Headline

5 Newest Countries In The World

Published

9 months ago

November 29, 2024

Today, the world has 195 recognised countries, including some of the newest nations to join the global community.

New countries often come from independence struggles, the breakup of larger nations, or international agreements. These countries face challenges like building stable governments, growing their economies, and creating a national identity. The newest country in the world, South Sudan, became independent in 2011.

Here are the five newest countries in the world:

South Sudan

South Sudan became independent on July 9, 2011, after years of conflict with Sudan. The Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 allowed South Sudanese to vote for independence in a 2011 referendum, where 98.83% chose to separate. Its capital is Juba, and it became the 193rd United Nations member state soon after. Despite independence, South Sudan has faced challenges, including a civil war from 2013 to 2020, causing a humanitarian crisis.

Montenegro

Montenegro declared independence on June 3, 2006, after a referendum where 55.5% of voters supported separation from Serbia. This ended the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, which had replaced Yugoslavia. Montenegro’s capital is Podgorica, and it joined the United Nations on June 28, 2006, as the 192nd member state. Montenegro has worked toward joining the European Union and became the 29th member of NATO on 5 June 2017 when it deposited its instrument of accession to the

North Atlantic Treaty with the U.S. State Department in Washington, D.C.

On 7 June 2017, The Flag of Montenegro was raised at NATO Headquarters in a special ceremony to mark the country’s accession to NATO.

Serbia

Serbia became an independent state on June 5, 2006, after Montenegro’s decision to separate. Serbia, as the successor state of Serbia and Montenegro, retained membership in international organisations, including the United Nations. Its capital is Belgrade. Serbia is focused on economic growth and aims to join the European Union while dealing with the unresolved status of Kosovo, which declared independence in 2008.

Timor-Leste

Timor-Leste, also called East Timor, gained independence on May 20, 2002, after decades of Indonesian occupation. In a UN-backed referendum in 1999, most voters chose independence, despite violent resistance. Its capital is Dili, and it became the 191st United Nations member state in 2002. Timor-Leste is rebuilding its economy and infrastructure, relying heavily on oil and gas resources.

Palau

Palau became independent on October 1, 1994, after being a United Nations Trust Territory under U.S. administration. Its independence was formalised under a Compact of Free Association with the U.S., which provides financial aid and defense support. Its capital is Ngerulmud, and Palau joined the United Nations on December 15, 1994.

Headline

42 Killed In Israeli Attacks, Says Gaza’s Civil Defense

Published

12 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Gaza’s civil defence agency reported at least 42 people killed in Israeli attacks on Sunday, as the Israeli army prepared for a new assault on the Palestinian territory’s largest city.

Civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal said there had been several air strikes around Gaza City — which the military is gearing up to capture — including one in the Al-Sabra neighbourhood that killed eight people.

Attacks were also reported elsewhere across the territory, he said, with the “total tally currently rising to 42 dead”.

The army did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the figure.

“The situation is extremely dangerous… Each day, each minute, there are bombings, martyrs, death and blood — we can’t take it anymore,” Al-Sabra resident Ibrahim Al-Shurafa told AFP, explaining strikes and shelling were ongoing.

“We don’t know where to go. Death follows us everywhere,” he added.

Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties in accessing many areas mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency or the Israeli military.

The October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel that sparked the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.

Israel’s offensive has killed at least 62,686 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza that the United Nations considers reliable.

AFP

Headline

Venezuela Frees Eight Opposition Leaders

Published

12 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Venezuelan authorities released eight opposition leaders from jail early Sunday, including a former congressman and two Italian citizens, and granted house arrest to five others, an opposition politician said.

Most of those released had been charged with corruption in opposition-run mayoral offices.

Also set free was Congressman, Amirico de Grazia, detained amid protests that erupted during President Nicolas Maduro’s reelection in 2024.

“Today, several families are once again embracing their loved ones. We know there are many left, and we have not forgotten them; we continue to fight for everyone,” two-time former presidential candidate Henrique Capriles said on X.

Opposition leaders Victor Jurado, Simon Vargas, Arelis Ojeda Escalante, Mayra Castro, Diana Berrio, Gorka Carnevalli, as well as Italian nationals Margarita Assenzo and de Grazia were released, Capriles said.

Nabil Maalouf, Valentin Gutierrez Pineda, Rafael Ramirez, Pedro Guanipa, and David Barroso were placed under house arrest.

The Italian government confirmed the release of de Grazia and Assenzo, who must appear in court to clarify the conditions of their release. It also vowed to continue working on securing the release of other detained Italians.

“We have always said, and we maintain it: we will talk to whomever we need to talk to so that there is not a single political prisoner in our Venezuela!” Capriles added.

AFP

Headline

Russia, Ukraine Exchange Prisoners Of War, Civilians

Published

12 hours ago

August 24, 2025

Editor

Russia and Ukraine each sent back more prisoners of war on Sunday in the latest in a series of exchanges that have seen hundreds of POWs released this year, the two sides said.

Large-scale prisoner exchanges were the only tangible result of three rounds of talks between Russia and Ukraine in Istanbul between May and July.

They remain one of the few areas of cooperation between the two countries since Russia’s offensive began in 2022.

“On August 24, 146 Russian servicemen were returned from the territory controlled” by Kyiv, the Russian defence ministry said on Telegram.

“In exchange, 146 prisoners of war of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were transferred” to Ukraine, it added. Ukraine did not confirm any figures for the release.

Russia also said that “eight citizens of the Russian Federation—residents of the Kursk region, illegally detained” by Kyiv were also returned.

Ukrainian forces launched a surprise incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August last year, seizing hundreds of square kilometres (miles) of territory in a major setback for the Kremlin.

Russia deployed thousands of troops from its ally North Korea as part of a counterattack but did not fully reclaim the region until April.

Among the Ukrainians released on Sunday was journalist Dmytro Khyliuk, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Khyliuk was kidnapped in the Kyiv region in March 2022. He is finally home in Ukraine,” Zelensky said on social media.

Also freed was former Kherson mayor Volodymyr Mykolayenko, “who spent more than three years in captivity,” Zelensky’s aide Andriy Yermak wrote on X.

“In 2022, he was on the list for return, but Volodymyr voluntarily refused to be exchanged in favour of a seriously ill prisoner with whom he was sharing a cell in a Russian prison,” Yermak said.

AFP