Posts by Riah Stelmack
Dozens in Mozambique killed by ‘intense’ cyclone
At least 34 people have died following “one of the most intense storms ever recorded” in northern Mozambique, the country’s National Institute of Risk and Disaster Management (INGD) has said. Cyclone Chido made landfall in Mozambique on Sunday, after wreaking havoc in the Indian Ocean territory of Mayotte. Hundreds are feared dead in Mayotte –…
Read MoreSouth Africa did not scrap passport requirements for Nigerian travellers
South Africa and Nigeria, the continent’s two economic heavyweights, have a long-held rivalry, with tensions spilling over into sports and regional political influence. Amid deeply entrenched anti-foreigner sentiment, social media users in South Africa were outraged after President Cyril Ramaphosa allegedly announced that Nigerian travellers would not need to submit their passports for a visa.…
Read MoreVenezuelan opposition leaders receive the European Union’s top human rights honor
STRASBOURG, France (AP) — The European Union’s legislature on Tuesday celebrated the bravery and staunch resistance of Venezuelan opposition leaders Maria Corina Machado and Edmundo González Urrutia while awarding them the EU’s top human rights honor, the Sakharov Prize. European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said it was “in recognition of your tireless efforts to restore…
Read MoreFrom Small-Town Beginnings to the International Spotlight: The Inspiring Journey of Celina Weil
In a world where dreams often feel out of reach, Celina Weil’s rise to becoming Miss Intercontinental Europe stands as a beacon of hope and ambition. What started as a spontaneous decision has transformed into a global journey of empowerment, resilience, and self-discovery. A Spontaneous Beginning Celina’s entry into pageantry was far from planned. “It was completely…
Read MoreGermany sees hottest year on record in 2024, weather service says
The year 2024 is the hottest year on record in Germany since nationwide measurements began in 1881, the German Weather Service (DWD) said on Tuesday. The recording-setting temperatures break the previous record that had only just been set in 2023, and 2022 had been one of the two warmest years on record. Tobias Fuchs, head…
Read MoreHigh-stakes labour talks resume at German carmaker Volkswagen
A VW employee participates in an IG Metall rally outside the hotel hosting the fifth round of collective bargaining between Volkswagen and IG Metall, amid negotiations over savings at VW. Moritz Frankenberg/dpa Lengthy talks between German giant Volkswagen and trade union negotiators aimed at resolving a bitter labour dispute over planned cutbacks at the carmarker…
Read MoreIndonesia politician did not ‘promise cash handout’ to celebrate poll win: campaign
Politicians in Indonesia are regularly targeted by online scammers who use edited videos to impersonate them and push spurious financial schemes. In the latest case, a candidate running for governor in local elections was depicted in a video apparently declaring victory and offering cash aid to citizens. A spokeswoman for Sherly Tjoanda’s campaign told AFP…
Read MoreVideo of Indian temple ritual falsely linked to Hindu attacks in Bangladesh
Following reports of attacks against Hindus in Muslim-majority Bangladesh, a video spread in social media posts that falsely claimed it showed a Muslim mob vandalising an idol of a Hindu goddess in the South Asian country. The footage, however, was filmed in neighbouring India’s West Bengal state. It shows villagers dismantling a statue of Hindu…
Read MoreMacron to visit cyclone-hit French territory of Mayotte
French President Emmanuel Macron is planning a visit to Mayotte, a small group of islands in the Indian Ocean, following the devastating effects of Cyclone Chido in the French overseas territory. Macron, in a post on Monday evening on X, said he intends to make the trip in the coming days “to support our fellow…
Read MoreEek, what’s this? How to handle a Christmas tree infested with ticks
You may think that ticks are a summer problem, so you will be sorry to hear that the blood-sucking pests are actually active all year. It’s true that ticks go into a low energy state in winter, meaning they are reluctant to move around and usually go into hiding under snow, leaves and brush, according…
Read MoreThe Mystery Of The Syrian IL-76 Cargo Jet That Went Missing As Assad Fled
There is growing, but still circumstantial evidence that a Syrian Airlines Il-76 Candid cargo plane currently at Russia’s Khmeimim Air Base in Syria is one that appeared to go missing in the final chaotic moments of Bashar Al Assad’s regime. Rumors and claims swirled that the aircraft had been carrying Assad and was shot down…
Read MoreIsabel dos Santos hits out over UK’s ‘dirty money’ sanctions
Angolan tycoon Isabel dos Santos, once dubbed “Africa’s richest woman”, has hit out at the UK for imposing sanctions on her, telling the BBC the move came as a surprise as she had not been found guilty of “any corruption in any court in any country”. Last month, the daughter of Angola’s former president was…
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