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Staying up-to-date with the news can be tough. So tough, in fact, that we've decided to make it easier for you by gathering the most important, peculiar, or simply jaw-dropping stories every week.
The week leading into February felt rather gloomy, as these things often do. There was violence, the threat of violence, political bitterness, and disheartening conflicts surrounding the suppression of free speech. While it wasn't all bleak, both sides were certainly in abundance. Here's hoping next week's news brings an end to the winter gloom.
10. South Korea Endured Its Deadliest Fire in Ten Years
Just before Christmas 2017, a fire tore through a sports complex in Jecheon, South Korea, claiming the lives of nearly 30 people. At the time, it was the deadliest blaze the country had seen in a decade. Unfortunately, it didn’t hold that grim record for long.
Last Friday, after this column had gone to print, another catastrophic fire struck South Korea, this time engulfing a hospital in Miryang. 37 people lost their lives as patients fought to escape the flames, and another 130 were injured. This fire now holds the tragic distinction of being South Korea’s deadliest since the Icheon factory disaster of 2008, which claimed 40 lives.
That it didn’t exceed the Icheon fire’s death toll is something of a small miracle. Initial reports indicated that 41 patients had perished, but this number was later revised down. Nevertheless, the most recent tragedy remains a devastating loss, particularly considering how preventable it was. After the fire, the hospital director acknowledged that the building had no sprinkler system, a glaring oversight, as such basic fire safety features have only been mandatory since June of the previous year.
9. A Massive Suicide Bomb Shattered The Afghan Capital
Just last week, we reported on twin terrorist attacks in Afghanistan that had claimed 45 lives. Unfortunately, these horrific events turned out to be mere preludes to something much worse. On Saturday, the Taliban unleashed a massive car bomb outside the Ministry of the Interior in Kabul, targeting an area teeming with civilians. 103 people were killed instantly, and 235 others were wounded. The death toll may continue to rise.
The bombing was especially horrifying due to its ruthless execution. The explosive was concealed inside an ambulance, which was allowed to pass through police checkpoints before detonating in the midst of a crowded area. This attack recalls the May 2017 truck bomb that claimed 150 lives in the war-ravaged capital, sparking global outrage.
The assault highlights the ongoing menace posed by the Taliban, more than 16 years after US forces ousted them from power. A recent BBC analysis revealed that the terrorist group is active in over 70 percent of the country. Afghanistan’s status as “the unwinnable war” has never seemed more accurate.
8. Czech Republic’s Polarizing President Secures a Second Term
On Saturday, Czech President Milos Zeman was reelected by a narrow margin following a campaign marred by anti-immigrant rhetoric and allegations of assistance from Moscow. If that sounds familiar, you're not alone. From The Washington Post to The Guardian to Breitbart, many outlets quickly analyzed the implications of the ‘Czech Trump’s’ victory.
The reality, however, was a bit more nuanced. While Zeman certainly shares some traits with the US president, there are notable differences. Zeman has been a political figure since the collapse of Communism. He served as prime minister from 1998 to 2002, a position with far more power than the presidency. His anti-immigrant views are also relatively common in Czech society, and his 'right-wing' persona contrasts with his co-founding of the center-left (and anti-Islam) SPO party in 2009. There’s a certain irony in pro-Trump US media hailing him as “the Czech Trump” when President Trump has repeatedly dismissed him.
That’s not to say the election was without division. Many Czechs voiced concerns over the frail Zeman’s ability to endure a second term, as well as his troubling relationship with newly elected PM Andrej Babis, who is currently under investigation for fraud.
7. Colombia’s Peace Efforts Were Undermined by Anti-Police Bombings
Since FARC disbanded in 2017, the largest name in Colombian terrorism has been the ELN. A left-wing group engaged in an insurgency against the state since 1964, the ELN has been in peace talks with President Santos' government since March 2016.
Following the expiration of a cease-fire in early January, the ELN resumed hostilities, launching bomb attacks on oil pipelines. However, last weekend, they escalated their actions even further. On Saturday, a series of bombings targeted police stations nationwide, killing seven officers and injuring nearly 50. With the ELN claiming responsibility, the government was forced to halt the peace process.
The deadliest attack took place in Barranquilla, where a bomb smuggled into a police station exploded during a morning briefing, killing five officers and leaving 40 severely injured. Though brutal, the attacks were also puzzling. The ELN has fewer than 2,000 members, far fewer than the FARC had when they disarmed. They were also deeply involved in peace negotiations with the government, aiming for a negotiated settlement. Instead, it seems that Colombia’s endless war is set to continue.
In today’s social media–dominated world, influence reigns supreme. The number of retweets and followers you have can lead to everything from landing a book deal to amplifying your harmful ideas to the global stage.
5. Brazil Confiscated Its Former President’s Passport
At this point, it’s nearly impossible to give a concise summary of Brazil’s expansive Odebrecht Scandal in under 200 words, so we won’t even try. Just know it’s likely the largest corruption scandal in history, toppling major political and business figures across Latin America like blades of grass in a storm.
Former Brazilian president Lula was caught up in a related investigation recently, receiving a nine-year sentence that was later extended to 12 years in January after an appeal. Last Friday, his case took a turn for the worse when Brazilian judges ordered the confiscation of his passport to prevent him from fleeing the country. It now seems that this once-popular leader’s career will end in significant prison time.
To call this a seismic shift in Brazilian politics would be a serious understatement given the shockwaves it has caused. Lula, the Worker’s Party candidate for the October presidential election, was widely seen as the front-runner. If he is barred from running, the election becomes wide open. However, if he manages to stay in the race, Brazil may find itself led by a man behind bars.
4. Poland and Israel Engaged in a War Over Their Shared History
The German invasion of Poland in 1939 marked one of the darkest chapters in a global war known for its widespread atrocities. Around 20 percent of Poland’s population perished, with Warsaw alone suffering the loss of approximately 200,000 lives. Three million Polish Jews were murdered in the Holocaust. By any reasonable standard, most Poles were victims during World War II.
However, not every Polish citizen remained blameless. The Simon Wiesenthal Center estimates that several thousand Poles betrayed their Jewish neighbors to the Gestapo or otherwise collaborated with the Nazis. This issue has led to the current diplomatic spat between Poland and Israel. On Thursday, the Polish Senate passed a controversial bill that criminalizes any mention of Polish collaboration during the Holocaust. Violators of this law could face up to three years in prison.
The bill sparked an unprecedented display of unity in Israel’s Knesset. Both government and opposition members united in condemning Poland’s attempt to downplay the involvement of its citizens in the Holocaust. In retaliation, Tel Aviv is now advancing its own law that would criminalize the denial of Polish or other collaborators’ roles in the Holocaust. Those who breach this new law could face five years behind bars. There are growing concerns that these legislative moves could suppress free speech.
3. Washington's Mistrust Reached Alarming New Heights
Things are starting to get really ugly now.
US politics has been deeply polarized for years, and since President Trump’s election, those divisions have only intensified. There are now two conflicting investigations involving both the FBI and the president, with each side viewing the other as a distraction from their own focus, depending on whom you ask.
This week, the partisan animosity reached unprecedented levels. Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee voted to release a memo they claim exposes illegal FBI surveillance of the Trump campaign. House Democrats reluctantly agreed to release the memo, only to later accuse the Republicans of altering it to present a biased view. Both parties now blame each other for creating a diversion.
The real issue is not about determining who is right or wrong. The true problem is that such a situation even exists. There is no rational scenario where either side should accuse the other of endangering national security for political advantage. That both sides are doing so indicates that they no longer view each other as opponents, but as enemies to be defeated at all costs.
This is a dangerous situation. When a society is divided and the media amplifies those divisions, leaders must step up and lead by example. Instead, by engaging in petty political games and fostering an ‘Us vs. Them’ mentality, they only increase the risk of violence. It might not happen today or tomorrow, but eventually, it could.
Instilling hatred and fear between people, whether over race, politics, or anything else, is a path that can only end in tragedy. Let’s hope those in Washington begin to act with maturity before an unhinged, ultra-partisan supporter takes things too far.
2. Kenya Surprised the World with a Second President
On January 30, Raila Odinga took an oath as Kenya’s president in a public ceremony in Nairobi, witnessed by thousands. The only issue? Kenya already had a president. Uhuru Kenyatta had been sworn in after winning October’s election with an overwhelming 98 percent of the vote, running without opposition. With two men now claiming the presidency, Kenya finds itself on the brink of a constitutional crisis.
The dual presidency is just the latest chapter in a tumultuous election saga that began when Kenya first went to the polls in August. Contrary to predictions, Odinga lost by a narrow margin to Kenyatta, sparking unrest. Odinga contested the results, prompting the Supreme Court to annul the election and call for a rerun in October. However, Odinga withdrew, accusing the government of attempting to rig the election in Kenyatta’s favor. With the opposition claiming to have evidence of their victory in August, Odinga declared himself the “people’s president,” asserting that he is the true leader of Kenya.
Both Odinga and Kenyatta are playing a dangerous game. Elections in Kenya often lead to widespread violence, with nearly 100 lives lost in last year’s turmoil alone.
1. A Scandal Over Diesel Testing Stunned Germany
This week in Germany, the biggest news wasn’t about the ongoing coalition talks. Instead, it was a scandal surrounding the testing of toxic diesel fumes. Last Wednesday, it emerged that car manufacturers had been testing the effects of diesel inhalation on monkeys. Over the weekend, it was revealed that similar experiments had been carried out on humans as well. The news caused a media frenzy in Germany.
The tests, conducted between 2012 and 2015, involved human volunteers being exposed to various levels of harmful diesel fumes over several hours. These experiments breached ethical standards and sparked a nationwide outcry. By midweek, the carmakers—Volkswagen, BMW, and Daimler—had distanced themselves from the tests. For an industry still reeling from an emissions scandal, this was another unwanted blow.
Interestingly, such tests aren’t unique and are carried out worldwide. However, some in Germany are starting to question whether the public reaction has been exaggerated.
