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Month: April 2024

US growth slowed sharply last quarter to 1.6%, reflecting economy pressured by high rates

WASHINGTON —  The nation’s economy slowed sharply last quarter to a 1.6% annual pace in the face of high interest rates, but consumers — the main driver of economic growth — kept spending at a solid pace. Thursday’s report from…

Senior UN aid official urges comprehensive response to Haiti crisis

Haitians have been facing a multitude of challenges over the years, encompassing political, security, social and economic issues. The protracted crisis has been further exacerbated by months of brutal gang violence that claimed more than 2,500 lives in the first…

Gaza: Heatwave brings new misery and disease risk to Rafah

The warning from the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, came as some 1.2 million people continued to shelter in tents pitched in and around the enclave’s southernmost city, Rafah, with nowhere else to go.  “It is like living in…

Syria crisis intensifies in shadow of Gaza war

Briefing ambassadors on the Security Council, Geir Pedersen called for a regional de-escalation, starting with an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. In addition to the regional spillover effects, he expressed deep concern over the ongoing conflict within Syria itself. “There are…

Russian strikes kill six in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, officials say

Russian airstrikes killed at least six people in a Ukrainian-held part of the embattled Donetsk territory on Thursday, according to local officials. Vadym Filashkin, the Donetsk regional governor, said in a post on Telegram that shelling killed three people and…

Pakistan’s Malaria Surge Linked to Climate Change

April 25 marks the global observance of World Malaria Day. Pakistan saw the world’s largest increase in malaria cases in 2022 following that year’s catastrophic flooding, according to the latest World Health Organization data. Experts say climate change was a…

Kyiv issues restrictions on passports for military-age men

The Ukrainian government, further tightening regulations as it seeks to address a shortage of troops, approved rules temporarily barring military-age men from applying for passports abroad. The provisions, and a subsequent clarification from Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry, were announced on Wednesday,…

Russia blocks UN resolution on peaceful use of outer space

new york —  Russia blocked a U.N. Security Council resolution Wednesday reaffirming the need to prevent a nuclear arms race in outer space. The measure was proposed jointly by the United States, a nuclear power, and Japan, the only nation…

Popular Indian payment system faces restrictions due to China connections

Paytm, a popular payment app in India, faces government restrictions on business because of its Chinese connections, local media say. India is ramping up scrutiny and restrictions on other Chinese tech companies, too, amid concerns about security and geopolitics. Henry…

Amnesty: Global rule of law on brink of collapse, fueled by AI

London —  A breakdown in the international rule of law is being accelerated through rapid advancement in technology and artificial intelligence, which risks a “supercharging” of human rights violations, according to an annual report, by Amnesty International, published April 24….