Briefly

AFRICA

Mediators see progress in ending Sudan conflict

An African regional body involved in efforts to mediate the conflict in Sudan says it has secured a commitment from warring parties to implement a cease-fire and hold a political dialogue aimed at resolving the conflict. There was no immediate comment from Sudan's army or the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, or RSF, which have been locked since mid-April in a conflict that has devastated the capital Khartoum. During talks on Saturday in Djibouti, Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, agreed to a one-on-one meeting with RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, a statement said.

AUSTRALIA

Plan to cut immigrant numbers unveiled

Australia unveiled plans on Monday to reduce the number of migrants arriving in the country, hoping to curb a post-pandemic surge and address voter anger at the rising cost of living. The country's center-left Labor government announced a raft of measures making it harder for everyone, from foreign students to low-skilled workers to enter, including tougher English language requirements and higher wage thresholds. Roughly half a million temporary migrants entered the country last year, a post-pandemic boom after years of closed borders. The government believes its reforms, along with short-term trends, will bring the number closer to 250,000 in 2024-25.

VENEZUELA

At least 12 killed as gold mine collapses

The collapse of an artisanal gold mine in southeastern Venezuela near an indigenous community killed at least 12 people, the government announced on Sunday. A landslide on Wednesday buried the Paraiba de San Jose de Wadamapa mine near Icabaru town in Venezuela's Bolivar state, close to the country's border with Brazil. Amid Venezuela's prolonged economic collapse, informal mining operations have flourished in remote, mineral-rich areas of the country, where thousands of miners work to extract lucrative metals, especially gold, in unsafe conditions.

Agencies via Xinhua