The figure is based on firearms that Mexican authorities have recovered and successfully traced to their country of origin.

High-level Mexican officials, including the defense minister, highlighted the role of U.S.-sourced weapons during recent briefings, noting that many of the seized guns are high-powered rifles and ammunition often used by cartel groups in violent confrontations with security forces.

The tracing figures have been cited in discussions between Mexico and the United States as both governments seek to strengthen cooperation against cross-border weapons trafficking.

U.S. law enforcement agencies assist in firearms tracing when Mexican authorities submit recovered weapons for identification. However, experts note that tracing depends on the sample of weapons submitted and may not represent the entire universe of firearms in criminal hands.

Illegal arms trafficking has been a persistent concern along the U.S.-Mexico border, with guns often purchased legally in U.S. gun markets before being smuggled south. Mexican authorities argue that addressing the flow of weapons from the United States is critical to reducing cartel firepower and violence .

The issue remains a point of ongoing dialogue between the two countries as they work to develop strategies to limit the illegal movement of firearms.

"China condemns all illegal and violent acts. At the same time, we firmly oppose some American politicians who frequently use China as an excuse and firmly oppose the spread of false information to slander and smear China," Lin stated.

Kirk, a prominent conservative activist and supporter of Donald Trump ’s 2024 campaign, was shot and killed during an event at Utah Valley University on Wednesday.

Governor Cox warned that hostile foreign actors are using the tragedy to stir unrest online.

“When things get bad, we should put our phones down and spend a little time with our families,” Cox said, urging citizens to avoid being manipulated by online disinformation.

President Donald Trump said the suspect in Kirk's killing is now in custody.

This followed a manhunt lasting more than 30 hours, which led authorities to release video footage on Thursday of a person wanted in connection with the shooting and appeal for public assistance in identifying and capturing the suspect.

Kirk, 31, was known for founding Turning Point USA, a conservative student organisation that played a key role in mobilising young voters during the 2024 election. He was widely recognised for his advocacy of free speech on college campuses and his criticism of what he called left-wing censorship .

Police confirmed that the suspect was arrested late Thursday night after a large-scale search that involved local, state, and federal agencies. The authorities have not yet released the suspect’s name or possible motive.

According to Punch Nigeria, over 1,043 people have died from violence between May 2023 and May 2025.

Global South World sought to understand the gravity of the impact and what steps have been taken so far to address these dastardly acts through an interaction with Nigerian journalist, Segun Adewole.

Just like many locals in the country, Segun believes that at least 200 people were killed from this treachery which received global attention.

According to the journalist, several measures like doubling the weapons of security personnel as well as dialogue on security are in place to tackle the insecurity menace in the country.

However, efforts at dialogue seem to be producing nothing as security forces appear overwhelmed by the consistent loss of lives in the line of duty.

“How can they go to Benue State and kill people? Killed 200 people and no police could come and do something about it. They went to Benue, killed 200 people. For 2 days, they operated, and the police could not go there. Yet we have the military, we have the army, the navy, the police, the NSCDC, and different security agencies. That shows that there's something wrong somewhere,” Segun said. 

This, Segun also attributes to a problem in the governing structure of the country.

“No matter who becomes president, if Trump should come into Nigeria, with the kind of structure we have right now, he won't be able to succeed because the structure is not created for success,” he added.

Away from the boiling insecurity, the ordinary Nigerian seems to be getting some respite from the new tax measures President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed into law.

In a statement , the president said “The tax reforms will protect low-income households and support workers by expanding their disposable income.”

During the discussion, Segun explained that workers or individuals earning less than a million naira ($653.41) are exempt from paying taxes.

“The tax reforms signed into law, they affect the ordinary citizen, the ordinary man on the streets, because right about now, I think there's a portion that says if you are earning less than a million naira you won't, you'll be exempted from tax. That is one good thing because how can I be earning something little and I'm, I'll still be required to pay tax? So, the payment of tax would be for those earning above 1 million naira and the majority of the populace are earning below 1 million naira, so they are exempted from tax,” he explained.

The new tax laws are: the Nigeria Tax Act , which simplifies taxation by merging rules and scrapping 50+ overlapping taxes; the Tax Administration Act , which standardises tax collection nationwide; the Nigeria Revenue Service Act , replacing FIRS with the independent NRS; and the Joint Revenue Board Act , which boosts coordination and creates a Tax Ombudsman and Appeal Tribunal.

Watch the discussion attached to this story.

The rule change applies to approved gun users who meet specific conditions, including proving the weapons are for sporting use.

The decree, published in the Official Gazette, permits civilians to acquire firearms that were previously reserved only for military use.

These include assault rifles, carbines and submachine guns. The weapons must have detachable magazines and be of calibres above .22.

The government has already introduced a fast-track online system for issuing gun permits, known as “tenencia express,” which applies to both civilians and members of the military or security forces.

The system is managed by the National Agency for Controlled Materials (ANMAC), which oversees gun control in the country.

This is the latest in a series of moves by Milei’s administration to loosen gun laws in Argentina.

In 2024, the government also lowered the minimum age for legal gun ownership from 21 to 18.

Milei has previously said he supports the right to own weapons but had not promised full deregulation during his presidential campaign.

Speaking on behalf of Interior and Security Minister Peter Kazadi Shabani, Deputy Chief of Staff Elie Nkumbo welcomed the initiative, calling it a necessary tool to curb the illicit arms trade fueling insecurity and armed conflict across the country.

According to reports from Actualite.CD , the roadmap is structured around six key pillars: legal reform, institutional capacity-building, arms and ammunition management, voluntary civilian disarmament, gender inclusion, and research.

Authorities say the strategy aims to reduce armed violence and bolster national security and development.

According to the latest data from World Population Review , Mexico recorded the highest number of gun homicides, with 22,355 deaths, while the United States reported the highest total number of gun-related fatalities, encompassing homicides, suicides, and accidental shootings, totalling 15,186 deaths.

Top Countries by Gun Homicide Numbers

Latin America struggles with high rates of gun violence. Ecuador's gun homicide rate stands at 39.5 per 100,000 people. This and that of Mexico's figures underscore the persistent challenges in the region related to organised crime, drug trafficking, and socio-economic disparities.

On the contrary, many European and Asian countries maintain low gun homicide rates. For instance, countries like Spain, Germany, and Japan report rates well below 1 per 100,000 people , reflecting stringent gun control laws and effective law enforcement mechanisms.

The United States, while not leading in gun homicide rates, has the highest total number of gun-related deaths, including suicides and accidental shootings.

This issue highlights the complexities of firearm ownership, mental health challenges, and legislative debates surrounding gun control in the country.

Ecuador's election crisis: Gonzalez to contest results amid fraud allegations

Ecuador's leftist presidential challenger, Luisa Gonzalez, plans to contest the election results, alleging widespread fraud. Meanwhile, incumbent President Daniel Noboa secured a decisive win with 55.62% of the vote to Gonzalez's 44.38%. Independent observers affirmed the election was fair and transparent. Read more here .

Mexico confirms first human case of screwworm myiasis

Mexico's Health Ministry confirmed the country's first human case of screwworm-induced myiasis in a 77-year-old woman from Acacoyagua, Chiapas. She is stable and receiving antibiotics. Myiasis is a parasitic infection caused by fly larvae infesting open wounds. Read more here .

Colombia's Petro pauses FARC offensive to progress in peace talks

Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Friday, April 18, ordered a halt to military operations against a FARC-EP faction to advance peace talks. The move follows the expiration of a ceasefire and will last until May 18. The decree aims to ensure safety along transit routes and support local agriculture. Read more here .

Asia

Robots join thousands of runners in Beijing’s futuristic half marathon

On April 19, dozens of humanoid robots joined human runners in a half marathon in Beijing’s E-Town, a tech hub. The 21-km event tested bipedal robots in real-world conditions, with some running autonomously and others remotely controlled. Spectators captured the moment on their phones. Read more here .

Pakistani Christian man to appeal death sentence for blasphemy

A Christian man sentenced to death for blasphemy in Jaranwala, Pakistan, will appeal the verdict, his lawyer said Saturday. The 36-year-old was accused of desecrating the Koran, sparking 2023 attacks on a Christian neighbourhood. His lawyer confirmed plans to challenge the ruling in the High Court. Read more here .

Earthquake of magnitude 5.8 strikes Afghanistan-Tajikistan border, GFZ says

A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border on Saturday, April 19, according to the German Research Centre for Geosciences (GFZ). It occurred at a depth of 92 km (57 miles). Read more here .

Africa

Death toll in Nigeria attacks by herders rises to 56

The death toll from suspected herder attacks in Benue State, Nigeria, has been increased to 56, Governor Hyacinth Alia said Saturday during a visit to the affected areas. Police had earlier reported 17 deaths. The long-running violence has disrupted food supplies from the key agricultural region. Read more here .

Uganda plans law to allow military prosecution of civilians

Uganda plans to introduce a law allowing military tribunals to try civilians, despite a Supreme Court ban in January. Critics accuse the government of using military courts for politically motivated prosecutions, which it denies. The law could see opposition figure Kizza Besigye returned to a military court. Read more here .

South Africa reaffirms 'One China' policy, instructs Taiwan to relocate office

South Africa has asked Taiwan to move its liaison office from Pretoria to Johannesburg to reaffirm its commitment to the “One China” policy. Minister Ronald Lamola said the move doesn’t change Taiwan’s diplomatic status, as formal ties ended in 1997 when South Africa recognised the PRC. Read more here .

In 2019 alone , more than 250,000 people died as a result of firearms worldwide. Nearly 71% of gun deaths were homicides, about 21% were suicides, and 8% were unintentional firearms-related accidents. A smaller subset of gun deaths occur as the result of mass shootings and school shootings, which are often highly publicized.

Out of the estimated 250,227 gun-related deaths worldwide in 2019, 65.9% occurred in just six countries: Brazil, the United States, Venezuela, Mexico, India, and Colombia.

Brazil recorded the highest number of total gun deaths from all causes combined, with 49,436 fatalities. The United States followed closely, with more than 40,000 gun deaths that year. Mexico ranked third, with over 30,000 gun deaths, while India and Venezuela rounded out the top five.

The U.S. ranked 20th in gun fatality rates worldwide in 2016, and in 2021, it was the 28th-highest , with 4.31 deaths per 100,000 people. This was over seven times higher than Canada (0.57 per 100,000) and 340 times higher than the United Kingdom (0.013 per 100,000).

A 2018 study found that the U.S. gun death rate was 10.6 per 100,000 people, far exceeding Canada (2.1), Australia (1.0), and European countries like Germany (0.9) and Spain (0.6). However, it was significantly lower than El Salvador (39.2), Venezuela (38.7), and Guatemala (32.3), where firearm violence is more rampant.

Gun violence in Latin America is exceptionally high due in no small part to the prevalence of criminal gangs and a vibrant drug trafficking industry. The Inter-American Development Bank released a report highlighting several critical factors in Latin American cities that contribute to increased gun violence, including economic deprivation, residential instability, family disruption, absence from school, the population’s age structure, and alcohol consumption.

While gangs are a major factor in Latin America, gun deaths in the U.S. are largely attributed to suicides. In 2019 , nearly two-thirds (63%) of gun deaths in the United States were suicides, contrary to the common assumption that mass shootings are the primary cause.

In contrast to the U.S. and Latin America, gun deaths are extremely rare in countries like Japan, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Australia. These countries have implemented strict gun control measures to reduce the number of firearms in circulation. For example, Australia introduced a permanent gun amnesty program in July 2021, allowing unregistered firearms to be anonymously surrendered at police stations.

Japan, with a population of over 127 million, had a gun death rate of just 0.02 per 100,000 people in 2019. This success is largely attributed to its strict firearm laws. To purchase a gun, Japanese citizens must attend an all-day class, pass a written exam, and achieve at least 95% accuracy in a shooting test.

The attack, which took place in Guayas province on Ecuador’s Pacific coast, also left dozens injured, local media reported. Police have yet to specify the identities of the victims or the motive behind the shooting.

Guayas province, home to the port city of Guayaquil, has become a hotspot for violence as drug gangs linked to international cartels battle for control over key trafficking routes. The area is a major exit point for drugs headed to the United States and Europe.

Ecuador, once known for its peacefulness, has seen its homicide rate soar in recent years, rising eightfold over the past five years, as gang-related violence escalates.

"This year, we set five national goals, which included debt relief, freeing the nation from Al-Shabaab, lifting the arms embargo, and joining the East Africa Community (EAC). The arms embargo will be lifted early next month,” the President told the nation’s lawmakers.

“It's time for Somalia to free a large number of locations nationwide from Al-Shabaab extremists, using my army to do so,” he added.

President Mahamud recently said that the East African nation had about a year to eliminate the threat of the Islamist militant group, expressing that leaders of the militant group have made no intentions to initiate a dialogue.

Somalia was recently announced as the newest member of the East African Community (EAC) and also received preliminary approval for a $100 million, 36-month support programme from the IMF after recent floods in the country.