Africa
Former Namibia president passes
Sam Nujoma, who served as the first president of independent Namibia, passed away at the age of 95. He led the country’s fight for independence from South Africa in 1990. Nujoma was president of the country from 1990 until 2005. Reports suggest he was hospitalized for weeks with an undisclosed illness.
Mass grave discovered in Libya
Officials in Libya discovered the bodies of at least 28 migrants in a mass grave in a desert. Recently, another mass grave holding 19 bodies was also found on a farm in the country. Authorities discovered the grave holding 28 bodies while raiding a human trafficking site. At least one Libyan and two foreigners were arrested in the operation.
Asia
Dozens of rebels killed in India
Police in India killed 31 Maoist rebels in the Chhattisgarh state. The area has seen a rise in Maoists who claim they are fighting for the rights of the poor. The recent incident was among the deadliest clashes since the government ramped up efforts to combat Maoist rebels. Police said the death toll could rise.
Popular Chinese film brings in $1.1 billion
Ne Zha 2, a movie based on a Chinese mythological character, generated more than 8 billion yuan ($1.1 billion) during the Lunar New Year holiday. The animated film follows a boy who battles demons with his magical powers. Ne Zha 2 is seen as a symbol of progress in Chinese film.
Europe
Baltic states join EU power grid
The Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have officially joined the European Union’s electricity grid, leaving Russia’s network. Plans to move to the EU grid have been in the works since 2007. These plans were brought forward after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Romanian president resigns
Romania President Klaus Iohannis resigned from his position ahead of a re-run of a presidential election. The upcoming election was canceled last year after Romania’s top court alleged Russian meddling. Iohannis plans to stay in office until a new president is picked in May. He stepped down due to criticism from far-right politicians who performed well in the first round of the vote last year.
Latin America
High numbers of sexual violence toward children in Haiti
According to the United Nations’ children’s organization, sexual violence against children in Haiti has increased 1,000 percent since 2023. The area has been impacted by violent gangs for several years. This past year, more than 5,600 people were killed in gang violence in the country.
Bus crash kills dozens in Mexico
Officials in Mexico said at least 41 people were killed in a bus accident in the state of Tabasco. Police are working to determine the cause of the incident and added that the bus was traveling within speed limits. Images showed the bus engulfed by flames after the collision. The incident occurred this past Saturday.
North America
Trump orders to stop minting pennies
President Donald Trump announced on his Truth Social media account that he has ordered the US Treasury Secretary to stop minting pennies. The U.S. Mint’s 2024 annual report said making and distributing a penny costs $3.69. Other countries like Canada have removed its one-cent coin, citing minting costs and failed purchasing power because of higher prices.
Trump signs order banning transgender women from women sports
Last week, President Donald Trump signed a new order preventing transgender women from competing in female categories of sports. Republicans argue that the move restores fairness in sports while LGBTQ advocacy and human rights organizations described the order as discriminatory. Trump said the order will include the 2028 Olympic Games which will take place in Los Angeles.
