Africa
Calls for death penalty in Algeria for arsonists
Algeria President Abdelmadjid Tebboune called for reinstating the death penalty for arsonists. The country has suffered through 100 wildfires recently, killing at least 12 people. Tebboune said he is not ruling out foul play.
Youngest traditional monarch passes
King Oyo Nyimba Kabamba Iguru Rukidi IV, a traditional Ugandan ruler, died at age 34. He was the world’s youngest monarch and became king of Tooro in western Uganda at three years old. King Oyo’s death was not disclosed, but local media reported that he was suffering from a critical illness.
Asia
South Korea church leader jailed over bribery
Han Hak-ja, the leader of the Unification Church in South Korea, has been sentenced to two years in prison for bribing South Korea’s former first lady. The church was found guilty of giving Kim Keon Hee, the former first lady, two Chanel bags and a diamond necklace. Kim was sentenced to 20 months in jail earlier this year for accepting the bribes.
Flooding in Nepal-Tibet
Flooding on the Nepal-Tibet border has killed at least 469 people. Authorities are searching for more than 800 people in Nepal. Video footage showed people getting pulled from mud after the flash floods. Scientists told media that a collapsed glacier caused the flooding, but it is unknown what caused it to collapse.
Europe
Iceland votes against EU membership talks
Residents in Iceland voted against continuing talks to join the European Union. Around 52.8% of the population voted against a government proposal to explore joining the union. Iceland Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadóttir had looked to hold a referendum by 2027. But after the vote, she said the issue will not be revisited while she is in power.
Millions of books destroyed in Ukraine
As the war between Russia and Ukraine continues, Ukrainian officials are accusing Russia of targeting the country’s history and culture. Media in Ukraine said that Russia has destroyed one third of books printed in the country this year. Around 12 million books and other icons of Ukrainian history and culture have been destroyed. Officials said Russia has destroyed over 1,900 pieces of Ukrainian heritage and more than 2,000 cultural institutions.
Latin America
Former Ecuador president imprisoned
Lenin Moreno, who was Ecuador’s president between 2017 and 2021, was sentenced to five years in prison for taking bribes. He was found guilty of taking money from a Chinese firm that earned a contract to build a hydroelectric plant in the country. Moreno, who is 73, will serve his sentence under house arrest because of his age and disability.
Peru earthquake
An earthquake in Pausa, Peru left three people injured and several buildings damaged. The quake had a magnitude of 6.7. Officials said 22 homes and six schools were damaged. Earthquakes are common in Peru because it is located at the meeting point of the Nazca and South American tectonic plates.
North America
National Guard shot and killed man, according to autopsy
An autopsy report revealed that the Tennessee National Guard shot and killed 20-year-old Tyrin Johnson in the back in Memphis. Officials previously said Johnson was shot by two guard members in the chest after he faced them with a gun. The guard members were in Memphis as part of the Memphis Safe Task Force created by President Donald Trump to deploy National Guard troops to US cities.
Trump signs executive order renaming Lake Ontario
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America. He signed the order after trade talks between the US and Canada ended last week. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said “this lake is called Lake Ontario – today and forever.”
