Latest News

In the latest news, Ukraine has regained control of two cities in eastern Lugansk region, MSF warns of humanitarian crisis, India reopens government-run schools, Pakistan stays on grey list, and more. What's the latest in all these issues? Read this week's latest news to keep yourself updated on the biggest happenings. And don't forget to check out today's Top Stories section for even more news.

Ukraine regains control of two cities in eastern Lugansk region

The Russians continue to advance and launch ground assaults around the Severodonetsk and Bakhmut-Lysychansk highways. The Russian forces are likely seeking to reinforce their defenses in northwestern Kherson Oblast, but ISW cannot confirm this. In Melitopol, Russian occupation authorities have distributed the first batch of Russian passports.

The fighting is concentrated around key locations in the area. While Russia claims to be retaking all of Donbas, Ukrainian officials say that the Russians have made steady progress in the east. It is believed that Russia controls about 90% of the Lugansk region and is trying to seize control of two cities. The two cities have been under Russian bombardment, and heavy fighting is ongoing around the Azot industrial zone.

MSF warns of a looming humanitarian crisis

A new humanitarian strategy is urgently needed in the Sahel region of Africa, according to MSF. The charity says therapeutic food should be regarded as essential medicine and integrated into both emergency and regular health-care services. In Niger, where the country's food shortage has become the biggest single problem, children are often kept home until they are severely malnourished. This is one of the main causes of the crisis, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

The security situation in the Upper Nile region remains unstable, and clashes between communities have massive humanitarian consequences. People are constantly on the move and the areas where they are fleeing do not provide adequate living conditions. MSF calls on all armed groups to allow free movement of humanitarian personnel and assistance. This can save lives. And while such a move may seem extreme, it would ultimately save lives. While it might take some time, MSF is already mobilizing its resources in the Global South to help save lives.

India reopens government-run schools

In October, India reopened its government-run schools, a landmark move that helped the country's education system recover from years of underfunding. State governments across India decided to reopen 260 schools in four districts: Sukma, Narayanpur, Dantewada, and Bijapur. The state government has prioritized development activities in these troubled districts, which have helped reopen schools and push Maoists from the area. In addition to school reopenings, collectors are now required to ensure that children in primary and pre-primary classes attend classes regularly. And officials have been ordered to appoint teachers at the schools once they reopen.

The decision to close schools in Delhi came at a critical time, when many children in Delhi were facing extreme hardship. In addition to poverty, children from low-income communities face huge obstacles to accessing an education. Falling incomes threaten to cause serious financial strain on families, increasing the risk of child labor and marriage. For children like Jaysinge, attending school provided an important anchor to her life. Her parents often travel hundreds of miles to pick cane, and they brought her with them.

FATF keeps Pakistan on 'grey list'

Since June 2018, Pakistan has been on the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) that focuses on combating money laundering, a key component of terrorism financing. The organisation has given Pakistan a plan of action to comply with by October 2019.

However, FATF has a veto over Pakistan's actions. The organization has the power to impose sanctions against a country for not cooperating with their work. The list includes a number of countries with a lack of transparency in their money-laundering laws. The world body has a clear policy against the funding of terrorism, and the FATF has a right to decide whether to include a country in its list.

Wildfires in Spain

As Europe grapples with extreme heat, Spain and other European nations are facing a growing number of wildfires. Portugal and France are not immune to the dangers of wildfires, and their regions are no exception. In the last week alone, fires destroyed more than half a million square meters of land in those countries. According to the head of Spain's civil protection agency, the heatwave hit the country earlier than usual and many fires broke out at once. At least one firefighter was killed fighting the fires.

In Spain, more than 3,000 people have been forced to flee as wildfires burn in the province of Mijas. More than two2,000 acres of land in this region are at risk of burning. Climate change is cited as a factor in these heat waves, and fires are occurring earlier and longer in the summer than they were a year ago. Spain is already experiencing its second heat wave of the summer, and there are worries that the soaring temperatures will increase the number of deaths related to wildfires.

Drug arrests in Ivory Coast

A record haul of cocaine has been seized in the Ivory Coast by police. The tonne of cocaine, with a street value of $67.7 million, was seized in April in the port city of San Pedro. Nine people have been arrested in connection with the bust. The drug trafficking from South America to Europe is a major problem in West Africa. Abidjan is the country's commercial hub.

However, recent reports show that the government and security agencies may be misusing international law enforcement tools. In August, the Malian government executed an international arrest warrant issued by an Abidjan court for an individual accused of "subversive acts." The man who was arrested was a member of the movement led by former president Guillaume Soro. He was convicted of coup planning in June. A human rights organization reported that the suspect was transferred to a military prison after his arrest and returned to his initial holding prison.