July 8, 2022

*) Ex-Japan PM Shinzo Abe shot, suspect detained Japan’s former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has died after being shot during a campaign speech in western Japan. The 67-year-old was shot from behind as he was giving a political speech in Nara prefecture in western Japan, local media said. A man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of attempted murder. *) Ukraine crisis extends to G20 summit as Russia meets rivals in Indonesia Indonesia has called for all parties to find a way to end the war in Ukraine on day 2 of the G20 summit in Bali. It is the first face-to-face meeting in four months between Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and some of the Kremlin's biggest critics. US and European officials warn these talks will not be 'business as usual.' *) Muslim pilgrims pray at Mount Arafat for climax of biggest Covid-era Hajj After two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, hundreds of thousands of worshippers have gathered to offer prayers of repentance on the sacred hill of Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia. It is an intense day of worship considered to be the climax of the annual Hajj pilgrimage at Islam's holiest site in Mecca. Saudi Arabia has eased travel restrictions allowing one million fully vaccinated worshippers from both inside and outside the country to attend. *) Ex-officer gets 21 years in prison for violating George Floyd's rights Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer convicted of the murder of George Floyd, has been sentenced to more than 20 years in prison on US federal charges. Chauvin pleaded guilty in December 2021 to violating the civil rights of Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, during his May 2020 arrest. Chauvin, who is white, was captured in a video that went viral, kneeling on Floyd's neck for nearly 10 minutes until he passed out and died. Floyd’s murder sparked massive protests in the US and around the world against racism and police brutality. *) Bob Dylan's unique 2021 disk sells for $1.77 million at auction The only copy of a disk of Bob Dylan's "Blowin' In T