WORLD
Russia-Ukraine war could push 11-19mn into hunger worldwide: FAO
FAO spokesperson Boubaker Ben Belhassen told reporters that the two warring nations are major producers of agricultural commodities in the world, with a combined share of around 30 per cent of global wheat exports, reports Xinhua news agency. The countries impacted most by the conflict are in the north African region, he said.
Taliban rejects report on human rights violations in Afghanistan
"The Islamic Emirate asks the UN and human rights advocate agencies not to listen to the propaganda... They must consider and accept the truth in the country. Human rights are respected in comparison to the past 20 years in Afghanistan," he said, adding that the HRW report was "incorrect and baseless".
Monkeypox only spreads through air during 'sustained' face-to-face contact: CDC
In a briefing on Friday, CDC chief Rochelle Walensky said monkeypox was being passed on through physical contact with symptomatic patients and by touching their clothing and bedding, reports the Daily Mail. But attempting to clear up whether face masks are needed to avoid catching the rash-causing virus, the epidemiologist explained the rash-causing virus would not 'linger in the air' like Covid.
Russia holds Baltic drills amid NATO exercises
Nearly 60 surface warships, boats and supply vessels, about 45 aircraft and helicopters, and some 10,000 soldiers are involved in the massive exercises, the Ministry said in a statement on Friday. The sailors will practice searching ships of the mock enemy and carry out measures for anti-air, anti-ship and anti-submarine defense, Xinhua news agency reported.
17 states elected into UN Economic and Social Council for 3-yr term
Elected were Botswana, Cape Verde, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea from African states; China, Laos, Qatar, South Korea from Asia-Pacific states; Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica from Latin America and Caribbean states; Denmark, Greece, New Zealand, Sweden from Western European and other states; Slovakia and Slovenia from Eastern European states.
More refugees die crossing the Mediterranean to Europe: UN
While reported numbers of refugees and migrants crossing the Mediterranean to Europe were fewer than in 2015, the journeys were becoming more fatal, said Shabia Mantoo, spokesperson for UNHCR, on Friday. "Since a peak in 2015, in which more than a million refugees and migrants crossed the Mediterranean to Europe, the numbers of those making these journeys had seen a downward trend," she told a press briefing.
Russia completes massive military drills in the Pacific
During the week-long drills, more than 300 combat exercises were conducted, 170 of which involved the practical use of weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday in a statement. The sailors practiced searching submarines, firing artillery and striking targets with high-precision sea-based weapons, Xinhua news agency reported.
US inflation ticks up to 8.6% in May despite Fed's rate hikes
The consumer price index (CPI) in May rose 1 per cent from April after increasing 0.3 per cent in April, according to the department's Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The May CPI surged 8.6 per cent from 2021, a larger increase compared with the 8.3-per cent growth in April, marking the third straight month of inflation over 8 per cent. The March figure was 8.5 per cent.
Guterres appoints ex-diplomat of India as technology envoy
In other high-level appointments from South Asia at the UN, Pakistani diplomat Navid Hanif was named the assistant secretary-general for economic development, while Bangladesh's permanent representative to UN, Rabab Fatima, was appointed as the high representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS).
Nepal's successful general elections can set the tone for South Asia's economic revival
Foreign policy analysts said that the upcoming elections will decide the fate of the Himalayan nation, which has gone through lengthy and complex transitions towards a new Constitution. The massive earthquake in April 2015 along with a series of devastating aftershocks caused loss of life, infrastructure and property on an unimaginable scale.
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