A Week In Review

Africa 

South Sudan army threatens to “spare no-one” 

South Sudan Deputy Army Chief General Johnson Oluny told his troops to “spare no-one” including children, the elderly and civilians when they deploy to opposition-held areas in the country. The United Nations released a statement saying it is concerned about calls for violence against citizens. South Sudan is in a civil war, and independent experts have warned that the risk of mass violence against civilians is heightened. 

South Africa struggles with gang violence 

South Africa Police Minister Firoz Cachalia recently admitted that police are not currently equipped to defeat deadly criminal gangs. South Africa has one of the world’s highest homicide rates, and gang violence accounts for many of those murders. Cachalia said gang violence is becoming more complex and requires new strategies beyond traditional policing. 

Asia 

Philippines ferry sinks with 500 passengers 

At least 18 people died when a ferry in the Philippines sank. The ferry was carrying 350 people, and authorities rescued 317 passengers. At least 24 people are still missing. Officials are investigating what caused the sink, but the Philippines has a long history of disaster involving inter-island ferries. 

Japan returns pandas to China 

Japan is set to return twin panda cubs to China as relations between the two countries continue to remain tense. Japan will no longer have pandas for the first time since 1972 when the countries normalized diplomatic ties. China retains ownership of all pandas it loans out to other countries. Both countries have traded hostile actions and rhetoric toward each other in recent weeks. 

Europe 

Spain changes speed limits for popular train 

Officials in Spain are temporarily reducing the speed limit on part of a high-speed train line between Madrid and Barcelona. Authorities recently discovered a fault on the track, shortly after a high-speed collision killed 45 people in southern Spain. The fault in the line does not pose a danger to trains traveling along it, officials said. 

Hamas member arrested in Germany  

Police in Germany have arrested a Lebanese man who is suspected of being a member of Hamas. The man, known as “Mohammad S,” was allegedly planning attacks in Europe and was stopped at Berlin’s Brandenburg Airport. Officials said the suspect helped gather 300 rounds of ammunition and was involved in an alleged plot to attack Jewish and Israeli communities. 

Latin America 

Gunmen kill 11 people in Mexico 

Gunmen opened fire on locals at a soccer field in Guanajuato, Mexico over the weekend, killing at least 11 people. Police are still investigating a motive, and 12 others were injured. The Guanajuato state had the highest number of murders in all of Mexico last year. The area has seen a recent spike in violence from gangs that steal oil and fuel. 

Dozens of political prisoners freed in Venezuela 

A human rights group in Venezuela said at least 80 political prisoners have been released with more likely on the way. Among those who were released include some domestic opposition figures and five Spanish nationals. Venezuela has been accused of using prison to silence critics over the years. 

North America

Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder arrested 

The FBI announced that former Canadian Olympic snowboarder and alleged drug kingpin Ryan Wedding was arrested in Mexico. He is on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list and is accused of running a transnational drug trafficking operation that moved tons of cocaine across several different countries. Wedding is also wanted on murder charges and is set to be extradited to the United States. 

U.S.  leaves World Health Organization (WHO)

The United States is officially out of the World Health Organization, (WHO). U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order signaling to leave the organization a year ago and has criticized it in the past. The WHO said losing the United States was a loss for the country and the world. The United States has historically been one of the biggest donors to the WHO.