Mar 20 As Myanmar’s army faces setbacks, it is stepping up attacks on civilians, a UN expert warns By Associated Press A U.N.-backed independent expert on human rights in Myanmar says the military government is escalating violence against civilians as it faces more setbacks on the battlefield, where it is fighting against pro-democracy and ethnic armed groups. Continue reading
Mar 19 Watch 4:59 Experts warn of ‘imminent’ famine in Gaza with lack of aid reaching Palestinians By Nick Schifrin, Zeba Warsi More than half of North Gaza’s population is at risk of starvation and in southern Gaza, Rafah is projected to face famine by July. Israel says it places no restrictions on aid and blamed the humanitarian crisis on Hamas, but… Continue watching
Mar 19 Watch 6:52 What’s next for Israel and war in Gaza as rift between Netanyahu and Biden widens By Amna Nawaz, Dan Sagalyn Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated his determination to send troops into Rafah, in southern Gaza, to rout remaining Hamas units. The drive has led to a rift with the Biden administration as it warns against an Israeli operation before… Continue watching
Mar 19 UN weather agency issues ‘red alert’ on climate change after record heat, ice-melt increases in 2023 By Jamey Keaten, Seth Borenstein, Associated Press The U.N. weather agency is sounding a "red alert" about global warming, citing record-smashing increases last year in greenhouse gases, land and water temperatures and melting of glaciers and sea ice. Continue reading
Mar 11 Ukraine needs more than a billion dollars to rebuild its scientific infrastructure, UNESCO says By Associated Press UNESCO says that some 1,443 scientific facilities, many attached to universities, have been damaged or destroyed along with 750 pieces of vital technical equipment, most of which is beyond repair. Continue reading
Mar 08 Israeli settlements in Palestinian areas amount to a ‘war crime’ says UN rights office By Associated Press The report covers the one-year period up to October 2023, when it says roughly 24,300 housing units in existing settlements in the West Bank were “advanced” — the highest number in a year since monitoring began in 2017. Continue reading
Mar 06 South Africa urges top UN court to impose more emergency orders on Israel to end starvation in Gaza By Mike Corder, Associated Press The request is part of an ongoing case alleging that Israel's military campaign in Gaza breaches the Genocide Convention. Israel strongly denies breaching the convention. Continue reading
Mar 04 UN rights chief urges end to ‘repression’ of independent voices in Russia after Navalny’s death By Jamey Keaten, Associated Press Volker Türk lamented dozens of conflicts around the world, widespread violations of human rights law that have impacted millions, and displacements caused by war — which could escalate in places like the Middle East, the Horn of Africa and Sudan. Continue reading
Feb 23 Rape and sexual violence in Sudan’s ongoing conflict may amount to war crimes, a new UN report says By Jamey Keaten, Associated Press Sudan plunged into chaos in April when clashes erupted in the capital, Khartoum, between rival Sudanese forces — the country's military and a paramilitary faction known as the Rapid Support Forces. Continue reading
Feb 21 More than $400 million needed for Afghanistan to recover from October earthquake, UN says By Rahim Faiez, Associated Press The magnitude 6.3 quake on Oct. 7, one of the most destructive in the country's recent history, flattened entire villages in Herat province and also left thousands injured and homeless. Continue reading