Author: News Desk

Speaking from Beirut, where he witnessed Wednesday’s attacks first-hand, the World Health Organization (WHO)’s representative in the country Dr. Abdinasir Abubakar, said that according to the latest figures from Lebanon’s Ministry of Health some 300 people were killed in the strikes – one of the highest single-day death tolls since the renewal of full-scale hostilities between […]

The escalation comes amid rising protection risks for civilians and aid workers, with three humanitarian personnel killed between 7 and 16 February in Jonglei and Upper Nile states, according to the UN relief coordination office, OCHA. Access to some of the worst-affected areas remains uneven despite renewed pledges by authorities to allow relief operations. Last […]

  Starting today, the EU’s new border management system is officially fully operational at all external border crossing points of the EU, except for Cyprus and Ireland. The Entry/Exit System is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for short stays – up to 90 days in 180-day period. It replaces the old […]

The Justice Department’s National Fraud Enforcement Division announced the following actions of the Department of Justice across the country today to hold individuals accountable for schemes that attempted or succeeded in defrauding taxpayer-funded programs of over $260 million. “The National Fraud Enforcement Division will vigorously pursue those who steal taxpayer dollars. We will find you […]

Guy Ryder, Under-Secretary-General for Policy, said the broader reform effort is now moving into a new stage. “We are now entering the delivery-focused phase of our work, building on the momentum generated by recent achievements”. Launched last year, the UN80 Initiative is a system-wide effort to reshape how the United Nations works so that every […]

More than 1.8 million children under five are also at risk of acute malnutrition between now and June, according to latest analysis published on Tuesday by the IPC food security monitoring platform (see our UN News explainer on the platform here).  The worrying development comes after the October to December Deyr season rains failed and crop production fell. Those most impacted are poor farmers, pastoralists, and internally displaced people.  Drought, displacement, aid shortfalls  In Somalia, drought, insecurity and conflict in the centre, […]

Four years into the Russian aggression, resilience in Ukraine remains visible at every corner. “It is freezing in Ukraine right now,” said Yevhen Kolyada, a civil protection worker who arrived at a recent strike site. “When I arrived, many people needed help. I recorded an interview on my phone and held my hand uncovered for about a […]

Jasen Butler, 38, of Jupiter, Florida was sentenced today in West Palm Beach to 60 months in prison and criminal forfeiture by U.S. District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks. In January, a jury convicted Butler of 34 counts of wire fraud, forgery, and money laundering. According to the evidence at trial, Butler, the owner of Independent […]

Eleven countries voted in favour of the draft, which was vetoed by permanent members China and Russia while Colombia and Pakistan abstained.  The draft resolution sought to strongly encourage States interested in the use of commercial maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz – which lies between Iran, Oman and the United Arab Emirates – and to “coordinate efforts” defensively, to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of navigation there, including the use of escorts for merchant and commercial […]