Opposition forces in the Syrian Civil War open to temporary truce, pending Russian ceasefire.
Peace talks continue at the UN in Geneva, jointly chaired by the US and Russia.
(Image courtesy of Reuters)
The various armed groups fighting against Syrian president Bashar al-Assad have agreed to the possibility of a ceasefire on the condition that Assad’s allies also stop military operations, and that aid deliveries are allowed nationwide. Assad responded that he was willing to accept the ceasefire if the rebels did not use it “to improve their positions”. The biggest obstacle to the agreement lies with Russian airstrikes in support of Assad, with Vladimir Putin’s spokesman Dimitri Peskov stating that they have no intention of ceasing attacks. The ongoing negotiations at the UN center around target clarification as several factions involved in the conflict are considered as terrorist organizations by the international community.
Source and more information can be found here.
First confirmed case of Zika virus in Ontario.
An Aedes aegypti mosquito, the main carrier of the Zika virus. (Image courtesy of US Centers for Disease Control)
On 19 February, Ontario’s Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care announced that an individual returning from Columbia has tested positive for the Zika virus, currently endemic in South and Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. In addition to several non-life threatening symptoms of fever, joint pain, rash and red eyes, the virus has been linked to more than 4,400 cases of infants with abnormally small heads born to infected pregnant women. The Ministry confirmed that the patient is not pregnant, and urged individuals who have recently visited affected countries to undergo testing. The risk of the virus remains “very low” in Ontario, as the Aedes aegypti mosquito known to carry the virus is not suited for Canada’s climate.
Source and more information can be found here.
UK referendum date for EU determined.
UK Prime Minister, David Cameron, announces date for EU vote. (Image Courtesy of Getty Images)
David Cameron, the Prime Minister of the UK, announced that on 23 June, the UK will vote on whether or not they will remain in the European Union (EU). The demand for the vote comes from the public and politicians who say that the EU has changed much since the UK joined the EU 40 years ago. Both sides of the issue have strong arguments, and the public is evenly divided about the issue as of now. Politicians too have taken sides on the issue and will soon set up campaigns.
Source and more information can be found here and here .
Harper Lee buried in Alabama .
Harper Lee, author of To Kill A Mockingbird, was buried in her hometown in Alabama. (Image courtesy of Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images)
Harper Lee, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of To Kill a Mockingbird, passed away on 19 February at the age of 89. She was buried in her hometown Monroeville, Alabama beside her father and sister. Lee used Monroeville as a model for Maycomb, the town in which To Kill a Mockingbird takes place.
Source and more information can be found here.
Red Cross opens photo and film archives.
An image of a nurse saying farewell to a soldier in World War I from the archives. (Image courtesy of ICRC).
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has released almost 100 000 photos, videos, and audio recordings documenting their 150 years of humanitarian aid. The photos and videos tell the stories of the injured, hungry, and imprisoned in five continents who the organization has aided. The files were digitized and put online and is now available to everyone.
Source and more information can be found here.
