Briefly

DR CONGO

'At least 200' feared dead in landslide

The Democratic Republic of Congo's government said on Sunday it feared "at least 200 dead" in a "massive" landslide that struck a mine in the country's east. Since 2021, the M23 armed group has seized vast tracts of the country's resource-rich east, including the Rubaya mine in North Kivu Province, which it captured in April 2024. The mine produces 15 to 30 percent of the world's coltan, a key component in the production of electronics such as laptops and mobile phones. Thousands of artisanal miners work daily in precarious conditions in Rubaya's pits, most equipped with simple shovels and rubber boots. A "massive landslide likely left at least 200 dead", the country's communications ministry said in a statement to AFP on Sunday, expressing its "deep dismay" over the tragedy.

UNITED STATES

14 people die in cold snap in New York City

Fourteen people have died outdoors as a cold snap gripped New York City for the past week, Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed on Sunday. Preliminary findings revealed that hypothermia played a role in the deaths of eight people, local media reported. A huge winter storm brought record amounts of snow on Jan 25, making roads and sidewalks a slushy mess. New measures were also adopted to help the homeless cope with the freezing temperatures. New single-room shelter units will be opened for the homeless, while warming shelters also remain open to all people across New York City's five boroughs.

UKRAINE

Talks delayed to Wednesday: Zelensky

A second round of talks between Russian, Ukrainian and US officials on a US-drafted plan to end the nearly four-year Ukraine conflict will begin on Wednesday, instead of Sunday, President Volodymyr Zelensky said. Zelensky did not give a reason for the delay. The announcement comes a day after one of Russian President Vladimir Putin's top envoys held surprise talks with US officials in Florida without Kyiv."The dates for the next trilateral meetings have been set — Feb 4 and 5 in Abu Dhabi," Zelensky said in a post on X. The trilateral talks will take place on Wednesday and Thursday in Abu Dhabi, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov later confirmed.

Agencies via Xinhua