United Nations

"Nuclear weapons have no place in the doctrine of the Islamic Republic of Iran and are contrary to our policies and beliefs," Amir-Abdollahian was quoted by the ministry's website as saying. "The supreme leader's fatwa about the use of nuclear weapons is clear for everyone," he said, referring to the religious decree of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei which bans the possession and use of weapons of mass destruction including nuclear weapons, Xinhua news agency reported.

The UN's most powerful body agreed to address the attacks following requests for it to do so made by the United Arab Emirates, Ireland, France, Norway and China on Saturday, dpa news agency reported, citing diplomatic sources.

Construction work on an underground testing facility in the north of the country has been observed in recent months, said a confidential UN report, parts of which were made available to dpa news agency. "Work at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site paves the way for additional nuclear tests for the development of nuclear weapons."

"I can guarantee that the UN Secretariat does not (take money from the oil and gas industry)," he told reporters on Wednesday. "Our orientation has been for the Pension Fund to entirely divest from the fossil fuel system, which started by divesting from coal. And I believe they already reached full divesting from the fossil fuel industry in general. And to the (UN) agencies, I strongly recommend not to receive any contribution (from) those that we consider have played the most important role in the climate change," Antonio Guterres was quoted as saying Xinhua news agency.

The Palestinian mission "is working to convince the largest number of Arab and European countries in order for this endeavour not to be obstructed by the use of any veto", Xinhua news agency quoted Mansour as saying to the official Voice of Palestine radio station.

In a report following its periodic review of China's compliance with international human rights covenants, the UN Human Rights Committee said it was "deeply concerned" that the national security law is being interpreted too broadly, citing a lack of clarity about the meaning of "national security", RFA reported. "Since its enactment in 2020, the (law) has reportedly led to the arrests of over 200 people, including 12 children," the report said, adding that there is also provision under the law for people to be sent to China for investigation, prosecution, trial and to serve sentences.

The UN chief on Thursday made the remarks in a video message to the World Youth Development Forum, organised by the All-China Youth Federation and being held in Beijing from July 21 to 23 under the theme "For a Shared Future: Promoting Sustainable Development with Youth and for Youth".

Pakistan, however, rejected the offer as it viewed the move as part of a tactic by certain countries to weaken the group that is opposed to the expansion of permanent seats at the UNSC. "Some powerful countries have approached us and said Pakistan should launch its bid for the permanent seat at the UNSC," revealed a Pak Foreign Office official while requesting anonymity, The Express Tribune reported.

"Over the next 100 days and beyond, let us work to safeguard the human rights of all people and build peaceful and inclusive societies," the UN chief said in his message for the 100-day countdown to the International Day of Peace, which falls on September 21 annually. "Together, we can realise the vision of a world free of racism and racial discrimination."

Hanaa Singer-Hamdy, the UN's Resident Coordinator for Sri Lanka, on Thursday said, "The enjoyment of basic human rights to food (and) to adequate health is at stake to many and this could ultimately, knowing the history of Sri Lanka, impact the social cohesion." Emerging from years of ethnic conflict that saw tens of thousands killed, Sri Lanka is now "facing its worst economic crisis since independence," she added.