Category: English News

US-Hamas direct talks: What’s happening and what comes next

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According to reports, the discussions focused on securing the release of 21-year-old Edan Alexander along with the bodies of four other captives. The White House has confirmed that the Trump administration engaged in direct talks with Hamas, saying the discussions align with US interests. What do we know about the US-Hamas direct talks? The discussions, facilitated by Qatari intermediaries, have reportedly been ongoing for weeks but became more evident in early March 2025. This is the first time in decades that the United States negotiated directly with Hamas, a significant…

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Fighting Malaria in Rwanda: Progress, Challenges, and Personal Stories

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Malaria remains one of the most pressing public health challenges in Rwanda. Despite significant progress in reducing the burden of the disease over the years, malaria continues to affect thousands of Rwandans annually, especially in rural areas. Experts, health workers, and affected individuals are actively working towards the goal of malaria elimination, but there are still obstacles to overcome. Rwanda’s Commitment to Malaria Control Over the past decade, Rwanda has made remarkable strides in combating malaria through comprehensive control strategies. These efforts include the distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets, indoor…

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Children among 18 killed in crush at New Delhi train station in India

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Indian officials said the accident happened amid a surge of passengers waiting for trains to attend a major Hindu religious festival. Ten women and three children were among at least 18 people killed in a crowd crush at a train station in India’s capital New Delhi, as thousands of Hindu pilgrims waited to board trains to attend the annual Mahakumbh Mela religious festival. The incident unfolded on Saturday night at about 8pm local time (14:30 GMT) on two platforms at the New Delhi Railway Station as huge crowds waited to…

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China hits back against Trump tariffs with retaliatory measures, renewing trade war

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China on Tuesday slapped tariffs on US imports in a swift response to new US duties on Chinese goods, renewing a trade war between the world’s top two economies even as President Donald Trump offered reprieves to Mexico and Canada. Within minutes, China’s Finance Ministry said it would impose levies of 15% for US coal and LNG and 10% for crude oil, farm equipment and some autos. The new tariffs on US exports will start on February 10, the ministry said. The Chinese government immediately hit back with a series…

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Tears, hugs greet 90 Palestinian women, children freed from Israeli prisons

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Jubilant crowds of relatives, friends and well wishers gathered in the occupied West Bank to celebrate the release of 90 Palestinian prisoners. Ninety Palestinians have been freed from Israeli prisons and were greeted by large crowds of jubilant relatives, friends and supporters as they returned home to the occupied West Bank in the first prisoner exchange of the Hamas-Israel ceasefire following the release of three Israeli captives in Gaza. At about 1am local time on Monday (23:00 GMT), Red Cross buses carrying the 90 Palestinian prisoners arrived in Ramallah in…

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Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani arrives in Qatar for talks

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Asaad al-Shaibani’s visit to Qatar comes as the new administration seeks support from Arab states following toppling of al-Assad. Syria’s newly appointed Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani has arrived in Qatar as part of his regional trip to seek support for the new government that came to power after the toppling of President Bashar al-Assad last month. Syrian official news agency SANA confirmed the arrival of the delegation on Sunday, which includes the country’s Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra and head of intelligence Anas Khattab. Al-Shaibani is expected to meet…

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Trump picks Pam Bondi as US attorney general after Gaetz withdrawal

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President-Elect Donald Trump announced former Florida attorney general and fervent ally Pam Bondi as his pick for US attorney general on Thursday after Matt Gaetz withdrew his bid to head the Department of Justice just hours earlier. Bondi, a former leader against Trump’s impeachment, replaced the controversial Gaetz after his nomination faced strong resistance due to previous sexual conduct allegations. US President-elect Donald Trump tapped Pam Bondi, a staunch ally who helped defend the ex-leader against impeachment, as US attorney general on Thursday following firebrand Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal from the…

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The Hidden Wounds of War: Investigating Sexual Abuse in Sudan’s Ongoing Conflict

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As Sudan remains embroiled in a devastating civil conflict, stories of atrocities continue to emerge. Among the most harrowing are accounts of widespread sexual violence, a weapon often wielded in war to devastate communities. Victims, primarily women and children, face physical and psychological trauma, yet these crimes frequently go unpunished. This investigative piece seeks to uncover the scale of sexual abuse during the war in Sudan, spotlight survivors’ voices, and hold perpetrators accountable. The Scale of the Crisis Statistics: Although comprehensive data is scarce due to the chaos of war,…

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The UK’s NHS to roll out free antismoking pill. Will it work?

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The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is rolling out a free antismoking pill called varenicline for British smokers. Research has shown that varenicline is more effective than traditional nicotine-replacement therapies such as gum or patches. Approximately 85,000 smokers will be eligible to receive the antismoking medication which will be provided alongside “behavioural support” programmes aimed at helping people to quit smoking, the NHS announced earlier this week. Research conducted by University College London suggests that it might prevent approximately 9,500 smoking-related deaths within the next five years. “This simple daily…

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A Milestone in Cardiac Care: King Faisal Hospital Advances Heart Treatment in Rwanda with Electrophysiology Technology

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The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that heart diseases were the leading cause of death in 2021, claiming 20.5 million lives. This marks a sharp increase compared to 1990, when 12.1 million people died from heart-related conditions. Of these deaths, 80% occurred in developing countries, including Rwanda. In response to this growing health concern, King Faisal Hospital in Rwanda recently announced that, in collaboration with its partners, it successfully treated several patients with rapid heart rhythms (tachyarrhythmias) using advanced electrophysiology technology. This effort was conducted in partnership with heart rhythm…

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