Gaza war enters fifth month amid reports of potential ceasefire deal

Gaza war enters fifth month amid reports of potential ceasefire deal

Commenting on the “potentially positive news” surrounding the “huge efforts” involved in the latest international push for peace in Gaza spearheaded by Egypt, Qatar and the United States, Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, noted the possibility of “a long period of a pause (in fighting) to allow hostages out and…

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WFP pleads for aid access in Sudan, amid reports of starvation

WFP pleads for aid access in Sudan, amid reports of starvation

WFP described the situation as dire, noting that almost 18 million people across the country are currently facing acute hunger.  An estimated five million are experiencing emergency levels of hunger due to conflict in areas such as Khartoum, Darfur, and Kordofan. Obstacles to aid delivery  “The situation in Sudan today is nothing short of catastrophic,”…

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Weather-related disasters displace 43.1 million children in six years, UNICEF reports

Weather-related disasters displace 43.1 million children in six years, UNICEF reports

That figure translates to an alarming average of 20,000 children uprooted every day. The findings are contained in UNICEF’s latest report, Children Displaced in a Changing Climate, the first ever global analysis of child displacements caused by floods, storms, droughts and wildfires. It also projects future trends for the next three decades. Catherine Russell, UNICEF…

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UN chief ‘firmly condemns’ Gabon coup, notes reports of election abuses

UN chief ‘firmly condemns’ Gabon coup, notes reports of election abuses

Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said that UN chief António Guterres was following the evolving situation in the capital Libreville “very closely”. While condemning military action as “a means to resolve the post electoral crisis”, the Secretary-General said he had noted the announcement by the Central African nation’s electoral body of a win for incumbent president Ali…

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Change in medical reports, investigation against 5000 ex-military pilots continues

Change in medical reports, investigation against 5000 ex-military pilots continues

File photo In the United States, an investigation is underway against 5,000 ex-military pilots for flying planes by changing their medical reports. The Washington Post reports that two years ago, investigators concerned about retired officers discovered inconsistencies in the federal database. The pilots under investigation were receiving benefits for mental disorders and other health-related ailments….

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IAEA chief outlines five principles to avert nuclear ‘catastrophe’ in Ukraine

Ukraine: Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant initiates reactor shutdown following water leak, reports IAEA

The purpose of placing reactor unit 4 in cold shutdown is to investigate the exact cause of the leak and carry out necessary maintenance to repair the affected steam generator, according to a statement by Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director General. There was no radiological release to the environment, the statement noted, adding that over…

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‘Increasingly brazen’ war crimes evident in Myanmar, reports Independent Mechanism

‘Increasingly brazen’ war crimes evident in Myanmar, reports Independent Mechanism

These include indiscriminate attacks on civilians from aerial bombing, mass executions of civilians and detained combatants, and large-scale and intentional burning of civilian homes and buildings, resulting in the destruction of entire villages in some cases, the Mechanism said in a news release. “Every loss of life in Myanmar is tragic, but the devastation caused…

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