Africa
Egypt looks to carry out execution on live TV – An Egypt court is seeking a legal amendment to allow a live broadcast of the execution of a man who stabbed a woman to death. Mohammed Adel killed Nayera Ashraf after she rejected his advances outside a university. Video footage of the attack became viral on social media last month. The United Nations estimated in 2015 that around eight million Egyptian women were victims of violence.
South Africa introduces first woman Deputy Chief Justice – Mandisa Maya is set to become South Africa’s first woman to hold the country’s Deputy Chief Justice position. President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed her to the position, and she is set to begin on Sept. 1. Maya accepted the nomination in March after being interviewed for the position. Maya has worked in South Africa’s court system since the late 1980s.
Asia
Wild monkey attacks on the rise in Japanese city – Police in Yamaguchi, a Japanese city, are attempting to hold off a rise in wild monkey attacks. Recently 42 people have been injured from attacks that are being blamed on Japanese macaques. Although monkey attacks are common in parts of Japan, officials said it’s rare to see this many attacks in a short period of time. Police are planning to use tranquilizer guns on the animals after attempts to capture them failed.
Activists executed in Myanmar – Myanmar’s military executed four democracy activists, including activist Ko Jimmy and lawmaker Phyo Zeya Thaw. The group was accused of committing “terror acts.” While state media said they were charged under terrorism laws, reports did not say when or how they were executed. Last year, the Myanmar military seized power and cracked down on pro-democracy protestors, journalists and activists.
Europe
A large group of migrants arrive to Italy – Around 1,200 undocumented migrants arrived in Italy in a 24-hour span, last week. The migrants include people from Asia, Africa, and Middle Eastern countries. This past Saturday, 522 people were rescued from 15 boats that had come from Libya and Tunisia. Italian media reported that Lampedusa, the island that is one of the main ports for people want- ing to reach Europe, has been overwhelmed by the increase in migrants arriving. Its immigration center is over its 350-person capacity.
Air conditioning restrictions at French businesses – France’s minister of Ecological Transition has ordered shops in the country to close doors when using air conditioning in an effort to cut waste. Energy costs in Europe have skyrocketed since Russia invaded Ukraine. Shops face a fine for breaking the air-conditioning rule. Businesses in France are also no longer allowed to use neon signs. France is facing extreme hot weather, and the conditions have caused an increased demand for air conditioning.
Latin America
Bolsonaro launches presidential campaign in Brazil – Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro officially launched his re-election campaign in front of thousands at a stadium in Rio de Janeiro. Polls suggest Bolsonaro, a far-right politician, is losing by 19 percentage points to left-wing candidate Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro promised to keep a welfare program that makes cash payments to poorer Brazilians during his nomination speech. The first round of elections will be on Oct. 2.
Seventeen die after migrant boat capsizes – The Bahamas government reported that at least 17 people from Haiti died in a boat accident. The boat is believed to have been traveling from Haiti to Miami. Officials rescued 25 people and at least one person is still missing. Many people from Haiti have tried to reach the United States in recent months because of the rise of gang violence and poverty in the country.
North America
Oak Fire continues in California – As of Sunday night, the Oak Fire in California has burned 15,603 acres of land and was still “zero percent contained.” The U.S. Forest Service is taking emergency measures to protect redwood trees at Yosemite National Park, which is northeast of where the fire is burning. At least 6,000 people have been evacuated while 10 structures have been destroyed by fire.
Two children test positive for monkeypox – The United States confirmed its first pediatric cases of monkeypox. A toddler in California and a non-U.S. resident infant in the Washington D.C. area tested positive for the virus and both are doing well. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said children under eight are at high risk of severe monkeypox. The country has reported more than 2,500 cases of the virus.
