Afghanistan: OHCHR alarm over arrests of activists speaking up for women and girls

Afghanistan: UN appalled at revival of public floggings, executions

“We are appalled by the public executions of three people at sports stadiums in Afghanistan in the past week, said OHCHR spokesperson Jeremy Laurence in a statement. “Public executions are a form of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,” he said.  “Such executions are also arbitrary in nature and contrary to the right to life…

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No medicine, no hope: Doctors describe life under Israeli attack in Gaza

No medicine, no hope: Doctors describe life under Israeli attack in Gaza

“Life is very difficult here,” hospital manager Dr. Haidar Al-Qudra told UN News. Currently, only 12 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are “partially functioning”, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), with the rest destroyed by Israel’s near constant bombardment of the enclave. As the war in Gaza enters its fifth month, Israeli forces continue to…

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Humanitarians launch $674 million appeal urging ‘increased solidarity’ with Haiti

Humanitarians launch $674 million appeal urging ‘increased solidarity’ with Haiti

Ulrika Richardson, UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Haiti, was speaking from the capital, Port-au-Prince, a day after the Government and partners launched the plan to provide food, shelter, health, education and protection services for 3.6 million people this year.  “This is a call for increased solidarity, and Haiti needs it,” she said, noting that the country…

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World News in Brief: Air travel boom erases COVID dip, ‘disturbing’ new anti-LGBT bill in Ghana, rights abuses in Crimea

World News in Brief: Air travel boom erases COVID dip, ‘disturbing’ new anti-LGBT bill in Ghana, rights abuses in Crimea

Civil aviation organization ICAO said that the numbers for the first quarter of 2024 indicate that airlines will sustain the return to profitability recorded in 2023. “The commitment of Member States to aligning their pandemic responses with the guidance developed by the ICAO Council has been crucial to the recovery of their air services,” said…

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Gaza: Frustration mounts as UN convoy is blocked outside stricken hospital

Gaza: Frustration mounts as UN convoy is blocked outside stricken hospital

“This is not an isolated incident. Aid convoys have come under fire and are systematically denied access to people in need,” said the UN Humanitarian Country Team in Palestine, after the mission to evacuate 24 patients from Al Amal Hospital in Khan Younis.  The development came amid continued intense fighting across the enclave, sparked by Hamas-led…

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UPDATING LIVE: Security Council meets on Gaza as risk of famine grows by the day

UPDATING LIVE: Security Council meets on Gaza as risk of famine grows by the day

4:08 PM ‘Stop fighting immediately’: UK proposes 3-step plan United Kingdom Ambassador Barbara Woodward said to address the desperate situation in Gaza, three things need to happen, beginning with a call for all parties to the conflict to stop fighting immediately. “This is crucial to get aid in and hostages out,” she said, adding that…

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Universal connectivity gets a $9 billion private sector boost

Universal connectivity gets a $9 billion private sector boost

“Universal meaningful connectivity is within our grasp,” said ITU Secretary-General Doreen Bogdan-Martin. “Thanks to these new commitments, millions of people will benefit from accessible and affordable connectivity across the world.” Fresh investments from e&, China Telecom, Ooredoo and VEON build on strong industry support for the UN digital agency’s efforts to “connect the world”, she…

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UN Syria envoy appeals for urgent de-escalation across the Middle East

UN Syria envoy appeals for urgent de-escalation across the Middle East

“Regional spillover is only the latest accelerant to a conflict that is growing in complexity and with each passing year. The situation is worsening on almost all indicators and the status quo is unsustainable and unmanageable,” he said. Airstrikes and casualties Multiple airstrikes attributed to Israel were carried out this month in Syria, including on…

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