Africa
Nigerian boxer fails drug test at Olympics
Nigerian boxer Cynthia Ogunsemilore will no longer compete at the Paris 2024 Olympics after a failed drug test. Ogunsemilore, 22, tested positive for furosemide, a banned substance. Earlier this year, Ogunsemilore won gold at the African Games in Accra. She also won a bronze medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Nine die at Democratic Republic of Congo concert
At least nine people were killed at a concert in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The incident took place at the country’s Martyrs Stadium, one of the largest venues in Africa. Images showed overcrowding at the concert, and officials blamed “excesses and crowd movements” for the incident. Among those who were killed include a 10-year-old child.
Asia
Record-breaking rain in North Korea
Thousands of people in North Korea are stranded because of flooding. Images showed farmland and homes submerged in water after heavy rain. Leader Kim Jong Un declared an emergency and was shown traveling through a flooded area in a black Lexus car. Natural disasters like flooding are likely to worsen issues in North Korea like food scarcity and poor infrastructure.
Australia jails first person under forced marriage laws
Officials in Australia have jailed a mother for ordering her 21-year-old daughter to marry a man who later murdered her. The mother, Sakina Muhammad Jan, was found guilty of forcing Ruqia Haidari to marry Mohammad Ali Halimi in exchange for a small payment. Jan was sentenced to at least a year in jail. She is the first person to be sentenced for violating Australia’s forced marriage laws.
Europe
Popular Irish author passes
Edna O’Brien, who was described by Irish officials as a fearless teller of truths, has died at the age of 93. She published her novel “The Country Girls” in 1960, a book that was banned by the Irish government. Some of her other work was also banned, including “The Lonely Girl” and “Girls in Their Married Bliss.” O’Brien’s work is credited with chal- lenging traditional societal views. Her family said she died peacefully after fighting a long illness.
Italy vows to strengthen relationship with China
Italy Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and China President Xi Jinping recently met in Beijing. Meloni called China an “important interlocutor” in managing global tensions during her first visit to the country since taking office. She said her visit was an effort to relaunch Italy’s relationship with China. In 2022, Italy became the only major Western nation to sign on the BRI, Chinese trade and infrastructure projects.
Latin America
Venezuelan president declares victory
Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro won Venezuela’s presidential election. He has won 51 percent of the vote, compared to 44 percent for his main rival. Venezuela’s opposition said candidate Edmundo González had won with 70 percent of the votes and said he was the rightful president-elect. Maduro has been in power for 11 years, and opinion polls ahead of the election suggested González would defeat the president.
Mexico drug lord arrested
Officials in El Paso, Texas have arrested Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel. Zambada founded the Sinaloa Cartel along with Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman. Joaquin Guzman Lopez, Guzman’s son, was also arrested. Earlier this year, Zambada was charged by U.S. prosecutors with a conspiracy to make and distribute fentanyl.
North America
Huge wildfire rips through northern California
California’s Park fire has burned through more than 350,000 acres of land in the northern part of the state. As of Sunday morning, only 10 percent of the fire was contained. Officials believe the fire, which started on Wednesday, is the result of a suspected arson attack. Last week, a 42-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of starting the fire. The Park fire is the largest fire in California this year.
Harvey Weinstein hospitalized
Former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has been hospitalized due to COVID-19 and double pneumonia. The 72-year-old was jailed for 23 years in New York in 2020 for rape and sexual assault of a former assistant and actress. New York’s appeals court said Weinstein did not get a fair trial, and he is currently waiting for a retrial. He was also sentenced to 16 years in prison for a separate rape trial in California. Weinstein also has diabetes, high blood pressure, spinal stenosis, and fluid in his heart and lungs.
