43,000 people died in Somalia last year amid extended drought, UN report estimates

Drought and rising global food prices have created a hunger crisis in the Horn of Africa. [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [View in your browser]( [Top of The World]( --------------------------------------------------------------- What The World is following 43,000 people died in Somalia last year amid extended drought [A mother and children displaced by drought sit outside their makeshift shelter on the outskirts of Baidoa, Somalia, Oct. 29, 2022.] Credit: Mohamed Sheikh Nor/AP/File photo Somalia A new report by the United Nations says that an estimated [43,000 people died last year]( during the longest drought on record in Somalia, likely half of them being children. An additional 18,000 people are also forecast to die in the first six months of this year. The drought has affected large parts of the Horn of Africa, including Ethiopia and Kenya, with the region heading into its [sixth consecutive failed rainy season](. Rising global food prices, created largely by the war in Ukraine, have also complicated the hunger crisis. France The French government narrowly [survived two no-confidence votes]( on Monday, which were triggered by a pension reform bill meant to increase the country’s retirement age from 62 to 64. The legislation sparked months of protests and strikes that have left the capital strewn with piles of uncollected garbage. At least 101 people were also [arrested in Paris]( following the vote after stand-offs with police. Had the votes been successful, President Emmanuel Macron would have had to name a new government or call new elections. Nigeria Nigeria’s opposition Labour Party candidate Peter Obi has [filed a court petition]( that will challenge the results of last month’s disputed presidential election. The move could spark a long legal campaign that may last for several months, despite the inauguration for winning candidate Bola Tinubu being set for May 29. Obi came in third in the election after Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar. Election observers had reported [a range of problems](, including system failures designed to prevent vote manipulation. --------------------------------------------------------------- From The World [Young Iraqis reflect on the US-led invasion, its aftermath and their hopes for the future]( [Young men chat near Al-Mutanabbi street in Baghdad, Iraq, Feb. 24, 2023.]( Credit: Jerome Delay/AP/File photo Monday marked 20 years since the start of “Operation Iraqi Freedom," the US-led invasion of Iraq that toppled the president, Saddam Hussein. Two decades later, Iraqis who've lived through these turbulent and violent years [share their thoughts]( about the war's impact on their lives, about how they view the US now and about their hopes and concerns for the future of Iraq. ['We are worried': Melting glaciers lead to dangerous overflow in this Peruvian lake]( [Lake Palcacocha is located in Peru's Ancash region, at 15,000 feet above sea level.]( Credit: Manuel Rueda/The World As ice sheets from glaciers melt, dozens of lakes around the world [risk overflowing](, causing potentially deadly avalanches and flooding in nearby towns and villages. In Huaraz, Peru, residents hope to find ways to prevent Lake Palcacocha from overflowing again — before it's too late. --------------------------------------------------------------- Bright spot Mickey Mouse is celebrating the Persian New Year, Nowruz, which kicked off on Monday and celebrates the start of spring. 🌱🌷🌼 Disney Junior [released a video]( on YouTube of the popular cartoon character teaching children about the traditions of the 13-day holiday. It’s been widely applauded, with Iranians sharing the video across online platforms, and saying that it’s the first time they’ve seen the holiday depicted in pop culture. [Screenshot of Chelsea Hart tweet] Credit: Twitter In case you missed it on The World --------------------------------------------------------------- Don't forget to subscribe to The World's Latest Edition podcast using your favorite podcast player: [RadioPublic](, [Apple Podcasts](, [Stitcher](, [Soundcloud](, [RSS]( [The World logo]( [The World on Facebook]( [The World's Twitter account]( [Donate]( | [Forward to a friend]( | [Subscribe]( | [Edit your subscription]( | [Unsubscribe]( | [View in your browser]( Top of the World is written weekday mornings by the team at [The World](. [The World]( is produced by [PRX]( and [GBH](.