Africa
Kenya sending farm workers to Israel
Officials in Kenya announced a plan to send 1,500 farm workers to Israel. Recently, Malawi sent 221 young people to work on Israeli farms. Israel has leaned on some parts of Africa to help fill labor gaps on farms in the country. Since the start of the war with Hamas, 10,000 migrant farm workers have left Israel.
South Africa woman gets 50-year prison sentence
A court in South Africa sentenced a woman to 50 years in prison after she was found guilty of stealing $28 million from her employer. Hildegard Steenkamp siphoned money from a healthcare company she worked for and pleaded guilty to 336 counts of fraud. Investigators found that she spent the money on gambling, jewelry purchases and travel.
Asia
Activists say North Korea defectors missing
A Seoul-based human rights group said they believe up to 600 North Koreans have “vanished” after being forcibly returned to the country. Most of those who are missing are believed to be women after being deported from China. Those who flee North Korea are viewed as traitors, and can face torture, sexual violence, and execution.
Philippine/China vessels collide
A Philippine boat and a Chinese ship collided near a reef in the South China Sea. The area is in the middle of a territorial dispute between China, the Philippines, and other countries. The Philippines accused China of harassing, blocking, and executing “dangerous maneuvers” when the collision occurred. The China Coast Guard accused the Philippine boat of deliberately colliding with the Chinese ship.
Europe
EU reaches new deal on AI
The European Union has agreed on a set of comprehensive laws to regulate the use of artificial intelligence. Other countries like the United States and China are also working quickly to publish their own laws. The European Union’s agreement includes safeguards on the use of AI within the EU and limitations on its adoption by law enforcement.
Shooting at Russian school leaves two dead
A teenage girl in Russia shot and killed a student before shooting herself in a Russian school close to the Ukrainian and Belarusian borders. Five others were injured, and the weapon used in the attack was registered in the girl’s father’s name. Officials said they believe the 14-year-old girl was involved in a conflict with classmates.
Latin America
Brazil sends troops to Venezuelan border
Officials in Brazil said they have deployed troops near the country’s border with Venezuela. The move was made in response to Venezuela announcing plans to incorporate an area controlled by Guyana into its own territory. Guyana is known for its oil and has been a disputed piece of land since it was a British colony. Brazil said it is reinforcing its presence in the region to guarantee the “inviolability of the territory.”
Former Peru president freed from jail
Alberto Fujimori, who served as Peru’s president from 1990 to 2000, was released from prison after spending 15 years incarcerated. He is known as being a divisive leader and was jailed for corruption and human rights violations. Fujimori ran an authoritarian government, resulting in the deaths of around 69,000 people.
North America
Tornadoes tore through Tennessee
Six people were killed in Tennessee over the weekend after tornadoes and storms swept through parts of the state. The victims lived in Nashville and in the city of Clarksville. Around 23 others were injured and hospitalized. Images showed overturned cars, damaged buildings, and uprooted trees. Communities also dealt with blackouts.
Woman attempts to burn down MLK’s house
Bystanders stopped a woman as she attempted to set a fire at the birth home of Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta. The woman, 26 year old Shantrice Henderson, is in custody on charges of attempted arson and interfering with government property. The house is a federal landmark, and its interior was acquired by the National Park Service in 2018.
