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Second American Climber Dies While Setting Climbing Record

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A second woman aiming to become the first American female climber to conquer all the world’s highest mountains has been pronounced dead on a remote peak in Tibet, as reported by her family.

 

Following two avalanches that claimed the lives of American climber Anna Gutu and her Nepalese guide Mingmar Sherpa on Shishapangma last Saturday, China has halted all activities on the mountain.

 

Gina Marie Rzucidlo, another American climber, and her Nepalese guide Tenjen Sherpa are reported missing after avalanches struck the slopes on the same day, amidst a group of over 50 mountaineers and guides ascending the peak.

 

Christy Rzucidlo in a post on Facebook said “The Rzucidlo family wants to share that Chinese authorities have declared my sister Gina and her Sherpa Tenjen Lama as deceased.’

 

“Requests for search by helicopter from Nepal have been declined by the Chinese government. We have been told the search for their bodies may resume in the spring once weather conditions are favorable.”

 

Requests for comment from the Tibetan sports bureau and the U.S. Embassy in Beijing by Reuters have yet to receive immediate responses.

 

Gina Marie Rzucidlo and Anna Gutu were pursuing separate climbs with their sherpas, aspiring to be the first American women to conquer all 14 peaks worldwide exceeding 8,000 meters (26,246 feet) in elevation.

 

Shishapangma was the final summit in their quest.

 

Tenjen Sherpa, who accompanied Rzucidlo, was the guide for Norway’s Kristin Harila during their record-setting ascent of K2 in Pakistan in July, scaling all 14 of the world’s highest peaks in 92 days, making them the fastest climbers to achieve this feat. Tenjen Sherpa and Kristin Harila successfully summited Shishapangma in April.

 

In 2023, Chinese authorities lifted three years of zero-Covid restrictions, allowing foreign climbing expeditions to enter Tibet and pursue the summit of Shishapangma, situated entirely in China.

 

On the fateful Saturday, 52 climbers from various countries, including the United States, Britain, Romania, Albania, Italy, Japan, and Pakistan, were in the midst of their ascent when avalanches struck.

 

Shishapangma, considered one of the more manageable “eight-thousanders,” has witnessed over 300 successful summits to date, with a mortality rate of under 10% among climbers attempting the peak, according to private estimates. In contrast, Nepal’s Annapurna I, one of the world’s most perilous peaks, has a nearly 30% fatality rate.

 

International News

Miracle in Venezuela: Toddler Rescued Alive Six Days After Deadly Earthquakes

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Morocco Earthquake Victims Passes 2,000

A three-year-old child has been rescued alive from beneath the rubble in Venezuela, six days after two powerful earthquakes devastated parts of the South American nation, offering a glimmer of hope amid a worsening humanitarian crisis.

The remarkable rescue took place in La Guaira, one of the areas hardest hit by the twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes, which struck less than a minute apart on June 24.

SEE ALSO: Over 800 Dead As Earthquake Devastates Eastern Afghanistan

Rescue workers have continued round-the-clock search operations despite the challenges posed by repeated aftershocks.

The United Nations described the rescue as a powerful reminder that every life matters as emergency teams continue combing collapsed buildings for survivors.

According to Venezuelan authorities, the earthquakes have claimed nearly 2,000 lives, while more than 6,400 people have been rescued since the disaster struck.

Tens of thousands of survivors remain without adequate shelter, with humanitarian agencies warning that urgent needs continue to grow.

The UN refugee agency said the scale of the disaster has left thousands of families in desperate need of emergency assistance, while the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed that national and international rescue teams remain active in the affected communities.

UN Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) teams are also assessing the extent of the destruction and identifying communities most in need of humanitarian support.

Officials said about 1,000 buildings, including hospitals, have either been damaged or completely destroyed.

More than 400 schools and water systems have also been severely affected, worsening living conditions for residents.

To support relief efforts, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has delivered an initial 47-tonne shipment of humanitarian supplies, including emergency medical kits, water purification materials, safe birth supplies, wheelchairs, child-friendly tents and educational materials. The shipment follows an earlier consignment that arrived from Panama.

UNICEF said the combined aid will support more than 100,000 children and their families over the next three months.

Speaking from La Guaira, UNICEF representative Gabriel Vockel said the organisation is working around the clock to reach as many children and families as possible, while appealing for more donations to expand its life-saving operations.

UNICEF Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Roberto Benes, said many affected families are sleeping outdoors for fear of continued aftershocks and remain in urgent need of clean water, healthcare and safe shelter.

The agency estimates that about 680,000 children across six affected states require humanitarian assistance following what has been described as Venezuela’s most significant earthquake disaster in more than a century.

Authorities also reported that more than 600 aftershocks have been recorded since the initial earthquakes, increasing concerns over further damage and risks to survivors.

UNICEF is seeking $52 million to respond to the earthquake emergency as part of its broader 2026 Humanitarian Action for Children appeal for Venezuela, which remains significantly underfunded.

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Panic in Europe as France Records First-Ever Ebola Case

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France has confirmed its first-ever case of Ebola virus disease, triggering concern across Europe as health authorities move swiftly to contain the deadly infection.

The French Health Ministry announced on Wednesday that a doctor returning from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which is currently battling a major Ebola outbreak, tested positive for the virus after arriving in France.

SEE ALSO: Fresh Ebola Alert: Lagos Tightens Airport Surveillance as Virus Threat Looms

According to officials, the patient was immediately isolated upon arrival, even before laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis, helping to reduce the risk of transmission.

In a statement, the ministry confirmed the identification of “a first positive case of Ebola virus disease on national territory,” marking the first time the virus has been detected in France.

The development also represents the first confirmed Ebola case recorded outside Africa during the current outbreak, which has affected both the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.

French authorities disclosed that the case was detected in mainland France, while Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is closely monitoring the situation as health agencies intensify surveillance and response measures.

The current outbreak in the DRC was officially declared on May 15 following a series of unexplained deaths in the eastern Ituri Province.

The outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or specific treatment.

Despite growing concerns, public health experts have stressed that the risk of widespread global transmission remains low because Ebola is less contagious than many airborne infectious diseases.

The virus spreads through direct contact with infected bodily fluids and contaminated materials.

Ebola is a severe and often fatal haemorrhagic fever that can cause symptoms including high fever, weakness, muscle pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, and in severe cases, internal and external bleeding.

French health authorities have assured the public that all necessary precautions are being taken to contain the case and prevent any further spread of the disease.

The announcement has nevertheless sparked anxiety across Europe, given the deadly nature of the virus and its emergence outside the African continent during the ongoing outbreak.

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“He Failed Badly” — Trump Says Starmer Will Step Down as UK PM

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U.S. President Donald Trump has predicted that British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will step down from office, accusing the Labour leader of failing on two critical issues — immigration and energy policy.

Trump made the remarks on Sunday in a post on his Truth Social platform, where he claimed Starmer’s leadership had fallen short in addressing challenges facing the United Kingdom.

SEE MORE:New US Strike on Iran Sends Oil Prices Soaring as Middle East Tensions Escalate

“Keir Starmer will resign as Prime Minister of The United Kingdom,” Trump wrote. “He failed badly on two very important subjects — IMMIGRATION AND ENERGY (OPEN NORTH SEA OIL!). I wish him well!”

The U.S. president did not provide any evidence to support his claim, nor did he reveal the basis for his prediction that Starmer would leave office.

Starmer, who leads the Labour Party, became Prime Minister after securing victory in the UK’s general election.

Since taking office, his government has faced criticism over a range of issues, including migration policies, energy security, and the cost-of-living challenges confronting many Britons.

Trump’s comments come as debates over immigration and energy continue to dominate political discussions in the UK.

However, there has been no official statement from Starmer, his office, or the British government suggesting that he plans to resign.

As of the time of filing this report, Starmer remains in office and continues to lead the government despite the claims made by the American president.

 

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