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Hard Numbers: Indian train calamity, Senegal violence deepens, Egyptian cop kills Israeli soldiers, French Open rivalry

People stand next to damaged coaches after two passenger trains collided in Balasore district in the eastern state of Odisha, India.

People stand next to damaged coaches after two passenger trains collided in Balasore district in the eastern state of Odisha, India.

Reuters

288: At least 288 Indians were killed and more than 800 injured when three trains collided on Friday in the eastern state of Odisha. PM Narendra Modi visited the site over the weekend and said that those responsible for the calamity – which reportedly was due to a signal failure – will be brought to justice for one of India’s worst infrastructure disasters in decades.


15: Clashes between government officials and protesters have worsened in Senegal over the recent conviction of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko, and at least 15 people are now reported dead. Sonko was sentenced in absentia to two years in jail for “corrupting youth” and could be banned from running in the 2024 election. Amid the violence, the government has now placed a blanket ban on social media use.

3: An Egyptian policeman infiltrated southern Israel over the weekend, killing three Israeli soldiers. Egyptian officials say the border cop was pursuing drug smugglers, but Israeli officials have pointed to the fact that the assailant climbed over a cliff and cut through an emergency fence with a knife – and that he was carrying additional ammo – as proof that he had planned a larger attack. Egypt and Israel have enjoyed a cold peace and mostly calm border since signing a peace accord in 1979.

17: Serbian tennis great Novak Djokovic has reached the French Open quarterfinals for the 17th time, now tying Rafael Nadal’s record. But Djokovic is vying to beat the Spaniard, who is out this year due to a hip injury, in another category: Both have won 22 single grand slams, and winning in Paris could put Djokovic on top.

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