US aid freeze spells uncertain future for international media
WASHINGTON — On the front lines of the war in Ukraine, local newspapers are vital lifelines in areas where Russia has destroyed cell towers and internet infrastructure. Journalists provide information about evacuation routes, document alleged Russian war crimes and troop…
Gazans depend on us for ‘sheer survival’ insists UNRWA
The development came as more than 462,000 people are estimated to have crossed from south Gaza to the north since the opening of the Salah ad Din and Al Rashid roads on Monday. The UN and humanitarian partners are assisting…
‘Robbed’ of their childhood: UNICEF warns of crisis facing Haiti’s youth
In a briefing on Friday, UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric reported that more than 1,600 men, women and children have fled. Two-thirds are seeking refuge with host families and over 500 sheltering in three newly established displacement sites, according to the…
Diplomacy key to ending crisis in eastern DR Congo: UN peacekeeping chief
Jean-Pierre Lacroix briefed journalists at UN Headquarters on Friday, as the M23 rebel group and Rwandan Defence Force (RDF) continued their march toward the city of Bukavu, having taken control of the provincial capital, Goma, earlier this week. “We are…
Sudan: UN rights chief ‘alarmed’ by summary executions, attacks on civilians
Government forces and a rival military – the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) – have been battling for control of the country since April 2023 in what Mr. Türk called a “senseless war”, which has recently taken an “even more dangerous…
UN agencies warn of worsening humanitarian and human rights crisis in eastern DR Congo
The rebels have already seized the provincial capital, Goma, and reports indicate that they are closing in on the key city of Bukavu, capital of South Kivu province. The hostilities are occurring in a mineral-rich region that has been volatile…
DeepSeek vs. ChatGPT fuels debate over AI building blocks
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — When Chinese startup DeepSeek released its AI model this month, it was hailed as a breakthrough, a sign that China’s artificial intelligence companies could compete with their Silicon Valley counterparts using fewer resources. The narrative was…
Russian drones injure 4 in Ukraine’s south, Ukrainian officials say
KYIV, UKRAINE — Russia launched a barrage of drones on Ukraine in an overnight attack on Friday, injuring four people and damaging a hospital and a grain warehouse in the southern Odesa region, officials said. Ukraine’s air defenses shot down…
US economy grows solid 2.3% in October-December on eve of Trump return to White House
WASHINGTON — A humming American economy ended 2024 on a solid note with consumer spending continuing to drive growth, and ahead of what could be a significant change in direction under a Trump administration. The Commerce Department reported Thursday that…
FDA approves painkiller designed to eliminate risk of addiction
WASHINGTON — Federal officials on Thursday approved a new type of pain pill designed to eliminate the risks of addiction and overdose associated with opioid medications like Vicodin and OxyContin. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it approved Vertex…