Africa
Russia to stop using Kenyan military recruits
Officials in Kenya said that Russia has agreed to stop deploying Kenyans to fight in Ukraine. Last month, a Kenyan intelligence report found that more than 1,000 Kenyans had been recruited to fight for Russia in Ukraine. Data from the Ukraine shows that more than 1,700 people from 36 countries in Africa have been recruited to fight for Russia.
Senegal approves anti-gay law
Lawmakers in Senegal approved a new law that would allow for a maximum 10-year prison sentence for sexual acts by same-sex couples. The law was pushed by President Bassirou Diomaye Faye who promised during his campaign to crackdown on same-sex relationships. Other parts of Africa have already passed anti-homosexual legislation like Uganda, allowing for people engaging in same-sex relationships to be sentenced to death in certain situations.
Asia
Fire at India hospital leaves 10 dead
At least 10 people were killed in a fire at a trauma center of a hospital in eastern India. All of the victims were patients, and several hospital staff members are being treated for injuries. Officials believe the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. India has seen several hospital fires over the years, and many critics blame the incidents on electrical faults.
Australian man found guilty of working for Chinese
Alexander Csergo, an Australian businessman, was found guilty of reckless foreign interference. Authorities said Csergo was offered cash in exchange for national security information while he was working in Shanghai. His lawyers argued that the information he gave Chinese officials was publicly available. Csergo is facing up to 15 years in prison.
Europe
French national jailed for spying
Martin Ryan, a French national, was found guilty of spying on the military in Azerbaijan. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being accused of spying on behalf of Paris. France denied that Ryan was spying on behalf of the country, saying he was caught in the middle of diplomatic tensions. The two countries have had soured relations in recent years, mainly because of France’s apparent support for Azerbaijan rival Armenia.
German philosopher passes
Jürgen Habermas, an influential philosopher and intellectual, has passed at the age of 96. Habermas grew up in Nazi Germany and is most known for his Theory of Communicative Action, a piece in which he argues that human societies were sustained by the capacity for rational dialogue. He also taught philosophy and sociology at the University of Frankfurt where he supported the student revolt at West German universities during the 1960s.
Latin America
Ecuador prepares thousands of troops to combat drug gangs
Officials in Ecuador are prepared to deploy more than 75,000 police officers and soldiers to parts of the country most impacted by violence. The government declared a night-time curfew in those areas as part of their “war” on criminal gangs. Ecuador is a key transit country for cocaine. According to local data, around 70 percent of cocaine produced in Colombia and Peru is shipped through Ecuador.
Argentina/Spain Finalissima canceled
A soccer match between Argentina and Spain that was set to take place in Qatar has been canceled because of war in the Middle East. Spain was recently crowned the European champions while Argentina recently won the Copa America. Officials searched for another location for the game, but said each location was unacceptable to the Argentinian Football Association.
North America
Crew members killed in plane crash in Iraq
The United States said the six crew members who were killed in an aircraft crash in Iraq were: John Klinner of Alabama, Ariana Savion of Washington, Ashley Pruitt of Kentucky, Seth Koval of Indiana, and Curtis Angst and Tyler Simmons of Ohio. Officials called the aircraft crew members “American heroes” and said they are still investigating the cause of the crash. On CBS News, U.S. authorities said the incident may have involved a midair collision, but an investigation is ongoing.
Lowrider cars on US stamps
The United States released new U.S. Postal stamps with custom lowrider vehicles that hop up and down using hydraulics. The stamps feature five different vehicle models and celebrate the culture that “originated in the working-class Mexican American/Chicano communities throughout the American Southwest,” the USPS said. The stamps can be purchased at Post Office locations and online at usps.com/shopstamps.
