Africa
Former Niger president charged
Ousted Niger President Mohamed Bazoum is set to be prosecuted for high treason and undermining national security. Bazoum has been held in the basement of his palace since the country’s military staged a coup three weeks ago. There has been international pressure for Bazoum to be released, but Niger’s military junta said it has evidence to prosecute him.
Seven die after mosque collapses in Nigeria
At least seven people were killed when a mosque collapsed during prayers in Nigeria. Local media reported that a crack had been discovered in one of the building’s walls last week. The mosque is believed to be more than 100 years old and had hundreds of people inside it at the time of the collapse. The incident occurred last Friday.
Asia
South Koreans protest Tokyo waste plan
Hundreds of South Koreans protested over the weekend against Japan’s plan to release treated nuclear wastewater into the Pacific Ocean. The plan was approved by the UN nuclear watchdog while a South Korea assessment found it meets international standards. However, protesters are concerned about marine life and seafood contamination. Japan’s plan to release the wastewater was originally announced in 2018.
Police in Philippines suspended after shooting of teen
Six policemen in the Philippines are facing criminal investigation over the murder of a teenager. The teenager, Jerhode Baltazar, drowned at a fishing village after being shot in the head. He was mistaken for a murder suspect at the time of the incident. Baltazar was unarmed, and the officers were detained while authorities investigate whether they could be charged with homicide.
Europe
Three-week-old baby killed in Ukraine
Over the weekend, Russian shells killed a 22-day old baby, her 12-year-old brother, and their parents. In total, seven people were killed from Russian shells. Ukraine said there have been 17 reports of Russian shelling in the Kherson region of the country alone. Photos showed black columns of smoke rising from buildings and digitally obscured bodies of some of the victims.
Stolen artefacts returned to Italy
The United States returned more than 250 ancient artefacts to Italy after the items were discovered to be stolen. The items had been looted and sold to U.S. museums and private collectors in the 1990s. Some of the artifacts included pots, paintings and sculptures while some of the items were up to 3,000 years old. Last year, New York returned $19 million worth of stolen art to Italy, including a marble head of the goddess Athena that is worth an estimated $3 million.
Latin America
Trump admirer gains momentum in Argentina presidency race
Javier Milei, a far-right politician who admires former President Donald Trump, leads in Argentina’s primary election. The primary is seen as a key indicator for the presidential election that takes place on Oct. 22. Milei is winning 30 percent of votes ahead of more established politicians. The primary election has been described as a “political earthquake” by Argentine media.
Ecuador presidential candidate killed
Ecuador presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio was shot and killed while he left an event last Wednesday. He campaigned against corruption and gangs and was one of the few candidates to allege links between organized crime and government officials in the country. Villavicencio had recently received threats from the Los Choneros gang. Last month, the mayor of the city of Manta was shot and killed as well.
North America
Three-year-old dies on Texas migrant bus
A three-year-old Venezuelan girl traveling with her parents on a bus carrying asylum seekers from Texas to Chicago died. She was taken to a hospital in Illinois and pronounced dead last Thursday. Details have not been shared by Texas officials but they noted that the girls’ health appeared to be deteriorating. Recently, an eight-year-old girl also died at a U.S. border patrol site in Texas.
Trump pleads not guilty to charges in documents case
Former President Donald Trump and his close aide Walt Nauta pleaded not guilty to allegations in a fed- eral classified documents case. The charges accuse the two of concealing surveillance footage at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort from the FBI. Earlier this summer, Trump was charged with 37 counts for retaining hundreds of confidential files. Among the documents included U.S. nuclear secrets and military plans.
