Iran, Senegal, Colombia.

Today's three stories you should know.

May 30, 2022

Iran

Iranians in the southwestern city of Abadan are continuing to protest over the collapse of a building last week that left more than 30 people dead. Today, they shouted down a cleric sent to the site as a representative of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. “Shameless!” a crowd chanted as he attempted to speak. Rescue efforts are ongoing and two more bodies were pulled from the rubble today. Demonstrators accuse city officials of ignoring safety warnings and flouting building standards. Thirteen people have so far been arrested in connection with the disaster, including several municipal officials and both the current mayor and a previous one.

Senegal

An update on last week’s newsletter item about 11 newborn babies being killed in a fire at a maternity ward in Senegal. Two health workers were today arrested accused of “neglecting children” and “endangering the lives of others,” according to local media reports. Incredibly, the incident was not the first of its type recently. Four newborns died in a fire at another hospital last year. President Macky Sall has ordered an audit of all medical equipment used for newborns across the country, which is generally thought to have one of the best health services in the region.

Colombia

Leftist ex-rebel Gustavo Petro has come out on top in the first round of presidential elections in Colombia. Petro had a 12 percent lead over his nearest rival, populist tycoon Rodolfo Hernández, but failed to reach the 50 percent of the vote needed to win outright. The second round now pits them head-to-head, representing two very different choices for Colombian voters. Both men are considered political outsiders.