US Senate passes major online child safety reforms
The U.S. Senate passed major online child safety reforms in a nearly unanimous vote on Tuesday, although the legislation, which has drawn mixed reactions from the tech industry, faces an uncertain fate in the House of Representatives. Two bills —…
Rafah water facility demolition raises health risks in Gaza, UN says
GENEVA — U.N. agencies warn that the demolition of a critical water facility in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip increases the risk of infectious diseases as people are forced to drink unsafe water while sanitary conditions continue to deteriorate….
US to spend $10 million to curb bird flu in farm workers, including vaccine push
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday it plans to spend $10 million to curb farm worker bird flu infections, including $5 million for seasonal flu vaccines, as part of its efforts to avoid further spread…
Ukraine’s Olympic chief celebrates limited Russian presence at Paris Games
Paris — The head of Ukraine’s Olympic delegation touted the limited numbers of Russian athletes at the Paris Olympics — who must compete as neutrals — as war between the two countries grinds on for a third year. Vadym Guttsait…
Kazakhstan tightens laws to combat trafficking of newborns
To fight against trafficking newborns, the new legislation facilitates the criminal prosecution for such crimes as kidnapping, illegal deprivation of liberty, human trafficking, involvement in prostitution and more. Approved ahead of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, marked annually on…
Venezuela: UN rights chief concerned about post-election tension and violence
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Mr. Türk said he was “extremely concerned” about increasing tensions in the South American country. Voting took place on Sunday and incumbent President Nicolas Maduro was declared the winner the following day, which has…
Security Council lifts arms embargo on Central African Republic forces
The arms embargo was established in 2013 against the backdrop of a brutal intercommunal conflict, when the predominantly Muslim Seleka rebels seized power leading to the mostly Christian militias fighting back. Civilians bore the brunt of the conflict, with several…
War-weary Sudanese face new hardships as floods strike
According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), five gathering sites and reception centres in the provincial capital Kassala town and Gharb Kassala are among those impacted. More than 10,000 IDPs who fled fighting in neighbouring…
Gazans need polio vaccines amid ‘deathly cycle’ of hunger, heat and disease, say UN aid agencies
Almost 10 months of war and intense Israeli bombardment have shattered healthcare in Gaza and disrupted routine inoculation rounds for youngsters, leaving them exposed to a range of preventable diseases including polio, which the UN World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed…
UN rights office condemns forced evictions of Palestinian families in East Jerusalem
These evictions are “facilitated by the unlawful application of discriminatory Israeli laws against Palestinians in the occupied territory,” the office said in a statement. Legal Proceedings About 87 Palestinian families – nearly 680 individuals – face legal actions begun by…