DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Palestinians fleeing Rafah describe their fear and despair: ‘I am leaving for the unknown’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Palestinian civilians told to evacuate eastern Rafah by the Israeli military have described their fear and despair at being uprooted from their homes and shelters, as Israel airstrikes hit Gaza’s southernmost city. “We left because they distributed leaflets,” Mohammed Ghanem, a resident in eastern Rafah told a CNN stringer in the area on Monday. They are killing women and children.”Another woman from eastern Rafah said, “The Israelis sent us messages ordering us to leave. It is not only my feeling, it is everyone’s feeling.”Many of those leaving eastern Rafah have been previously displaced multiple times as Israel’s focus moved from city to city. A woman called Maha said Palestinian civilians were at the mercy of the Israeli military.

Persons: ” Mohammed Ghanem, “, ”, Ghanem, Khan Younis, Ramadan Abed, Volker Türk, Faisal Barbakh, Malek, Yousef, ’, Mohammad Abu Khamash, It’s, ” Scott Anderson, Jan Egeland, Ahmad Safi, Safi, Abu Salah, Maha Organizations: CNN, Reuters, United Nations, Norwegian Refugee Council, Israel Defense Forces, Frontieres, ” MSF, UN Children’s Fund, UNICEF, UN, Palestinian Civil Defense Locations: Rafah, Israel, “, Mawasi, Gazan, Rafah’s, Gaza, ”, Israeli, Palestinian

☆ Israel, Gaza and the Law on Starvation in War
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Amanda Taub | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

On March 19, Volker Türk, the United Nations’ human rights chief, said in an official statement that Israel’s policies regarding aid in Gaza might amount to a war crime. “The extent of Israel’s continued restrictions on the entry of aid into Gaza, together with the manner in which it continues to conduct hostilities, may amount to the use of starvation as a method of war, which is a war crime,” he wrote. Using starvation of civilians as a weapon is a serious violation of international humanitarian law, and a war crime under the Rome Statute, the treaty of the International Criminal Court, or I.C.C. was preparing to issue arrest warrants against senior Israeli officials — including potentially over accusations that they prevented the delivery of aid to civilians in Gaza. (They also said they believed that the court was considering arrest warrants for Hamas leaders, which could be issued concurrently.)

Persons: Volker Türk, ” Organizations: United Nations, Criminal, New York Times Locations: Gaza, Rome

CNN —Dozens of Palestinian children eagerly lined up for a meal in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza, as aid workers unloaded huge saucepans of stew and rice from parked trucks under the bright sun. CNN footage from the distribution site in front of a sprawling displacement shelter showed staffers from the World Central Kitchen (WCK) serving the children on Wednesday. The World Central Kitchen, a US-based non-profit that focuses on fighting hunger around the world, resumed work in Gaza this week, after a hiatus following a series of Israeli military strikes that killed seven staffers in April and drew the world’s condemnation. “[The World Central Kitchen’s] food makes people feel that they are at home. Shortly after the deaths of the World Central Kitchen workers in April, Israeli officials agreed to open the Erez border crossing into northern Gaza to allow aid deliveries.

Persons: Um Hassan, Benjamin Netanyahu, Jose Andres, ” Andres, Israel’s, Ashraf Al Sultan, ”, haven’t, ” Zaki Sobeh, “, Volker Türk, Israel, Yoav Gallant, Erez, CNN’s Jennifer Hansler, Tim Lister, Eugenia Yosef, Mohammed Tawfeeq, Jonny Hallam Organizations: CNN, Israeli, Kitchen, UN, United Nations, Central Kitchen, US State Department, Hamas Locations: Deir al, Gaza, Palestinian, US, Deir, Israel, Shalom, Erez

☆ UN demands investigation after mass graves found at Gaza hospitals raided by Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Irene Nasser | Duarte Mendonca | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The United Nations has called for an “independent, effective and transparent investigation” into the discovery of mass graves at two Gaza hospitals that were besieged and raided by Israeli troops this year. A mass grave with 324 bodies was uncovered this week at the Nasser Medical Complex in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis by Gaza Civil Defense workers following the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the area. When they returned this month after the Israeli military withdrew, they discovered the bodies had been dug up and placed in at least one collective grave, the stringer said. CNN reached out to the Israeli military on Wednesday for comment regarding Türk’s remarks, to which it said it had nothing more to add beyond previous comments. The US State Department on Tuesday expressed concern over the discovery of mass graves.

Persons: Volker Türk, ”, Nasser, Al, ” Türk, Khan Younis, Yamen Abu Suleiman, Khan, Raed Saqr, It’s, Mahmoud Basal, Vedant Patel, ” “ I’m Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UN, Human, “, Nasser, Gaza Civil, Civil Defense, Nasser Hospital, Getty, Hamas, US State Department, ”, Government Locations: Gaza, Khan, AFP, Nasser, Israel, Al

CNN —As Sudan marks the grim anniversary of a year-long conflict, aid agencies have warned that the country teeters on the edge of collapse, facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis that has been largely ignored by the rest of the world. The situation in Sudan is dire, with over 8.4 million people, including 2 million children under the age of 5, forced to flee their homes in the wake of the conflict, according to Doctors Without Borders (MSF). Despite these alarming figures, the international response has been woefully inadequate, with only 5% of the 2024 humanitarian response plan for Sudan funded thus far, Islamic Relief said in a statement. A lack of responseDoctors Without Borders on Friday called on leaders attending the Paris conference “to immediately scale up the humanitarian response” in Sudan. “The warring parties in Sudan have inflicted tremendous suffering on Sudanese from all walks of life,” he said.

Persons: Elsadig Elnour, Volker Türk, Sudan “, “, Türk, Stéphane Séjourné, Annalena Baerbock, ”, Mohamed Badawi, ” Mohamed Osman, ” Osman, Sudan Tom Perriello, Perriello, Ramadan Organizations: CNN, Islamic, Sudanese Armed Forces, SAF, Rapid Support Forces, UN, Human, French, Sudan’s, African Center for Justice, Peace Studies, Paris, Human Rights Watch, “, US, State Department Locations: Sudan, France, Paris, ”, Jazira, Saudi Arabia

☆ Why Ireland is the most pro-Palestinian nation in Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Eoin Mcsweeney | Niamh Kennedy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

“But like Palestine, (Ireland) had direct and sustained experience of imperialism,” she said. Mousa Salem/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Palestinians transport bags of flour on the back of trucks as humanitarian aid arrives in Gaza City on March 6. Omar Qattaa/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images Palestinians wait to receive food at a refugee camp in Rafah on January 27. AFP/Getty Images Palestinian boy Ahmed Qannan, suffering from malnutrition, receives treatment at a health-care center in Rafah on March 4. Yasser Qudih/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images People in a crowd struggle to buy bread from a bakery in Rafah on February 18.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu’s, Micheál Martin, Israel, “, Zoë Lawlor, ”, Jane Ohlmeyer, Leo Varadkar, ” Varadkar, Abdalmajid, Volker Turk, Ohlmeyer, Clodagh Kilcoyne, Ronald Storrs, Seán Gannon, Simon Harris, ” Israel, Amihai Eliyahu, Netanyahu, Dana Erlich, Emily Hand, Varadkar’s, Eli Cohen, Varadkar, Sinn Féin, Mary Lou McDonald, ” Matt Carthy, Sinn, ” Lawlor, Loay, Fadi, Kamal Adwan, Omar Qattaa, Saher, Ahmed Qannan, Mohammed Salem, Said Khatib, Dawoud Abo, Jehad, crouches, Abed Zagout, Yazan, Rabie Abu Noqaira, Mohammed Abed, Alexi J . Rosenfeld, Yasser Qudih, Fatima Shbair, Lawlor, Carthy Organizations: CNN —, Israel, International Court of Justice, Irish, Irish Palestine Solidarity, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, “, CNN, Irish Free State, Republic of Ireland, Hamas, United Nations, Jewish, Republican Irish, European Union, West Bank, Newstalk, Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Washington Post, Kamal, Anadolu Agency, Getty, AFP, UN, Reuters, US Air Force, UPI, Dawoud Abo Alkas, Amnesty, Irish Times, State Locations: CNN — Ireland, Ireland, Gaza, Israel, Gaza “, South Africa, Irish Palestine, Palestinian, Irish, Palestine, London, St, dispossession, Ulster, United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Republic of, Dublin, Jerusalem, Jewish Ulster, Republic of Ireland, Ireland Ireland, Limerick, Rafah, Mousa Salem, Gaza City, AFP, Jordanian, Februrary

☆ Sexual violence ‘largely unpunished’ in Haiti, UN says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Mitchell Mccluskey | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —The UN human rights office described sexual violence in Haiti as “severely underreported and largely unpunished” in a harrowing report released Thursday that documented cases of rape and forced sexual relations with gang members, as well surging levels of gang violence in the country. The violence has caused the internal displacement of approximately 313,900 people as of December 2023, according to the OHCHR. “All these practices are outrageous and must stop at once,” said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. “Widespread corruption and dysfunction of the justice system greatly contribute to the pervasive impunity for grave human rights violations, and they need to be addressed urgently,” said Türk. Police patrol a street after authorities extended the state of emergency amid gang violence that has forced thousands to flee their homes in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, March 8, 2024.

Persons: ”, Volker Türk, Ariel Henry, Henry’s, ” Türk, Ralph Tedy Ero Organizations: CNN, UN, United Nations, Human Rights, “, Human, Haitian National Police, Police Locations: Haiti, –, Port, “, Prince

☆ Gangs netting up to $3 trillion a year as Southeast Asia human trafficking becomes a global crisis, Interpol says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-28 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Human trafficking-fueled fraud is exploding in Southeast Asia with organized crime rings raking in close to $3 trillion in illicit revenue annually, the head of Interpol has said in comments that reveal the huge profits being earned by cartels. One international organized crime group makes $50 billion a year, according to Interpol secretary-general Jurgen Stock, adding that $2 trillion to $3 trillion of illicit money flows through the global financial system annually. While drug trafficking contributes around 40% to 70% of organized crime income, criminal groups are also using those smuggling networks to illegally move humans, arms and stolen products among other things, Stock said. Criminal enterprises also exist in Laos, Thailand and the Philippines, with many of the lucrative online scam operations ranging from illegal gambling, to love scams and crypto fraud. Beijing has pressed Myanmar’s military government to rein in the scam operations, but with limited success.

Persons: Jurgen Stock, Stock, ” Stock, Human Rights Volker Turk Organizations: CNN, Interpol, International Monetary Fund, Covid, ”, “, United Nations, UN, Human Rights, Philippine News Agency Locations: Southeast Asia, Singapore, Asia, United States, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Philippines, China –, Beijing, China, Manila, what’s, Malaysia, Vietnam, Hong Kong

That morning, local villager Zaw Zaw says he woke at his parents’ home in Myauk Khin Yan to the sound of gunfire. A Myanmar military jet flies overhead after bombing the quarters of Karenni Nationalities Defence Force (KNDF), in Kayah state, Myanmar on July 6, 2022. Following the executions, Zaw Zaw said the militia “locked down” the village and threatened to kill those who left. Multiple villagers who spoke to CNN consistently said Myauk Khin Yan has been a militia stronghold since the 2021 coup. Phoe Ei Thu, 17, lost her leg to a landmine while fleeing Myauk Khin Yan in early January.

Persons: dehumanized, Phoe Tay, Phoe, Volker Türk, ”, Min Aung, Aung, Suu Kyi, ” Yaw, Myauk, “ Yaw, guerre, Soldiers, “ Ninja ”, Myo Satt Hla, ” Ninja, “, ” Yaw Lay, Zaw Zaw, ’, Myauk Khin Yan, ” Zaw Zaw, …, Kaung Zaw Hein, ” Kim Jolliffe, Kim Jolliffe, Yan, Khin Yan, Yaw Lay, Stringer, NurPhoto, Jolliffe, Hla, Mai Thomas, Ei, It’s, Kim Jolliffe “, Ei Thu, Richard Horsey, Matt Lawrence, ” Horsey, Thierry Falise, ” Miemie Winn Byrd, hasn’t, Khung Aung, Lawrence, Min Aung Hlaing, Miemie Winn Byrd, Daniel K, Inouye, “ You’re, ” Byrd, Byrd, There’s, they’ve, Soe Lin Aung, Organizations: CNN, People’s Defence Force, United Nations Human, ” CNN, Army, National League for Democracy, Yaw Defense Force, Karenni Nationalities Defence Force, Burma Affairs, Union Solidarity and Development Party, ISIS, UN, Association for Political, Getty, Information Resilience, Myanmar Witness, Human Rights, Junta, US Army, Pacific Center for Security Studies Locations: Myanmar, Phoe Tay, Thar, Aung San, Chin, Myauk Khin, Gangaw, Magway, Loikaw, Kayah, Myauk, Gangaw Township, Magway Region, Khin, Yangon, United States, United Kingdom, Shan, Thantlang, Chin State, AFP, Inouye Asia, Sagaing

☆ Israeli settlements expand by record amount, UN rights chief says
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-09 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

A Palestinian neighborhood is seen from the window of a building inside an Israeli settlement in the city of Hebron on January 18, 2017 in Hebron, West Bank. Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories have expanded by a record amount and risk eliminating any practical possibly of a Palestinian state, the U.N. human rights chief said on Friday. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said that the growth of Israeli settlements amounted to the transfer by Israel of its own population, which he reiterated was a war crime. The U.S. Biden administration said last month the settlements were "inconsistent" with international law after Israel announced new housing plans in the occupied West Bank. "Human rights are universal, yet Israeli victims of Palestinian terrorism are ignored by the Office (of the High Commissioner) time and time again," it said in a statement.

Persons: Human Rights Volker Turk, Biden, Turk Organizations: West Bank, United Nations, Human Rights, U.S, Israel Locations: Hebron, West, Palestinian, Israel, Palestinian State, Geneva

CNN —A road being built by the Israeli military splitting Gaza in two has reached the Mediterranean coast, a CNN analysis of satellite imagery shows. The plan has not been adopted by the IDF, but it includes elements that are coming into existence, including the Netzarim Corridor. Satellite imagery from November shows the tracks emerging, at a time when the military’s focus turned to surrounding Gaza City, advancing from the east. I remember it vividly.”Abu Holi was seldom open, Munther Al-Ashi, a lawyer from Gaza City, told CNN. “If our house in Gaza City has not been shelled, I would like to go back to it.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, Al Rashid, Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli, Chikli, Israel, Shimon Orkabi, Volker Türk, ’ Emily Harding, Harding, Jamal Al, ”, ” Al, Rozzi, Khan Younis, “, Munther Al, Ashi, Al Rozzi Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Al, Diaspora Affairs, IDF, Maxar Technologies, Planet Labs, Hamas, Israeli Engineering Corps, Combat Engineering Corps, Palestinian Friendship Hospital, Palestinian Friendship, UN, Human, Intelligence, National Security, Technology, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Israel, Rights Watch Locations: Gaza, Israel, Netzarim, Israeli, Gaza City, Be’eri, Chikli, Wadi Gaza, Turkish, Washington ,, ”, Rafah, “

☆ US asks Haiti’s Prime Minister to ‘move forward’ on political transition amid turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-06 | by ( Caitlin Stephen Hu | Richard Roth | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —The US has called for “urgent” movement toward a political transition in Haiti, as gangs run amok in the nation’s capital and opposition groups demand Prime Minister Ariel Henry’s resignation. Henry landed in Puerto Rico on Tuesday after days of speculation about his whereabouts. US officials had called Henry mid-flight in an effort to persuade him to step aside in favor of a transitional administration, the report said. Ahead of the meeting, the UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk urged the international community to “act swiftly and decisively to prevent Haiti’s further descent into chaos.”“This situation is beyond untenable for the people of Haiti,” he said. “We are simply running out of time.”This is a developing story and will be updated.

Persons: Ariel Henry’s, Henry, United Nations Linda Thomas, Greenfield, we’ve, Prince, Henry’s, Jimmy Cherizier, “, ”, Ariel Henry doesn’t, Ariel Henry, ” Cherizier, Volker Türk, Haiti’s Organizations: CNN, Kenyan, Miami Herald, Herald, United Nations, Reuters, Core, UN Security, Human Locations: Haiti, Puerto Rico, Kenya, Caribbean, Washington, Dominican Republic, Dominican, Haitian, Port, United States, Canada, France

☆ Ghana’s parliament passes anti-homosexuality bill
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( David Mckenzie | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Johannesburg CNN —Ghana’s parliament on Wednesday unanimously passed a controversial anti-homosexuality bill that has drawn international condemnation. The bill, which was introduced in the parliament in 2021, not only criminalizes LGBTQ relationships, but also those who support LGBTQ rights. The bill in Ghana still needs to be signed off by the country’s president before it becomes law. “Approaches rooted in inclusion of all people have been crucial to Ghana’s progress in the HIV response,” Byanyima said in a statement. “Evidence shows that punitive laws like this bill are a barrier to ending AIDS, and ultimately undermine everyone’s health.”

Persons: “, ”, Sam George, Volker Türk, Winnie Byanyima, ” Byanyima, Byanyima Organizations: Johannesburg CNN —, Twitter, CNN, United Nations Locations: Johannesburg, Africa, Ghana

☆ Britain's Rwanda Asylum Plan Raises Deep Concerns: UN Rights Chief
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-19 | by ( Feb. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

GENEVA (Reuters) - Britain's revived plan to send asylum seekers to Rwanda would drastically strip back courts' ability to scrutinise decisions and risks dealing a "serious blow to human rights", the United Nations rights chief said on Monday. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is pushing legislation through parliament that would declare Rwanda a safe country for asylum seekers despite misgivings from some lawmakers, who have attacked the plan as unethical and unworkable. Under the proposals, asylum seekers who arrive on England's southern coast in small, inflatable boats would be sent to Rwanda to live. More than 1,300 asylum seekers have arrived in Britain on small boats so far this year. (Reporting by Emma Farge; Additional reporting by Andrew MacAskill in London; Editing by Nick Macfie)

Persons: Britain's, Rishi Sunak, Volker Turk, Turk, Sunak, Emma Farge, Andrew MacAskill, Nick Macfie Organizations: United Nations, Conservative Party Locations: GENEVA, Rwanda, Britain, London

☆ Egypt is building a new walled buffer zone more than 2 miles wide on Gaza border, satellite images show
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Paul P. Murphy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

If the buffer zone — which stretches from the end of the Gaza border to the Mediterranean Sea — is completed, it will completely engulf the Egyptian-Rafah border crossing complex. Additional satellite imagery reviewed by CNN shows that bulldozers arrived on site on February 3, and the initial excavation of the buffer zone began on February 6. CNN has reached out to the Egyptian government for comment on the buffer zone and wall construction. This satellite image from Maxar Technologies shows Egypt building a massive miles-wide buffer zone, and border wall, along its border with Gaza. Israel has been accused of constructing its own buffer zone, but within Gaza, which would effectively shrink the enclave’s borders.

Persons: Benjamin Netanyahu, ’, Peter Lerner, Rajaa Musleh, “, ” Musleh, Fabrizio Carboni, Israel’s, Gazans, Israel, Netanyahu, Volker Türk, ”, ” Türk Organizations: CNN, Maxar Technologies, Sinai Foundation, Human Rights, Gaza Maxar Technologies, Israel Defense Forces, International Committee, Red Cross, New Zealand, UN, Human, IDF Locations: Egypt, Gaza, Rafah, Egypt’s, Gazan, Israel, Australia, Canada, New, North Sinai

☆ Senegal: UN raises alarm over escalating tensions after election delay
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-14 | by ( Nimi Princewill | Sharon Braithwaite | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The United Nations is “deeply concerned” about the tense situation in Senegal, following the suspension of the country’s presidential election that was slated for February 25, Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Liz Throssell said Tuesday. On Tuesday, the French Foreign Ministry said that Senegal must hold a new presidential election “as soon as possible” and refrain from disproportionate force when dealing with protests. “France offers its condolences to the relatives of those who died during the demonstrations in Senegal in recent days. The US also previously said it was “deeply concerned” by the moves to delay the election and urged the government to move forward with the ballot. A West African delegation from regional bloc ECOWAS arrived in Senegal on Monday to mediate on the escalating political crisis, ahead of fresh protests planned for this week, Senegalese state media RTS reported.

Persons: Liz Throssell, Macky Sall, Throssell, ”, Volker Türk, “, Abdou Diouf, Abdoulaye Wade, Sall Organizations: CNN, United Nations, UN, Human, Mobile, French Foreign Ministry, “, US, ECOWAS Locations: Senegal, Dakar, Senegal’s, Geneva

☆ Palestinian women describe terror of 12-mile escape on foot from Gaza City
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Abeer Salman | Mohammad Al Sawalhi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

The upscale Al-Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City has been devastated by Israel’s intense bombing campaign, launched in response to Hamas’ deadly attacks in Israel on October 7. “We heard their screams because they were beating them up.”Al-Ashkar said that Israeli forces had placed explosives in the buildings where people had been sheltering. They didn’t let us take anything,” al-Ashkar said, referring to their journey from the building in Gaza City. Al-Ashkar said that the walk had been longer than eight hours and said that Israeli forces were firing towards them as they walked. “All the streets are destroyed.”Al-Arbeel provided a very similar account of their interaction with Israeli forces.

Persons: Abu Eskandar, Abdallah Wael, Wael, Israa Hassan Ahmed al, Ashkar, Mohammad Al Sawalhi, Volker Türk, Rimal, Khader Al Za’anoun, ”, ” Hoda Harb, “, Walla Abdul Rahim Shabaan, Arbeel, Mina, Balah, doesn’t, ‘, ’, who’s, “ didn’t, ” Harb, ’ ” Harb, Tala, ” Tala Harb, CNN Tala, Fadeel El Helw, Harb’s, couldn’t Organizations: CNN, Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, CNN UN, Human, WAFA, of Health, Israeli, ” CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Palestine Red Crescent Society, Deir Al, CNN CNN Locations: Gaza, Al, Aqsa, Deir Al, Gaza City, Rimal, Israel, Rafah, Palestine, Deir

☆ Pakistan election 2024: Millions will head to the polls in an election mired in controversy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Rhea Mogul | Sophia Saifi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Islamabad, Pakistan CNN —Millions in Pakistan will head to the polls on Thursday for a general election in which old dynasties are vying for power while the country’s widely popular former leader languishes behind bars unable to stand and militants ramp up deadly attacks. Mobile internet has been suspended in various districts of the province, leading to concerns of a nationwide blackout. A street is festooned with posters of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in Lahore on February 4, 2024. Sharif remains widely popular in Pakistan’s Punjab province – the country’s most populous and a key electoral battleground – where his Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) party has been lauded for advancing mega infrastructural projects. Standing against him is Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the 35-year-old son of slain former leader Benazir Bhutto, seeking to reestablish his Pakistan People’s Party as a major political force.

Persons: languishes, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, Nawaz Sharif, ARIF, Volker Türk, ”, Liz Throssell, Imran Khan’s, Khan, Sharif, Nawaz, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Benazir Bhutto Organizations: Pakistan CNN —, Islamic State, Mobile, Foreign, ARIF ALI, AFP, Getty, United Nations, Human Rights, “, Cricket, PTI, Pakistan Muslim League, Pakistan People’s Party Locations: Islamabad, Pakistan, country’s, Balochistan, Islamic State Pakistan Province, Iran, Afghanistan, Lahore, Imran Khan’s Pakistan, Punjab

☆ UN Rights Chief Deplores US Nitrogen Gas Execution
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations human rights chief on Friday condemned the execution of a prisoner in the U.S. state of Alabama by nitrogen gas, saying the method could amount to torture. Kenneth Smith, convicted of a 1988 murder-for-hire, was executed on Thursday with nitrogen gas, the first use of a new method of capital punishment since lethal injections began in the U.S. four decades ago. "I deeply regret the execution of Kenneth Eugene Smith in Alabama despite serious concerns this novel and untested method of suffocation by nitrogen gas may amount to torture, or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment," Volker Turk, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, said. I urge all states to put in place a moratorium on its use, as a step towards universal abolition." In November 2022, Alabama officials aborted his execution by lethal injection after struggling for hours to insert an intravenous line's needle in his body.

Persons: Kenneth Smith, Kenneth Eugene Smith, Volker Turk, Smith, Gabrielle Tétrault, Farber, Barbara Lewis Organizations: United Nations, Human Rights Locations: GENEVA, U.S ., Alabama

☆ Russia’s top court bans ‘international LGBTQ movement’
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-30 | by ( Anna Chernova | Lindsay Isaac | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Russia’s Supreme Court has declared what it called the “international LGBTQ movement” an extremist organization and banned all activities associated with it in the country. Russia’s highest court found in favour of a motion filed by the Ministry of Justice which claimed the LGBTQ community risked “inciting social and religious discord”, in violation of Russia’s Law on Countering Extremism, according to a statement from the UN condemning the decision. The four-hour hearing was held behind closed doors with only the Justice Ministry present for the proceedings and materials classified. LGBT activists take part in a protest against amendments to Russia's Constitution on July 15, 2020. The new law was an extension of legislation introduced in 2013, which banned the dissemination of LGBTQ-related information to minors.

Persons: CNN —, Vladimir Putin, Thursday’s, Shamil Zhumatov, Volker Türk, Putin Organizations: CNN, CNN — Russia’s, Ministry of Justice, LGBT, RIA Novosti, Justice, Constitution, UN Human Rights, UN, Human, Kremlin Locations: West, Russia, Ukraine

☆ Haiti Gang Wars Now 'Cataclysmic' in Key Farmlands -UN Report
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Nov. | At P.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Haiti's brutal gang wars have spread from the capital to key farming heartlands, displacing tens of thousands of people and having a devastating impact on access to food staples, the United Nations said in a report on Tuesday. The violence has severely limited humanitarian access to the area, leaving support for victims of sexual violence to cash-strapped rural associations. Victims rarely come forward, the report said, due to fear of reprisals and mistrust of police. "We are continuing to receive reports of killings, sexual violence, displacement and other violence – including in hospitals," he said. "The much-needed multinational security support mission needs to be deployed to Haiti as soon as possible."

Persons: U.N, Human Rights Volker Turk, Turk, Sarah Morland, Harold Isaac, Rosalba O'Brien Organizations: Reuters, United Nations, Human Rights Locations: Artibonite, Bas, United States, Haiti

☆ Israel seeks recognition of Hamas sexual violence at UN meeting
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Emma Farge | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Israeli authorities have opened an investigation into sexual violence during the most deadly attack on Israel in its history, including rape, after evidence emerged pointing to sexual crimes, such as victims found disrobed and mutilated. The private event, attended by diplomats, rights groups and U.N. agencies, is the first Israel-organised event outside the country to address acts of sexual violence by Hamas, which Israel's diplomatic mission described as "widespread". U.N. rights bodies "downplayed" and "minimised" the sexual violence, said Ruth Halperin-Kaddari, an Associate Professor at the Bar-Ilan University, who spoke at the event. "The Office is attempting to carry out remote monitoring of these and other human rights violations reported in Israel and the OPT (Occupied Palestinian Territories). Lack of direct access to Israel and the OPT has hampered the work," said Ravina Shamdasani in response to emailed questions.

Persons: Evelyn Hockstein, Ruth Halperin, Kaddari, " Halperin, Volker Turk, Ravina, Halperin, Emma Farge, Maayan Lubell, Ari Rabinovitch, William Maclean Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Ilan University, Reuters, Women, Human, Human Rights, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Kibbutz Kfar Aza, Israel, Geneva, Palestinian Territories, Jerusalem

☆ The War Turns Gaza Into a ‘Graveyard’ for Children
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( Yousef Masoud | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

Dr. Abu Moussa recounted how he had asked other departments, including the intensive care unit, whether his son had been rushed there instead. Dr. Abu Moussa said he recognized the gray clothing Yousef had been wearing when he kissed him goodbye before leaving the house. With dread, Dr. Abu Moussa walked from the emergency room to the hospital morgue. Dr. Abu Moussa recalled looking away before a colleague embraced him. Dr. Abu Moussa’s brother, Jasir Abu Moussa, lost both of his sons and his wife, family members said.

Persons: ’ —, ”, Abu, Dr, Sittah, Gazans, “, Volker Türk, Catherine Russell, Mohammad Abu Moussa, Khan Younis —, Israel —, Yousef, “ Where’s Yousef, Yousef Abu Moussa, Mohammad Abu Moussa Dr, Abu Moussa didn’t, Abu Moussa, gurney, Abu Moussa’s, “ Yousef, Jasir Abu Moussa, Hmaid, Abdulrahman, Nida Organizations: United Nations, UNICEF, International Committee Locations: Al, Gaza, Israel, Nasr, Khan, That’s, Europe

☆ UN High Commissioner for Human Rights calls for independent investigation into Al-Shifa hospitals claims
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Andrew Carey | David Shortell | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN cannot independently verify the claim by Israel that the image is of a Hamas tunnel. The UN’s High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk called on Israel to grant independent investigators access to Gaza to probe the competing claims. “This is precisely where you need an independent international investigation, because we have different narratives,” said Türk on Thursday. The IDF on Thursday released an image of what it said were weapons recovered from inside Al-Shifa hospital. On Wednesday, US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reiterated previous statements from the White House saying the US had intelligence that Hamas was operating in Al-Shifa Hospital.

Persons: Daniel Hagari, Volker Türk, ”, Türk, “, –, Israel of, Israel, Yehudit Weiss, Noa Marciano, Mohammad Abu Salmiya, Al Jazeera, Abu Salmiya, Hagari, Rantisi, Mohammed Zarqout, John Kirby, ” Kirby Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Human, IDF, Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, Palestinian Ministry of Health, Rantisi, Al, US National Security, Shifa Locations: Israel, Gaza City, Gaza, IDF, Ramallah, Israel of Gaza, United States, Al

☆ ‘Where will I leave these children, on the street?’ The struggle for survival faced by disabled Palestinians in Gaza
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-17 | by ( Rosa Rahimi | Sana Noor Haq | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +14 min

“There was chaos in the place, children crying, and smoke and fire spread,” Al-Naizi told CNN, sharing videos of the aftermath. It took about two hours to evacuate the group, according to Al-Naizi, as many of the children had to be carried. “Where will I leave these children, on the street?” Al-Naizi said. Streams of Palestinians – including women, children and the elderly – have been making their way south in a growing exodus along daily evacuation corridors announced by the IDF. Hazem Saeed Al-NaiziAs Israeli troops close in on Gaza City, Al-Naizi fears the orphanage will be displaced again.

Persons: Hazem Saeed Al, Naizi, ” Al, ”, “, Hamza, Muhammad, Naizi Israel, Volker Türk, Abu Jazar Sama, Sama, Walid Mahmoud Nazzal, ” Sama, ” Heba Abu Jazar Sama, Heba Abu Jazar Sama, Sama’s, Jamal Al Rozzi, Ayas, Saeed Al, Reham Shaheen, bedsores, Shaheen, Gazans, Al Rozzi, Fidaa Fouad Khamis Omar, Khan Younis, ’ Al Rozzi’s, Adham, Israel, Omar, , ” CNN’s Kareem El Damanhoury, Abeer Salman, Akanksha Sharma, Mostafa Salem, Zeena, Eyad Kourdi Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Palestinian Ministry of Health, West Bank, Humanitarian Affairs, IDF, United Nations, Palestinian Central Bureau, Statistics, Palestinian, Palestinian Union of, UN, Human Rights Watch, National Society for Rehabilitation, Humanity, HRW, Aid, National Society for, Rehabilitation, Amnesty International Locations: Gaza, Gaza City, Al, Ramallah, Palestinian Union, “, Wadi Gaza, Khan

Search resuls for: "Volker Türk"

25 mentions found