Buzz
Staying on top of the news can be a real challenge. So much so, in fact, that we've decided to spare you the effort by highlighting the most impactful, unusual, or simply mind-boggling stories every week.
Well, well, well, wasn't the first full week of 2019 a whirlwind of news? After a brief break, the US Congress returned to action, diving headfirst into partisan disputes. Protests and riots rocked three major nations. China started exploring the far side of the Moon. Meanwhile, headlines about coups and monarchs kept everyone glued to their social media feeds. What a way to start the year!
10. The US Government Shutdown Nears Historic Duration
From December 16, 1995, to January 6, 1996, the US government shutdown lasted for 21 days, making it the longest shutdown in US history. As of now, that record is on the verge of being broken. The ongoing shutdown, which began on December 22, shows no signs of ending anytime soon. Unless something unexpected happens, the 2018–2019 shutdown will soon claim the record.
The shutdown is a direct result of a political standoff between President Trump and Congressional Democrats, with both sides trapped in their positions. Trump demands funding for his border wall, while Democrats refuse to allocate a single penny. The wall has become such a symbol for both sides that backing down is off the table. It's unfortunate, though, since some red state Democrats could likely be persuaded to break ranks for almost any alternative form of border security.
The current shutdown is only partial, with far fewer workers furloughed compared to the 16-day shutdown in 2013, which garnered much more media attention. Ironically, some of the hardest-hit workers in this shutdown are border patrol agents.
9. China Started Its Mission to Explore the Far Side of the Moon
Last Thursday, the world was caught off guard by some surprising news. While governments in the US and UK were locked in debate, China became the first nation in history to land a probe on the far side of the Moon. This week, the Chang’e 4 probe began transmitting its first pictures.
The images looked just as you'd imagine: a vast, dark expanse that resembled the type of quarry Doctor Who used to explore in the 1970s. But beyond the visual, these pictures represented something far more profound. They not only marked an incredible scientific achievement but also suggested that the space race could be reigniting, with a new leader emerging.
China's ambitions in space are far-reaching, with plans to visit Mars, build a new space station, and even establish a lunar base. After decades without serious competition from a rival nation, this could prompt the US to reinvest in NASA and start properly funding its own space exploration efforts again.
8. Mass Protests Pushed the Sudan Dictatorship to the Brink of Collapse
While the yellow vest protests in France are grabbing the headlines, it’s the protests in Sudan that could bring about monumental change. Back in December, protests erupted over rising bread prices, which escalated when a government building was set on fire. The government's violent response sparked even more unrest. The situation now eerily mirrors the Arab Spring, with many predicting that Omar al-Bashir’s 30-year rule might soon come to an end.
Sudan has been grappling with soaring inflation, poor government management of funds, and the loss of oil revenue after South Sudan's secession in 2011 (which was followed by its own devastating civil war). Previous protests were suppressed by force, but the presence of snipers on the streets of Khartoum this time has only fueled the fire.
While the fall of the brutal Omar al-Bashir would be a welcomed change, his removal may not be so simple. The government has signaled that it may adopt the same tactics as the Syrian regime if faced with a revolution, digging in and possibly sparking a catastrophic civil war.
7. Gabon was Shaken by a Failed Coup Attempt
Can you locate Gabon on a map? Don’t worry if you can’t; this small country on the western edge of the Republic of the Congo rarely makes headlines in the Western media. This week, however, was an exception. On Monday morning, tanks rolled through the streets of the capital, Libreville, as renegade soldiers stormed government buildings. It appeared a coup was underway.
We say “appeared” because the plotters quickly realized they had overestimated their power. As the rest of the security forces mobilized against them, most of the rebel units quickly retreated. By mid-afternoon, the commander who had declared the coup was arrested, and Libreville was once again under government control.
While a coup is rarely something to celebrate, the continuation of President Bongo’s rule is hardly a positive outcome either. The Bongo family has held onto power since 1967, living in luxury while a third of the population suffers in dire poverty.
6. Australia Was Hit By A Bioterrorism Threat
At the end of last year, the US was shaken by the delivery of suspicious bomb-like packages to high-profile Democrats. This week, the focus shifted to Australia. Over the course of several days, multiple foreign embassies in Melbourne received parcels filled with a suspicious white powder, sparking a bioterrorism scare. A range of embassies, including those of the US, Britain, Greece, Pakistan, Taiwan, Turkey, and South Korea, were affected.
While anthrax was the initial concern, it was soon revealed that the packages contained asbestos—a hazardous substance, but not as deadly as anthrax. By Thursday, authorities had arrested Savas Avan, who was suspected of mailing the dangerous substance. If convicted, he could face up to ten years in prison.
At present, Avan’s motivation for the alleged attacks is still unclear. It might have been a political move, or he could have simply aimed to create panic. Fortunately, he only managed to cause panic rather than widespread harm.
5. We Uncovered More About The Democrats' Controversial Election Practices in Alabama
In December 2017, Doug Jones achieved what no Democrat had done in a quarter of a century: he pulled off a stunning victory in Alabama's Senate race, narrowly defeating Roy Moore.
At the time, the victory seemed surprising but logical. Jones was a centrist with a proven record of prosecuting Klansmen, while Moore was perhaps the closest recent candidate to a completely unqualified nominee, essentially putting a rosette on a pig and calling it a win.
Jones has now called for an investigation into the use of Russian-style propaganda tactics during the race. Although there’s no evidence that he was aware of or endorsed these methods, their mere presence casts a shadow over American democracy.
4. Malaysia’s King Shockingly Abdicated
Malaysia has a unique system of monarchy, as it operates with a rotational selection process. Instead of a hereditary monarchy, the monarch is elected from among the rulers of the country’s nine states, serving a five-year term. As a result, Malaysia has had 15 kings since it was established in 1963.
However, none of the 14 previous monarchs in Malaysia ever did anything as extraordinary as Sultan Muhammed V did over the weekend. On Sunday, the king abruptly abdicated just two years into his five-year reign. This unexpected resignation marks a historic first in Malaysia.
There had long been rumors about Muhammed V’s suitability for the throne. His two-month hiatus before Christmas, followed by his marriage to a Russian model half his age, stirred frustration among Malaysia’s elite. Yet, the abdication itself still came as a surprise. Now, Malaysia must elect a new supreme ruler to lead for the next three years, and one can only hope the 16th king will be less contentious.
3. DRC’s Election Results Led to Trouble
Throughout its history, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has never experienced a peaceful transition of power. Assassinations, coups, wars, and uprisings have marred the process, but stability has always been elusive. The December 30 elections were supposed to break this cycle. However, when the official results were released on Thursday, they threatened to ignite a chain of events that could spiral into catastrophic violence.
The 2018 elections were already mired in controversy, as they had been constitutionally scheduled for two years earlier. President Joseph Kabila managed to delay them for an extended period, causing concerns he intended to make himself a dictator. When the election finally took place, many feared the results would be rigged in favor of his chosen successor. Ultimately, opposition figure Felix Tshisekedi was declared the winner.
So what sparked the unrest? Tshisekedi (pictured above on right) is a well-established political figure, and it’s suspected he struck a backroom deal with Kabila and his party. The Catholic Church, one of the few remaining trusted institutions in the DRC, conducted an independent exit poll and concluded that outsider candidate Martin Fayulu, a businessman, had won by a massive margin. Fayulu has since rejected the official outcome, calling it an “electoral coup.”
The real concern here is that when the DRC descends into violence, it does so in a devastating way. With so many rival religious, ethnic, and political factions in this impoverished, under-policed country, even the smallest spark can trigger unfathomable bloodshed. The Second Congo War at the turn of the century caused up to five million deaths, with countless more lives lost in subsequent political violence. In other words, things could deteriorate quickly unless decisive action is taken. Let’s hope that doesn’t come to pass.
2. France’s Yellow Vest Protests Continue to Grow
Looking back on French history, it’s striking how often mass protests in Paris have escalated into full-blown revolutions. We’ve seen the French Revolution of 1789, the Insurrection of 1792 (which led to the Reign of Terror), the July Revolution of 1830, the February Revolution of 1848, the Paris Commune of 1871, and the May 1968 riots that caused the president to briefly flee the country.
Essentially, sustained unrest in Paris has often led to massive change in the past, making the yellow vest protests particularly significant. What started in November as opposition to a fuel tax hike quickly grew into a broader movement that has forced President Macron’s government to make numerous concessions. Now in their eighth week, the protests continue to draw tens of thousands of demonstrators and create an environment where both the right and the left are competing for influence.
Though the number of protestors has decreased (from a peak of nearly 300,000 to about 50,000), the protests remain large enough to severely disrupt France and sometimes turn violent. At the same time, there’s growing concern that both hard-right and hard-left groups are trying to exploit the unrest for their own agendas.
1. The Final House Race of 2018 Became Even More Controversial
When the 116th Congress convened last Thursday, one notable figure was missing. Mark Harris, the Republican who had won North Carolina's 9th District seat, was absent. His campaign is under investigation for suspected widespread voter fraud, potentially undermining the entire election. A hearing scheduled for January 11 has been cancelled, leaving the fate of the seat uncertain.
The allegations trace back to the 2016 House race and extend to the Republican primary Harris won before the midterms. Harris' campaign consultant, Leslie Dowless, allegedly orchestrated a scheme to collect absentee ballots by hand, which is illegal in North Carolina. Dowless is further accused of having operatives fill out the ballots of vulnerable adults to vote for Harris and possibly destroying ballots for his opponents. Since Harris won by only 900 votes, these actions could have tipped the results.
There’s an interesting twist here: the GOP has long raised alarms about voter fraud, but now a case has emerged that centers on a Republican candidate. With the House now under Democratic control, they have the power to call for a new election, making it possible that NC-9 might be left without a representative until November 2019.
