By Fatimah Idera A magnitude 4.4 earthquake struck a volcanic area near the southern Italian city of Naples early Thursday, damaging buildings and sending residents fleeing into the streets. According to Italy’s National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology (INGV), the earthquake occurred at 1:25 a.m. (0025 GMT), with its epicentre near the coastal town of Pozzuoli, located west of Naples. The quake, which was followed by several smaller tremors, was…

By Fatimah Idera Tanzania plans to increase overall spending by 13.4% in the upcoming fiscal year starting in July, according to a draft budget that prioritizes debt repayment, the cost of the upcoming general election, and the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s pause on overseas aid. According to the budget paper, the East African country plans to spend 57.04 trillion shillings ($22 billion) in the 12 months beginning in…

A federal judge has ordered half a dozen federal agencies to “immediately” reinstate probationary employees fired last month as part of the Trump administration’s effort to rapidly shrink the federal workforce, calling the effort a “sham.” The preliminary injunction issued from the bench Thursday by US District Judge William Alsup requires the departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior and Treasury to rehire the employees. The judge said that…

European Union leaders announced 4.7 billion euros ($5.1 billion) in investments in South Africa on Thursday to support green energy and vaccine production, and agreed to start talks on new trade deals with Africa’s most advanced economy. The announcement came at the first bilateral summit between the bloc and the African country in seven years. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa and South African…

By Fatimah Idera The President of Poland, Andrzej Duda, has called on the U.S. to transfer nuclear weapons to Polish territory as a deterrent against future Russian aggression. According to reports from the Financial Times, President Duda stated that he had recently discussed the proposal with U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy. Poland, which had previously stated that it would be ready to host U.S. weapons under a nuclear arms-sharing…

President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to impose a 200% tariff on alcohol products from France and other European countries. The tariff threat comes after the European Union plans to move ahead with a proposed tariff on American whiskey. “If this Tariff is not removed immediately, the U.S. will shortly place a 200% Tariff on all WINES, CHAMPAGNES, & ALCOHOLIC PRODUCTS COMING OUT OF FRANCE AND OTHER E.U. REPRESENTED COUNTRIES.…

A high school track athlete faces a misdemeanor charge of assault and battery after a now-viral video showed her hitting a competitor’s head with her baton during a relay event. Alaila Everett, a senior at I.C. Norcom High School in Portsmouth, was running the second leg of the 4×200-meter relay when her baton struck Kaelen Tucker, a junior from Brookville High School, in the head. It happened March 4 during…

Six Americans who were imprisoned in Kuwait have been released in an agreement with the United States, a representative for their families has confirmed. The Americans, many of whom are veterans and former military contractors, were convicted on drug charges, Jonathan Franks, a crisis management consultant, said on Thursday. For years, however, the prisoners have “vigorously” maintained their innocence, Franks said. Six Americans who were imprisoned in Kuwait have been…

In a significant turn of events, Russia has declared that it does not seek a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine but instead aims for a long-term peace settlement that prioritizes its strategic interests. This statement comes as a U.S. delegation arrives in Moscow for crucial negotiations. Yuri Ushakov, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s foreign policy adviser, announced on Thursday that Moscow views the proposed 30-day ceasefire—brokered after talks between the U.S. and…

All of the remaining migrants being held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba have been moved to Louisiana over the last two days, according to a U.S. official. In late January, President Donald Trump announced he was signing an executive order “to instruct the departments of Defence and Homeland Security to begin preparing the 30,000-person migrant facility at Guantanamo Bay.” But since then, the number of migrants sent to be temporarily…

The moon will look like a coppery red ball in the sky, a phenomenon known as the blood moon A total lunar eclipse will be visible in the Western Hemisphere overnight Thursday, with the best views in North America and South America. Skywatchers in Africa and parts of Europe may also be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the celestial spectacle. A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth, the…

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Ukraine’s partners to remain vigilant and ensure that Russia does not use ceasefire negotiations as a means of deception. His comments follow breakthrough talks between Ukrainian and U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia, where Kyiv agreed in principle to a proposed 30-day ceasefire with Russia. However, in his nightly address on Wednesday, a day after the Jeddah summit, Zelenskyy expressed caution. “We must move toward…