Ukraine: No interest in keeping Russia’s Kursk region long term
Ukraine said Tuesday it has no interest in holding territory it captured in Russia’s Kursk region long term, but in the meantime, it can complicate Moscow’s efforts to move more troops to the front battle lines in eastern Ukraine. “Unlike…
UN chief calls for inclusive elections in Bangladesh
In a statement issued by his Deputy Spokesperson late on Monday (New York time), the UN chief also called for full respect of the human rights across the country. “The Secretary-General welcomes efforts to restore calm and organize parliamentary elections…
‘Incredible brutality’ prevalent in battle for Myanmar
In a call to regional bloc ASEAN to help end the violence and support efforts to bring perpetrators to justice, the head of the Human Rights Council-appointed probe into the Myanmar emergency Nicholas Koumjian described an increasingly “desperate” junta whose…
Afghanistan: Taliban rule has erased women from public life, sparked mental health crisis
Alison Davidian, UN Women Country Representative in Afghanistan, briefed journalists in New York on their latest report addressing the plight of women and girls since the de facto authorities returned to power in August 2021. She described this period as…
Sexual violence and famine stalk Sudan’s displaced
Speaking from Sudan, UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) spokesperson James Elder described meeting a senior medical worker at a hospital outside Khartoum who had “direct contact with hundreds, hundreds of women and girls, some as young as eight years old, who…
UN rights chief condemns storming of his office in Yemen’s capital
Ansar Allah, also known as the Houthis, sent a “delegation” to the UN human rights office in the Yemeni capital on 3 August, and national staff were forced to handover documents, furniture and vehicles, as well as the office’s keys….
Security Council: Political affairs chief underlines ‘desperate need’ for Gaza ceasefire
More than 100 people were reportedly killed in the attack on the al-Taba’een school in Gaza City, which took place during morning prayer hours. It was one of at least 21 strikes on school shelters recorded since 4 July. “It…
Australian researchers herald new groundbreaking diabetes drug
SYDNEY — Researchers in Australia have developed a drug that could revolutionize treatment for millions of diabetes patients around the world. Scientists in the U.S., China and Australia are designing treatments that imitate the body’s natural response to changing blood…
Ukraine’s surprise push into Russia sparks concerns of escalation
Ukraine took the fight to Russia in recent days, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed on Monday his army’s move to “push the war out into the aggressor’s territory” with attacks in Russia’s Kursk region. VOA White House correspondent Anita…
Ocean could lie beneath Mars’ surface, study says
About 10 to 20 kilometers below the surface of Mars could be a large amount of water, a study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences says. Scientists say there could be enough water on Mars…