Emma Raducanu wins the US Open
The 18-year-old tennis sensation, Emma Raducanu, won the US Open women’s singles on Sunday. She beat her opponent, Leyla Fernandez, securing her title with straight sets. This win was historical; not only did Emma become the first British woman to win a US Grand Slam singles title, but also the first qualifier to reach the final. Back in Wimbledon she was awarded a wildcard to debut in her first major championship. Now, Emma Raducanu holds the place as the number 1 female tennis player in the world.
Both North and South Korea test their missiles
North Korea fired two ballistic missiles into its eastern waters on Wednesday, just missing Japan’s economic waters. The Japanese government described this move as “outrageous”. However, Wednesday was the culmination of tests seeing what was described as a “weapon of great significance” by North Korea, hitting targets 932 miles away. Although notorious for missile testing, this marks North Korea’s first since March. But surprisingly, North Korea was not alone, South Korea having fired the first missiles. South Korea tested a ballistic missile just hours before North Korea, demonstrating the fraught diplomatic situation and rising tensions on the peninsula.
Tiananmen square activists jailed
The nine pro-democracy activists who last week were arrested for attending an unauthorized vigil have been given prison sentences between six and ten months. The vigil held in 2020 commemorated the lives lost when protestors clashed with military troops. Tiananmen Square vigils had been banned under the pretence that they were not suitable with regards to Covid-19. However people are sceptical whether this is the case or if the Chinese government are attempting to silence these voices trying to maintain awareness of what happened that week in June 1989.
Boris Johnson reshuffles cabinet
On Wednesday, PM Boris Johnson brought about a reorganisation of his cabinet, despite having largely stuck with the same team since he was elected in 2019. Arguably the biggest change of scene was the replacement of Dominic Raab with Liz Truss as foreign secretary, previously international trade secretary. Raab instead has been given the role of deputy PM and justice secretary. Having stood in for Boris Johnson when sick with Covid-19, the new title makes his implied deputy position official.
