Rorisang Modiba delivers daily updates from around the world.
Nigeria – Over 100 prisoners escaped from a medium-security prison in Suleja on Wednesday night after heavy rain badly damaged the building. The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCS) reported that of the 118 inmates who fled on Wednesday night, 10 have been recaptured. The prison had major damage to buildings and its perimeter fence. The NCS has reassured the public of their control over the situation and urged people to report any suspicious activities.
Tanzania – Tanzania’s Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa reported on Thursday that floods have resulted in the deaths of 155 people, with at least 236 others injured. He informed the Tanzanian parliament in Dodoma that the floods, driven by heavy rains, strong winds, and landslides, have also damaged over 10,000 homes, damaged crops and impacted more than 200,000 people.
China – ByteDance, the Chinese parent company of TikTok, said it has no plans to sell the app despite a new U.S. law that could force the sale or result in a ban. The statement was made in response to false media reports suggesting a potential sale of TikTok’s U.S. operations without its core algorithm. TikTok plans to legally challenge what it considers an unconstitutional law.
Earth – Researchers from around the world have spent 10 years studying different conservation efforts, such as helping Chinook salmon hatch and getting rid of invasive algae. Their work, published in the journal Science, reviewed 665 cases from different places and times, starting as far back as 1890. They found that these efforts worked well in two-thirds of the cases. The research suggested that conservation can be effective and is a positive sign for protecting endangered species.
New York – The overturning of the judgement against Harvey Weinstein on Thursday has been described by complainants, lawyers and campaigners as “tragic” and a “leap backwards” for the rights of victims. The New York Court of Appeals ordered a new trial, saying the original had been prejudiced by witnesses with claims unrelated to the charges at hand. Actress Ashley Judd said the overturning of Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction is a hard day for survivors. “But we live in our truth,” she told BBC News in an interview.
Pictured above: Prisoners on the loose in Nigeria.
Image source: X
