What’s been happening in the world since last issue?

1. Hurricane Maria

Hurricane Maria, which hit Puerto Rico on Sept. 20, left the U.S. territory without power, internet connection or access to phone lines. Mayors across the territory have been asking the federal government to help the island recover and send necessities like water, medicine, food and clothes, because even with all the donations, the supplies are not getting there quickly enough to help. On Sept. 28, The Trump Administration temporarily waived the Jones Act, which stated that only American ships could transport goods between American Puerto Rican ports for the purpose of security in 1920, according to PBS. The waiver took effect immediately and is set to last for 10 days. The island’s residents, American citizens, are left unsure of when the power will come back on. Information from PBS, the New York Times, CNN and the Washington Post.

2. German Elections

Angela Merkel kept her position as chancellor of Germany after the election on Oct. 24, marking her fourth term in office. The election also saw the rise of a far-right party for the first time in over 60 years, according to the New York Times. Alternative for Germany, AfD, received 13 percent of votes in the election. As the New York Times and Washington Post said, this result reflects the 2015 decision to let Germany give asylum during the European Refugee Crisis, which saw a quick influx in the number refugees coming to Europe from Syria and the Middle East. Merkel’s Christian Democrats’ party, which still holds a majority, will have to figure out how to work more closely with the other, smaller parties which are now emerging in Germany, according to the Washington Post. Information from the New York Times and the Washington Post.

3. White House Expands Travel Ban and limits travel to Cuba

President Trump set new parameters for a travel ban on Oct. 24. The original countries are still on the list, except for Sudan, and North Korea, Chad and Venezuela were added. The ban on Venezuela affects only government officials and their families, causing some to see this ban as still a predominantly “Muslim ban” according to the Washington Post. The US also brought home most of its staff from the Cuban Embassy in Havana after 21 diplomats developed a serious illness which, among other things, caused hearing loss “cognitive difficulties,” according to the New York Times. The State Department found that the illness was caused by an attack, which the Cuban government said it had no part in. Rex W. Tillerson, U.S. secretary of state, made the decision to recall the embassy staff on Sept. 29, and Trump made a statement discouraging US citizens from visiting Cuba, for fear of a similar attack. Information from the New York Times and the Washington Post.

4. Kurds vote for independence

The Kurds voted overwhelmingly in favor of independence from Iraq on Oct. 24. The northern Iraqi autonomous province, known as Kurdistan, has been seeking independence for over a century, and 93 percent voted in favor of independence. However, the New York Times predicts that this will actually hinder their call for independence, as it has angered the central Iraqi government. The Iraqi Prime Minister, Haider al-Abadi, called for the vote to be annulled on Sept. 27. CNN reported that the major powers of the region also objected the vote. Governments have moved to further isolate the already distant province by canceling flights to Kurdish airports. Kurds live in various countries, such as Turkey, and many leaders may believe that this vote will inspire their populations to call for independence, according to CNN and the New York Times. According to CNN, the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the referendum “illegal.” Matters are complicated by the major role which the Kurds have played in the fight against ISIS, and the US, UK and the UN have rejected the vote. Information from CNN, the New York Times and Al-Jazeera.

5. Catalan Vote for Independence

Voters in the northeast of Spain went to the ballot boxes Sunday morning to vote on independence for their region of Catalonia. Three hundred years after Spain conquered Catalonia, the autonomous region called for a vote in which the Madrid based government, as well as the EU, condemned. The condemnation of the EU could mean that if Catalans secured independence, trading would become difficult. During the vote, military police came into voting places looking for ballots and voting boxes, which had been hidden. Protests erupted which have left 300 people hurt. The Washington Post reported that police fired rubber bullets at protesters. Those opposed to independence said they would boycott, and issues with the voter registrar led many to discount the vote even before it started. Information from the Guardian, the New York Times, the Washington Post and The Atlantic.

6. Las Vegas Shooting

A man opened fire at a country music festival in Las Vegas, killing 59 people and more than 500 are believed to be injured, making it the deadliest shooting in American history. Police found 23 fire arms in the hotel room of Stephen Paddock, the gunman, according to the New York Times, as well as cameras around the hotel he set up, according to the Washington Post. Paddock, 64, opened fire on the concert from his 32nd floor suite in the Mandalay Resort and Casino, where police found him dead. The weapons had long-range scopes and he had rigged a few of them to be fully automatic, which is illegal in the United States. The shooting once again raises questions regarding the national gun debate, with Democrats calling for changes to the current laws, and Republicans asking them to focus on other issues. Information from the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Las Vegas Review Journal.

Readers are encouraged to look deeper into the stories using the citations given.

Wondering where this came from? Check out my Opinion piece on it from last issue at http://www.ioniannews.com/gallery/article_8a65ab2e-9efe-11e7-b756-d7dbad5b6426.html