Gaza: UN Middle East envoy reiterates call for ceasefire, hostage release agreement
In a briefing to the Security Council, Tor Wennesland emphasised the urgent need for all sides to change course. “We must reach an agreement to release the hostages and put in place an immediate ceasefire. There is absolutely no time…
Employees of Samsung Electronics announce first-ever strike
More than 28,000 employees of South Korea’s Samsung Electronics will stage a one-day walkout next week over demands for better pay and benefits. The National Samsung Electronics Union announced the June 7 strike date Wednesday during a live-streamed news conference….
Ukraine reports downing 13 Russian drones
Ukraine’s military said Wednesday it shot down Russian drones that targeted areas of western, central and southern Ukraine, while a Russian missile killed at least two people in the Sumy region. The Ukrainian air force said it intercepted 13 of…
OpenAI unveils new safety committee
ChatGPT developer OpenAI announced Tuesday it is establishing a safety committee as it trains its latest artificial intelligence model, the GPT-4 system of its chatbot. The committee will include OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, board members and other executives. The company…
US announces measures to help over 11,000 Cuban small businesses
WASHINGTON — The United States announced regulatory changes on Tuesday to increase support for the Cuban people and independent private sector entrepreneurs. The changes will enable more U.S. financial support for small private businesses in Cuba, enhance internet-based services on…
Robot will try to remove nuclear debris from Japan’s destroyed reactor
TOKYO — The operator of Japan’s destroyed Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant demonstrated Tuesday how a remote-controlled robot would retrieve tiny bits of melted fuel debris from one of three damaged reactors later this year for the first time since…
Cameroon fights period stigma and poverty on World Menstrual Hygiene Day
Yaounde — Cameroon is observing World Menstrual Hygiene Day (May 28) with caravans visiting schools and public spaces to educate people about social taboos that women should not be seen in public during their menstrual periods. Organizations are also donating…
UN hub reaches remote Pacific islanders: A UN Resident Coordinator blog
“They do not want to leave their ancestral places, even if they go under,” said Jaap van Hierden. © Eunie Kim Jaap van Hierden, UN Resident Coordinator in Micronesia. Appointed by the Secretary-General as the first UN Resident Coordinator for the…
UN supports Papua New Guinea following deadly landslide
Six bodies have been recovered so far and the number is expected to increase, the UN Country Team (UNCT) said on Tuesday. The total affected population, including those in need of possible evacuation and relocation, has been estimated at 7,849…
UN supports response as Cyclone Remal batters communities in Bangladesh, India
At least 16 people are reported to have been killed as the region was hit by Cyclone Remal on Sunday evening, local time, bringing gales of over 110 kilometres per hour (about 70 miles per hour), torrential rain and storm…