A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck northern Afghanistan early on Monday, the US Geological Survey said, just months after another deadly tremor left the country reeling as it contends with a series of humanitarian crises. The latest quake hit in the early hours of the morning at a depth of 28 kilometres (17 miles) with…
Counter-terrorism police are involved in an investigation into a mass stabbing on a train in eastern England which left nine people suffering with life-threatening injuries. A man with a large knife is believed to have been shot with a Taser by police after going on a bloody rampage on a high speed train after…
China has restated its commitment to the United Nations and global multilateralism as the organisation celebrates 80 years of existence. At the launch of a new CGTN documentary titled “The UN at 80: China’s Perspective”, Chinese officials and experts reflected on the UN’s history and China’s contributions to peacekeeping, development, and international cooperation. Foreign Minister…
Independent United Nations investigators have accused Russia of conducting systematic drone strikes against civilians in southern Ukraine, driving mass displacement and leaving entire communities along the Dnipro River uninhabitable. In a new report, the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine said drone attacks in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions were part of a deliberate…
Mali has ordered the closure of schools and universities nationwide for two weeks starting Monday amid a worsening fuel shortage caused by a blockade enforced by al-Qaeda-affiliated insurgents. The measure follows a campaign launched in early September by Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM), which announced it would block fuel entering the country. The group has…
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has estimated that around 70 billion dollars will be required to reconstruct the Gaza Strip and make it safe following two years of devastating conflict. At just 41 kilometres long and between two and five kilometres wide, few areas of Gaza have been left untouched by the Israeli bombardment…
Madagascar’s political tensions deepened on Tuesday after President Andry Rajoelina’s administration announced the dissolution of the National Assembly — a move that came just as lawmakers were preparing to initiate impeachment proceedings against him. A presidential decree stated that the dissolution was carried out “in accordance with Article 60 of the Constitution,” effectively disbanding the…
Israel’s sense of relief over the release of 20 surviving hostages quickly gave way to anger on Tuesday, after Hamas returned only four of the 28 deceased hostages expected under the current Gaza ceasefire arrangement. While officials had anticipated possible delays in recovering bodies from the war-ravaged enclave, Israeli media reported that government representatives reacted…
Hamas announced on Monday that it had handed over 13 additional hostages to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Gaza, marking the release of the last remaining living captives held by the group. The handover follows the earlier release of a first group of seven Israeli hostages earlier in the day, as…
On Monday, China introduced an annual childcare subsidy of 3,600 yuan (approximately $500) for children up to three years old, aiming to address the declining birth rate as fewer young couples opt to start families. Concerns over the high costs of childcare and education, along with job instability and a sluggish economy, have deterred many…
