UN says Saudi beheadings shocking, abhorrent

"At the same time, a mere claim of intercepting a drone en route to Mecca al-Mukarramah cannot constitute grounds for accusing a specific party, especially since the Yemeni government of Change and Construction has explicitly denied this claim," he added. 

"So our interest is not to antagonise. We are supporting American and the stance, but we do not want, at the same time, to antagonise the Houthis, because if they were to take a stance on Bab-el-Mandeb, then we'll be in a very difficult position," he highlighted.

Beijing reiterated its opposition to "long-arm jurisdiction" and unilateral economic sanctions, stating that any sanctions not authorised by the UN Security Council have no basis in international law. Defending sovereign trade, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said normal economic and trade cooperation between sovereign nations is not directed at third parties and should not be subjected to external coercion or interference.

International experts and human rights advocates at a conference held on the sidelines of the 63rd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) backed India’s decision to keep the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) in abeyance, arguing that the issue needs to be examined in the context of security, human rights and the water rights of communities dependent on the Indus River system.

India’s Ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra has laid out a strong defence of the country’s energy policy hours after the US Congress passed legislation opening the door to steep new tariffs on Indian goods over New Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil.