Ethiopia, China, Senegal

Today's three stories you should know

Ethiopia

The death toll from days of landslides and flooding in southern Ethiopia has risen to more than 70, local authorities said. Another 50 people were reported missing. Tilahun Kebede, president of the South Ethiopia Regional State, called on locals to move to higher ground and “take necessary precautions” as rains continued. Recent heavy rains across East Africa have led to flooding in much of the region, with dozens also killed in neighboring Kenya after torrential rain hit the capital Nairobi and other areas. Ethiopia regularly sees flooding and landslides during its annual rainy season and multiple studies have cited climate change as increasing the frequency and severity of torrential downpours and associated disasters.

More from Reuters here.

China

China has passed a far-reaching law aimed at ensuring what it called “ethnic unity” in a move analysts said pointed to an effort to drive assimilation. Though the Han Chinese make up 91 percent of the 1.4 billion population, the vast country has 56 officially recognized ethnic minority groups, including Tibetans, Mongols, Hui, Manchus and Uyghurs, who cover about half of China’s land area, much of it rich in resources. The law mandates the use of Mandarin Chinese in compulsory education, and requires government bodies and the private sector to promote integration. “The people of each ethnic group … must forge a common consciousness of the Chinese nation according to law and the constitution, and take the responsibility of building this consciousness,” the draft law read.

More from AP here.

Senegal

The punishment for same-sex relations in Senegal is to be doubled to 10 years in prison as authorities crack down on the LGBTQ community. Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of the legislation, which includes penalties for promoting or financing same-sex relationships. "Homosexuals will no longer breathe in this country. Homosexuals will no longer have freedom of expression in this country," lawmaker Diaraye Ba said to applause as the law was debated. Dozens of men have been detained since February in a wave of highly publicized arrests, according to media reports, including two celebrities. At least 32 out of Africa’s 54 countries have laws banning or punishing same-sex relations.

More from Africa News here.