Overview of major international news amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis | News

Here are some key stories that you may not have seen because of the latest news from Russia and Ukraine.

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its fifth day, here’s a rundown of some of the key international stories you may have missed:

‘Rainbomb’ hits Australia

A severe storm system has ravaged the northeastern city of Brisbane, causing evacuations, power outages and school closures, while the accompanying flash floods have left the death toll up to seven.

More than 1,400 homes in the state capital of Queensland were at risk of flooding, while more than 28,000 homes across the state were without power. Pristine beaches on the Gold and Sunshine coasts, the main tourist attractions, are all closed.

Flooded scenes at Rocklea on the south side of Brisbane [Jason O’Brien/AAP Image via Reuters]

New York lifts school mask mandate across the state

The US state of New York is lifting the masking requirement in schools by March 2, Governor Kathy Hochul said, citing a dramatic decline in the number of COVID-19 infections and new federal guidelines.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he is considering lifting vaccine mandates for restaurants, bars and theaters early next week if infections and hospitalizations continue their downward trend.

A mask mandate for the city’s roughly one million schoolchildren could also be lifted, Adams said in a statement.

The decision will not come until Friday, after a full week of classes after students from the country’s largest school system return from a week-long vacation, he said.

North Korea says its test was for developing a reconnaissance satellite

North Korea said a test conducted on Sunday was for the development of a reconnaissance satellite system, state news agency KCNA reported a day after a missile launch from the country was detected.

KCNA’s report did not elaborate on the type of missile used in the test, but authorities in South Korea said it appeared to be a ballistic missile fired from an area near Pyongyang, which is home to the international airport. is located.

The launch was the eighth test this year and the first since January, when nuclear-armed North Korea fired a record number of missiles.

Coal mine explosion in Colombia kills 11

At least 11 people have been killed in an explosion at a coal mine in Colombia, the national mining organization (ANM) said on Sunday.

The explosion happened in Tasco municipality in Boyaca province late Saturday, according to the agency. It was caused by a buildup of methane gas in the mine. Rescuers were looking for four people who were still missing after the explosion.

Colombia saw 128 mining accidents in 2021, killing 148. According to the ANM, there have been 19 mining accidents so far this year, with 36 deaths.