WORLD NEWS

In a statement issued on Sunday, President Cyril Ramaphosa said he informed UN Secretary-General António Guterres on 12 January about the decision, which “is influenced by the need to consolidate and realign the resources of the South African National Defence Force, following 27 years of South Africa’s support to UN peacekeeping efforts in the DRC.”  He noted that South Africa is among the top 10 countries contributing troops to…

The amnesty is aimed at promoting peace, democratic coexistence and national reconciliation as the South American country enters a new era following the seizure of former President Nicolas Maduro by the United States.  It passed unanimously on 5 February by Venezuelan legislators in the first of two readings. The amnesty “offers an opportunity to provide…

High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk deplored the sentence imposed on Mr. Lai, the 78-year-old founder of the now-shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, following his conviction on charges brought under security-related laws in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China. On 15 December 2025, the High Court found Mr. Lai guilty of conspiracy…

“We can only expect worse to come” unless action is taken to halt the bloodshed, Mr. Türk told Member States at the Human Rights Council in Geneva, as he reiterated his call for the extension of an arms embargo from Darfur to include all of Sudan. Rival militaries from the national army and Rapid Support…

According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the boat overturned in the perishingly cold waters of the central Mediterranean Sea, north of the coastal town of Zuwara last Friday.  It is just the latest deadly incident involving vulnerable people on the move who are frequently mistreated and trafficked by smuggling gangs that have flourished…

A federal union is warning of threats to public safety as employees at Transport Canada face job cuts. The Union of Canadian Transportation Employees said in a news release the cuts are being implemented in a way that “places Canadians at increased risk.” The union said it’s particularly concerned about the prospect of staffing reductions…

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he will block the opening of a new bridge and trade route connecting Ontario and Michigan until the United States is “compensated for everything we have given” Canada. In a lengthy post on his Truth Social website, Trump called for immediate negotiations over the Gordie Howe International Bridge between…

King Charles III has said he will “support” U.K. police in examining claims that his brother, former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, shared confidential information with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Buckingham Palace confirmed in a statement on Monday. “The King has made clear, in words and through unprecedented actions, his profound concern at allegations which continue…

MILAN – Here are some notable quotes from the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics on Feb. 9, 2026: — “I can’t even believe it, it’s crazy. I’ve been dreaming about this for so long, so it really means a lot to me. It takes so much, honestly, and there’s a lot that people don’t see. I…

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer joined Bangladesh’s Adviser Sheikh Bashir Uddin in signing the U.S.–Bangladesh Agreement on Reciprocal Trade. Photo: X/@USTradeRep. Bangladesh on Monday (February 9, 2026) secured a reduced 19% tariff under a trade agreement with the United States that would exempt some textiles and garments manufactured with U.S. materials, interim government chief Muhammad…