Africa
Kenya police officers arrested for trafficking
Two police officers were arrested in Kenya after they were found trafficking 13 people from Ethiopia using a police vehicle. The officers were intercepted in northwestern Kenya which borders Ethiopia. Police were transporting eight Ethiopians, four Eritreans and a Sudanese national. They were traveling to South Africa.
Niger’s budget plumets
Niger’s government cut its budget by 40 percent because of the impact of sanctions and suspension of aid after the July coup. At least 40 percent of Niger’s budget support this year was expected to come from external partners. The sanctions may worsen Niger’s economic situation while food and commodity prices continue to rise in the country. The July coup ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and resulted in regional and international sanctions.
Asia
More than 1,000 people killed by earthquake in Afghanistan
More than 1,000 people were killed in Afghanistan when an earthquake struck in Herat province. Villages were flattened, and authorities are searching for more than 500 missing people. At least 1,600 others were injured, and hospitals have been struggling to accommodate them. Aid agencies like the Afghan Red Cross Society and Unicef have dispatched help.
Teen held over Bangkok mall shooting
Authorities in Bangkok arrested a 14-year-old boy after two people were killed and five others injured in a shooting. The shooting occurred at the Siam Paragon, a famous shopping center. It is unknown what the suspect’s motives were, but he surrendered to officers and had been using a handgun. Mass shootings in Thailand are rare but gun ownership rates are high for the area.
Europe
Prada to design space suits
Prada, the Italian fashion house, will design space suits for Nasa and its 2025 Moon mission. The company will work to design the suits with private company Axiom Space. The two entities said they would use innovative technologies and design to allow “greater exploration of the lunar surface than ever before.”
France deals with panic over bedbugs
Officials in France are working to contain a panic over bedbugs. There has been a surge in the bedbug population in France and other parts of the world, but officials warned many recent sightings are false. Recently a Paris school became the latest building hit by a reported infestation. Officials are expected to speed up proposals for a national observatory on bedbugs.
Latin America
Colombian army apologizes for killing civilians
The Colombian army apologized for killing thousands of civilians after an inquiry found that 6,402 civilians were murdered by the military between 2002 and 2008. The army passed off the civilians as rebels. Many of the victims were young men from poor neighborhoods and were lured with promises of work before being executed. The apology took place last Tuesday in the capital, Bogotá.
Havana residential building collapses, kills three
Three people were killed at a residential building in Havana, Cuba when the structure collapsed. The area is known for its historic houses but many are dangerously dilapidated. Last month, offi- cials said more than 850,000 homes across the country needed repairs. Cuba blames the economic embargo imposed on the island by the United States for not being able to source building materials to carry out repairs.
North America
Improperly stored bodies discovered at funeral home
At least 115 bodies were found improperly stored at a Colorado funeral home that specializes in “green burials.” The bodies were discovered after reports were made about a foul odor coming from The Return to Nature Funeral Home. The FBI said the owners of the funeral home have been cooperative and it is unclear if a crime has been committed. The funeral home is located in Penrose, Colorado.
Biden approves border wall
U.S. President Joe Biden’s approved an effort to build a section of border wall in southern Texas. The wall will be built in Starr County along its border with Mexico and will be around 20 miles long. Biden had previously promised he would not build another foot of wall if elected. However, last week Biden said he “can’t stop” the construction of the wall because funding for it had already been appropriated. He said he doesn’t believe the wall can stop rising levels of immigration.
