World

The European Union has imposed asset freezes and travel bans on 16 individuals in military-ruled Myanmar, over grave violations of human rights inside the country. A statement issued by the Union stated that those responsible for the coup, as well as the perpetrators of violence and gross human rights violations, should be held accountable. The statement condemned rights violations including sexual violence, the persecution of civil society workers, human rights activists, […]

At least three people have died after a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck southern Turkey on Monday. According to the country’s disaster and emergency agency, the tremor was followed by dozens of aftershocks, adding that more than 680 people have been injured in Turkey and Syria. Turkey’s Interior Minister, Süleyman Soylu, urged people not to enter potentially dangerous buildings. A 7.8-magnitude quake struck the same area on 6 February, killing more than 44,000 […]

Rwanda’s Army has said its troops briefly exchanged fire with soldiers from the Democratic Republic of the Congo at a border post. Kigali revealed that 12 to 14 Congolese soldiers entered the neutral zone near the western district of Rusizi and opened fire at a Rwandan border post, in an act of provocation. Meanwhile, Kinshasa has denied entering the neutral zone, stating that there were clashes between its military and […]

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has resigned after eight years. Sturgeon became the leader of the ruling Scottish National Party in the wake of its 2014 independence referendum when the country voted 55 percent to remain as part of the United Kingdom. The Minister will remain in her position until her successor is elected as the country’s First Minister and will remain a Member of the Scottish Parliament.

China has announced resumption of short-term visas for travelers from South Korea. According to Chinese Embassy in Seoul, the country will begin processing short-term visas for South Koreans for business, transit and other private affairs from Saturday. China stopped issuing short-term visas to South Koreans in January after Seoul slapped COVID restrictions on travelers from China amid concerns Beijing’s sudden dismantling of its controversial zero-COVID policy. This comes after Seoul scrapped pandemic-related […]

Equatorial Guinea has reported its first outbreak of the Marburg virus. According to Authorities, nine people are suspected to have died from the viral haemorrhagic fever in the country's western Kie Ntem province. Movement has been restricted around two villages where most cases have been reported. Contact tracing is currently ongoing. The World Health Organization said 16 people are now under quarantine as suspected contact cases, and the health body […]

South Africa declared a national disaster after heavy rains flooded seven of its nine provinces, destroying roads and bridges and leaving farmers suffering losses. The government declared a national state of disaster to enable an intensive, co-ordinated response to the impact of floods. It added that these conditions demand the provision of temporary shelters, food and blankets to homeless families and individuals and the large-scale, costly rehabilitation of infrastructure. The […]

New Zealand has declared a state of emergency due to Cyclone Gabrielle. The country’s Minister for Emergency Management, Kieran McAnulty, announced the declaration on Tuesday. According to McAnulty, the state of emergency will allow for federal co-ordination of a clea- up response and would provide additional resources to those who are affected. The Minister added that it will apply to the Northland, Auckland, Tairawhiti, Bay of Plenty, Waikato and Hawkes Bay […]

Colombian government will this week resume peace talks with the largest remaining rebel group, the National Liberation Army, ELN. President Gustavo Petro’s administration has expressed optimism over the renewed negotiations. The Colombian government was forced to backtrack on a New Year’s Eve announcement that a truce had been reached after the ELN denied that any such agreement existed. As the second round of talks begin in the Mexican capital, experts have questioned how […]