un rights chief

US intelligence suggests Cuba has acquired over 300 military drones, raising security concerns about potential attacks on American targets like Guantanamo Bay and Key West. CIA chief visited Havana, warning against hostilities and urging an end to its "totalitarian government." Cuba denies threatening war, asserting its right to self-defense amid growing defense ties with Russia and Iran.

Sudan's conflict is escalating into a deadlier phase, with UN reports revealing at least 880 civilian deaths from drone strikes between January and April. These attacks, by both the army and RSF, are now the leading cause of civilian fatalities, targeting markets and health facilities. The violence is spreading, increasing famine risks and disrupting aid.

Commission Raps Haryana Authorities Over Unsafe School Premises and Inaccessible Land Allotment

A fragile Iran-US ceasefire is showing signs of collapse as Iran warns of renewed hostilities amid intensified Israeli strikes in Lebanon. Hezbollah retaliated, accusing Israel of breaching the truce, a stance Israel and the US argue falls outside the agreement's scope, jeopardizing upcoming peace talks.

A renewed call for prohibition in Kashmir has sparked a wider debate on morality, governance and livelihoods. As revenue, tourism and jobs hang in the balance, the politics around liquor turns sharply opportunistic.

Amnesty International decried Thursday the "woefully inadequate" international response after the UN released a bombshell report last year detailing a litany of abuses in China's Xinjiang province. Amnesty lamented that the international community, including parts of the United Nations, had "shied away from the kind of resolute steps needed to advance justice, truth and reparation for victims".

United Nations rights chief Volker Turk, driven by Austria's anti-semitic history, advocates for refugee protection and condemns hate speech in Europe. His stance highlights the critical role of political leaders in promoting tolerance and preventing discriminatory behavior.

"Human rights are under assault," said UN chief Antonio Guterres launching a "call to action" on Monday, highlighting the persecution of minorities and "alarming levels of femicide". Pointing to swelling divisions and political polarisation, he said, "Fears are growing.." and "perverse political arithmetic has taken hold: divide people to multiply votes."

UN human rights chief warns of heightened risk of atrocity crimes in Gaza. Urges parties to refrain from violations. Humanitarian situation described as apocalyptic. Urgent measures needed to prevent crimes. Israeli troops and Hamas militants engaged in fierce ground combat. Bombardment forces population to flee to overcrowded areas in southern Gaza. Displaced Palestinians face unsanitary and unhealthy conditions. Humanitarian aid virtually cut off, increasing fears of disease and hunger. Dehumanizing and inciteful statements by Israeli officials and Hamas figures may be viewed as incitement to crimes.

un rights chief Volker Turk warned that the world needs to change its current path to avoid a future filled with military escalation, repression, disinformation, inequality, and climate change. Speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, he urged voters to focus on human rights issues in elections and be cautious of simplistic solutions.

The un rights chief voiced deep concern Monday over the United States' "fundamental shift" in direction since Donald Trump returned to power, and decried the "unchecked power" of "unelected tech oligarchs". Without mentioning Musk by name, Turk on Monday voiced concern over the growing influence wielded by "a handful of unelected tech oligarchs", who have people's data.

Indonesian police are hunting for four people wanted for an acid attack that maimed an activist critical of the military's growing role in government, an official said Monday. Andrie has been a vocal critic of moves to increase the influence of the military in the Indonesian government and had just finished recording a podcast on the topic when he was attacked.

The un rights chief called on Mali Friday to immediately repeal a decree dissolving political parties and to "fully restore political rights in the country". Turk called on "the transitional authorities to release those who have been arrested on politically motivated grounds and to fully restore political rights in the country".

The un rights chief voiced alarm on Tuesday at the large numbers of non-nationals being deported from the United States, in particular the hundreds sent to a mega-prison in El Salvador. His office pointed in a statement to US data showing that between January 20 and 142,000 individuals had been deported from the US. It voiced particular concern at the situation after US President Donald Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act in March to send alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua to a massive prison, CECOT, in El Salvador.

"No country, however powerful, should escape scrutiny of its record, commitments and actions on human rights," UN chief said at a inaugural session of UN Human Rights Council in Geneva.

un rights chief Volker Turk expressed shock at the destruction of Gaza's Nasser and Al Shifa medical facilities, alongside reports of mass graves with hundreds of bodies, as per a spokesperson. Palestinian authorities discovered bodies in mass graves at a hospital in Khan Younis post its abandonment by Israeli troops. Similar reports emerged from the Al Shifa site following an Israeli special forces operation.

The Lankan government charges that Navi Pillay had failed to recognize the freedom people now enjoy following the end to the conflict in 2009.

OHCHR and High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk reported on the situation in Gaza and the Israeli-occupied West Bank, urging all parties to end impunity, conduct investigations into alleged international crimes, implement a ceasefire, and ensure respect for human rights and humanitarian grounds.

The comments come after the deadliest day of protests in Myanmar, with at least 38 dead on Wednesday in rallies where security forces were seen firing into crowds. un rights chief Michelle Bachelet urged security forces to "halt their vicious crackdown on peaceful protesters".