Iranian protesters celebrate World Cup defeat, as fears surround players' return - James Worster

 After losing to the US in their World Cup match, Iran's public celebrated the loss. It has been hailed as a blow to the ruling government and family. 

Iranian protesters celebrate World Cup defeat, as fears surround players' return (msn.com)

Terrorism? or Freedom Fighter? - Megan Lemley

 According to BBC, there was a bombing on a religious school in Afghanistan that killed at least 10. Afghanistan has had to grapple with ISIS-K, or "a group known as Islamic State - Khorasan Province" in recent years, and although the government wants to blame the group for this attack, they have yet to formally claim responsibility. When we discussed the tell tale signs of a terrorist, we came to the conclusion that there are rules of war that everyone must follow like targeting civilians. In this case, the group responsible targeted children. So therefore, I think it's fair to categorize this event as a terrorist attack, and I truly hope that the Afghan government will find those responsible and hold them accountable.

Source: Students Killed as Bomb Blast Hits Afghan School

Ebola in Uganda: The people spreading misinformation online

 Uganda has been battling Ebola for two months now, with 141 cases and 55 deaths so far. However, and similarly to what happened worldwide with covid-19, speculation and unfounded claims about the disease have appeared. Many individuals believe it is no other but a government's excuse to control citizens or a cover to harvest body organs to sell illegally. Behind those claims are mainly critics of Museveni's government.

https://www.bbc.com/news/63741125

Reyes Venegas Aparcero

Possible Kumbaya Between China & the US - Megan Lemley

 After new Covid-19 safety measures are on the rise in China, there are many civilians of China that are not so pleased with these new precautions. Many protests as a "show of civil disobedience" spoke out against the Chinese government, but they seem to be falling on deaf ears in China. However, this is not the case in the United States, as a White House official made a statement saying they support "the right to peacefully protest [...] [especially] the PRC (People's Republic of China)." This show of support is hopeful, but I am anxious to see what continues to play out as both health and human rights are in question here. 

Source: U.S Backs Right to Peaceful Protests in China

South Africa pit bull attacks: "We can't live in a world where dogs eat children"

Residents of Phomolong township in South Africa woke up to horrific screams last Sunday morning, which came from a three year old boy as he was attacked and then mauled to death by two American pit bull terriers. The 21 year old owner of the dogs, Lebohang Pali, was arrested and charged with keeping dangerous dogs and could face a fine or a jail term of up to two years or both. Three days after Kekesto's death, a 15 month old toddler died in hospital after being attacked by a pit bull in the Eastern Cape province. With the two deaths this week, which are yet to be included in its list, it will bring its total number of deaths by pit bulls to 37 over the last 18 years. The killing of 10 year old Storm Nuku by his family's two pet pit bulls in September prompted the Sizwe Kupelo Foundation to start an online petition calling for the dogs to be banned as pets in South Africa.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-63727936.amp

Zack Weiss

Protests erupt across China in unprecedented challenge to Xi Jinping's zero-Covid policy

A deadly fire at an apartment block in Urumqi, the capital of the far western region of Xinjiang, killed 10 people and injured nine on Thursday. The fire has acted as a catalyst for searing public anger, as videos emerged that seemed to suggest lockdown measures delayed firefighters from reaching the victims. Anti-lockdown protests have rocked neighborhoods in cities from Beijing, Guangzhou and Wuhan to Lanzhou. According to social media videos, residents at multiple residential communities in Beijing defied lockdown orders. Many residents have marched and chanted, "Say no to Covid tests, yes to freedom!".

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2022/11/26/china/china-protests-xinjiang-fire-shanghai-intl-hnk/index.html

Zack Weiss

Russian missiles cross into Poland and kill two people

Russian missiles killed two people after crossing into Poland, a U.S. intelligence official told the Associated Press, sparking fears of an escalation of the war in Ukraine. President Biden has repeatedly promised that in such an instance, the U.S. government will uphold Article 5, the clause that outlines how allies will consider an attack on one an attack on all. He has also promised that though the U.S. will not directly engage in Ukraine, it “will defend every inch of NATO territory,” and that its commitment to Article 5 is “ironclad.” 

This is a very delicate situation. Russia needs to issue some sort of apology and confirm that this was an accident, because in the unlikely event this was on purpose, it’s an act of war against a NATO country. It was most likely accidental, since Russian artillery and missiles have been very inaccurate up to now due to inexperienced spotters being thrown into the line of fire. It’s in NATO’s interest for this not to escalate, and it’s even more so in Russia’s interest. 

https://thehill.com/policy/defense/3736711-russian-missiles-reportedly-cross-into-poland-killing-two/amp/

Zack Weiss

Istanbul: Six dead, dozens wounded in Turkey explosion

A blast occurred at shopping street in the Taksim Square area, located in Turkey. Vice President Fuat Oktay said the blast was thought to be a terrorist attack carried out by a woman. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the perpetrators would be punished. At a news conference, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned what he called the "vile attack" and said "the smell of terror" was in the air. 

 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63615076.amp

Zack Weiss

Protests in China due to COVID Restrictions

 Protests have started to emerge as China continues to enforce its COVID restrictions. Millions of Chinese citizens are still affected by mask-wearing, COVID testing, quarantines, and the lockdowns over the last three years. Citizens are now protesting for these restrictions to be lifted. China's current leader, Xi Jinping, has stated that he will not budge on the restrictions. Due to this, the protesters are calling for Xi Jinping to step down, and for the communist party to step down. The protestors have been seen showing their emotion by breaking down and removing barriers that were used for social distancing. It is not common in a communist state for the citizens to protest and publicly speak out against the president's will. This shows that the protestors feel very strongly about making changes and lightening the COVID restrictions. China had certainly underestimated how negatively the citizens feel about the continued COVID restrictions.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-63771109

Bradyn Almasy

Iran calls for the U.S. to be expelled from the World Cup.

 

DOHA, Qatar — A representative of Iran’s soccer federation on Sunday called for the United States to be expelled from soccer’s World Cup over social media posts that the federation claimed had “disrespected” Iran’s flag.

The United States Soccer Federation drew Iran’s ire by including a doctored Iran flag in two posts on its official social media accounts on Saturday. A spokesman for U.S. Soccer said the decision to use an Iranian flag stripped of the country’s official emblem and two lines of Islamic script in posts on Twitter and Instagram was intentional, and meant to show support for the women of Iran — a nod to protests that have roiled Iran at home and followed its teamto the World Cup in Qatar.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/11/27/sports/world-cup-scores#iran-flag-us-world-cup

Jason Connor

Brussels sees riots after Morocco beats Belgium at World Cup

After the November 27th World Cup game against Belgium and Morocco, rage quickly spread throughout Brussels after a 2-0 Moroccan win. Dozens of rioters pelted cars with bricks and started fires, until the police moved in after a facial injury. 

The sport has become a sense of identity for people across the planet, explaining the anger people feel when their home team experiences a loss. 

Brussels mayor, Philippe Close, urges soccer fans to stay away from the city center as violence increases and subway and tram traffic closes. The mayor demanded law enforcement to keep order in the streets. It is not known is anybody has been detained from these demonstrations quite yet.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/brussels-sees-riots-morocco-beats-belgium-world-cup-rcna58864]

Megan Sinnaeve 

Venezuela takes first step out of political stalemate

 Venezuela's government and the opposition, with the help of Norway as a mediator, have achieved a preliminary agreement in order to end the current political crisis. It comes after years of conversations and failed attemps. Because of the agreement reached, the US has allowed the American company Chevron to operate again in Venezuela. The US governement considered it "a step in the right direction".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63771107

Reyes Venegas Aparcero

Gunmen abduct more than 100 in Nigeria’s Zamfara state

 More than 100 people, including children, were abducted in Zamfara, a northwestern Nigerian state, last Sunday. This is an example of a common occurrence in the area, wherein gangs use a tactic of kidnapping people and demanding ransom. The Nigerian Air Force has launched strikes on these groups, though it has been alleged that hostages have been used as human shields in these attacks. They also have been controversial because of findings the strikes caused civilian deaths, leading to a "review" by the Air Force.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/22/africa/gunmen-abduct-hundred-nigeria-intl/index.html

Aaliyah McCormick

Iran government supporters confront protesters at World Cup

 Conflict arrises at Iran's World Cup match against Wales. However, the tension was not caused between opposing team's fans. Iranian fans experienced conflict between each other as spectators in favor of the Iranian government clash with spectators that are not in favor of the Iranian government. Fans saying "Women, Life, Freedom!" caused a dispute with others who chanted "The Islamic Republic!" There were no serious outbursts, but this interaction is a direct display of the internal conflict that is taking place in Iran at this time.

https://apnews.com/article/womens-soccer-world-cup-iran-sports-0584e3e37e03babc19f04d79c8843ca0

Kenny Siwicki

In Indonesia, an Earthquake, Landslides and Homes ‘Flat to the Earth’

 An earthquake strikes in Indonesia, leaving devastating reports.  The rescue workers describe the task of finding survivors as arduous, hampered by power outages and blocked roads. As a result, the catastrophe has left at least 268 people dead and more than a thousand injured.

At the same time, schools were destroyed and thousands of houses were ripped from their foundations, with an entire village engulfed by a landslide following the devastating earthquake in Indonesia's mountainous region.

Indonesia Rescue Efforts Underway After Earthquake Kills At Least 268 - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

María de los Ángeles Negrillo Pérez

Two prominent Iranian actresses arrested - state media

 In the article, Two Prominent Iranian Actresses Arrested-State Media, the author talks about how two Iranian actresses posed without their head-scarfs on. The significance of the lack of head scarf is solidarity to protests against the state. The article went into detail how being arrested for a simple protest like this one is dangerous. At least five protestors have been arrested and sentenced to death by the state, in an attempt to set an example to protesters. This is a sad article to read, in America we have freedoms we take for granted. We, for the most part, have the ability to protest against injustice without the threat of state violence. The article claimed human rights abuses were going on so it will be interesting to see if there will be sanctions levied on Iran or if they will remain unscathed. This was an interesting article and it will be interesting to see what happens, if the Iranian state changes or the protests are quelled.

Zachary Erickson

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-63698162  

Reports : Qatar Bribed Eight Ecuadorian Players $7.4 million

The FIFA 2022 World Cup has caused controversy all over the world. Qatar has been speculated for violating human rights. According to Amjad Taha, the regional director of the British middle east center for studies and Research. Qatar has allegedly bribed Ecuadorian players ahead of the opening game. The total bribe amounts to a staggering 7.4 million to lose the opening game of the tournament. Which was held on November 20. 

These claims against Qatar hindered its reputation even more all around the world. The country has yet to face charges against human right violation for the systematic exploitation of labor forces. Many migrant workers lost their lives. FIFA encourages Qatar's bribery and corruption. The lack of transparency shown by the organization has caused a prestigious sports event such as the world cup to lose its shine. The Qatari government also violates LGBTQ rights and prevented England captain Harry Kane from wearing the pride armband.

https://sportsbrief.com/football/28069-reports-qatar-bribed-ecuadorian-players-74-million-lose-opener/

-Aryan Shah

Worlds Longest Presidency

 President of Equatorial Guinea, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, is looking to be re-elected yet again. He has had a 43-year reign, making him the record holder for the president with the most years in office. As of now, it looks like he will win, despite the many other candidates trying to run. Due to his extraordinarily long time in power, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has been able to set many of his family members up in high government positions. Many of these family members live lavishly, most notably his son, the vice president. Many professionals have been recorded saying that these elections are essentially just formality, and that the people opposing have no chance. Some experts say that political opposition is not tolerated in Equatorial Guinea, and it is estimated that Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo will likely get 95-97 percent of the vote due to this lack of opposition. Others say that the elections are corrupt and ingenuine, so Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo wins such a high percentage of the vote. Whatever is the case, it is likely that we will see Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo elected again in the upcoming election in Equatorial Guinea.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-63674539

Bradyn Almasy

COP27: Climate costs deal struck but no fossil fuel progress

 Rich nations will pay developing countries for the damage caused by climate change, that is the deal that was achieved at the UN's COP27. The "loss and damage fund" was agreed after chaotic negotiations, it could be the most significant development since the Paris agreement. However, some nations are still unhappy with compromises on fossil fuels.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-63677466

Reyes Venegas

Explosions at Occupied Nuclear Site In Ukraine

Over a dozen explosions have been recorded near a big Russian-occupied nuclear power plant in south Ukraine since Saturday, Nov. 19. The plant is founded on River Dnipro, the front line in the war. The area around the plant had been under attack for months and had remained calm before Saturday. The IAEA team says there had been damage to some buildings, systems, and equipment at the site, but nothing critical for nuclear safety buildings. Russia and Ukraine continue to face each other across the River Dnipro. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63694763 

Crista Salceda 

At least 5 killed in shooting at LGBTQ club in Colorado

 

Club Q opened in 2002 and was, until recently, the only LGBTQ club in Colorado Springs, the state’s second-most populous city with just under 500,000 residents.

“Proudly queer Club Q has stood as a bastion of the LGBTQ community where others have fallen,” 5280 magazine wrote in a story last year. “It’s where LGBTQ folks go for drag performances, dance parties, and drinks, and it supports the community with event sponsorships, pride celebrations, charity drives, and more. While the club has recently shifted to offering more low-key ‘dinner and a show’ vibes before 10 p.m., it’s still known as the place for queer young adults to go and get their dance on.”

https://www.cnn.com/us/live-news/colorado-springs-club-q-mass-shooting/index.html

Hundreds of Protesters in Iran Blinded by Metal Pellets and Rubber Bullets

 During the government protests, which have been ongoing since September in Iran, thousands of people have been injured and unfortunately, more than 300 Iranians have been killed. 

Consequently, it is found  enlightening testimonies about the circumstances: "Security forces have been firing ammunition that has broken the eyes of anti-government protesters over the past two months".

Security Forces in Iran Have Blinded Hundreds of Protesters - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

María de los Ángeles Negrillo Pérez

North Korea Fires Ballistic Missile After U.S. Summit With South Korea, Japan

 This past Thursday at 10:48am, North Korea fired a missile from the eastern city of Wonsan. It hit "an estimated altitude of 29 miles, traveling 149 miles before splashing into the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan." In a statement on Thursday, North Korea's Foreign Minister, Choe Son Hui, cited North Korea launched it in response to the summit between the US, South Korea and Japan. This summit  was to bolster US "security presence in the region with its allies South Korea and Japan." The Foreign Minister said this would "bring the situation on the Korean Peninsula to an 'unpredictable phase.'"On Sunday, President Biden met with his counterparts in South Korea and Japan and insured them that they had the support of the US and they would be defended and supported by Washington's full range of capabilities including nuclear arms. So far this year, North Korea has launched 30 test missiles which is the most that it has launched in a single year. The Foreign Minister claimed these tests are "legitimate and just military counteractions." However, the US, South Korea, and Japan have all said their tests were also defensive. North Korea did launch an intercontinental ballistic missile and a ballistic missile that flew south and of the maritime boarder and set off air-strike sirens in South Korea. President Biden then met with the President of China, Xi Jinping, to see if he could aid in the discussion to talk North Korea out of testing these missiles. The Biden administration has reached out to the administration in North Korea to discuss the current situation but they have not responded to the invite. 

By: Sarah Hein

https://www.wsj.com/articles/north-korea-fires-ballistic-missile-after-u-s-summit-with-south-korea-japan-11668659266?mod=Searchresults_pos2&page=1 

World Population Hits 8 billion People

 The United Nations projected that the world population would hit 8 billion on Tuesday November 15th. This happened one day earlier than projected when we hit 8 billion on Monday November 14th! This has brought about questions and concerns people have about issue with a bigger society such as climate control and resources. This is a concern for the people living in Africa and less developed countries. Charles Kenny, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development in Washington is quoted saying "Population is not the problem, the way we consume is the problem" somethings needs to change for the better or we will start to see more and more issues. 

World Population hits 8 billion, creating many challenges (msn.com)

-Tori Robinson

Poland says the missile strike on its land appears to be an accident by Ukraine

 Yesterday, Poland was hit by a missile and killed two citizens. It was unknown where the missile came from but many guessed it came from Russia. The article states that it was an accidental Ukrainian missile "there are many indications that it was a missile that was used by Ukraine's anti-missile defense"(Myre) stated President Andrzej Duda. Although Russia did not directly fire the missile, many are still saying that it is their fault, due to the illegal war against Ukraine. If it had been Russia who launched the missile, there could have been the possibility of NATO getting involved. 

Ana De La Torre

https://www.npr.org/2022/11/16/1137085278/polands-president-says-the-missile-strike-appears-to-be-from-ukraine

Trump Announces Presidential Candidacy for 2024

Former President Trump announced that he will be running once again, as a Republican in the 2024 Presidential Election.  Although it is a bit early for candidates to announce their campaign, we know that Trump will need to start his funding as soon as possible. The article also mentions how Trump's path back to the Presidency might not be as easy as he might hope, as he is still being investigated for his involvement in the January 6th attack on the capital. In addition, Trump might face some worthy opponents such as DeSantis and Pence. 

Ana De La Torre

https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/15/politics/trump-2024-presidential-bid

Poland considers invoking NATO Article 4 after Russian-made missile hit village, killing two people

 Russian missiles landed four miles inside of Poland, killing two Polish civilians. 

Poland considers invoking NATO Article 4 after Russian-made missile hit village - CNN

Will China Lose it's No. 1 Spot at the Top of the Population List? - Megan Lemley

 With the news of China's population being set to hit 8 million people on Tuesday, there has been a lot of attention drawn towards a runaway population or a shrinking population. Tang Huajun, a software developer in China, has been specifically analyzing those around him as the population continues to soar with apprehension. He has discovered trends that support the United Nations' projection that "China's population will start shrinking from next year, when India will likely become the world's most populous country." 

But in all honesty, can we blame the people that "aren't even interested in getting married let alone having babies?" The Covid-19 pandemic has had a disastrous effect on the world in many ways, but reproduction efforts are certainly an issue that should require global attention. 

Source: As World Population Hits 8 Billion, China Frets Over too Few Babies 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63615076

Istanbul: Six dead, dozens wounded in Turkey explosion

"At least six people have been killed and 81 wounded in an explosion in a busy area of central Istanbul, Turkish authorities have said."

It is alleged that this attack was considered a terrorist attack, carried out by a women.

 Jessicah Finglass

Italy's discovery of ancient bronze statue

 Aleesa Andresen

Archaeologist in Italy, have uncovered more than two dozen preserved bronzed statues that dating back to ancient Roman times.  These statues were discovered in San Casino den Bagni, in northern Rome.  These statues were covered in gold, silver, and bronze coins, and the hot muddy water helped preserve them. The archeologists were surprised they were made out of bronze and not terracotta. So far, 24 large statues and several smaller statues have been uncovered. The statues are going to a restoration laboratory but eventually will be displayed in a new museum. 

Putin can’t escape fallout from Russian retreat in Ukraine

 In the article, Putin can't escape fallout from Russian retreat in Ukraine, the author explains how Russian military generals have received criticism for the withdraw from the Ukrainian city of Kherson. The article explains how Russia has been blaming the west as well as NATO for the difficulty during the war. The article has a western tone to it with some of the verbiage that is used, however you are still able to understand that Russia is struggling to maintain their spirits in this ongoing war. The Russian propaganda in the beginning of the war was that the war would be swift and painless, that was not the case. Nine months later Russia is losing an occupied city. This was an interesting article because, even through the western tone, you get to see Russian view of the west and NATO assisting Ukraine in the war. With the withdraw it intensifies the war, with worries of nuclear weapons being scarily on the radar of possibilities. 

Zachary Erickson

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63601426

Massive turnout in defense of Mexican democracy

 On Sunday, November 13, 2022, tens of thousands of Mexicans took to the streets to protest Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO). They're opposing a proposal made by AMLO to remake the electoral process and National Electoral Institute. It is regarded as a trustful and legitimate institution. AMLO claims it is an institution that only favors the rich and powerful elite of Mexico. In contrast, its citizens view it as an attempt by him to consolidate his power in order to quench his opposition. Although the proposal that AMLO proposed wouldn't abolish or entirely gut the National Electoral Institute, it would significantly reduce its size and power. AMLO's legitimacy as a trustful and reliable is being called into question as protests against him wage throughout Mexico City.

Andres Perez Delgadillo

Massive turnout in defense of Mexican democracy (msn.com)

Twitter making more cuts to contract workers

Recently Elon Musk bought out the popular social media app Twitter. Many changes have come to twitter while under new ownership. Many individuals holding high leadership positions were fired right after Musk became the owner. Since then, many Twitter employees have been fired and replaced with people of Musk's choosing. Most other full-time workers were also fired by email notification. Now it is the contract workers that are likely to be victims of the next firing wave. Some of the most recent firings have been with Twitter's misinformation team. The misinformation team was responsible for handling misinformation spread on the site, much of which was either medical, political, or general integrity. Musk had promised he would make speech on Twitter less restrictive, which is why he is making all of these cuts. 

https://globalnews.ca/news/9275296/twitter-cuts-elon-musk-outsourced-content-moderators/

Bradyn Almasy

Suspect in custody in Istanbul blast that killed 6 and injured 81, officials say

    A suspect has been arrested in connection to an explosion in Istanbul, Turkey which has been labeled a terrorist attack. The article states "CCTV footage shows a woman sitting on a bench for more than 40 minutes and then getting up one or two minutes before the explosion, leaving a bag or plastic bag behind, according to Turkish Justice Minister Bekir Bozdag". This explosion happened at Beyoglu Square right in the middle of Istanbul. It left 6 people killed and 81 injured. Witnesses stated seeing severely injured and dead people laying in the street. Many countries have reacted by condemning this act of terrorism including France and The United States. 

https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/13/europe/istanbul-turkey-explosion-intl/index.html

Ellie Berns

Taiwan Says Chinese Fighter Jets Fly Near Island

 China flew 36 bombers and fighter jets near the island of Taiwan says Taiwanese defense ministry. Ten of these aircrafts, on Saturday, flew over the median line in the Taiwan Strait that separates the island from the mainland. This is alarming due to the build up in militaristic tension between Taiwan and China as China would like to claim the island as its own.

https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/taiwan-chinese-fighter-jets-fly-island-93203140

Kenny Siwicki

Iran Sentences Another Prisoner to Death After Building Fire

Anti-government demonstrations have officially entered their eighth week with a start of a death sentence. 

Amid the country's constant tension, the Iran Revolutionary Court has sentenced one of these protesters to death after allegedly setting a government building on fire, along with five other prison sentences. These five sentences range from five to ten years in prison for public order violations, and it has been said that there will be trials for these prisoners. The Revolutionary Court has displayed no further information on the death sentence.

The protests in Iran started by fighting against the mandatory wearing of the headscarf, but has since transitioned into challenging the religious leader of Iran and the government altogether. Over the past six months, more than 14,000 people have been arrested, and over 230 deaths as a direct result of protesting.

https://apnews.com/article/iran-middle-east-dubai-united-arab-emirates-judiciary-f3b993aed7ad81c07c1e6d39b3635b95

Megan Sinnaeve

“In Iran, political dissenters find expression through rap music”

This week in class, we discussed how Pharrell Williams’s hit song, “Happy,” spread through the world, influencing people all over to sing, dance, and laugh.  This showed not only a picture of globalization, but also emphasized the importance of music around the world.  In Iran, there have been several incidents of the “Morality Police” controlling and murdering women for misogynistic reasons, the most well-known being Mahsa Amini.  Rappers have started to make protest music, some of which “plays off of cultural references used against Iranian women and speaks meaningfully to the specific struggles of women in the movement.”  This article explores the importance of art and music as a form of protest that unites people and creates change.

Libby Gardner

https://www.npr.org/2022/11/12/1136267858/in-iran-political-dissenters-find-expression-through-rap-music 

Turkey's leader calls the blast in Istanbul an attack. At least 6 are dead

 

ISTANBUL, Turkey — At least six people were killed and 53 others injured in an explosion on Istanbul's best-known commercial street, according to Turkey's leader.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described Sunday's blast on Istiklal Avenue as an attack and vowed to identify those responsible for it.

"Our people should be assured that the perpetrators of the incident on Istiklal Avenue will be punished as they deserve," he said. "The relevant units of our state continue to work to uncover the perpetrators of this treacherous attack and the groups behind it."

There was no immediate explanation or claim of responsibility.

Jason Connor

https://www.npr.org/2022/11/13/1136348046/istanbul-explosion-deaths-istiklal-avenue

Turkey's Leaders Call the Explosion in Istanbul an Attack.

 On Sunday, November 13, 2020, an explosion took place in an iconic boulevard full of restaurants and shops. Currently, 6 people were killed and 53 are inquired. It is unsure who caused the attack, but multiple videos were taken by citizens. Turkey's Mediawatch dogs placed a temporary ban on reporting the explosion along with radio and television stations. 

https://www.npr.org/2022/11/13/1136348046/istanbul-explosion-deaths-istiklal-avenue

Crista Salceda 

"were my sons not enough?" Iranian mother demands justice

 Behieh Namjoo is an Iranian citizen and mother of an Iranian wrestler who was assaulted and killed during protest in 2020. Two years following the death of her beloved son she stands outside an Iranian detention center after the arrest of her daughter for speculation of invlovement with the International Iran News Agency demanding for justice.

Read more about this emotional and eye-opening story below.

‘Were my sons not enough?!’ shouts mother of detained Iranian protester (msn.com)

Ukraine captures Kherson

 The Ukrainian soldiers have been showing great courage in the war with Russia. Moscow's ambitions have been brought to a forced stop against the Ukrainian soldiers. It is very interesting to see how the arrival of winter has dynamically affected the war. The war for Ukraine is not over yet, However, they certainly have been making a lot of progress. President Volodymyr Zelensky said that "before fleeing from Kherson, the occupiers destroyed all critical infrastructure-communications, supply of water, heat, and electricity. 

Kherson region remains heavily affected by war and it is still unclear when basic facilities will be restored to the city. Zelensky also said that the Ukrainian forces have begun the huge task of dismantling Russian mines and booby traps in and around Kherson. In the contrast, Russia continues the missile attacks on Ukraine's infrastructure. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63607568

-Aryan Shah

Ethiopia and Tigray rebels ready to speed up aid

Tigrayan rebels and the Ethiopian military have agreed to allow aid deliveries to the Tigray region. Millions of individuals need food and medicines desperately and with this deal signed in Kenya, the cessation of hostilities agreed on November 2 has started to be implemented.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-63610774

Reyes Venegas

EXPLAINER: Where does the student loan debt plan stand?

 President Biden's student loan forgiveness plan was blocked by a second federal court today. The ruling was that the loan forgiveness was it "usurped Congress' power to make laws." Students who applied and got accepted were expected to receive $10,000 in loan forgiveness. 43 million people were eligible for this, and 20 million people would have had their debt completely erased. Additionally, "the White House said 26 million have already applied to the program, and 16 million have already had their relief approved." however, the Congressional Budget Office has stated that the program will end up costing over $400 billion over a span of the next three decades. This is leaving a lot of people confused on if their relief is going to go through, and if the program will continue or not. This debt relief was going to be really helpful for a lot of people experiencing financial stress or wanting to use this opportunity to go to college or grad school. However, the back-and-forth situation is putting a lot of people in a more stressful situation than they were in before. 

By: Sarah Hein

https://apnews.com/article/student-loan-forgiveness-plan-court-ruling-explained-1946d03f84653c47cf37dd863a023175

Ugandan university drops mandatory pregnancy tests for students after outcry

 A private university in Uganda notified female nursing and midwifery students that they would be required to take a pregnancy test at a fee or they would not be allowed to take their exams. Various individuals involved in healthcare in Africa spoke out in anger on the topic. A women's rights organization in Uganda also posted a letter they sent to the university. Two days after the notice was issued, the university reversed its policy.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/11/africa/nursing-students-pregnancy-test-uganda-intl-scli/index.html

Aaliyah McCormick

What the midterm election results could mean for the war in Ukraine

 What the midterm election results could mean for the war in Ukraine

Many Republicans have called for decreasing the amount of military aid to Ukraine. For example, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green said that "not another penny will go to Ukraine," however it's unlikely that Republicans will strongly advocate for cutting financial aid to Ukraine, since support for Ukraine is currently high. One the other hand, some Democratic politicians signed a letter advocating for negotiations and an end to the war. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, the US has sent over $18.9 billion to Ukraine in security assisstance. 

Natalie Nelson

COP27 Climate Summit

 

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/11/11/climate/cop27-climate-summit?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

What this article talks about is Biden and some of the things he plans on doing to fight Climate Change including spending upwards of $370 Billion to go into resources to allow the U.s to move away from fossil fuels to better resources and with talks to have an aggressive regulations on the main contribution according to global warming according top scientist which is Methane.

US election: Trump tears into rising Republican rival DeSantis

 Trump has hinted that he will run for president in the next term, but he is faced with a big challenge this time as he has a rival who is also Republican Desantis. The news appears to have been confirmed as Trump lashed out at Desantis. Trump was saying that Desantis is the "average" governor lacking loyalty and he got no money. So far, it looks like Trump has higher approval rates compared to Desantis, so we will find out if this rate shifts around the time of the election. 

Who Runs the World? - Megan Lemley

A new record has been set for female governors in the United States after the 2022 midterm elections - a whopping twelve women. Even more surprisingly, there were two "women-only contests" as well. Not only were large steps made for females in state government positions, Katie Britt was also the first woman from Alabama to be elected to serve as a US Senator. 

Clearly as time goes on, trends are changing. What started out as a male-dominated government in the late 1700's is now a racial, religious, and uniquely gendered landscape.

Source: US Midterm Elections: More Female Governors than Ever Elected

Israel archaeologists find ancient comb with 'full sentence'

Archeologists have found a comb from about 3700 years ago with a full sentence. The comb reads “May this tusk root out the lice of the hair and the beard". Archeologists are excited about this comb because it is likely to be one of the oldest complete sentence in Canaanite alphabetical script. The Canaanite alphabet was invented around 1800 B.C. and it is believed "to have developed the first known alphabetic system of writing" (Reich). As if that was not interesting enough, experts found microscopic evidence of lice on the comb!

Ana De La Torre

https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/israeli-archeologists-find-ancient-comb-full-sentence-92969040

How the Georgia Senate runoff will work

 It has been announced that Warnock and Herschel, who were both running for the Georgia Senate, will have to face each other once more in a runoff. Since neither candidate was able to reach the 50% requirement,  voters will have to once again vote on December 6th. This election is especially important because as the article state "Depending on the outcome of Senate races in Arizona and Nevada, voters in Georgia could then – for the second consecutive election cycle – have the Senate majority in their hands" (LeBlanc). 

Ana De La Torre

https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/09/politics/georgia-senate-runoff-warnock-walker-explainer/index.html

Hurricane Nicole

Florida has been hit by a hurricane and although it was classified as a category one hurricane,  it has caused a lot of damage. So far, the hurricane took the life of two people and around 40 homes have been destroyed. Hurricane Nicole is "the first hurricane to hit the United States in November in nearly 40 years" (Elamroussi, Andone, Elassar). On Thursday the hurricane hit 50 mph winds and is estimated to bring around eight inches of rain to Florida. The article also states that by Friday, the hurricane is to slow down

Ana De La Torre

https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/10/weather/hurricane-nicole-florida-thursday/index.html

African Countries Will Be Hugely Affected by the Climate Crisis

GDP growth rate of African countries dropping by 64% is a real possibility due to the global climate crisis, regardless of the fact that they are the least responsible for the problem. They account for 15% of the world's population and less than 4% of CO2 emissions heating the planet. Under current climate policies, the GDP of eight countries (Sudan, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, Chad, Djibouti, and Nigeria) could be reduced by 75%, potentially. 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/09/climate-crisis-huge-impact-africa-economies-study-says 

Ainsley Ratledge

Republics Likely to Gain Control Over US House

 After midterm elections it is likely that Republicans will gain majority in the House, while the Senate is still up for grabs. It is very common that when we have a Democratic president in office the House will reflect the opposite of that. The last update told us that Republicans had 210 House seats, which is only eight short of what they need to gain majority. While it is likely that Republicans will also gain control over Senate there were still 33 seats undecided. Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy has been quoted saying that if Republicans gain control over House that he will then run for Speaker of the House. 

Republicans close in on U.S. House majority, Senate still up for grabs (msn.com)

-Tori Robinson

Russia Orders Retreat From Kherson, a Serious Reversal in the Ukraine War

Russia’s position had grown perilous in Kherson. From the Russian point of view, it is a strategic city and one of the biggest prizes seized in its Ukraine invasion. However, Russian hawks reacted angrily to the withdrawal. 

Consequently, the Kremlin on Wednesday announced a retreat of Russian forces from the strategic city in southern Ukraine (Kherson), constituting a concession to military reality eight months after capturing the area, and one of the most significant reversals of President Vladimir V. Putin 's war effort.

Russia Orders Retreat From Kherson, a Serious Reversal in the Ukraine War - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

María de los Ángeles Negrillo Pérez

Leaders push for climate action and fossil tax at U.N. talks

 United Nations chief António Guterres warned Monday that humanity was on “a highway to climate hell with our foot on the accelerator,” urging countries to “cooperate or perish.” He and leaders such as Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley said it was time to make fossil fuel companies contribute to funds which would provide vulnerable countries with financial aid for the climate-related losses they are suffering. World leaders are making the case for tougher action to tackle global warming Tuesday, as this year’s international climate talks in Egypt heard growing calls for fossil fuel companies to help pay for the damage they have helped cause to the planet.

Climate activists glue hands to Goya paintings in Spain's Prado Museum

 Climate change is a serious issue that we are facing, and nations are starting to take a stand to save the planet, but some people don't think it's enough. Climate activists in Spain glued their hands to famous paintings by Francisco de Goya in Madrid's Prado museum on Saturday. A temperature was painted on the wall between the two works: +1.5 C, and last week the UN recognized the impossibility of keeping us below the limit of 1.5 Celsius. All of this is happening before the GOP27 that is happening in Egypt right now.

Russian officials on the defensive after letter alleging 'incomprehensible' losses in Ukraine

Russian officials on Monday denied allegations that an elite marine unit had suffered catastrophic losses during an “incomprehensible” assault in eastern Ukraine. The attack on the town of Pavlovka in eastern Ukraine, near the Ukraine-Russian border and south of the city of Luhansk, left 300 Russians dead, wounded, or missing, according to the letter, which NBC News has not independently verified. It looks like Russia is losing the war because they have exhausted its resources, and all the sanctions placed on the country by the rest of the world are starting to take a toll on Russia. Ukraine has the backup and the support and training of the UN, and the US is sending them Billions of dollars in aid, so hypothetically, they will never run out of ammo.

Alaa Abdel Fattah: British-Egyptian activist's life at acute risk - UN

 The COP27 meeting is happening right now in Egypt, which shined some light on Egypt's political prisoner Alaa Abdel Fattah. The UN human rights chief, has called on Egypt to immediately release him. The UK primine minister Rishi Sunak has spoken to the president of Egypt, Elsese, and he wanted to issue resolved as soon as possible. I'm sure that Alaa will be released soon since there are international pressure and many people asking about the reason behind his being in prison. Alaa has gone on a strike as well as his family, which makes things more complicated as he is a British citizen if he dies in Prison in Egypt that could bring many complications for Egypt and get the International criminal court involved. 

Russian oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin appears to admit to US election interference

Yevgeny Prigozhin, also known as "Vladamir Putin's chef", admitted to Russian interference in the US election in a telegram post on Monday. He exclaimed how Russia has interfered and will continue interfering with the US democratic process. 

US prosecutors and officials were warned of similar hacking expeditions ahead of the 2020 presidential election, which we know has been followed through. Now, we are being warned of a hacking attack towards Tuesday's midterm election.

Russia, even Putin has denied any interference with American politics to this day, even though there are many influential people behind the scenes, like Prigozhin, causing real, severe disruption in America's democratic scene.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/07/europe/yevgeny-prigozhin-russia-us-election-meddling-intl/index.html

Megan Sinnaeve

Iran admits sending Russia drones as electricity knocked out

 Ukraine has accused Russia of targeting civilian power networks. Iran has admitted to supplying Russia with drones prior to the invasion. Ukraine believes that Iran is still supplying drones now into the conflict.

Russia-Ukraine war news: Iran drones, UN grain deal, eyes on US midterms : NPR

 

COP27: 'Climate chaos' warning as UN summit begins

 Jessicah Finglass

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-63517078

“The UN's climate change summit has opened in Egypt with a warning that our planet is "sending a distress signal".”

After last year's climate summit, countries are coming together to discuss new ways we can help to protect the world based on the already apparent change in climate across the entire world. These meetings are very important because they set expectations for countries all across the world to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and take “greener” approaches in general.

China’s Xi Jinping to Visit Saudi Arabia Amid Global Reshuffling

 This article from the wall street journal explains that Saudi Arabia, once a steadfast ally of the United States, is deepening its relationship with other great powers. Recently, President Xi Jinping announced he would visit Saudi Arabia before the end of the year. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said that Beijing "attaches a great importance to the development of Chinese-Saudi relations and places Saudi Arabia as a priority in China's overall diplomatic policy". Saudi Arabia is very invested in its oil policy currently and is remains neutral in the Ukraine conflict. Saudi Arabia is a big player in controlling global oil prices, and by instituting higher prices, have indirectly aided Russia since their main export is oil. This has drawn much scrutiny from other countries but Saudi Arabia maintains that it does not want to pick sides. The article points out that there is a global realignment taking place and higher tensions between Saudi Arabia and the U.S. China is also currently Saudi Arabia's largest customer and Saudi Arabia in turn is China's largest supplier of crude oil. These increasing ties between Saudi Arabia and China have already started to influence politics. For example, Saudi Arabia has publicly defended China's policies in Xinjiang where many Uighur Muslims are being persecuted. Saudi Arabia has also introduced Mandarin into school curriculums as a business language that is only increasing in importance. In U.S. foreign policy, the U.S. wants to pivot to Asia and focus on Taiwan and other key countries but the article argues that with China's increasing influence in the middle east, the U.S. may be forced to backtrack as this is an important geopolitical spot. Currently, the U.S. plans to further its relationship with Iran which sees Saudi Arabia as an enemy in order to create a favorable balance of power in the region. I think that with Saudi Arabia turning more and more to the world market and pursuing its own interests, the U.S. will have to reevaluate its connections and goals in the middle east. It worries me that these deepening political ties with China could also lead to more endorsement of the persecution of Uighurs and support for other anti-humanitarian activities. 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/chinas-xi-jinping-to-visit-saudi-arabia-amid-global-reshuffling-11667818979 

Gabriel Ham

19 Dead After Aircraft Crash in Tanzania

 Aleesa Andresen 

On November 6, 2022 a Tanzania aircraft crashed due to bad weather.  The Prime Minister, said officials believe all bodies from the crash have been recovered. A total of 19 bodies were presumed dead. The rest are in the process of being rescued or have already been rescued. It is believed that the crash had happened on the final approach to the runway, as it is right next to Lake Victoria, the crash site. Lake Victoria is Africa's largest freshwater lake. Tanzania's president is urging the community to stay calm but sends all condolences to the families and individuals effected. 

 

US, allies clash with China, Russia over NKorea missiles

According to the article, the United Nations security council is divided when it comes to North Koreas ballistic missile launches. The article claims that North Korea has launched over 59 missiles so far this year, the article also states that "13 of the 15 Security Council members have condemned North Korea’s actions since the beginning of the year, but Pyongyang has been protected by Russia and China who have “bent over backwards” to justify repeated violations of U.N. sanctions by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, or DPRK, the country’s official name". I think it will be interesting to see how the United Nations deals with North Korea in the future. 

Ana De La Torre

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/us-allies-clash-china-russia-nkorea-missiles-92688036

Germany Can Afford to Spurn China

 In the article, Germany Can Afford to Spurn China, the author brings up how China and Germany are trade partners. How in the event that China invades Taiwan that Germanys allyship would possibly be questionable. The article talks about how Germany has room to move around in the global market and that they are not as reliant on China as one may think. Germany would still take pretty heavy economic losses but the article talks about how these losses would be comparable to how things have already been going. This was an interesting article that looked at an ally to the U.S. and how that allies economic dealings can possibly affect the allyship. How Germany and China will act in the future it will be interesting to watch.

Zachary Erickson 

https://foreignpolicy.com/2022/11/04/germany-can-afford-to-spurn-china/?tpcc=recirc_latest062921

Fumio Kishida Promises to Boost Military Capacity of Japan

 Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida vowed Sunday that he will do everything possible to increase his country's defensive military capabilities in the face of tension stemming from Chinese maritime operations. All this in order to ensure the security of its national territory but at the same time, including the East China Sea and the South China Sea. 

Adding a little bit of background, it should be remembered that Japan has steadily increased its international defense role and military spending over the past decade, and plans to double its military budget over the next decade to around 2 percent of its GDP, based on the NATO standard.

PM Fumio Kishida Promises to Boost Military Capacity of Japan (viva.co.id)

María de los Ángeles Negrillo Pérez

Peru: Police clash with protesters in capital Lima

     There is civil unrest in Peru as people flood the streets protesting the government. The goal of these protesters is to get the president, Pedro Castillo, to resign over allegations of corruption. "No injuries were reported immediately after police fired tear-gas canisters in Lima in an effort to stop demonstrators from reaching government buildings". Castillo has been impeached twice before but not convicted of anything. While protests are going on throughout Peru, the largest is in the capital, Lima. Police released tear gas on the protesters but no one was injured. I feel we are seeing a lot of civil unrest in many countries lately. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-63530879

Ellie Berns

Iran admits to sending drones to Russia

 This weekend on Saturday the foreign minister of Iran acknowledged for the first time that his country has supplied Russia with drones. He also stated that the transfer came before Moscow's war on Ukraine in which the drones were used. This statement is months late, and many are still suspicious of the actual timeline.

Iranian officials had previously denied arming Russia. Iran's Ambassador to the U.N. Amir Saeid Iravani spoke on this and said that the assumptions of Iran arming Russia during the current conflict with Ukraine were “totally unfounded", also declaring that Iran is neutral in the war.

On Saturday, Amirabdollahian claimed that Iran was “oblivious” to the use of its drones in Ukraine and that Iran is committed to wanting the war to be ended. Amirabdollahian also stated that if Ukraine can provide proof that Russia used drones from Iran in attacks, Iran’s stance in the war would not be indifferent anymore, implying that they would change from neutral to siding with Ukraine.

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2022-11-05/iran-acknowledges-sending-drones-to-russia-for-first-time

Bradyn Almasy

“Ukraine suffered a comms outage when 1,300 SpaceX satellite units went offline over funding issues”

This week, Ukrainian troops lost a bunch of units of energy that powered their military satellites.  Because he has to be involved in everything, Elon Musk has some connections to this: his company, SpaceX, controls some of the communication sources for Ukraine’s military.  This article explores how private companies are interacting with the US Defense Department, and how this affects other powers, both domestic and international.

Libby Gardner

https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/04/politics/spacex-ukraine-elon-musk-starlink-internet-outage/index.html 

The COP27 Gathers in Egypt to Discuss Climate Change

 On November 6th, 2022 envoys gather in Egypt to discuss climate change, the war in Ukraine, inflation, and food shortages. Antonio Guterres, U.N. Secretary-General, warned that the climate was heading into "climate chaos" unless major countries cut back on emissions and support poor countries with the impacts of climate change. Over 120 world leaders will be in attendance however two of the top world polluters will not be there; China's President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi. Egypt has faced criticism for restricting protesters and increasing surveillance during the meeting. Human Rights Watch has joined groups to try and lift the restrictions. 

https://www.npr.org/2022/11/06/1134600547/cop27-climate-change-talks-start-in-egypt

Crista Salceda 

Standoff as Italy stops male migrants from disembarking rescue ships

 

There are 215 blocked on the Geo Barents and 35 on Humanity 1.

Children and people with medical issues were allowed to leave the ships in Catania, Sicily, but others were not. Two other rescue boats remain at sea.

The new Italian PM has promised to crack down on migrants travelling across the Mediterranean.

Italy is one of the main entry points into Europe and since the start of the year 85,000 migrants have arrived on boats, according to the UN.

Migrants set sail in small, overcrowded boats from North Africa - often they get into distress and are rescued by charity vessels.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63533769

Jason Connor

 

Philippines told: Decriminalize abortion, legalize divorce, pass anti-discrimination law

The UN Human Rights Committee is pushing for the Philippines to decriminalize abortion, legalize divorce, and to pass an anti-discrimination law. The committee recognizes the fact that there is an international treaty on civil and political rights. Trying to enforce certain rights in states around the world can be extremely difficult, especially since people and states around the world may have different views. However, it is bizarre that these human rights are still being criminalized in the Philippines and must become decriminalized. Besides Vatican, the Philippines is the only state in the world where divorce is not an option. “The lack of legislation providing for divorce may compel victims of domestic violence to remain in violent relationships,” the UN rights body said.

Current emissions pledges will lead to catastrophic climate breakdown, says UN

 The United Nations has announced that nations need to set new climate goals in order to limit temperature rises. Greenhouse gas emissions will lead to a 2.5 C in global heating which would be catastrophic for global climate. Only a handful of countries have agreed to strengthen their commitments to setting and obtaining new goals. Glasgow updated their goals, and saw little improvement, so they agreed to strengthen their goals and efforts in the next year. However, they are one of the few countries to actually update their targets. More countries need to get onboard, however, in order to avoid temperatures rising to 1.5 C "above pre-industrial levels." The UN calculated on Wednesday that the new plans submitted by governments would lead to a 2.1 to 2.9 C rise in temperature, which would be a "marginal improvement". The International Panel on Climate Change has estimated that greenhouse gases need to fall by 45% by 2030 to give the world a chance of staying within the 1.5 C margin. 

By: Sarah Hein

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/26/current-emissions-pledges-will-lead-to-catastrophic-climate-breakdown-says-un

The Taliban wants to segregate women. So, it's training female doctors.

   Following the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban just last year many female doctors fled their practice. This presumably stretched the staff thin making it difficult for the hospitals and care clinics to serve their purpose. It has just surfaced that along with the Taliban's conservative motivations they also support the idea that women's healthcare should be in the hands of other women. This further means the Taliban supports women's education, health, and employment. Along with the surprising idea that the Taliban supports women in healthcare, they also hold the belief that men should treat men. This then brings up the typical moral compass of the Taliban that has destroyed communities, families, and nations in the past.

   Hidden behind this mask of "support for women" is the gender segregation ideals that the Taliban is attempting to enforce. All of the healthcare support and admittance given by the Taliban to women in oppressed nations sounds like a step forward but instead, it is an insurmountably large stride back. Not only is gender segregation hidden behind these efforts, but the difficulties women face when attempting to receive healthcare are oppressed now more than ever. It has been reported by UNICEF that in many health clinics women are not to receive treatment without the presence of a male "guardian". 

  While Afghanistan faces this dark age of gender oppression and segregation the United States seems to have turned a blind eye. While yes, the U.S. has faced gender controversy in the past and present we must not forget our counterparts existing under the control of the Taliban. This outrageous move of oppression masked as progression is an insult to women all over the world. Feminism is not nationwide, instead, it is worldwide, further meaning all nations privileged enough to exercise their free will and free speech must stand up for these women and support them so one day they can become doctors for not only women but all genders alike.

Source:

Taliban training Afghan women as doctors to segregate medical care - The Washington Post

Sanna Marin, Finland's Prime Minister, Is Officially Cleared of Misconduct - Megan Lemley

Sanna Marin, the world's youngest prime minister, has now been "cleared of misconduct after video in August showed her partying." During class, we were shown the video of Marin truly enjoying her time with some friends, which hit the news cables pretty quick. The world was quick to make judgements about Marin, asking a multitude of questions. Was Marin fully qualified to lead Finland's government? Were her priorities in the correct order? The biggest concern of the people looked towards the idea that "Ms. Marin's behavior undermined Finland's 'reputation and security,'" which was soon to be paired with the idea that she had "neglected her duties as prime minister." This article announced the Chancellor of Justice in Finland had found all of these concerns to be baseless and Ms. Marin is free to continue with her responsibilities without this scandal looming over her head. But will this ever go away? Will people ever be able to omit that video from their memories?

Source: Sanna Marin: Partying Finnish PM Cleared of Neglecting Duties

Scholz asks China to press Russia to end its war

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has urged President Xi Jinping to use China's influence on Russia to stop the war in Ukraine. Personally, I think it is a very important event and it shows how the balance of power in the international system is changing. They both agreed to continue talks in the future.

Reyes Venegas

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-63496195

North Korea wants the US attention

 The Japanese coast guard reported a missile fired from North Korea heading toward Japan. This issue was very close to North Japan, unlike the previous ones. The missile landed in the sea of Japan after failing mid-flight, which is extremely dangerous. Firing Ballistic missiles toward neighboring countries without notice or warning can lead to unexpected actions. North Korea is trying to perfect its missiles but firing a missile close to Japan has led Japan to start Negotiating the purchase of hundreds of Tomahawk cruise missiles from the US. That would mean for the first time since World War II, Japan would be able to strike targets deep inside China and North Korea.

Imran Khan: Pakistan ex-prime minister wounded at protest march

 Pakistan's ex-prime minister got shot in the leg while holding a protest. Some are saying that this was an assassination attempt. One person was killed, and others were injured after the shooting. This reminded me of the shooting of Archduke Franz Fernandez and how it led to the start of a WW1.  The government was accused but denied any connection to the shooting, and the current prime minister ordered an investigation to investigate what happened and the motive behind it. The exciting thing is that the former prime minister was assassinated at a public rally in 2007, which says that this shooting was more than likely planned to target the ex-PM. 

Chinese Rocket to Crash into Earth.

 A Chinese rocket that was launched on October 31st is expected to fall back into orbit around November 5th. No one knows where the rocket will land exactly but it could make landfill anywhere in the US, Central and South America, Africa, India, China, Southeast Asia or Australia. The chances of the rocket falling and harming someone, or something are very slim. China is starting to make more rockets to catch up to the US and Russia in terms of space exploration. While other countries have taken more measures to ensure that their rockets come back to earth safely, China isn't taking these same precautions. 

Chinese Rocket Will Crash to Earth on November 5: Here's What We Know - Scientific American

Tori Robinson

Saudi Arabia joins the BRICKS

 Saudi Arabia is considering joining the BRICKS. BRICKS is a group of countries that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The BRICS agenda is to basically try to reform global finance to reduce the dominance of the US dollar. This happened a few weeks after President Biden threatened Saudi Arabia after oil output cuts. I think that this is unlikely to happen as it sounds more like a threat or a fireback at the US. There is still a chance so we will find out what happens. 

Truce agreed to end the Ethiopian Civil War

 The two-year conflict between the Ethiopian government and the Tigrayan forces has been causing numerous fatalities. Concerning aid, the Tigray region has severely lacked resources that can help sustain its civilians. Research carried out by the World Health Organization claims that about  90% of people in the northern Tigray region need food aid and about a third of the children in this region are suffering from malnutrition. 

It is important to keep in mind that this is not the first time there has been a breakthrough with regard to the civil war. Agreements this time have gone further and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has signed up to a disarmament plan. This agreement will invite the restoration of crucial services including aid and supplies. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has described the agreement as "monumental" and committed to implementing it. For the past few years, the man-made famine in Tigray has caused the region to be cut off from the outside world completely. The people of this region have been denied basic services such as electricity, medicine, phone, and banking along with the internet. Both sides have been blamed and accused of the atrocities caused against these people. The new truce requires to be proceeded with much caution and should divert its focus towards the well-being of the innocent people in Tigray.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-63490546

-Aryan Shah