NEW YORK: Fu Cong, China’s permanent representative to the United Nations, said on Tuesday that eliminating armed conflict is the best protection for civilians. “While saving lives in armed conflict is a noble goal, it must be noted that as long as conflicts have not ended, the lives of civilians are under constant threat,” Fu noted when speaking at the …
UNITED NATIONS: In a historic vote, the UN General Assembly decisively approved a resolution on Friday, granting Palestine an enhanced presence within the world body, bolstering its rights and privileges. The resolution passed with an overwhelming majority of 143 countries in favour, signalling a resounding international endorsement. Nine countries, led by the United States, voted against the resolution. Twenty-five countries, …
ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday extended Pakistan’s support for Palestine’s admission as a full member of the UN, and resumption of the peace process for the realisation of a “viable, contiguous and sovereign” Palestinian state on pre-1967 borders. Dar, who doubles as the deputy prime minister and is also a senator, arrived in The Gambia on Wednesday to …
BEIJING: Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and also expressed China’s support for Palestine over the upcoming UN Security Council (UNSC) vote on its full UN membership, which is likely to be blocked by Israeli ally the US. Although the Palestinian Authority is unlikely to be granted full UN membership, which would …
By Mian Abrar Starting with the premise that sexual violence in war is not uncommon, we all need to acknowledge that it happens, it’s abhorrent and must be punished when it occurs. October 7th was no different, if sexual violence occurred, there is every reason to seek the perpetrators and punish them but what’s happened as a result of that …
ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) on Sunday strongly condemned an attack on an Iranian police station that killed 11 policemen and said it stood in “full solidarity” with the country’s people and government in “this hour of unspeakable tragedy”. On Friday, at least 11 Iranian police officers were killed in an overnight attack on a police station in the southeastern province …
DOHA: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Sunday he will not give up appealing for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, adding that the war undermined the credibility and authority of the Security Council. Guterres was speaking at the Doha Forum conference as Washington vetoed on Friday a proposed UN Security Council demand for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in the …
UNITED NATIONS: The United States on Friday vetoed the UAE resolution that called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, although 13 of the 15 members of the UN Security Council voted in its favour. Britain abstained. The US veto ended a desperate effort by the UN Secretary General António Guterres who warned that if not stopped now, the fighting in …
GAZA: Israeli troops and Hamas militants were locked in fierce ground combat in Gaza on Wednesday after the Israelis, fighting their way through the devastated Palestinian enclave, reached the heart of the southern city of Khan Younis. Israeli warplanes also bombarded targets in one of the heaviest phases of warfare in the two months since the Hamas-Israel war began. Palestinian …
Rafah: Hamas released a second group of Israeli and foreign hostages on Saturday night in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, the Israeli authorities said Sunday morning, after an hourslong delay raised fears that a fragile truce in Gaza could collapse altogether. Qatar, which helped broker the deal alongside Egypt, said that two mediators had managed to overcome an …