WORLD NEWS SPOTLIGHT REPORT

UN PRESS RELEASE: Third Committee Opens Session to Calls for Greater Inclusion of Youth, Women, Persons with Disabilities in Decisions Affecting their Lives
RELEASE ISSUED 10/ 2/ 17 (link source)

The importance of inclusiveness in efforts to achieve the social advancement of young people, families, persons with disabilities, those mired in extreme poverty and other vulnerable groups was stressed today as the Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) began the work of its seventy-second session.

“We can only achieve the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals if we double our efforts and ensure that development efforts put people and planet at the centre and leave no one behind”, Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs said in opening remarks.

Inclusive and fair globalization was critical to that effort, he said, as was facing the devastation of extreme weather.  Youth unemployment and the kind of deep poverty that had not been affected by recent positive strides in global development were also notable challenges.

In the ensuing debate on social development, many speakers called for accelerated implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to foster inclusiveness.  Ecuador’s delegate, speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, said more international cooperation was needed to surmount the obstacles of conflict, slowed economic growth, climate change and corruption.

Egypt’s representative, speaking on behalf of the African Group, also noted hurdles to progress despite much work to improve education, sanitation and health services in Africa.  To address such challenges, the overarching priority must be the eradication of poverty in all its forms, through collaborative partnerships and ambitious action plans, he said.

The European Union’s representative, meanwhile, said divergences across the world called for policies that simultaneously promoted sustainable development and social inclusion, adding that the priority must be placed on providing all people the choice to shape their lives.

Youth delegates from Switzerland, Slovenia, Finland, Italy and Israel prioritized education in ending exclusion, particularly in relationship to migrants and women of many different groups.  Hate speech was seen by the Finnish youth representative as a major impediment to the inclusion of marginalized groups, while Bulgaria’s youth delegate stressed the importance of inter-cultural dialogue.


UN PRESS RELEASE: Hailing New United Nations Counter‑Terrorism Office, Sixth Committee Speakers Stress that Root Causes Must Be Addressed in Tackling Global Threat.
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 10/ 2/ 17 ( link source)

General Assembly President Says Role of Delegates Vital to Fulfilling Charter
The fight against international terrorism must take into account its root causes as well as its new forms, and that efforts, including newly established initiatives that challenged the threat in all its permeations, must be coordinated throughout the Organization’s work, the Sixth Committee (Legal) heard today during its first meeting of the seventy‑second General Assembly session.

As the Committee took up the Secretary‑General’s reports on measures to eliminate international terrorism (documents A/72/111 and A/72/111/Add.1), many speakers welcomed the establishment of the United Nations Counter‑Terrorism Office led by Under‑Secretary‑General Vladimir Voronkov.

Iran’s delegate, speaking for the Non‑Aligned Movement, expressed his hope that the Office would improve the counter‑terrorism architecture of the United Nations in a way that ensured the enhanced coordination of related activities across the Organization.  It was vital to counter the narratives of terrorism through a comprehensive international framework that addressed its root causes, he said, calling for engagement with community leaders and clerics from all denominations.

Tackling the underlying problems of terrorism was also critical, the representative of Colombia stressed, calling for action, such as development and good governance that went beyond applying laws.  She also noted that her Government had just signed a bilateral and temporary ceasefire with the National Liberation Army (ELN), following the successful implementation of a ceasefire with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia‑People’s Army (FARC-EP).  Dialogue and international cooperation were the bedrock of a world free of terrorism, she said.

From the UN NEWS CENTER...

UN and partners aim to slash 90 per cent of cholera deaths by 2030
3 October 2017 – A taskforce of United Nations and international partner agencies is gearing up to launch an ambitious new strategy to combat cholera – aiming to reduce deaths by 90 per cent by 2030, the UN health agency announced today.

Cameroon: UN Secretary-General urges dialogue to resolve grievances
3 October 2017 – Strongly condemning recent violence in south-west and north-west regions of Cameroon, including reported loss of life, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has urged all stakeholders to refrain from any further acts of violence and called on the authorities to investigate the incidents.

Iraq: UN migration agency assists thousands newly displaced from west Anbar
3 October 2017 – With some 8,500 people displaced over the past two weeks amid Iraq’s military operations to retake Anbar province, the United Nations migration agency announced today that it is stepping up provision of life-saving assistance.

US MISSION TO THE UN:

Press Release: Ambassador Haley on IAEA Inspections
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 9/28/ 17 (link source)
As reported in Reuters, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano confirmed that the IAEA seeks more clarification on inspection and verification of “Section T” of the JCPOA, the provision that bans activities that could contribute to the design and development of a nuclear explosive device. In response to reporting that Russia does not believe these inspections are within the mandate of the IAEA, Ambassador Haley made the following statement:

“If the Iran nuclear deal is to have any meaning, the parties must have a common understanding of its terms. Iranian officials have already said they will refuse to allow inspections at military sites, even though the IAEA‎ says there must be no distinction between military and non-military sites. Now it appears that some countries are attempting to shield Iran from even more inspections. Without inspections, the Iran deal is an empty promise.”

Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on the Situation in Burma
PRESS RELEASE DATED 9/ 28/ 17 (link source) 

?For over four weeks, the world has endured images from Burma we should never have to see. Much more importantly, we have seen images of acts no person should ever have to endure. We have seen terrified women and children fleeing their homes with only the clothes on their back. We’ve watched people drown trying to cross rivers to safety. We’ve seen bodies floating down rivers and villages burned to the ground. We have heard reports of men, women, and children rounded up, detained, and some brutally killed. We saw the haunting image of a young mother and father cradling the body of their infant son – a baby who died fleeing the violence in Rakhine State."

Remarks at a UN Security Council Briefing on Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 9/ 28/ 17 (link source)

" Around the world, all of us are confronting new and dangerous terrorist threats. We see terrorists using trucks to mow down innocent civilians in city centers. Improvised, home-brewed explosive devices left on trains. Airplanes brought down by bombs smuggled on board. More than 17 years after the 9/11 attacks, terrorists continue to adapt their tactics and launch barbaric attacks to try and disrupt our modern way of life."

US STATE DEPT: On the Expulsion of Cuban Officials from the United States
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED 10/ 3/ 17 (link source)

On October 3, the Department of State informed the Government of Cuba that it was ordering the departure of 15 of its officials from its embassy in Washington, D.C. The decision was made due to Cuba’s failure to take appropriate steps to protect our diplomats in accordance with its obligations under the Vienna Convention. This order will ensure equity in our respective diplomatic operations.

On September 29, the Department ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Havana, as well as all family members. Until the Government of Cuba can ensure the safety of our diplomats in Cuba, our embassy will be reduced to emergency personnel to minimize the number of diplomats at risk of exposure to harm.

We continue to maintain diplomatic relations with Cuba, and will continue to cooperate with Cuba as we pursue the investigation into these attacks.

US STATE DEPT. BLOG: The Vital Role of the Department of State During A Crisis Abroad (read more)
Most U.S. citizens probably don’t spend much time thinking about the role of the U.S. Department of State, even though our actions have a direct impact on their safety and welfare. On any given day throughout the world, you’ll find State personnel -- which include U.S. Foreign Service officers, Civil Service employees, contractors, and our crucially important Locally Employed Staff colleagues -- engaged in the myriad activities that both keep our nation and citizens safe and facilitate the travel to and from our country, oiling the wheels of the global economy.

US DEFENSE DEPT: Effects of South Asia Strategy Already Being Felt, Mattis Tells Senate
WASHINGTON, Oct. 3, 2017 — The certainty engendered by President Donald J. Trump's South Asia strategy already is paying dividends in Afghanistan, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis told the Senate Armed Services Committee today. (read more)

FROM OUR CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION....
Leaders of Bipartisan Working Group Introduce Fixes to Ongoing VA Healthcare Challenges (Press release issued 9/ 29/ 17 read more)
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representatives Jim Renacci (R-OH) and Derek Kilmer (D-WA), co-chairs of the Bipartisan Working Group, introduced a bipartisan package of fixes to ongoing challenges the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has faced in delivering quality care to veterans. The solutions come from a series of Government Accountability Office (GAO) studies that uncovered problems at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

WORLD AND NATIONAL NEWS BRIEFS FROM REUTERS

In Mosul’s fall, informers played a vital role against Islamic State
During Iraq’s campaign to recapture Mosul from Islamic State, a network of informers in the city passed on valuable intelligence. Here’s how they helped Iraqi and U.S. forces – and what it means for Mosul now.

Russia throws North Korea lifeline to stymie regime change
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia is quietly boosting economic support for North Korea to try to stymie any U.S.-led push to oust Kim Jong Un as Moscow fears his fall would sap its regional clout and allow U.S. troops to deploy on Russia’s eastern border.

Tillerson says he never considered resigning
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said on Wednesday he never considered resigning and that he was as committed to President Donald Trump’s agenda as much today as he was when he first accepted the offer to serve as the nation’s top diplomat.

Las Vegas gunman's girlfriend has 'clean conscience': brother tells media
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Investigators probing the mass shooting at a Las Vegas concert planned to interview the gunman’s girlfriend on Wednesday, a day after she returned to the United States from the Philippines, while her relatives told media she had not known of his plan.



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