Africa
Mass graves discovered in Kenya – Fourteen graves holding nearly 60 bodies were discovered in the middle of a forest near Kenya’s coast. The bodies are believed to be parishioners of the Good News International Church. Parishioners are believed to have been persuaded to starve themselves in order to reach heaven. The Red Cross said that 112 people have been missing. The church’s pastor, Makenzie Nthenge, was charged in connection with the deaths of two children whose parents joined his church.
Violence in Sudan impacts animal rescue centre – The Sudan Animal Centre said it is running low on food for lions that live in a wildlife reserve near the capital of Khartoum. The Centre also noted that it doesn’t have access to electricity to power safety fences around enclosures. In total, the reserve is home to 25 lions and other animals like gazelles, cam- els, monkeys, hyenas, and birds.
Asia
India population set to surpass China – The United Nations said that India will overtake China for the world’s largest population by the end of this week. The country’s population is expected to reach 1,425,775,850 people. China and India have accounted for over a third of the global population for more than 70 years. For the first time since 1961, China’s population shrank last year.
Australia looks to purchase long range missiles – An Australian defense review is recommending that the country purchases longer range missiles to counter threat from China. Australia plans to spend $12 billion to carry out the review’s recommendations. Recently, there has been increasing regional tension over China’s stance toward Taiwan. In 2022, a think tank report warned of a worst-case scenario for Australia’s military in which China took control of territory in the near region during a possible war over Taiwan.
Europe
Spain exhumes remains of fascist leader – The remains of José Antonio Primo de Rivera, Spain’s fascist leader, were exhumed and moved to a less prominent cemetery. The decision to remove his remains was made as part of Spain’s effort to face its legacy of the country’s civil war and dictatorship. His remains were previously in a mausoleum, and Primo de Rivera’s modern-day supporters clashed with police outside the cemetery.
Evacuation ordered in Russian city At least 3,000 people were evacuated from their homes in the Russian city of Belgorod. The evacuation was ordered after an undetonated explosive was found. Russia also accidentally dropped a bomb on the same city recently, damaging houses and causing injuries. The undetonated explosive was found in the area where the bomb was accidentally dropped.
Latin America
Former Peru president to be extradited from United States – Former Peru President Alejandro Toledo surrendered to American authorities and will now be extradited to Lima. He is accused of taking $20 million in bribes from a Brazilian construction company while in office. Toledo fled to the United States years ago and was arrested after Peru requested assistance from American authorities. He is accused of receiving the bribe money in exchange for awarding public works contracts. Toledo faces 20 years in prison.
Migrants demand justice in Mexico – Thousands of migrants marched through southern Mexico to demand the end of detention centers. Recently, 40 people were killed when a fire sparked at a detention facility last month. The march started in the city of Tapachula, and demonstrators are hoping to reach Mexico City in 10 days. Most of the protesters are from Central America, Cuba, Venezuela, Ecuador, and Colombia.
North America
Pearl Harbor survivor dies – Kenton Potts, one of the last two survivors from a battleship sunk during Japan’s attack on Pearl Harbor, has died. Potts was 102 and was a crane operator taking supplies to the USS Arizona when Japan attacked in 1941. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1939 and used his boat to rescue sailors that had been thrown into the water at the time of the attack. Lou Conter of Arizona, California is the only other remaining survivor.
Bed Bath & Beyond files for bankruptcy – Bed Bath & Beyond filed for bank- ruptcy protection, saying it will implement an orderly wind down of its business. By June, the company plans to close all 475 of its remaining stores. The store was popular for household goods but failed to compete with the rise of online shopping. In the 2010s, Bed Bath & Beyond was the largest home furnishing retailer in the United States.
