Russia’s UN envoy dies ‘unexpectedly’…Read full details

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This file photo taken on March 7, 2014 shows Vitaly Churkin, Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations speaking to the media after a closed-door session of the Security Council to discuss the situation in Ukraine at UN headquarters in New York. Russia's envoy to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin died suddenly on February 20, 2017, the foreign ministry said, without naming the cause.<br />STAN HONDA / AFP

Russia’s envoy to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin died suddenly on Monday, the foreign ministry said, without giving details of the cause.

“On February 20, the Permanent Representative of Russia in the UN Vitaly Churkin unexpectedly died in New York,” it said in a statement.

Churkin was 64 and died one day before turning 65, the ministry said, offering condolences to his family. “The outstanding Russian diplomat passed away on his post,” it said.

Churkin had served in the role since 2006. Previously he worked at the foreign ministry in Moscow, served as an envoy to Canada (1998-2003), Belgium (1994-1998) and as a special representative to the talks on former Yugoslavia (1992-1994).

The news of his death was met with shock at the UN headquarters. Diplomats holding a routine meeting on General Assembly affairs observed a moment of silence.

UN spokesman Farhan Haq, who heard the news during the regular daily briefing, offered his condolences, adding: “We mourn Ambassador Churkin. He has been such a regular presence here that I’m actually quite stunned.”

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White House denies seeking to control Mike Flynn…Read full details

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A top aide denied Sunday that President Donald Trump is having difficulty filling the key post of national security advisor because of White House moves to politicize the office.

A top aide denied Sunday that President Donald Trump is having difficulty filling the key post of national security advisor because of White House moves to politicize the office.

Trump, at his Mar-a-Lago getaway in Florida, was set to interview four candidates to replace Mike Flynn, the retired general who was ousted as national security advisor for deceiving Vice President Mike Pence about his contacts with Russia’s ambassador to Washington.

Meanwhile, White House chief of staff Reince Preibus hit the Sunday television talk shows to push back at reports of disarray at the National Security Council, the president’s main forum for decision-making about issues of national security and foreign affairs.

On Fox News Sunday, Priebus was asked whether Trump was insisting that his controversial chief strategist Steve Bannon play a major role in the NSC, reportedly a source of concern to candidates for the national security advisor position.

“The answer to that is no,” Priebus said.

– Job Search –
Trump’s search for a replacement has narrowed to acting national security advisor Keith Kellogg, a retired three star general; former US ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton; Lieutenant General H.R. McMaster, an expert on counter-insurgency warfare; and Lieutenant General Robert Caslen, the superintendent of West Point, the White House said.

Another leading candidate, retired general and former CIA chief David Petraeus, is no longer in the running.

The president told reporters on Saturday that he would make a decision over his new national security advisor “over the next couple of days.”

Robert Harward, a retired vice admiral and former Navy SEAL, turned down Trump’s offer of the national security advisor job earlier in the week, citing financial and family reasons.

Media reports said he was concerned he wouldn’t be able to bring in his own team to staff the NSC.

Priebus said the issue was never raised in the talks with Harward.

“The president has said very clearly that the new (national security advisor) will have total and complete say over the makeup of the NSC and all of the components of the NSC, and there is no demand made by President Trump on any candidate,” Priebus said.

Set to appear on the ABC’s Sunday talk show “This Week,” Harward dropped out at the last minute.

With the National Security Council reeling from Flynn’s ouster, the White House delivered another shock on Friday when it abruptly dismissed the senior director for Western Hemisphere affairs, Craig Deare, for criticizing Trump and his top aides, Politico reported.

Priebus told “Fox News Sunday” any implication that the White House wants the national security council under the control of political operatives is “fake news.”

He also dismissed a New York Times report this week that members of the Trump campaign had repeated contacts with Russian operatives during the campaign as “garbage.”

“The top levels of the intelligence community have assured me that that story is not only inaccurate, but it is grossly overstated,” he said, declining to say who had given those assurances.

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North Korea will reject Kim post-mortem result: ambassador…Read full details

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(FILES) This file photo taken on May 4, 2001 shows an immigration officer (L) escorting Kim Jong-Nam, son of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il, getting off a bus to board an ANA905 (All Nippon Airways) airplane at Narita airport near Tokyo.<br />Kim Jong-Nam, the half-brother of North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has been assassinated in Malaysia, South Korea's Yonhap news agency said on February 14, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA

North Korea’s ambassador to Malaysia on Friday said Pyongyang would reject any results of a post-mortem examination carried out by Kuala Lumpur on the body of Kim Jong-Nam, the half brother of the North Korean leader.

“The Malaysian side forced the post-mortem without our permission and witnessing. We will categorically reject the result of the post-mortem conducted unilaterally excluding our attendance,” Kang Chol told reporters gathered outside the morgue where the body is being held.

It is the first official comment from North Korea since the killing of Kim Jong-Nam at Kuala Lumpur international airport on Monday.

“Today I met with the high officer of the Malaysian police and strongly demanded him to release the body without delay but he rejected our demand,” the ambassador said, according to an English transcript of his comments distributed immediately after by an aide.

Malaysian police were being pressured by hostile forces, notably South Korea, and the autopsy was a violation of human rights, he added.

South Korea has pointed the finger of blame at the North, citing a “standing order” from Kim Jong-Un to kill his sibling and a failed assassination bid in 2012 after he criticised the regime.

Malaysia would not release the body until a family member provided a DNA sample to prove the dead man’s identity, Selangor state police chief Abdul Samah Mat told AFP Friday.

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Africa remains continent of hope, says Guterres

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United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres shakes hands with new US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley at the United Nations on January 27, 2017 in New York.<br />Bryan R. Smith / AFP

UN Secretary-General António Guterres says Africa remains a continent of hope in spite of the obvious crises and underdevelopment currently ravaging the region.

Guterres, in a commentary entitled: “A Continent of Hope”, following his visit to the region on Monday to participate at the 28th Summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa, said there are many success stories in Africa apart from crises and underdevelopment.

“Far too often, the world views Africa through the prism of problems. When I look to Africa, I see a continent of hope, promise and vast potential.

“I am committed to building on those strengths and establishing a higher platform of cooperation between the United Nations and the leaders and people of Africa. This is essential to advancing inclusive and sustainable development and deepening cooperation for peace and security.

“That is the message I carried to the recent African Union Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — my first major mission as United Nations Secretary-General.

“Above all, I came in a spirit of profound solidarity and respect. I am convinced that the world has much to gain from African wisdom, ideas and solutions. I also brought with me a deep sense of gratitude.

“Africa provides the majority of United Nations peacekeepers around the world. African nations are among the world’s largest and most generous hosts of refugees. Africa includes some of the world’s fastest growing economies,” he said.

The UN chief added that the recent resolution of the political crisis in The Gambia once again demonstrated the power of African leadership and unity to overcome governance challenges and uphold democracy, human rights and the rule of law.

“I left the Summit more convinced than ever that all of humanity will benefit by listening, learning and working with the people of Africa. We have the plans in place to build a better future,” he stated.

He said the global implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was an all-out effort to tackle global poverty, inequality, instability and injustice and noted that Africa has adopted its own complementary and ambitious plan: Agenda 2063.

For the people of Africa to fully benefit from these important efforts, he said, these two agendas need to be strategically aligned.

“It starts with prevention. Our world needs to move from managing crises to preventing them in the first place. We need to break the cycle of responding too late and too little.

“Most of today’s conflicts are internal, triggered by competition for power and resources, inequality, marginalisation and sectarian divides. Often, they are inflamed by violent extremism or provide the fuel for it,” Guterres said.

He pledged the UN’s commitment to work hand-in-hand with partners wherever conflict or the threat of conflict endangers stability and well-being.

He noted that prevention goes far beyond focusing solely on conflict adding, the best means of prevention and the surest path to durable peace is inclusive and sustainable development.

“We can speed progress by doing more to provide opportunities and hope to young people. More than three out of five Africans are under 35 years of age.

“Making the most of this tremendous asset means more investment in education, training, decent work, and engaging young people in shaping their future,” the UN chief said.

According to him, however, Africa must also do its utmost to empower women so they can play a full role in sustainable development and sustainable peace.

He added, “I am pleased that the African Union has consistently placed a special focus on gender equality and women’s empowerment. I have seen it again and again: When we empower women, we empower the world.”

Guterres said he travelled to Africa as a “partner, friend and committed advocate for changing the narrative about this diverse and vital continent. Crises represent at best a partial view.

“But from a higher platform of cooperation, we can see the whole picture – one that spotlights the enormous potential and remarkable success stories in every corner of the African continent.

“With that perspective, I have no doubt we can win the battle for sustainable and inclusive development which are also the best weapons to prevent conflict and suffering, allowing Africa to shine even more vibrantly and inspire the world.”

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