Tragedy in DR Congo: More Than 200 Killed in Mine Collapse as Nurses Remember Fallen Colleague and Demand Change, and Oil Giants Tread Carefully on Venezuela

EXCERPT: More than 200 people were killed in a mine collapse in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while nurses in the US remembered a fallen colleague and demanded change, and oil giants Exxon and Chevron weighed President Trump's call to invest in Venezuela's oil industry.

CONTENT:

The tragic events of Wednesday, January 31, 2026, unfolded in two distinct corners of the globe. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo), more than 200 people were killed when a mine gave way after heavy rains, according to a local rebel spokesman. In Washington DC, US nurses gathered to remember one of their own, Alex Pretti, a victim of a fatal shooting by federal agents, and to demand an end to funding for US immigration and border agencies.

The mine collapse in DR Congo occurred in the Kasindi gold mine in the northeastern province of North Kivu. The mine, which is notoriously dangerous, gave way after heavy rains, leaving hundreds dead and many more injured. The local rebel spokesman, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that the death toll was likely to rise as rescue efforts continued.

Meanwhile, in the US capital, nurses and their supporters gathered in front of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) headquarters to remember Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse at a veterans hospital, who was killed by federal agents in a controversial shooting. The killing reverberated throughout the nursing community, with many expressing their grief and anger at the loss of a dedicated healthcare professional.

For Nolan Lee, a fellow nurse, it felt like Minnesota in Washington DC on Wednesday night. Despite the most extreme cold in 150 years, about a thousand people gathered to remember Pretti and demand an end to funding for US immigration and border agencies. The future of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), was up for debate as a key funding bill that would increase the agency's spending failed to pass the US Senate on Thursday.

As the nursing community mourned and demanded change, two of the world's largest oil companies, Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp., were weighing President Donald Trump's call to invest $100 billion to rebuild Venezuela's oil industry against the disciplined spending model that's sent their stocks soaring on Wall Street. Exxon and Chevron are treading carefully, as the political and economic situation in Venezuela remains uncertain, and the potential risks and rewards of such a large investment are still unclear.

In recent years, Venezuela's oil industry has suffered greatly due to mismanagement, corruption, and economic instability. The country, which once produced more than 3 million barrels of oil per day, is now producing less than 1 million barrels per day. However, the potential rewards of rebuilding Venezuela's oil industry are significant, as the country sits atop the world's largest oil reserves.

As the world grapples with these tragic events and complex issues, it's a reminder that the interconnected nature of our global community means that we are all affected by the actions and decisions of others, no matter where we live. It's a call to action for us to remember the importance of compassion, justice, and responsible leadership in our own communities and beyond.

Sources:

• "More than 200 killed in mine collapse in DR Congo" (BBC News, 31 January 2026)
• "Nurses remember Alex Pretti and vow to ‘bring the care our patients need’" (The Guardian, 31 January 2026)
• "Exxon, Chevron Cautious on Venezuela as Trump Urges Oil Growth" (Bloomberg, 31 January 2026)