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Desperately trying to save children at one of Gaza’s last functioning hospitals.

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Earth News Dr Seema Jilani is a paediatrician who has just evacuated from al-Aqsa Hospital in central Gaza, where fighting has intensified. Tom Bennett hears her moving account of severe injuries, depleting supplies, and how she fought to let those she couldn’t save die with dignity. An 11-year-old girl with deep tissue burns so extensive that her extremities have stiffened, screaming from her hospital bed through lungs choked by smoke. A one-year-old infant who endured a traumatic amputation of his leg still wearing his bloodstained nappy.

Nepal's spiritual leader known as 'Buddha Boy' arrested on charges of rape and kidnapping

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Earth News. Nepal’s police have arrested a controversial spiritual leader known as “Buddha Boy” on charges of sexually assaulting a minor and involvement in the disappearances of at least four of his followers from his camps By Leonard Iwuoha A controversial Nepalese spiritual leader known as “Buddha Boy” was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a minor and involvement in the disappearance of at least four of his followers from his camps, police said Wednesday. Ram Bahadur Bamjan is believed by many Nepalese to be the reincarnation of Siddhartha Gautama, who was born in southwestern Nepal some 2,600 years ago and became revered as Buddha. Buddhist scholars have been skeptical of Bamjan's claims. Bamjan was arrested late Tuesday from his house in a suburb of Kathmandu, the country's capital, according to Nabaraj Adhikari of the Central Investigation Bureau. Police brought him before the media in handcuffs on Wednesday and said that he had tried to flee by jumpi

Queen Elizabeth's death stirs South Africa's colonial memories

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Earth News The Queen visited a racially segregated South Africa when she was 21 with her father King George VI. "I wouldn't say I don't like the Queen - no, no, no. But my everyday reality is [affected] by the impact of colonisation," said Sibulele Steerman, a university student, standing beside an open sewer in an impoverished township outside Cape Town. These days, many younger South Africans, in particular, are questioning the compromises that accompanied their country's transition to democracy in the early 1990s, and are demanding that Western nations do far more to acknowledge centuries of colonial exploitation. "My grandmother liked the Queen. But we're a different generation," said Ms Steerman, noting this week's calls, on social media here, for Britain to return what they say are the "stolen" South African diamonds that feature in the Crown Jewels. The Cullinan diamond, the largest ever found, was given to King Edward V

Queen's grandchildren stand vigil at her coffin

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Earth News The Queen's eight grandchildren, including the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex, are standing vigil around her coffin as she lies in state at Westminster Hall. At King Charles' request, Prince Harry is wearing military uniform, for the first time since 2020. Prince Harry has worn civilian clothes at public events since the Queen died. It is the first time in history that the grandchildren of a monarch have taken part in the ceremony. The King's sons William and Harry are joined by Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, the children of Princess Anne, as well as Prince Andrew's daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, who are Prince Edward's children. At 44, Peter Philips is the oldest of the Queen's grandchildren, while the youngest, James, Viscount Severn, is 14. Prince William is standing at the head of the Queen's coffin with his brother at the opposite end. The grandchildren's

UN chief launches effort for Ukraine humanitarian cease-fire

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Earth News UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations chief launched an initiative Monday to immediately explore possible arrangements for “a humanitarian cease-fire in Ukraine” in order to allow the delivery of desperately needed aid and pave the way for serious political negotiations to end the month-long war. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he used his “good offices” and asked Undersecretary-General Martin Griffiths, the head of the U.N.’s worldwide humanitarian operations, to explore the possibility of a cease-fire with Russia and Ukraine. He said Griffiths has already made some contacts. “I hope that he will be able to go to both Moscow and Kyiv as soon as that becomes possible,” Guterres said. “It’s very important to establish a serious dialogue with both parties in relation to the possibility of this humanitarian cease-fire.” The 193-member U.N. General Assembly, by an overwhelming majority of about 140 nations, has called for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Uk

Shot 9 times at New Zealand mosque, survivor walks for peace

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Earth News New Zealand Mosque Shooting Anniversary Al Noor Mosque shooting survivor Temel Atacocugu kisses the ground as he completes his walk from Dunedin to Christchurch on the third anniversary of the shootings in Christchurch, New Zealand, Tuesday, March 15, 2022. The lingering injuries from being shot nine times did not stop Atacocugu from completing a two-week walk and bike ride for peace on Tuesday, the third anniversary of a gunman's slaughter of 51 Muslim worshippers. (George Heard/New Zealand Herald via AP) WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The lingering injuries from being shot nine times did not stop Temel Atacocugu from completing a two-week walk and bike ride for peace on Tuesday, the third anniversary of a gunman's slaughter of 51 Muslim worshippers. Atacocugu set out to retrace the gunman's 360-kilometer (224-mile) drive from Dunedin to the two Christchurch mosques where he carried out his attack. “I wanted to fix this damage,” Atacocugu said. “Because three

Ukraine Tensions Spike as West Accuses Russia of Lying About Troop Withdrawal

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As Russia stoked hopes of a diplomatic solution and claimed to be pulling back forces from the Ukrainian border, U.S. and NATO officials accused Moscow of building up troops instead. By Chibuike Leonard Iwuoha KYIV, Ukraine — Tensions over Ukraine abruptly ratcheted up on Wednesday as Western officials accused Russia of lying about whether it had really begun pulling back troops from the Ukrainian border. After days marked by flickers of hope that the conflict might be resolved peacefully, a senior American official, who refused to be quoted by name, told reporters that far from winding down its deployment, Moscow had added more than 7,000 combatants. Western allies expressed similar doubts about the Russian claims. The American official directly accused Russia of lying, saying there was fresh evidence it was mobilizing for war. British military officials said Wednesday they had spotted Russian armored vehicles, helicopters and a field hospital moving toward Ukraine’s border. “