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This week’s edition of Top Stories is focused away from topics that have dominated the media such as the US election, Covid-19, or Brexit. While these are all crucial aspects of news, they have also drawn spotlight away from a variety of key issues around the world. The following have been neglected by the media shift in the past week so hopefully this edition helps raise awareness and gives these news stories the attention they deserve.
Nigeria’s fight against SARS
Global outrage called for the disbanding of Special Anti-Robbery Squad, a branch of the police force in Nigeria, on account of their many incidences of brutality and extortion. SARS has now been disbanded though African ministers as well as British MPs have been questioning Western involvement in the scandal. Earlier this week, one of Boris Johnson’s ministers confirmed that the UK government provided training and equipment to the police unit, despite initially denying ties. Currently, Labour representatives are counting on an explanation from the Conservative government while Nigerian citizens are pushing for wider law enforcement reform.
Greece and Turkey struck by dramatic earthquake
Last Friday afternoon, nearly 30 are assumed dead as a result of a strong earthquake in the Aegean Sea, triggering a ‘mini tsunami’. At least 804 people have suffered injury in Turkey, with 25 deaths. The other deaths were in Greece, most of which seem to have occurred on the island of Samos after a building collapsed. The earthquake caused 470 recorded aftershocks, with the initial tremor of 7.0 magnitude. One witness in Turkey remarked: “Everybody is calm but shocked and we’re wondering what will happen, if there’s a second tsunami coming or not,”. It appears that the tremors were felt as far as Crete, but with little damage.
Protesters in Poland delayed President Duda’s abortion restrictions
The overwhelming rallies that occurred in response to an abortion ban in Poland has backed the government into delaying the legislation going through. The original ruling stated that aborting fetuses with congenital defects violates the constitution, and as a result almost all abortion procedures would be banned. Following the resistance, a government official commented that they are reconsidering to reach a form of compromise between the right-wing, anti-abortion government in favour of the President Duda, and the huge masses of people protesting in the streets of Warsaw. Duda’s version of compromise is allowing abortion of fetuses with life threatening defects, excluding other motives.
Terrorist attack in Vienna
On Monday, a gunman murdered 4 people in Vienna leading to the arrest of fourteen people by the Austrian police. The Islamic State has taken credit for the attack committed by the terrorist who left jail last December. Though it appears he is unnamed, he was shot by police as he fired on civilians. Austria followed the deaths with three days of mourning and surrounding nations such as the UK have raised terrorism alert levels in order to stay cautious.
Diversity in democracy- US and New Zealand
Historical changes have been made globally that contribute to a diversity in politics. Delaware just elected its state senator Sarah McBride who is now the first transgender senator in the entirety of US history. She commented: “I hope tonight shows an LGBTQ kid that our democracy is big enough for them, too”. New York also showed optimism for diversity when Mondaire Jones and Ritchie Torres won their seats, making history as the first black, openly LGBTQ+ people in Congress. Aside from the US having a variety of firsts in this election, New Zealand has also just elected its first indigenous female foreign minister, Nanaia Mahuta, who is hoping to help representation of Maori people across the nation.
Chile votes to re-write the dictatorial constitution
Massive celebrations have taken place in Chile after voters expressed their disapproval of the constitution written four decades ago under a military dictator. The fight to have this plebiscite begun almost a year ago, and last week the right-wing government allowed the centre-left opposition to give the Chilean public a voice. A sweeping majority of approximately 78% has led to a vote taking place in April 2021 for the people to vote the 155 people they want to write the new constitution. The President, Pinera, praised how democratically Chile has moved for the reform and is hoping for this to bring about unity and less inequality that the old dictatorship-era caused.
