The Latest: PM says Japan holding its breath on US elections
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The Latest on the high-level U.N. General Assembly meetings (all times local):
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10:50 a.m.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says its people are “holding their breath” as they watch the U.S. presidential campaign.
But Abe declined to say who he’d prefer to see win in November.
Abe is in New York for the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations. He held a 50-minute meeting Monday in New York with Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton.
Speaking at an event organized by Reuters news agency, Abe urged U.S. politicians to explain to Americans the benefits of the Trans-Pacific Partnership.
President Barack Obama wants Congress to approve the deal, but both Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump oppose it.
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10:30 a.m.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is urging continued international commitment to a Korean peninsula free of nuclear arms, in comments alluding to the recent testing of an atomic weapon by its North Korean ally.
Li urged new efforts to “reach a comprehensive political solution on the Korean nuclear issue,” in comments to the U.N. General Assembly.
Beijing has long been North Korea’s main source of aid and diplomatic support. But it is showing growing frustration with Pyongyang’s pursuit of nuclear weapons in defiance of foreign pressure.
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10:15 a.m.
Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe railed against Western sanctions, urging the United States, United Kingdom and their allies to abolish them.
The 92-year-old leader said that while his country is “the innocent victim of spiteful sanctions,” it cannot proceed with the implementation of the U.N. Sustainable Development Goals.
The U.S. has imposed targeted sanctions against Mugabe and 97 others, citing human rights abuses and evidence of electoral fraud. The EU, Australia and Canada also have imposed similar sanctions.
The U.S. also gives humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe.
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9:30 a.m.
The U.N. Security Council has taken up Syria’s civil war as a temporary truce collapses and international tensions rise.
A day after the U.S., Russia and other powers sought to keep the week-old cease-fire alive, the same set of characters debated the conflict in open setting.
Moscow backs Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government; Washington supports what it deems “moderate” rebels. Both say they’re committed to fighting the Islamic State and al-Qaida.
A relief organization reported five medical staff killed in an airstrike in northern Syria Wednesday.
It was the latest attack on humanitarian workers.
A strike on a Syrian Red Crescent aid convoy earlier this week promoted international condemnation. The U.N. called it a deliberate attack. U.S. officials say they believe Russia carried out the strike. Russia denies responsibility.
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9 a.m.
The Paris Agreement on climate change has topped the required 55 ratifications — but the countries that have formally joined don’t account for the minimum 55 percent of global emissions needed for the deal to enter into force.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon announced at the end of a special event that with 31 more countries handing over their official documents on Wednesday, there are now 60 parties that have ratified the deal representing over 47.5 percent of global emissions.
“We have crossed one of the two thresholds,” Ban said. “We need 7.5 percent more.”
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said he is confident of reaching the magic number of 55 percent before the next U.N. climate conference, which starts Nov. 7 in Marrakech, Morocco.
He urged people everywhere “to become warriors for the planet.”
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