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US sanctions 10 over allegedly procuring weapons for Iran

US sanctions 10 over allegedly procuring weapons for Iran

WASHINGTON, Sept 29 - The United States has sanctioned 10 individuals and entities, including some based in China, Hong Kong and Pakistan, saying they helped Iran procure weapons and components, the US Treasury Department said Tuesday.

US imposes sanctions on 13 tied to Iran weapons procurement

US imposes sanctions on 13 tied to Iran weapons procurement

By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON, Sept 29 - The US government announced fresh sanctions on Tuesday against 13 individuals and entities, including some based in Russia, China, Hong Kong and Pakistan, saying they helped Iran procure weapons and components.

African Union's Bid for UN Security Council Seat Faces Geopolitical Challenges

African Union's Bid for UN Security Council Seat Faces Geopolitical Challenges

The push for a permanent African seat on the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is gaining momentum, with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and global leaders advocating for it. Proponents argue that the UNSC, established in 1945, cannot effectively address 21st-century global issues without permanent representation from a continent with 1.5 billion people. However, the practical implementation of this proposal faces significant geopolitical hurdles. Unlike existing permanent members (P5) such as the United States, Russia, or China, which operate with unified foreign and internal policies, Africa is not a single political entity. The continent comprises 54 distinct sovereign nations with vastly divergent national interests, economic realities, colonial legacies, and ideological alliances. Critics argue that a single African representative cannot realistically represent the wills of both democratic and autocratic regimes simultaneously, potentially leading to diluted stances or alienating numerous A...

Qatari mediators press peace deal between US and Iran

Qatari mediators press peace deal between US and Iran

By Steve Holland and Menna AlaaElDin WASHINGTON/CAIRO, Sept 29 (Reuters) - Qatar said on Tuesday it hopes that shuttle diplomacy between Iran and the US can lead to a breakthrough despite US President Donald Trump's denial of media reports that he was willing to ease sanctions and release frozen

UN Security Council's Veto Powers Examined in Historical Document

UN Security Council's Veto Powers Examined in Historical Document

A historical report from 1951, titled 'Document of the Week: Veto Powers on the UN Security Council,' has been highlighted by the British Online Archives. This document details the formal and informal mechanisms through which the permanent members of the United Nations (UN) Security Council—Britain, China, France, the Soviet Union, and the United States—exercised their veto power. The UN was established after World War II as a successor to the League of Nations, with the goal of fostering international cooperation and preserving peace. The five most powerful states in 1945, who founded the UN, sought to ensure the new organization reinforced their power rather than challenging it. Consequently, they appointed themselves as permanent members of the Security Council, the UN's primary decision-making body, and instituted a protocol requiring unanimous support for any decision. This rule effectively granted each permanent member a veto, which proved particularly problematic during the early Cold War due to the...

In a relatively mild speech, North Korea uses UN platform to lament 'mutual distrust' and tension

In a relatively mild speech, North Korea uses UN platform to lament 'mutual distrust' and tension

North Korea has used its yearly U_N_ platform to warn other world leaders of “a harsh reality rampant with unprecedented mutual distrust and confrontation.”

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Visits Belize to Deepen Diplomatic Ties and Economic Cooperation

Taiwan's Foreign Minister Visits Belize to Deepen Diplomatic Ties and Economic Cooperation

Taiwan's Foreign Minister, Lin Chia-lung, arrived in Belize for his fifth visit, aiming to strengthen diplomatic ties and economic cooperation between the two nations. Belize is one of only 12 countries that maintain full diplomatic relations with Taiwan. During his visit, Minister Lin is scheduled to meet with Governor-General Froyla Tzalam, Prime Minister John Briceño, and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Francis Fonseca. Key activities include signing a joint communiqué and a diplomatic-training agreement, as well as touring Taiwan-funded projects such as a hospital in San Pedro and a 50-home social housing scheme. A business delegation accompanying Minister Lin will hold business-matching meetings focusing on green energy, smart transport, artificial intelligence, space technology, biotechnology, healthcare, tourism, and finance. Prime Minister Briceño has publicly affirmed Belize's support for Taiwan, advocating for its meaningful participation in the United Nations system at the recent U...

Denmark sees long-term NATO presence in Greenland after Trump deal

Denmark sees long-term NATO presence in Greenland after Trump deal

By Andrew Gray BRUSSELS, Sept 28 (Reuters) - Denmark is confident that NATO will maintain a heightened presence in Greenland and the broader Arctic region over the long term following a security agreement with the United States signed last week, the Danish defence minister said on Monday.

UN agency warns funding crisis could leave 8.3 million people without aid

UN agency warns funding crisis could leave 8.3 million people without aid

By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, Sept 29 (Reuters) - A deepening funding crisis could leave nearly 8.3 million refugees and forcibly displaced people without access to assistance this year, and push protection systems in some countries towards collapse, the United Nations refugee agency warned on

Costa Rica's Grynspan narrowly ahead in race to be next UN chief, sources say

Costa Rica's Grynspan narrowly ahead in race to be next UN chief, sources say

By Antoni Slodkowski and David Brunnstrom UNITED NATIONS, Sept 29 (Reuters) - An informal poll by the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday placed former Costa Rican Vice President Rebeca Grynspan as the frontrunner in the contest to become the 10th UN secretary-general, sources close ‌to the

Lowy Institute Questions Viability of China's Gwadar Port Project in Pakistan

Lowy Institute Questions Viability of China's Gwadar Port Project in Pakistan

The Lowy Institute, an Australian think tank, has raised concerns regarding the future of China's Gwadar Port project in Pakistan. The institute's analysis suggests that the port, once touted as a cornerstone of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and a key component of Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative, has failed to become the major regional commercial hub it was promised to be. Instead, the project is increasingly viewed as a financial and security liability. Security challenges in Balochistan, where the port is located, have led to repeated attacks on Chinese citizens and CPEC-linked infrastructure by Baloch separatist groups. These security issues, coupled with geographical challenges, weak local infrastructure, and Pakistan's economic difficulties, have hindered the port's commercial transformation. The Lowy Institute argues that China's risk appetite for such projects is diminishing as it faces its own economic pressures, leading to a more cautious approach towards Gwadar.

China Rejects U.S. Sanctions on Iran, Citing Geopolitical and Security Interests

China Rejects U.S. Sanctions on Iran, Citing Geopolitical and Security Interests

China has consistently refused to join the United States in imposing economic sanctions against Iran, despite having a significantly larger trade volume with the U.S. than with Iran. This stance is not solely based on trade figures, but rather on Iran's strategic importance to Beijing's security and geopolitical calculations. Iran's geographical position in West Asia, connecting Central Asia and Afghanistan while providing access to the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, makes it a crucial element in China's strategy for alternative trade routes to the West. Furthermore, China views Central Asia, adjacent to its Xinjiang region, as a strategic and security hinterland, and Iran plays a role in securing this western flank. The potential for instability in Iran could impact the security of China's trade routes and its broader strategic environment. China's relationship with Iran is therefore seen as part of a larger equation involving the security of its western borders, trade routes, energy access, and the strat...