security council failed to reauthorize u.n. agencies continued usage of three of the four border crossings, the final border crossing is essentially up for expiration this year. i just want to ask whether you will work toward the immediate reauthorization of the crossings that we lost in 2020, and more to reassure that we continue to access to the remaining crossing? with this sort of limited ability to get relief into syria, you can imagine the crisis that already exists getting substantially horrifically worst. >> senator, thank you for raising that. you may not be aware because we talk so much about my career in africa, i spents more than half of my career working on humanitarian affairs and i will commit to ensuring that we find a way to open up those avenues so that humanitarian assistance can get to the most needy people in syria. >> and lastly, let me turn to the world health organization. when we talk about the w.h.o. up here we can always lead with the same phrase or a version of it. the w.h.o. is in need of reform. it

and particularly at the security council. so, with that, again, thank you for your willingness to serve, senator menendez. >> well, thank you, mr. chairman. and thank you for expediting this hearing of ambassador thomas-greenfield. so, i appreciate your continued work in this regard. ambassador thomas-greenfield, congratulations on your nomination. welcome to your fourth senate confirmation hearing. it's deeply reassuring that president biden nominated you, a diplomat of immense expertise and skill to be the next representative of to the united nations and i believe you're superbly qualified to advance interests at the u.n. and we're deeply grateful for your willingness and that of your family to return to serve our country at this critical time. we're at a pivotal moment and opportunity to repair and restore our place in the world. we have to be honest about the challenges we face, including at the united nations in light of the trump administration's abandonment of u.s. leadership. over the last four years, the u.s. has acc

the united nations envoy to the central african republic has appealed to the security council to increase its peacekeeping operations with more than $11000.00 un soldiers stationed in ca are it's already one of the largest and costliest u.n. operations in the world kristen salumi has the latest from the u.n. in new york. the head of the united nations peacekeeping mission in the central african republic as well as the country's foreign minister pleaded with the security council for more resources to keep armed rebel opposition groups at bay they are concerned about ongoing violence in the country as of december the united nations had more than $11000.00 peacekeepers on the ground in the central african republic the security council ahead of elections in december did grant them some $300.00 additional troops as well as a couple of helicopters from another mission to bolster their presence on the ground but the head of the mission monk or and-i says even more troops are needed going forward as well as equipment to make them more mobile they're worried about supply routes into the capital of

ground the foreign minister of the country sylvie bi-polar tame mon said that she wanted the security council to lift an arms embargo that's been in place since 2012 she said this arms embargo is severely limiting the government's ability to respond to these attacks there was some reservation among security council members on that front while there was widespread widespread support for the recently reelected president to dari and for bolstering the u.n. mission some were concerned the united states in particular that lifting the arms embargo would allow weapons to get into the hands of the opposition given there were some issues they said with de. and defectors in the central african republic military the foreign minister made a pleas saying that they were being outgunned not only by regular guns but by heavy heavy equipment like rocket launchers opposition already had these supplies in the government did not the security council heard that concern asked her to make a formal request for the weapons that the country needs and said they would consider it well the top republican in the u.s. sena

for a substantial increase in peacekeeping operations monk on monday made the appeal at a un security council meeting following a wave of violent attacks by rebel groups operating in the country on monday to un peacekeepers were killed after their convoy was ambushed while christian saloons joining us live from the united nations one of the main concerns of the security council kristen. well the international community is very concerned about a deteriorating situation in the central african republic and attempts to blockade the capital of bungie and overturn the recently reelected president. was declared a winner by the courts just this week the worry is that attacks on supply chains and supply deliveries into the capital have been taking place they're worried about being cut off their. supplies of food are at stake about $120000.00 civilians have been displaced as a result of the fighting there around the elections about half of them have fled the country entirely so there is intense worry about a deteriorating situation on the part of the security council this is the 2nd time in just over a

secretary general and the security council are once again calling on all foreign forces and mercenaries to leave libya under a cease fire deal all fighters from outside the country were told to withdraw by the end of this month that is here to happen and diplomatic editor james bays has this report from the united nations in new york. it's now almost 10 years since the start of the uprising in libya it's been a decade of death and misery but the un's outgoing acting special representative stephanie williams told the security council there was no reason for hope at ceasefire is in place a cease fire agreed in october it was holding despite this she said blatant foreign interference was continuing this was the 1st security council meeting on libya attended by a diplomat representing the boy in the administration and he demonstrated what appears to be a more forceful u.s. policy we call all external parties to include russia turkey and the u.a.e. . to respect libyan sovereignty and immediately cease all military intervention in libya a line echoed later when i asked the u.n. secretary gene

that's because in the security council division means in action when the un was set up 5 nations the u.s. russia china france and the u.k. were given permanent membership and the power of veto on any security council decision was not created to focus on the parent number the number of times the veto has been used has been increasing again in recent years those against marking increased tension between the u.s. and its allies on one side and china and russia on the other in coming u.s. president joe biden believes in the u.n. and international cooperation but he'll face a u.n. system with growing discord in a world where some see the united nations as increasingly irrelevant james al-jazeera lunde. still ahead on al jazeera back speeches latin americans defy lockdown orders this coronavirus cases. and why farmers in india are vandalizing cell phone towers and forcing the culture of petrol stations. it's time for the perfect gentleman. sponsored point qatar airways place to say the snow in spain is now starting to ease but it's going to stay pretty cold over the next few days we have g

that's because in the security council division means in action when the un was set up 5 nations the us russia china france and the u.k. were given permanent membership and the power of veto on any security council decision to do so is not counted on to negative effect of a permanent member the number of times the veto has been used has been increasing again in recent years those against marking increased tension between the u.s. and its allies on one side and china and russia on the other incoming u.s. president joe biden believes in the u.n. and international cooperation but he'll face a u.n. system with growing discord in a world where some see the united nations as increasingly irrelevant james al-jazeera london. hospitals and parts of the u.k. have become overwhelmed by a surge in covered $900.00 factions almost a year health care workers have faced on president unprecedented demands pressures and stresses as they're as john a whole looks at the cost the pandemic has had on their mental health behind the masks and visors in hospitals struggling to cope there are the hidden menta

that's because in the security council division means in action when the un was set up 5 nations the us russia china france and the u.k. were given permanent membership and the power of veto on any security council decision has not counted they did negative flow to the parent number the number of times the veto has been used has been increasing again in recent years those against marking increased tension between the u.s. and its allies on one side and china and russia on the other incoming u.s. president joe biden believes in the u.n. and international cooperation but he'll face a u.n. system with growing discord in a world where some see the united nations as increasingly irrelevant james al-jazeera london still ahead on al-jazeera behind the masks u.s. health care workers count the cost of a devastating certainly a mental health. storms get named in europe as well philomena is the name of this massive cat here which has been pounding spain recently now it's part of a chain that takes you through italy the balkans rumania and up towards eastern europe and this one will do the same

security council really worried about kristie. well clearly they're worried about this escalation of violence and whether or not the recently reelected president why dari who is internationally recognized as being democratically elected will be able to hold on to power given these increases in violence and we heard from the head of the central african republic peacekeeping mission today he spoke to the security council and gave them as you just heard an update on the situation there saying that operations are at grave risk of a setback because they are just outnumbered and outgunned basically they are asking for more peacekeepers to the region there are about $11000.00 of them as of december the security council prior to the elections authorize some additional 300 wanted troops into helicopters be moved from the south sudan mission to the central african republic today the head of minister asked that that be continued it was a temporary loan of those troops and that equipment he asked that not only that be considered continued but

security council and it's different from the previous trump administration on diplomatic and i said james bays explains. at the u.n. in new york diplomats say there is now a small window of opportunity for movement in one of the world's longest running conflicts at the end of president trump's administration israel signed normalization deals with 4 arab nations but there was no progress on the biggest underlying problem peace between israelis and palestinians at a virtual meeting of the un security council many countries were represented by their foreign ministers but because the new u.s. secretary of state at this point had not been confirmed by the senate and neither had the new u.n. ambassador the united states was represented by its deputy ambassador i thought it useful to share with you. from the current horrors of us to approach to these really old and in conflict what he said was important for the 1st time in 4 years the u.s. is calling for direct talks to lead to a 2 state solution because you were previously absorbed that russia's foreign minister sergei lavrov added to this prop

that's because in the security council division means in action when the un was set up 5 nations the us russia china france and the u.k. were given permanent membership and the power of veto on any security council decision most is not counted to favor the ballot number the number of times the veto has been used has been increasing again in recent years those against marking increased tension between the u.s. and its allies on one side and china and russia on the other incoming u.s. president joe biden believes in the u.n. and international cooperation but he'll face a u.n. system with growing discord in a world where some see the united nations as increasingly irrelevant james al-jazeera london. this is al jazeera and these the top stories u.s. democrats are pushing to impeach president donald trump inciting violence at capitol hill at least $180.00 politicians are co-sponsoring a resolution a plan to introduce it on monday with a vote possibly by wednesday. sadly the persons running negative branch is a doraine judged on his.

at a virtual meeting of the un security council many countries were represented by their foreign ministers but because the new u.s. secretary of state at this point had not been confirmed by the senate and neither had the new u.n. ambassador the united states was represented by step pretty ambassador i thought it useful to share with you from the contours of the u.s. to approach to the israeli palestinian conflict what he said was important for the 1st time in 4 years the u.s. is calling for direct talks to lead to a 2 state solution because you were previously absorbed that russia's foreign minister sergei lavrov added to this proposing an international conference or ministerial meeting this summer one of the newest members of the security council is norway which is had a historic role brokering the oslo accords over a quarter of a century ago the foreign minister told me there was only one way they'll be progress there has to be will by both parties they have to assume responsibility for pushing the talks forward the security council norway and others we can assist we can do everything w

leverage and influence in the security council where russia and china have used their veto powers and ability to bully nonpermanent members to stymie the council's work. the of shielded abusive regimes like the government of burma which committed genocide against in the criminal dictatorship of maduro who has unleashed crimes against humanity resulting in the flight more than 5.4 million venezuelans from their country. russia and china have not been content to civilly protect all the sod from account ability for his crimes against the syrian people but russia is the end of veto on you and syrian assistance to reduce border crossings to which assistance can reach rebel held syria to only one. this is made it only harder to obtain desperately needed food, shelter and medical assistance for innocent civilians. i strongly urge you to do every thing possible to keep this vital lifeline open upon your confirmation. i'm also concerned by the way china has sought to increase its role at the united nations and tin other international e organizations, not because cha does not deserve an appropr

well i would not rule out any ideas at this stage i think that when we now entered into the security council 3 weeks ago we entered with the clear ambition of restarting and negotiations between the israelis and palestinians and if a conference is what is needed then i think we should not rule that out how important will the role of the new biden administration be clearly they have more leverage than anyone else on the israeli government and are you somewhat worried that they're going to be overburdened dealing with covert 19 dealing with the global economy and in the middle east with the priority being on trying to get back into an iran deal. i think there is no doubt whatsoever that the new by the ministration will have to spend a lot of time on domestic politics because they have a pandemic out of control they have an economy that is also suffering badly and in addition to that trying to mend and shield an extremely polarized american society but on the other hand signals that have come out so far from the new administration and also in the senate here in me of tony blinken it seems like

already proven that left alone able to address their problems at the end of the meeting the security council agreed to position calling on all foreign fighters to leave libya russia in a statement to out 0 said that it has no military in the country although there be numerous reports that the wagner group a mercenary company has been operating in libya turkey has long said that its forces are in the country at the request of the legitimate government both those countries though now know there's a new policy from the u.s. government as does the united arab emirates which is already seen an arms deal worth $23000000000.00 blocked for now james out 0 at the united nations. another kind of us pandemic has devastated the live music industry and most countries but new zealand has emerged as one of the few places in the world where bands can still place a large crowds i was there as well hey reports from the town of raglan. it's been a career defining 12 months for this rising new zealand band while much of the world has been in various forms of coronavirus lock down l. ab has been traveling the co

gelsher previously served as the senior director of terrorism on the national security council from 2015 to 2017, and deputy homeland security adviser rick trevors will also bring some of their experience. they will have a review of the steps they're going to be following. >> reporter: one on impeachment, and then if i could on covid. on impeachment, did house speaker nancy pelosi consult with president biden before sending the article of impeachment over to the senate? >> i don't have any calls between them to read out, kristen. obviously they're in regular touch. i can say from a previous question you asked brian that he's been in touch with both parties about his agenda, even since he was inaugurated. so a range of topics come up in those discussions, but i don't have anything to read out for you. >> reporter: mitch mcconnell said he's going to push for a february team imeline. i know you don't want to comment on the timeline, but how would a february trial assist in getting covid relief passed? >> the president believes in the senate and their ability to multi-task and get the busine

well we've asked the white house for a comment they've referred us to the national security council and they're hoping to get back to his very shortly they may well have known the comments made by the israeli general i suspect in the white house this will be seen as a challenge to joe biden who is on the record as saying he would like to get back into the iran nuclear deal as long as it could be toughened up and you remember that the sanctions that are being put in place by the trumpet ministration are still very much on place in iran in fact the israeli general the chief of staff made comment about that saying that iran is a much weaker position compared to 2015 because of the sanctions that we've put in place by the trump administration as for the possibility that the united states is about to jump back into the iran deal that has been dismissed by 2 very senior figures just in the last couple of days you've got tony blinken who will take over as the new secretary of state on wednesday he has said we will move into compliance with the iran nuclear deal as soon as the run starts to do

international conference or ministerial meeting this summer one of the newest members of the security council is norway which is had a historic role brokering the oslo accords over a quarter of a century ago the foreign minister told me there was only one way they'll be progress there has to be a will by both parties they have to assume responsibility for pushing the talks forward the security council norway and others we can assist we can do everything we can to lay the foundation for talks but the parties themselves has to step up it's worth noting that the israeli ambassador said in the meeting that the idea of an international conference was pointless and a distraction and further complicating things both israelis and palestinians but you'd have elections in the coming months however some diplomats say that could be a good thing for the shaking up the dynamics surrounding this long running conflict jamesburg out 0 at the united nations egyptian rights groups say more than 60000 people have been detained disappeared or executed since president adel fatah sisi came to power in a military co

envoy calls on the security council for a substantial increase in peacekeeping operations in central african republic and made rebel attacks and a refugee crisis. there as president joe biden the vice president campbell harris have begun their 1st full day in office with the inaugural prayer service which has been held remotely a ceremony took place at the washington national cathedral but by this post is joined in from the white house after undoing some of the most controversial actions of its previous s.-a don't trump biden is set to announce another 10 executive orders on thursday that are focused on the coronavirus plan that. in another break for the trumpet ministrations controversial legacy antony function has announced that the u.s. will return to the world health organization and he says america will help fight coronavirus at home and abroad i am honored to announce that the united states will remain a member of the world health organization. yesterday president biden signed the letters retracting the previous administration's announcement soon withdraw from the organization

nato was the composition of the security council.he go ahead for the creation of the united nations was also given at yalta. united states, fdr got stalin to commit to be part of the united nations. accept the veto power, and the way, the security measures for the security council. in exchange for that, stalin insisted that the soviet union had more than one vote, which was an athlete for fdr, and for the american public because when the league of nations was being created, that is what britain was insisting on giving rates to the dominion to the members of the united nations. from that point of view, in the united states there was a very strong opposition to the idea that any country would have more than one vote. and fdr eventually agrees, and he also get something back from stalin. stalin says that he wouldn't mind if the united states would also have more than one vote. there is a discussion that there would be alaska and hawaii that would join the united nations. but once the information was leaked to the american public, there

that's because in the security council division means in action when the un was set up 5 nations the us russia china france and the u.k. were given permanent membership and the power of veto on any security council decision the solution is not care if they do negative favor of a permanent member the number of times the veto has been used has been increasing again in recent years those against marking increased tension between the u.s. and its allies on one side and china and russia on the other incoming u.s. president joe biden believes in the u.n. and international cooperation but he'll face a u.n. system with growing discord in a world where some see the united nations as increasingly irrelevant jamesburg days al-jazeera london. coming up in sports straight be a take control in sydney on a day marred by controversy as the full wrap of the cricket. frank assessments you've got colleagues on the ground in the canaries what is the situation there's only one doctor and when there's or when you do have an informed opinion as to how big this foreign policy in the early stages of a bind i

that's because in the security council division means in action when the un was set up 5 nations the us russia china france and the u.k. were given permanent membership and the power of veto on any security council decision the solution is not. to focus on a permanent member the number of times the veto has been used has been increasing again in recent years those against marking increased tension between the u.s. and its allies on one side and china and russia on the other incoming u.s. president joe biden believes in the u.n. and international cooperation but he'll face a u.n. system with growing discord in a world where some see the united nations as increasingly irrelevant james al-jazeera london. so had an al-jazeera in sports why the dream of playing at this year's astray you know because they had some players in the middle east details coming up in just a moment. a hillbilly a harmless caricature or a malicious label denying a people their culture to justify the exploitation of their natural resources that the batting haka thing has been so successful that even people in the r

host: iran's permanent rep presented of to the united nations called on the security council to fulfill responsibilities. >> we are going to be hearing from president hassan rouhani during his scheduled weekly cabinet meeting later on wednesday morning. he is likely to respond with the same rhetoric we have heard from iranian officials, that any kin d of hostilities toward iran would be responded with similar measures. iranian military officials said over the past few weeks that iran is willing and able to defend itself against all enemies. we heard from the iranian foreign minister who was in moscow on tuesday. he tweeted, saying there is no reason for iran to show goodwill to return to the nuclear deal of 2015, to return to full compliance. he said it is the united states that has to take the next step and iran will respond. iran sees israel as using this opportunity to pressure this new administration to getting what they want. they said there si no -- is no room for negotiating or amending this nuclear deal, it stands as-is. host: what is the view from washington? let's find out liv

mandate to protect civilians and stabilize the region is ending it follows a decision by the un security council in late december to halt operations by the end of 2020 because it said security in the region had improved but here in darfur many are worried. not the right time for the human made to withdraw if they leave genocide against us because a with the terror. attacks and eye protection. you know it was established and conflict in the region and has been in darfur since 2007 when the fighting between mainly non arab rebel groups and the government started in 2003 and left 300000 people dead and more than 2000000 displaced it was deployed under a chapter of the u.n. charter that gave it the right to use force when needed it was also the un's biggest operational peacekeeping mission before it began downsizing in mid 2017 you know that has about 4000 peacekeepers last incident and over the next 6 months to hand over its business to either the government or having an organization i don't want to call much and has been authorized by the u.n. security council set to start in january with no milit

well her position is actually accorded to biden is going to be elevated to the national security council level so that adds gives an added importance as to how foreign aid will be used and humanitarian assistance will be used as a guiding light of our upcoming foreign policy under biden and also shows that we might even go ahead and so far and weaponize that given. samantha powers previous experience and read and recommendations to then vice president biden and to obama the president libya was it was one of those outcomes yemen was another so if we if we need humanitarian assistance or. and couple with that would be a human rights advocacy and an insistence upon that in in any assistance that we give . does that mean that we're going to go ahead and shoot it into people's heads again so this is a her elevation like this raises some important questions as to just to what extent foreign policy or foreign assistance will be used as a foreign policy weapon as opposed to give an absolute assistance in the future. more news in about 31 minutes this is our 2 international stay with us. as the t

aid and it's another era name samantha power previously served on the national security council and was barack obama's u.n. envoy revealing his choice spines and explained why he wants power on his team. it's one of our country's most respected voices on humanitarian issues and i have seen both her passion and her principles firsthand there could be no one no one more qualified those are samantha or during her previous high profile government jobs power has faced a raft of ethical questions from critics she pushed for military intervention in libya on humanitarian grounds during the civil war that early a decade ago she was also a strong supporter of the u.s. involvement in syria and yemen both of which have the comes to a devastating humanitarian plight or now is she sure she's the one to lead washington's mission to hail the world. but the united states has a chance to partner with and support people who are on the frontlines in battling coven who are trying to build climate resilience who are standing up for the rule of law standing up against inequality and trying to create more jus

security council. we have again a difference, perception whether there is a legally binding document or it's just only politically binding document. taking into account, the u.n. security council. please, i would like you to understand me. that's why we will be waiting your decision regarding cooperation in the framework of the jcpoa. so as to nonproliferation, estimate, rank, you know that i'm in favor of such cooperation. we have excellent record of our cooperation in nonproliferation. sometimes you will see that my colleagues raised one question, whether we have identical use on nonproliferation issues or not. and my answer you will be very interesting for you to hear the first time, i consider that are strategical perception is the same. we would like to see nonproliferation treaty. we don't want to have anybody destroy this. we have a lot of arrangement around npt to increase, how to say, nonproliferation net, security net. and we know about initiatives introduced by the united states, by administ

sanctions or sanctions it was united states united nations security council sanctions so the nuclear agreement of 2015 which they signed. saw those sanctions being lifted over time as a result of iran reducing their nuclear activities in program and making more transparent but on the on the the technical side of things i guess iran would still say yes 20 percent it still means we're just doing this for civilian purposes for nuclear energy it's nowhere near what would be needed for a weapon. certainly they've said in the past that 20 percent is for their research purposes that it's their right to be able to enrich at this level and that they are not interested in pursuing a nuclear weapon but a lot of people in the. on the other side of the world the argument they have is that if iran has the know how and the technical capabilities of enriching at 20 percent then going to 90 percent or 95 percent is not a far stretch for them that is the point of contention and that is what has caused a lot of issues with this country's nuclear program but it's something iran has said that they will n

national security council under presidents bush and obama and his senior fellow at the future of warproject for the new america think tank he joins us from remington in the genic good to have you with us what sign is this that eisel has regrouped has gained strength and must be considered a significant threat. i think it's much too early to say that now obviously for the victims this is a serious threat and there were dozens of people killed them as you said over 100 wounded so this was a very serious one to attack inside baghdad that said this is one data point and one data point is not a trend we don't know if this is the resurgence of beisel that's certainly possible or if this is all that i saw happen and they burned all their resources in generating this want to attack. you hate to say we need to wait and see but we really do need to wait and see if this is a trend or just a one off that they were able to make happen because it is a significant step up from the attacks that we've been seeing over the past year in iraq so make no mistake this is a you know several levels higher *

was just on thursday asking for more troops from the security council he said that they're desperately needed to try and maintain security across the country just within the last few days or one day and the burundian peacekeeper of being killed one of the limitations for the peacekeepers is that their mandate to protect civilians and support the government. is met by a more aggressive enemy the coalition of armed groups have been ambushing in attacking the peacekeepers the united nations envoy to the central african republic has appealed to the security council to increase its peacekeeping operations with more than $11000.00 u.n. soldiers stationed in ca are it's already one of the largest un costliest u.n. operations in the world. it's instructive that really need a strategy to manage the mandate a substantial increase of uniformed troops in the missions are still the police and the penal administration must be strengthened we must have greater mobility this is because of the increased ambushes by c.p.c. fighters led to 7 deaths amongst the blue helmets. cooperation will need to be pr