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geneva — The United Nations on Friday said delegations from both of Sudan’s warring parties turned up for a second day of cease-fire talks in Geneva aimed at protecting civilians and providing humanitarian aid to millions of people devastated by the conflict. The talks got off to a rocky start Thursday when one of the delegations failed to show up. Without revealing which party didn’t appear, U.N. spokesperson in Geneva Alessandra Vellucci told journalists that the talks now are underway. “I can confirm that some of the discussions are taking place,” she said. “I cannot give you the details on which warring party has showed up or not. What I can tell you is that the engagements continue today. So, we will see how it goes.” The U.N. spokesperson noted that the Sudanese delegations are not meeting face-to-face but are engaging in so-called “proximity talks,” with Ramtane Lamamra, the personal envoy of U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, shuttling between the two delegations. Vellucci said that even though one delegation did not arrive on the first day, the U.N. mediator still was able to hold talks with representatives of the party that did appear. After 15 months of brutal warfare, Vellucci suggested that a day’s delay in the negotiations was less important than the fact that senior representatives from both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have accepted Lamamra’s invitation to get on with discussions. “We urged them to participate because, as you all know, we have also spoken about this here on this podium,” she said. “The humanitarian situation in Sudan is deteriorating by the day. So, we really need to look at the devastating impact that this has on the civilian population. And we urge the delegations to rise up to this challenge and engage in constructive discussions.” Since rival generals triggered the conflict in mid-April 2023, the United Nations reports nearly 19,000 people have been killed and 33,000 injured. The war has also created the world’s worst displacement crisis. Latest reports find it has displaced 12.7 million people — 10.5 million still living inside Sudan and 2.2 million who have become refugees in five neighboring countries. The World Food Program warns that some 18 million people are suffering from acute hunger, with 755,000 people on the brink of famine. The World Health Organization reports nearly 15 million people need urgent health assistance, with many suffering from deadly infectious diseases and others from chronic ailments including cancer and diabetes. On-again, off-again cease-fire talks between the SAF and RSF in the Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah broke down at the end of last year, making these latest efforts to halt the catastrophic escalation of this brutal war more crucial than ever. In a Thursday briefing to journalists at United Nations headquarters in New York, spokesperson for the secretary-general, Stephane Dujarric, warned against raising expectations about the talks. “We and others have been trying to move this process forward,” he said. “We need to give it a little bit of breathing room and that’s why we’re not trumpeting all of this.” The format of the talks is based on two Security Council resolutions that express concerns over the spreading violence in Sudan. Resolution 2724 calls for Personal Envoy Lamamra “to use his good offices with the parties” to coordinate regional peace efforts, while Security Council Resolution 2736 urges the parties to de-escalate in El Fasher and “allow and facilitate unfettered humanitarian access across the country and ensure the protection of civilians.” El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur State and last SAF stronghold in the region, is the scene of a fierce battle being waged for its control by RSF fighters. The Security Council resolutions call on the parties to the conflict to seek “an immediate cessation of hostilities, leading to a sustainable resolution of the conflict, through dialogue.” Vellucci told journalists the focus of the talks is “to ensure the distribution of humanitarian assistance to all the Sudanese population in need and to ensure the protection of civilians across Sudan.” “The two delegations are comprised of senior representatives who have been delegated by the leaders of the warring parties to participate in the talks. And the delegations are composed of humanitarian, security and military experts,” she said. “So, that is what I can tell you about the delegation and the delegation level.” The U.N. spokesperson added that it was not clear how long the talks would last. “For the moment, the talks are continuing, and we will see how long they will continue,” she said. What is important, she added, is that “the warring parties identify and agree on ways to protect and assist the civilian population, possibly by agreeing on local cease-fires.”

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Nearly 4 million Ukrainians are internally displaced since Russia’s invasion. As of early May, nearly 150,000 of them were living in the Khmelnytskyi region, west of Kyiv. Some of them say they aren’t waiting for the war to end and are building new lives where they are. Tetiana Kukurika has the story, narrated by Anna Rice. Camera: Sergiy Rybchynski.

President Biden wraps up the NATO summit in Washington with more pledges of arms for Ukraine, but no clear timeline for Kyiv to join the alliance. Hungary’s right-wing leader and Putin ally, Viktor Orban visits with Donald Trump. An update from Kyiv, deadly landslides in Nepal, the Pakistani military and a look at negotiations to end the Sudanese civil war.

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Washington — Congressional Republicans joined by some Democrats this week passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or SAVE Act, a bill that would require proof of citizenship to register to vote.  During a media briefing Wednesday, voting and immigration rights advocates addressed concerns about the bill and false claims regarding noncitizens voting in state and federal elections.   “The reality is that states have multiple systems in place to deter noncitizen voting,” said Sean Morales-Doyle, director of the Voting Rights program at the Brennan Center for Justice.  Morales-Doyle said voting by noncitizens is “exceedingly” rare.  “It is already a crime many times over for noncitizens to vote in state and federal elections. It's a state crime to register as a noncitizen. It's a federal crime to register as a noncitizen. It’s a state crime to vote as a noncitizen. It's a federal crime to vote as a noncitizen. There are severe penalties for those who violate these laws, they face prison time, they face deportation,” he said.  The Brennan Center for Justice, part of the New York University School of Law, is a member of a broad coalition that tracks election-related disinformation. One of the biggest myths, the center said in April, is that noncitizens are voting.   “Yes, people do things that are illegal sometimes, but they take into account the payoff and the consequences. And here, the payoff is minimal. It's the ability to cast one vote and in one election, or maybe even just to put your name on the rolls. And the consequences are extreme and severe. They include deportation, prison time, large fines, it just does not make any sense for someone to attempt this crime,” Morales-Doyle said.  In 2017, the Brennan Center reviewed 42 jurisdictions, encompassing 23.5 million votes from the 2016 presidential election, and identified only 30 possible incidents of noncitizen voting, or 0.0001% of the votes cast.   Citizen-only voting movement   In calling for the SAVE Act, Republicans partially rely on a discredited 2014 study that claimed noncitizen voting could influence congressional and presidential elections. The growing citizen-only voting movement combines election fraud concerns and illegal immigration, both key issues for Republicans this presidential election.   The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, maintains a database of election fraud cases showing 21 cases since 2003. The cases are detailed, including any criminal penalties paid.  The conversation about noncitizen voting grew in 2020 when House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans began advocating for the SAVE Act.  Johnson often cites data indicating that noncitizens are registered to vote in some municipalities, including New York City, Washington, Takoma Park, Maryland, and Montpelier, Vermont. These cities allow noncitizen residents to register and vote only in certain local elections.  In 2023, Takoma Park commemorated the 30th anniversary of the first noncitizen residents voting. An initiative, passed in 1992 by the Takoma Park City Council, gave immigrants, regardless of their immigration status, the right to vote in city elections for mayor and city council if they live within the city limits, are not registered to vote elsewhere, and are at least 16 years old.    Johnson said the SAVE Act would require Americans to show proof of citizenship to register to vote. In practice, this means that voters would have to produce one of several documents listed in the act.  “It's clear that our election process is worth protecting. It is our responsibility as members of Congress and concerned leaders of citizens groups and organizations who care about the integrity of our system and our elections,” Johnson said in a statement.   Critics argue the SAVE Act could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters who lack immediate access to citizenship documents, particularly the poor, women, and people of color.  A survey in January by the Center for Civic Democracy and Engagement at the University of Maryland shows that more than 9% of American citizens of voting age, or 21.3 million people, don’t have proof of citizenship readily available.    “There are myriad reasons for this — the documents might be in the home of another family member or in a safety deposit box. And at least 3.8 million don’t have these documents at all, often because they were lost, destroyed, or stolen,” according to the study.   The SAVE Act includes a process for those without proof of citizenship readily available.  The bill mandates that states create a process allowing citizens who lack proof of citizenship to submit alternative documentation and sign a document, under penalty of perjury, affirming their U.S. citizenship and eligibility to vote in federal elections, which mirrors the existing voter registration process but imposes additional administrative burdens on election officials.   "So, what does that mean to provide proof that you're a citizen, if you don't have documentary proof that you're a citizen? I just don't know. So, it's, there's the vagueness there that is problematic. I don't know what process they're contemplating or what that's going to look like,” Morales-Doyle said.   The act also establishes criminal penalties for election officials who mistakenly register noncitizens.  “So, no matter what that alternative path ends up looking like … you're hanging the threat of criminal prosecution over the head of any election official that allows someone to go into that alternative route,” Morales-Doyle said.   The House voted 221-198 to approval the SAVE Act. The legislation now heads to the Senate, where it is likely to be rejected.

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ABUJA, NIGERIA — Nigeria's population is on track to hit 377 million people by 2050, highlighting the  need for reproductive health services. But cultural and religious barriers often complicate access to contraception, causing economic and maternal health issues.  Philomena Okoduwa knows this struggle well. Once against family planning, she now supports six children with her meager income from petty trading.  She regrets not embracing family planning sooner.  "Things are very bad for us, even to take care of basic needs is a struggle," she said. "I wished I knew about family planning earlier, I wouldn't have had so many children, but maybe two or three."  The World Bank reports Nigeria's fertility rate is 5.3 births per woman, much higher than the global average. Furthermore, 23% of married women lack contraception, according to the Guttmacher Institute.  Religion, culture, and limited access act as barriers.  Cannon Dauda, a Christian cleric, and Ejike Orji, a family planning advocate, explain how these factors impact decisions.  "Some believe that you give birth as much as you can and whatever God permits to be alive, he will provide for them," Dauda said.  Orji points out that Nigerians have a hard time finding contraceptives.  "Nigerian women are saying, 'I want family planning,' but they are not getting the services," he said. "As we speak now, because the federal government did not put money for commodity purchase, they are stocked out across the country."  The 2024 World Population Day promotes family planning as a human right.  Orji stresses that barriers to birth control violate women's rights and increase maternal health risks.  "Because of lack of proper family planning services, a lot of women are having pregnancies they don't want to have," he said. "We have also seen if women have frequent babies, their bodies do not recover properly because a lot of our women are sub-anemic. … The only thing that can stop all of these is appropriate planning services."  High fertility rates also strain Nigeria's economy.  Abuja-based economist Paul Alaje warns of the consequences.  "In the case of Nigeria, where resources are very scarce, poverty is high, where hunger and deprivation seem to be evident, continuing in high fertility rate may be a recipe for disaster," he said. "If you look at out-of-school children now, it's in millions, now tens of millions. And if you look at [the] poverty level, it is very high, especially among women and children."  Funding for family planning remains inadequate. The Nigerian government’s plan aims to raise the rate of contraceptive use from 19% to 27% in the coming years, but more resources are needed.  Experts say improved funding and access can significantly reduce maternal mortality and empower women, as well as the nation.

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NATO is helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression. President Vladimir Putin can stop the war at any time by withdrawing his troops but chooses to precondition peace talks with Kyiv's capitulation and surrender of one-fifth of its territory.

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JERUSALEM — The Israeli military on Thursday acknowledged a string of errors in its response to the deadly Hamas attacks on October 7, including slow response times and disorganization, as it released the results of its first investigation into failures during the assault that triggered the war in Gaza. The report focused on the border community of Be’eri, where over 100 people were killed and more than 30 others taken hostage by Hamas. It was among the hardest-hit communities in the early morning attack, and it was the scene of one of the highest-profile confrontations of October 7 – a standoff in which militants held a group of hostages inside a home. “The army failed in its mission to protect the residents of Kibbutz Be'eri,” the military's chief spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said in a televised address. “It is painful and difficult for me to say that.” During the standoff, a tank fired at the home, raising concerns that the 13 hostages inside were killed by friendly fire. The military concluded that they were likely killed by Hamas militants, not Israeli shelling, although it was unclear how it reached that conclusion, and the report called for additional tests. The army said the kibbutz was overrun by about 340 Hamas fighters. Investigators “determined that, based on the information reviewed and to the best of their understanding, no civilians inside the building were harmed by tank shell fire," the report said, although it said two Israeli civilians were hit by shrapnel outside the building. One of those civilians died, according to the man’s wife. It also said commanders on the scene made “professional and responsible decisions” in ordering the tank strike. It said there had been a joint decision by various commanders after hearing gunshots within the house and militants saying they planned to kill the hostages and themselves. “The team determined that most of the hostages were likely murdered by the terrorists,” the report said. The report also pointed to delays of several hours in the arrival of military forces and said forces waited outside the kibbutz into the afternoon as residents were being killed, not understanding the severity of the situation. “This situation is extremely grave and cannot occur,” it said. The report praised “the bravery of the Be’eri residents and the members of the kibbutz’s civilian rapid response team," saying it was "crucial in stabilizing the defensive line during the first hours of combat.” The Israeli army has come under heavy criticism from Palestinians and human rights groups, who say its investigations rarely result in punishment. Kibbutz residents gave the report a mixed reception, expressing anger over the army’s failures that day but also appreciation that it took responsibility. Meir Zarbiv, a resident whose brother and sister were killed in the October 7 Hamas terror attack, called the report a “deception” by the army. “I don’t believe the report, and I don’t believe anything about it,” he said. He said he still cannot understand the delays in arriving and entering the kibbutz. “I just don’t believe what happened here. I have no explanation,” he said. “Where was the army?” In a statement, the community called the investigation “thorough” and said it helped them understand the complexity of the fighting that day. “We see great importance in the army accepting the blame and responsibility for its complete failure to protect us and in asking for forgiveness for abandoning us for many hours during an attack of unmatched evil,” it said. The kibbutz also called for an official state commission of inquiry into the broader failures of October 7 “so the unimaginable loss we experienced will never again be experienced by any other citizen.” The surprise cross-border raid killed some 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and took 250 others hostage, in the deadliest attack in Israel’s 76-year history. The attack, in which several thousand militants stormed across the border without resistance, revealed grave shortcomings in the army’s readiness, its intelligence assessments and policies set by political leaders toward Gaza. An Israeli offensive launched in response to the attack has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, displaced over 80% of the territory’s people and triggered a humanitarian disaster in Gaza. Israel is now facing war crimes and genocide allegations in international courts. The army has launched multiple investigations into the failures of October 7, and the head of military intelligence has resigned. Several other commanders have apologized and taken responsibility for their failures. But Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected repeated calls for an official state investigation, even as the war enters its 10th month. Netanyahu has said an investigation cannot be conducted while the country is focused on its war against Hamas and says all questions will be answered at the appropriate time. But critics accuse the Israeli leader of dragging his feet to avoid what will almost certainly be harsh criticism of his policies and leadership. At a military ceremony Thursday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the time has come to launch a state commission of inquiry to investigate the country's leadership. “It needs to check me, the minister of defense. It needs to check the prime minister,” he said. In the face of fierce international criticism, Netanyahu has vowed to continue the war until destroying Hamas’ military and governing capabilities and the roughly 120 hostages remaining in Gaza return home. Tens of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets in weekly protests calling on Netanyahu to reach an immediate cease-fire, saying time is running out to bring the hostages home safely. International mediators have launched renewed efforts to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas. Netanyahu announced Thursday that he would send a team of negotiators to Cairo to continue cease-fire talks, but he reiterated his stance that he will not halt the war until Israel achieves its war objectives. He was interrupted by hecklers at the same military ceremony when he vowed to continue the war “until victory, even if it takes time.” As he spoke, a small crowd began to chant “shame.”

Experts warn that the African penguin could be extinct in the wild by 2035. That’s why two environmental groups are taking legal action against the South African government to help save the species. Reporter Vicky Stark in Cape Town, South Africa, has the story.

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Rwandans will decide on July 15 whether to grant a fourth term to President Paul Kagame, the country’s ruler since 2000. The National Electoral Commission received nine applications but cleared only three, excluding one of Kagame’s fiercest critics. VOA Nairobi Bureau Chief Mariama Diallo has this report from the Rwandan capital, Kigali.