Africa – 200 Migrants Feared Drowned off the coast of Libya. Two hundred migrant workers from northern Africa are feared dead after their boat capsized off the coast of Libya on March 31. The people were looking for entry to Europe’s job market through Italian barrier islands. Tens of thousands of workers enter the EU through these means each year. These types of accidents happen more and more frequently as people in Africa leave their homes looking for work in Europe.

Asia – Khmer Rouge trials begin in Cambodia

The first trial involving a major member of the murderous Khmer Rouge regime began this week. The man on trial, Comrade Duch, stands accused of facilitating the torture and murder of more than 10,000 Cambodians at the Toul Sleng prison, which he commanded. Duch, 66, has already admitted to some crimes, but claims he is a scapegoat. The Khmer Rouge killed more than 2 million Cambodians between 1975 and1979.

Europe – Workers at French plant detain their bosses

Faced with massive layoffs, French workers detained their bosses at a Caterpillar plant hoping to force them to negotiate. Caterpillar announced that 1,000 of their French workers would soon be out of work, launching heated negotiations and protests. This marks the third such incident in France in recent weeks. France, known for its militant labor movement, has been hit hard by the economic crisis, with an 8.3% unemployment rate.

In the past several months, millions of protestors have turned out to challenge French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s government and economic management.

Middle East – Britain begins troop withdrawal

Great Britain has begun removing the last of its troops in Iraq this week, handing over control of Basra to U.S. troops. The British troops, which number around 4,000, will be gradually phased out throughout the year. Great Britain was one of the major U.S. allies when the Iraq War began, with an initial force of 40,000 troops on the ground. With the British military being heavily involved in the deteriorating situation in Afghanistan, the time apparently has come for the country to leave Iraq.

Americas – Rampage in nursing home kills 8

A North Carolina man entered a nursing home on March 29 and opened fire, killing eight, including a nurse and a 98-year old female resident. The motive for the killings in Carthage, N.C. are unclear, but investigators found that the man’s ex-wife was an employee at the facility, leading many to believe the shootings were part of a domestic dispute.