Russia has blocked a US-drafted resolution to renew a mandate of the body investigating the use of chemical weapons in Syria. A rival, Russian-made motion was also blocked, leaving the future of the probe in question. Russia rejected a US-drafted motion to extend the mandate of the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), the international inquiry focusing on the use of chemical weapons in Syria. Russia and China backed the draft, but seven countries, including veto-wielding powers US, France, and the UK, voted against it. The JIM is set to cease operations as its mandate expires on midnight Thursday New York time, or 5:00 Friday GMT.

Source: Egypt Independent November 17, 2017 08:48 UTC