Ayoola Atitebi

Myanmar authorities observed a minute of silence Tuesday for victims of a devastating earthquake that claimed over 2,700 lives, including 50 children at a preschool near Mandalay. The commemoration occurred as aid organizations reported desperate conditions in affected areas, with survivors struggling to secure basic necessities like food, water, and shelter. Friday's magnitude 7.7 earthquake—Myanmar's strongest in over a century—struck at lunchtime, destroying both ancient pagodas and modern structures. Military leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing announced the death toll had reached 2,719, potentially exceeding 3,000, with 4,521 injured and 441 missing. The disaster also killed at least 20 people in neighboring Thailand. In Mandalay, sirens sounded at precisely 12:51 pm, marking the moment the earthquake struck. Rescue workers at the heavily damaged Sky Villa apartment complex lined up with hands clasped behind their backs to pay respects while officials […]

The United States military conducted a series of air strikes against Houthi rebels in Yemen overnight, targeting multiple locations across the country. The bombing campaign hit areas near the capital Sanaa and throughout the northern province of Saada early Tuesday, continuing military operations that began in mid-March. According to Houthi-affiliated Al Masirah TV, US forces launched 15 raids on Saada province, including the city of Saada and the districts of Majz and Sahar. Reports indicated Mount Nabi Shuaib in the Bani Matar district of Sanaa province was also targeted. No immediate casualty reports emerged from Tuesday's strikes, though the Houthis claim that at least 61 people have been killed in Yemen since US bombardments intensified on March 15. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) released two videos on social media showing fighter jets taking off and missiles being launched from an […]

Outrage has erupted across Somalia after the discovery of an eight-year-old girl living with a self-proclaimed "husband" following her six-month disappearance. The child, who vanished from her home in Puntland last September, was initially reported missing by her family. Authorities later discovered that her father had allegedly consented to her marriage to an adult man identified as Sheikh Mahmoud. Security forces intervened last week, surrounding the man's residence and forcibly entering after he barricaded himself in a room with the child. The incident has triggered widespread social media anger and public demonstrations in Mogadishu. "What's more shocking than the tragedy itself are the allegations of abduction and the fact that her family had no knowledge of her whereabouts for months," said Fadumo Ahmed, chairperson of the Somali Women Vision Organisation. According to the girl's uncle, she was taken from Bosaso […]

A volcano has erupted on Iceland's Reykjanes Peninsula in the southwest, forcing evacuations of the nearby town of Grindavík and the popular tourist destination Blue Lagoon spa. Iceland's Meteorological Office reported the eruption began around 09:45 local time (10:45 BST) just north of Grindavík. Within an hour, the ground fissure had widened to 700m (2296ft) and was continuing to expand. The volcanic activity followed earthquakes that struck the Sundhnúk crater range around 06:30 local time. Authorities had already ordered evacuations of Grindavík and Blue Lagoon before the eruption occurred. While roads to and from the town remain closed, flight operations have not been affected. The Blue Lagoon announced on its website that it would remain closed through Tuesday. By 11:20 local time, Iceland's Meteorological Office (IMO) reported that the original fissure had extended southward and a new crack had formed. […]

A devastating explosion at a mine in Spain's northern Asturias region has killed five workers and injured four others, emergency services reported. The accident occurred Monday morning at the Cerredo mine in Degana, approximately 450km northwest of Madrid. All five victims, whose ages ranged from 32 to 54 years old, were from the neighboring Leon region. Adriana Lastra, central government representative in Asturias, told reporters at the scene that preliminary evidence suggests methane may have formed an explosive mixture in the mine, a dangerous phenomenon known as firedamp. "Police are already investigating what happened; they are already at the scene," Lastra stated. The injured miners were transported to hospitals in nearby cities, with two requiring helicopter evacuation. They suffered burns and, in one case, a head injury. As news of the tragedy spread, families of the workers gathered at the […]

A national protest aimed at forcing Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa to resign instead resulted in a widespread shutdown as citizens stayed home rather than demonstrating in the face of heavy security deployments. The planned march, organized by disgruntled war veterans accusing Mnangagwa of corruption and power-clinging, saw minimal participation with only a handful of protesters appearing before being quickly dispersed by police. After reports of low turnout emerged, protest leader Blessed Geza challenged Zimbabweans "not to be cowards" in a social media post on X. Geza had previously called for citizens to "fill the streets" in what he described as a final push to remove the president. Mnangagwa, who assumed power in 2017 following a coup against long-time leader Robert Mugabe, is currently serving his second and final term in office. The protest organizers, particularly Geza, have expressed support for […]