UNSC rejects Russian-drafted resolution on Israel-Hamas war
United Nations (PTI): The UN Security Council has rejected a draft resolution proposed by Russia that called for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza but made no mention of Hamas' attack on Israel, while a vote on a rival Brazilian text will be held on Tuesday.
The 15-nation Council met on Monday evening to vote on the Russian-led draft resolution, the first such text that was considered by the powerful UN body, amid an escalating war between Israel and Hamas.
The one-page draft resolution failed to garner enough votes and was not adopted by the Council, which is expected to meet again on Tuesday to vote on a rival draft resolution circulated by Brazil, the Council President for the month of October.
The draft text that called for an "immediate, durable and fully respected humanitarian ceasefire", the release of all hostages, aid access and safe evacuation of civilians received five votes in favour from China, Gabon, Mozambique, Russia, and the UAE.
France, Japan, the UK, and the US voted against it, while Albania, Brazil, Ecuador, Ghana, Malta, and Switzerland abstained from voting.
For a resolution to be adopted in the Council, it must receive at least 9 votes in favour, with none of its five permanent members opposing or casting a veto.
US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield, in her explanation of the vote, said that Russia's resolution was put forward without any consultations and makes no mention of Hamas.
"None", she said, adding that "by failing to condemn Hamas, Russia is giving cover to a terrorist group that brutalises innocent civilians. It is outrageous, it is hypocritical, and it is indefensible."
Thomas-Greenfield described Hamas' audacious attack on Israel as the "worst massacre of Jewish people since the Holocaust."
Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said before the vote that the draft resolution was a "purely humanitarian text".
"We shall not have any understanding if someone decides to not support it for political or egoistic geopolitical reasons," Nebenzia said.
Following the draft's failure to get adopted, the Russian envoy said it was regrettable that the Council was once again "taken hostage by the egoistic ambitions of the Western bloc."
"Today, the entire world waited with bated breath for the Security Council to take steps in order to put an end to the bloodletting, but the delegations of the Western countries have basically stomped on those expectations," he said.
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Drunk woman held for hitting police constable with car in Rohini
New Delhi (PTI): A 40-year-old woman was arrested for allegedly ramming a car into a police barricade and injuring a constable in northwest Delhi's Rohini, police said on Friday.
The incident took place on December 24 in Sector 11 of Rohini where a barricade had been placed, they said.
According to police, a caller informed them that a female driver, apparently drunk, had hit a police constable with her car.
A police team rushed to the spot and found the white car that had struck the barricade.
The woman, a resident of Sector 16, Rohini, was found to be under the influence of alcohol, police said.
Constable Rohit, posted with the 1st Battalion of the Delhi Armed Police, who suffered injuries in the collision, was taken to BSA Hospital for treatment, police said.
They said the woman, who works in the private sector, was returning home from a birthday party when the incident occurred.
She was arrested, and her car was seized, they said.
