The UN health chief has flagged another global pandemic. This time it is violence against women, including women being beaten or killed in their homes through domestic violence even in countries like the United States, Switzerland and Sweden. Pointing to the worst trends, World Health Organization (WHO) chief Tedros Ghebreyesus noted that "violence against women is one of … [Read more...] about UN flags another pandemic — violence against women.
United States
UN health chief’s disturbing facts about Gaza
Gaza's health factsheet is shocking. World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reported that more than 170 000 people have injuries in Gaza, including more than 5000 amputees and 3600 people with major burns. At least 42 000 people have injuries that require long-term rehabilitation. “There are still 15 000 patients who need treatment outside Gaza, … [Read more...] about UN health chief’s disturbing facts about Gaza
As Israel prepares to celebrate hostages’ return, UN readies immediate life-saving aid to Gaza.
While President Donald Trump prepares to join Israelis to celebrate the release of hostages after two years of horrific Hamas captivity, the United Nations humanitarian community is preparing to immediately alleviate the unimaginable misery of Gaza’s people. “We and our partners are prepared to move—now” to deliver food, water, medical and shelter assistance to people in … [Read more...] about As Israel prepares to celebrate hostages’ return, UN readies immediate life-saving aid to Gaza.
In Gaza’s open wound, Hamas clings on as Israelis sink into division and global isolation. UN chief echoes Trump’s hope for lasting peace.
October 7 was a day of global mourning at this century’s most heinous act of terrorism in 2023, when Hamas and allied factions killed over 1250 Israeli and other nationals and abducted 250 women, children, men and the elderly into the Gaza strip. “The recent proposal by United States President Donald J. Trump presents an opportunity that must be seized to bring this tragic … [Read more...] about In Gaza’s open wound, Hamas clings on as Israelis sink into division and global isolation. UN chief echoes Trump’s hope for lasting peace.
UN rights group demands compensation for enslavement and the transatlantic trade in Africans.
Africans and people of African descent must receive restitution and compensation for the harms done in the past through enslavement, trade in enslaved persons, the transatlantic trade in Africans, colonialism, and other grave human rights violations. A new United Nations report said those violations left enduring legacies that continue to shape every aspect of their lives. … [Read more...] about UN rights group demands compensation for enslavement and the transatlantic trade in Africans.
UN inquiry insists IDF has committed genocide in Gaza but Israel junks it as “distorted and false”.
Even as Israel’s defense minister declared that “Gaza is burning” because “the IDF strikes with an iron fist “, a United Nations inquiry insisted that Israel has committed genocide in the Gaza Strip. Israel immediately denounced the genocide allegations as an antisemitic “blood libel”. After a painstaking legal analysis of Israel’s actions and intent, the inquiry named … [Read more...] about UN inquiry insists IDF has committed genocide in Gaza but Israel junks it as “distorted and false”.
UN declares roadmap to a two-state solution amid signs of hope in Gaza’s awful suffering
The United Nations has overwhelmingly agreed on a declaration that lays out a single roadmap to deliver a two-State solution partitioning Israel and a new State of Palestine. In the UN General Assembly, 142 voted in favor, 10 voted against including Israel and the US, and 12 abstained. Those in favor included almost all large members of the European Union. Israeli … [Read more...] about UN declares roadmap to a two-state solution amid signs of hope in Gaza’s awful suffering
Yes, this is who we are: America’s 250-year history of political violence
Maurizio Valsania, Università di Torino The day after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was shot and killed while speaking at Utah Valley University, commentators repeated a familiar refrain: “This isn’t who we are as Americans.” Others similarly weighed in. Whoopi Goldberg on “The View” declared that Americans solve political disagreements peacefully: “This is not … [Read more...] about Yes, this is who we are: America’s 250-year history of political violence
Israel’s attack in Doha underscores a stark reality for Gulf states looking for stability and growth: They remain hostage to events
Footage from an Israeli strike in Qatar on Sept. 9, 2025. Photo by Security Camera/Anadolu via Getty Images David Mednicoff, UMass Amherst The oil-rich states of Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have a lot going for them: wealth, domestic stability and growing global influence. In recent months, these Gulf kingdoms also … [Read more...] about Israel’s attack in Doha underscores a stark reality for Gulf states looking for stability and growth: They remain hostage to events
DONALD TRUMP NUKES U.S. CULITIVATED RELATIONSHIP WITH INDIA
I lived in New Delhi from January to May 1972 during my final semester at Colgate University as part of an independent study project. After getting my Masters in Journalism from Northwestern's Medill School of Journalism, I returned to New Delhi to freelance from September 1973 to May 1976. Even when the United States' relationship with India was going well there was always a … [Read more...] about DONALD TRUMP NUKES U.S. CULITIVATED RELATIONSHIP WITH INDIA
The ‘security guarantee’ paradox: Too weak and it won’t protect Ukraine; too robust and Russia won’t accept it
Ukraine is seeking security guarantees to protect itself from Russian attacks. Yuriy Dyachyshyn/AFP via Getty Images Peter Rutland, Wesleyan University Back-to-back summits in Alaska and Washington with the Russian and Ukrainian leaders, respectively, have done little to clarify how U.S. President Donald Trump intends to engineer an end to … [Read more...] about The ‘security guarantee’ paradox: Too weak and it won’t protect Ukraine; too robust and Russia won’t accept it
TRUMP’S ART OF THE KNEEL
A UN treaty to control plastic pollution falters despite marathon negotiations
A United Nations conference, billed as final in a series to hammer-out a new global treaty to end plastic pollution, gave up the battle this morning after an all-nighter, without the conclusion required to complete a final treaty later this year. Letdown at the two-week 184-nation negotiation is another signal of dangerous decay in international cooperation although it … [Read more...] about A UN treaty to control plastic pollution falters despite marathon negotiations
This isn’t how wars are ended — a veteran diplomat explains how Trump-Putin summit is amateurish and politically driven
U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in Alaska on Aug. 15, 2025. Here, they arrive for a group photo at the G20 Summit in Osaka on June 28, 2019. Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images. Brendan Smialowski / AFP via Getty Images Donald Heflin, Tufts University A hastily arranged summit between President … [Read more...] about This isn’t how wars are ended — a veteran diplomat explains how Trump-Putin summit is amateurish and politically driven
Trump meeting with Putin: will Trump defer to Putin again?
President Donald Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska to talk about Ukraine and the key question now is: Will Trump defer to Putin again? Over the years it has become clear that the one person Trump has avoided criticizing or breaking with is Putin. A whole cottage industry has emerged with AI images and cartoons poking fun at Putin, who some … [Read more...] about Trump meeting with Putin: will Trump defer to Putin again?
Leaders in India, Hungary and the US are using appeals to nostalgia and nationalism to attack higher education
Two scholars argue that nostalgia and resentment fuel government attacks on universities. Rick Friedman/AFP Riyad A. Shahjahan, Michigan State University and Michalinos Zembylas, Open University of Cyprus Harvard University is under siege by the Trump administration – and the world is watching. But this case isn’t just an American … [Read more...] about Leaders in India, Hungary and the US are using appeals to nostalgia and nationalism to attack higher education
TOTAL OBLITERATION OF THE TRUTH
The US has entered the Israel-Iran war. Here are 3 scenarios for what might happen next
Ian Parmeter, Australian National University After prevaricating about whether the United States would enter Israel’s war on Iran, President Donald Trump finally made a decision. Early Sunday, US warplanes and submarines struck three of Iran’s nuclear sites at Natanz, Isfahan and Fordow, where the Iranians have a uranium enrichment plant buried about 80 metres beneath … [Read more...] about The US has entered the Israel-Iran war. Here are 3 scenarios for what might happen next
IT’S U.S.-IRAN WAR: U.S. BOMBS IRANIAN NUCLEAR SITES (NEWS AND SOCIAL MEDIA ROUNDUP)
The United States attacked three key Iranian nuclear sites in a dramatic entrance into Israel's war aimed at wiping out Iran's burgeoning nuclear program. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran. He said unless Iran moves towards peace, more bombings of its threatening sites will be in the offing. Iran is now claiming the Fordow site survived the bombing and … [Read more...] about IT’S U.S.-IRAN WAR: U.S. BOMBS IRANIAN NUCLEAR SITES (NEWS AND SOCIAL MEDIA ROUNDUP)
Iran-Israel ‘threshold war’ has rewritten nuclear escalation rules
Smoke rises from locations targeted in Tehran amid the third day of Israel’s waves of strikes against Iran, on June 15, 2025. Photo by Khoshiran/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images Farah N. Jan, University of Pennsylvania Israel’s conflict with Iran represents far more than another Middle Eastern crisis – it marks the emergence of a … [Read more...] about Iran-Israel ‘threshold war’ has rewritten nuclear escalation rules