US, South Korea to confer on North Korean troop deployment to Russia
state department — Top diplomatic and military officials from the United States and South Korea are set to convene in Washington this Thursday as the two allies closely monitor and express concerns about North Korea’s deployment of about 10,000 troops…
One person dead in Iowa from Lassa fever, state health department says
The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services on Monday confirmed the death of a middle-aged eastern Iowa resident from Lassa fever. The individual had recently returned from travel to West Africa, where it is believed the person contracted the…
Pakistan, Afghanistan launch polio vaccination drives as cases resurge
Islamabad — Pakistan and neighboring Afghanistan simultaneously launched fresh vaccination campaigns against polio Monday amid a resurgence in cases in the only two countries globally where the virus continues to be endemic and paralyze children. The World Health Organization reported…
Texas Country Boys give charity concerts in war-torn Ukraine
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a musical group of American Christians calling themselves the Texas Country Boys have been playing charity events in Ukraine. Tetiana Kukurika met with the band members to find out why Ukraine is so…
France: Hijab ban during sports, ‘discriminatory and must be reversed’ say experts
The UN Human Rights Council-appointed experts criticised the decision by the French football and basketball federations to exclude players wearing the hijab from competitions, including at amateur level, and the French Government’s decision to prevent French athletes wearing the hijab from…
Sudan trapped in a ‘nightmare of violence’, UN chief tells Security Council
“The suffering is growing by the day, with almost 25 million people now in need of humanitarian assistance,” Mr. Guterres told ambassadors at the Security Council, emphasizing the dire conditions civilians are enduring 18 months into the conflict. He described…
Gaza: No let-up in Israeli military offensive, situation ‘only getting worse’
UNRWA, the largest UN aid agency in Gaza, reported “no improvements” at Kerem Shalom, the main crossing point for lifesaving food, fuel and medicine. “One of our biggest concerns now is people not having enough to eat,” the agency said,…
Middle East crisis: Live updates from the Security Council and UN across the region
We will be following the latest breaking news over the day, including from UN staff on the ground, dispatches from Gaza, Lebanon and the wider region, and the Israeli Knesset’s vote to outlaw the work of UN Palestine refugee agency…
Israeli Knesset vote on UNRWA set to deepen Palestinian suffering
“This is the latest in the ongoing campaign to discredit UNRWA and delegitimize its role towards providing human-development assistance and services to Palestine refugees,” Mr. Lazzarini said in a post on X, following reports of the long-anticipated vote being taken…
McDonald’s Quarter Pounder returns after E. coli testing rules out beef
LOS ANGELES — McDonald’s announced Sunday that Quarter Pounders will again be on its menu at hundreds of its restaurants after testing ruled out beef patties as the source of the outbreak of E. coli poisoning tied to the popular…