UN agency says 80% of newly displaced Afghans are women, children
According to UN agencies, the impact of the conflict in Afghanistan has been particularly devastating on women and girls. Almost 80% of newly displaced people in Afghanistan are women and children, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has said. Earlier, UN refugee chief Filippo Grandi said Afghanistan’s humanitarian situation is pretty desperate and called for urgent aid to the country.
Ukraine marks 80th anniversary of mass shootings in Kyiv Babyn Yar
Ukraine marked the 80th anniversary of the mass shootings of civilians at the wooded ravine of Babyn Yar in Nazi-occupied Kyiv in 1941. “Two words, behind which more than 100,000 human lives…Two words, behind which millions of crippled fates…Two words, followed by 80 years of joint pain of the Jewish and Ukrainian peoples,” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.116 killed, 5 beheaded in fight between gangs at one of Ecuador’s largest prisons The death toll from a fight between gangs at one of Ecuador’s largest prisons rose to 116, President Guillermo Lasso said on Wednesday. At least five dead were reported beheaded, officials said. “It is regrettable that the prisons are being turned into territories for power disputes by criminal gangs,” Lasso further said.
2 top US generals advised President Biden to keep 2,500 troops in Afghanistan
Two top US generals have said they advised President Joe Biden to keep 2,500 troops in Afghanistan, ahead of the full US withdrawal. General Mark Milley and General Frank McKenzie were questioned by Senate armed services committee along with Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin. Milley said the US had been taken by surprise by the speed of Afghan government’s collapse.
Islamic Republic of Afghanistan announces government in exile led by ex-Vice President Amrullah Saleh
Former officials of Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, who left after Taliban’s takeover, announced continuation of the Afghan government in exile, headed by ex-Vice President Amrullah Saleh. It’s the only “legitimate administration” of Afghanistan, read a statement issued by the Afghan Embassy in Switzerland. It added the government in exile will activate executive, judicial and legislative powers.
US to declare 23 species extinct, including ivory-billed woodpecker
The ivory-billed woodpecker and 22 more birds, fish and other species will reportedly be declared extinct by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. The government agency said it had exhausted every avenue for rescuing the animals and warned that climate change could make such disappearances more common. The extinctions include 11 birds, eight freshwater mussels, among others.
