Rorisang Modiba delivers daily updates from around the world.
Iraq – TikTok influencer, Umm Fahad, known as Sawadi, was tragically shot dead outside her home in Baghdad’s Zayouna district on a Friday evening. This incident was recorded by a surveillance camera, and footage showing the attack, carried out by a motorcyclist, circulated widely on social media. In response to this violent act, Iraq’s Interior Minister created a specialised team to investigate the circumstances surrounding Sawadi’s murder. Sawadi Fahad, real name Ghufran Sawadi, was known for her TikTok videos featuring dance and music, often wearing tight clothing, which previously led to legal trouble.
Australia – Protests have broken out across Australia in response to rising violence against women with the government being urged to declare the issue a national emergency and to enforce stricter laws. At a large rally in Canberra, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the impact of the crisis, noting the frequent fatalities among women. He recognised the need for substantial changes in culture, attitudes, and the legal system, emphasising that men must also participate in changing behaviours.
Brazil – After securing a comeback victory in a lightweight bout earlier this month, Brazilian UFC fighter Renato Moicano, still bloodied from the fight, took the microphone to publicly praise Ludwig von Mises and the Austrian economic school. He said, “I love private property,” and encouraged everyone to engage with Mises’ six lessons if they care about their country. The footage quickly gained attention on social media, especially in the United States, where viewers found the combination of a fight scene and economic praise, somewhat unusual.
China – A tornado in Guangzhou, a major city in southern China, resulted in at least five deaths and 33 injuries, as reported by Chinese state media. The disaster, which happened on Saturday, affected Guangzhou, the provincial capital of Guangdong, about 130 kilometres from Hong Kong. According to the Xinhua news agency, the tornado caused damage to 141 factory buildings, though no residential structures collapsed. A weather station in Baiyun District’s Liangtian Village recorded winds gusting up to 20.6 metres per second.
America – Donald Trump, in a desperate note, has begged his supporters to help him pay his $464-million (R8.7-billion) bond in his New York fraud trial. The note, titled “Keep your filthy hands off Trump Tower!”, claims that “insane radical Democrat AG Letitia James wants to seize my properties in New York, including the iconic Trump Tower!”
Pictured above: Ghufran Sawadi.
Image source: X
