Israel has withdrawn from a race for a seat on the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member. According to a press statement by the Israeli mission to the United Nations, the State of Israel decided to postpone its candidacy for a seat on the UNSC after consulting its "partners and good friends".

"It was decided that we will continue to act with our allies to allow for Israel to realize its right for full participation and inclusion in decision-making processes at the UN," a Xinhua report quoted the statement.

The move will enable Belgium and Germany secure spots on the Security Council's elected seats reserved for Western Europe and other regions. Both the countries will still need to secure at least two-thirds of votes at the General Assembly elections next month.

If elected, Belgium and Germany will replace Netherlands and Sweden as UNSC non-permanent members.&nbsp;

United Nations' Security Council has 15 members in total -- five permanent and 10 non-permanent. The non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms, five non-permanent members nations are replaced every year.

China, France, Russia, the UK, the United States are the permanent member nations on the UNSC. Bolivia, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Sweden are the non-permanent members of the Council at present.&nbsp;

The move will enable Belgium and Germany secure spots on the Security Council's elected seats reserved for Western Europe and other regions

Israel has withdrawn from a race for a seat on the UN Security Council as a non-permanent member. According to a press statement by the Israeli mission to the United Nations, the State of Israel decided to postpone its candidacy for a seat on the UNSC after consulting its "partners and good friends". "It was decided that we will continue to act with our allies to allow for Israel to realize its right for full participation and inclusion in decision-making processes at the UN," a Xinhua report quoted the statement. The move will enable Belgium and Germany secure spots on the Security Council's elected seats reserved for Western Europe and other regions. Both the countries will still need to secure at least two-thirds of votes at the General Assembly elections next month. If elected, Belgium and Germany will replace Netherlands and Sweden as UNSC non-permanent members. United Nations' Security Council has 15 members in total -- five permanent and 10 non-permanent. The non-permanent members are elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms, five non-permanent members nations are replaced every year. China, France, Russia, the UK, the United States are the permanent member nations on the UNSC. Bolivia, Côte d’Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Netherlands, Peru, Poland, Sweden are the non-permanent members of the Council at present.

Israel pulls out of race for UN Security Council

Pakistan has raked up the issue of alleged human rights violation in Kashmir at the UN's Committee on Information to which India raised strong objection, saying it was irrelevant to the work of the panel.

Pakistan's delegate Masood Anwar, addressing a session of Committee on Information yesterday, raised the issue of Kashmir alleging that human rights violations are taking place against the people of Kashmir.&nbsp

"The world we live today is marred with conflict and strife while we maintain unity in fighting terrorism and extremism. Countering the narrative of this twisted ideologies is imperative,"Anwar said during a General Debate on Committee on Information.

He said the UN's Department of Public Information (DPI) can play an important role in defusing tensions and promoting interfaith harmony.

"Human rights violations, in particular, are a matter of serious concern to the international community," he said.&nbsp

He urged DPI to highlight situations where "grave violations of human rights are taking place", especially against the Rohingya, Kashmiris and Palestinians.&nbsp

India strongly rejected Anwar's reference to Kashmir, saying his remarks are irrelevant to the work of the Committee.

"We have seen another attempt here today to make reference to issues extraneous to the agenda of the Committee. We completely reject these remarks as they have no relevance to the work of the Committee," S Srinivas Prasad, Minister in the Indian Mission to the UN, said during the session.

In his statement, Prasad said India supports the DPI's work on counter-terrorism. ?India is opposed to all forms of terrorism and believes that effective cooperation among countries is necessary to combat the threat," he said.&nbsp

He referred to the production of the documentary "Surviving Terrorism: Victim's voices' on the survivors of the Norway terror attack of 2011, saying civilians affected by terrorism is an "untold story" and hoped that the DPI will pick up more such stories from terrorist violence affected countries.&nbsp

He, however, voiced concern over declining financial resources that have presented a serious constraint on the ability of the DPI to carry out its mandated tasks especially in non-official languages. DPI needs to look at innovative ways to raise resources beyond the regular budgetary allocations, including through voluntary contributions to continue and expand its global outreach activities, especially in the widely-spoken non-official languages, he said.

Prasad voiced appreciation over expansion in the number of languages in which UN guided tours are offered. He pointed out that guided tours of the world body have been very popular with Indian tourists in the city, urging the addition of a guided tour in Hindi to facilitate Indian tourists.&nbsp

Prasad also noted that the Department facilitated the on-location filming of Bollywood film 'Padman' at the United Nations headquarters in November 2017.&nbsp

Akshay Kumar-starrer Padman was the second movie after 'Half Girlfriend' to use the UN as a backdrop of its story. The film is based on menstrual hygiene, an issue relating to the Sustainable Development Goal number four that focusses on achieving inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

Pakistan's delegate Masood Anwar urged DPI to highlight situations where "grave violations of human rights are taking place", especially against the Rohingya, Kashmiris and Palestinians.

Pakistan has raked up the issue of alleged human rights violation in Kashmir at the UN's Committee on Information to which India raised strong objection, saying it was irrelevant to the work of the panel. Pakistan's delegate Masood Anwar, addressing a session of Committee on Information yesterday, raised the issue of Kashmir alleging that human rights violations are taking place against the people of Kashmir. "The world we live today is marred with conflict and strife while we maintain unity in fighting terrorism and extremism. Countering the narrative of this twisted ideologies is imperative,"Anwar said during a General Debate on Committee on Information. He said the UN's Department of Public Information (DPI) can play an important role in defusing tensions and promoting interfaith harmony. "Human rights violations, in particular, are a matter of serious concern to the international community," he said. He urged DPI to highlight situations where "grave violations of human rights are taking place", especially against the Rohingya, Kashmiris and Palestinians. India strongly rejected Anwar's reference to Kashmir, saying his remarks are irrelevant to the work of the Committee. "We have seen another attempt here today to make reference to issues extraneous to the agenda of the Committee. We completely reject these remarks as they have no relevance to the work of the Committee," S Srinivas Prasad, Minister in the Indian Mission to the UN, said during the session. In his statement, Prasad said India supports the DPI's work on counter-terrorism. ?India is opposed to all forms of terrorism and believes that effective cooperation among countries is necessary to combat the threat," he said. He referred to the production of the documentary "Surviving Terrorism: Victim's voices' on the survivors of the Norway terror attack of 2011, saying civilians affected by terrorism is an "untold story" and hoped that the DPI will pick up more such stories from terrorist violence affected countries. He, however, voiced concern over declining financial resources that have presented a serious constraint on the ability of the DPI to carry out its mandated tasks especially in non-official languages. DPI needs to look at innovative ways to raise resources beyond the regular budgetary allocations, including through voluntary contributions to continue and expand its global outreach activities, especially in the widely-spoken non-official languages, he said. Prasad voiced appreciation over expansion in the number of languages in which UN guided tours are offered. He pointed out that guided tours of the world body have been very popular with Indian tourists in the city, urging the addition of a guided tour in Hindi to facilitate Indian tourists. Prasad also noted that the Department facilitated the on-location filming of Bollywood film 'Padman' at the United Nations headquarters in November 2017. Akshay Kumar-starrer Padman was the second movie after 'Half Girlfriend' to use the UN as a backdrop of its story. The film is based on menstrual hygiene, an issue relating to the Sustainable Development Goal number four that focusses on achieving inclusive and equitable quality education for all.

Pak raises Kashmir issue at UN Committee on Information; India objects

In a tweet last year, US president Donald Trump had said in the East, it could be the coldest New Year’s Eve on record, perhaps we could use a little bit of that "good old Global Warming that our country", but not other countries, was going to pay trillions of dollars to protect against.

Trump's tweet had caused global outrage with several scientists and environmentalists hitting back at the President asserting that global warming couldn't be taken lightly.

Now, a Finnish NGO, Melting Ice, has decided put Trump's face on ice, literally.

The initiative known as "Project Trumpmore" will reportedly itch Trump's face in a 115-foot iceberg in the Arctic in an attempt to show that global warming actually exists.

Melting Ice is looking for a place to put Trump's mammoth structure in place, inspired by Mount Rushmore national memorial which has 60-foot granite faces of US presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln.&nbsp;

Last year, Trump had announced the US would be pulling out of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, an initiative of the United Nations, saying it would undermine the US economy with several experts criticising the US president's move.

In a televised address, Trump had said: "The bottom line is that the Paris accord is very unfair at the highest level to the United States, it undermines our economy, hamstrings our workers and "effectively decapitates our coal industry."

The Finnish NGO is reportedly looking funding, once they are able to get it, the organization&nbsp;says&nbsp;Mongolian and Finnish ice sculptors will carve the statue which would be broadcast live on the web.

Now, a Finnish NGO, Melting Ice, has decided put Trump's face on ice, literally.

In a tweet last year, US president Donald Trump had said in the East, it could be the coldest New Year’s Eve on record, perhaps we could use a little bit of that "good old Global Warming that our country", but not other countries, was going to pay trillions of dollars to protect against. Trump's tweet had caused global outrage with several scientists and environmentalists hitting back at the President asserting that global warming couldn't be taken lightly. Now, a Finnish NGO, Melting Ice, has decided put Trump's face on ice, literally. The initiative known as "Project Trumpmore" will reportedly itch Trump's face in a 115-foot iceberg in the Arctic in an attempt to show that global warming actually exists. Melting Ice is looking for a place to put Trump's mammoth structure in place, inspired by Mount Rushmore national memorial which has 60-foot granite faces of US presidents - George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt and Abraham Lincoln. Last year, Trump had announced the US would be pulling out of the 2015 Paris Agreement on climate change, an initiative of the United Nations, saying it would undermine the US economy with several experts criticising the US president's move. In a televised address, Trump had said: "The bottom line is that the Paris accord is very unfair at the highest level to the United States, it undermines our economy, hamstrings our workers and "effectively decapitates our coal industry." The Finnish NGO is reportedly looking funding, once they are able to get it, the organization says Mongolian and Finnish ice sculptors will carve the statue which would be broadcast live on the web.

Project Trumpmore: Now, Trump's 115-foot face to be carved in the Arctic

Britain's UN envoy on Tuesday suggested the UN Security Council could consider helping Myanmar collect evidence of crimes committed during a military crackdown of the Rohingya people, denounced by the world body as ethnic cleansing after most recent bout of persecution of the Muslim minority last year.

"What we`ve got to do on the council is to think how best to turn that into something operational, so that the evidence gets collected and given either to the Burmese authorities or to some sort of international mechanism," Britain`s UN Ambassador Karen Pierce told Reuters, as the Security Council wrapped up a four-day visit to Bangladesh and Myanmar on Tuesday.

Britain`s Pierce told reporters that an investigation needs evidentiary standards to achieve accountability.

"There are two ways of doing that basically, one is an International Criminal Court referral, the second would be the Burmese government do that themselves," Pierce said.

The Myanmar mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Pierce’s suggestion.&nbsp;

Myanmar`s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi pledged investigations if credible evidence was provided and military chief Min Aung Hlaing vowed "harsh action" over sexual violence during separate meetings with Security Council envoys in the country`s capital Naypyitaw on Monday, diplomats said.&nbsp;

But Suu Kyi`s civilian government has little control over the Myanmar military.&nbsp;

Members of the UN Security Council travelled to Myanmar`s Rakhine state, where the United Nations and rights groups say nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since August.

Fleeing refugees have reported killings, rapes and arson. Rohingya insurgent attacks on Rakhine security posts led to the military operation that Myanmar deemed a legitimate response.

In Rakhine, data from the UN Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT) has shown hundreds of villages once inhabited by the Rohingya have now been burned down. Many such villages could be seen from the Myanmar military helicopters that carried the UN&nbsp; envoys to northern Rakhine.

Security Council envoys were shown a reception centre Myanmar has built for repatriating Rohingya, aiming to accept a total of 150 people a day, and a transit camp that can house 30,000 returnees. The envoys passed two bulldozed villages near the camp.&nbsp;

Investigations and Options 
 
Last November, the Myanmar`s military released a report denying all accusations of rape and killings by security forces.

But the US government is conducting an intensive examination of allegations of atrocities against the Rohingya that could be used to prosecute Myanmar`s military officials for crimes against humanity, US officials have told Reuters.&nbsp;

Meanwhile the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has asked it to rule on whether it has jurisdiction over the deportations of Rohingyas to Bangladesh, a possible crime against humanity, but Suu Kyi`s government has expressed "serious concern" over the move.

Bangladesh is a member of the ICC but Myanmar is not, so if the ICC rules that it does not have jurisdiction, the U.N. Security Council could then choose to refer the situation in Myanmar to the court.&nbsp;

In December, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Myanmar must allow an "independent, transparent and credible investigation into what has happened."

One way the Security Council could help Myanmar could be to mandate a UN investigative team to collect, preserve and store evidence, just as it did in Iraq last year when it investigated acts by Islamic State that may be war crimes.

The United Nations General Assembly could alternatively create an international inquiry into the most serious crimes committed against the Rohingya, similar to what the UN has done in Syria.&nbsp;

Russia`s deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy was wary of Security Council involvement though because Myanmar said it was willing to tackle the issue. Any Council resolution would need nine votes in favour and no vetoes by either Russia or China, an ally of Myanmar.&nbsp;

Britain's UN envoy on Tuesday suggested the UN Security Council could consider helping Myanmar collect evidence of crimes committed during a military crackdown of the Rohingya people, denounced by the world body as ethnic cleansing after most recent bout of persecution of the Muslim minority last year

Britain's UN envoy on Tuesday suggested the UN Security Council could consider helping Myanmar collect evidence of crimes committed during a military crackdown of the Rohingya people, denounced by the world body as ethnic cleansing after most recent bout of persecution of the Muslim minority last year. "What we`ve got to do on the council is to think how best to turn that into something operational, so that the evidence gets collected and given either to the Burmese authorities or to some sort of international mechanism," Britain`s UN Ambassador Karen Pierce told Reuters, as the Security Council wrapped up a four-day visit to Bangladesh and Myanmar on Tuesday. Britain`s Pierce told reporters that an investigation needs evidentiary standards to achieve accountability. "There are two ways of doing that basically, one is an International Criminal Court referral, the second would be the Burmese government do that themselves," Pierce said. The Myanmar mission to the United Nations did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Pierce’s suggestion. Myanmar`s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi pledged investigations if credible evidence was provided and military chief Min Aung Hlaing vowed "harsh action" over sexual violence during separate meetings with Security Council envoys in the country`s capital Naypyitaw on Monday, diplomats said. But Suu Kyi`s civilian government has little control over the Myanmar military. Members of the UN Security Council travelled to Myanmar`s Rakhine state, where the United Nations and rights groups say nearly 700,000 Rohingya have fled to Bangladesh since August. Fleeing refugees have reported killings, rapes and arson. Rohingya insurgent attacks on Rakhine security posts led to the military operation that Myanmar deemed a legitimate response. In Rakhine, data from the UN Operational Satellite Applications Programme (UNOSAT) has shown hundreds of villages once inhabited by the Rohingya have now been burned down. Many such villages could be seen from the Myanmar military helicopters that carried the UN envoys to northern Rakhine. Security Council envoys were shown a reception centre Myanmar has built for repatriating Rohingya, aiming to accept a total of 150 people a day, and a transit camp that can house 30,000 returnees. The envoys passed two bulldozed villages near the camp. Investigations and Options Last November, the Myanmar`s military released a report denying all accusations of rape and killings by security forces. But the US government is conducting an intensive examination of allegations of atrocities against the Rohingya that could be used to prosecute Myanmar`s military officials for crimes against humanity, US officials have told Reuters. Meanwhile the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) has asked it to rule on whether it has jurisdiction over the deportations of Rohingyas to Bangladesh, a possible crime against humanity, but Suu Kyi`s government has expressed "serious concern" over the move. Bangladesh is a member of the ICC but Myanmar is not, so if the ICC rules that it does not have jurisdiction, the U.N. Security Council could then choose to refer the situation in Myanmar to the court. In December, US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley said Myanmar must allow an "independent, transparent and credible investigation into what has happened." One way the Security Council could help Myanmar could be to mandate a UN investigative team to collect, preserve and store evidence, just as it did in Iraq last year when it investigated acts by Islamic State that may be war crimes. The United Nations General Assembly could alternatively create an international inquiry into the most serious crimes committed against the Rohingya, similar to what the UN has done in Syria. Russia`s deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy was wary of Security Council involvement though because Myanmar said it was willing to tackle the issue. Any Council resolution would need nine votes in favour and no vetoes by either Russia or China, an ally of Myanmar.

UN could help Myanmar gather evidence of crimes against Rohingya: British Envoy

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is far ahead of other world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, when it comes to popularity on Facebook, according to a study which said 43.2 million people follow the Indian premier on the social media platform.

Trump, who rules the other social media platform Twitter, is in second place with 23.1 million followers, according to the study "World Leaders on Facebook" released today by Burson Cohn & Wolfe.&nbsp;

The study analyses the activity of 650 Facebook pages of heads of state and government and foreign ministers from January 1, 2017, using aggregate data from Facebook's Crowdtangle tool, it said in a statement.

Over the past 14 months, the Facebook page of Trump had by far the most interactions of any world leader on Facebook, with a total of 204.9 million interactions (defined as the total number of comments, likes and shares), almost twice as many as Modi with 113.6 million interactions, the study said.

Modi, 67, has always encouraged use of social media platforms to stay in touch with the public.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has 46 million interactions and Cambodia's Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen and Argentina's President Mauricio Macri follow with 36 and 33.4 million interactions, respectively.

The study found that 175, or 91 per cent, of the 193 United Nations member states maintain an official Facebook page. In addition, 109 heads of state, 86 heads of government and 72 foreign ministers maintain personal pages on the platform.

Facebook has become the key platform for world leaders and governments to engage with voters, supporters and citizens. As of March 15, 2018, all pages of world leaders combined had a total of 309.4 million followers. Since January 1, 2017, they have published a total of 536,644 posts which have garnered close to 900 million interactions, it said.

The findings revealed that, while more than half of the posts have photos, world leaders are increasingly sharing videos and a handful are going live to talk directly to their constituents.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is far ahead of other world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, when it comes to popularity on Facebook, according to a study which said 43.2 million people follow the Indian premier on the social media platform

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is far ahead of other world leaders, including US President Donald Trump, when it comes to popularity on Facebook, according to a study which said 43.2 million people follow the Indian premier on the social media platform. Trump, who rules the other social media platform Twitter, is in second place with 23.1 million followers, according to the study "World Leaders on Facebook" released today by Burson Cohn & Wolfe. The study analyses the activity of 650 Facebook pages of heads of state and government and foreign ministers from January 1, 2017, using aggregate data from Facebook's Crowdtangle tool, it said in a statement. Over the past 14 months, the Facebook page of Trump had by far the most interactions of any world leader on Facebook, with a total of 204.9 million interactions (defined as the total number of comments, likes and shares), almost twice as many as Modi with 113.6 million interactions, the study said. Modi, 67, has always encouraged use of social media platforms to stay in touch with the public. Indonesian President Joko Widodo has 46 million interactions and Cambodia's Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen and Argentina's President Mauricio Macri follow with 36 and 33.4 million interactions, respectively. The study found that 175, or 91 per cent, of the 193 United Nations member states maintain an official Facebook page. In addition, 109 heads of state, 86 heads of government and 72 foreign ministers maintain personal pages on the platform. Facebook has become the key platform for world leaders and governments to engage with voters, supporters and citizens. As of March 15, 2018, all pages of world leaders combined had a total of 309.4 million followers. Since January 1, 2017, they have published a total of 536,644 posts which have garnered close to 900 million interactions, it said. The findings revealed that, while more than half of the posts have photos, world leaders are increasingly sharing videos and a handful are going live to talk directly to their constituents.

PM Modi twice as popular on Facebook as US President Trump: Study

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/nuclear-accord-trump-hints-at-real-agreement-with-iran-133873">Nuclear accord: Trump hints at 'real agreement' with Iran</a>

Amid speculation US president will pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, Trump said doing so will send the right message ahead of talks with North Korea. "I think it sends the right message," Trump told reporters on whether it would send a wrong message to Kim's regime as the two nations get ready for summit talks.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-postpones-steel-tariff-decision-for-canada-eu-mexico-133863">Trump postpones steel tariff decision for Canada, EU, Mexico</a>

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump has postponed a decision on imposing steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada, the European Union and Mexico until June 1, and has reached an agreement in principle with Argentina, Australia and Brazil, a source familiar with the decision said on Monday.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/dominican-republic-establishes-ties-with-china-to-break-relations-with-taiwan-133869">Dominican</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/dominican-republic-establishes-ties-with-china-to-break-relations-with-taiwan-133869"> Republic establishes ties with China, to break relations with Taiwan</a>

Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said today that the Dominican Republic has signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties with the Communist state.

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/un-envoys-meet-with-myanmar-leader-over-refugee-crisis-133870">UN envoys meet with Myanmar leader over </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/un-envoys-meet-with-myanmar-leader-over-refugee-crisis-133870">refugee</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/un-envoys-meet-with-myanmar-leader-over-refugee-crisis-133870"> crisis</a>

Myanmar's government leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with United Nations Security Council envoys on Monday over the plight of nearly 700,000 mainly Rohingya Muslims who fled to Bangladesh amid a military crackdown, pledging to investigate any credible accusations of abuse, said diplomats who attended the meeting.

<a href="Netanyahu says Iran lied on nuclear arms, pressures US to scrap deal">Netanyahu says Iran lied on nuclear arms, pressures </a><a href="Netanyahu says Iran lied on nuclear arms, pressures US to scrap deal">US</a><a href="Netanyahu says Iran lied on nuclear arms, pressures US to scrap deal"> to scrap </a><a href="Netanyahu says Iran lied on nuclear arms, pressures US to scrap deal">deal</a>

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday stepped up pressure on the United States to pull out of a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, presenting what he called evidence of a secret Iranian nuclear weapons programme in a prime-time address on Israeli TV.

Nuclear accord: Trump hints at 'real agreement' with Iran Amid speculation US president will pull out of the Iran nuclear deal, Trump said doing so will send the right message ahead of talks with North Korea. "I think it sends the right message," Trump told reporters on whether it would send a wrong message to Kim's regime as the two nations get ready for summit talks. Trump postpones steel tariff decision for Canada, EU, Mexico US President Donald Trump has postponed a decision on imposing steel and aluminium tariffs on Canada, the European Union and Mexico until June 1, and has reached an agreement in principle with Argentina, Australia and Brazil, a source familiar with the decision said on Monday. Dominican Republic establishes ties with China, to break relations with Taiwan Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said today that the Dominican Republic has signed an agreement to establish diplomatic ties with the Communist state. UN envoys meet with Myanmar leader over refugee crisis Myanmar's government leader Aung San Suu Kyi met with United Nations Security Council envoys on Monday over the plight of nearly 700,000 mainly Rohingya Muslims who fled to Bangladesh amid a military crackdown, pledging to investigate any credible accusations of abuse, said diplomats who attended the meeting. Netanyahu says Iran lied on nuclear arms, pressures US to scrap deal Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday stepped up pressure on the United States to pull out of a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, presenting what he called evidence of a secret Iranian nuclear weapons programme in a prime-time address on Israeli TV.

News brief: Big stories of the day

Syrian troops on Sunday tightened the noose around a major Palestinian refugee camp held by Islamic State militants in southern Damascus where hundreds of civilians face an uncertain future, state media, witnesses and residents said.

Nearly two weeks into a campaign to capture the last area near the capital outside government control that has left many parts of the once teeming Yarmouk camp in ruins, state media announced al Qadm neighbourhood next to the camp was retaken.

Opposition sources said the army was now engaged in fierce fighting with militants on the outskirts of Yarmouk camp where an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 militants are now encircled.

The militants who are besieged in an ever shrinking area have repelled successive raids to enter their heavily defended stronghold.

The Yarmouk campaign is part of a wider-Russian backed offensive to regain the last pocket in opposition hands around the capital after retaking eastern Ghouta this month.

It has shown no sign of letting up since Western countries launched air strikes on April 14 to punish the government for a suspected poison gas attack.

The fate of hundreds of Palestinians, mostly sick and elderly women and children still in the camp that was once the largest in Syria is uncertain. UNRWA, the UN body responsible for Palestinian refugees has called on warring parties to spare civilians.

"There are some families that have been buried under the rubble and no one is able to retrieve their bodies," said Abu Osama, a resident who fled the camp two days ago to nearby Yalda, joining thousands of others seeking relative safety there since the start of the latest offensive.

"The regime is just burning and destroying ... and then trying to advance on several fronts," Rami al Sayed, a former resident of Yarmouk who is now on its outskirts, said.

The camp, which has been under siege by the army since rebels captured it in 2012, was home to some 160,000 Palestinians before the Syrian conflict began in 2011, refugees from the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and their descendents.

Amaq, a news agency affiliated to Islamic State, said its fighters had repelled the latest attacks on their positions in al Qadam and Hay al Tadamon, killing at least 17 army fighters killed in sniper attacks.

The ultra-hardline Sunni militants also pushed overnight into some positions in the southern Damascus pocket where mainly mainstream rebels operating under the umbrella of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) are in control, opposition sources said. 
 
A deal was reached overnight under Russian auspices to evacuate those FSA rebels who are based in the towns of Yalda, Babila and Beit Sahem that adjoin Islamic State-held areas to opposition held areas in northern Syria, a rebel source said confirming leaks in state media.

Those rebels who have in the past fought both the militants and the Syrian army have also been targeted by the army in an attempt to force them to capitulate.

Nearly two weeks into a campaign to capture the last area near the capital outside government control that has left many parts of the once teeming Yarmouk camp in ruins, state media announced al Qadm neighbourhood next to the camp was retaken

Syrian troops on Sunday tightened the noose around a major Palestinian refugee camp held by Islamic State militants in southern Damascus where hundreds of civilians face an uncertain future, state media, witnesses and residents said. Nearly two weeks into a campaign to capture the last area near the capital outside government control that has left many parts of the once teeming Yarmouk camp in ruins, state media announced al Qadm neighbourhood next to the camp was retaken. Opposition sources said the army was now engaged in fierce fighting with militants on the outskirts of Yarmouk camp where an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 militants are now encircled. The militants who are besieged in an ever shrinking area have repelled successive raids to enter their heavily defended stronghold. The Yarmouk campaign is part of a wider-Russian backed offensive to regain the last pocket in opposition hands around the capital after retaking eastern Ghouta this month. It has shown no sign of letting up since Western countries launched air strikes on April 14 to punish the government for a suspected poison gas attack. The fate of hundreds of Palestinians, mostly sick and elderly women and children still in the camp that was once the largest in Syria is uncertain. UNRWA, the UN body responsible for Palestinian refugees has called on warring parties to spare civilians. "There are some families that have been buried under the rubble and no one is able to retrieve their bodies," said Abu Osama, a resident who fled the camp two days ago to nearby Yalda, joining thousands of others seeking relative safety there since the start of the latest offensive. "The regime is just burning and destroying ... and then trying to advance on several fronts," Rami al Sayed, a former resident of Yarmouk who is now on its outskirts, said. The camp, which has been under siege by the army since rebels captured it in 2012, was home to some 160,000 Palestinians before the Syrian conflict began in 2011, refugees from the 1948 Arab-Israeli war and their descendents. Amaq, a news agency affiliated to Islamic State, said its fighters had repelled the latest attacks on their positions in al Qadam and Hay al Tadamon, killing at least 17 army fighters killed in sniper attacks. The ultra-hardline Sunni militants also pushed overnight into some positions in the southern Damascus pocket where mainly mainstream rebels operating under the umbrella of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) are in control, opposition sources said. A deal was reached overnight under Russian auspices to evacuate those FSA rebels who are based in the towns of Yalda, Babila and Beit Sahem that adjoin Islamic State-held areas to opposition held areas in northern Syria, a rebel source said confirming leaks in state media. Those rebels who have in the past fought both the militants and the Syrian army have also been targeted by the army in an attempt to force them to capitulate.

Syrian army tightens noose around Palestinian camp

A group of Rohingya refugees held a rally at a camp in Bangladesh early on Sunday, demanding that their Myanmar citizenship is restored and that the United Nations protect them and their homes if they are repatriated.

Carrying photocopied signs reading "Protected Return to Protected Homeland", the refugees sought to make their voices heard as a UN&nbsp;Security Council (UNSC) delegation visited camps to see firsthand the aftermath of a Myanmar military crackdown that Britain, the United States, and others have denounced as ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims.

"We hope the UNSC will probe and settle our difficulties," said Abdul Rahim one of the few dozen rally participants at the Kutupalong camp.

Rohingya insurgent attacks on security posts in Rakhine on Aug. 25 sparked the military operation that has sent nearly 700,000 Rohingya fleeing to camps in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh.

Buddhist-majority Myanmar has for years denied Rohingya citizenship, freedom of movement and access to many basic services such as healthcare and education. They are considered illegal immigrants from mainly Muslim Bangladesh.

Fleeing refugees have reported killings, rapes, and arson on a large scale. Myanmar has said its operations in Rakhine were a legitimate response to attacks on security forces by Rohingya insurgents.

"We hope the UNSC will probe and settle our difficulties," said Abdul Rahim one of the few dozen rally participants at the Kutupalong camp

A group of Rohingya refugees held a rally at a camp in Bangladesh early on Sunday, demanding that their Myanmar citizenship is restored and that the United Nations protect them and their homes if they are repatriated. Carrying photocopied signs reading "Protected Return to Protected Homeland", the refugees sought to make their voices heard as a UN Security Council (UNSC) delegation visited camps to see firsthand the aftermath of a Myanmar military crackdown that Britain, the United States, and others have denounced as ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims. "We hope the UNSC will probe and settle our difficulties," said Abdul Rahim one of the few dozen rally participants at the Kutupalong camp. Rohingya insurgent attacks on security posts in Rakhine on Aug. 25 sparked the military operation that has sent nearly 700,000 Rohingya fleeing to camps in Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh. Buddhist-majority Myanmar has for years denied Rohingya citizenship, freedom of movement and access to many basic services such as healthcare and education. They are considered illegal immigrants from mainly Muslim Bangladesh. Fleeing refugees have reported killings, rapes, and arson on a large scale. Myanmar has said its operations in Rakhine were a legitimate response to attacks on security forces by Rohingya insurgents.

Rohingya rally seeking guarantees for safe return as UNSC visits Bangladesh camps

Israeli soldiers fired bullets and tear gas at thousands of Palestinian protesters at the Gaza-Israel border on Friday, wounding nearly 200 people, hours after the United Nations human rights chief criticised Israel for using "excessive force".

Israeli troops have killed 38 Palestinians and wounded more than 5,000 others since Gaza residents began staging protests along the border fence on March 30 to demand the right of return for Palestinian refugees.

On Friday, Israeli ground troops, holed up behind fortifications on their side of the 40km (25-mile) border fence, fired live ammunition and tear gas at protesters at five locations on the Gazan side.&nbsp;

The Gaza health ministry said 60 were wounded by gun fire, including a Palestinian journalist who was hit with a bullet in his foot.

Dozens more, including four medics, were treated for gas inhalation, as Israeli forces showered the area with tear gas canisters from behind their fortifications.&nbsp;

Protesters hurled stones and rolled burning tyres toward the fence, and some attached cans of burning petrol to kites and flew them into Israeli territory.

Others cleared away barbed wire coils which Israeli troops had placed in Gazan territory overnight in a bid to create a buffer zone between protesters and the fence.

The protests come at a time of growing frustration for Palestinians as prospects for an independent Palestinian state look poor. Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been stalled for several years and Israeli settlements in the occupied territories have expanded.&nbsp;

In a statement released earlier on Friday, UN&nbsp;High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein called the loss of life was "deplorable" and that a "staggering number of injuries" had been caused by live ammunition.

Israel`s foreign ministry had no immediate comment but the government has consistently said that it is protecting its borders and that its troops are following rules of engagement.

Named the 'Great March of Return', the protest action revives a longstanding demand for the right of return of Palestinian refugees to towns and villages which their families fled from, or were driven out of, when the state of Israel was created in 1948.

More than 2 million Palestinians are packed into the narrow coastal enclave. Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005 but maintains tight control of its land and sea borders. Egypt also restricts movement in and out of Gaza on its border.

Israeli troops have killed 38 Palestinians and wounded more than 5,000 others since Gaza residents began staging protests along the border fence on March 30 to demand the right of return for Palestinian refugees

Israeli soldiers fired bullets and tear gas at thousands of Palestinian protesters at the Gaza-Israel border on Friday, wounding nearly 200 people, hours after the United Nations human rights chief criticised Israel for using "excessive force". Israeli troops have killed 38 Palestinians and wounded more than 5,000 others since Gaza residents began staging protests along the border fence on March 30 to demand the right of return for Palestinian refugees. On Friday, Israeli ground troops, holed up behind fortifications on their side of the 40km (25-mile) border fence, fired live ammunition and tear gas at protesters at five locations on the Gazan side. The Gaza health ministry said 60 were wounded by gun fire, including a Palestinian journalist who was hit with a bullet in his foot. Dozens more, including four medics, were treated for gas inhalation, as Israeli forces showered the area with tear gas canisters from behind their fortifications. Protesters hurled stones and rolled burning tyres toward the fence, and some attached cans of burning petrol to kites and flew them into Israeli territory. Others cleared away barbed wire coils which Israeli troops had placed in Gazan territory overnight in a bid to create a buffer zone between protesters and the fence. The protests come at a time of growing frustration for Palestinians as prospects for an independent Palestinian state look poor. Peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians have been stalled for several years and Israeli settlements in the occupied territories have expanded. In a statement released earlier on Friday, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra’ad al-Hussein called the loss of life was "deplorable" and that a "staggering number of injuries" had been caused by live ammunition. Israel`s foreign ministry had no immediate comment but the government has consistently said that it is protecting its borders and that its troops are following rules of engagement. Named the 'Great March of Return', the protest action revives a longstanding demand for the right of return of Palestinian refugees to towns and villages which their families fled from, or were driven out of, when the state of Israel was created in 1948. More than 2 million Palestinians are packed into the narrow coastal enclave. Israel withdrew its troops and settlers from Gaza in 2005 but maintains tight control of its land and sea borders. Egypt also restricts movement in and out of Gaza on its border.

Gaza protest continues; Israeli forces fire bullets, tear gas at border protesters, 200 wounded

India has informed the UN that the Goods and Services Tax reform implemented by it, coupled with the demonetisation of high-value currency notes, has brought 1.8 million more people into the income-tax net.

Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs A Gitesh Sarma, addressing the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development Follow Up, said India is currently implementing a wave of reforms.&nbsp

Apart from encouraging digital over cash transactions, India introduced the Goods and Service Tax regime which provides for uniform taxes. He said this has led to a 50 per cent increase in the number of indirect taxpayers.&nbsp

"Coupled with demonetisation of high-value currency notes, the GST brought 1.8 million more people into the income-tax net, he said at the forum in United Nations on Thursday.

He added that India stands firm on its stand on the fundamental principles of the World Trade, including multilateralism, rule-based consensual decision-making, an independent and credible dispute resolution and appellate process, the centrality of development, which underlies the Doha Development Agenda, and special and differential treatment for all developing countries.

He said the global economic recovery is progressing gradually, with improved resilience and emergence of new sources of growth.&nbsp

"However, there are concerns that a durable recovery may remain constrained by factors such as the persistence of low productivity and debt overhang problems in advanced economies as well as in some emerging market economies, rising populism and protectionism, and the slow pace of structural reforms,"&nbsphe said.

India has also committed to remaining mindful of new gaps in the domestic resource mobilisation that may result from financial innovations, including digital finance, and the implications of fin-tech and the weightless economy on financial inclusion and access to finance, Sarma said.

Further, stepping up its cooperation with the southern countries in the spirit of solidarity, last year India established the India-UN Development Partnership Fund that supports Southern-owned and led, demand-driven, and transformational sustainable development projects across the developing world, with a focus on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

"I would like to reiterate that the international community must step up its efforts to fulfill the commitments already undertaken not as a charity but with full realisation that it will be in our collective interest,? he said. 
&nbsp

'However, there are concerns that a durable recovery may remain constrained by factors such as the persistence of low productivity and debt overhang problems in advanced economies as well as in some emerging market economies, rising populism and protectionism, and the slow pace of structural reforms,' Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs said

India has informed the UN that the Goods and Services Tax reform implemented by it, coupled with the demonetisation of high-value currency notes, has brought 1.8 million more people into the income-tax net. Additional Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs A Gitesh Sarma, addressing the ECOSOC Forum on Financing for Development Follow Up, said India is currently implementing a wave of reforms. Apart from encouraging digital over cash transactions, India introduced the Goods and Service Tax regime which provides for uniform taxes. He said this has led to a 50 per cent increase in the number of indirect taxpayers. "Coupled with demonetisation of high-value currency notes, the GST brought 1.8 million more people into the income-tax net, he said at the forum in United Nations on Thursday. He added that India stands firm on its stand on the fundamental principles of the World Trade, including multilateralism, rule-based consensual decision-making, an independent and credible dispute resolution and appellate process, the centrality of development, which underlies the Doha Development Agenda, and special and differential treatment for all developing countries. He said the global economic recovery is progressing gradually, with improved resilience and emergence of new sources of growth. "However, there are concerns that a durable recovery may remain constrained by factors such as the persistence of low productivity and debt overhang problems in advanced economies as well as in some emerging market economies, rising populism and protectionism, and the slow pace of structural reforms,"&nbsphe said. India has also committed to remaining mindful of new gaps in the domestic resource mobilisation that may result from financial innovations, including digital finance, and the implications of fin-tech and the weightless economy on financial inclusion and access to finance, Sarma said. Further, stepping up its cooperation with the southern countries in the spirit of solidarity, last year India established the India-UN Development Partnership Fund that supports Southern-owned and led, demand-driven, and transformational sustainable development projects across the developing world, with a focus on Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). "I would like to reiterate that the international community must step up its efforts to fulfill the commitments already undertaken not as a charity but with full realisation that it will be in our collective interest,? he said.

GST, demonetisation brought 1.8 million more people into Income-Tax net: India

Building a peaceful neighbourhood is Pakistan's foreign policy priority which requires normalisation of relations with India on a durable basis, Islamabad's envoy to the UN has said.

According to a statement issued by Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the UN, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi told a visiting delegation of the US War College that on the foreign policy front, Pakistan's external engagements and strategy emerge from its key national priorities.&nbsp;

She said the defeat of terrorism and militancy as well as the creation of conditions in which violent extremism cannot survive was foremost to establish durable stability.

The release quoted her as saying that among the other important foreign policy priorities was to build a peaceful neighbourhood.&nbsp;

This required the promotion of peace and stability in Afghanistan and "normalisation of relations with India on a durable basis, predicated on the peaceful settlement of longstanding disputes", she said

Another key priority was to promote regional economic integration and connectivity.

"These priorities frame what we do on the international front, guide our multiple foreign relationships and of course our engagement at the UN," she said.

On the security front, she said Pakistan has sought to "eliminate all terrorist groups" through a comprehensive strategy, involving forceful law enforcement actions and targeted military operations as well as actions to counter "violent extremism and its toxic narrative."&nbsp;

According to a statement issued by Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the UN, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi told a visiting delegation of the US War College that on the foreign policy front, Pakistan's external engagements and strategy emerge from its key national priorities.

Building a peaceful neighbourhood is Pakistan's foreign policy priority which requires normalisation of relations with India on a durable basis, Islamabad's envoy to the UN has said. According to a statement issued by Pakistan's Permanent Mission to the UN, Ambassador Maleeha Lodhi told a visiting delegation of the US War College that on the foreign policy front, Pakistan's external engagements and strategy emerge from its key national priorities. She said the defeat of terrorism and militancy as well as the creation of conditions in which violent extremism cannot survive was foremost to establish durable stability. The release quoted her as saying that among the other important foreign policy priorities was to build a peaceful neighbourhood. This required the promotion of peace and stability in Afghanistan and "normalisation of relations with India on a durable basis, predicated on the peaceful settlement of longstanding disputes", she said Another key priority was to promote regional economic integration and connectivity. "These priorities frame what we do on the international front, guide our multiple foreign relationships and of course our engagement at the UN," she said. On the security front, she said Pakistan has sought to "eliminate all terrorist groups" through a comprehensive strategy, involving forceful law enforcement actions and targeted military operations as well as actions to counter "violent extremism and its toxic narrative."

Building peaceful neighbourhood Pak's foreign policy priority: UN envoy

Scores of protesters on Sunday gathered outside 10 Downing Street - the official residence of British Prime Minister - in London to protest against human rights violations in Balochistan by Pakistani authorities.

Baloch Republican Party's UK chapter posted pictures and a video clip of the same on Twitter.

Positing 10 pictures from their "official" Twitter handle, the party captioned them as "BRP urged @10DowningStreet & international community to take notice of massive Human Rights abuses being committed in #Balochistan by the Pakistani security forces. #HumanRights #London".

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Members of Baloch Republican Party UK, protested yesterday at 10 Downing Street in London against human rights violations in Balochistan by Pakistan and demanded an intervention by the United Kingdom. <a href="https://t.co/TFwwVtepeI">pic.twitter.com/TFwwVtepeI</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/988253557307727872?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 23, 2018</a></blockquote>
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On Sunday, Activists from Baloch Republican Party (BRP) and Baloch Republican Student Organisation (BRSO) on Sunday jointly held a protest demonstration outside Busan Station in South Korea to highlight war crimes and state atrocities allegedly being committed by the Pakistani military forces in Balochistan.

The party workers distributed informative pamphlets to the public and shouted slogans such as - "We want Freedom" and "Stop Killing Baloch" during the protest.

The Baloch activists have been trying to voice their concerns at multiple international platforms, including the United Nations.

Recently, at the 37th session of the Human Rights Council, activists raised the issue of enforced disappearances, torture and killings of several Baloch activists and intellectuals.

The Baloch activists have been trying to voice their concerns at multiple international platforms, including the United Nations

Scores of protesters on Sunday gathered outside 10 Downing Street - the official residence of British Prime Minister - in London to protest against human rights violations in Balochistan by Pakistani authorities. Baloch Republican Party's UK chapter posted pictures and a video clip of the same on Twitter. Positing 10 pictures from their "official" Twitter handle, the party captioned them as "BRP urged @10DowningStreet & international community to take notice of massive Human Rights abuses being committed in #Balochistan by the Pakistani security forces. #HumanRights #London". Members of Baloch Republican Party UK, protested yesterday at 10 Downing Street in London against human rights violations in Balochistan by Pakistan and demanded an intervention by the United Kingdom. pic.twitter.com/TFwwVtepeI — ANI (@ANI) April 23, 2018 × On Sunday, Activists from Baloch Republican Party (BRP) and Baloch Republican Student Organisation (BRSO) on Sunday jointly held a protest demonstration outside Busan Station in South Korea to highlight war crimes and state atrocities allegedly being committed by the Pakistani military forces in Balochistan. The party workers distributed informative pamphlets to the public and shouted slogans such as - "We want Freedom" and "Stop Killing Baloch" during the protest. The Baloch activists have been trying to voice their concerns at multiple international platforms, including the United Nations. Recently, at the 37th session of the Human Rights Council, activists raised the issue of enforced disappearances, torture and killings of several Baloch activists and intellectuals.

Baloch activists now protest in London after Seoul

A Myanmar minister expressed concerns on Thursday about "very poor conditions" in Rohingya refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh, and said repatriation of the Muslim minority should start as soon as possible due to the coming monsoon season.

The United Nations and rights groups say a Myanmar military operation in the country's northwest in August has sent nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh. Most live in flimsy, bamboo-and-plastic structures perched on hills around Cox's Bazar, in southern Bangladesh.&nbsp

Fleeing Rohingya refugees have reported killings, rapes and arson on a large scale. The United States and the UN&nbsphave described the military crackdown as ethnic cleansing, an accusation that Myanmar denies.&nbsp

"Seeing is believing and we saw all the people in the camps are in very poor condition," Myanmar`s Social Welfare Minister Win Myat Aye told reporters in the country's main city, Yangon, after his two-day visit to camps near Cox's Bazar.

"Our main thing is to start the repatriation process as soon as possible because the monsoon is very near and we are very worried for those who fled to Bangladesh," he said.&nbsp

Myanmar said on Saturday it had repatriated the first Rohingya family. The Bangladeshi government and the United Nations refugee agency, however, said they had no knowledge of any such repatriation.&nbsp

After months of fraught talks, Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete a voluntary repatriation of the refugees within two years. Myanmar set up two reception centres and what it says is a temporary camp near the border to house the first arrivals.&nbsp

But a senior UN&nbspofficial who recently visited Myanmar said the country was not ready for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees.

Win Myat Aye said Rohingya returnees would be entitled to apply for National Verification Cards (NVCs), which are part of the government`s ongoing effort to register mostly stateless Rohingya that falls short of offering them citizenship.&nbsp

He said those NVC holders would be in turn be able to apply for citizenship in Buddhist-majority Myanmar within five months after they were "scrutinized according to the law".&nbsp

"Those who are entitled to become citizens will become citizens," he told Reuters, without elaborating.&nbsp

Myanmar's panel of international advisers on Rohingya issues has warned the coming monsoon season could bring "enormous deaths" as refugee camps in Bangladesh are not built to withstand the storms.

 
&nbsp

The United Nations and rights groups say a Myanmar military operation in the country's northwest in August has sent nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh. Most live in flimsy, bamboo-and-plastic structures perched on hills around Cox's Bazar, in southern Bangladesh

A Myanmar minister expressed concerns on Thursday about "very poor conditions" in Rohingya refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh, and said repatriation of the Muslim minority should start as soon as possible due to the coming monsoon season. The United Nations and rights groups say a Myanmar military operation in the country's northwest in August has sent nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims fleeing to Bangladesh. Most live in flimsy, bamboo-and-plastic structures perched on hills around Cox's Bazar, in southern Bangladesh. Fleeing Rohingya refugees have reported killings, rapes and arson on a large scale. The United States and the UN&nbsphave described the military crackdown as ethnic cleansing, an accusation that Myanmar denies. "Seeing is believing and we saw all the people in the camps are in very poor condition," Myanmar`s Social Welfare Minister Win Myat Aye told reporters in the country's main city, Yangon, after his two-day visit to camps near Cox's Bazar. "Our main thing is to start the repatriation process as soon as possible because the monsoon is very near and we are very worried for those who fled to Bangladesh," he said. Myanmar said on Saturday it had repatriated the first Rohingya family. The Bangladeshi government and the United Nations refugee agency, however, said they had no knowledge of any such repatriation. After months of fraught talks, Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete a voluntary repatriation of the refugees within two years. Myanmar set up two reception centres and what it says is a temporary camp near the border to house the first arrivals. But a senior UN&nbspofficial who recently visited Myanmar said the country was not ready for the repatriation of Rohingya refugees. Win Myat Aye said Rohingya returnees would be entitled to apply for National Verification Cards (NVCs), which are part of the government`s ongoing effort to register mostly stateless Rohingya that falls short of offering them citizenship. He said those NVC holders would be in turn be able to apply for citizenship in Buddhist-majority Myanmar within five months after they were "scrutinized according to the law". "Those who are entitled to become citizens will become citizens," he told Reuters, without elaborating. Myanmar's panel of international advisers on Rohingya issues has warned the coming monsoon season could bring "enormous deaths" as refugee camps in Bangladesh are not built to withstand the storms.

Myanmar minister says conditions in Rohingya refugee camps 'very poor'

A visit by chemical weapons inspectors to the site of a suspected gas attack in Syria was delayed on Monday, British and Russian officials said, as Western powers and Russia traded accusations in the aftermath of retaliatory US-led missile strikes.

Moscow, the main ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, on Sunday condemned the United States, Britain and France for refusing to wait for the findings of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inspection team on the alleged attack on Douma before they launched the strikes.

OPCW inspectors arrived in Damascus on Saturday and had planned to head to Douma, on the outskirts of the capital, on Monday. But the British delegation to the OPCW said Russia and Syria had not yet allowed inspectors access to Douma.

Britain's Ambassador Peter Wilson said at a news conference in The Hague that the United Nations had cleared the inspectors to go but they had been unable to reach Douma because Syria and Russia had been unable to guarantee their safety.

"Unfettered access (is) essential," a British statement said. "Russia and Syria must cooperate."

Russia's deputy foreign minister said the delay was due to the Western strikes.

The US&nbspenvoy to the global watchdog said Russia may have tampered with the site of the April 7 attack, which aid organisations say killed dozens of men, women and children.

"It is long overdue that this council condemns the Syrian government for its reign of chemical terror and demands international accountability of those responsible for these heinous acts," US&nbspAmbassador Kenneth Ward said in comments seen by Reuters.

The inspectors for the Hague-based OPCW met Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad in the presence of Russian officers and a senior Syrian security official in Damascus for about three hours on Sunday.

Washington, meanwhile, prepared to increase pressure on Russia with new economic sanctions, and European Union foreign ministers threatened similar measures.

In London and Paris, British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron faced criticism from political opponents over their decisions to take part in the air strikes against Syria.

Horrible, miserable

The United States, France and Britain launched 105 missiles targeting what the Pentagon said were three chemical weapons facilities in Syria in retaliation for the suspected poison gas attack in Douma.

The Western countries blame Assad for the attack, which thrust Syria's seven-year-old conflict into the forefront of global concern once again and heightened a diplomatic confrontation with the Kremlin. The Syrian government and its Russian ally deny involvement in any such incident.

Douma, in the eastern Goutha district, was one of the last bastions near Damascus of rebels fighting to topple Assad, and the alleged attack took place amid a ferocious government offensive.

In the aftermath, the remnants of a rebel army evacuated, handing Assad one of the biggest victories in a war that has killed about half a million people and laid waste to whole cities.

The US-led strikes did nothing to alter the strategic balance or dent Assad's supremacy and the Western allies have said the aim was to prevent the further use of chemical weapons, not to intervene in the civil war or topple Assad.

British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson made this clear on Monday as he arrived at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, telling reporters: "I'm afraid the Syrian war will go on in its horrible, miserable way. But it was the world saying that we've had enough of the use of chemical weapons."

The 28 ministers endorsed the missile strikes and considered steps to deepen Assad's isolation.

"The European Union will continue to consider further restrictive measures against Syria as long as the repression continues," they said in a statement after their talks.

The US&nbspambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said on Sunday the United States would announce new economic sanctions aimed at companies dealing with equipment related to Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons.

Responding to Haley's remarks, Evgeny Serebrennikov, deputy head of a Russian parliamentary defence committee, said Moscow was ready for the penalties.

"They are hard for us, but will do more damage to the USA and Europe," RIA news agency quoted Serebrennikov as saying.

Although US&nbspPresident Donald Trump had declared: "Mission accomplished" after the strikes, US&nbspLieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie at the Pentagon acknowledged that elements of the program remained and he could not guarantee that Syria would be unable to conduct a chemical attack in the future.

Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah movement, which fights alongside the Syrian army, said the US&nbspmilitary had kept its strikes limited because it knew a wider attack would bring retaliation from Damascus and its allies and inflame the region.

Domestic opposition

The Western leaders were also facing scrutiny at home over their actions.

Britain's May will make a statement to parliament on Monday on her decision and will repeat her assertion that Assad's forces were highly likely responsible for the attack.

The allies could not wait "to alleviate further humanitarian suffering caused by chemical weapons attacks", according to excerpts of her speech.

But she will be questioned over why she did not seek parliamentary approval for the action, a decision that she and her ministers say was driven by the need to act quickly.

Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, has questioned the legal basis for Britain's involvement.

Britain has said there are no plans for future strikes against Syria, but Johnson warned Assad that all options would be considered if chemical weapons were used against Syrians again.

In France, the conservatives, the far-left and the far-right have all criticised the strikes.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Monday will respond to their criticism in a debate in parliament on Monday afternoon. The French Constitution bars presidents from going to parliament and President Emmanuel Macron will therefore not be questioned by law-makers.

A visit by chemical weapons inspectors to the site of a suspected gas attack in Syria was delayed on Monday, British and Russian officials said, as Western powers and Russia traded accusations in the aftermath of retaliatory US-led missile strikes

A visit by chemical weapons inspectors to the site of a suspected gas attack in Syria was delayed on Monday, British and Russian officials said, as Western powers and Russia traded accusations in the aftermath of retaliatory US-led missile strikes. Moscow, the main ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, on Sunday condemned the United States, Britain and France for refusing to wait for the findings of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inspection team on the alleged attack on Douma before they launched the strikes. OPCW inspectors arrived in Damascus on Saturday and had planned to head to Douma, on the outskirts of the capital, on Monday. But the British delegation to the OPCW said Russia and Syria had not yet allowed inspectors access to Douma. Britain's Ambassador Peter Wilson said at a news conference in The Hague that the United Nations had cleared the inspectors to go but they had been unable to reach Douma because Syria and Russia had been unable to guarantee their safety. "Unfettered access (is) essential," a British statement said. "Russia and Syria must cooperate." Russia's deputy foreign minister said the delay was due to the Western strikes. The US&nbspenvoy to the global watchdog said Russia may have tampered with the site of the April 7 attack, which aid organisations say killed dozens of men, women and children. "It is long overdue that this council condemns the Syrian government for its reign of chemical terror and demands international accountability of those responsible for these heinous acts," US&nbspAmbassador Kenneth Ward said in comments seen by Reuters. The inspectors for the Hague-based OPCW met Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad in the presence of Russian officers and a senior Syrian security official in Damascus for about three hours on Sunday. Washington, meanwhile, prepared to increase pressure on Russia with new economic sanctions, and European Union foreign ministers threatened similar measures. In London and Paris, British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron faced criticism from political opponents over their decisions to take part in the air strikes against Syria. Horrible, miserable The United States, France and Britain launched 105 missiles targeting what the Pentagon said were three chemical weapons facilities in Syria in retaliation for the suspected poison gas attack in Douma. The Western countries blame Assad for the attack, which thrust Syria's seven-year-old conflict into the forefront of global concern once again and heightened a diplomatic confrontation with the Kremlin. The Syrian government and its Russian ally deny involvement in any such incident. Douma, in the eastern Goutha district, was one of the last bastions near Damascus of rebels fighting to topple Assad, and the alleged attack took place amid a ferocious government offensive. In the aftermath, the remnants of a rebel army evacuated, handing Assad one of the biggest victories in a war that has killed about half a million people and laid waste to whole cities. The US-led strikes did nothing to alter the strategic balance or dent Assad's supremacy and the Western allies have said the aim was to prevent the further use of chemical weapons, not to intervene in the civil war or topple Assad. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson made this clear on Monday as he arrived at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, telling reporters: "I'm afraid the Syrian war will go on in its horrible, miserable way. But it was the world saying that we've had enough of the use of chemical weapons." The 28 ministers endorsed the missile strikes and considered steps to deepen Assad's isolation. "The European Union will continue to consider further restrictive measures against Syria as long as the repression continues," they said in a statement after their talks. The US&nbspambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said on Sunday the United States would announce new economic sanctions aimed at companies dealing with equipment related to Assad's alleged use of chemical weapons. Responding to Haley's remarks, Evgeny Serebrennikov, deputy head of a Russian parliamentary defence committee, said Moscow was ready for the penalties. "They are hard for us, but will do more damage to the USA and Europe," RIA news agency quoted Serebrennikov as saying. Although US&nbspPresident Donald Trump had declared: "Mission accomplished" after the strikes, US&nbspLieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie at the Pentagon acknowledged that elements of the program remained and he could not guarantee that Syria would be unable to conduct a chemical attack in the future. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, the leader of the Lebanese Hezbollah movement, which fights alongside the Syrian army, said the US&nbspmilitary had kept its strikes limited because it knew a wider attack would bring retaliation from Damascus and its allies and inflame the region. Domestic opposition The Western leaders were also facing scrutiny at home over their actions. Britain's May will make a statement to parliament on Monday on her decision and will repeat her assertion that Assad's forces were highly likely responsible for the attack. The allies could not wait "to alleviate further humanitarian suffering caused by chemical weapons attacks", according to excerpts of her speech. But she will be questioned over why she did not seek parliamentary approval for the action, a decision that she and her ministers say was driven by the need to act quickly. Jeremy Corbyn, leader of the main opposition Labour Party, has questioned the legal basis for Britain's involvement. Britain has said there are no plans for future strikes against Syria, but Johnson warned Assad that all options would be considered if chemical weapons were used against Syrians again. In France, the conservatives, the far-left and the far-right have all criticised the strikes. Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Monday will respond to their criticism in a debate in parliament on Monday afternoon. The French Constitution bars presidents from going to parliament and President Emmanuel Macron will therefore not be questioned by law-makers.

Inspectors' visit to suspected Syria gas attack site delayed

Myanmar on Saturday repatriated the first Rohingya family from nearly 700,000 refugees who have fled to Bangladesh, after months of fraught talks with Dhaka and amid the United Nations' warnings that the country is not ready for their return.

Fleeing Rohingya refugees have reported killings, rape and arson on a large scale. The United States and the United Nations have described the Myanmar military operation as ethnic cleansing.

Myanmar has denied nearly all allegations, saying it waged a legitimate counter-insurgency operation. The army has said its crackdown was provoked by the attacks of Rohingya militants on more than two dozen police posts and an army base last August.

Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete a voluntary repatriation of the refugees in two years. Myanmar set up two reception centers and what it says is a temporary camp near the border in Rakhine to receive the first arrivals.

"Five members of a Muslim family...came to the Taungpyoletwea reception center in Rakhine state this morning," the Myanmar government said in a statement late on Saturday.

The family members were scrutinized by immigration and health ministry officials and the social welfare, relief and resettlement ministry provided them with "materials such as rice, mosquito netting, blankets, t-shirt, longyis (Burmese sarong) and kitchen utensils," said the government in the statement.

It added that the family members who "are in line with the rules" were issued the National Verification Cards (NVCs) upon entering Myanmar.

NVCs are part of the government's ongoing effort to register Rohingya that falls short of offering them citizenship. The card has been widely rejected by Rohingya community leaders, who say they treat life-long residents like new immigrants.

Most Burmese consider the Rohingya as unwanted immigrants from Bangladesh, and the army refers to them as "Bengalis".

Last week, the most senior UN&nbspofficial to visit Myanmar this year, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Ursula Mueller, said the conditions in Myanmar were not conducive to the return of the refugees.

She cited a continued lack of access to health services, concerns among the Rohingya about protection and continued displacements. She also described conditions in camps for internally-displaced people from previous bouts of violence as "deplorable".

Several boats with Rohingya from parts of the violence-torn Rakhine state have left Myanmar in recent months. The latest confirmed departure took place on Thursday.

Myanmar on Saturday repatriated the first Rohingya family from nearly 700,000 refugees who have fled to Bangladesh, after months of fraught talks with Dhaka and amid the United Nations' warnings that the country is not ready for their return

Myanmar on Saturday repatriated the first Rohingya family from nearly 700,000 refugees who have fled to Bangladesh, after months of fraught talks with Dhaka and amid the United Nations' warnings that the country is not ready for their return. Fleeing Rohingya refugees have reported killings, rape and arson on a large scale. The United States and the United Nations have described the Myanmar military operation as ethnic cleansing. Myanmar has denied nearly all allegations, saying it waged a legitimate counter-insurgency operation. The army has said its crackdown was provoked by the attacks of Rohingya militants on more than two dozen police posts and an army base last August. Myanmar and Bangladesh agreed in January to complete a voluntary repatriation of the refugees in two years. Myanmar set up two reception centers and what it says is a temporary camp near the border in Rakhine to receive the first arrivals. "Five members of a Muslim family...came to the Taungpyoletwea reception center in Rakhine state this morning," the Myanmar government said in a statement late on Saturday. The family members were scrutinized by immigration and health ministry officials and the social welfare, relief and resettlement ministry provided them with "materials such as rice, mosquito netting, blankets, t-shirt, longyis (Burmese sarong) and kitchen utensils," said the government in the statement. It added that the family members who "are in line with the rules" were issued the National Verification Cards (NVCs) upon entering Myanmar. NVCs are part of the government's ongoing effort to register Rohingya that falls short of offering them citizenship. The card has been widely rejected by Rohingya community leaders, who say they treat life-long residents like new immigrants. Most Burmese consider the Rohingya as unwanted immigrants from Bangladesh, and the army refers to them as "Bengalis". Last week, the most senior UN&nbspofficial to visit Myanmar this year, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Ursula Mueller, said the conditions in Myanmar were not conducive to the return of the refugees. She cited a continued lack of access to health services, concerns among the Rohingya about protection and continued displacements. She also described conditions in camps for internally-displaced people from previous bouts of violence as "deplorable". Several boats with Rohingya from parts of the violence-torn Rakhine state have left Myanmar in recent months. The latest confirmed departure took place on Thursday.

Myanmar repatriates first Rohingya refugee family: Government

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the overnight U.S.-led missile attack on Syria and called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, the Kremlin said on Saturday.

Putin said the US&nbsp;actions in Syria made the humanitarian catastrophe worse and caused pain for civilians, as well as damaging international relations.&nbsp;

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/action-will-not-be-without-consequences-russia-on-syria-strikes-130335">Action will not be without consequences, says Russia</a>

Putin said the US action in Syria made the humanitarian catastrophe worse and caused pain for civilians, as well as damaging international relations.

Russian President Vladimir Putin condemned the overnight U.S.-led missile attack on Syria and called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council, the Kremlin said on Saturday. Putin said the US actions in Syria made the humanitarian catastrophe worse and caused pain for civilians, as well as damaging international relations. Also read: Action will not be without consequences, says Russia

Putin condemns strike on Syria, calls for emergency UN meeting

United Nations war crimes investigators on Friday condemned the suspected use of chemical weapons in the Syrian town of Douma in eastern Ghouta last weekend and called for evidence to be preserved with a view to future prosecutions.

"Perpetrators of such attacks must be identified and held accountable," the UN's International Commission of Inquiry on Syria said in a statement issued in Geneva.

"We stress the imperative need to preserve evidence, and call upon all relevant authorities to ensure no party tampers with suspected sites, objects, witnesses, or victims before independent monitors and investigators are able to access the area," it said, noting that inspectors from the Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons were due to visit shortly.

United Nations war crimes investigators on Friday condemned the suspected use of chemical weapons in the Syrian town of Douma in eastern Ghouta last weekend and called for evidence to be preserved with a view to future prosecutions

United Nations war crimes investigators on Friday condemned the suspected use of chemical weapons in the Syrian town of Douma in eastern Ghouta last weekend and called for evidence to be preserved with a view to future prosecutions. "Perpetrators of such attacks must be identified and held accountable," the UN's International Commission of Inquiry on Syria said in a statement issued in Geneva. "We stress the imperative need to preserve evidence, and call upon all relevant authorities to ensure no party tampers with suspected sites, objects, witnesses, or victims before independent monitors and investigators are able to access the area," it said, noting that inspectors from the Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons were due to visit shortly.

Syria chemical attack evidence must be preserved: UN

Israel on Wednesday released from detention a small group of African migrants who had been awaiting deportation after the collapse of an international deal to send them to Rwanda.

Some 200 additional migrants are still being held at the Saharonim detention centre in southern Israel awaiting possible deportation to Uganda but their fate depends on whether an Israeli envoy who visited the East African state on Wednesday had managed to secure a deal for them to be taken in.

In the event agreement is not reached, they too will be freed, probably on Thursday. The long-term fate of the freed migrants was unclear but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was seeking a new relocation deal, although he gave no details.

Netanyahu said on Tuesday he was cancelling an agreement with the UN&nbsprefugee agency to relocate thousands of African migrants, bowing to right-wing at home pressure to scrap the deal.

Netanyahu's critics seized on his backtracking on the arrangement - under which thousands of other migrants would have won the right to remain in Israel - as a sign of political weakness.

For the estimated 37,000 migrants in Israel, most of them from Eritrea and Sudan, the whirlwind of announcements over the past three days about their future has swept their status even deeper into limbo.

On Monday, Netanyahu announced the arrangement with the UNHCR that would have relocated about 16,250 migrants to Western countries.

But the fact that thousands more would be allowed to stay raised an outcry from right-wing politicians and on social media from Netanyahu's nationalist voter base, which wants the migrants expelled. He then announced he was putting the agreement's implementation on hold and by Tuesday, he killed it.

The 58 migrants set free from Saharonim in the south of the country boarded buses to Tel Aviv. They were freed because the state could not give assurances to the Supreme Court that it had found a safe haven for them abroad.

"I have been detained for six months and at lunchtime today the police came and told me I was being released, I don't know where I'll go yet," Musia Bara from Eritrea told Israel's Channel 1.

Several hundred migrants held a demonstration in central Jerusalem later on Wednesday demanding to be allowed to stay and for the forced deportations to be stopped.

Eritrean Muluebrhan Ghebrihiwet, 27, one of the demonstrators who has been in Israel for almost seven years and who was released from detention last month, said Israel's government was playing mind games with the migrants.

"We are grateful to the Israeli public for their support but the government has waged a psychological war against us and they have done so because of politics but we are refugees, human beings and we demand that they stop," he said.

Some 200 additional migrants are still being held at the Saharonim detention centre in southern Israel awaiting possible deportation to Uganda

Israel on Wednesday released from detention a small group of African migrants who had been awaiting deportation after the collapse of an international deal to send them to Rwanda. Some 200 additional migrants are still being held at the Saharonim detention centre in southern Israel awaiting possible deportation to Uganda but their fate depends on whether an Israeli envoy who visited the East African state on Wednesday had managed to secure a deal for them to be taken in. In the event agreement is not reached, they too will be freed, probably on Thursday. The long-term fate of the freed migrants was unclear but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was seeking a new relocation deal, although he gave no details. Netanyahu said on Tuesday he was cancelling an agreement with the UN&nbsprefugee agency to relocate thousands of African migrants, bowing to right-wing at home pressure to scrap the deal. Netanyahu's critics seized on his backtracking on the arrangement - under which thousands of other migrants would have won the right to remain in Israel - as a sign of political weakness. For the estimated 37,000 migrants in Israel, most of them from Eritrea and Sudan, the whirlwind of announcements over the past three days about their future has swept their status even deeper into limbo. On Monday, Netanyahu announced the arrangement with the UNHCR that would have relocated about 16,250 migrants to Western countries. But the fact that thousands more would be allowed to stay raised an outcry from right-wing politicians and on social media from Netanyahu's nationalist voter base, which wants the migrants expelled. He then announced he was putting the agreement's implementation on hold and by Tuesday, he killed it. The 58 migrants set free from Saharonim in the south of the country boarded buses to Tel Aviv. They were freed because the state could not give assurances to the Supreme Court that it had found a safe haven for them abroad. "I have been detained for six months and at lunchtime today the police came and told me I was being released, I don't know where I'll go yet," Musia Bara from Eritrea told Israel's Channel 1. Several hundred migrants held a demonstration in central Jerusalem later on Wednesday demanding to be allowed to stay and for the forced deportations to be stopped. Eritrean Muluebrhan Ghebrihiwet, 27, one of the demonstrators who has been in Israel for almost seven years and who was released from detention last month, said Israel's government was playing mind games with the migrants. "We are grateful to the Israeli public for their support but the government has waged a psychological war against us and they have done so because of politics but we are refugees, human beings and we demand that they stop," he said.

Israel frees detained migrants set for Rwanda after relocation deal collapses

Sachin Tendulkar waded Wednesday into the slugfest over Shahid Afridi's comments on Kashmir.&nbsp;

"We have got capable people to manage and run our country. No outsider needs to know or tell us what we need to do," said Sachin.&nbsp;

"Appalling and worrisome situation ongoing in the Indian Occupied Kashmir.Innocents being shot down by oppressive regime to clamp voice of self determination & independence. Wonder where is the @UN & other int bodies & why aren't they making efforts to stop this bloodshed?" Afridi had tweeted earlier.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
Appalling and worrisome situation ongoing in the Indian Occupied Kashmir.Innocents being shot down by oppressive regime to clamp voice of self determination & independence. Wonder where is the <a href="https://twitter.com/UN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UN</a> & other int bodies & why aren't they making efforts to stop this bloodshed?
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) <a href="https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial/status/981084208369192961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
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A massive posse of India's cricketing world has since taken on Afridi:&nbsp;

"As an Indian you want to express what is best for your nation and my interests are always for the benefit of our nation. If anything opposes it, I would never support it for sure," said Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli.&nbsp;

"But having said that, it's a very personal choice for someone to comment about certain issues. Unless I have total knowledge of the issues & the intricacies of it I don't engage in it but definitely your priority stays with your nation," Kohli added.&nbsp;

Suresh Raina took the "Kashmir is an integral part of India" route.&nbsp;

"Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so always. Kashmir is the pious land where my forefathers were born. I hope @SAfridiOfficial bhai asks Pakistan Army to stop terrorism and proxy war in our Kashmir. We want peace, not bloodshed and violence," he said.&nbsp;

Kapil Dev seemed to say Afridi should not be paid attention to:&nbsp;

"Who is he? Why are we giving importance to him? We should not be giving importance to certain people," &nbsp;he said.&nbsp;

The bluntest salvo though, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/gautam-gambhir-to-bear-educational-expenses-of-children-of-crpf-personnel-killed-in-sukma-15019">perhaps expectedly</a>, came from Gautam Gambhir:&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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Media called me for reaction on <a href="https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SAfridiOfficial</a> tweet on OUR Kashmir & <a href="https://twitter.com/UN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UN</a>. What’s there to say? Afridi is only looking for <a href="https://twitter.com/UN?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@UN</a> which in his retarded dictionary means “UNDER NINTEEN” his age bracket. Media can relax, <a href="https://twitter.com/SAfridiOfficial?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SAfridiOfficial</a> is celebrating a dismissal off a no- ball!!!
— Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) <a href="https://twitter.com/GautamGambhir/status/981136834913763333?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 3, 2018</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

'We have got capable people to manage and run our country. No outsider needs to know or tell us what we need to do,' said Sachin.

Sachin Tendulkar waded Wednesday into the slugfest over Shahid Afridi's comments on Kashmir. "We have got capable people to manage and run our country. No outsider needs to know or tell us what we need to do," said Sachin. "Appalling and worrisome situation ongoing in the Indian Occupied Kashmir.Innocents being shot down by oppressive regime to clamp voice of self determination & independence. Wonder where is the @UN & other int bodies & why aren't they making efforts to stop this bloodshed?" Afridi had tweeted earlier. Appalling and worrisome situation ongoing in the Indian Occupied Kashmir.Innocents being shot down by oppressive regime to clamp voice of self determination & independence. Wonder where is the @UN & other int bodies & why aren't they making efforts to stop this bloodshed? — Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) April 3, 2018 × A massive posse of India's cricketing world has since taken on Afridi: "As an Indian you want to express what is best for your nation and my interests are always for the benefit of our nation. If anything opposes it, I would never support it for sure," said Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli. "But having said that, it's a very personal choice for someone to comment about certain issues. Unless I have total knowledge of the issues & the intricacies of it I don't engage in it but definitely your priority stays with your nation," Kohli added. Suresh Raina took the "Kashmir is an integral part of India" route. "Kashmir is an integral part of India and will remain so always. Kashmir is the pious land where my forefathers were born. I hope @SAfridiOfficial bhai asks Pakistan Army to stop terrorism and proxy war in our Kashmir. We want peace, not bloodshed and violence," he said. Kapil Dev seemed to say Afridi should not be paid attention to: "Who is he? Why are we giving importance to him? We should not be giving importance to certain people," he said. The bluntest salvo though, perhaps expectedly, came from Gautam Gambhir: Media called me for reaction on @SAfridiOfficial tweet on OUR Kashmir & @UN. What’s there to say? Afridi is only looking for @UN which in his retarded dictionary means “UNDER NINTEEN” his age bracket. Media can relax, @SAfridiOfficial is celebrating a dismissal off a no- ball!!! — Gautam Gambhir (@GautamGambhir) April 3, 2018 ×

No outsider needs to tell us what we need to do: Sachin on Afridi's Kashmir comments

Saudi air defences intercepted a missile fired by Yemeni rebels at the kingdom's southern city of Najran on Saturday, the Saudi-led coalition fighting the rebels said, adding that one person was wounded.

"The missile was fired at Najran indiscriminately and with the aim of hitting residential areas," coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki told the official Saudi Press Agency.

"It was successfully intercepted and the debris fell on residential areas, lightly wounding one Indian expatriate."

Yemen's Saba news agency, run by the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, said the missile had been fired at a Saudi National Guard base in Najran, just over the border from Yemen where the Saudi-led coalition intervened on the side of the government in March 2015.&nbsp

The coalition said on Thursday it intercepted another missile fired by the Huthis at the southern city of Jazan -- the latest in a series of such attacks that have drawn widespread condemnation.

The coalition spokesman again hit out at Iran after Saturday's attack, accusing it of "jeopardising the security of Saudi Arabia, the region and the whole world."

The UN Security Council this week condemned "in the strongest possible terms" multiple missile attacks launched by the Huthis on Saudi territory, saying they posed a threat to regional security.

In one of the biggest such attacks yet, Saudi forces last weekend said they intercepted seven missiles fired by rebels toward cities including Riyadh, killing one person.

The coalition intervened in Yemen to push back the Huthis who captured the capital Sanaa and forced the government into exile.

Riyadh has accused arch-rival Tehran of providing the missiles and threatened retaliation against Iran.&nbsp

Tehran has denied making any arms deliveries and has said the Saudi accusations are a smokescreen intended to divert attention from its deadly bombing campaign against rebel-held areas, including Sanaa.

Civilian casualties from coalition air strikes have drawn criticism from human rights groups, and in October the United Nations placed the coalition on a blacklist for killing and maiming children.

Saudi air defences intercepted a missile fired by Yemeni rebels at the kingdom's southern city of Najran on Saturday, the Saudi-led coalition fighting the rebels said, adding that one person was wounded

Saudi air defences intercepted a missile fired by Yemeni rebels at the kingdom's southern city of Najran on Saturday, the Saudi-led coalition fighting the rebels said, adding that one person was wounded. "The missile was fired at Najran indiscriminately and with the aim of hitting residential areas," coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Malki told the official Saudi Press Agency. "It was successfully intercepted and the debris fell on residential areas, lightly wounding one Indian expatriate." Yemen's Saba news agency, run by the Iran-backed Huthi rebels, said the missile had been fired at a Saudi National Guard base in Najran, just over the border from Yemen where the Saudi-led coalition intervened on the side of the government in March 2015. The coalition said on Thursday it intercepted another missile fired by the Huthis at the southern city of Jazan -- the latest in a series of such attacks that have drawn widespread condemnation. The coalition spokesman again hit out at Iran after Saturday's attack, accusing it of "jeopardising the security of Saudi Arabia, the region and the whole world." The UN Security Council this week condemned "in the strongest possible terms" multiple missile attacks launched by the Huthis on Saudi territory, saying they posed a threat to regional security. In one of the biggest such attacks yet, Saudi forces last weekend said they intercepted seven missiles fired by rebels toward cities including Riyadh, killing one person. The coalition intervened in Yemen to push back the Huthis who captured the capital Sanaa and forced the government into exile. Riyadh has accused arch-rival Tehran of providing the missiles and threatened retaliation against Iran. Tehran has denied making any arms deliveries and has said the Saudi accusations are a smokescreen intended to divert attention from its deadly bombing campaign against rebel-held areas, including Sanaa. Civilian casualties from coalition air strikes have drawn criticism from human rights groups, and in October the United Nations placed the coalition on a blacklist for killing and maiming children.

Saudi forces say intercept missile fired by Yemen rebels

Tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees who fled to camps in Bangladesh from Myanmar must be relocated to avoid floods and other dangers from the monsoon, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday.

About 150,000 Rohingya are living in flood-prone areas in the crowded camps of Cox`s Bazar and could be exposed to health risks such as cholera during the rainy season, expected to start in June, according to the UN.

"The monsoon is the biggest concern," Guterres told reporters at UN headquarters in New York, adding that the Rohingya were "extremely vulnerable to the monsoon."

Guterres said he had discussed the relocation with Bangladesh`s government and stressed that "higher ground is the best place for this kind of relocation."

The government in Dhaka is continuing talks with UN agencies on where to move the Rohingyas, he said. There have been reports that authorities had proposed moving them to a remote island.

Some 700,000 Rohingya have been driven into Bangladesh by a major army crackdown in Myanmar`s Rakhine state since August.

Myanmar authorities say the operation is aimed at rooting out extremists.

About 150,000 Rohingya are living in flood-prone areas in the crowded camps of Cox`s Bazar and could be exposed to health risks such as cholera during the rainy season, expected to start in June, according to the UN

Tens of thousands of Rohingya refugees who fled to camps in Bangladesh from Myanmar must be relocated to avoid floods and other dangers from the monsoon, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday. About 150,000 Rohingya are living in flood-prone areas in the crowded camps of Cox`s Bazar and could be exposed to health risks such as cholera during the rainy season, expected to start in June, according to the UN. "The monsoon is the biggest concern," Guterres told reporters at UN headquarters in New York, adding that the Rohingya were "extremely vulnerable to the monsoon." Guterres said he had discussed the relocation with Bangladesh`s government and stressed that "higher ground is the best place for this kind of relocation." The government in Dhaka is continuing talks with UN agencies on where to move the Rohingyas, he said. There have been reports that authorities had proposed moving them to a remote island. Some 700,000 Rohingya have been driven into Bangladesh by a major army crackdown in Myanmar`s Rakhine state since August. Myanmar authorities say the operation is aimed at rooting out extremists.

UN in talks with Bangladesh about relocating 150,000 Rohingyas

Amid the ongoing Facebook data breach scandal, United Nations on Thursday raised concern over the privacy issue and said that most counties are ill-prepared for the digital economy.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cambridge-analyticas-parent-company-involved-in-honor-killing-cases-in-india-reports-127122">Cambridge Analytica's parent company involved in '</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cambridge-analyticas-parent-company-involved-in-honor-killing-cases-in-india-reports-127122">honor</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cambridge-analyticas-parent-company-involved-in-honor-killing-cases-in-india-reports-127122"> killing' cases in India: Reports</a>

United Nations Conference on Trade and Development -- main agency dealing with the economics of globalisation -- Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi said: "The current debate about Facebook and data privacy vividly illustrates that most countries are ill-prepared for the digital economy.”

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/colombia-blocks-app-it-says-possibly-linked-to-cambridge-analytica-126870">Colombia blocks app it says possibly linked to Cambridge Analytica</a>

"This is more worrying given that about 90%&nbspof new Internet users over the last five years live in developing countries about half of which currently lack legislation to protect their privacy," he added.

UNCTAD further said, "the internet user growth is booming and with more people ever purchasing goods and services online, protecting their privacy must be a top priority."

"The digital economy is evolving fast. Between 2012 and 2017, the number of monthly Facebook users surged from 1 billion to 2.2 billion – with the fastest growth happening in developing countries."

The economic agency further mentioned about global e-commerce reaching almost $26 trillion in 2016.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/chris-wylie-left-in-2014-has-no-direct-knowledge-of-companys-practices-cambridge-analytica-126812">Chris Wylie left in 2014, has no direct knowledge of company's practices: Cambridge Analytica</a>

The United States said to remain the largest market by far, with combined e-commerce sales of some $7.6 trillion, with Japan ranking at second.

The privacy concerns were raised after the reports of UK based data analysis company, Cambridge Analytica assisting in Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential elections came in the light.

The company is facing government search in the London office by US authorities for obtainning Facebook users' data with illegal measures.

Kituyi’s call for increasing security coincides with the agency’s E-Commerce Week in Geneva next month.&nbsp

It is the leading forum for governments, the private sector, development banks, academia and the civil society to discuss development opportunities and challenges before the evolving digital economy.

(With inputs from PTI)

Amid the ongoing Facebook data breach scandal, United Nations on Thursday raised concern over the privacy issue and said that most counties are ill-prepared for the digital economy

Amid the ongoing Facebook data breach scandal, United Nations on Thursday raised concern over the privacy issue and said that most counties are ill-prepared for the digital economy. Also read: Cambridge Analytica's parent company involved in 'honor killing' cases in India: Reports United Nations Conference on Trade and Development -- main agency dealing with the economics of globalisation -- Secretary-General Mukhisa Kituyi said: "The current debate about Facebook and data privacy vividly illustrates that most countries are ill-prepared for the digital economy.” Also read: Colombia blocks app it says possibly linked to Cambridge Analytica "This is more worrying given that about 90%&nbspof new Internet users over the last five years live in developing countries about half of which currently lack legislation to protect their privacy," he added. UNCTAD further said, "the internet user growth is booming and with more people ever purchasing goods and services online, protecting their privacy must be a top priority." "The digital economy is evolving fast. Between 2012 and 2017, the number of monthly Facebook users surged from 1 billion to 2.2 billion – with the fastest growth happening in developing countries." The economic agency further mentioned about global e-commerce reaching almost $26 trillion in 2016. Also read: Chris Wylie left in 2014, has no direct knowledge of company's practices: Cambridge Analytica The United States said to remain the largest market by far, with combined e-commerce sales of some $7.6 trillion, with Japan ranking at second. The privacy concerns were raised after the reports of UK based data analysis company, Cambridge Analytica assisting in Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential elections came in the light. The company is facing government search in the London office by US authorities for obtainning Facebook users' data with illegal measures. Kituyi’s call for increasing security coincides with the agency’s E-Commerce Week in Geneva next month. It is the leading forum for governments, the private sector, development banks, academia and the civil society to discuss development opportunities and challenges before the evolving digital economy. (With inputs from PTI)

Most counties are ill-prepared for the digital economy: UN

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday warned of a return to Cold War-like tensions between the United States and Russia following the West's mass expulsions of Russian diplomats.

"I think we are coming to a situation that is similar, to a large extent, to what we lived during the Cold War," Guterres told reporters at UN headquarters in New York.&nbsp

The United States, European nations and NATO countries have announced the expulsion of over 150 Russian diplomats in retaliation for the poisoning of a former spy in England.

Russia on Thursday announced it would expel 60 US diplomats and close a consulate in a tit-for-tat move.

Guterres said he was "very concerned" about the lack of mechanisms to defuse tensions, such as special channels for information-sharing between Washington and Moscow, which were dismantled with the end of the Cold War.&nbsp

"I do believe it's time for precautions of this sort, guaranteeing effective communication, guaranteeing capacity to prevent escalation," he said.

President Donald Trump ordered the departure of 48 Russian diplomats serving in missions in the United States and 12 from the Russian mission to the United Nations, the largest US expulsion of Russian or Soviet agents ever.

Former US president Barack Obama expelled 35 in late 2016 over alleged election meddling.

Relations between the United States and Russia at the UN Security Council have soured over Syria although Moscow has backed Washington's push for sanctions on North Korea.

'I think we are coming to a situation that is similar, to a large extent, to what we lived during the Cold War,' Guterres told reporters at UN headquarters in New York.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday warned of a return to Cold War-like tensions between the United States and Russia following the West's mass expulsions of Russian diplomats. "I think we are coming to a situation that is similar, to a large extent, to what we lived during the Cold War," Guterres told reporters at UN headquarters in New York. The United States, European nations and NATO countries have announced the expulsion of over 150 Russian diplomats in retaliation for the poisoning of a former spy in England. Russia on Thursday announced it would expel 60 US diplomats and close a consulate in a tit-for-tat move. Guterres said he was "very concerned" about the lack of mechanisms to defuse tensions, such as special channels for information-sharing between Washington and Moscow, which were dismantled with the end of the Cold War. "I do believe it's time for precautions of this sort, guaranteeing effective communication, guaranteeing capacity to prevent escalation," he said. President Donald Trump ordered the departure of 48 Russian diplomats serving in missions in the United States and 12 from the Russian mission to the United Nations, the largest US expulsion of Russian or Soviet agents ever. Former US president Barack Obama expelled 35 in late 2016 over alleged election meddling. Relations between the United States and Russia at the UN Security Council have soured over Syria although Moscow has backed Washington's push for sanctions on North Korea.

United Nations chief warns of return to Cold-War-like tensions

The United Nations'&nbsp;aviation agency is trying to facilitate talks between Qatar and its neighbours to defuse recent tensions over alleged airspace violations, but won't intervene politically in the dispute, two sources familiar with the matter said this week.

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is working to organize a regional meeting for Gulf civil aviation and air traffic authorities in the next few weeks, as part of broader efforts to improve communication, one of the sources said.

Earlier this week, the United Arab Emirates accused Qatari fighter jets of flying dangerously close to two of its civilian aircraft in Bahraini airspace, in the latest of several incidents raising tension in the region.&nbsp;

"Sometimes if you're having a feud with your neighbour you need someone to facilitate the conversation," the source said. "I would hope that Qatar will express its needs in a way that`s workable."

Montreal-based ICAO cannot impose binding rules on governments but wields clout through its safety and security standards which are approved by its 191-member countries.

ICAO spokesman Anthony Philbin said by email that the agency is "presently monitoring these incidents and working with all of the countries concerned to help keep the skies in this part of the world open, safe, and secure for international operations."&nbsp;

The council, however, is not planning to intervene in these latest disputes over airspace infringement, said the second source.

Improving communication is key because Qatar has the limited airspace and is part of Bahrain`s Flight Information Region, the first source said.

Both aviation industry sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are confidential. Bahraini, Qatari, and UAE officials could not be reached for comment.

Since January, the Gulf states have traded accusations over infringements of their respective airspace. In June 2017, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Egypt launched a blockade against Qatar, accusing it of supporting Islamist extremists. Qatar has denied the accusations.&nbsp;

ICAO last year helped Qatar Airways access contingency routes over international waters after the country's neighbours refused to allow the carrier to use their airspace.

In June, ICAO`s governing council is expected to hear arguments by the Gulf states over the blockade, which Qatar is challenging, said the second source.

The United Nations' aviation agency is trying to facilitate talks between Qatar and its neighbours to defuse recent tensions over alleged airspace violations, but won't intervene politically in the dispute, two sources familiar with the matter said this week

The United Nations' aviation agency is trying to facilitate talks between Qatar and its neighbours to defuse recent tensions over alleged airspace violations, but won't intervene politically in the dispute, two sources familiar with the matter said this week. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is working to organize a regional meeting for Gulf civil aviation and air traffic authorities in the next few weeks, as part of broader efforts to improve communication, one of the sources said. Earlier this week, the United Arab Emirates accused Qatari fighter jets of flying dangerously close to two of its civilian aircraft in Bahraini airspace, in the latest of several incidents raising tension in the region. "Sometimes if you're having a feud with your neighbour you need someone to facilitate the conversation," the source said. "I would hope that Qatar will express its needs in a way that`s workable." Montreal-based ICAO cannot impose binding rules on governments but wields clout through its safety and security standards which are approved by its 191-member countries. ICAO spokesman Anthony Philbin said by email that the agency is "presently monitoring these incidents and working with all of the countries concerned to help keep the skies in this part of the world open, safe, and secure for international operations." The council, however, is not planning to intervene in these latest disputes over airspace infringement, said the second source. Improving communication is key because Qatar has the limited airspace and is part of Bahrain`s Flight Information Region, the first source said. Both aviation industry sources spoke on condition of anonymity because the talks are confidential. Bahraini, Qatari, and UAE officials could not be reached for comment. Since January, the Gulf states have traded accusations over infringements of their respective airspace. In June 2017, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Egypt launched a blockade against Qatar, accusing it of supporting Islamist extremists. Qatar has denied the accusations. ICAO last year helped Qatar Airways access contingency routes over international waters after the country's neighbours refused to allow the carrier to use their airspace. In June, ICAO`s governing council is expected to hear arguments by the Gulf states over the blockade, which Qatar is challenging, said the second source.

UN aviation agency eyes talks, meeting to defuse Gulf airspace standoff

Syrian rebels and their families began leaving Syria&#39;s Eastern Ghouta on Thursday under the first evacuation deal in the shrinking opposition enclave outside Damascus.

The agreement announced on Wednesday and brokered by regime ally Russia, could empty one of three rebel-held pockets in the region and mark a major advance in government efforts to secure the nearby capital.

It could also increase pressure on rebels to follow suit in the two other opposition-held pockets of the besieged enclave, where tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped under relentless bombardment.

State television said around 1,824 people -- including 319 fighters -- had boarded buses from the Eastern Ghouta town of Harasta until now held by the Ahrar al-Sham rebel group.&nbsp;

A military source said that the rebels and accompanying civilians had boarded buses and were in a buffer zone, waiting to cross into regime-controlled territory.

Another military source said around 2,000 people are expected to leave in total, including around 700 fighters on Thursday.

Ahrar al-Sham spokesman Munzer Fares said the evacuations could last several days.&nbsp;

They followed renewed air strikes in Ghouta early on Thursday which killed 20 civilians, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.&nbsp;

Since February 18, a devastating Russian-backed offensive on Eastern Ghouta has sliced the shrinking enclave into three isolated pockets.

Rebels cut off

Central Damascus lies within mortar range of Eastern Ghouta, and the evacuation deal came after the deadliest rebel rocket attack on the capital in months killed 44 civilians on Tuesday.

Rebel fire on Thursday killed four people in Damascus, state television said.

The regime&#39;s offensive on Ghouta has killed more than 1,500 civilians since February 18, according to Observatory.

The rebels and their families will be transported to the northwestern province of Idlib, which is held by a myriad of jihadist, Islamist and secular groups, many with links to Turkey.

The evacuation from Harasta will further isolate the rebel groups that control the remaining two pockets of Eastern Ghouta and pile pressure on them to accept similar deals.

Syrian Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar told AFP that Ahrar al-Sham had negotiated with the Russian Centre for Reconciliation and that Damascus was not directly involved.

Nawar Oliver, an analyst at the Turkey-based Omran Centre, said fighters in Harasta &quot;were not able to impose a single one of their conditions&quot;.

&#39;Tragic&#39; conditions

Opposition figures in Ghouta said talks were underway for a deal to evacuate rebels from the enclave&#39;s main town, Douma.

Douma is controlled by the Jaish al-Islam group, while a pocket of territory around the town of Zamalka, closer to the capital, is held by Faylaq al-Rahman with a small jihadist presence.

Air strikes on Zamalka killed 16 civilians on Thursday, the Observatory said.

An AFP reporter in Douma said hundreds of civilians were fleeing the town.

Similar evacuation deals have seen the government retake a string of former rebel bastions.

A May 2014 deal saw rebels pull out of the third city Homs, once labelled the &quot;capital of the revolution&quot; that sparked Syria&#39;s seven-year civil war.

In December 2016, the army retook the whole of the second city Aleppo as rebels withdrew in one of their worst defeats of the war.

Those agreements also followed devastating bombardments that took a heavy toll on trapped civilians.

The assault on Ghouta has sparked a mass exodus of civilians from the shrinking rebel enclave.

Some 50,000 people have reached shelters in the government-controlled territory in the past week, according to the United Nations.

On Wednesday, the UN&#39;s humanitarian coordinator in Syria said those displaced were living in &quot;tragic&quot; conditions.

&quot;People may have escaped fighting, fear and insecurity but they find themselves in a place without anywhere to wash themselves,&quot; Ali al-Zaatari said.

Syrian rebels and their families began leaving Syria's Eastern Ghouta on Thursday under the first evacuation deal in the shrinking opposition enclave outside Damascus

Syrian rebels and their families began leaving Syria's Eastern Ghouta on Thursday under the first evacuation deal in the shrinking opposition enclave outside Damascus. The agreement announced on Wednesday and brokered by regime ally Russia, could empty one of three rebel-held pockets in the region and mark a major advance in government efforts to secure the nearby capital. It could also increase pressure on rebels to follow suit in the two other opposition-held pockets of the besieged enclave, where tens of thousands of civilians remain trapped under relentless bombardment. State television said around 1,824 people -- including 319 fighters -- had boarded buses from the Eastern Ghouta town of Harasta until now held by the Ahrar al-Sham rebel group. A military source said that the rebels and accompanying civilians had boarded buses and were in a buffer zone, waiting to cross into regime-controlled territory. Another military source said around 2,000 people are expected to leave in total, including around 700 fighters on Thursday. Ahrar al-Sham spokesman Munzer Fares said the evacuations could last several days. They followed renewed air strikes in Ghouta early on Thursday which killed 20 civilians, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Since February 18, a devastating Russian-backed offensive on Eastern Ghouta has sliced the shrinking enclave into three isolated pockets. Rebels cut off Central Damascus lies within mortar range of Eastern Ghouta, and the evacuation deal came after the deadliest rebel rocket attack on the capital in months killed 44 civilians on Tuesday. Rebel fire on Thursday killed four people in Damascus, state television said. The regime's offensive on Ghouta has killed more than 1,500 civilians since February 18, according to Observatory. The rebels and their families will be transported to the northwestern province of Idlib, which is held by a myriad of jihadist, Islamist and secular groups, many with links to Turkey. The evacuation from Harasta will further isolate the rebel groups that control the remaining two pockets of Eastern Ghouta and pile pressure on them to accept similar deals. Syrian Reconciliation Minister Ali Haidar told AFP that Ahrar al-Sham had negotiated with the Russian Centre for Reconciliation and that Damascus was not directly involved. Nawar Oliver, an analyst at the Turkey-based Omran Centre, said fighters in Harasta "were not able to impose a single one of their conditions". 'Tragic' conditions Opposition figures in Ghouta said talks were underway for a deal to evacuate rebels from the enclave's main town, Douma. Douma is controlled by the Jaish al-Islam group, while a pocket of territory around the town of Zamalka, closer to the capital, is held by Faylaq al-Rahman with a small jihadist presence. Air strikes on Zamalka killed 16 civilians on Thursday, the Observatory said. An AFP reporter in Douma said hundreds of civilians were fleeing the town. Similar evacuation deals have seen the government retake a string of former rebel bastions. A May 2014 deal saw rebels pull out of the third city Homs, once labelled the "capital of the revolution" that sparked Syria's seven-year civil war. In December 2016, the army retook the whole of the second city Aleppo as rebels withdrew in one of their worst defeats of the war. Those agreements also followed devastating bombardments that took a heavy toll on trapped civilians. The assault on Ghouta has sparked a mass exodus of civilians from the shrinking rebel enclave. Some 50,000 people have reached shelters in the government-controlled territory in the past week, according to the United Nations. On Wednesday, the UN's humanitarian coordinator in Syria said those displaced were living in "tragic" conditions. "People may have escaped fighting, fear and insecurity but they find themselves in a place without anywhere to wash themselves," Ali al-Zaatari said.

First rebels quit Syria enclave under Russia-brokered deal

World water day is being observed on Wednesday aiming&nbsp;to&nbsp;highlight the importance of freshwater and focusing attention on the importance of water.

This year marks the 25 years of World Water Day celebration ironically the same year in which &nbsp;Cape Town of South Africa became the world&#39;s first modern city to reach day zero.

Today, 2.1 billion people live without safe drinking water at home; affecting their health, education and livelihoods. Water scarcity has already affected every continent and according to a report by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs around 102 billion people which is almost one-fifth of the world&#39;s population live in areas of physical water scarcity.

Another 1.6 billion people, or almost one-quarter of the world&#39;s population, face economic water shortage (where countries lack the necessary infrastructure to take water from rivers and aquifers).

Water Scarcity is right now one of the most serious problems human race is facing it is both natural and human-made phenomenon.

What people misunderstood about water scarcity&nbsp;is that there is a shortage of water on the planet but the according to a report by UN there is enough freshwater on the planet for seven billion people but as due to uneven distribution of water and&nbsp; too much being wasted, polluted or unsustainably managed&nbsp;causes the water scarcity in the world leading to cities like Cape Town to day zero.

By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world&#39;s population could be living under water stressed conditions.

With the existing climate change scenario, almost half the world&#39;s population will be living in areas of high water stress by 2030, including between 75 million and 250 million people in Africa. In addition, water scarcity in some arid and semi-arid places will displace between 24 million and 700 million people.

Sub-Saharan Africa has the largest number of water-stressed countries of any region. 
&nbsp;

This year marks the 25 years of World Water Day celebration ironically the same year in which Cape Town of South Africa became the world's first modern city to reach day zero

World water day is being observed on Wednesday aiming to highlight the importance of freshwater and focusing attention on the importance of water. This year marks the 25 years of World Water Day celebration ironically the same year in which Cape Town of South Africa became the world's first modern city to reach day zero. Today, 2.1 billion people live without safe drinking water at home; affecting their health, education and livelihoods. Water scarcity has already affected every continent and according to a report by United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs around 102 billion people which is almost one-fifth of the world's population live in areas of physical water scarcity. Another 1.6 billion people, or almost one-quarter of the world's population, face economic water shortage (where countries lack the necessary infrastructure to take water from rivers and aquifers). Water Scarcity is right now one of the most serious problems human race is facing it is both natural and human-made phenomenon. What people misunderstood about water scarcity is that there is a shortage of water on the planet but the according to a report by UN there is enough freshwater on the planet for seven billion people but as due to uneven distribution of water and too much being wasted, polluted or unsustainably managed causes the water scarcity in the world leading to cities like Cape Town to day zero. By 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or regions with absolute water scarcity, and two-thirds of the world's population could be living under water stressed conditions. With the existing climate change scenario, almost half the world's population will be living in areas of high water stress by 2030, including between 75 million and 250 million people in Africa. In addition, water scarcity in some arid and semi-arid places will displace between 24 million and 700 million people. Sub-Saharan Africa has the largest number of water-stressed countries of any region.

World Water Day: Heartbreaking facts about water scarcity

Amnesty International said today <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/receiving-threats-from-pak-military-wions-pakistan-bureau-chief-taha-siddiqui-35563">that Pakistan should take steps </a>to resolve &quot;enforced disappearances&quot;, calling it a &quot;tool of terror&quot;.

Pakistan has reportedly accepted <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/monitoring-developments-in-pakistan-says-us-state-department-on-wions-taha-siddiquis-attempted-abduction-29178">UN recommendations that make</a> &quot;enforced disappearances&quot; a crime but has refused to ratify an international convention protecting anyone from enforced disappearances.

&quot;Disappearances are a tool of terror... if committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack, they constitute a crime against humanity,&quot; Amnesty International said, adding,&quot;as cruel and deliberate.... families are plunged into a state of anguish, trying to keep the flame of hope alive while fearing the worst. They may be in this limbo for years.&quot;

According to Amnesty International, the United Nations has more than 700 cases pending in Pakistan, while a state commission of inquiry into enforced disappearances lists hundreds of additional cases, AFP reported.

The victims include bloggers, journalists, students, peace activists and other human rights defenders.

Recently, WION&#39;s Pakistan bureau chief Taha Siddiqui had said he was receiving threats from Pakistan&#39;s military. Taha&#39;s family and friends were also reportedly receiving similar threats.

Taha Siddiqui has since left Pakistan and is living in Europe.

Last year, five social media activists who had been critical of the military as well as extremism &quot;disappeared&quot; mysteriously, with abductions sparking nationwide protests. Although&nbsp;four were released, the fate of the fifth person is still unknown.

WION's Pakistan bureau chief Taha Siddiqui had said he was receiving threats from Pakistan's military

Amnesty International said today that Pakistan should take steps to resolve "enforced disappearances", calling it a "tool of terror". Pakistan has reportedly accepted UN recommendations that make "enforced disappearances" a crime but has refused to ratify an international convention protecting anyone from enforced disappearances. "Disappearances are a tool of terror... if committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack, they constitute a crime against humanity," Amnesty International said, adding,"as cruel and deliberate.... families are plunged into a state of anguish, trying to keep the flame of hope alive while fearing the worst. They may be in this limbo for years." According to Amnesty International, the United Nations has more than 700 cases pending in Pakistan, while a state commission of inquiry into enforced disappearances lists hundreds of additional cases, AFP reported. The victims include bloggers, journalists, students, peace activists and other human rights defenders. Recently, WION's Pakistan bureau chief Taha Siddiqui had said he was receiving threats from Pakistan's military. Taha's family and friends were also reportedly receiving similar threats. Taha Siddiqui has since left Pakistan and is living in Europe. Last year, five social media activists who had been critical of the military as well as extremism "disappeared" mysteriously, with abductions sparking nationwide protests. Although four were released, the fate of the fifth person is still unknown.

Resolve 'enforced disappearances': Amnesty International to Pakistan

UN chief Antonio Guterres is following the situation in Kashmir &quot;closely&quot; and encourages a dialogue between India and Pakistan to settle any outstanding differences, his spokesperson said.&nbsp;

Spokesman for Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric made the comment while responding to a question on the tensions between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue.

&quot;Obviously, we are following the situation there as closely, as we always do, and we would encourage dialogue between the parties to settle any outstanding differences,&quot;&nbsp;Dujarric told reporters here yesterday at his daily briefing.

On whether the Secretary General has talked with the prime ministers of Pakistan or India, Dujarric said there is &quot;nothing to report&quot; on that currently.

In the past, Dujarric, when asked at press briefings about the Secretary General&#39;s response to the situation in Kashmir, has repeatedly said that Guterres follows the situation in the region closely.

The UN chief reiterated his call for India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue.&nbsp;

'Obviously, we are following the situation there as closely, as we always do, and we would encourage dialogue between the parties to settle any outstanding differences,' the spokesperson said

UN chief Antonio Guterres is following the situation in Kashmir "closely" and encourages a dialogue between India and Pakistan to settle any outstanding differences, his spokesperson said. Spokesman for Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric made the comment while responding to a question on the tensions between India and Pakistan over the Kashmir issue. "Obviously, we are following the situation there as closely, as we always do, and we would encourage dialogue between the parties to settle any outstanding differences," Dujarric told reporters here yesterday at his daily briefing. On whether the Secretary General has talked with the prime ministers of Pakistan or India, Dujarric said there is "nothing to report" on that currently. In the past, Dujarric, when asked at press briefings about the Secretary General's response to the situation in Kashmir, has repeatedly said that Guterres follows the situation in the region closely. The UN chief reiterated his call for India and Pakistan to find a peaceful solution through engagement and dialogue to resolve the Kashmir issue.

UN Secretary General following Kashmir 'closely', encourages dialogue between India, Pakistan: Spokesperson

The Philippines has given official notice to the United Nations that it is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court, which is probing President Rodrigo Duterte&#39;s deadly drug war, Manila said Friday.

The move comes two days after Duterte announced his nation would quit the court, and triggered warnings Friday from a top tribunal official that it would harm global efforts to end impunity for the world&#39;s worst crimes.

The ICC, based in The Hague, last month launched a preliminary inquiry into Duterte&#39;s bloody crackdown on narcotics, amid allegations that actions by Philippine security forces amount to crimes against humanity.

Philippine police say they have killed roughly 4,000 suspects who fought back during arrest, but rights groups allege the actual number is three times higher and accuse the authorities of murder.

The ICC opened in 2002 to try abuses in countries where national courts cannot or will not prosecute. Manila joined the Rome Statute in 2011.

But on Thursday the Philippines said in a letter to the UN, which oversaw negotiations to found the court, that it was pulling out of the Rome Statute, the tribunal&#39;s founding guidelines.

&quot;The decision to withdraw is the Philippines&#39; principled stand against those who would politicise and weaponise human rights,&quot; the letter said.

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, speaking from Manila, said the Philippines was quitting due to &quot;the well-orchestrated campaign to mislead the international community, to crucify President Duterte... by distorting the human rights situation in the country&quot;.

But the tribunal urged Manila to reconsider its decision, and the president of its governing body, the assembly of state parties (ASP), said he deeply regretted the move.

&quot;A state party withdrawing from the Rome Statute would negatively impact our collective efforts towards fighting impunity&rdquo;, said ASP president, O-Gon Kwon.

&quot;The ICC needs the strong support of the international community to ensure its effectiveness. I encourage the Philippines to remain as a party to the Rome Statute.&quot;

Officially quitting the court requires a year&#39;s notice and does not stop the ICC from continuing its investigation of the killings, which have drawn international concern.

&#39;No impact&#39; on ICC probe&nbsp;

&quot;A withdrawal would have no impact on ongoing proceedings or any matter which was already under consideration by the court prior to the date on which the withdrawal became effective,&quot; the ICC said Friday, its first comment since Duterte&#39;s announcement.

&quot;The court encourages the Philippines to not follow through with the reported/stated intention to withdraw, as it is... an integral part of the international criminal justice system,&quot; it added.

Should the Philippines fully withdraw from the court it would not be the first to do so, as Burundi became the first ever nation to leave in October 2017.

The Philippines said in its letter that it &quot;affirms its commitment to fight against impunity for atrocity crimes&quot;, despite its withdrawal.

Duterte, who is buoyed by high popularity ratings at home, has fiercely defended the drug war as a battle to bring safety to the nation&#39;s 100 million people.

He has frequently urged authorities to kill drug suspects while promising to protect police from legal sanction.

The move comes two days after Duterte announced his nation would quit the court, and triggered warnings Friday from a top tribunal official that it would harm global efforts to end impunity for the world's worst crimes.

The Philippines has given official notice to the United Nations that it is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court, which is probing President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly drug war, Manila said Friday. The move comes two days after Duterte announced his nation would quit the court, and triggered warnings Friday from a top tribunal official that it would harm global efforts to end impunity for the world's worst crimes. The ICC, based in The Hague, last month launched a preliminary inquiry into Duterte's bloody crackdown on narcotics, amid allegations that actions by Philippine security forces amount to crimes against humanity. Philippine police say they have killed roughly 4,000 suspects who fought back during arrest, but rights groups allege the actual number is three times higher and accuse the authorities of murder. The ICC opened in 2002 to try abuses in countries where national courts cannot or will not prosecute. Manila joined the Rome Statute in 2011. But on Thursday the Philippines said in a letter to the UN, which oversaw negotiations to found the court, that it was pulling out of the Rome Statute, the tribunal's founding guidelines. "The decision to withdraw is the Philippines' principled stand against those who would politicise and weaponise human rights," the letter said. Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, speaking from Manila, said the Philippines was quitting due to "the well-orchestrated campaign to mislead the international community, to crucify President Duterte... by distorting the human rights situation in the country". But the tribunal urged Manila to reconsider its decision, and the president of its governing body, the assembly of state parties (ASP), said he deeply regretted the move. "A state party withdrawing from the Rome Statute would negatively impact our collective efforts towards fighting impunity”, said ASP president, O-Gon Kwon. "The ICC needs the strong support of the international community to ensure its effectiveness. I encourage the Philippines to remain as a party to the Rome Statute." Officially quitting the court requires a year's notice and does not stop the ICC from continuing its investigation of the killings, which have drawn international concern. 'No impact' on ICC probe "A withdrawal would have no impact on ongoing proceedings or any matter which was already under consideration by the court prior to the date on which the withdrawal became effective," the ICC said Friday, its first comment since Duterte's announcement. "The court encourages the Philippines to not follow through with the reported/stated intention to withdraw, as it is... an integral part of the international criminal justice system," it added. Should the Philippines fully withdraw from the court it would not be the first to do so, as Burundi became the first ever nation to leave in October 2017. The Philippines said in its letter that it "affirms its commitment to fight against impunity for atrocity crimes", despite its withdrawal. Duterte, who is buoyed by high popularity ratings at home, has fiercely defended the drug war as a battle to bring safety to the nation's 100 million people. He has frequently urged authorities to kill drug suspects while promising to protect police from legal sanction.

Philippines tells UN it will quit International Criminal Court

The UN Security Council has urged the Taliban to go ahead with the peace process with the Afghan government without any preconditions and threat of violence, as it welcomed Kabul&#39;s offer to the terror group to engage in direct talks.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on February 28 unveiled a plan to open peace talks with the Taliban, including eventually recognising them as a political party, days after the militants called for direct negotiations with the US.

Welcoming the offer for the peace talks, Security Council President Karel Jan Gustaaf van Oosterom of Netherlands, in a statement said the UNSC members commended the convening of the second meeting of the Kabul Process for Peace and Security Cooperation in Afghanistan last month and the declaration agreed to by its participants.

&quot;The members of the Security Council also welcomed the offer made by the Afghan Government to the Taliban to engage in direct peace talks, and called upon the Taliban to accept this offer without any preconditions and without the threat of violence, with the aim of an ultimate political settlement that leads to sustainable peace for the people of Afghanistan, the statement said yesterday.

The 15-nation Council underlined the importance of an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process for the long-term prosperity and stability of Afghanistan and expressed their full support for the Afghan government&#39;s commitment to developing a practical plan for reconciliation.

They welcomed that the participants of the meeting recognised the Kabul Process as a forum and vehicle under the leadership of the Afghan government to lead peace efforts to end violence in Afghanistan.

&quot;The Kabul Process must lead to the renunciation of violence and breaking of all ties to international terrorism, as well as the respect for the equal rights of all Afghans, including women, under the Afghan Constitution, the Council said in the statement.

The members of the Security Council also welcomed ongoing international efforts to advance peace and stability in Afghanistan.

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on February 28 unveiled a plan to open peace talks with the Taliban, including eventually recognising them as a political party, days after the militants called for direct negotiations with the US

The UN Security Council has urged the Taliban to go ahead with the peace process with the Afghan government without any preconditions and threat of violence, as it welcomed Kabul's offer to the terror group to engage in direct talks. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on February 28 unveiled a plan to open peace talks with the Taliban, including eventually recognising them as a political party, days after the militants called for direct negotiations with the US. Welcoming the offer for the peace talks, Security Council President Karel Jan Gustaaf van Oosterom of Netherlands, in a statement said the UNSC members commended the convening of the second meeting of the Kabul Process for Peace and Security Cooperation in Afghanistan last month and the declaration agreed to by its participants. "The members of the Security Council also welcomed the offer made by the Afghan Government to the Taliban to engage in direct peace talks, and called upon the Taliban to accept this offer without any preconditions and without the threat of violence, with the aim of an ultimate political settlement that leads to sustainable peace for the people of Afghanistan, the statement said yesterday. The 15-nation Council underlined the importance of an inclusive Afghan-led and Afghan-owned peace process for the long-term prosperity and stability of Afghanistan and expressed their full support for the Afghan government's commitment to developing a practical plan for reconciliation. They welcomed that the participants of the meeting recognised the Kabul Process as a forum and vehicle under the leadership of the Afghan government to lead peace efforts to end violence in Afghanistan. "The Kabul Process must lead to the renunciation of violence and breaking of all ties to international terrorism, as well as the respect for the equal rights of all Afghans, including women, under the Afghan Constitution, the Council said in the statement. The members of the Security Council also welcomed ongoing international efforts to advance peace and stability in Afghanistan.

UNSC calls upon Taliban to go ahead with peace talks without any preconditions

United Nations has released a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/this-the-worlds-happiest-country-the-un-says-35842">new happiness report</a> and it ranks countries on different parametres. But what we find missing is that the report doesn&#39;t talk about the digital invasion that has changed the way we live, and in many ways is translating into unhappiness.

People are often seen, in offices as well as outside, glued to the screens of their smartphones or other devices. They are either checking their emails of just surfing the internet - without having the need to be on them, at times. Often, it has been found that this is the cause of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/pakistan-china-are-much-happier-than-india-says-world-happiness-report-9401">unhappiness and depression</a>.

Internet has taken over our lives in unimaginable ways - sometimes we are online because the work demands, sometimes for fun, sometimes because of the urge to be in constant touch with the world. And the rest of the time, subconsciously.

For example, when you wake up in morning, the first thing you do is dive into a pool of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. You randomly browse in the cab, have a constant urge to fiddle with the phone in meetings; you post updates during coffee breaks with colleagues, check notifications on dinner table and check the phone even in the middle of the night - the list is never ending.

We rarely give it a thought, but the internet is not leaving us with the time we genuinely need to be with ourselves, and this in turn is costing us happiness.

Your mind is always occupied with the vacation photographs of your friends - who is eating what and where who is having a tough time in relationships. You are living on social media, in fact, you are consumed by social media.

And in this entire process, your mind is left with no time to do things that can bring you joy and peace and make you value yourself all the more.

For instance, how often do you read now? How seriously do you pursue any hobby? When was the last time you enjoyed a conversation with friends without looking at your phone? Perhaps the lack of all of it is another cause of depression nowadays, which translates into unhappiness.

While there are many things leading us to our unhappiness, in this digital age, there is one more thing that has become a major cause of our unhappiness - the increasing use of technology, the uninterrupted social media supply, and the constant urge to be in touch with the virtual world.

This doesn&#39;t mean that you should dismiss technology, but it is advisable that you cut down on your internet time and live more in the real world and less in the virtual space. Your happiness is in your hand.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

We rarely give it a thought, but the internet is not leaving us with the time we genuinely need to be with ourselves, and this in turn is costing us happiness.

United Nations has released a new happiness report and it ranks countries on different parametres. But what we find missing is that the report doesn't talk about the digital invasion that has changed the way we live, and in many ways is translating into unhappiness. People are often seen, in offices as well as outside, glued to the screens of their smartphones or other devices. They are either checking their emails of just surfing the internet - without having the need to be on them, at times. Often, it has been found that this is the cause of unhappiness and depression. Internet has taken over our lives in unimaginable ways - sometimes we are online because the work demands, sometimes for fun, sometimes because of the urge to be in constant touch with the world. And the rest of the time, subconsciously. For example, when you wake up in morning, the first thing you do is dive into a pool of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. You randomly browse in the cab, have a constant urge to fiddle with the phone in meetings; you post updates during coffee breaks with colleagues, check notifications on dinner table and check the phone even in the middle of the night - the list is never ending. We rarely give it a thought, but the internet is not leaving us with the time we genuinely need to be with ourselves, and this in turn is costing us happiness. Your mind is always occupied with the vacation photographs of your friends - who is eating what and where who is having a tough time in relationships. You are living on social media, in fact, you are consumed by social media. And in this entire process, your mind is left with no time to do things that can bring you joy and peace and make you value yourself all the more. For instance, how often do you read now? How seriously do you pursue any hobby? When was the last time you enjoyed a conversation with friends without looking at your phone? Perhaps the lack of all of it is another cause of depression nowadays, which translates into unhappiness. While there are many things leading us to our unhappiness, in this digital age, there is one more thing that has become a major cause of our unhappiness - the increasing use of technology, the uninterrupted social media supply, and the constant urge to be in touch with the virtual world. This doesn't mean that you should dismiss technology, but it is advisable that you cut down on your internet time and live more in the real world and less in the virtual space. Your happiness is in your hand. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Opinion: Is digital invasion costing us happiness?

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