By: Joseph Rios
Africa
Six lions killed after escaping reserve – South African wildlife authorities announced they killed a pride of six lions after the animals escaped a game reserve and killed livestock. Residents had previously threatened to hunt and kill the lions if authorities didn’t act. Local media reported that residents believe more big cats may be on the loose because it is unknown how many lions escaped the game reserve.
Tanzania reports disease of concern – The Tanzanian government has identified a previously known disease as Leptospirosis. The bacterial disease is transmitted from animals to humans and can create symptoms like kidney failure, liver damage and bleedng. About 5 to 10 percent of Leptospirosis cases are fatal. Health experts identified the disease after carrying out tests on samples from residents in the country.
Asia
India hits two billion COVID vaccine jabs – India became the second country in the world to administer more than two billion COVID-19 vaccine doses. China is the only other country to have hit the two billion mark. Recently, India began giving free booster doses to adults for 75 days. Previously, only frontline workers, health workers and people above the age of 60 were eligible for free boosters. India’s health ministry reported that 90 percent of the country is fully vaccinated against the virus.
Sri Lanka declares emergency over protests – Large scale protests calling for Sri Lanka’s acting president to step down has caused the country to declare a state of emergency. Ranil Wickremesinghe became the country’s acting president last week after the country’s former leader, Gotabaya Rajapaksa, fled because of mass protests. Demonstrators have been protesting because of Sri Lanka’s economic collapse. Country lawmakers are set to gather this week to elect a new president.
Europe
Heat waves continue to impact France – Extreme temperatures in Western France led experts to warn of a “heat apocalypse.” Around 24,000 people in France have been forced to flee in recent days because of wildfires. Thousands of others in Spain, Portugal and Greece have also been forced to flee because of wildfires. Spain and Portugal have recorded more than 1,000 deaths that were attributed to the heat in recent days. Heatwaves are more intense, frequent and last longer because of climate change.
H&M to leave Russia – H&M, the world’s second-largest clothing retailer, will Russia because of the Ukraine war. The retailer will temporarily reopen its shops in Russia to sell off its remaining stock. H&M spokesperson said it’s impossible to continue business in Russia because of the war. H&M has about 150 stores in Russia and employs nearly 6,000 people in the country.
Latin America
Mexico honors 14 marines – Mexico is mourning 14 marines who died while supporting an operation that led to drug lord Rafael Caro Quintero’s capture. The marines died when their helicopter crashed in the northern part of the country. Mexico’s navy said the crash was an accident and a cause is still being investigated. Quintero was on the FBI’s 10 most wanted list and co-founded the Guadalajara drug cartel.
Petrol prices drop in Panama after protests – The cost of fuel for vehicles in Panama has dropped by 24 percent after eight consecutive days of protests. Demonstrators called on the country to do more to lower the cost of necessities like food, medicine and electricity. Panama President Laurentino Cortizo said the price rises have occurred because of the pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine. Protests occurred while Cortizo was in the United States for medical tests.
North America
Monkeypox vaccine shortage – Health officials said there are not enough monkeypox vaccines in the United States to keep up with a surging demand. So far, the country has reported more than 1,800 cases of the virus. Most confirmed cases have been among men who have sex with men. So far, the United States has received 370,000 vaccines out of the nearly 7 million doses that the government ordered. Millions of doses are expected to arrive next year.
Black man shot 46 times in Ohio – According to an autopsy report, Jayland Walker, a 25-year-old Black man, was shot 46 times by Ohio police last month. Last week, hundreds of people gathered in Akron to mourn his death. Walker was killed after an attempted traffic stop that began over minor equipment violations. The situation turned into a six-minute pursuit. Body camera footage shows him jumping out of a moving vehicle and ducking into a parking lot where he was shot. Walker was unarmed at the time, but police found an unloaded handgun in the driver’s seat of his vehicle.
