Veto power hinders efforts to end conflicts: UN

• Says geopolitical fragmentation rises as major powers vie for influence • Calls for stronger cooperation on debt, technology, development ISLAMABAD: A new United Nations report has warned that the veto power of the five permanent members of the Security Council is one of the reasons multilateral mechanisms have been unable to prevent or stop the growing number of state-based conflicts. The resulting paralysis has weakened decision-making processes, prompting the UN secretary-general to call for Security Council reforms, including an expansion of its membership to ensure fairer…