If you’ve either had a busy weekend or haven’t had the chance to follow news updates, here’s a wrap of the five stories that you may have missed.

Duchess of Sussex encourages people to vote

Meghan Markle joined a virtual call organised by the United States of Women and an NGO called When We All Vote, on Thursday. 

The Duchess of Sussex kicked off the “When All Women Vote” virtual hangout, talking about what it means to vote in the upcoming election, remembering the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment, voter suppression and more. 

“When I think about voting and why this is so exceptionally important for all of us, I would frame it as ‘We vote to honour those who came before us and to protect who will come after us,’” the duchess said at the beginning of her speech. 

“Because that’s what community is all about. And that is specifically what this election is all about.” 

However, some figures in the UK called for her to be stripped of her titles, saying it is inappropriate for members of the Royal Family to involve themselves in politics.

Full House actress Lori Loughlin was sentenced to two months in prison for college admissions scam

In a sentencing hearing over Zoom, US district judge Nathaniel Gorton also ordered Loughlin to pay a $150,000 fine and serve 100 hours of community service.

Assistant US Attorney Justin O’Connell called Loughlin “an active and wilful participant” in the bribery scheme to get her daughters into the University of Southern California.

In March 2019, Loughlin and Giannulli were indicted as part of “Operation Varsity Blues,” along with dozens of other wealthy and influential parents. The nationwide scheme involved bribing college administrators and coaches to recruit students to athletic teams or assist students in cheating on the SATs and ACTs.

Mahatma Gandhi’s glasses were sold for £260,000

A pair of gold-plated circular glasses worn by Mahatma Gandhi during his time in South Africa was on Friday sold for £260,000, surprising the owner who did not realise its value and left it in an envelope for the local auctioneer in Bristol three weeks ago.

“We had interest from all over the world – bids came from India, Qatar, America, Russia, Canada. It’s completely spellbinding,” auctioneer Andy Stowe said.

Wisconsin police shot a black man; video of incident has sparked social media backlash, protests

The shooting of a Black man by Wisconsin police on Sunday night was captured on video, sparking immediate social media backlash, protests and a state Department of Justice investigation.

Police deployed tear gas early Monday to disperse hundreds of people who took to the streets following the incident.

On Twitter, Governor Tony Evers said he and his wife are hoping for Blake’s recovery. 

“While we do not have all of the details yet, what we know for certain is that he is not the first Black man or person to have been shot or injured or mercilessly killed at the hands of individuals in law enforcement in our state or our country,” Evers wrote on Twitter. 

Lithuanians formed human chain to back Belarus 

About 50,000 Lithuanians held hands to form a 30 kilometres human chain on Sunday in a show of solidarity with people protesting the president in neighbouring Belarus.

Protesters are demanding that Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko step down, saying the August 9 presidential election was rigged. Lukashenko was elected to a sixth term in the race.

Lithuanians held hands to express support for the protestors as well as for Lukashenko’s opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, who has since fled to their country.

The participants included Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, who said he was proud his nation heeded the call to encourage Belarus.

The move resembled a historic event that took place 31 years on August 23, 1989, in which two million people in the three Baltic states of Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia formed a human chain over 600 kilometres long seeking independence from the Soviet Union.

Zahra Khozema
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