The United Nations is hoping that elections will help turn the page on years of chaos in Libya. On Monday France called for stronger UN sanctions on Libyans who stand in the way of a political solution. Logistical problems The clashes that erupted on Tripoli's southern outskirts on August 27 were between rival militias both from and outside the capital. The UN brokered a ceasefire on September 4, but fighting resumed within days. By the time the guns fell silent again on Wednesday, the fighting had left at least 117 dead and more than 400 wounded, according to the GNA. Salame said the hopes of holding polls in December were made more "difficult" by the delayed adoption of the electoral law, which finally happened last week. "If everything goes well, the referendum could take place before the end of the year", but the elections could only be organised in "three to four months" depending on the security situation, the envoy said. "We still need a parliamentary electoral law and another for the presidential (elections)," said the Lebanese diplomat. Salame said there were also logistical problems after a deadly suicide attack by the Islamic State group severely damaged the electoral commission headquarters. The attack has "greatly delayed" the work of the commission whose offices would soon be moved, he said. Once it relocates, the commission would launch a new voter registration campaign "in the coming weeks". Salame said the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) was helping the GNA to sift through thousands of people -- civilian and militia -- to be registered as regular security forces. Some of them could become regular police officers, but "there will be militiamen who will have to look for a job elsewhere", said the envoy. On the political front, Salame reaffirmed his support for the GNA, while stressing the need to reform it.

UN envoy says hard to hold Libya elections in December

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has defended Beijing's repeated blockage of India's bids at the United Nations to list chief of Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Azhar Masood as a global terrorist, arguing that the issue lacks "consensus" among the members of the UN Security Council as well as the "directly concerned" parties - India and Pakistan.

Azhar is accused of several deadly terrorist attacks in India, including one on the Uri military base in Kashmir in 2016 in which 17 security personnel were killed.&nbsp;

A veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has repeatedly blocked India's move -- supported by the US, Britain and France -- to designate Azhar a terrorist under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council.&nbsp;

The JeM, founded by Azhar, has already been in the UN's list of banned terror outfits.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

"If all parties come to a consensus, we will support it. But it is the parties that are rightly concerned who are not coming around to the same conclusion, like India and Pakistan don't have the same conclusions," Wang said on Friday in response to a question on China defending Pakistan-based terrorist in the UNSC at a conference organised by the American think-tank, Council on Foreign Relations.&nbsp;

He said if the parties "directly concerned" are able to come to a consensus, then "together we will be able to push the process forward".&nbsp;

"We think that is a better way to go, and we will stay in close touch with India on this issue because we also have very good ties with the Indian side. We hope to see an early consensus, and together we can contribute to the fight against terror,&nbsp;the foreign minister said.&nbsp;

China and Pakistan are considered all-weather allies.

Wang, who is currently in New York to attend the 73rd annual session of the United Nations General Assembly, argued that listing of terrorists should be based on proof and claimed that there is not enough evidence against Masood.

"Whether these people are terrorists or not, there should be solid facts and proof. If there is irrefutable evidence, no one can turn its back on it. I don't think Pakistan will do that," he asserted.

He also praised Pakistan for its fight against terrorism.&nbsp;

"China is against all forms of terrorism...We have been supporting and encouraging Pakistan in its efforts in fighting terrorism... Years ago, at the request of the US, Pakistan participated in the fight against Al-Qaida in Afghanistan. It paid a heavy price for that and has made a huge contribution. We believe that there should be a fair judgment of what they (Pakistan) did," Wang said.&nbsp;

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has defended Beijing's repeated blockage of India's bids at the United Nations to list chief of Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Azhar Masood as a global terrorist, arguing that the issue lacks "consensus" among the members of the UN Security Council as well as the "directly concerned" parties - India and Pakistan.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has defended Beijing's repeated blockage of India's bids at the United Nations to list chief of Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Azhar Masood as a global terrorist, arguing that the issue lacks "consensus" among the members of the UN Security Council as well as the "directly concerned" parties - India and Pakistan. Azhar is accused of several deadly terrorist attacks in India, including one on the Uri military base in Kashmir in 2016 in which 17 security personnel were killed. A veto-wielding permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has repeatedly blocked India's move -- supported by the US, Britain and France -- to designate Azhar a terrorist under the Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council. The JeM, founded by Azhar, has already been in the UN's list of banned terror outfits. "If all parties come to a consensus, we will support it. But it is the parties that are rightly concerned who are not coming around to the same conclusion, like India and Pakistan don't have the same conclusions," Wang said on Friday in response to a question on China defending Pakistan-based terrorist in the UNSC at a conference organised by the American think-tank, Council on Foreign Relations. He said if the parties "directly concerned" are able to come to a consensus, then "together we will be able to push the process forward". "We think that is a better way to go, and we will stay in close touch with India on this issue because we also have very good ties with the Indian side. We hope to see an early consensus, and together we can contribute to the fight against terror, the foreign minister said. China and Pakistan are considered all-weather allies. Wang, who is currently in New York to attend the 73rd annual session of the United Nations General Assembly, argued that listing of terrorists should be based on proof and claimed that there is not enough evidence against Masood. "Whether these people are terrorists or not, there should be solid facts and proof. If there is irrefutable evidence, no one can turn its back on it. I don't think Pakistan will do that," he asserted. He also praised Pakistan for its fight against terrorism. "China is against all forms of terrorism...We have been supporting and encouraging Pakistan in its efforts in fighting terrorism... Years ago, at the request of the US, Pakistan participated in the fight against Al-Qaida in Afghanistan. It paid a heavy price for that and has made a huge contribution. We believe that there should be a fair judgment of what they (Pakistan) did," Wang said.

China defends move to block India's bids to list Masood Azhar as global terrorist 

Campaigning for Afghanistan's long-delayed parliamentary elections kicks off Friday, as a crescendo of deadly violence and claims of widespread fraud fuel debate over whether the vote will go ahead.

More than 2,500 candidates will contest the October 20 poll, which is seen as a test run for next year's presidential vote and a key milestone ahead of a UN meeting in Geneva where Afghanistan is under pressure to show progress on "democratic processes".

But preparations for the ballot, which is more than three years late, have been in turmoil for months, despite UN-led efforts to keep Afghan organisers on track.&nbsp;

Bureaucratic inefficiency, allegations of industrial-scale fraud and now an eleventh-hour pledge for biometric verification of voters threaten to derail the election and any hope of a credible result.

It will be "highly flawed", a Western diplomat admitted to AFP this week, reflecting falling expectations across Kabul's international community, which is providing most of the funding for the elections.

The Independent Election Commission (IEC) has insisted voting will go ahead, with or without the biometric machines that have been demanded by opposition groups to prevent people from voting more than once.&nbsp;

Only 4,400 out of the 22,000 German-made machines ordered have been delivered to Afghanistan, officials said.

"They have promised (biometric verification) and they may do it, but will it be successful in dispelling the concerns? I'm doubtful," Afghanistan Analysts Network researcher Ali Yawar Adili told AFP.

"It may create a bigger mess."&nbsp;

Young hopefuls

The list of candidates, which has been trimmed to 2,565 after 35 were expelled, are competing for 249 seats in the lower house, whose members are widely derided as corrupt and ineffective.

Most MPs are seeking re-election. But hundreds of political first-timers -- including the offspring of former warlords, entrepreneurs and journalists -- are also contesting the vote.

"Parliament is supposed to be the house of the people. Instead it has become a place for mafia networks, corruption, and those who work for their own interests," said former TV journalist Maryam Sama, 26, who is running in Kabul province.

"If anyone can bring real change, it is the young people." &nbsp;

Afghanistan's demographics should, in theory, favour younger candidates -- the country is ranked as one of the youngest and fastest growing in the world.

But they face a formidable challenge from the old guard, who have long dominated the political landscape through tribal and ethnic connections and deep pockets.

Traditional attitudes are also stacked against the younger hopefuls in a country where elders are respected and listened to. &nbsp;

"Old politicians, ethnic and religious power brokers regard themselves as the rightful and exclusive owners of politics and have the power and resources," said Naeem Ayubzada, director of Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan.

Bloody rehearsal

The international community is pushing hard for the vote to happen before November's ministerial meeting in Geneva, which the United Nations says is a "crucial moment" for the Afghan government and its foreign partners to demonstrate progress.&nbsp;

But a wave of deadly violence across the country in recent months has raised concerns that parliamentary elections could end up being a bloody rehearsal for the presidential vote scheduled for April.

Some 54,000 members of Afghanistan's beleaguered security forces will be responsible for protecting more than 5,000 polling centres on election day.

More than 2,000 polling centres that were supposed to open will be closed for security reasons.&nbsp;

It is a daunting task as the Taliban and the Islamic State group, which have vowed to disrupt the ballot, ramp up attacks across the country.&nbsp;

"Elections are not about NATO but about Afghan people," Cornelius Zimmermann, NATO's senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, told a recent meeting of Afghan security officials.

Allegations of massive fraud in the voter registration process that saw nearly nine million people sign up are also disrupting the process.&nbsp;

District council elections, which also were scheduled to be held on October 20, have been postponed and a parliamentary vote in Ghazni province, whose capital the Taliban recently raided, has been cancelled.&nbsp;

Delaying voting in the rest of the country until after the presidential poll "would be best", a Western official monitoring election preparations told AFP on the condition of anonymity.&nbsp;

"If the process is not accepted, how can you accept the outcome?" the official asked.&nbsp;

Campaigning for Afghanistan's long-delayed parliamentary elections kicks off Friday, as a crescendo of deadly violence and claims of widespread fraud fuel debate over whether the vote will go ahead.

Campaigning for Afghanistan's long-delayed parliamentary elections kicks off Friday, as a crescendo of deadly violence and claims of widespread fraud fuel debate over whether the vote will go ahead. More than 2,500 candidates will contest the October 20 poll, which is seen as a test run for next year's presidential vote and a key milestone ahead of a UN meeting in Geneva where Afghanistan is under pressure to show progress on "democratic processes". But preparations for the ballot, which is more than three years late, have been in turmoil for months, despite UN-led efforts to keep Afghan organisers on track. Bureaucratic inefficiency, allegations of industrial-scale fraud and now an eleventh-hour pledge for biometric verification of voters threaten to derail the election and any hope of a credible result. It will be "highly flawed", a Western diplomat admitted to AFP this week, reflecting falling expectations across Kabul's international community, which is providing most of the funding for the elections. The Independent Election Commission (IEC) has insisted voting will go ahead, with or without the biometric machines that have been demanded by opposition groups to prevent people from voting more than once. Only 4,400 out of the 22,000 German-made machines ordered have been delivered to Afghanistan, officials said. "They have promised (biometric verification) and they may do it, but will it be successful in dispelling the concerns? I'm doubtful," Afghanistan Analysts Network researcher Ali Yawar Adili told AFP. "It may create a bigger mess." Young hopefuls The list of candidates, which has been trimmed to 2,565 after 35 were expelled, are competing for 249 seats in the lower house, whose members are widely derided as corrupt and ineffective. Most MPs are seeking re-election. But hundreds of political first-timers -- including the offspring of former warlords, entrepreneurs and journalists -- are also contesting the vote. "Parliament is supposed to be the house of the people. Instead it has become a place for mafia networks, corruption, and those who work for their own interests," said former TV journalist Maryam Sama, 26, who is running in Kabul province. "If anyone can bring real change, it is the young people." Afghanistan's demographics should, in theory, favour younger candidates -- the country is ranked as one of the youngest and fastest growing in the world. But they face a formidable challenge from the old guard, who have long dominated the political landscape through tribal and ethnic connections and deep pockets. Traditional attitudes are also stacked against the younger hopefuls in a country where elders are respected and listened to. "Old politicians, ethnic and religious power brokers regard themselves as the rightful and exclusive owners of politics and have the power and resources," said Naeem Ayubzada, director of Transparent Election Foundation of Afghanistan. Bloody rehearsal The international community is pushing hard for the vote to happen before November's ministerial meeting in Geneva, which the United Nations says is a "crucial moment" for the Afghan government and its foreign partners to demonstrate progress. But a wave of deadly violence across the country in recent months has raised concerns that parliamentary elections could end up being a bloody rehearsal for the presidential vote scheduled for April. Some 54,000 members of Afghanistan's beleaguered security forces will be responsible for protecting more than 5,000 polling centres on election day. More than 2,000 polling centres that were supposed to open will be closed for security reasons. It is a daunting task as the Taliban and the Islamic State group, which have vowed to disrupt the ballot, ramp up attacks across the country. "Elections are not about NATO but about Afghan people," Cornelius Zimmermann, NATO's senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, told a recent meeting of Afghan security officials. Allegations of massive fraud in the voter registration process that saw nearly nine million people sign up are also disrupting the process. District council elections, which also were scheduled to be held on October 20, have been postponed and a parliamentary vote in Ghazni province, whose capital the Taliban recently raided, has been cancelled. Delaying voting in the rest of the country until after the presidential poll "would be best", a Western official monitoring election preparations told AFP on the condition of anonymity. "If the process is not accepted, how can you accept the outcome?" the official asked.

Afghan election campaigning kicks off amid violence, fraud claims

The Indian Army has been serving as peacekeepers under United Nations interim force in Lebanon for decades in the conflict-affected area of Golan Heights and historically important Cheeba village.&nbsp;

The Indian troops and their presence in the village is one of the reasons villagers feel secure and consider Indian forces as their own.

Aiming to promote Gandhi's principle of non-violence among the youths of war-ravaged Lebanon, the Indian contingent of the United Nations interim force, with the help of local municipality in Lebanon, has built a park in his memory.

Samih Al Bekai is the mayor of Ebel es saqi. He has been a teacher for 40 years and used to teach his students about Mahatma Gandhi. Moved by the&nbsp;unwavering cooperation of Indian men in blue helmets, he offered the land for Mahatma Gandhi park.&nbsp;

He said, now he is experiencing the teachings of Gandhi after seeing the Indian peacekeepers risking their lives to sustain peace in the conflicted area of southern Lebanon.

"India has a very positive impact in Ebel es saqi and the villagers see Indians with great respect. All the Indian battalions have shown the same teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and are spreading his teachings… They are the peacekeepers and are sacrificing their lives to maintain peace for years," he continued.

In Southern Lebanon, due to an unending conflict in the area of Golan Heights, several people lost their lives when Israel attacked and occupied the area near Ebel es saqi, perhaps Mahatma Gandhi's teachings of austerity, peace and non-violence are even more important than before in parts of southern Lebanon.

The park, in Ebel es saqi, is the symbol of friendship between India and Lebanon and their common dream of ever-lasting peace for Lebanon.

The Indian contingent has been celebrating Gandhi Jayanti in South Lebanon for the past few years where a series of programmes are organised to make the locals aware of his teachings.

The message of peace, non-violence and co-existence that Gandhi spread throughout the world has inspired not just India but even those countries which have been the victim of unending battles.

The Indian Army has been serving as peacekeepers under United Nations interim force in Lebanon for decades in the conflict-affected area of Golan Heights and historically important Cheeba village.

The Indian Army has been serving as peacekeepers under United Nations interim force in Lebanon for decades in the conflict-affected area of Golan Heights and historically important Cheeba village. The Indian troops and their presence in the village is one of the reasons villagers feel secure and consider Indian forces as their own. Aiming to promote Gandhi's principle of non-violence among the youths of war-ravaged Lebanon, the Indian contingent of the United Nations interim force, with the help of local municipality in Lebanon, has built a park in his memory. Samih Al Bekai is the mayor of Ebel es saqi. He has been a teacher for 40 years and used to teach his students about Mahatma Gandhi. Moved by the unwavering cooperation of Indian men in blue helmets, he offered the land for Mahatma Gandhi park. He said, now he is experiencing the teachings of Gandhi after seeing the Indian peacekeepers risking their lives to sustain peace in the conflicted area of southern Lebanon. "India has a very positive impact in Ebel es saqi and the villagers see Indians with great respect. All the Indian battalions have shown the same teachings of Mahatma Gandhi and are spreading his teachings… They are the peacekeepers and are sacrificing their lives to maintain peace for years," he continued. In Southern Lebanon, due to an unending conflict in the area of Golan Heights, several people lost their lives when Israel attacked and occupied the area near Ebel es saqi, perhaps Mahatma Gandhi's teachings of austerity, peace and non-violence are even more important than before in parts of southern Lebanon. The park, in Ebel es saqi, is the symbol of friendship between India and Lebanon and their common dream of ever-lasting peace for Lebanon. The Indian contingent has been celebrating Gandhi Jayanti in South Lebanon for the past few years where a series of programmes are organised to make the locals aware of his teachings. The message of peace, non-violence and co-existence that Gandhi spread throughout the world has inspired not just India but even those countries which have been the victim of unending battles.

Gandhi park opens in southern Lebanon, carries forward Gandhian legacy

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned on Thursday that sanctions against North Korea must be "vigorously" enforced, during a Security Council meeting attended by the foreign ministers of Russia and China.

"Enforcement of UN Security Council sanctions must continue vigorously and without fail until we realize final, fully-verified denuclearization," Pompeo said.

On Wednesday, Pompeo agreed to return to North Kora next month to push forward denuclearisation talks.

Pompeo met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly with his North Korean counterpart, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, to discuss plans for his fourth trip to the longtime US arch-enemy.

Pompeo accepted an invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to return to Pyongyang in October to move ahead on efforts for "the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK," news agency AFP reported.

Pompeo will also try to arrange a second summit between Trump and Kim, whose meeting in June in Singapore was the first ever between sitting leaders of the two states.

Trump has hailed his initiative with North Korea as a signature foreign policy success and heaped praise on Kim.

(With inputs from agencies)

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned on Thursday that sanctions against North Korea must be "vigorously" enforced, during a Security Council meeting attended by the foreign ministers of Russia and China.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned on Thursday that sanctions against North Korea must be "vigorously" enforced, during a Security Council meeting attended by the foreign ministers of Russia and China. "Enforcement of UN Security Council sanctions must continue vigorously and without fail until we realize final, fully-verified denuclearization," Pompeo said. On Wednesday, Pompeo agreed to return to North Kora next month to push forward denuclearisation talks. Pompeo met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly with his North Korean counterpart, Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho, to discuss plans for his fourth trip to the longtime US arch-enemy. Pompeo accepted an invitation from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to return to Pyongyang in October to move ahead on efforts for "the final, fully verified denuclearization of the DPRK," news agency AFP reported. Pompeo will also try to arrange a second summit between Trump and Kim, whose meeting in June in Singapore was the first ever between sitting leaders of the two states. Trump has hailed his initiative with North Korea as a signature foreign policy success and heaped praise on Kim. (With inputs from agencies)

North Korea sanctions must be 'vigorously' enforced: Pompeo tells UN

The UN Human Rights Council voted Thursday to set up a panel to prepare criminal indictments over atrocities committed in Myanmar, amid allegations of genocide against the Rohingya minority.

The top UN rights body voted to "establish an ongoing independent mechanism to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse evidence of the most serious international crimes and violations of international law committed in Myanmar since 2011."

The text, a collaboration between the European Union and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, says the panel will be responsible for preparing "files in order to facilitate and expedite fair and independent criminal proceedings... in national, regional or international courts or tribunals."

Thirty-five of the council's 47 members voted in favour of the resolution while only three -- China, the Philippines and Burundi -- voted against.

The remainder either abstained or refrained from casting a vote.

The text was presented after a damning report was released to the council earlier this month, outlining in meticulous and searing detail atrocities against the Rohingya, who fled a violent military campaign that started in August last year.

The 444-page report by a UN fact-finding mission concluded there was enough evidence to merit investigation and prosecution of Myanmar's army chief and five other top military commanders for crimes against humanity and genocide against the Rohingya.

Troops, sometimes aided by ethnic Rakhine mobs, committed murder, rape, arson and torture, using unfathomable levels of violence and with a total disregard for human life, investigators concluded.

More than 700,000 of the stateless Muslim minority took refuge in Bangladesh, where they remain -- fearful of returning to mainly Buddhist Myanmar despite a repatriation deal between the two countries.

The military has denied nearly all wrongdoing, justifying its crackdown as a legitimate means of rooting out Rohingya militants.

The UN and rights groups meanwhile say the operations were vastly disproportionate and a troop build-up in the area occurred before insurgents attacked police posts in August 2017.

Further pressuring Myanmar, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague independently ruled that it had jurisdiction to open a preliminary investigation, even though the country has not signed the treaty underpinning the court.

Thursday's text took note of the ICC ruling, and requested "the mechanism to cooperate closely with any of its future investigations pertaining to human rights in Myanmar."

The resolution also said the mandate of the UN fact-finding mission should be extended until the new mechanism is operational.

Thursday's decision marks the first time the Human Rights Council has itself opted to create such a mechanism.

A similar panel was created in late 2016 to build cases for the prosecution of war crimes in Syria, but it was set up following a vote in the General Assembly in New York.

The UN Human Rights Council voted Thursday to set up a panel to prepare criminal indictments over atrocities committed in Myanmar, amid allegations of genocide against the Rohingya minority.

The UN Human Rights Council voted Thursday to set up a panel to prepare criminal indictments over atrocities committed in Myanmar, amid allegations of genocide against the Rohingya minority. The top UN rights body voted to "establish an ongoing independent mechanism to collect, consolidate, preserve and analyse evidence of the most serious international crimes and violations of international law committed in Myanmar since 2011." The text, a collaboration between the European Union and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, says the panel will be responsible for preparing "files in order to facilitate and expedite fair and independent criminal proceedings... in national, regional or international courts or tribunals." Thirty-five of the council's 47 members voted in favour of the resolution while only three -- China, the Philippines and Burundi -- voted against. The remainder either abstained or refrained from casting a vote. The text was presented after a damning report was released to the council earlier this month, outlining in meticulous and searing detail atrocities against the Rohingya, who fled a violent military campaign that started in August last year. The 444-page report by a UN fact-finding mission concluded there was enough evidence to merit investigation and prosecution of Myanmar's army chief and five other top military commanders for crimes against humanity and genocide against the Rohingya. Troops, sometimes aided by ethnic Rakhine mobs, committed murder, rape, arson and torture, using unfathomable levels of violence and with a total disregard for human life, investigators concluded. More than 700,000 of the stateless Muslim minority took refuge in Bangladesh, where they remain -- fearful of returning to mainly Buddhist Myanmar despite a repatriation deal between the two countries. The military has denied nearly all wrongdoing, justifying its crackdown as a legitimate means of rooting out Rohingya militants. The UN and rights groups meanwhile say the operations were vastly disproportionate and a troop build-up in the area occurred before insurgents attacked police posts in August 2017. Further pressuring Myanmar, the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague independently ruled that it had jurisdiction to open a preliminary investigation, even though the country has not signed the treaty underpinning the court. Thursday's text took note of the ICC ruling, and requested "the mechanism to cooperate closely with any of its future investigations pertaining to human rights in Myanmar." The resolution also said the mandate of the UN fact-finding mission should be extended until the new mechanism is operational. Thursday's decision marks the first time the Human Rights Council has itself opted to create such a mechanism. A similar panel was created in late 2016 to build cases for the prosecution of war crimes in Syria, but it was set up following a vote in the General Assembly in New York.

UN to create panel to prepare indictments over Myanmar atrocities

US President Donald Trump says the United Nations wasn't laughing at him when he boasted about his government's successes during a speech to world diplomats. They were just sharing a "good time."

"We had fun," he told journalists in New York on Wednesday.

"They weren't laughing at me, they were laughing with me," he said. "People had a good time with me."

The incident took place during Trump's speech to the annual UN General Assembly.

Trump had launched into what sounded more like a campaign speech ahead of November's congressional elections, boasting in trademark fashion of how "in less than two years my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country."

Assembled global dignitaries started to chuckle.

Trump then interrupted his prepared remarks and insisted, "So true," at which the laughter became audible.

Trump smiled and said, "I didn't expect that reaction, but that's okay."

Headlines quickly emerged about the world laughing at Trump. But on Wednesday, Trump said he had simply connected with an audience not known for levity -- "people who aren't big into clapping, applauding, smiling."

US President Donald Trump says the United Nations wasn't laughing at him when he boasted about his government's successes during a speech to world diplomats. They were just sharing a "good time.

US President Donald Trump says the United Nations wasn't laughing at him when he boasted about his government's successes during a speech to world diplomats. They were just sharing a "good time." "We had fun," he told journalists in New York on Wednesday. "They weren't laughing at me, they were laughing with me," he said. "People had a good time with me." The incident took place during Trump's speech to the annual UN General Assembly. Trump had launched into what sounded more like a campaign speech ahead of November's congressional elections, boasting in trademark fashion of how "in less than two years my administration has accomplished more than almost any administration in the history of our country." Assembled global dignitaries started to chuckle. Trump then interrupted his prepared remarks and insisted, "So true," at which the laughter became audible. Trump smiled and said, "I didn't expect that reaction, but that's okay." Headlines quickly emerged about the world laughing at Trump. But on Wednesday, Trump said he had simply connected with an audience not known for levity -- "people who aren't big into clapping, applauding, smiling."

Trump: UN wasn't 'laughing at me'

The United States was not able to register any achievements at the United Nations General Assembly meeting which took place this week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday.

Rouhani and US&nbsp;President Donald Trump exchanged threats and insults during their speeches at the UN&nbsp;assembly.

"The Americans had no achievements in this public assembly," Rouhani said, at a news conference broadcast on state TV on his return to Tehran.

The assembly had shown America's isolation, he said.

"When Mr. Trump was speaking and at the beginning of his speech bragged a lot about the accomplishments of his two-year-old administration, everyone laughed."

"What's important is that today, other than one or two countries, no one is supporting America," he said. "It's a historic political isolation that is rare for America."

The United States was not able to register any achievements at the United Nations General Assembly meeting which took place this week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday.

The United States was not able to register any achievements at the United Nations General Assembly meeting which took place this week, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday. Rouhani and US President Donald Trump exchanged threats and insults during their speeches at the UN assembly. "The Americans had no achievements in this public assembly," Rouhani said, at a news conference broadcast on state TV on his return to Tehran. The assembly had shown America's isolation, he said. "When Mr. Trump was speaking and at the beginning of his speech bragged a lot about the accomplishments of his two-year-old administration, everyone laughed." "What's important is that today, other than one or two countries, no one is supporting America," he said. "It's a historic political isolation that is rare for America."

America had no achievements at UN General Assembly: Iran President Hassan Rouhani 

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi raised the issue of India's construction on the Kishanganga and Ratle projects during his meeting with World Bank Chief Jim Yong Kim on the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly session here.

According to a statement issued by Pakistan's Mission to the United Nations, Qureshi met Kim on Monday and the focus of their meeting was the World Bank's role in implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty as its administrator.

Qureshi presented Pakistan's position on the Kishanganga and Ratle projects, it said.

He told the World Bank Chief that India's construction of these projects represented a violation of the Treaty, which gave Pakistan exclusive rights to western rivers.

India and Pakistan signed the treaty in 1960 after nine years of negotiations, with the World Bank being a signatory.

The treaty sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two countries regarding their use of the rivers. However, there have been disagreements and differences between India and Pakistan over the treaty.

Qureshi emphasised that the procedural delay on Pakistan's request to the World Bank to empanel the Court of Arbitration had resulted in completion of the Kishanganga Projects while construction work on Ratle was in progress.&nbsp;

He said the Pakistan government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan viewed this as a humanitarian issue with lives and livelihoods of millions at stake.

Qureshi said Pakistan was not interested in politicising the issue, the statement said.

According to the statement, Kim said he understood Pakistan's position on the treaty and expressed the bank's desire to play a constructive role in resolving the matter at the earliest.

He said the World Bank was in the process of finalising a fresh initiative and would soon be approaching Pakistan and India with details, it said.

The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank and signed by then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan's president Ayub Khan, administers how the water of the Indus river and its tributaries that flow in both the countries will be utilised.

Under the provisions of the treaty, waters of the eastern rivers Sutlej, Beas and Ravi had been allocated to India and the western rivers the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab to Pakistan, except for certain non-consumptive uses for India.

Islamabad had been raising objections over the design of the Kishanganga hydroelectric project, saying it is not in line with the criteria laid down under the Indus Waters Treaty between the two countries.

However, India said that the project design was well within the treaty's parameters.

The Kishanganga project was started in 2007 but on May 17, 2010, Pakistan moved for international arbitration against India under the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty.

The Hague-based International Court of Arbitration allowed India in 2013 to go ahead with construction of the project in North Kashmir and upheld India's right under the bilateral Indus Waters Treaty to divert waters from the Kishanganga for power generation in Jammu and Kashmir.

The international court, however, decided that India shall release a minimum flow of nine cubic metres per second into the Kishanganga river (known as Neelam in Pakistan) at all times to maintain environmental flows.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi raised the issue of India's construction on the Kishanganga and Ratle projects during his meeting with World Bank Chief Jim Yong Kim on the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly session here.

Pakistan's Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi raised the issue of India's construction on the Kishanganga and Ratle projects during his meeting with World Bank Chief Jim Yong Kim on the sidelines of the 73rd United Nations General Assembly session here. According to a statement issued by Pakistan's Mission to the United Nations, Qureshi met Kim on Monday and the focus of their meeting was the World Bank's role in implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty as its administrator. Qureshi presented Pakistan's position on the Kishanganga and Ratle projects, it said. He told the World Bank Chief that India's construction of these projects represented a violation of the Treaty, which gave Pakistan exclusive rights to western rivers. India and Pakistan signed the treaty in 1960 after nine years of negotiations, with the World Bank being a signatory. The treaty sets out a mechanism for cooperation and information exchange between the two countries regarding their use of the rivers. However, there have been disagreements and differences between India and Pakistan over the treaty. Qureshi emphasised that the procedural delay on Pakistan's request to the World Bank to empanel the Court of Arbitration had resulted in completion of the Kishanganga Projects while construction work on Ratle was in progress. He said the Pakistan government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan viewed this as a humanitarian issue with lives and livelihoods of millions at stake. Qureshi said Pakistan was not interested in politicising the issue, the statement said. According to the statement, Kim said he understood Pakistan's position on the treaty and expressed the bank's desire to play a constructive role in resolving the matter at the earliest. He said the World Bank was in the process of finalising a fresh initiative and would soon be approaching Pakistan and India with details, it said. The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank and signed by then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistan's president Ayub Khan, administers how the water of the Indus river and its tributaries that flow in both the countries will be utilised. Under the provisions of the treaty, waters of the eastern rivers Sutlej, Beas and Ravi had been allocated to India and the western rivers the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab to Pakistan, except for certain non-consumptive uses for India. Islamabad had been raising objections over the design of the Kishanganga hydroelectric project, saying it is not in line with the criteria laid down under the Indus Waters Treaty between the two countries. However, India said that the project design was well within the treaty's parameters. The Kishanganga project was started in 2007 but on May 17, 2010, Pakistan moved for international arbitration against India under the provisions of the Indus Waters Treaty. The Hague-based International Court of Arbitration allowed India in 2013 to go ahead with construction of the project in North Kashmir and upheld India's right under the bilateral Indus Waters Treaty to divert waters from the Kishanganga for power generation in Jammu and Kashmir. The international court, however, decided that India shall release a minimum flow of nine cubic metres per second into the Kishanganga river (known as Neelam in Pakistan) at all times to maintain environmental flows.

Pak's Qureshi discusses India's construction on Kishanganga, Ratle projects with World Bank chief

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron&nbsp;were bestowed with United Nation’s highest environmental honour, ‘Champions of the Earth’.&nbsp;

The two leaders were recognised in the policy leadership category for their pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action, including Macron's work on the Global Pact for the environment and Modi's unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022.&nbsp;

Among the other recipient of the awards was the Cochin International Airport, which received the award in the Entrepreneurial Vision category.

The airport was hailed for its, "leadership in the use of sustainable energy".

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
PM Narendra Modi and French President Macron get UN’s highest environmental honour, ‘Champions of the Earth’. They are recognised in the policy leadership category. <a href="https://t.co/OhP8jrPW8z">pic.twitter.com/OhP8jrPW8z</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1045000004677513216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 26, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron were bestowed with United Nation’s highest environmental honour, ‘Champions of the Earth’. The two leaders were recognised in the policy leadership category for their pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action, including Macron's work on the Global Pact for the environment and Modi's unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and French President Emmanuel Macron were bestowed with United Nation’s highest environmental honour, ‘Champions of the Earth’. The two leaders were recognised in the policy leadership category for their pioneering work in championing the International Solar Alliance and promoting new areas of levels of cooperation on environmental action, including Macron's work on the Global Pact for the environment and Modi's unprecedented pledge to eliminate all single-use plastic in India by 2022. Among the other recipient of the awards was the Cochin International Airport, which received the award in the Entrepreneurial Vision category. The airport was hailed for its, "leadership in the use of sustainable energy". PM Narendra Modi and French President Macron get UN’s highest environmental honour, ‘Champions of the Earth’. They are recognised in the policy leadership category. pic.twitter.com/OhP8jrPW8z — ANI (@ANI) September 26, 2018 ×

PM Modi, French President Macron awarded ‘Champions of the Earth’ by UN 

US President Donald Trump addresses 73rd session of UNGA

US President Donald Trump accused China of seeking to meddle in the November 6 US congressional elections on Wednesday, saying Beijing did not want his Republican Party to do well because of his stance on trade.

"China has been attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election, coming up in November. Against my administration," Trump told a UN Security Council meeting whose ostensible subject was on nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction and Iran.

Trump did not provide any evidence for the allegation. China did not immediately respond to the remarks by Trump, who was chairing the Council meeting.

"They do not want me or us to win because I am the first president ever to challenge China on trade and we are winning on trade, we are winning at every level. We don't want them to meddle or interfere in our upcoming election," Trump said.

Trump himself is not up for re-election until 2020 but November's voting will decide whether his Republican party can keep control of the US House of Representatives and the Senate.

US intelligence agency conclusions that Russia interfered in the 2016 US presidential vote have hung over Trump's presidency. In July at a summit in Helsinki, Trump accepted Russian President Vladimir Putin's denials and the US president describes investigations as a political witch hunt.

US President Donald Trump accused China of seeking to meddle in the November 6 US congressional elections on Wednesday, saying Beijing did not want his Republican Party to do well because of his stance on trade.

US President Donald Trump accused China of seeking to meddle in the November 6 US congressional elections on Wednesday, saying Beijing did not want his Republican Party to do well because of his stance on trade. "China has been attempting to interfere in our upcoming 2018 election, coming up in November. Against my administration," Trump told a UN Security Council meeting whose ostensible subject was on nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction and Iran. Trump did not provide any evidence for the allegation. China did not immediately respond to the remarks by Trump, who was chairing the Council meeting. "They do not want me or us to win because I am the first president ever to challenge China on trade and we are winning on trade, we are winning at every level. We don't want them to meddle or interfere in our upcoming election," Trump said. Trump himself is not up for re-election until 2020 but November's voting will decide whether his Republican party can keep control of the US House of Representatives and the Senate. US intelligence agency conclusions that Russia interfered in the 2016 US presidential vote have hung over Trump's presidency. In July at a summit in Helsinki, Trump accepted Russian President Vladimir Putin's denials and the US president describes investigations as a political witch hunt.

US President Donald Trump says China trying to meddle in US congressional elections

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a longtime hardliner on North Korea, said Tuesday he was willing to meet Kim Jong Un after the once reclusive leader's historic summit with US President Donald Trump.

Abe, who one year ago warned at the United Nations that the window for diplomacy with North Korea was closing, took a more open but still cautious tone in his latest address to the world body.

But he said that any summit would be devoted to resolving a decades-old row over North Korea's abductions of Japanese civilians -- a deeply emotive issue for much of the Japanese public on which Abe built his political career.

"In order to resolve the abduction issue, I am also ready to break the shell of mutual distrust with North Korea, get off to a new start and meet face to face with Chairman Kim Jong Un," Abe said in his UN address, while stressing that nothing was yet in the works.

"But if we are to have one, then I am determined that it must contribute to the resolution of the abduction issue," he said.

North Korea kidnapped scores of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s to train the regime's spies in Japanese language and culture.

Former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi travelled twice to Pyongyang to seek a new relationship with the current leader's father Kim Jong Il and was told by North Korea that remaining abduction victims were dead -- a stance adamantly rejected by Japanese family members and campaigners.

Speculation has been rising that Abe could meet with Kim, who reportedly told Trump during their summit in June in Singapore that he was willing to talk to arch-enemy Japan.

With South Korea's dovish President Moon Jae-in also courting Kim, fears have risen in Japan that it could be shut out of any ultimate resolution on North Korea if it refuses dialogue.

Trump in his own UN address earlier Tuesday pointed to his "bold and new push for peace" and saluted Kim's courage.

It was a far cry from a year ago, when Trump stunned assembled leaders by threatening to "totally destroy" North Korea and belittling "rocket man" Kim.

Despite Trump's optimism, many analysts are skeptical on how much North Korea has changed, saying the regime has already conducted the tests it needed to build its nuclear and missile programs.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a longtime hardliner on North Korea, said Tuesday he was willing to meet Kim Jong Un after the once reclusive leader's historic summit with US President Donald Trump.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a longtime hardliner on North Korea, said Tuesday he was willing to meet Kim Jong Un after the once reclusive leader's historic summit with US President Donald Trump. Abe, who one year ago warned at the United Nations that the window for diplomacy with North Korea was closing, took a more open but still cautious tone in his latest address to the world body. But he said that any summit would be devoted to resolving a decades-old row over North Korea's abductions of Japanese civilians -- a deeply emotive issue for much of the Japanese public on which Abe built his political career. "In order to resolve the abduction issue, I am also ready to break the shell of mutual distrust with North Korea, get off to a new start and meet face to face with Chairman Kim Jong Un," Abe said in his UN address, while stressing that nothing was yet in the works. "But if we are to have one, then I am determined that it must contribute to the resolution of the abduction issue," he said. North Korea kidnapped scores of Japanese citizens in the 1970s and 1980s to train the regime's spies in Japanese language and culture. Former Japanese prime minister Junichiro Koizumi travelled twice to Pyongyang to seek a new relationship with the current leader's father Kim Jong Il and was told by North Korea that remaining abduction victims were dead -- a stance adamantly rejected by Japanese family members and campaigners. Speculation has been rising that Abe could meet with Kim, who reportedly told Trump during their summit in June in Singapore that he was willing to talk to arch-enemy Japan. With South Korea's dovish President Moon Jae-in also courting Kim, fears have risen in Japan that it could be shut out of any ultimate resolution on North Korea if it refuses dialogue. Trump in his own UN address earlier Tuesday pointed to his "bold and new push for peace" and saluted Kim's courage. It was a far cry from a year ago, when Trump stunned assembled leaders by threatening to "totally destroy" North Korea and belittling "rocket man" Kim. Despite Trump's optimism, many analysts are skeptical on how much North Korea has changed, saying the regime has already conducted the tests it needed to build its nuclear and missile programs.

Japan PM Abe open to summit with North Korea's Kim

India and the G4 nations voiced concern over the lack of substantive progress in the long-pending Security Council reform, saying it is time to finally initiate text-based negotiations to safeguard the legitimacy and credibility of the powerful UN organ.

The G4 nations, India, Brazil, Germany and Japan, have been calling for the reform of the UN Security Council, and support each others' bids for the permanent seats in the top UN body.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj hosted her counterparts Aloysio Nunes Ferreira of Brazil, Heiko Maas of Germany and Taro Kono of Japan at a meeting of the G4 nations held Tuesday at India's Permanent Mission to the UN on the margins of the 73rd session of the General Assembly.

In a joint statement after the meeting, the four nations reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism.

"It was time to finally initiate text-based negotiations during the 73rd session of the General Assembly" in line with the standard operating procedures of the UN General Assembly, the ministers said.

They stressed that adapting the United Nations to the contemporary needs of the 21st century necessarily required reforming the Security Council.

"They stressed the need to safeguard the legitimacy and credibility of this UN organ which deals with international peace and security," the statement said.

The G4 Ministers reaffirmed the need for an early reform of the Council including the expansion of both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership to enhance its legitimacy, effectiveness and representativeness.

They said that the current composition of the 15-nation Council does not reflect the changed global realities and stressed that the UNSC reform is essential to address today's complex challenges.

The ministers reiterated their support for Africa's representation in both categories of membership in a reformed and expanded Security Council.

"As aspiring new permanent members of a reformed Council, the ministers reiterated their commitment to work to strengthen the functioning of the UN and the global multilateral order as well as their support for each other's candidatures," it said.

Reviewing progress on the UNSC reform at the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN), they said substantial progress had not yet been achieved even though next year would mark 40 years since the inscription of the item 'Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the

Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council' on the agenda of the General Assembly.

"Despite an overwhelming majority of UN member states supporting Security Council reform, the IGN has not produced substantive progress over the 10 years since its launch in 2009," the statement said adding that the ministers emphasised the need to revitalise process of the Security Council reform.

The four leaders welcomed the commitment of President of the 73rd session of the General Assembly Mar?a Fernanda Espinosa Garces to the reform process and expressed their readiness to extend full support to her with a view to launching negotiations based on a text comprising all positions and proposals by the member states.

The ministers agreed that all aspects of the comprehensive reform had been thoroughly discussed several times in the IGN and the General Assembly.

They reiterated their commitment to working with other member states to realise the shared vision of the overwhelming majority supporting the initiation of text-based negotiations in a democratic and transparent manner.

The G4 will intensify dialogue with other member states, especially like-minded countries and groups to achieve meaningful progress in the upcoming IGN session, the four ministers said, adding that they are determined to redouble their efforts towards securing concrete outcomes on the UNSC reform during the current session of the General Assembly.

India and the G4 nations voiced concern over the lack of substantive progress in the long-pending Security Council reform, saying it is time to finally initiate text-based negotiations to safeguard the legitimacy and credibility of the powerful UN organ.

India and the G4 nations voiced concern over the lack of substantive progress in the long-pending Security Council reform, saying it is time to finally initiate text-based negotiations to safeguard the legitimacy and credibility of the powerful UN organ. The G4 nations, India, Brazil, Germany and Japan, have been calling for the reform of the UN Security Council, and support each others' bids for the permanent seats in the top UN body. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj hosted her counterparts Aloysio Nunes Ferreira of Brazil, Heiko Maas of Germany and Taro Kono of Japan at a meeting of the G4 nations held Tuesday at India's Permanent Mission to the UN on the margins of the 73rd session of the General Assembly. In a joint statement after the meeting, the four nations reaffirmed their commitment to multilateralism. "It was time to finally initiate text-based negotiations during the 73rd session of the General Assembly" in line with the standard operating procedures of the UN General Assembly, the ministers said. They stressed that adapting the United Nations to the contemporary needs of the 21st century necessarily required reforming the Security Council. "They stressed the need to safeguard the legitimacy and credibility of this UN organ which deals with international peace and security," the statement said. The G4 Ministers reaffirmed the need for an early reform of the Council including the expansion of both the permanent and non-permanent categories of membership to enhance its legitimacy, effectiveness and representativeness. They said that the current composition of the 15-nation Council does not reflect the changed global realities and stressed that the UNSC reform is essential to address today's complex challenges. The ministers reiterated their support for Africa's representation in both categories of membership in a reformed and expanded Security Council. "As aspiring new permanent members of a reformed Council, the ministers reiterated their commitment to work to strengthen the functioning of the UN and the global multilateral order as well as their support for each other's candidatures," it said. Reviewing progress on the UNSC reform at the Intergovernmental Negotiations (IGN), they said substantial progress had not yet been achieved even though next year would mark 40 years since the inscription of the item 'Question of equitable representation on and increase in the membership of the Security Council and other matters related to the Security Council' on the agenda of the General Assembly. "Despite an overwhelming majority of UN member states supporting Security Council reform, the IGN has not produced substantive progress over the 10 years since its launch in 2009," the statement said adding that the ministers emphasised the need to revitalise process of the Security Council reform. The four leaders welcomed the commitment of President of the 73rd session of the General Assembly Mar?a Fernanda Espinosa Garces to the reform process and expressed their readiness to extend full support to her with a view to launching negotiations based on a text comprising all positions and proposals by the member states. The ministers agreed that all aspects of the comprehensive reform had been thoroughly discussed several times in the IGN and the General Assembly. They reiterated their commitment to working with other member states to realise the shared vision of the overwhelming majority supporting the initiation of text-based negotiations in a democratic and transparent manner. The G4 will intensify dialogue with other member states, especially like-minded countries and groups to achieve meaningful progress in the upcoming IGN session, the four ministers said, adding that they are determined to redouble their efforts towards securing concrete outcomes on the UNSC reform during the current session of the General Assembly.

India, G4 nations voice concern over lack of progress in long-pending UN Security Council reform

An air strike appears to have killed 12 members of an Afghan family, most of them children, the United Nations said, citing preliminary findings, as US and Afghan forces ramp up aerial bombardments against militants.

The latest incident brings to at least 21 -- including 14 children -- the number of civilians killed in air strikes in recent days, according to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). &nbsp;

Sunday night's air strike destroyed a house in Wardak province near Kabul, killing 12 members of a family, UNAMA said in a statement late Tuesday.

The victims included 10 children aged six to 15 and two women.&nbsp;

The findings support earlier comments from provincial council member Ahmad Jahfari, who told AFP that 12 members of a family had been killed in an air strike targeting Taliban fighters.&nbsp;

A villager called Abdullah told AFP that two of his sisters died in the attack that he said claimed the lives of more than 12 civilians.&nbsp;

"Three other houses were also destroyed," Abdullah said.

"They wanted to bomb a Taliban prison about 100 metres (330 feet) from our house."

UNAMA is also reviewing reports of civilian casualties from "a number of alleged air strikes in other parts of the country", its statement said.

That includes "credible reports" that nine members of a family, including four children, were killed in an air strike on Saturday in the eastern province of Kapisa.&nbsp;

US Forces confirmed it had carried out an air strike in support of Afghan ground troops in Kapisa, but killed "only militants", spokesman David Butler said earlier.&nbsp;

It is not clear if the air strike in Wardak was carried out by US or Afghan forces.&nbsp;

Afghanistan's defence ministry is investigating both incidents, spokesman Ghafor Ahmad Jawed told AFP.

US Forces said it was reviewing "relevant and credible information" relating to its operations in Wardak.

"It isn't uncommon for insurgents to use these accusations to drive a wedge between the military and the population," US Forces spokesman Commander Grant Neeley added.&nbsp;

UNAMA expressed its "strong concern" at the rising number of civilian casualties from air strikes this year.

Air strikes killed or wounded 353 civilians in the first half, up 52 per cent from the same period in 2017.&nbsp;

The figure accounted for roughly seven per cent of total civilian casualties for the six-month period.&nbsp;

One of the worst incidents was in the northern province of Kunduz in April, when an Afghan air strike on an outdoor religious gathering in Dashte Archi killed or wounded 107 people, mostly children, a previous UNAMA report found.

The government and military said the strike had targeted a Taliban base where senior members of the group were planning attacks.

US and Afghan forces have dramatically increased air offensives against Taliban and Islamic State insurgents in the past year as they try to get the upper hand in the 17-year war. &nbsp;

US forces employed 746 weapons in July, which was the highest monthly total since November 2010, the most recent US Air Forces Central Command data shows.&nbsp;

That is more than double the 350 munitions used in July 2017, a month before US President Donald Trump announced his new strategy for Afghanistan that gave American forces greater leeway to go after militants.&nbsp;

Afghanistan's fledgling air force has also accelerated bombardments as the United States beefs up the country's aerial capability with more aircraft and better weapons.&nbsp;

An air strike appears to have killed 12 members of an Afghan family, most of them children, the United Nations said, citing preliminary findings, as US and Afghan forces ramp up aerial bombardments against militants.

An air strike appears to have killed 12 members of an Afghan family, most of them children, the United Nations said, citing preliminary findings, as US and Afghan forces ramp up aerial bombardments against militants. The latest incident brings to at least 21 -- including 14 children -- the number of civilians killed in air strikes in recent days, according to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Sunday night's air strike destroyed a house in Wardak province near Kabul, killing 12 members of a family, UNAMA said in a statement late Tuesday. The victims included 10 children aged six to 15 and two women. The findings support earlier comments from provincial council member Ahmad Jahfari, who told AFP that 12 members of a family had been killed in an air strike targeting Taliban fighters. A villager called Abdullah told AFP that two of his sisters died in the attack that he said claimed the lives of more than 12 civilians. "Three other houses were also destroyed," Abdullah said. "They wanted to bomb a Taliban prison about 100 metres (330 feet) from our house." UNAMA is also reviewing reports of civilian casualties from "a number of alleged air strikes in other parts of the country", its statement said. That includes "credible reports" that nine members of a family, including four children, were killed in an air strike on Saturday in the eastern province of Kapisa. US Forces confirmed it had carried out an air strike in support of Afghan ground troops in Kapisa, but killed "only militants", spokesman David Butler said earlier. It is not clear if the air strike in Wardak was carried out by US or Afghan forces. Afghanistan's defence ministry is investigating both incidents, spokesman Ghafor Ahmad Jawed told AFP. US Forces said it was reviewing "relevant and credible information" relating to its operations in Wardak. "It isn't uncommon for insurgents to use these accusations to drive a wedge between the military and the population," US Forces spokesman Commander Grant Neeley added. UNAMA expressed its "strong concern" at the rising number of civilian casualties from air strikes this year. Air strikes killed or wounded 353 civilians in the first half, up 52 per cent from the same period in 2017. The figure accounted for roughly seven per cent of total civilian casualties for the six-month period. One of the worst incidents was in the northern province of Kunduz in April, when an Afghan air strike on an outdoor religious gathering in Dashte Archi killed or wounded 107 people, mostly children, a previous UNAMA report found. The government and military said the strike had targeted a Taliban base where senior members of the group were planning attacks. US and Afghan forces have dramatically increased air offensives against Taliban and Islamic State insurgents in the past year as they try to get the upper hand in the 17-year war. US forces employed 746 weapons in July, which was the highest monthly total since November 2010, the most recent US Air Forces Central Command data shows. That is more than double the 350 munitions used in July 2017, a month before US President Donald Trump announced his new strategy for Afghanistan that gave American forces greater leeway to go after militants. Afghanistan's fledgling air force has also accelerated bombardments as the United States beefs up the country's aerial capability with more aircraft and better weapons.

10 Afghan children, 2 women dead in air strike: UN initial report

It’s easy to dismiss Iranian denunciations of the United States and its Middle Eastern allies as part of the Islamic republic's long-standing rhetoric. The rhetoric makes it equally easy to understand American distrust.

But as President &nbsp;Trump and Hassan Rouhani, his Iranian counterpart, gear up for two days of diplomatic sabre rattling at the United Nations in advance of next month's imposition of a second round of harsh US sanctions, both men risk fuelling a conflict that could escalate out of hand.

Both are scheduled to address the UN general assembly on Tuesday and Trump is slated to chair a meeting on Wednesday of the Security Council expected to focus on Iran.

Adding to the likely drama at the UN, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, speaking alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, snubbed Trump, by announcing the creation of a payment system that would allow oil companies and businesses to continue trading with Iran despite US sanctions.

The risk of escalation is enhanced by the fact that Trump and Rouhani are sending mixed messages.

Trump's administration insists that its confrontational approach is designed to alter Iranian behaviour and curb its policies, not topple its regime.

Yet, the administration stepped up its engagement with exile groups associated with the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, a controversial Saudi-backed organisation that calls for the violent overthrow of the government in Tehran and enjoys support among current and former Western officials, as Messrs. Trump and Rouhani battle it out at the UN.

John Bolton, who has repeatedly advocated regime change before becoming Trump’s national security advisor, is scheduled to give a keynote address at the United Against Nuclear Iran’s (UANI) annual summit during the UN assembly. So is Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, another hardliner on Iran.

Pompeo and Bolton, who has spoken in the past at events related to the Mujahedeen, had so far since coming to office refrained from addressing gatherings associated with opposition groups.

The administration left that to Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, who last weekend told the Iran Uprising Summit organised by the Organisation of Iranian-American Communities, a Washington-based group associated with the Mujahedeen and attended by the exile’s leader, Maryam Rajavi, that US. sanctions were causing economic pain and could lead to a “successful revolution” in Iran.

“I don’t know when we’re going to overthrow them. It could be in a few days, months, a couple of years. But it’s going to happen,” Giuliani, said speaking on the day of an attack on a military march in the southern Iranian city of Ahvaz that killed 25 people and wounded at least 70 others.

Bolton, Pompeo and Giuliani’s hardline stems from US suspicions rooted in anti-American and anti-Western attitudes that are grafted in the Islamic republic's DNA and produced the 444-day occupation in 1979 of the US Embassy in Tehran. They are reinforced by the humiliation of a failed US military operation to rescue 66 Americans held hostages during the occupation.

Iranian rhetoric; bombastic threats against Israel; denial of the Holocaust, support for anti-American insurgents in Iraq, the brutal regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi rebels in Yemen and Hamas in the Gaza Strip; propagation of religiously inspired republican government as an alternative to conservative monarchy in the Gulf; and degrees of duplicity regarding its nuclear program, reaffirm America's suspicion.

Iran's seemingly mirror image of the United States traces its roots further back to the 1953 US-supported overthrow of the nationalist government of prime minister Mohammad Mossadegh and his replacement by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi whom Washington staunchly supported till his fall in 1979.

Iranian concerns were reinforced by American backing of Iraq in the 1980s Gulf war, US support for Kurdish and Baloch insurgents, the broad spectrum of support of former and serving US officials for the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, unequivocal Saudi signals of support for ethnic strife as a strategy to destabilize Iran, and Trump's withdrawal from the 2015 international agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program despite confirmation of its adherence to the accord.

Responses by the US and its Gulf allies as well as a series of statements by militant Iranian Arab groups, including the Ahvaz Resistance Movement, suspected of being responsible for this weekend's attack, have only deepened Iranian distrust.

Those statements included one by the Arab Liberation Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz effusively praising Saudi Arabia on its national day that the kingdom celebrated a day after the attack.

Yadollah Javani, the deputy commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, the target of the attack, vowed revenge for what he termed years of conspiracies against the Iranian revolution by its enemies.

Javani was referring to past US attempts to destabilise Iran and a four-decade long global Saudi campaign that included backing of Iraq in the Gulf war during the 1980s and an estimated $100 billion investment in support of anti-Iranian, anti-Shiite ultra-conservative Sunni Muslim groups.

All of this means that mounting hostility between the United States and Iran is muddied as much by fact as by perception – a combustible mix that is easily exploitable by parties on both sides of the divide seeking to raise the ante. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

It’s easy to dismiss Iranian denunciations of the United States and its Middle Eastern allies as part of the Islamic republic's long-standing rhetoric. The rhetoric makes it equally easy to understand American distrust.

It’s easy to dismiss Iranian denunciations of the United States and its Middle Eastern allies as part of the Islamic republic's long-standing rhetoric. The rhetoric makes it equally easy to understand American distrust. But as President Trump and Hassan Rouhani, his Iranian counterpart, gear up for two days of diplomatic sabre rattling at the United Nations in advance of next month's imposition of a second round of harsh US sanctions, both men risk fuelling a conflict that could escalate out of hand. Both are scheduled to address the UN general assembly on Tuesday and Trump is slated to chair a meeting on Wednesday of the Security Council expected to focus on Iran. Adding to the likely drama at the UN, European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, speaking alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, snubbed Trump, by announcing the creation of a payment system that would allow oil companies and businesses to continue trading with Iran despite US sanctions. The risk of escalation is enhanced by the fact that Trump and Rouhani are sending mixed messages. Trump's administration insists that its confrontational approach is designed to alter Iranian behaviour and curb its policies, not topple its regime. Yet, the administration stepped up its engagement with exile groups associated with the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, a controversial Saudi-backed organisation that calls for the violent overthrow of the government in Tehran and enjoys support among current and former Western officials, as Messrs. Trump and Rouhani battle it out at the UN. John Bolton, who has repeatedly advocated regime change before becoming Trump’s national security advisor, is scheduled to give a keynote address at the United Against Nuclear Iran’s (UANI) annual summit during the UN assembly. So is Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, another hardliner on Iran. Pompeo and Bolton, who has spoken in the past at events related to the Mujahedeen, had so far since coming to office refrained from addressing gatherings associated with opposition groups. The administration left that to Trump’s personal lawyer, Rudolph Giuliani, who last weekend told the Iran Uprising Summit organised by the Organisation of Iranian-American Communities, a Washington-based group associated with the Mujahedeen and attended by the exile’s leader, Maryam Rajavi, that US. sanctions were causing economic pain and could lead to a “successful revolution” in Iran. “I don’t know when we’re going to overthrow them. It could be in a few days, months, a couple of years. But it’s going to happen,” Giuliani, said speaking on the day of an attack on a military march in the southern Iranian city of Ahvaz that killed 25 people and wounded at least 70 others. Bolton, Pompeo and Giuliani’s hardline stems from US suspicions rooted in anti-American and anti-Western attitudes that are grafted in the Islamic republic's DNA and produced the 444-day occupation in 1979 of the US Embassy in Tehran. They are reinforced by the humiliation of a failed US military operation to rescue 66 Americans held hostages during the occupation. Iranian rhetoric; bombastic threats against Israel; denial of the Holocaust, support for anti-American insurgents in Iraq, the brutal regime of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi rebels in Yemen and Hamas in the Gaza Strip; propagation of religiously inspired republican government as an alternative to conservative monarchy in the Gulf; and degrees of duplicity regarding its nuclear program, reaffirm America's suspicion. Iran's seemingly mirror image of the United States traces its roots further back to the 1953 US-supported overthrow of the nationalist government of prime minister Mohammad Mossadegh and his replacement by Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi whom Washington staunchly supported till his fall in 1979. Iranian concerns were reinforced by American backing of Iraq in the 1980s Gulf war, US support for Kurdish and Baloch insurgents, the broad spectrum of support of former and serving US officials for the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq, unequivocal Saudi signals of support for ethnic strife as a strategy to destabilize Iran, and Trump's withdrawal from the 2015 international agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program despite confirmation of its adherence to the accord. Responses by the US and its Gulf allies as well as a series of statements by militant Iranian Arab groups, including the Ahvaz Resistance Movement, suspected of being responsible for this weekend's attack, have only deepened Iranian distrust. Those statements included one by the Arab Liberation Movement for the Liberation of Ahwaz effusively praising Saudi Arabia on its national day that the kingdom celebrated a day after the attack. Yadollah Javani, the deputy commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, the target of the attack, vowed revenge for what he termed years of conspiracies against the Iranian revolution by its enemies. Javani was referring to past US attempts to destabilise Iran and a four-decade long global Saudi campaign that included backing of Iraq in the Gulf war during the 1980s and an estimated $100 billion investment in support of anti-Iranian, anti-Shiite ultra-conservative Sunni Muslim groups. All of this means that mounting hostility between the United States and Iran is muddied as much by fact as by perception – a combustible mix that is easily exploitable by parties on both sides of the divide seeking to raise the ante. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Potholes overshadow US-Iran confrontation at UN

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday lauded India's efforts to lift millions of its citizens out of poverty as he addressed world leaders at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly.

"There is India, a free society (of) over a billion people, successfully lifting countless millions out of poverty and into the middle class," Trump said in his second address to the General Debate of the UN General Assembly that opened here Tuesday.

In his about 35-minute address, he said over the years, history has transpired in the halls of the UN General Assembly. "We think of the many before us who have come here to address the challenges of their nations and of their times and our thoughts turn to the same question that ran through all their speeches, resolutions and through every word and every hope."

"It is the question of what kind of world will we leave for our children and what kind of nations they will inherit," Trump said.

He said the dreams that fill the UNGA hall today are as diverse as the people who have stood at this podium and as varied as the countries represented in the United Nations. "It really is something. It really is great great history."&nbsp;

Trump also cited Saudi Arabia's bold new reforms and Israel "proudly celebrating" its 70th anniversary as a thriving democracy in the Holy Land.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday lauded India's efforts to lift millions of its citizens out of poverty as he addressed world leaders at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly.

US President Donald Trump on Tuesday lauded India's efforts to lift millions of its citizens out of poverty as he addressed world leaders at the 73rd session of the UN General Assembly. "There is India, a free society (of) over a billion people, successfully lifting countless millions out of poverty and into the middle class," Trump said in his second address to the General Debate of the UN General Assembly that opened here Tuesday. In his about 35-minute address, he said over the years, history has transpired in the halls of the UN General Assembly. "We think of the many before us who have come here to address the challenges of their nations and of their times and our thoughts turn to the same question that ran through all their speeches, resolutions and through every word and every hope." "It is the question of what kind of world will we leave for our children and what kind of nations they will inherit," Trump said. He said the dreams that fill the UNGA hall today are as diverse as the people who have stood at this podium and as varied as the countries represented in the United Nations. "It really is something. It really is great great history." Trump also cited Saudi Arabia's bold new reforms and Israel "proudly celebrating" its 70th anniversary as a thriving democracy in the Holy Land.

India a free society, successfully lifting millions out of poverty: Trump tells UN

The United Nations said Tuesday it was investigating "credible reports" that nine members of a family had been killed in an air strike in Afghanistan, but US Forces denied the victims were civilians. &nbsp;

Women and children were among those reportedly killed on Saturday after an "aerial ordnance" hit the home of a teacher in Tagab district in the eastern province of Kapisa, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a statement.

Six other family members were wounded in the attack on Badrab village, UNAMA added, citing "multiple, credible allegations".

"All the victims from the attack were from the same family, including grandparents and children aged between two and 12," it said.&nbsp;

Latif, whose home was one of three damaged in the strike, told AFP on Monday that 15&nbsp;members of a family including three children were killed when a "bomb" hit their house on Saturday night.&nbsp;

But local officials told AFP they had not received any reports of civilian casualties.&nbsp;

US Forces spokesman David Butler said Afghan ground troops involved in a gunbattle had been forced to call in US air support.

The United Nations said Tuesday it was investigating "credible reports" that nine members of a family had been killed in an air strike in Afghanistan, but US Forces denied the victims were civilians.

The United Nations said Tuesday it was investigating "credible reports" that nine members of a family had been killed in an air strike in Afghanistan, but US Forces denied the victims were civilians. Women and children were among those reportedly killed on Saturday after an "aerial ordnance" hit the home of a teacher in Tagab district in the eastern province of Kapisa, the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) said in a statement. Six other family members were wounded in the attack on Badrab village, UNAMA added, citing "multiple, credible allegations". "All the victims from the attack were from the same family, including grandparents and children aged between two and 12," it said. Latif, whose home was one of three damaged in the strike, told AFP on Monday that 15 members of a family including three children were killed when a "bomb" hit their house on Saturday night. But local officials told AFP they had not received any reports of civilian casualties. US Forces spokesman David Butler said Afghan ground troops involved in a gunbattle had been forced to call in US air support.

UN probes 'credible' reports of nine Afghan civilians killed in air strike

Myanmar's powerful army chief said the United Nations had no right to interfere in the sovereignty of his country, a week after UN investigators called for him and other top generals to be prosecuted for "genocide" against the Rohingya.

The defiant response is the army chief's first public reaction since a UN fact-finding mission urged the Security Council to refer Myanmar's top military brass to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Min Aung Hlaing also shrugged off demands from the UN for the army to get out of political life in Myanmar, where it remains hugely influential despite a nominal transition to civilian rule in 2011.

No country, organisation or group has the "right to interfere in and make decision over sovereignty of a country", military-run newspaper Myawady reported Min telling troops in a speech Sunday.

"Talks to meddle in internal affairs (cause) misunderstanding."

The 444-page UN probe report, compiled over 18 months, outlined in meticulous and searing detail claims of atrocities against the Rohingya, who fled a violent military campaign that started in August last year.

Troops, sometimes aided by ethnic Rakhine mobs, committed murder, rape, arson and torture, using unfathomable levels of violence and with a total disregard for human life, investigators concluded.

More than 700,000 of the stateless Muslim minority took refuge in Bangladesh, where they remain, fearful of returning to Myanmar despite a repatriation deal between the two countries.

The military has denied nearly all wrongdoing, justifying its crackdown as a legitimate means of rooting out Rohingya militants.

But rights groups and the UN say the operations were vastly disproportionate and that a troop build-up in the area occurred before insurgents attacked police posts in August 2017.

Army 'will continue' efforts

In a further ratcheting up of pressure on Myanmar, the ICC independently ruled that it had jurisdiction to open a preliminary investigation, even though the country has not signed the treaty underpinning the court.

Analysts say, however, that any road to prosecution would be long and fraught with political difficulties.

Last month Facebook removed the pages of Min Aung Hlaing and other top generals, accusing them of sowing ethnic divisions in a country where the social media platform enjoys excessive influence.

Myanmar's civilian government, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, rejected the UN report's finding as "one-sided" and "flawed" and dismissed the ICC's authority.

Suu Kyi's government shares power with the still-mighty army, which retains control over a quarter of parliamentary seats and three key ministries.

The UN team also criticised the Nobel Laureate's government for "acts and omissions" that had "contributed to the commission of atrocity crimes".

In a rare, if understated, criticism of the military, Suu Kyi recently said that the Rakhine crisis "could have been handled better".

The army chief made it clear that the Tatmadaw, as the military is known locally, has no intention to extract itself from politics.

"Take a look at the democracy practices in the world, the countries exercise the democracy system suited to them," he said, adding that the country needs to end armed conflict on its road to true multi-party democracy.

"The Tatmadaw will continue its efforts to achieve eternal peace," he said.

The Rohingya languishing in refugee camps in Bangladesh refuse to return to a Myanmar that does not grant them citizenship.&nbsp;

In his speech the army chief doubled down on the narrative widely held in Myanmar that the minority are outsiders, calling them "Bengalis" and insisting that the law, which does not recognise the group among the country's many ethnicities, will remain in place.&nbsp;

Myanmar's powerful army chief said the United Nations had no right to interfere in the sovereignty of his country, a week after UN investigators called for him and other top generals to be prosecuted for "genocide" against the Rohingya.

Myanmar's powerful army chief said the United Nations had no right to interfere in the sovereignty of his country, a week after UN investigators called for him and other top generals to be prosecuted for "genocide" against the Rohingya. The defiant response is the army chief's first public reaction since a UN fact-finding mission urged the Security Council to refer Myanmar's top military brass to the International Criminal Court (ICC). Min Aung Hlaing also shrugged off demands from the UN for the army to get out of political life in Myanmar, where it remains hugely influential despite a nominal transition to civilian rule in 2011. No country, organisation or group has the "right to interfere in and make decision over sovereignty of a country", military-run newspaper Myawady reported Min telling troops in a speech Sunday. "Talks to meddle in internal affairs (cause) misunderstanding." The 444-page UN probe report, compiled over 18 months, outlined in meticulous and searing detail claims of atrocities against the Rohingya, who fled a violent military campaign that started in August last year. Troops, sometimes aided by ethnic Rakhine mobs, committed murder, rape, arson and torture, using unfathomable levels of violence and with a total disregard for human life, investigators concluded. More than 700,000 of the stateless Muslim minority took refuge in Bangladesh, where they remain, fearful of returning to Myanmar despite a repatriation deal between the two countries. The military has denied nearly all wrongdoing, justifying its crackdown as a legitimate means of rooting out Rohingya militants. But rights groups and the UN say the operations were vastly disproportionate and that a troop build-up in the area occurred before insurgents attacked police posts in August 2017. Army 'will continue' efforts In a further ratcheting up of pressure on Myanmar, the ICC independently ruled that it had jurisdiction to open a preliminary investigation, even though the country has not signed the treaty underpinning the court. Analysts say, however, that any road to prosecution would be long and fraught with political difficulties. Last month Facebook removed the pages of Min Aung Hlaing and other top generals, accusing them of sowing ethnic divisions in a country where the social media platform enjoys excessive influence. Myanmar's civilian government, led by Aung San Suu Kyi, rejected the UN report's finding as "one-sided" and "flawed" and dismissed the ICC's authority. Suu Kyi's government shares power with the still-mighty army, which retains control over a quarter of parliamentary seats and three key ministries. The UN team also criticised the Nobel Laureate's government for "acts and omissions" that had "contributed to the commission of atrocity crimes". In a rare, if understated, criticism of the military, Suu Kyi recently said that the Rakhine crisis "could have been handled better". The army chief made it clear that the Tatmadaw, as the military is known locally, has no intention to extract itself from politics. "Take a look at the democracy practices in the world, the countries exercise the democracy system suited to them," he said, adding that the country needs to end armed conflict on its road to true multi-party democracy. "The Tatmadaw will continue its efforts to achieve eternal peace," he said. The Rohingya languishing in refugee camps in Bangladesh refuse to return to a Myanmar that does not grant them citizenship. In his speech the army chief doubled down on the narrative widely held in Myanmar that the minority are outsiders, calling them "Bengalis" and insisting that the law, which does not recognise the group among the country's many ethnicities, will remain in place.

Rohingya crisis: UN should not 'interfere' says Myanmar army chief

President Donald Trump said Monday he expects a second summit with Kim Jong Un to take place "quite soon" as he returned to the United Nations to trumpet a turnaround in ties with the North Korean leader.

Trump used his debut address to the UN General Assembly last year to threaten to "totally destroy" North Korea and belittled Kim as "rocket man", prompting Kim to respond by calling the US president "mentally deranged".

But speaking as he arrived at UN headquarters in New York for this year's gathering, Trump hailed "tremendous progress" to halt Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile tests and said that a year later it was a "much different time."

"It looks like we'll have a second summit quite soon," he told reporters.

"As you know Kim Jong Un wrote a letter -- a beautiful letter -- asking for a second meeting and we will be doing that," added Trump who met with Kim in Singapore in June.

While relations with Kim have improved dramatically, leaders attending the annual assembly will hear how another of Trump's adversaries, Iran's Hassan Rouhani, remains beyond the pale for the American president.

In addition to his address to the General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump has a series of bilateral meetings with allies such as French President Emmanuel Macron, Britain's Theresa May and Japan's Shinzo Abe, whom he met with late Sunday.

One of the most closely-watched will be Monday's meeting with South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in, who will brief him on last week's inter-Korean summit with Kim in Pyongyang.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo -- who has visited Pyongyang three times -- will preside over a Security Council meeting Thursday where he will brief members on how the administration can persuade the North to turn its back on nuclear weapons.

He will also defend the Trump administration's use of sanctions to force change, which has seen Chinese and Russian companies punished for doing business in North Korea.

Skepticism remains about whether Kim has taken any concrete steps, but that seems unlikely to deter Trump from pushing toward a follow-up to the Singapore summit in June.

Big drug problem

Kicking off his meetings, Trump addressed "the world drug problem and a big problem it is" at an event that saw 130 countries pledge to step up action to fight the illegal drug trade and combat addiction.

In his 41-minute speech at the General Assembly in 2017, the US president made clear he wanted to turn the clock back on the last half-century's growth of global rules and institutions to return to the primacy of the nation-state.

The UN's number one financial backer, the United States has moved under Trump to cut funding to the world body, notably to peacekeeping missions that are key to the UN's goal of promoting peace and security.

"The United Nations has tremendous potential and that potential is being met, slowly but surely," Trump told the meeting attended by UN chief Antonio Guterres.

While Trump will dial down the rhetoric against Kim, there seems to be little prospect of him doing likewise with Rouhani.

The US annoyed many of its allies in Europe by pulling out of a deal they jointly negotiated in 2015 that lifted sanctions against Tehran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program.

US allies in the Middle East, notably Saudi Arabia, have, however, been delighted by Trump's stance.

On Wednesday, Trump will for the first time chair a Security Council meeting on non-proliferation that will focus heavily on Iran, likely triggering a clash with other big powers.

The White House has not completely closed the door on a Rouhani-Trump meeting, but in a weekend op-ed in The Washington Post, Rouhani charged that Trump's offer of talks was not "genuine" and came with a list of "openly insulting preconditions."

President Donald Trump said Monday he expects a second summit with Kim Jong Un to take place "quite soon" as he returned to the United Nations to trumpet a turnaround in ties with the North Korean leader.

President Donald Trump said Monday he expects a second summit with Kim Jong Un to take place "quite soon" as he returned to the United Nations to trumpet a turnaround in ties with the North Korean leader. Trump used his debut address to the UN General Assembly last year to threaten to "totally destroy" North Korea and belittled Kim as "rocket man", prompting Kim to respond by calling the US president "mentally deranged". But speaking as he arrived at UN headquarters in New York for this year's gathering, Trump hailed "tremendous progress" to halt Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile tests and said that a year later it was a "much different time." "It looks like we'll have a second summit quite soon," he told reporters. "As you know Kim Jong Un wrote a letter -- a beautiful letter -- asking for a second meeting and we will be doing that," added Trump who met with Kim in Singapore in June. While relations with Kim have improved dramatically, leaders attending the annual assembly will hear how another of Trump's adversaries, Iran's Hassan Rouhani, remains beyond the pale for the American president. In addition to his address to the General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump has a series of bilateral meetings with allies such as French President Emmanuel Macron, Britain's Theresa May and Japan's Shinzo Abe, whom he met with late Sunday. One of the most closely-watched will be Monday's meeting with South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in, who will brief him on last week's inter-Korean summit with Kim in Pyongyang. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo -- who has visited Pyongyang three times -- will preside over a Security Council meeting Thursday where he will brief members on how the administration can persuade the North to turn its back on nuclear weapons. He will also defend the Trump administration's use of sanctions to force change, which has seen Chinese and Russian companies punished for doing business in North Korea. Skepticism remains about whether Kim has taken any concrete steps, but that seems unlikely to deter Trump from pushing toward a follow-up to the Singapore summit in June. Big drug problem Kicking off his meetings, Trump addressed "the world drug problem and a big problem it is" at an event that saw 130 countries pledge to step up action to fight the illegal drug trade and combat addiction. In his 41-minute speech at the General Assembly in 2017, the US president made clear he wanted to turn the clock back on the last half-century's growth of global rules and institutions to return to the primacy of the nation-state. The UN's number one financial backer, the United States has moved under Trump to cut funding to the world body, notably to peacekeeping missions that are key to the UN's goal of promoting peace and security. "The United Nations has tremendous potential and that potential is being met, slowly but surely," Trump told the meeting attended by UN chief Antonio Guterres. While Trump will dial down the rhetoric against Kim, there seems to be little prospect of him doing likewise with Rouhani. The US annoyed many of its allies in Europe by pulling out of a deal they jointly negotiated in 2015 that lifted sanctions against Tehran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear program. US allies in the Middle East, notably Saudi Arabia, have, however, been delighted by Trump's stance. On Wednesday, Trump will for the first time chair a Security Council meeting on non-proliferation that will focus heavily on Iran, likely triggering a clash with other big powers. The White House has not completely closed the door on a Rouhani-Trump meeting, but in a weekend op-ed in The Washington Post, Rouhani charged that Trump's offer of talks was not "genuine" and came with a list of "openly insulting preconditions."

Back at UN, Trump eyes new North Korea summit 'quite soon'

Half a million children are in "immediate danger" in Libya's capital Tripoli due to fighting, the United Nations children's fund UNICEF said on Monday.

Clashes that broke out between rival militias in late August had killed at least 115 people and wounded nearly 400 by Saturday night, according to Libya's health ministry.

UNICEF said Monday that "over 1,200 families have been displaced in the past 48 hours alone as clashes intensified in southern Tripoli".

That brings the total number of people displaced by the recent fighting to over 25,000, half of whom are children, UNICEF said.&nbsp;

"More children are reportedly being recruited to fight, putting them in immediate danger. At least one child was killed as a result," said Geert Cappelaere, the UN agency's Middle East and North Africa director.

UNICEF also said schools are increasingly being used to shelter displaced families, which is likely to delay the start of the academic year beyond October 3.

It said residents are facing food, power and water shortages, adding that the clashes have exacerbated the plight of migrants.

"Hundreds of detained refugees and migrants, including children, were forced to move because of violence. Others are stranded in centres in dire conditions", Cappelaere said.

Despite a UN-brokered ceasefire on September 4, fighting broke out again last week in southern districts of the capital.

The clashes have pitted armed groups from Tarhuna and Misrata against Tripoli militias nominally controlled by Libya's UN-backed unity government.

The Libyan capital has been at the centre of a battle for influence between armed groups since dictator Moamer Kadhafi was ousted in a NATO-backed 2011 uprising.

The country's unity government has struggled to exert its control in the face of a multitude of militias and a rival administration based in eastern Libya.

Half a million children are in "immediate danger" in Libya's capital Tripoli due to fighting, the United Nations children's fund UNICEF said on Monday. Clashes that broke out between rival militias in late August had killed at least 115 people and wounded nearly 400 by Saturday night, according to Libya's health ministry.

Half a million children are in "immediate danger" in Libya's capital Tripoli due to fighting, the United Nations children's fund UNICEF said on Monday. Clashes that broke out between rival militias in late August had killed at least 115 people and wounded nearly 400 by Saturday night, according to Libya's health ministry. UNICEF said Monday that "over 1,200 families have been displaced in the past 48 hours alone as clashes intensified in southern Tripoli". That brings the total number of people displaced by the recent fighting to over 25,000, half of whom are children, UNICEF said. "More children are reportedly being recruited to fight, putting them in immediate danger. At least one child was killed as a result," said Geert Cappelaere, the UN agency's Middle East and North Africa director. UNICEF also said schools are increasingly being used to shelter displaced families, which is likely to delay the start of the academic year beyond October 3. It said residents are facing food, power and water shortages, adding that the clashes have exacerbated the plight of migrants. "Hundreds of detained refugees and migrants, including children, were forced to move because of violence. Others are stranded in centres in dire conditions", Cappelaere said. Despite a UN-brokered ceasefire on September 4, fighting broke out again last week in southern districts of the capital. The clashes have pitted armed groups from Tarhuna and Misrata against Tripoli militias nominally controlled by Libya's UN-backed unity government. The Libyan capital has been at the centre of a battle for influence between armed groups since dictator Moamer Kadhafi was ousted in a NATO-backed 2011 uprising. The country's unity government has struggled to exert its control in the face of a multitude of militias and a rival administration based in eastern Libya.

500,000 children face 'immediate danger' in Libya capital: UN

North Korea and Iran will dominate this week's gathering of world leaders at the United Nations, where President Donald Trump will be in the spotlight as he continues to upend global diplomacy.

After warming up to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and ditching the Iran nuclear deal, the unpredictable Trump takes the podium on Tuesday to face foes and increasingly uneasy allies at the UN General Assembly.

On Wednesday, he will for the first time chair a Security Council meeting on non-proliferation and weapons of mass destruction that will focus heavily on Iran -- likely triggering a clash with other big powers.

"It will be the most watched Security Council meeting ever," US Ambassador Nikki Haley said of Trump's first time wielding the gavel.

The diplomatic gathering will take stock of the thaw in relations between North and South Korea, and groundbreaking US-North Korea moves to address the threat from Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Last year, world leaders shuddered when Trump threatened to totally destroy North Korea and belittled Kim as "Rocket Man" who was "on a suicide mission."

An exchange of insults ensued, with Kim calling out the "mentally deranged US dotard."

U-turn on North Korea

Trump's address to the assembly will be the "polar opposite of what we heard last year," said Suzanne DiMaggio, an expert on North Korea and Iran at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

The president will tout his June face-to-face with Kim as a major diplomatic win but "he should think twice if he plans to repeat his claim that North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat," she said.

Despite the Trump-Kim landmark summit in Singapore, there has been little concrete progress on denuclearization.

North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho has been invited by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for talks on the sidelines of the assembly meeting. Ri is scheduled to deliver his address on September 29.&nbsp;

South Korea's President Moon Jae-in will encourage Trump to press on with the rapprochement, but the US president is likely to get a different message from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has taken a tough stance on maintaining sanctions pressure on Pyongyang.

When he takes the podium shortly after Trump on Tuesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will meanwhile address the fall-out from the US decision to abandon the 2015 nuclear deal which lifted international sanctions in exchange for curbs to Iran's nuclear program.

European countries along with Russia and China are still working to salvage the accord and will use the council meeting chaired by Trump to defend what they consider a milestone in non-proliferation.

"The members of the Security Council are not going to take kindly to being lectured by President Trump on the subject of Iran," said DiMaggio.

"These very countries, which include our closest allies, are now facing US sanctions as they scramble to save the agreement."

Pompeo reiterated Sunday that Trump is willing to meet Rouhani as part of a "constructive dialogue" -- but added on NBC's "Meet the Press" that that seemed unlikely at present.

In a weekend op-ed in the Washington Post, Rouhani charged that Trump's offer of direct talks was not "genuine" and came with a list of "openly insulting pre-conditions."

And Haley -- while she condemned "any terrorist attack" after the deadly assault on a military parade in southwest Iran -- urged Rouhani to acknowledge popular discontent.

"He has oppressed his people for a long time," Haley told CNN on Sunday.&nbsp;

UN under fire

The UN rendezvous takes place during a sharp divide between the United States, accused of turning its back on multilateralism, and countries that view the global rules-based order as their best hope to tackle the world's problems. &nbsp;

Struggling with tighter budgets from US cuts, the United Nations has been put on the defensive as its peace efforts in Syria, Libya and Yemen fall short.

"Multilateralism is under attack from many different directions precisely when we need it most," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. 
About 130 heads of state and government are turning up for the six-day marathon of speeches and meetings on tackling a long list of issues from climate change to poverty.

Russia and China will be represented by their foreign ministers.

Among those making their debut on the world stage will be Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who has signed a historic peace deal with Eritrea, Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

North Korea and Iran will dominate this week's gathering of world leaders at the United Nations, where President Donald Trump will be in the spotlight as he continues to upend global diplomacy.

North Korea and Iran will dominate this week's gathering of world leaders at the United Nations, where President Donald Trump will be in the spotlight as he continues to upend global diplomacy. After warming up to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and ditching the Iran nuclear deal, the unpredictable Trump takes the podium on Tuesday to face foes and increasingly uneasy allies at the UN General Assembly. On Wednesday, he will for the first time chair a Security Council meeting on non-proliferation and weapons of mass destruction that will focus heavily on Iran -- likely triggering a clash with other big powers. "It will be the most watched Security Council meeting ever," US Ambassador Nikki Haley said of Trump's first time wielding the gavel. The diplomatic gathering will take stock of the thaw in relations between North and South Korea, and groundbreaking US-North Korea moves to address the threat from Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Last year, world leaders shuddered when Trump threatened to totally destroy North Korea and belittled Kim as "Rocket Man" who was "on a suicide mission." An exchange of insults ensued, with Kim calling out the "mentally deranged US dotard." U-turn on North Korea Trump's address to the assembly will be the "polar opposite of what we heard last year," said Suzanne DiMaggio, an expert on North Korea and Iran at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The president will tout his June face-to-face with Kim as a major diplomatic win but "he should think twice if he plans to repeat his claim that North Korea is no longer a nuclear threat," she said. Despite the Trump-Kim landmark summit in Singapore, there has been little concrete progress on denuclearization. North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho has been invited by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo for talks on the sidelines of the assembly meeting. Ri is scheduled to deliver his address on September 29. South Korea's President Moon Jae-in will encourage Trump to press on with the rapprochement, but the US president is likely to get a different message from Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who has taken a tough stance on maintaining sanctions pressure on Pyongyang. When he takes the podium shortly after Trump on Tuesday, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani will meanwhile address the fall-out from the US decision to abandon the 2015 nuclear deal which lifted international sanctions in exchange for curbs to Iran's nuclear program. European countries along with Russia and China are still working to salvage the accord and will use the council meeting chaired by Trump to defend what they consider a milestone in non-proliferation. "The members of the Security Council are not going to take kindly to being lectured by President Trump on the subject of Iran," said DiMaggio. "These very countries, which include our closest allies, are now facing US sanctions as they scramble to save the agreement." Pompeo reiterated Sunday that Trump is willing to meet Rouhani as part of a "constructive dialogue" -- but added on NBC's "Meet the Press" that that seemed unlikely at present. In a weekend op-ed in the Washington Post, Rouhani charged that Trump's offer of direct talks was not "genuine" and came with a list of "openly insulting pre-conditions." And Haley -- while she condemned "any terrorist attack" after the deadly assault on a military parade in southwest Iran -- urged Rouhani to acknowledge popular discontent. "He has oppressed his people for a long time," Haley told CNN on Sunday. UN under fire The UN rendezvous takes place during a sharp divide between the United States, accused of turning its back on multilateralism, and countries that view the global rules-based order as their best hope to tackle the world's problems. Struggling with tighter budgets from US cuts, the United Nations has been put on the defensive as its peace efforts in Syria, Libya and Yemen fall short. "Multilateralism is under attack from many different directions precisely when we need it most," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. About 130 heads of state and government are turning up for the six-day marathon of speeches and meetings on tackling a long list of issues from climate change to poverty. Russia and China will be represented by their foreign ministers. Among those making their debut on the world stage will be Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who has signed a historic peace deal with Eritrea, Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel.

World leaders at UN look for progress on North Korea, brace for Trump

Back when he was a mild-mannered civil servant, few in the Maldives predicted Abdulla Yameen would one day run the country, let alone with an iron grip, locking up judges, his rivals and even his 80-year-old half-brother.

Now, five years after skillfully manoeuvring his way to the top, the 59-year-old is on the cusp of being elected on Sunday to a second five-year term running the Indian Ocean archipelago beloved of foreign tourists.

All of his main rivals are either behind bars or in exile, local media are scared to be critical -- and even to report on the opposition -- and the electoral system has been rigged, his opponents claim.

Adding to the alarm of the United States, the European Union and regional heavyweight India, Yameen has also cosied up to China, using cheap credit from Beijing for a blitz of infrastructure building.

"When I was first sworn into office, our nation was in disarray. The state institutions were in chaos, and the institutions were... on the brink of collapse," Yameen said in a recent address to the nation.

Now though after five years, he had restored "stability and economic prosperity" to the nation of 340,000 people and more than 1,000 coral islands, he said.

Family business

Until 10 years ago, Yameen was just the half-brother of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, president from 1978 until 2008.

After working as a surveyor, Yameen got his first taste of government under Gayoom, serving in his cabinet as a trade minister and as employment minister.

But Gayoom was defeated at the country's first democratic election in 2008 and his young challenger Mohamed Nasheed became a reformist president.

However, Nasheed stepped down in 2012 after protests that he said were instigated by Gayoom.

Yameen stood in elections the following year, in which Nasheed won the first round, but the Supreme Court annulled the result.

A subsequent vote was then twice delayed, allowing Yameen time to forge alliances that helped him narrowly win a contested run-off.

When he was inaugurated, diplomats in nearby Sri Lanka thought Yameen would end up being a puppet of Gayoom, but the new president soon showed that he was his own man.

Early evidence that he meant business came in September 2015 when, after an alleged assassination attempt involving a blast on his yacht, Yameen had his deputy Ahmed Adeeb jailed.

Then in February this year, Yameen showed how ruthless he could be when the Supreme Court moved to overturn convictions of his rivals, setting up a possible impeachment by his opponents in parliament.

Yameen hit back by declaring a state of emergency, suspending the constitution, arresting the Chief Justice and another judge of the Supreme Court and sending troops to take over parliament.

His aged half-brother Gayoom was jailed for allegedly conspiring with the Supreme Court to topple him.

The crackdown was condemned by the US and the EU, and described by the UN human rights chief as "an all-out assault on democracy".​​​​​​​

'Holding a fish'

Undeterred, Yameen has consistently ignored international pressure.

"It is... important that friends and partners in the international community, including India, refrain from any actions that could hinder resolving the situation facing the country," the foreign ministry said in a statement after the state of emergency was imposed.

The man who would have been Yameen's main rival in Sunday's election, former president Nasheed, is living in exile after being sentenced to 13 years in prison for a terrorism conviction which the UN says was politically motivated.

"Yameen is a very clever manipulator and a very intelligent person, but unfortunately he has a criminal mind," said Ahmed Naseem, a former foreign minister and opposition activist.

"He is not a charismatic popular figure. Even when he tries to carry a baby, it looks like he is holding a fish."

Back when he was a mild-mannered civil servant, few in the Maldives predicted Abdulla Yameen would one day run the country, let alone with an iron grip, locking up judges, his rivals and even his 80-year-old half-brother.

Back when he was a mild-mannered civil servant, few in the Maldives predicted Abdulla Yameen would one day run the country, let alone with an iron grip, locking up judges, his rivals and even his 80-year-old half-brother. Now, five years after skillfully manoeuvring his way to the top, the 59-year-old is on the cusp of being elected on Sunday to a second five-year term running the Indian Ocean archipelago beloved of foreign tourists. All of his main rivals are either behind bars or in exile, local media are scared to be critical -- and even to report on the opposition -- and the electoral system has been rigged, his opponents claim. Adding to the alarm of the United States, the European Union and regional heavyweight India, Yameen has also cosied up to China, using cheap credit from Beijing for a blitz of infrastructure building. "When I was first sworn into office, our nation was in disarray. The state institutions were in chaos, and the institutions were... on the brink of collapse," Yameen said in a recent address to the nation. Now though after five years, he had restored "stability and economic prosperity" to the nation of 340,000 people and more than 1,000 coral islands, he said. Family business Until 10 years ago, Yameen was just the half-brother of Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, president from 1978 until 2008. After working as a surveyor, Yameen got his first taste of government under Gayoom, serving in his cabinet as a trade minister and as employment minister. But Gayoom was defeated at the country's first democratic election in 2008 and his young challenger Mohamed Nasheed became a reformist president. However, Nasheed stepped down in 2012 after protests that he said were instigated by Gayoom. Yameen stood in elections the following year, in which Nasheed won the first round, but the Supreme Court annulled the result. A subsequent vote was then twice delayed, allowing Yameen time to forge alliances that helped him narrowly win a contested run-off. When he was inaugurated, diplomats in nearby Sri Lanka thought Yameen would end up being a puppet of Gayoom, but the new president soon showed that he was his own man. Early evidence that he meant business came in September 2015 when, after an alleged assassination attempt involving a blast on his yacht, Yameen had his deputy Ahmed Adeeb jailed. Then in February this year, Yameen showed how ruthless he could be when the Supreme Court moved to overturn convictions of his rivals, setting up a possible impeachment by his opponents in parliament. Yameen hit back by declaring a state of emergency, suspending the constitution, arresting the Chief Justice and another judge of the Supreme Court and sending troops to take over parliament. His aged half-brother Gayoom was jailed for allegedly conspiring with the Supreme Court to topple him. The crackdown was condemned by the US and the EU, and described by the UN human rights chief as "an all-out assault on democracy". 'Holding a fish' Undeterred, Yameen has consistently ignored international pressure. "It is... important that friends and partners in the international community, including India, refrain from any actions that could hinder resolving the situation facing the country," the foreign ministry said in a statement after the state of emergency was imposed. The man who would have been Yameen's main rival in Sunday's election, former president Nasheed, is living in exile after being sentenced to 13 years in prison for a terrorism conviction which the UN says was politically motivated. "Yameen is a very clever manipulator and a very intelligent person, but unfortunately he has a criminal mind," said Ahmed Naseem, a former foreign minister and opposition activist. "He is not a charismatic popular figure. Even when he tries to carry a baby, it looks like he is holding a fish."

Abdulla Yameen, unlikely Maldives strongman

The UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution Friday aimed at toughening the UN response to peacekeeper misconduct following a string of failures by the blue helmets to protect civilians.

UN peacekeeping missions are facing a damaging wave of allegations of sex abuse and of failing to come to the aid of civilians caught up in violence, notably in the Central African Republic and South Sudan.

The United States presented the measure to improve peacekeeping performance but faced major resistance from Russia, which found it harsh toward troop-contributing countries.&nbsp;

The resolution is intended to reinforce measures such as repatriating peacekeepers, replacing units and withholding UN payments for soldiers involved in misconduct -- penalties that have irked troop contributors.&nbsp;

The measure "welcomes" special investigations set up by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to look into significant peacekeeping failures and stresses that the findings of these probes should be transparent.&nbsp;

At a council meeting last week, Pakistan, one of the top three troops contributors to peacekeeping, spoke out against a public "name-and-shame" approach to call out countries whose troops failed in their mission.

The United States, which is the number one financial contributor to the UN's $6.9 billion peacekeeping budget, has moved to cut funding and raised concern about the performance of missions.

A council diplomat described negotiations on the text as "very tough" and said there had been changes to the original draft that strongly pressured troop-contributing countries.

The United Nations has 96,000 peacekeepers serving in 14 missions worldwide.

Guterres has vowed to toughen the UN response to sexual abuse committed by the blue helmets and has appointed a victims' advocate to oversee the handling of cases.

His predecessor Ban Ki-moon took the unprecedented step of firing the commander of the mission in the Central African Republic over his handling of dozens of cases of sex abuse and misconduct by the peacekeepers.

Ban also sacked the head of the mission in South Sudan following a report that showed peacekeepers failed to respond to appeals for help from aid workers who came under attack at a nearby hotel compound. 
&nbsp;

The UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution Friday aimed at toughening the UN response to peacekeeper misconduct following a string of failures by the blue helmets to protect civilians.

The UN Security Council unanimously passed a resolution Friday aimed at toughening the UN response to peacekeeper misconduct following a string of failures by the blue helmets to protect civilians. UN peacekeeping missions are facing a damaging wave of allegations of sex abuse and of failing to come to the aid of civilians caught up in violence, notably in the Central African Republic and South Sudan. The United States presented the measure to improve peacekeeping performance but faced major resistance from Russia, which found it harsh toward troop-contributing countries. The resolution is intended to reinforce measures such as repatriating peacekeepers, replacing units and withholding UN payments for soldiers involved in misconduct -- penalties that have irked troop contributors. The measure "welcomes" special investigations set up by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to look into significant peacekeeping failures and stresses that the findings of these probes should be transparent. At a council meeting last week, Pakistan, one of the top three troops contributors to peacekeeping, spoke out against a public "name-and-shame" approach to call out countries whose troops failed in their mission. The United States, which is the number one financial contributor to the UN's $6.9 billion peacekeeping budget, has moved to cut funding and raised concern about the performance of missions. A council diplomat described negotiations on the text as "very tough" and said there had been changes to the original draft that strongly pressured troop-contributing countries. The United Nations has 96,000 peacekeepers serving in 14 missions worldwide. Guterres has vowed to toughen the UN response to sexual abuse committed by the blue helmets and has appointed a victims' advocate to oversee the handling of cases. His predecessor Ban Ki-moon took the unprecedented step of firing the commander of the mission in the Central African Republic over his handling of dozens of cases of sex abuse and misconduct by the peacekeepers. Ban also sacked the head of the mission in South Sudan following a report that showed peacekeepers failed to respond to appeals for help from aid workers who came under attack at a nearby hotel compound.

UN moves to toughen response to peacekeeper misconduct

Former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed on Friday asked India to exert its influence to ensure a free and fair election in the country as he fears that September 23 presidential polls could be rigged.&nbsp;

The Maldives on Sunday will hold its third-ever multiparty presidential election.

Opposition parties from across Maldivian politics have formed a united front to oust the president, Abdulla Yameen, whose government has been accused of crushing dissent, corruption and jailing electoral opponents on flimsy grounds.

They have nominated a senior MP, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, to run against Yameen.

Mohammad Nasheed, the country's first freely elected president after 30 years of authoritarian rule, told reporters in Colombo that "Yameen will lose the election, but he will hold onto power.&nbsp;

Nasheed, 51, was forced to quit his office in 2012 in what supporters&nbsp;regard as a coup, and was narrowly defeated by Yameen in a presidential poll the following year. He was convicted of terrorism in a dubious trial in 2015 and now lives in exile in Sri Lanka.

He urged the international community not to accept the result. He said that India must exert its influence to ensure a free and fair election.&nbsp;

He stressed the lack of credible international monitoring of the election.&nbsp; 
He said there was no chance for the incumbent to win the election due to all opposing parties getting together.&nbsp;

"Mathematically, it is not possible for Yameen to win because all opposition parties are united against him. But the results they will announce will be different to what is actually in the ballot boxes," he said.

"The election in the Maldives is not just about less than half a million Maldivians," Nasheed said. "It is also about the stability of the Indian Ocean region where there is a cold war between India and China."

Nasheed charged that Yameen was being backed by China which wants to retain its infrastructure contracts in the country.

The United Nations has branded Nasheed's conviction and the jailing for 13 years as politically motivated.

Former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed on Friday asked India to exert its influence to ensure a free and fair election in the country as he fears that September 23 presidential polls could be rigged.

Former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed on Friday asked India to exert its influence to ensure a free and fair election in the country as he fears that September 23 presidential polls could be rigged. The Maldives on Sunday will hold its third-ever multiparty presidential election. Opposition parties from across Maldivian politics have formed a united front to oust the president, Abdulla Yameen, whose government has been accused of crushing dissent, corruption and jailing electoral opponents on flimsy grounds. They have nominated a senior MP, Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, to run against Yameen. Mohammad Nasheed, the country's first freely elected president after 30 years of authoritarian rule, told reporters in Colombo that "Yameen will lose the election, but he will hold onto power. Nasheed, 51, was forced to quit his office in 2012 in what supporters regard as a coup, and was narrowly defeated by Yameen in a presidential poll the following year. He was convicted of terrorism in a dubious trial in 2015 and now lives in exile in Sri Lanka. He urged the international community not to accept the result. He said that India must exert its influence to ensure a free and fair election. He stressed the lack of credible international monitoring of the election. He said there was no chance for the incumbent to win the election due to all opposing parties getting together. "Mathematically, it is not possible for Yameen to win because all opposition parties are united against him. But the results they will announce will be different to what is actually in the ballot boxes," he said. "The election in the Maldives is not just about less than half a million Maldivians," Nasheed said. "It is also about the stability of the Indian Ocean region where there is a cold war between India and China." Nasheed charged that Yameen was being backed by China which wants to retain its infrastructure contracts in the country. The United Nations has branded Nasheed's conviction and the jailing for 13 years as politically motivated.

Former Maldivian president Nasheed asks India to ensure free and fair election

united-nations

United Nations, News on United Nations, stories on United Nations, articles on United Nations, United Nations stories at Wion, United Nations news, United Nations latest news

united nations

ISI, Army and terrorists run Pakistan; Imran Khan a 'chaprasi': Subramanian Swamy

UN report spotlights government inaction on climate

There must be accountability for gross violations, abuses committed in Rakhine state: UN chief

Eritrea at UN demands compensation for sanctions

'Despicable insinuation' of Pakistan on 2014 school attack draws India’s fury at UN

UN envoy says hard to hold Libya elections in December

China defends move to block India's bids to list Masood Azhar as global terrorist

Afghan election campaigning kicks off amid violence, fraud claims

Gandhi park opens in southern Lebanon, carries forward Gandhian legacy

North Korea sanctions must be 'vigorously' enforced: Pompeo tells UN

UN to create panel to prepare indictments over Myanmar atrocities

Trump: UN wasn't 'laughing at me'

America had no achievements at UN General Assembly: Iran President Hassan Rouhani

Pak's Qureshi discusses India's construction on Kishanganga, Ratle projects with World Bank chief

PM Modi, French President Macron awarded ‘Champions of the Earth’ by UN

US President Donald Trump addresses 73rd session of UNGA

US President Donald Trump says China trying to meddle in US congressional elections

Japan PM Abe open to summit with North Korea's Kim

India, G4 nations voice concern over lack of progress in long-pending UN Security Council reform

10 Afghan children, 2 women dead in air strike: UN initial report

Opinion: Potholes overshadow US-Iran confrontation at UN

India a free society, successfully lifting millions out of poverty: Trump tells UN

India a free society, successfully lifting millions out of poverty: Trump tells UN

UN probes 'credible' reports of nine Afghan civilians killed in air strike

Rohingya crisis: UN should not 'interfere' says Myanmar army chief

Back at UN, Trump eyes new North Korea summit 'quite soon'