9 things that happened around the world last week you should know about
Each week, we bring you a roundup of some of the biggest stories making headlines around the world.
Here are nine things that happened outside of Vancouver last week that you should know about (in no particular order):
1. Passenger plane crashes in Russia, killing all 62 people onboard
Footage claiming to show crash and explosion of #FlyDubai FZ981 emerges; authenticity not yet verifiedhttps://t.co/yzCDk5dbLU
— CCTVNEWS (@cctvnews) March 19, 2016
A Boeing 737 passenger plane crashed in Russia on Saturday, killing all 52 passengers and seven crew members onboard. The FlyDubai flight crashed 10,078 kilometers south of Moscow and then exploded.
“We are making every effort to care for those affected and will provide assistance to the families and friends of those who were on board,” said FlyDubaui CEP Ghaith Al Ghaith in a statement.
2. SeaWorld ends orca breeding
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SeaWorld announced that it will end its orca breeding and entertainment show programs. The news came Thursday after years of criticism from activists, animal rights groups, and the public.
Additionally, the orca entertainment shows will end at Seaworld San Diego in 2017. The Orlando and San Antonio locations will stop the shows in 2019.
“We are proud of our part in contributing to the human understanding of these animals. As society’s understanding of orcas continues to change, SeaWorld is changing with it,” said SeaWorld CEO Joel Manby in a statement.
- Read more on Vancity Buzz
3. Female suicide bombers kill at least 24 people in Nigeria
Suicide bomb attack hits mosque in Nigerian city of Maiduguri, at least 22 worshippers reported killed https://t.co/kVe7zpicq9
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) March 16, 2016
Two female suicide bombers attacked a mosque in Maiduguri, Nigeria, killing at least 24 people and injuring 18. One woman detonated the bomb inside the mosque while the other waited outside to attack civilians trying to escape. The mosque is located in the Boko Haram controlled district of Umarari. However, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
4. Mexico City experiencing worst smog in 11 years
#AirPollution: Mexico City bans more than 1 million cars from the roads & offers free subway and bus rides: https://t.co/LnjqvebKM3
— UN Environment (@UNEP) March 17, 2016
Mexico City is experiencing some of the worst smog and air conditions in more than a decade. City officials announced a Phase 1 pollution alert on Monday, banning over one million cars from the road and offering free transit rides to the public. The last time a pollution alert was initiated was in 2005. The four-day air alert ended on Thursday evening.
- Read more on The Guardian and The Washington Post
5. Paris attack suspect arrested
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A key suspect in last November’s Paris attacks has been arrested. Following a multinational manhunt, Salah Abdeslam was captured in Belgium on Friday and officially charged with participating in terrorist murder and activities in a terrorist group.
Abdeslam admitted to authorities that he wanted to blow himself up at the Stade de France but then changed his mind. November’s Paris attacks left 130 people dead.
6. U.S. student detained in North Korea, ordered to 15 years’ hard labour
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An American student who allegedly stole a poster from a North Korean hotel shop has been sentenced to 15 years of hard labour, according to the country’s state media. Otto Warmbier, a 21-year-old student from the University of Virginia, was arrested in January after local authorities claimed he tried to steal a political poster. Warmbier was sentenced on Wednesday by North Korea’s Supreme Court.
- Read more on The Wall Street Journal and Euronews
7. Domino’s Pizza announces launch of world’s first delivery robot
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Could the end be near for pizza delivery drivers? Domino’s Pizza in New Zealand announced the launch of the world’s first delivery pizza robot. The Domino’s Robotic Unit (DRU) uses a combination of military technology and GPS tracking systems to deliver orders to customers’ homes.
DRU can carry up to 10 pizzas in one delivery and is able to travel a radius of 30 kilometers from a Domino’s restaurant location. DRU is currently in testing stages in New Zealand.
8. Millions of Brazilians take to the streets to protest against government corruption
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Millions of Brazilians have taken to the streets to protest against government corruption in the country. The protests are centered around current Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff and former president Lula Da Silva (known as Lula).
The protesters are demanding for the impeachment of Rousseff and the imprisonment of Da Silva. Both Rousseff and Lula were involved in a money laundering and corruption scandal connected to Brazil’s state-owned oil company Petrobras.
- Read more on BuzzFeed World and Vox
- Listen more on NPR
9. World’s largest solar power plant goes live in Morocco
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The world’s largest solar power plant has gone live in Morocco. The $2 billion project, called Noor 1, is located in the city of Ouarzazate. Sunlight focused onto 500,000 curved mirrors is used to heat liquid, which creates steam that spins turbines to generate electricity. This is the first phase of the project.
When it is complete in 2017, it will harness enough electricity to power one million homes.
- Read more on CNN and The Guardian
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