Africa
South Africa actor dies in crash
Mpho Sebeng, a popular South African TV star, has died at the age of 30. He died in a car accident, according to an announcement from his family. Sebeng had been acting for nearly 20 years and started his career at age 12. He was well known in South Africa and was previously nominated for Best Male Actor in a telenovela in the South African Film and Television awards.
Kenya continues to grapple with flooding
Officials in Kenya have deployed air and aqua operations in an effort to rescue families trapped in their homes from flooding. Parts of the country like the western Nyando area have seen relentless floods, and so far, more than 1,000 households were forced to flee their homes. There have been no reported deaths, but officials said water levels are still rising as of Monday.
Asia
China highway collapses, kills dozens
At least 24 people were killed when a section of a mountainside highway collapsed in China. The area has been dealing with heavy rain, but authorities have not commented on what caused the incident. Around 30 others are hospitalized but are “not currently at risk.” Authorities said 20 vehicles fell into the collapsed area of the highway.
Myanmar halts men from working abroad
Officials in Myanmar are no longer allowing conscription-age men to travel abroad for work. The restrictions are a result of the country’s ongoing civil war. Many Myanmar citizens worked in other Asian countries and were allowed to leave for jobs abroad. Tens of thousands young Myanmar people have fled the country since February.
Europe
Man nailed to fence in Ireland
A man in his 20s in Ireland was taken to a hospital when he was found nailed to a fence. He had a nail through each hand, and two vans, one of which belonged to him, were found on fire in a car park nearby. Police are investigating the possibility that paramilitary groups may be involved in the incident. They added that the man was left with potentially life-changing injuries.
Teen admits to attacking politician
A 17-year-old teenager turned himself in to police in Germany after he admitted to attacking European Parliament Member Matthias Ecke. The teenager admitted to knocking down Ecke while he hung posters in Dresden. Ecke was seriously injured and needed surgery. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party and was campaigning for the June European Parliament election when he was attacked.
Latin America
Colombia military lose millions of bullets
Officials in Colombia said the country’s military lost millions of bullets, thousands of grenades, and missiles. The military recently inspected its bases and noticed the missing items. Officials blamed the missing items on internal corruption, and an investigation into the situation is underway. Colombia’s military is one of the strongest in the region and has received billions of dollars from the United States to combat drug cartels.
Cuban nationals likely fighting for Russia
Recent research from the BBC concluded that Russia has likely been recruiting Cuban nationals to fight in Ukraine. Last September and October, passport details belonging to 200 Cubans who allegedly joined Russia’s army were leaked online. Cuba and Russia have been allies since the Cold War, and Cubans do not need a visa to travel to Russia.
North America
Columbia University cancels graduation
Columbia University in New York City is canceling its main graduation because of protests on campus over the Israel-Gaza war. The school said it made the decision to keep residents safe and consulted with student leaders before making the decision. Since mid-April, there have been demonstrations at nearly 140 colleges in 45 states and Washington DC.
Record number of sea lions in San Francisco
Officials in San Francisco said more than 1,000 sea lions have visited Pier 39. This marks the biggest group of the marine animals in the area seen in the last 15 years. Scientists expressed joy about the sight, saying it’s a sign of a healthy ecosystem in the area. The influx of sea lions garnered widespread attention from locals and tourists alike.
