Latest news

The situation in North Korea
Will strengthen cooperation after the meeting – avoided the issue of nuclear weapons

China and North Korea are to expand their cooperation, according to state-controlled media in both countries, writes AP.

Nuclear weapons have been seen as a sensitive issue ahead of the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un this week. North Korea has been clear that the country will not work for the dismantling of nuclear weapons. This despite continued pressure from US President Donald Trump.

But the subject was not raised after the first day of the meeting, which may indicate that Kim Jong-Un got what he wanted, writes the BBC.

US-Cuba Relations
UN: US sanctions are causing children in Cuba to die

US sanctions against Cuba have led to a sharp increase in infant mortality and worsened children's chances of surviving cancer on the island. This was stated by UN human rights chief Volker Türk in a statement according to Bloomberg.

- Children are dying because doctors lack access to life-saving medicines. This is unacceptable. The sanctions must be lifted immediately, he says.

According to the news agency, this is the sharpest criticism to date that the UN has directed at US actions against Cuba. Donald Trump has tried to force political changes on the island by effectively stopping all fuel deliveries to the island.

The sanctions have led to a shortage of food, water and healthcare for the approximately ten million inhabitants.

Ebola outbreak
Over 100 dead after Ebola outbreak in Congo-Kinshasa

More than 100 people have died in the aftermath of Ebola in Congo-Kinshasa, writes AP.

As of Sunday, about 550 cases had been confirmed, with 101 people dead and 19 declared healthy, according to a situation report published on Monday. But the number of unreported cases is believed to be large, as the outbreak was only discovered several weeks after it started.

The cases are mainly in Congo's eastern province of Ituri, where 90 percent of the cases have been registered. But the disease has also spread to Uganda, among others.

Bear on the prowl closes 100 schools in Japan

TT

Published 23.01

 

Picture of another bear that recently ran amok in Fukushima. Photo: /AP/TT

A bear that roamed the streets of a Japanese city for three days forced nearly 100 schools to close on Monday.

Dozens of hunters and police in the city of Utsunomiya, north of Tokyo, are searching for the animal, after more than ten reports of bear sightings were received since Saturday - including in a shopping street.

- We have vehicles out in the areas where a bear has been seen to inform people and urge them to stay indoors or in their vehicles, a city official told AFP.

A total of 94 municipal elementary and junior high schools were closed.

The bear that is now being hunted is described as about one meter long. But it is unclear whether it was one bear or several.

Bear attacks in Japan have increased in recent years and have become a major problem. Last year, 13 people were killed by bears in Japan, a record. 

Trump's USA

The President's Team
Trump Nominates Blanche as New Attorney General

US President Donald Trump has now formally nominated Todd Blanche to the position of Attorney General, several media outlets report. Blanche, who is Trump's former lawyer, has been acting minister since Pam Bondi was forced to resign earlier this spring.

Trump, Blanche and the Justice Department have recently received criticism from both Republicans and Democrats for a planned billion-dollar fund that will be used to financially support people who the president believes have been subjected to improper investigations and prosecutions.

For Blanche to become Attorney General permanently, he must be approved by the Senate, where Republicans have a majority. 

Protests against Trump
The crowd booed Trump at the NBA Finals in New York

Donald Trump did not get a warm welcome when he attended the NBA Finals between the New York Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs at Madison Square Garden in New York last night. When the president appeared on the big screen during the national anthem, the stadium booed loudly, several media outlets report.

The crowd also booed loudly when players from the opposing team, San Antonio, were introduced over the speakers.

Trump watched the game from a box owned by Knicks owner James Dolan. He is the first sitting president to attend a final game in the American basketball league.

San Antonio won the game and is now 2–1 in games against New York.

Belfast stabbing

Man seriously injured after violent stabbing in Belfast

A man in his 40s is being treated in hospital with serious injuries after being attacked with a knife in Northern Ireland on Monday evening, British media reported. He has serious injuries to his face, neck and back.

A man in his 30s has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, Northern Ireland police said on Tuesday.

A video from the scene has been shared on social media and the attack has led to strong reactions.

"The horrific attack in Belfast last night is disgusting," writes Prime Minister Keir Starmer on X.

Strong reactions after the attack: "Deserves the truth"

The violent stabbing in Belfast on Monday evening has led to strong reactions from politicians. British media reports that the suspect is believed to be a Somali national, a claim that has been widely circulated.

Reform UK leader Nigel Farage writes on X that the authorities must provide information about the perpetrator's background immediately.

"The public deserves the truth," he writes.

Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch also demands that the police provide more information about what happened.

- I have not heard anything about who the perpetrator may have been, but I think many are again wondering if this is someone who should not have been in our country, she says according to Sky News.

Politician Colum Eastwood from the Irish social democratic and nationalist SDLP criticizes some reactions to X:

"The terrible scenes in north Belfast should not be used by English far-right politicians to further their own ends," he writes.

A man in his 40s who was attacked is being treated in hospital with serious stab and cut injuries to his face and neck.

Earthquake in the Philippines

Hospital buildings at risk of collapse – woman gave birth outdoors

Several hospitals in the Philippines have chosen to provide care to patients outdoors instead due to fears that the hospital buildings are unstable after the powerful earthquake. A woman gave birth outside the hospital in General Santos, one of the cities hardest hit, reports AFP.

Another hospital outside General Santos also chose to move 60 patients outdoors for safety reasons.

– The hospital suffered extensive damage, says an employee.

A total of 41 people are reported to have died in the powerful earthquake. Thousands of buildings have been destroyed and thousands of people have been forced to leave their homes.

41 dead after the earthquake – thousands displaced

The death toll after the powerful earthquake in the Philippines on Monday has risen to 41, writes AFP. Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes and hundreds of people have been injured.

In Sarangani, one of the hardest-hit provinces, some areas can only be reached by helicopter.

“There are still aftershocks, so rescue workers are working very carefully,” said civil defense chief Rodrigo Sosmena.

 

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