Rorisang Modiba delivers daily updates from around the world.
Canada – Six people were arrested in Ottawa, in connection with a multimillion-dollar gold heist at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport last year, with arrest warrants also issued for three others. The theft on 17 April 2023, described as an “inside job,” involved former Air Canada employees when over 22-million Canadian dollars (R300-million) worth of gold bars and foreign currency was stolen. Authorities believe it was part of a plan by a sophisticated crime ring to use the proceeds for trafficking firearms into Canada.
France – Researchers have analysed skeletons found in Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux in France, dating back over 5,500 years, revealing that two women were likely subjected to “incaprettamento”. The Mafia-like ritual sacrifice involved tying the victims’ throats and ankles in a way that likely caused them to strangle themselves.
Ukraine – Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has warned that a Ukrainian defeat in its conflict with Russia could lead to World War Three. Shmyhal emphasised the urgency of American support. He urged the U.S. Congress to pass a delayed foreign aid bill, which includes funding for Ukraine as well as for Israel and the Indo-Pacific.
Mali – Scientists claim the deadly heatwave in West Africa and the Sahel, where temperatures reached over 48C in Mali, was largely caused by human-induced climate change. This heatwave occurred from late March to early April. In Bamako, Mali’s capital, a hospital reported that the extreme heat contributed to the deaths of many, particularly those over 60 years old.
Tokyo – It took a snake to bring the Japanese Bullet Train to a screeching halt. The train is known to run exactly to schedule but it was delayed for a full 17 minutes. On Tuesday, a commuter told station staff in Tokyo that a 40cm snake had been spotted in the carriage. The snake was found and rescued but as of yet, nobody knows how it got on board.
Pictured above: Toronto’s Pearson International Airport.
Image source: Stock
