Each week, we bring you a roundup of some of the biggest stories making headlines around the world.
Here are nine things that happened last week that you should know about (in no particular order):
1. Lightning kills over 300 reindeer in Norway
Over 300 reindeer were killed by lightning in Norway. An image released by the Norwegian Environment Agency shows the reindeer carcasses spread across the Hardangervidda mountain plateau. The reindeer were migrating when the storm hit, and at least 70 calves are among the dead.
- Read more on The Washington Post and CBC
2. At least 12 dead in Pakistan blasts
Bombs kill at least 12, wound dozens at Pakistan court https://t.co/L7uWJsO7RC
— Reuters India (@ReutersIndia) September 2, 2016
At least 12 people are dead and several are injured after a bomb blast went off outside a court complex in west Pakistan. The blast took the lives of civilians, police officers, and lawyers. Pakistani Taliban faction Jamaat-ur-Ahrar claimed responsibility for the attack.
3. World’s first puppy twins born
Twin puppies exist. Researchers at the South Africa’s Pretoria University have confirmed two male Irish wolfhound puppies are identical monozygotic twins. According to scientists, these are the first pair of dog-twins ever discovered.
- Read more on BBC and BuzzFeed News
4. Zika remains global emergency according to World Health Organization
Zika Is Still A Global Public Health Emergency, WHO Says https://t.co/FrOSUR1WRD pic.twitter.com/2mX96R95c7
— BuzzFeed News (@BuzzFeedNews) September 2, 2016
The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed that the Zika virus remains a global health emergency. Zika continues to spread around the world and to date, it has been found in 72 countries. “This extraordinary event is rapidly becoming, unfortunately, an ordinary event,” said Dr. David Heymann of the UN health agency. Last week, Singapore confirmed 38 locally transmitted cases of the infection.
- Read more on CBC and The Atlantic
5. African elephant numbers plummet
The first ever count of Africa’s savannah elephants has shown a 30% decrease in the number of elephants from 2007 to 2014. The count was conducted in 18 African countries. Approximately 144,000 elephants have been lost to poaching. The census took place over three years and was funded by Microsoft’s Paul G. Allen.
- Read more on National Geographic and CNN
6. Dozens of diggers tear down flyover in China
Over 68 diggers worked overnight to tear down a 500-meter traffic flyover in Jiangxi, China. The demolition took a few hours and local residents were reportedly shocked to see the structure come down so quickly. The flyover was demolished in order to clear space for the city’s metro line expansion.
- Read more on The Daily Mail and South China Morning Post
7. Powerful 7.1 earthquake rocks New Zealand
A powerful 7.1 magnitude earthquake struck the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island on Friday, triggering a minor tsunami. No damage or injuries have been reported but several aftershocks occurred following the quake.
- Read more on The Guardian and CBC
8. Brazilian president impeached
Brazil’s president Dilma Rousseff was impeached this week after a congressional vote. Over the past several months, Rousseff was found guilty of breaking budget laws and corruption. She will be replaced by Michel Temer. On Monday, Rousseff addressed the country’s senate for the last time as president. “My conscience is absolutely clean,” she said. “I can look directly at those who accuse me and say that I did not commit the crimes that I am unjustly and arbitrarily accused of.”
- Read more on TIME and The Guardian
9. SpaceX rocket explodes
A SpaceX Falcon exploded at Florida’s Cape Carnival Air Force Station on Tuesday. Flames and smoke from the blast could be seen from nearly 40 miles away. SpaceX was running tests before its scheduled launch on Saturday. The cause of the explosion is still unknown.