Rorisang Modiba delivers daily updates from around the world.
Nigeria – Babajide Israel Adebanjo from Nigeria set a new Guinness World Record for twerking the longest, dancing for three hours and 30 minutes. He twerked to highlight the importance of mental health and raise awareness about depression. Adebanjo shared his achievement on TikTok, thanking his supporters and taking pride in his new record.
Brazil – Brazilian scientists discovered cocaine in wild sharks off the coast of Brazil, showing the impact of illegal drugs on marine life. Thirteen sharp-nosed sharks caught in Rio de Janeiro tested positive for cocaine. The cocaine levels were 100 times higher than in other marine animals. The source of the cocaine is unclear but could be from drug trafficking losses, dumping or sewage. This is concerning as the sharp-nosed shark is commonly eaten in Brazil.
England – Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, are working to make their staff more diverse. Currently, 14% of their 66 employees are from ethnic minorities, and 67% are women. The royal household aims to create an inclusive culture. Buckingham Palace wants 14% ethnic minority staff by 2025. It is currently 11.4%. King Charles III’s staff has a 3.9% ethnic pay gap and a 2.2% gender pay gap, with 53% being women.
Ethiopia – Two landslides in southern Ethiopia killed 229 people, including 148 men and 81 women. Heavy rains caused the landslides, which buried many people and also killed more during rescue attempts. Five people were rescued and treated while local communities continued searching for survivors. Landslides are common in Ethiopia during the rainy season, with recent floods displacing thousands. Last year, 43 people died from similar events, and in May 2018, 45 people were killed in landslides.
