Author: Yash Mehra

On Tuesday, just after President Tsai Ing-wen said that she had instructed Taiwan’s military to take “strong countermeasures” against what she considered Chinese provocations, they fired warning shots at a Chinese drone that circled an offshore islet. It was the first time that such cautionary shots had been fired during a time when tensions between the countries were at an all-time high. Vehemently rejects China’s claims of sovereignty while Beijing sees the island as its own. After the rounds were fired, the drone returned to China, according to a military spokeswoman. As part of military manoeuvres by Beijing, They have…

Despite worries of a radioactive leak from fighting, thousands of people leaving Russia-controlled regions of south Ukraine are gathering in a city close to Europe’s largest nuclear reactor. Many people saw the shelling in their hometowns as a more immediate threat. For some people Reuters talked to on Monday, the threat of a nuclear catastrophe appeared remote even in a nation still haunted by the 1986 Chernobyl tragedy. Since shortly after the invasion on February 24, they have been fleeing areas of the south controlled by Russia and being bombarded by rockets as Ukraine plans a counteroffensive. “We’re not worried…

Joao Lourenco’s second term as president of Angola may have disappointed those voters hoping to end the country’s fifty years of one-party control, but most would agree that he has made significant progress against corruption inside the ruling party. After the electoral commission’s vote count revealed that Lourenco, 68, and the MPLA had won by a margin of 51.17%, the election was proclaimed a victory. It was the party’s narrowest margin of victory ever. When this reserved, grave-faced former defence minister assumed office in 2017, few people in the nation that had won its independence from Portugal in 1975 knew…

On Sunday, Pope Francis commended the humility of one of the few popes in history to retire willingly rather than reigning for life. Pope Francis has frequently stated that he may stand down in the future if poor health prevents him from leading the Catholic Church. Celestine V, who abdicated as pope in 1294 after barely five months to resume his hermit life, is buried in L’Aquila, a city in central Italy that Francis briefly visited. His resignation established the papal prerogative. Pope Benedict XVI visited L’Aquila four years before stepping down, becoming the first pope to voluntarily retire in…

Pakistan foreign minister stated on Sunday that the country needs financial assistance to deal with the “crushing” floods. He also expressed optimism that financial organizations like the International Monetary Fund will consider the economic impact. Disastrous floods have affected More than 30 million people floods in both the north and south of the country as a result of unusually strong monsoon rains, which have also claimed more than 1,000 lives. In an interview with Reuters, Pakistan’s foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari said, “I haven’t seen the destruction of this scale, I find it very difficult to put into words… it is…

Josep Borrell, the head of the EU’s foreign policy, said on Saturday that an ethnic issue between Serbia and Kosovo over the flow of citizens across their border has been resolved. In a tweet, Borrell declared, “We have a deal.” “Kosovo Serbs, as well as all other citizens, will be able to travel freely between Kosovo & Serbia using their ID cards. The EU just received guarantees from PM (Albin) Kurti to this end.” The disagreement arose from Kosovo’s 2008 proclamation of independence from Serbia, which Belgrade has refused to recognize. Kosovo is primarily made up of ethnic Albanians. The…

On Saturday, Pope Francis consecrated 20 cardinals from different parts of the world, selecting individuals who mostly share his goals for a more modern and inclusive Church and influencing their decision over his future successor. Francis, 85, presided at a rite called a consistory and urged the newly elected cardinals to care about the common people despite their exalted position that will put them in contact with the wealthy and powerful of the world. The event was the eighth time Francis has used a new intake of cardinals to make his mark on the Church’s future. These individuals will act…

A worldwide watchdog has criticised Germany for not doing enough to combat money laundering, including by convicting few people for the crime while being one of the world’s largest currency centres. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) report hurts Germany’s status, which takes pride in its reputation for probity. The FATF is an international organisation that brings together nations from the United States to China to combat financial crime. The evaluation lists a number of shortcomings, including a lack of oversight over persons who deal with significant quantities of money, such as estate agents, and adds that while Germany was…

The country’s climate change minister said on Thursday that the recent historic monsoon rains and flooding in Pakistan have had an impact on more than 30 million people, adding that the situation is a “climate-induced humanitarian calamity of epic proportions.” As it tries to deal with the fallout from heavy rains that caused major floods and more than 900 fatalities last month, Pakistan has pleaded with the international community for assistance with relief operations. Climate Change Minister Sherry Rehman texted Reuters, saying, “33 million have been affected, in different ways; the final homeless figure is being assessed” She continued by…

In an absurd exhibition of burned-out Russian tanks and armour displayed as war trophies in the heart of Kyiv this week to commemorate the country’s 31st year of independence, Ukrainians revelled, but the demonstration of defiance was accompanied with worries about further Russian strikes. As the U.S. Embassy advised its nationals to leave Ukraine due to concerns about potential Russian missile attacks on Wednesday, Independence Day, there was a surreal sense of calm before the storm on Tuesday. Kiev has threatened Moscow with a strong retaliation if it does. The official holiday, which comes six months into Russia’s invasion, is…