UNITED NATIONS, Sept 17 (Reuters) - The United Nations General Assembly voted on Thursday to allow Palestinian PresidentMahmoud Abbas to address the annual gathering of world leaders next week via video - for the second year in a row - after the United States again denied him a visa to travel to New York.
Sept 17 (Reuters) - Pakistan announced on Thursday a cut in fuel for official vehicles, bans on vehicle purchases by the state, foreign visits by officials, and official dinners, as part of a slew of austerity measures in a bid to conserve energy as fuel prices spike due to the Gulf conflict.
• Pakistan is facing the prospect of gas and power shortages as the Gulf conflict disrupts LNG supplies and drives up petrol and diesel prices.
By Michelle Nichols
UNITED NATIONS, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Russia and China ended on Thursday a United Nations Security Council mandate for the independent monitoring of international sanctions on Iran, reviving their argument that allUNmeasures on Tehran had been removed under a nuclear deal with world powers.
All UN sanctions on Iran were reimposed a year ago after France, Britain and Germany accused Tehran of violating the 2015 nuclear pact meant to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons.
ROME, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Italy is preparing for a possible naval mission to safeguard its merchant shipping as security concerns mount in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said on Thursday.
Crosetto said he and Italy's chief of defence staff had agreed to mobilise the navy to prepare "whatever is necessary" to guarantee the secure transit of Italian vessels, arguing that delays in responding to mounting maritime risks could have direct consequences for the economy and consumers.
By Patricia Zengerle
WASHINGTON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - US House of Representatives Democrats raised concerns on Thursday about President Donald Trump's civil nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia, and said they had introduced a resolution of disapproval seeking to block the deal from coming into force.
Trump sent the proposed agreement to Congress in August, opening a 90-day window for lawmakers' review and giving them an opportunity to try to pass a resolution of disapproval.
By Michelle Nichols
UNITED NATIONS, Sept 17 (Reuters) - World leaders gather in New York every September for several days of high-level debate starting on Tuesday at the United Nations General Assembly.
WHO SPEAKS WHEN?
The United Nations was formed in 1945 with 51 original members and has since grown to 193 members. Leaders of two non-member observer states – known at the UNas the Holy See and the State of Palestine – and an observer member, the European Union, can also speak. This month marks the start of the 81st session.
LONDON, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Ireland will not participate in the 2027 Eurovision Song Contest for the second year in a row, broadcaster RTE said on Thursday, citing the ongoing loss of life in Gaza.
Ireland was one of five countries to not take part in the 2026 edition in protest at Israel's participation, with Iceland, Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain. Dutch public broadcaster AvroTros last month said it would boycott again in 2027.
On a street in southern Israel, a graffiti artist paints a mural depicting the filmmakers behind the award-winning documentary "NAZA". But this is not a tribute.
Red targets are painted next to the two Israeli directors, Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, whose faces are branded with the word "TRAITORS".
A month ahead of close-fought elections, the documentary, which uses anonymous military sources to speak about Israel's widespread killing of civilians in Gaza, has unleashed a political storm.
BEIJING, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Thursday told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a phone call that the two countries "should prepare well for the next stage of high-level interactions in the spirit of equality, respect and reciprocity," Wang's ministry said.
Head-of-state diplomacy serves as the anchor of China-US ties, Wang said, adding that the two sides should strengthen communication, advance cooperation, manage differences and respect each other's core interests.
Sept 17 (Reuters) - Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Thursday that Serbia had opened a factory to assemble advanced Israeli-made drones, which will supply the Serbian military and armed forces in other countries.
• Plant to assemble "state-of-the-art" Israeli-designed drones, he said in a post on Instagram.
• Facility to employ around 100 workers.
• The government and its Israeli partners expect to open at least three more factories across the country, he added.
