Your one-stop destination for all the top international stories of the day.
Far Right Party Chega Make Big Gains In Portugal Polls
In Portugal’s elections, the centre-right Democratic Alliance has edged out the Socialist party by just two seats. The answer to who will govern Portugal could still be weeks away. The clear winner though in terms of growth is a component of the alliance, the right wing Chega party led by former football pundit Andre Ventura. Just five years into electoral politics, his party scooped up 18% of the total vote share and has bagged 48 seats in the 230-member House. This jump is 4 times the number of seats the party won in the previous election. His party’s campaign focused on corruption and immigration. The snap polls were held after Socialist PM Antonio Costa stepped down in the wake of corruption allegations.
Russian Navy Chief Removed: Reports
Admiral Nikolai Yevmenov, the Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, has reportedly been dismissed, as per Russian media reports. The news outlet Fontanka disclosed that Admiral Alexander Moiseev is set to assume the role of acting commander-in-chief of the navy. No reasons were cited by the St Petersburg-based media nor did the Navy’s press service comment on the matter. Nikolai Yevmenov, who has been in the position since May 2019, faced sanctions from the US, the EU, the UK, and other nations following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Recent months have seen an increase in the Russian fleet in the Black Sea and in Crimea.
US Airlifts Embassy Staff From Haiti As Violence Rages
As armed gang violence escalates in Haiti… the US embassy has airlifted staffers from Port-au-Prince. The European Union’s delegation in Haiti has temporarily closed its offices. The German ambassador has also left for the Dominican Republic, along with other EU representatives. A state of emergency was declared earlier this month and has been extended till April. Haiti is in the midst of violence after rival gangs joined forces and have since launched attacks on prisons and police stations. Barbecue, the police officer-turned-ganglord leading the armed gangs, is demanding that PM Ariel Henry step down. Henry came to power with US backing following the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in 2021.
South Korea: Military Physicians Now Deployed To Hospitals
South Korea has turned to its military physicians for help. The strike by junior doctors has crippled the country’s healthcare system. Striking doctors comprise 10% of all doctors in the country. So far 2,400 military doctors will be deployed in hospitals as per the defence ministry’s briefing. The government’s plan to increase annual medical school admissions by 2,000 starting from 2025 is one of the key reasons why trainee doctors have walked out. The strike has been on since February 20.
Netanyahu Claims 13,000 ‘Terrorists’ Among Palestinians Killed
Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu has said that 13,000 ‘terrorists’ were among Palestinians killed in the Israel war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. In defiance of what US President Joe Biden called the ‘red line’, Netanyahu seems firm on pressing ahead with the offensive in Rafah. Nearly 31,000 Palestinians have died in the last five months, after Israel started air strikes in Gaza after the October 7 attacks.
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