Pope speaks out about drug trafficking in Mexico
Pope Francis spoke against the “moral’ harm that selling and using drugs are having on the Mexican community. His speech took place at the Mexico City cathedral on Feb. 14 in front of church leaders. He stressed the significance of showing care for every Mexican citizen as opposed to only the upper class.
Pope Francis. Courtesy of Wikimedia.
Rate of civilian deaths in Afghanistan growing
The United Nations announced on Feb. 14 that 3,545 people were killed due to war in Afghanistan in 2015. The number marks a 4% increase of civilian deaths since the U.N. released their last report. Another 7,457 people have been injured due to warfare in the country. Most of these injuries and deaths can be attributed to attacks by Muslim extremist groups like the Taliban.
There has been a 9% increase in injuries of Afghani citizens due to war. Courtesy of Pixabay.
Doctors Without Borders hit – again
Eight Doctors Without Borders staff members are missing after an airstrike hit the facility they were working in on Feb. 15 in Syria. The attack comes in the wake of a series of airstrikes being aided by Russian officials in the country. In other middle eastern provinces like Aleppo and Azaz, there were two separate attacks, one on a chilren’s hospital, which left a total of 24 people dead.
A Doctors Without Borders center. The organization also frequently goes by its French name Medicins Sans Frontieres or MSF. Courtesy of Wikipedia.
Australian authorities find $900 million worth of liquid meth
In Australia, police recovered $900 million worth of liquid methamphetamine on Feb. 15. The drugs were found in boxes of silicon bra inserts, painting sets and glue bottles. The event marked the biggest drug bust in the country’s history. The multi-million dollar find could have created 1,100 pounds of crystal meth.
Australian police recently made the country’s largest drug bust in history. Courtesy of Wikimedia
South Africa confirms the Zika virus has reached the country
South African health officials announced their first case of the Zika virus on Sunday. A man from Colombia had the illness while visiting South Africa but has since then recovered. The Zika virus has been most prevalent in Central and South America among expecting mothers. It has been linked to brain deformities in newborn infants.
The Zika virus is thought to be spread largely through mosquito bites. Courtesy of Wikimedia.
The Missouri Atlas 