World Health Organization Calls for More Funding to Aid War-Torn Ukraine

A woman walks past a residential building at the Irpinsky Lipky residential complex, which was heavily damaged during fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops in the town of Irpin, near Kyiv on February 16, 2023. (AFP)
A woman walks past a residential building at the Irpinsky Lipky residential complex, which was heavily damaged during fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops in the town of Irpin, near Kyiv on February 16, 2023. (AFP)
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World Health Organization Calls for More Funding to Aid War-Torn Ukraine

A woman walks past a residential building at the Irpinsky Lipky residential complex, which was heavily damaged during fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops in the town of Irpin, near Kyiv on February 16, 2023. (AFP)
A woman walks past a residential building at the Irpinsky Lipky residential complex, which was heavily damaged during fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops in the town of Irpin, near Kyiv on February 16, 2023. (AFP)

The World Health Organization on Friday appealed for more funds to support Ukraine's health sector, which has been severely damaged by the Russian invasion.

WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge said the country now needed more funds to ensure that mental health services and rehabilitation could be dispensed, while ensuring community access to health services.

"We aim to reach 13.6 million people with this support this year," he told an online briefing from the Ukrainian city of Zhytomyr. "That's why we have increased our appeal for 2023 to $240 million - $160 million for Ukraine and $80 million for refugee-receiving countries."

Kluge said almost 10 million people may currently have a mental health condition in Ukraine.

He described its health system as "remarkably resilient" despite sustaining nearly 780 attacks against it.

But Ukraine also needed more mobility aids such as wheelchairs for those who sustained major injuries in the conflict.

A WHO survey showed that 10% of Ukrainians struggle to access medicine, including because of damaged or destroyed pharmacies and the unavailability of supplies, Kluge said.

One third of the people surveyed reported they could no longer afford the medication they require.

Ukraine says it expects Russia to broaden the war with a big push as the Feb. 24 anniversary of what Russia calls its "special military operation" approaches.



Two Foreigners Arrested in Iran for Importing Starlink Technology

People walk through the Valiasr Square in Tehran on April 19, 2026. (AFP)
People walk through the Valiasr Square in Tehran on April 19, 2026. (AFP)
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Two Foreigners Arrested in Iran for Importing Starlink Technology

People walk through the Valiasr Square in Tehran on April 19, 2026. (AFP)
People walk through the Valiasr Square in Tehran on April 19, 2026. (AFP)

Four individuals, including two foreign nationals, were arrested in Iran's northwest, semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on ‌Sunday, ‌for being part ‌of ⁠a "US-Israel-linked espionage network."

The ⁠foreigners, whose nationality was not disclosed, are accused of importing ⁠satellite internet ‌equipment such ‌as Starlink, which ‌is a ‌criminal offence in the country, which has faced ‌seven weeks of an internet blackout.

Hundreds ⁠of ⁠Iranians have been arrested for "cooperating with enemy states" since the start of the US-Israeli war with Iran.


Türkiye ‘Optimistic’ Middle East Ceasefire Will Be Extended, Says FM

 Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during the opening ceremony of Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, Türkiye, April 17, 2026. (Reuters)
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during the opening ceremony of Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, Türkiye, April 17, 2026. (Reuters)
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Türkiye ‘Optimistic’ Middle East Ceasefire Will Be Extended, Says FM

 Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during the opening ceremony of Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, Türkiye, April 17, 2026. (Reuters)
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan speaks during the opening ceremony of Antalya Diplomacy Forum in Antalya, Türkiye, April 17, 2026. (Reuters)

Türkiye said it remained "optimistic" that a two-week ceasefire between Iran and the United States set to expire on Wednesday would be extended.

"No one wants to see a new war break out when the ceasefire expires next week. We hope ... the parties will extend the ceasefire," Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Sunday at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

"I hope there'll be an extension. I am optimistic," he said.


UK Ministers Back Starmer Amid Fresh Calls to Quit

 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer co-hosts a multinational virtual summit at the Elysee Presidential Palace, in Paris, France, on April 17, 2026. (Tom Nicholson/Pool via Reuters)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer co-hosts a multinational virtual summit at the Elysee Presidential Palace, in Paris, France, on April 17, 2026. (Tom Nicholson/Pool via Reuters)
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UK Ministers Back Starmer Amid Fresh Calls to Quit

 British Prime Minister Keir Starmer co-hosts a multinational virtual summit at the Elysee Presidential Palace, in Paris, France, on April 17, 2026. (Tom Nicholson/Pool via Reuters)
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer co-hosts a multinational virtual summit at the Elysee Presidential Palace, in Paris, France, on April 17, 2026. (Tom Nicholson/Pool via Reuters)

British government ministers on Sunday backed embattled premier Keir Starmer as he struggles to shake off a scandal over long-time Jeffrey Epstein associate Peter Mandelson.

Starmer is due to face lawmakers in parliament on Monday to explain how Mandelson was appointed Britain's ambassador to the United States in late 2024 despite failing to pass security checks.

The beleaguered prime minister, who has been dogged by the controversy for months, said Friday that he and other ministers were not told Mandelson had failed the vetting process, calling that "unforgivable".

He has blamed foreign office mandarins for allowing Mandelson's appointment against the advice of security officials, and sacked the department's top civil servant Olly Robins on Thursday.

But ex-civil servants have accused Dowing Street of scapegoating Robbins while opposition leaders have called for Starmer to quit, with accusations ranging from incompetence to willful misleading of the public.

Technology minister Liz Kendall told the BBC on Sunday that Starmer would not have appointed Mandelson had he known that he had not received the appropriate security clearance.

Deputy prime minister David Lammy, who was foreign secretary when Mandelson was appointed to Washington, said the same in an interview with the Guardian published late Saturday.

Kendall said Starmer should remain in his job because he had "made the right call" on big issues, such as building closer relations with the European Union and limiting Britain's involvement in the Iran war.

"I think he is an honest man and a man of integrity who says it was a mistake to appoint him," she told Sky News.

Lammy said it was "inexplicable" that the foreign office had kept Downing Street in the dark, telling the Guardian he had been "shocked and surprised" when he learned what happened.

Starmer, already widely unpopular with the British public due to several policy mis-steps, has faced repeated questions about his judgement for selecting Mandelson whose friendship with Epstein was well known.

He sacked Mandelson in September 2025 after new details emerged about the depth of Mandelson's ties to Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while facing sex-trafficking charges.

UK police are investigating allegations of misconduct in office by Mandelson when he was a Labour minister more than 15 years ago. He was arrested and released in February.

Mandelson has not been charged and denies criminal wrongdoing.