In Africa

Airliner tragedy: One hundred and fifty-nine passengers and crewmembers aboard an airliner that crashed in Lagos, Nigeria died. Rescue crews are in the process of recovering bodies, including the bodies of those who were on the ground at the time of the accident. Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered an investigation and a three-day period of national mourning.

In Asia

Tiananmen remembered: This week marked the 23rd anniversary of the crackdown at Tiananmen Square in China. It is estimated that hundreds or thousands of protesters, mostly students, and soldiers died during the demonstration.

In Europe

Jubilee: Queen Elizabeth II marked her Diamond Jubilee with a four-day celebration. The queen attended the Epsom Derby and also witnessed a million spectators who watched her lead a flotilla along the River Thames during the weekend. A concert at Buckingham Palace was held on Monday and the festivities culminated on Tuesday with a thanksgiving service on Tuesday at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Prince Philip, 91, missed the final two days of festivities due to a bladder infection. He and the queen married in 1947.

In Latin America

Quake strikes Panama: A 6.6-magnitude quake struck off the Pacific coast of Panama on Sunday night.

Van der Sloot update: Joran van der Sloot could face extradition to the U.S., according to an approval made by the Peruvian Supreme Court. Van der Sloot could be extradited after serving a 28-year sentence for the murder of Stephany Flores. His lawyers are fighting the extradition citing that their client would face an unfair trial in the U.S. In order for the extradition to be official, the country’s justice minister and cabinet must first approve it. Van der Sloot has been the prime suspect in the 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway in Aruba.

In North America

Murder suspect arrested: Luka Rocco Magnotta, who is suspected of killing and dismembering Jun Lin and allegedly capturing it all on video and posting it on the Internet, was arrested in a German café. Authorities confirmed that the body parts belong to Lin, who is a Chinese national. Magnotta is facing several charges in Canada that also include mailing Lin’s foot to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Remembering Dawson: “Family Feud” host Richard Dawson has died. He was 79. Dawson’s family said that the long-time television host died from esophageal cancer.

In the Middle East

U.S. cuts “Sesame Street” funding: The U.S. ended its funding for the Pakistani version of the children’s television show “Sesame Street” after a Pakistani puppet theatre, Rafi Peer Puppet Workshop, was allegedly misusing the $20 million funding for the program. Rafi Peer denies those allegations and the U.S. Embassy has not commented. The future of the program called “Sim Sim Hamara” is unknown.

Tensions rise in Syria: After a massacre that left more than 100 people dead in the town of Houla and which captivated the attention of the international community, Syria announced that it has expelled diplomats from 11 countries—including the U.S. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has denied that his regime was behind the massacre. In an effort to crackdown on the violence in Syria, the U.S. and several other countries expelled Syrian diplomats last week. Both China and Russia have expressed their opposition to foreign intervention in Syria.