Colombia in crisis
Recent protests in the South American nation have now been going on for over a week, originally ignited by the proposal of a tax reform by President Ivan Duque and intensified after the police forces started executing extreme abuse of power and violence. The right-wing government has been criticised on the introduction of the tax that many believe would favour the wealthy in Colombia while straining members of the working class who have suffered immensely during the COVID crisis, as the country has nearly 17% unemployment rates and 50 million citizens in poverty. The police’s violence has lead to 14 deaths so far and around 430 protesters have been detained. Duque withdrew the tax proposal but the protests continued as a result of the excessive force used and economic sufferance across the nation. The UN has expressed ‘deep alarm’ and said they are keeping a close eye on the situation in the city of Cali.
Religious festival in Israel results in death
A stampede in northern Israel during a religious festival has resulted in the death of 45 people and injuries to over 150. The festival was in celebration of Lag BaOmer at Mount Meron but quickly escalated out of hand and has now formed one of the nation’s deadliest civilian disasters. Many of the lives lost appear to have been American, leading Biden to comment: “The United States stands with the people of Israel, and with Jewish communities the world over, in mourning the terrible tragedy at Mount Meron.” Netanyahu has launched a thorough investigation of all the lives lost, and dedicated a day of national mourning.
Netanyahu misses the deadline to build a new government
The Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu was given a four week window to form a new governing coalition which he failed to meet by Tuesday this week at midnight. This now leaves him and his Likud party more vulnerable to falling into the opposition for the first time in over a decade. President Rivlin announced on Wednesday that he would start discussing the formation of a new government and any day now is expected to give one of Netanyahu’s opposition members a chance to form a coalition. Netanyahu is in the midst of his corruption trial too, therefore will risk being forced out of government.
Canada offers vaccines to high schoolers
Canada is now the first nation to authorise the Pfizer vaccine for the age group 12-15 years old after completing phase three trials of it on children in this age group. This was an initiative taken by the government given that around 20% of their 1.2 million Covid cases have been tested by people under the age of 19. Biden announced this week that he strives to achieve the same of American citizens in this age group by the end of 2021.
