Haiti
Horrific news. A 7.2-magnitude earthquake has hit Haiti, killing at least 304 people and injuring more than 1,800. Prime Minister Ariel Henry has declared a month-long state of emergency and US President Joe Biden has pledged an immediate aid response from Washington. Haiti has never fully recovered from a previous earthquake that devastated the Caribbean nation in 2010.
More from the Guardian here.
Bangladesh
At least 27 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar have died in an apparent attempt to escape a refugee camp on a Bangladeshi island. More than 740,000 Rohingya fled into Bangladesh from neighboring Myanmar after the army launched a violent crackdown against them in 2017. The Bangladeshi government’s decision to begin housing the refugees on Bhashan Char island has drawn criticism from the UN and rights groups.
More from Al Jazeera here.
Zambia
A worrying situation developing in Zambia. Early election results have put opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema ahead, prompting incumbent President Edgar Lungu to declare the vote was not “free and fair”. Zambia has for many years had a democracy that is the envy of the surrounding region but rights groups warned that legacy was in danger as Lungu cracked down on opponents in the run up to the poll.
More from BBC here.