- Trump rallies at site of failed assassination: 'Never quit'
- Too hot by day, Dubai's floodlit beaches are packed at night
- Is music finally reckoning with #MeToo?
- Fans hail Trump's 'guts' as he returns to site of rally shooting
- Lebanon state media says Israeli strikes hit south Beirut
- Miami on track for MLS record points after win in Toronto
- Monaco take top spot in Ligue 1 with win at Rennes
- Madrid beat Villarreal to level Liga leaders Barca
- Thuram treble fires Inter past Torino and up to second
- 'Fight': defiant Trump jets in to site of rally shooting
- Mexico City's new mayor sworn in with pledges on water, housing
- Israel on alert ahead of Hamas attack anniversary
- Guardians maul Tigers in MLB playoff series opener
- Macron criticises Israel on Gaza, Lebanon operations
- French rugby player whistled but 'serene' on return amid ongoing rape case
- Retegui hat-trick fires five-star Atalanta to hammering of Genoa
- Heavyweights Australia, England off to World Cup winning starts
- Visiting UN refugee agency chief decries 'terrible crisis' in Lebanon
- Spinners come to party as England defeat Bangladesh at T20 World Cup
- Search continues for missing in deadly Bosnia floods
- Man City sink Fulham to get title bid back on track
- France's Auradou whistled on Pau return in Perpignan loss amid ongoing rape case
- A 'forgotten' valley in storm-hit North Carolina, desperate for help
- Arsenal hit back in style after Southampton scare
- Hezbollah heir apparent Safieddine out of contact after strikes
- Liverpool stay top of Premier League as Arsenal, Man City win
- In dank Tour of Emilia, Pogacar shines in rainbow jersey
- DR Congo launches mpox vaccination drive, hoping to curb outbreak
- Trump returns to site of failed assassination
- Careless Leverkusen held to Bundesliga draw
- O'Brien's 'superstar' Kyprios posts landmark win on Arc weekend
- Liverpool suffer Alisson injury blow
- Habosi helps Racing beat Vannes before Auradou's playing return
- Thousands march in London in support of Palestinians, 1 year after Oct 7
- Israel readying response to Iran missile attack
- Schutt, Mooney help Australia beat Sri Lanka in Women's T20 World Cup
- Liverpool extend Premier League lead with win at Palace
- Djokovic 'shakes rust off' to make third round of Shanghai Masters
- 'Imperfect' PSG fighting on all fronts - Luis Enrique
- Struggling Pakistan look to thwart adaptable England
- Child 'trampled to death' in asylum seekers' Channel crossing: minister
- Gauff fights back to set up Beijing final against Muchova
- Guardiola claims Premier League won't delay season for Man City
- Israel to mark October 7 attack as Gaza war spreads
- Gauff fights back to reach China Open final
- Recovering Stokes ruled out of first Pakistan Test
- Hezbollah battles troops on border as Israel pounds Lebanon
- Alcaraz, Sinner breeze into third round of Shanghai Masters
- Bagnaia wins Japan MotoGP sprint to cut Martin's lead
- Alcaraz breezes into third round of Shanghai Masters
UN approves measure requiring states to justify veto
The 193 members of the United Nations General Assembly adopted by consensus Tuesday a resolution requiring the five permanent members of the Security Council to justify their use of the veto.
The push for reform, which was greeted with applause in the chamber, was revived by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The measure is intended to make veto-holders United States, China, Russia, France and Britain "pay a higher political price" when they use the veto to strike down a Security Council resolution, said an ambassador who asked to remain anonymous.
It is unclear if the five permanent members will use the veto less, or more -- as they could propose controversial texts they know their rivals will veto only to force them to justify their stance publicly.
First proposed more than two years ago, the measure provides for the General Assembly to be convened within 10 working days after a veto "to hold a debate on the situation as to which the veto was cast," according to the text.
Almost 100 countries joined Liechtenstein in co-sponsoring the reform, including the United States, Britain and France -- a rapid rally of support that caused widespread surprise at the UN.
Neither Russia nor China were among the sponsors, though. A diplomat from one of the two countries, who asked not to be named, criticized the move, saying it will "divide" the UN even further.
- 'Not directed at Russia' -
The measure will "create a new procedure," said Liechtenstein's ambassador Christian Wenaweser, who insisted the proposal is "not against anyone."
"It is not directed against Russia," he said, despite the fact that the proposal's revival came as the Security Council has proven incapable of condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, due to Moscow's veto power.
From the United States' perspective, Russia has abused its right of veto for two decades and the proposed text is intended to remedy the situation.
Wenaweser said the text aimed to "promote the role of (the) United Nations, to promote multilateralism and to promote the voice of all of us who are not veto holders and who are not on the Security Council on matters of international peace and security."
The text is non-binding, and nothing prevents a country that has used its veto from declining to explain its actions to the General Assembly.
But its application "will shed light" on the use of the veto and on the "blockages" within the Security Council, said one ambassador, on condition of anonymity.
In addition to its five permanent members, the Security Council also has 10 members elected for two years, without the right of veto.
Among the co-sponsors of the resolution were -- in addition to Ukraine -- both Japan and Germany, which are hoping to become permanent members in a potentially enlarged Security Council.
But neither Brazil nor India, two other potential candidates for a permanent position on the Council, are on the list of co-sponsors obtained by AFP.
F.Carias--PC