In Africa

Elections in Libya: Libyans voted in their first democratic election in more than 40 years in early July. Election results show that the National Forces Alliance surpassed the Muslim Brotherhood’s Justice and Construction Party — breaking a trend from Egyptian and Tunisian elections where Islamist parties have seen victory.

In Asia

Children deaths: The World Health Organization (WHO) cited the Enterovirus 71, or EV71, as the previously thought mysterious disease behind the death of more than 50 children in Cambodia. Experts from WHO stated that that virus has not been detected in the country in the past.

In Europe

Tragedy on the Alps: Nine climbers died last Thursday as they were trying to reach Mont Blanc’s summit in the French Alps. The climbers died as a result of a massive avalanche. On Sunday, two more climbers died frozen to death after being caught in a storm. Two other climbers managed to reach safety.

In Latin America

Update on Mexican elections: Mexico’s Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) is accused of allegedly engaging in vote buying to ensure the victory of president-elect, Enrique Peña Nieto. Last Thursday, Revolutionary Democratic Party (PRD) candidate, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, filed a law suit to invalidate the election results. López Obrador claims that the PRI bribed the vote of people in need by giving away bank cards from the Financial Group Monex and store certificates for Soriana. Prior to the election, thousands of people, many of whom were college students, marched in protest of what they considered media favoritism toward Peña Nieto’s candidacy. The PRI claims no wrong doing.

“Turtle boy”: An 11-pound mole was removed off the back of a 6-year-old Colombian boy named Didier Montalvo, also known as “Turtle Boy.” National Geographic documented the Montalvo’s plight. After his surgery in April, the mole was not malignant and Montalvo will attend school for the first time.

Snake discovery: Scientists tagged a rare species of snake in St. Lucia thought to be extinct. Scientists implanted microchips on 11 St. Lucia racer snakes in order to obtain critical information of the elusive species. The species was declared extinct in 1936.

In North America

Drug tunnels discovered: Three drug tunnels have been found in the month of July in the border between the U.S. and Mexico. Two of the tunnels came from the Mexican state of Tijuana into California and the other came from Nogales, Mexico into Arizona.

In the Middle East

Justice for murdered woman: The murder of an Afghan woman, who was fired on, has caused international outcry. Reports indicate that two commanders of the Taliban had a disagreement over the woman. The two men were later killed by another commander of the Taliban.

Unrest: United Nations special envoy Kofi Annan met with Russian President Vladimir Putin over mounting international pressure to bring an end to increasing violence in Syria. Recently, former Syrian ambassador to Iraq, Nawaf al-Fares defected from President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and joined the opposition. The Red Cross labeled the crisis in Syria as a civil war.

U.S. Navy fires at boat: The USNS Rappahannock fired shots at a boat off Dubai on Monday. Officials stated that the crew fired warning shots to warn members aboard the boat to stop approaching the U.S. ship. One person is dead and three are injured. The incident is currently under investigation.