Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: At least 20 people, including three children, have been killed during anti-government protests across Iran, according to the United Nations and international human rights groups, as demonstrations over soaring prices and economic stagnation spread nationwide. Death toll and casualties Several international human rights organizations, including the UN, have documented multiple casualties during the protests. Iran Human Rights (IHRNGO), a Norway-based organization, confirmed at least 19 protesters&#39; deaths from gunfire and violence by security forces across seven provinces during the first week of unrest. The group reported that authorities deployed military-grade weapons, including AK-47 rifles, to suppress demonstrators, with one particularly deadly incident occurring on January 3 in Malekshahi County, Ilam Province, where five protesters were killed by live ammunition. Meanwhile, the UN reported at least 20 deaths, including three children, with hundreds detained. Protests spread across the country While a UN spokesperson reported that demonstrations had occurred in a &quot;large majority of Iranian provinces,&quot; AFP documented demonstrations in at least 45 cities spanning 23 provinces. Meanwhile, other international media outlets reported broader participation, with protests reaching approximately 250 separate locations across the country. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), through its Iranian service Radio Farda, provided the most comprehensive tally as of January 6, reporting that protests had extended to at least 78 cities and 222 locations across 26 of Iran&#39;s 31 provinces. Iranian state-affiliated media outlets, including Fars News Agency and Mizan News Agency, have also reported on the protests. Describing the protests as &quot;limited&quot; or &quot;sporadic,&quot; these outlets reported demonstrations in several Tehran districts, including Narmak, Tehransar, and Naziabad, as well as in other cities such as Lordegan, Azna, and Qom. UN chief urges caution Earlier, on Monday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Iranian authorities to respect demonstrators&rsquo; right to protest peacefully. The UN chief &quot;underscores the need to prevent any further casualties,&quot; his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. &quot;He also calls on the authorities to uphold the right of freedom of expression, association and peaceful assembly,&quot; and that &quot;all individuals must be allowed to protest peacefully and express their grievances.&quot;

Middle East

At least 20 people, including children, have been killed in nationwide protests over high prices, rights groups say, as demonstrations spread across the country.

Iran: Protests spread to over 26 provinces as rights groups report rising death toll

ROME: A famine declared in Gaza in August is now over thanks to improved access for humanitarian aid, the United Nations said on Friday, but warned the food situation in the Palestinian territory remained &quot;critical&quot;.&nbsp;&quot;No areas are classified in Famine,&quot; said the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative (IPC), a coalition of monitors tasked by the UN to warn of impending crises.&nbsp;But it warned &quot;the situation remains critical: the entire Gaza Strip is classified in Emergency&quot;.&nbsp;A US-sponsored ceasefire has halted the fighting in Gaza that began after Hamas&#39;s deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.&nbsp;But the deal, in effect since October 10, remains fragile as Israel and Hamas accuse each other almost daily of violations.&nbsp;

The UN says famine declared in Gaza in August has ended due to increased aid access, but food conditions remain critical, with all areas in emergency status, amid a US-backed ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.

UN declares famine over in Gaza, says 'situation remains critical'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari said on Wednesday, the International Human Rights Day, that the country was committed to protecting and promoting human rights.&nbsp; The International Human Rights Day commemorates the historic Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations on December 10, 1948. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, PM Sharif reiterated the country&#39;s commitment to protecting fundamental &ldquo;human rights, especially human dignity, equality and freedom.&rdquo; While speaking about this year&#39;s theme, &ldquo;Our Daily Needs&rdquo;, PM Sharif said human rights were not just theoretical or bookish concepts but were practical &ldquo;actions, including [the provision of] basic elements such as food, clean water, and protection of life.&rdquo; &#39;Equality for all humanity&#39; The premier said that Islam was &ldquo;the strongest, most credible and effective source of human rights,&rdquo; adding that it proclaimed equality for all humanity. He said that the religion mandated a society where there was &ldquo;no discrimination on the basis of color, race, caste, religion or belief.&rdquo; PM Sharif said the government was committed to protecting, promoting, and effectively implementing people&#39;s rights, adding that the country had always &ldquo;supported human rights at the national and international levels.&rdquo; &ldquo;Our goal is to create a society where no citizen is left behind,&rdquo; PM Sharif was quoted as saying.&nbsp; According to the Associated Press of Pakistan, President Zardari reaffirmed that the government would continue its efforts to safeguard the &ldquo;liberty, dignity and self-esteem of all citizens.&rdquo; &ldquo;The Constitution of Pakistan guarantees freedom to every citizen, without distinction of caste, creed or color,&rdquo; the president said in a message. &#39;Justice for every individual&#39; President Zardari reaffirmed his commitment to upholding dignity, equality, and justice for every individual, regardless of race, religion, gender, language, or social status. He said that Islam placed &ldquo;great value on human dignity, respect for others and the freedom and equality of all people,&rdquo; adding that the government recognized &ldquo;the need to focus on vulnerable and marginalized groups.&rdquo; &ldquo;We must foster a culture of respect, tolerance, and mutual dignity. We must empower our people, particularly women, children, minorities, and persons with disabilities, to take part fully in national life. We must work with civil society, human rights defenders, national institutions, and international partners to uphold our shared values,&rdquo; he said. The president called on government institutions, civil society, the media, non-governmental organizations, and citizens to play their part in protecting and promoting human rights. &ldquo;On this International Human Rights Day, let us renew our pledge to defend human dignity, advance equality, and build a Pakistan where every citizen lives free from fear, oppression, and discrimination. May this day inspire us, as a nation and as a global community, to uphold the promise of human rights, today and in the years ahead,&rdquo; he added. Deputy prime minister&rsquo;s message&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, in his message released by Ministry of Foreign Affairs on International Day of Human Rights, said, &ldquo;Pakistan joins the international community in reaffirming its resolve to uphold human dignity, fundamental freedoms, and human rights for all.&rdquo; Dar said, &ldquo;In line with its international obligations and its commitment to promote and protect human rights, the Government of Pakistan has taken numerous institutional, policy and legislative steps, particularly to protect the rights of women, children, and minorities.&rdquo; &ldquo;The recent enactment of the National Commission for Minorities Act, 2025, is a notable step forward in realizing the government&rsquo;s vision to provide effective redressal mechanisms to the minorities,&rdquo; the deputy prime minister said. Election to Human Rights Council&nbsp;Dar said, &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s recent election to the Human Right Council (HRC) for the sixth time shows the international community&rsquo;s strong confidence in Pakistan&rsquo;s contribution at the national and international levels to further the goals of the global human rights framework.&rdquo; &ldquo;We reiterate our commitment to engage constructively with all HRC members, and to accord importance to all facets of human rights, including economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as the right to development.&rdquo; &ldquo;As we commemorate this day, we must not forget that in situations of continued foreign occupation, millions face privation and daily assaults on their dignity and rights,&rdquo; Dar said in his message. Atrocities in Indian-occupied Kashmir&nbsp;&ldquo;Nowhere is this more apparent than in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu &amp; Kashmir (IIOJ&amp;K) and the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), where people under occupation continue to suffer atrocities and serious human rights violations while striving for their inalienable right to self-determination,&rdquo; he said. The deputy prime minister said, &ldquo;We also remain concerned at the rising tide of Islamophobia and underscore the need for concerted international efforts to address this challenge that is intensifying marginalization, stigmatization and hatred in many societies.&rdquo; &ldquo;Pakistan vows to continue upholding human rights and fundamental freedoms for all without discrimination, and looks forward to enhanced international cooperation to tackle all current and emerging challenges in this regard,&rdquo; Dar said in his message.

Culture

President, PM say Pakistan committed to protecting, promoting human rights; International Human Rights Day commemorates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the United Nations on December 10, 1948. 

Pakistan reiterates commitment to protect human rights, dignity, equality, and freedom

ROME: The UN&#39;s World Food Programme warned Tuesday that funding cuts mean it will struggle to feed even a third of the 318 million people facing severe hunger in 2026. &quot;Declines in global humanitarian funding are forcing WFP to prioritise food assistance to roughly one third of those in need,&quot; targeting 110 million of the most vulnerable, it said in a statement. That would cost $13 billion, the agency estimated -- but warned that &quot;current funding forecasts indicate WFP may only receive close to half that goal&quot;. The WFP&#39;s largest donor is the United States which, under President Donald Trump, has cut foreign aid, including to UN agencies. Other big donors, including some European nations, have also shrunk their humanitarian budgets. The 318 million people facing acute hunger is more than double the figure recorded in 2019, as conflict, extreme weather and economic instability have taken their toll, the WFP said. UN agencies this year declared famine in Gaza and parts of Sudan, something that WFP executive director Cindy McCain called &quot;completely unacceptable in the 21st century&quot;. In a foreword to the WFP&#39;s 2026 Global Outlook report, she said the world&#39;s response &quot;remains slow, fragmented and underfunded&quot;. &quot;Global aid now covers less than half of total needs, with steep reductions in food assistance. Almost all operations have had to cut food and cash, and prioritise which vulnerable group receive help,&quot; she wrote. &quot;At the same time, attacks on aid workers have surged, revealing a growing disregard for international humanitarian law.&quot; For those facing hunger in 2026, 41 million people are classified as facing emergency or worse levels. Last week, both UN food agencies -- WFP and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) -- warned of 16 &quot;hunger hotspots&quot; around the globe, from Haiti to South Sudan, saying that funding shortfalls were worsening already dire conditions. In a joint report, the agencies said that they had so far received only $10.5 billion out of a required $29 billion to help those at risk.

Europe

Americas

The UN’s World Food Programme warns it may only assist a third of the 318 million people facing severe hunger in 2026 due to funding cuts. These shortages, exacerbated by conflict and climate change, require urgent global support

UN says lacks billions of dollars to feed world's hungry

Syed Maisam Ali

ISLAMABAD: A United Nations expert has warned that women and girls in Afghanistan are facing &ldquo;the most serious assault on gender equality of our time&rdquo; under Taliban rule. Richard Bennett, the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Afghanistan, told the UN General Assembly in his report that the Taliban has built an &ldquo;institutionalized system of gender persecution.&rdquo; He said urgent and united international action is needed to stop human rights violations instead of accepting the Taliban&rsquo;s rule as normal. Bennett said the Taliban&rsquo;s restrictions on women&rsquo;s education and jobs, including bans on women working for the UN and aid agencies, have made the humanitarian crisis even worse. He said cuts in international funding are leaving Afghans &ldquo;without the last lines of protection and support.&rdquo; <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1983987783485321623&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=e544ae16073ddbab59881416cdf458eff4bb230e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 713px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>The UN expert also raised concern over an increase in public punishments, disappearances, and the shrinking space for media and civil society. He said the Taliban&rsquo;s mistreatment of ethnic and religious minorities is fueling tensions across the country. Bennett warned that the Taliban&rsquo;s harsh policies could radicalize a new generation living under oppression and poverty. &ldquo;What is happening in Afghanistan will not be contained within its borders,&rdquo; he cautioned. The expert also condemned the forced return of Afghan refugees from neighboring and European countries, urging respect for international law. Despite the grim situation, Bennett said Afghanistan is &ldquo;not a lost cause&rdquo; and called for continued accountability and support for Afghan-led human rights efforts.

Asia

UN expert Richard Bennett warned the Taliban’s rule poses “the most serious assault on gender equality,” citing rising abuses, restrictions on women, shrinking freedoms, and refugee deportations, urging urgent global action and sustained support for Afghan-led initiatives

UN expert warns of worsening human rights crisis in Afghanistan

ISLAMABAD: At the UN Security Council, Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad condemned the atrocities in Sudan&rsquo;s Darfur region, urging decisive international action, an immediate ceasefire, and a Sudanese-led political solution. This was said by Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, in a statement at the Security Council Meeting on the Situation in Sudan on October 30, said a press release issued by Pakistan&rsquo;s Permanent Mission to the UN on Thursday.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1983931984431677909&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=27d9da0f00a26766fae5b90dac22e51889054815&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 744px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Ambassador Ahmad said the situation in Darfur has continued to deteriorate sharply. &ldquo;And this despite Security Council resolution 2736 (2024), which demanded that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) lift the siege of El Fasher, and despite repeated Council press statements calling for an end to the atrocities, the RSF has taken over El-Fasher and continues to commit one war crime after another.&rdquo; &lsquo;Unambiguous message&rsquo;Stressing the need for the Council to send an &lsquo;unambiguous message&rsquo;, Ambassador Ahmad said: &ldquo;It is time for this Council to send an unambiguous message that it will not remain a passive spectator while innocent civilians are massacred, hospitals are bombed, and aid workers are targeted with impunity.&rdquo; Condemning the atrocities committed, the Pakistan representative said: &ldquo;Pakistan condemns, in the strongest possible terms, the atrocities perpetrated by the RSF, and its violent takeover of El Fasher.&rdquo; &lsquo;Heinous acts must stop&rsquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;The deliberate targeting of civilians, medical facilities, and humanitarian personnel constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian and human rights law. We are appalled by the killing of hundreds of patients and health workers at the Saudi Maternity Hospital and by the continued siege that has trapped thousands of civilians in inhumane conditions,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;These heinous acts must stop immediately, and the perpetrators and their sponsors must be held fully accountable,&rdquo; the Pakistani representative demanded. Underlining the need for learning from &lsquo;past mistakes&rsquo;, he said, &ldquo;Those who reject parallel governance by RSF but at the same time try to equate the militia with the Sudanese authorities, must review their position.&rdquo; &ldquo;The perceived lack of full support for the Sudanese Government by this Council only emboldens the RSF and prolongs the conflict,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;Undermining Sudan&rsquo;s legitimate state institutions risks creating a vacuum that armed groups like RSF exploit to commit further atrocities and destabilize the entire region.&rdquo; The ambassador said, &ldquo;It is therefore imperative that the international community engage constructively with the Sudanese authorities to sustain governance, facilitate humanitarian access, advance the political process, and preserve national unity.&rdquo; &lsquo;Parallel governance structures&rsquo;&ldquo;We recognize the steps taken by the Sudanese Government in pursuance of its transitional roadmap, including the appointment of a new Prime Minister and a technocratic cabinet tasked with alleviating humanitarian suffering and advancing an inclusive political transition. These are positive developments that deserve the Council&rsquo;s acknowledgment and support,&rdquo; he added. He said Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering commitment to Sudan&#39;s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity. &ldquo;We condemn, unequivocally, the establishment of any so-called parallel governance structures which undermine Sudan&rsquo;s state institutions and risk fragmenting the country. Such illegitimate structures must find no recognition from the international community.&rdquo; &lsquo;Guns must fall silent&rsquo;&nbsp;Ambassador Ahmad said, &ldquo;The guns must fall silent. External interference must stop. We call for an immediate cessation of hostilities and for renewed engagement in a genuinely Sudanese-led and Sudanese-owned political process, consistent with the spirit of the Jeddah Declaration and commitments to Protect the Civilians in Sudan.&rdquo; A press release issued by the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations on Thursday stated, &ldquo;As the world bears witness to yet another chapter of human bloodshed and suffering in Darfur (Sudan), Pakistan today urged the UN Security Council to abandon passivity and confront impunity head-on, warning that silence in the face of atrocity is complicity by another name.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1984080419969511756&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=27d9da0f00a26766fae5b90dac22e51889054815&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan urges UN to act against Sudan war crimes; at the UN Security Council, Pakistan’s envoy condemns RSF atrocities in Sudan and urges decisive international action.

Pakistan urges decisive UN action to end atrocities, restore peace in Sudan

<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s top leadership on Monday reaffirmed unwavering political, diplomatic, and moral support for the people of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir as the nation observed October 27 as Kashmir Black Day t<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">o mark the day Indian forces entered Srinagar in 1947.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister &nbsp;Shehbaz Sharif, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar issued messages, emphasizing the right of the Kashmiri people to self-determination in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">President Zardari said Oct. 27, 1947, &ldquo;marked one of the darkest chapters in modern history&rdquo; when Indian troops entered Srinagar &ldquo;in blatant violation of international law.&rdquo; He said generations of Kashmiris there have &ldquo;endured unimaginable suffering under occupation, marked by violence, repression and denial of their fundamental rights.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He noted that &ldquo;after Aug. 5, 2019, this brutal campaign has only intensified,&rdquo; referring to India&rsquo;s revocation of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir&rsquo;s special status. &ldquo;Systematic attempts are being made by Indian authorities to turn the Kashmiris into a minority in their own homeland,&rdquo; he said, calling on the United Nations and global human rights organizations to &ldquo;hold India accountable&rdquo; for human rights violations.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Oct. 27 &ldquo;marks the darkest day in the history of Kashmir,&rdquo; adding that for nearly eight decades the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir &ldquo;have endured enormous hardship and oppression.&rdquo; He lauded their &ldquo;indomitable spirit, courage, and resilience in the face of fear and persecution.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The prime minister said Pakistan&rsquo;s position on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute &ldquo;remains clear, consistent and principled,&rdquo; and that &ldquo;lasting peace and stability in South Asia will remain elusive without the just and peaceful resolution&rdquo; of the issue. He assured Kashmiris that &ldquo;the 240 million people of Pakistan stand resolutely beside them&rdquo; until &ldquo;the promise of self-determination, pledged by the international community, is finally fulfilled.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the day serves as a reminder of the &ldquo;dark events of Oct. 27, 1947, when Indian troops landed in Srinagar to enforce India&rsquo;s illegal occupation.&rdquo; He said India has tightened its &ldquo;grip on the occupied territory through sheer force and repression&rdquo; in defiance of UN Security Council resolutions.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dar said the human tragedy in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir &ldquo;has worsened&rdquo; since India&rsquo;s actions of Aug. 5, 2019, citing &ldquo;demographic changes&rdquo; and &ldquo;imprisonment of legitimate Kashmiri leadership&rdquo; as violations of international law. &ldquo;It is in the shared interest of all regional states and the international community that the dispute be peacefully and urgently resolved,&rdquo; he added.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He reaffirmed that Pakistan &ldquo;will continue to raise its voice at every international forum until the realization of Kashmiris&rsquo; legitimate right to self-determination.&rdquo;

Members of the Forest Department wave Kashmiri and Pakistani flags during a rally in Muzaffarabad on May 12, 2025, after a Pakistan-India ceasefire. (AFP/Sajjad Qayyum)

Security

Pakistan’s top leadership reaffirms unwavering political, diplomatic, and moral support for the people of Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir as the nation observes October 27 as Kashmir Black Day to mark the day Indian forces entered Srinagar in 1947.

Pakistan marks Kashmir Black Day, urges UN action on Indian illegal occupation 

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: UN Resident &amp; Humanitarian Coordinator in Pakistan, Mohamed Yahya, said the United Nations may be 80 years old, but its values, norms, and identity &ldquo;haven&rsquo;t aged a day.&rdquo; Speaking on Pakistan TV&#39;s morning show &ldquo;World This Morning,&rdquo; he highlighted the UN&rsquo;s enduring mission, Pakistan&rsquo;s development journey, and global crises like Gaza.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s priorities, not oursYahya said the UN&rsquo;s work in Pakistan is driven by the country&rsquo;s own goals, not by an external agenda.&nbsp;&ldquo;We don&rsquo;t actually have our own priorities &mdash; you have priorities. We&rsquo;re here to help you achieve them,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He noted that the government has asked the UN to focus on education and basic social services, with around 26 million children still out of school.&nbsp;&ldquo;Development is a marathon, not a sprint,&rdquo; Yahya added. &ldquo;We&rsquo;re supporting federal and provincial governments to address education, malnutrition, and poverty through technical assistance, funding, and new ideas.&rdquo;&nbsp;80 years of the United NationsSpeaking after a UN Day reception in Islamabad, Yahya reflected on the organization&rsquo;s 80-year journey.&nbsp;&ldquo;The UN Charter affirms that every person has the right to equality and dignity &mdash; that each individual matters,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;These are the principles the world committed to 80 years ago, and they remain part of our DNA.&rdquo;&nbsp;He noted that, despite ongoing conflicts, the world has avoided another world war, which was the UN&rsquo;s founding purpose.&nbsp;&ldquo;The UN Is a moral compass&rdquo;On global crises such as Gaza, Yahya quoted Secretary-General Ant&oacute;nio Guterres: &ldquo;The UN is not only a meeting place; it is a moral compass.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Has peace been experienced by the children of Gaza? Unfortunately, no,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But the UN continues to call for a ceasefire, deliver aid, and uphold justice.&rdquo;&nbsp;He reminded that the UN&rsquo;s power rests with its member states, including Pakistan, which sits on the Security Council.&nbsp;A lasting legacy&nbsp;As the UN turns 80, Yahya said its mission &mdash; built on peace, development, and human rights &mdash; remains as vital as ever.&nbsp;&ldquo;The UN&rsquo;s values have not aged a day,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;They are as relevant today as they were in 1945.&rdquo;

World This Morning

UN’s Mohamed Yahya says the organization’s values remain timeless at 80, emphasizing its support aligns with Pakistan’s own priorities, especially education and social services. He calls the UN a “moral compass” amid crises like Gaza, urging continued peace efforts.

‘UN values haven’t aged a day’: Mohamed Yahya reflects on 80 years of the United Nations and Pakistan’s priorities

SANAA, Yemen: The UN&#39;s office in Yemen said Sunday that Houthi rebels were still holding 20 of their staff following their raid on their building in Sanaa a day earlier. On Saturday, the UN office said Houthi security forces had made an &quot;unauthorised entry&quot; into their compound, adding that the staff there were &quot;safe and accounted for&quot;. &quot;Five national staff and fifteen international staff remain detained within the compound,&quot; Jean Alam, spokesman for the UN resident coordinator, said on Sunday. The UN was in touch with the authorities in Sanaa, with the relevant member states and the government of Yemen &quot;to resolve this serious situation as swiftly as possible, end the detention of all personnel, and restore full control over its facilities in Sanaa&quot;, it added. Late on Sunday, a UN official, requesting anonymity, told AFP that UNICEF&#39;s representative in Yemen was among those detained. &quot;Peter Hawkins is among the 15 international employees detained in the complex&quot; the Houthis raided the previous day, the official said. Spying accusationsThe rebels had already stormed UN offices in Sanaa on August 31, detaining more than 11 employees, according to the UN. Those employees were suspected of spying for the United States and Israel, a senior Houthi official told AFP at the time on condition of anonymity. In a statement on Saturday, UN Secretary-General Stephane Dujarric&#39;s spokesperson said: &quot;We will continue to call for an end to the arbitrary detention of 53 of our colleagues.&quot; He was responding to a televised address on Thursday by rebel leader Abdelmalek al-Huthi. He claimed his forces had dismantled &quot;one of the most dangerous spy cells&quot;, which he said was &quot;linked to humanitarian organisations such as the World Food Program and UNICEF&quot;. Dujarric described the accusations as &quot;dangerous and unacceptable&quot;. Saturday&#39;s raid came with dozens of UN personnel already arrested in recent months in areas controlled by the Iranian-backed group. In mid-September, the UN humanitarian coordinator in Yemen was officially transferred from Sanaa -- the capital held by the Houthi rebels -- to Aden, the interim capital of the internationally recognised government. Since August 31, 2025, 21 UN personnel have been arrested, adding to the 23 current and former members of international NGOs already detained, according to the UN. Ten years of civil war have plunged Yemen, one of the poorest countries in the Arabian Peninsula, into one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world, says the UN.

The UN says Houthi rebels in Yemen are holding 20 staff, including UNICEF’s representative, after raiding its Sanaa compound. The UN condemned the detentions and dismissed rebel accusations of espionage as “dangerous and unacceptable.”

UN says Yemen's Houthis holding 20 of its staff

GAZA: UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher urged Israel on Wednesday to immediately open all crossings into Gaza for humanitarian aid, as called for in a US-backed ceasefire plan. &quot;It should happen now. We want it to happen immediately as part of this agreement,&quot; Fletcher told AFP in an interview in Cairo, ahead of a planned trip to the Gaza border. Earlier in the day, Israeli public broadcaster KAN had reported that the Rafah crossing point to Egypt would reopen, but this did not happen and an Israeli spokesperson did not respond to an AFP request for comment. Fletcher, the UN under secretary-general for humanitarian affairs and emergency relief is expected to head to the Rafah crossing on Thursday. It is the only border point that connects Gaza to the world without passing through Israel. US President Donald Trump and regional leaders on Monday signed a declaration in the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to cement the deal. &quot;But the test of this agreement is not the photos and the press conferences and the interviews,&quot; Fletcher said. &quot;The test is that we have children fed, that we have anaesthetics in the hospitals for people getting treatment, that we have tents over people&#39;s heads.&quot; Israel currently allows humanitarian aid into the Palestinian territory through other checkpoints under its control, but aid agencies complain that bureaucracy and security controls slow the flow of life-saving supplies. &quot;We want all of those crossings open and we want completely unimpeded access,&quot; Fletcher said, adding that Trump and other world leaders at the summit &quot;were unequivocal that we must be allowed to deliver aid at massive scale&quot;. Humanitarian riskMeanwhile, under the Trump plan endorsed by international mediators, Israel and Hamas are expected to continue their exchange of human remains. The swap has seen the last 20 surviving hostages return home in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners freed from Israeli jails. So far, Hamas has handed back the remains of seven of 28 known deceased hostages -- along with an eighth corpse which Israel says is not of a former hostage. There is now domestic pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to tie aid to the fate of the bodies. Israel&#39;s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has threatened to cut off aid supplies to Gaza if Hamas fails to return the remains of soldiers still held in the territory. Israel, meanwhile, transferred another 45 Palestinian bodies that had been in its custody to Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, bringing the number returned to 90, the territory&#39;s Hamas-run health ministry said. Under the Trump plan Israel is to return 15 Palestinian dead for every deceased Israeli hostage. Gaza&#39;s civil defence agency, which operates as a rescue force under Hamas, said Israeli fire killed three Palestinians on Wednesday, including two while trying to reach their homes in the Shujaiya neighbourhood of Gaza City. The Israeli military said that &quot;several suspects were identified crossing the yellow line and approaching&quot; troops in the northern Gaza Strip, referencing the line to which Israeli forces have pulled back to under the ceasefire deal. The military said this &quot;violates the agreement&quot; and &quot;troops removed the threat by striking the suspects.&quot; Aid trucksThe war sparked by Hamas&#39;s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel led to a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, with the densely-populated territory reliant on aid that was heavily restricted, when not cut off outright. At the end of August, the United Nations declared a famine in Gaza, though Israel rejected the claim. The return of aid is listed in Trump&#39;s 20-point plan for Gaza. Another political challenge is Hamas&#39;s disarmament, a demand the militant group has refused to countenance. The group is tightening its grip on Gaza&#39;s ruined cities. Hamas has published a video on its official channel showing the summary executions of eight blindfolded and kneeling people, branding them &quot;collaborators and outlaws&quot;. The footage, apparently from Monday evening, emerged as armed clashes were underway between Hamas&#39;s various security units and armed Palestinian clans, some alleged to have Israeli backing. In the north, as Israeli forces withdrew from Gaza City, the Hamas government&#39;s black-masked armed police resumed their patrols. &quot;Our message is clear: There will be no place for outlaws or those who threaten the security of citizens,&quot; a Palestinian security source in Gaza told AFP. Israel and the United States insist Hamas can have no role in a future Gaza government. Trump&#39;s plan says that Hamas members who agree to &quot;decommission their weapons&quot; will be given amnesty. &quot;If they don&#39;t disarm, we will disarm them,&quot; Trump told reporters at the White House a day after visiting the Middle East to celebrate the Gaza ceasefire. &quot;And it will happen quickly and perhaps violently.&quot;

UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher urged Israel to immediately open all Gaza crossings under a US-backed ceasefire. Rafah remained closed despite reports; aid deliveries stalled as hostage exchanges proceed amid political pressure and continued violence

Articles tagged with "United Nations"