Five Top News Stories in the African Diaspora

NBA LEGEND MOSES MALONE DIES

ESPN is reporting three-time NBA MVP and basketball legend Moses Malone died on Sunday in Norfolk, Va. ESPN.com reports:

“The Virginia medical examiner’s office said Monday that Malone died of natural causes, listing the cause of death as hypertensive and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Det. Jeffrey Scott of the Norfolk Police Department confirmed that Malone died in a Norfolk hotel room. Malone’s body was discovered when he failed to report to a celebrity golf tournament in which he was scheduled to play.”

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement noting:

“He was among the most dominant centers ever to play the game and one of the best players in the history of the NBA and the ABA. Even more than his prodigious talent, we will miss his friendship, his generosity, his exuberant personality, and the extraordinary work ethic he brought to the game throughout his 21-year pro career. Our thoughts are with Moses’ family and friends during this difficult time.”

Malone was the first player to go pro right out of high school, signing with the Utah Stars of the American Basketball Association in 1974. He played the following season for the Spirits of St. Louis before moving to the Buffalo Braves after the ABA-NBA merger in 1976.

He also played for the Rockets, 76ers (twice), Milwaukee Bucks, Washington Bullets, Atlanta Hawks and the San Antonio Spurs, with whom he finished his career during the 1994-95 season.

The Virginia native was named one of the NBA’s 50 greatest players, was the Finals MVP in 1983, as he led the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA title. He was 60-years-old.

MORE BAD WEATHER THREATENS DOMINICA

Caribbean 360 is reporting tropical storm hit Dominica is being threatened by more bad weather.  Dominicans (the Eastern Caribbean island different than the country of Dominican Republic) have been advised to be vigilant as more rains are expected over the coming days, as the island tries to recover from the damage caused by Tropical Storm Erika.

According to a 6 a.m. advisory from the Dominica Meteorological Service, a westward moving tropical wave is forecast to produce more shower and isolated thunderstorm activity during the next 24 to 48 hours, and residents in areas prone to flooding, landslides and falling rocks have therefore been advised to remain vigilant and exercise caution.

Moderate sea conditions are expected during the next 24 to 48 hours with waves peaking near seven feet, the Met Office added.

Dominicans are also being advised to pay close attention to the other two disturbances.

Conditions are favorable for development of another tropical wave in the Atlantic, although it is expected to turn northwards before reaching the Lesser Antilles. A third wave just off the coast of Africa is expected to follow a similar path to the system ahead.

Schools have remained closed since Tropical Storm Erika hit the island late last month, which resulted in the deaths of 30 people. The World Creole Music Festival has also been cancelled.

VENEZUELAN FILM WINS TOP PRICE AT VENICE FILM FESTIVAL

BBC News is reporting Desde allá (From Afar) has won the top Golden Lion prize at the 2015 Venice film festival. This is the first time in the 72 years of the film festival that a film from Latin America has won the top award.

The author writes:

“In his debut feature film, director Lorenzo Vigas tells the story of a rich man who gets sexually involved with a young man from one of the city’s gangs.

‘I want to dedicate this prize to my amazing country, Venezuela. I know we have a few problems, but if we talk about them we will overcome them,’ Mr. Vigas said.”

Pablo Trapero’s Argentinian crime thriller, The Clan, won the Silver Lion for best director.

The film, which was a blockbuster in Argentina, tells the true story of an ordinary Buenos Aires family that abducted wealthy people for ransom and hid them in their house before killing them.

GHANAIAN TEEN ABRAHAM ATTAH WINS BEST YOUNG ACTOR AWARD IN VENICE

Ghanaian Actor Abraham Attah, 14, was awarded the Marcello Mastroianni Award for Best Young Actor for his performance as a young orphan who gets drafted into the child army of a ruthless warlord (Idris Elba) in Netflix’s Beasts of No Nation. Directed by True Detective season 1’s Cary Fukunaga, this marks Netflix’s first foray into original feature films. Inspired by Uzodinma Iweala’s novel, Fukunaga brings to life the story of an African child solider named Agu (Abraham Attah) forced to take up arms in a civil war. the domineering Commandant (Idris Elba) teaches Agu the ways of war as he prepares the young fighters – his “family” – for the brutal battles ahead.

VANESSA WILLIAMS GETS APOLOGY FROM MISS AMERICA

Sam Haskell, the CEO of the Miss America pageant apologized to actress/singer/dancer Vanessa Williams on stage Sunday at the Miss America 2016 pageant, 32 years after Williams was stripped of the crown because of a nude photo scandal. CNN’s Holly Yan reports Haskell apologized to Williams and her mother for the way the scandal was handled.

“‘I have been a close friend to this beautiful and talented lady for 32 years,’ CEO Sam Haskell told Williams. ‘You have lived your life in grace and dignity, and never was it more evident than during the events of 1984 when you resigned.'”

This post was curated by Nsenga K. Burton, Ph.D., founder & editor-in-chief of the award-winning news blog The Burton Wire, which covers news of the African Diaspora. Follow her on Twitter @Ntellectual.

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