The World Briefly

January 02, 2024

The Opaque Landslide

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Incumbent Felix Tshisekedi won the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s presidential elections, a victory that many opposition candidates quickly disputed as fraudulent and called for protests, the Financial Times reported Monday. Election officials announced Sunday that Tshisekedi secured more than 72 percent of the vote during...

Read full story →

The World Briefly

January 01, 2024

We’ll be back tomorrow with the latest from around the world. Happy New Year!

Read full story →

The World Briefly

December 29, 2023

We’ll be back next week with the latest from around the world.

Read full story →

The World Briefly

December 28, 2023

We’ll be back next week with the latest from around the world.

Read full story →

The World Briefly

December 27, 2023

We’ll be back next week with the latest from around the world.

Read full story →

The World Briefly

December 26, 2023

We’ll be back next week with the latest from around the world.

Read full story →

The World Briefly

December 25, 2023

We’ll be back next week with the latest from around the world.

Read full story →

The World Briefly

December 22, 2023

Diplomatic Jail Break

Venezuela

Venezuela released 10 US citizens and more than 20 opposition-linked prisoners from jail this week, as part of a prisoner swap deal with the United States that observers described as the latest rapprochement effort between the two countries, Reuters reported. The released individuals included six Americans...

Read full story →

The World Briefly

December 22, 2023

A Test For the Ages

South Korea

Dozens of South Korean students are suing the government because their high-stakes college admission examination ended 90 seconds earlier than scheduled, with plaintiffs saying the error affected their results, and possibly their future, the BBC reported. The lawsuit, filed this week by around 40 students, claims...

Read full story →

The World Briefly

December 22, 2023

Earth’s Rights

Ireland

Ireland is considering enshrining the rights of nature into its national constitution, a move that if approved could make it the first European Union nation to do so, the BBC reported. The Irish parliament’s Joint Committee on Environment and Climate Action recommended that the government should...

Read full story →

The World Briefly

December 21, 2023

A Door Half-Closed

European Union

The European Union reached a “historic” migration deal Wednesday that will overhaul the way it handles those seeking to migrate to the bloc, a move that ends years of political deadlock among EU countries while also seeking to curb the rising popularity of far-right parties,...

Read full story →

The World Briefly

December 21, 2023

Quashing Debate

India

India’s parliament suspended a record number of opposition lawmakers this week, prompting criticism against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi as it seeks to pass a controversial criminal reform bill, CNN reported. Earlier this week, speakers in both houses of parliament...

Read full story →

The World Briefly

December 21, 2023

Dr. Death

Rwanda

A French court sentenced a Rwandan doctor to 23 years in prison for his role in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, the latest case against perpetrators of the massacre that killed more than 800,000 minority Tutsis and moderate Hutus in the African country, Sky News...

Read full story →

The World Briefly

December 20, 2023

Bursting a Hot Bubble

Iceland

A volcanic eruption began in the region of Iceland’s capital Reykjavik on Monday night, a long-expected event that is threatening towns in the vicinity and could leave hundreds homeless, NBC News reported. The eruption was detected at 10:17 p.m. local time by the Icelandic Meteorological Office,...

Read full story →

The World Briefly

December 20, 2023

Goodbye, Haven

Sudan

Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) took control of the southeastern city of Wad Madani this week, forcing many to flee from the former safe haven that had housed hundreds of thousands of internally displaced people since the conflict began earlier this year, the Middle...

Read full story →

The World Briefly

December 20, 2023

Crying Foul

Serbia

Hundreds of opposition protesters took to the streets of the Serbian capital Belgrade this week, shortly after Sunday’s parliamentary elections saw the ruling party of President Aleksandar Vučić secure a major victory, despite allegations of fraud and irregularities, Radio Free Europe reported. Results showed that the...

Read full story →

The World Briefly

December 19, 2023

Ad-In, Ad-Out

Chile

Chileans rejected a conservative constitution proposal this week, the second attempt in a little over a year to replace the current charter drafted under the dictatorship of Gen. Augusto Pinochet, the BBC reported. In a referendum, 56 percent of voters refused the right wing’s draft, which...

Read full story →

The World Briefly

December 19, 2023

A Noticeable Streak

Germany

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won its first election for mayor of a midsized town in the country’s east, another victory for the anti-immigration party that has become more popular in recent months amid voter disillusionment with Germany’s ruling coalition, the Financial Times reported. Candidate...

Read full story →

The World Briefly

December 19, 2023

Bot and Order

Pakistan

Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan addressed an online rally this week using a clip crafted by artificial intelligence, a first-of-its-kind event ahead of the country’s elections next year, Reuters reported. Based on a written speech Khan approved in prison, the clip featured audio made...

Read full story →

The World Briefly

December 18, 2023

Holy Mess

Vatican

A Vatican court found nine defendants, including a powerful cardinal close to Pope Francis, guilty on charges of financial crimes and corruption Saturday, in what observers have described as the Holy See’s trial of the century, the Washington Post reported. The case centers on a bad...

Read full story →