The Latest Breaking News from United Nations

US ‘Veto’ Haunts Draft Resolution Delegitimizing West Bank Settlements

The US had expressed its clear objection to a draft resolution calling on Israel to stop steps it is taking to legalize nine settlement outposts in the occupied West Bank, UN diplomats told Asharq Al-Awsat on Friday. The resolution, still in draft form, calls for respecting the current historical status…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 17, 2023

Egypt Hopes an ‘African Push’ to Resolve Dam Dispute

Egypt intends to showcase the developments of the dispute with Ethiopia regarding the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) during the African Union Summit, which will launch on Saturday in Addis Ababa. Egypt hopes for an "African push" that could break through the stalled negotiations for two years now. Egypt’s Foreign…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 17, 2023

Yemeni Gov’t Denies Changing Hodeidah Port’s Access Mechanism

The Yemeni government denied any change in inspection procedures on ships bound for the Houthi-controlled western Hodeidah port, stressing that the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism for Yemen was still operational. Houthis claimed that the inspection mechanism had been suspended. The government emphasized that it will take deterrent actions against…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 17, 2023

Ukraine war exposes splits between Global North and South

Over the past year, most Global South countries adopted a position of studied neutrality on the war in Ukraine. Their self-interest over the principles of international law and stability ended up serving Russian interests and regional tyrants, but not their citizens, who comprise most of the world’s population.

France 24 · Feb 17, 2023

Three Survivors Pulled from Rubble in Türkiye 11 Days after Earthquake

Rescue teams pulled three people alive from under collapsed buildings in Türkiye on Friday, 11 days after an earthquake that has killed more than 43,000, left millions homeless and sparked a huge relief effort. Mosques around the world performed absentee funeral prayers for the dead in Türkiye and Syria, many…

Asharq Al-Awsat · Feb 17, 2023

Abu Dhabi state gas company to sell 4% of shares in IPO

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s gas processing firm plans to sell 4% of its shares to local investors in the latest initial public offering to be made by a state-run energy company in the Middle East

The Independent UK · Feb 17, 2023

US ranking on abuse of power index hurt by inequality and violence

Country came near median of 163 countries on Index of Impunity, higher than Hungary and Singapore

The Guardian - UK · Feb 17, 2023

Alarm grows over WFP plan to cut food aid for Rohingya refugees

Experts say reduction would be ‘catastrophic’ for hundreds of thousands living in Bangladesh camps.

Al Jazeera · Feb 17, 2023

China faces grilling in review of key rights by UN committee

China has come in for a grilling over its human rights record as a two-day hearing opened at the United Nations human rights office

The Independent UK · Feb 17, 2023

Security and food crises expected to dominate African Union summit

Deepening security and food crises are likely to dominate the agenda when heads of state convene in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa this weekend, Feb. 17-19, for the annual African Union (AU) summit.

Reuters · Feb 17, 2023