Cuban Minister for Labour, Marta Elena Feitó Cabrera, has been forced to resign after she made comments denying the existence of beggars on the Communist-run island.

The minister had said there was no such thing as "beggars" in Cuba and people going through rubbish were, in essence, doing so out of choice to make "easy money", as she put it.

A fire that tore through a shopping centre in the Iraqi city of Kut has left at least 61 dead, officials said. The blaze at the mall, which had reportedly opened five days ago, broke out on Wednesday night and has since been brought under control. Firefighters have rescued 45 people from the mall's roof, but state media reported that many are still missing.

Syria's defence ministry has announced a ceasefire in the Druze-majority city of Suwayda, saying an agreement has been reached with the city’s “notables and dignitaries” after days of deadly clashes with Bedouin tribes.

“To all units operating within the city of Suwayda, we declare a complete ceasefire,” Defence Minister Murhaf Abu Qasra posted on X on Tuesday.

Violence erupted from Friday last week across Suwayda governorate, killing at least 99 people.

Nigeria’s former President Muhammadu Buharihas died in London, United Kingdom at the age of 82 following a long illness.

“President Buhari is dead following a prolonged illness,” President Bola Tinubu’s spokesperson announced on Sunday via the social media platform X.

Buhari made history in 2015 when he became the first opposition candidate in Nigeria’s modern era to defeat a sitting president at the polls, unseating Goodluck Jonathan in what was widely praised as the country’s most credible election.