Briefly

California’s some half-million fast-food workers will now be paid at least $20 an hour, a $4 increase on the state’s minimum wage, following a vote by Democrats in the legislature. The new law reflects an effort to create greater financial security for the many adults supporting families among workers in the industry.

Nine construction workers were killed, dozens critically injured and more than forty left trapped for days and presumed dead, when a five-story building collapsed in the South African city of George in May. A rescue operation of more than 600 personnel was launched, with official pledges of an investigation into the cause of the collapse.