Pointing specifically to the countries of Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen, where the UN estimates that more than 20 million people are facing starvation from famine, the United Nations in mid-March proclaimed that the world is witnessing the worst humanitarian crisis since 1945.

In each of these countries, war and insurgency are not only causing food shortages, they are preventing aid from reaching the people most in need of it. 

• In Nigeria, the Islamist...

Heavy rains caused multiple rivers in the Putumayo province of southwestern Colombia to spill over their banks on April 1, resulting in flooding and landslides that killed more than 250 people and injured many hundreds. More than 200 people were still missing as of press time. The floods and landslides also washed away roads and bridges, hampering rescue efforts. 

Heavy rains were predicted to continue, leaving 182 towns in a status of high alert for further flooding and slides....

South Korean president Park Geun-hye was removed from office after a court hearing on March 10 upheld her impeachment by Parliament. She had been impeached due to accusations of corruption. She is the first democratically elected president in South Korea to be removed from office. 

After the ruling, three people were killed during protests by Park supporters outside of the court. Their causes of death were not revealed. New presidential elections will be held on May 9.

On...