Hi everyone!
I hope you enjoyed the new columnist, Ragavan! I sure did - his piece about the economy was eye-opening, as was the California news!
Here are a few updates before we get started:
It’s been confirmed that I will indeed add at least two sections, which may or may not be put in a separate post. The topics will include history, and a local Washington section. If you’re not from Washington or California, weeeelll…
Moving on… how about we get started?
The Nation
Masks are Back
All across the United States, people are joyfully removing their masks and reviling over the relaxation of Covid protection mandates. A large percent of the population has been vaccinated, and we’re out of those sickening woods.
Or are we?
Maybe not, data shows. New information is revealing that we are seeing a new rise of Covid-19 cases, a spike so high that federal officials are recommending a third of the population to take those masks out of the closet, and for some areas to reinstate indoor mask mandates. This includes communities across the map, but some hotspots include western Montana, the Great Lakes states, and the Northeast.
Sorry, folks, but, with a 19% increase in cases in a week, I’d say we’re still in those woods.
Abortion Anger
Last time I spoke about the hot - very hot, almost scalding - issue of abortion, I mentioned that there had been a supreme court leak, revealing that the highest court may be considering an overturn of Roe V. Wade. Now, with that decision coming up, law enforcement across the country is preparing for the aftershock of the ruling, whichever way it goes. Already the evidence of unrest is troubling: the justices, as well as abortion clinics and any associates of the issue, have been targeted in social media threats. Thousands of pro-abortion protesters have called for a “summer of rage.” The recent events in Buffalo proved that radical racists will go as far as possible - too far - to make their opinions heard. The Department of Homeland Security has announced its support of peaceful protests, but not of violent riots. They will use everything at their disposal to make sure that there is no bloodshed.
But will it be enough?
The World
Europe
I’d recommend a flak jacket and strong constitution before you continue…
Surrenders at Mariupol
Some of the fiercest battling of the entire Russo-Ukrainian War has been at the port city of Mariupol. It is the bloodiest European battle of several decades, and a symbol of Ukrainian bravery and strength in the face of an unrelenting enemy. Unfortunately, no army, completely surrounded and under siege for more than a month, can stand forever. Now, after so many examples of great heroism, the Ukrainian line in the city is breaking, and many soldiers are surrendering at government orders. The Russians are celebrating over one particular surrender, however: hundreds members of the Azov battalion, a historically right-wing regiment, did as they were told and laid down their arms. Russia is contemplating labeling this neo-Nazi group as a terrorist organization, which would not only remove their POW (prisoner of war) status, but allow the Russians to use them as an excuse for their invasion.
But who’ll believe them?
Why, Turkey?
Last “World” post, I discussed how the Swedish and Finnish were contemplating joining NATO? Well, they’ve done it! They submitted their applications for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, and with Norway having their backs, they had a good chance of earning their membership quickly and easily.
Until Turkey came along.
The Turkish president, Recep Erdogan, objected to the admissions, on the grounds of the connections citizens of both countries had to Kurdish organizations they view as terrorists. And, as NATO countries must be unanimous to accept new members, Sweden and Finland cannot yet join. Right topic, very wrong time, Turkey.
Asia-Pacific
A Chink in their Armor
As cases reach almost 2 million in the country with a population only 12 and a half times that number, it looks like we have finally found the chink in North Korea’s armor: a microscopic virus that’s impossible to see with the naked eye. Indeed, in the ten days since Covid hit the DPRK, they have already had nearly one in a dozen of their residents come down with the virus. The country’s dictator, Kim Jong-un, has ordered North Korea to react in a way similar to China’s response two years ago - what he doesn’t seem to realize is the dire implications of this plan. North Korea is in no way ready for the enforced lockdowns and mass testing and vaccination. They aren’t even capable of feeding their whole population, which resulted in one of the worst famines of modern times. Health experts warn that following China’s model will only worsen the crisis for North Korea - for one, it would most likely mean a return to the ration system, as the government would be unable to provide basic services to residents in lockdown. International aid would help the dire situation, providing vaccines, food (people need it often), and other staples. Unfortunately, North Korea is an isolated nation with it’s own agenda, and accepting help from the West doesn’t seem to be on the top of their “to-do” list.
An Unenviable Job
The upcoming Australian elections seem like a more toned-down version of the Somalian elections: whoever wins, they will be leading a nation with some serious economic faults: inflation, massive debt, a overly competitive housing market, and rising interest rates. Also, with recession an unappealing possibility, the new prime minister may face blame for an economic dip soon after he came into office, too soon for him to have done anything. The right-leaning Liberal Nationals have been the reigning party for 9 years, but this year they are challenged by the more left Labor party. The Labor party’s main leg on their opposition is that they have proposed true government action to combat the economic crisis, while the current PM has only made promises that wages will “eventually” rise. No matter who wins this highly contested election, one thing is clear: the job of the new Prime Minister is an unenviable one.
Americas
Those Bolsonaros!
It seems that this is prime election time, as we are now going to review another contentious election! This time, we’re traveling across the Pacific Ocean, from Australia to Brazil, where the president & his sone are making some very interesting moves that may threaten the fabric of Brazilian democracy. The president’s son, Flavio Bolsonaro, is claiming that the election has been “rigged” by the country’s courts, and his dad, Jair Bolsonaro, is making similar claims about the electoral system. This is not the first time the Bolsonaros have locked horns with the court; at the same time that these claims are being made, he’s been arguing with the highest justices about various things: their chipping away at his authority, (really just the courts upholding the laws) as well as the fact that they were making him look bad by investigating anti-court social networking by Bolsonaro’s allies (which is a legitimate investigation). The Bolsonaros have made it clear that they are a force to be reckoned with; they have dropped hints that, unless the Bolsonaro’s ensure the electoral count by using the military and their own devices, they may not step down peacefully. I think we’ve all read enough news to know that this is a dangerous situation for Brazilian democracy.
What To Do About Cuba?
In the United States, the Biden Administration is beginning to roll back some of the Trump-era restrictions on their island neighbor Cuba. The US hasn’t been tight with Cuba in a long time, and this adjustment might not change things, seeing as the Cuban government and a US senator both immediately denounced the move. The senator was arguing that we need to isolate Cuba as much as possible to change it for the better, so it was too much, and the Cubans say it isn’t enough. Whichever way it is, the new action was intended to “center on human rights and empower the Cuban people.”
What do you think?
Africa
Polio is Back
For the first time in decades, the terrible disease that is polio was detected in a child in Mozambique. If you know something about 1900s history, you’ve probably heard of the polio outbreaks, which left many dead, crippled, or paralyzed. It was finally stopped 50 years ago by strong vaccination efforts, but it is still alive and well in many areas, as this fresh outbreak shows. Whether this outbreak will explode into and epidemic remains to be seen. This is a new story, so I may publish updates as they come, or talk about it in later posts. I sure hope I give some good news.
America in Somalia
The United States has had a military presence in Somalia for some time, to varying degrees. Troops have been placed for some time to help suppress the civil war there. I’ve said in earlier posts that the military situation there is chaos, and I meant it; a giant chunk of the country’s declared independence and dubbed itself Somaliland, and terrorists are constantly fighting over control of the country. However, much of the US infantry aid was drawn back when former president Donald Trump recalled most 700 ground troops stationed there. Now, the present president Joe Biden has approved a plan to put hundreds of those troops back, with their main objective being the Al Shabab terrorist faction, which is associated with the infamous Al Qaeda. If you don’t know what al Qaeda is, they’re behind the largest terrorist attack in American history, known as 9/11. Osama Bin Laden, the former leader of the terrorist group, still lives in infamy, even after death. Whether these fresh troops will achieve their goal of stamping out Al Qaeda’s associates remains to be seen. We can only hope.
Sources
Nice! You’ve finished reading another one of my posts! I hope you learned something, and continue to do so!
Stay tuned!
Sources for this post include various articles by Reuters, The New York Times, Associated Press, and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
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May 18
I really wish Ukraine joined NATO years ago. FIngers crossed for Finland and Sweden - hopefully something will work out for them.
“Strong constitution.” Love it.