World News: 28 March 2023

China spent $240 billion bailing out 'Belt and Road' countries
Almost 80% of the lending was made between 2016 and 2021, mainly to middle-income countries including Argentina, Mongolia and Pakistan, according to the report by researchers from the World Bank, Harvard Kennedy School, AidData and the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
Argentina received the most, with $111.8 billion, followed by Pakistan with $48.5 billion and Egypt with $15.6 billion. Nine countries received less than $1 billion.

Read more...


Facial recognition is helping Putin curb dissent with the aid of U.S. tech
A Reuters investigation has found that Moscow’s video surveillance network plays an important role in the arrests of anti-government protesters.
We also found that since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, authorities have begun using facial recognition as a preventive measure to stop people from protesting in the first place.

Read more...


Study says warming-fueled supercells to hit Southern US more often
America will probably get more killer tornado- and hail-spawning supercells as the world warms, according to a new study that also warns the lethal storms will edge eastward to strike more frequently in the more populous Southern states, like Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee.

Read more...



New penalty system to improve road safety in Ivory Coast
Penalties will cost points to drivers in a bid to reduce the number of deaths that last year reached over one thousand, according to official figures.
The new system, based on a French model, is automated and drivers receive fines electronically.
Payment also ensures the money goes to the state.

Read more...


Baboon's death after two week hunt sparks outcry in Taiwan
Public outrage about the death of the animal - which had not harmed anyone during its wandering - has also been fuelled by a lack of transparency from authorities. Police have launched an investigation into how it died.
One hunter who had been assigned to the search admitted to local media that he had fired his shotgun, but said he only used it under the instruction of a different government agency.

Read more...


Israel tensions ease as Netanyahu pauses judicial overhaul
The overhaul would give Netanyahu, who is on trial on corruption charges, and his allies the final say in appointing the nation’s judges. It would also give parliament, which is controlled by his allies, authority to overturn Supreme Court decisions and limit the court’s ability to review laws.

Read more...



Comments