Russia, Ukraine each bring home 95 prisoners of war in swap brokered by UAE
Russia and Ukraine carried out a new exchange of prisoners of war on Friday, each side bringing home 95 prisoners in an agreement in which the United Arab Emirates acted as mediator. Russia’s Defense Ministry, in a post on the…
Ukraine media outlets, businesses targeted with false bomb threats
Emails threatening terror attacks led to the evacuation of hundreds of businesses, media outlets and foreign embassies in Ukraine this week. Ukrainian national police searched dozens of properties targeted by the threat, including the Kyiv office of VOA sister network…
Russia returns bodies of 501 soldiers; Western allies weigh Zelenskyy victory plan
Russia returned to Ukraine the bodies of 501 soldiers on Friday, Ukrainian authorities said. The move appeared to be the biggest repatriation of war dead since Russia invaded in February 2022. Most of the soldiers were killed in the fighting…
African port growth hindered by poor road, rail networks, report says
NAIROBI, KENYA — Africa has seen the capacity of its ports grow significantly over the years, but a report from the Africa Finance Corporation says the expansions, upgrades and investments have not led to better inland logistics and supply chains….
Ukranian fighter finds US-made M224 mortar effective on front lines
When it comes to military equipment being sent to Ukraine, big-ticket items like Patriot missiles and F-16 fighter jets come to mind. But for many Ukrainian soldiers, the U.S.-made 60-millimeter M224 mortars, also used by the U.S. Marine Corps, have…
Gaza at a ‘critical juncture’ as top UN officials call for a ceasefire now
“Although he does not comment on events of this nature, the Secretary-General is interested that this now leads to an immediate ceasefire, the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and unrestricted humanitarian access to Gaza,” Farhan Haq told the…
First Person: Football dream alive in Gaza despite ‘constant fire’
Mohamed Abu Jalda who is currently living in a camp for displaced people after fleeing his home, practices on the beach in the Al-Mawasi area of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip. He spoke to UN News’s Ziad…
UN Security Council extends sanctions, arms embargo on Haiti
Unanimously adopting, under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, resolution 2752 (2024) the 15-member Council determined that the situation in Haiti continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region. The resolution emphasises the continuation of…
Lebanon: Peacekeepers pledge to stay, doing ‘whatever they can to help’
“Despite [Israel Defense Forces] demands to move from positions close to the Blue Line, a unanimous decision was taken by all UNIFIL Troop Contributing Countries and the UN Security Council, and our peacekeepers remain deployed in all their positions along…
Palestine: International law obliges Israel to end occupation, says rights panel
It details the obligations for Israel, third-party States and the UN to bring to an end the unlawful occupation, according to the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem, and Israel. “Israel’s internationally…