Buzz
In today’s fast-moving political landscape, staying on top of current events can feel like a monumental challenge. Let us take that weight off your shoulders—every Friday, Mytour compiles the week’s most crucial headlines, from the transformative to the surprising to the inspiring.
With Thanksgiving week upon us, much of this week's news was seen through a lens of turkey, drinks, and sometimes fiery family debates. Yet, as America feasted and reflected on the past, the rest of the globe continued hurtling toward what’s next. There were political upheavals in Israel, actual earthquakes in the Balkans, and even the possibility of a new nation emerging in the Pacific. Let’s dive into it.
10. Israel’s Prime Minister Faces Bribery Charges
We touched on this last week, but it’s such a monumental story that it warrants its own section. Here it is: Last Thursday, Israel’s Attorney General revealed his decision on the three pending cases against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for fraud, corruption, and bribery. With a heavy heart, he confirmed that Netanyahu would be charged on all counts. Netanyahu now stands as the first sitting Prime Minister in Israeli history to be accused of bribery.
To claim Netanyahu responded with grace would be an understatement so bold that even Keyser Soze would shy away. The 70-year-old claimed a coup was in progress, launched an attack on the Israeli justice system's credibility, and attempted to stir up a populist revolt against the rule of law. What else could you expect from someone who allegedly tried to provoke a war with Gaza this September just to delay elections?
Netanyahu is a master at political survival, having weathered many storms in the past. But are the tides finally changing? On Sunday, his Likud Party announced an internal race to choose a successor, while one of his former ministers publicly urged him to step down. Could this be the end of the Bibi era?
9. Malta's Government Came Close to Collapsing
Two years ago, within a span of just four months, the European Union was rocked by the shocking murders of two anti-corruption journalists. In Malta, a car bomb claimed the life of blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia in October 2017. Just a few months later, in February, Slovak investigative journalist Jan Kuciak was shot dead in his home.
While both murders had similar elements (such as mafia connections and possible links to businessmen and politicians), the aftermath was vastly different. In Slovakia, widespread protests led to the government's collapse and sparked a wave of arrests and anti-corruption efforts at the highest levels. In Malta... nothing. The corrupt government trudged on, with Prime Minister Joseph Muscat even allowing—and participating in—a lawsuit against Caruana Galizia’s family for the 'smears' she had exposed. For a long time, it felt as though Malta was lagging far behind even former Communist nations in terms of accountability.
Until now, that is. Following the arrest of businessman Yorgen Fenech last week, Maltese society has erupted. Three ministers with ties to Fenech have been forced to step down from their positions. Protests have broken out. The opposition leader has accused Muscat’s government of being 'taken over by a criminal organization.' We might be witnessing the first signs of the downfall unfolding.
8. Albania Endured Its Most Devastating Earthquake in Decades
Albania, one of Europe’s poorest nations, is also situated atop a dangerous fault line where the Eurasian and African tectonic plates collide. On Tuesday morning, these two unfortunate factors converged in a catastrophic event. At 4 a.m., a 6.4 magnitude earthquake struck just outside the capital, Tirana, and near the city of Durres. Buildings crumbled, and homes were reduced to rubble. As of this writing, the death toll has surpassed 30, with hundreds more injured.
As severe as the earthquake was, the country’s economic struggles hindered rescue efforts. Although Albania has progressed since the Communist era under Enver Hoxha, it remains one of the poorest nations in Europe. Only Moldova and Ukraine are poorer. Consequently, the quake overwhelmed Albania’s emergency services, making the situation even more dire.
Fortunately, neighboring countries like Greece and Italy have stepped up, offering both financial aid and search-and-rescue teams. Nonetheless, this earthquake stands as Albania’s most significant natural disaster in decades.
7. Bougainville Voted on Whether to Become the World’s Newest Nation
Bougainville, a small island off the coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG), is an often-overlooked region in an already little-known country. However, it may soon gain significant attention. Last Friday, a two-week process began in which the island’s inhabitants will decide whether to break away from PNG. If, as expected, they vote 'yes,' Bougainville will become the world’s newest nation.
The relationship between PNG and Bougainville has been fraught with tension for decades. In the 1990s, the two sides fought a brutal civil war that claimed as much as ten percent of Bougainville’s population. A peace agreement was finally struck in 2001, stipulating that a referendum on independence would be held. After nearly twenty years of delays, that referendum is finally taking place.
There are numerous challenges surrounding the vote. Bougainville is predominantly rural, lacks a unified communication network, and has a population with a literacy rate of approximately 50 percent. As a result, years of preparation have gone into organizing the vote, including journeys by officials to remote villages and the use of interactive theater to explain the voting process. Furthermore, even if the vote passes, there is no set deadline for its implementation. Experts caution that PNG may procrastinate for as long as a decade before allowing Bougainville to separate.
6. Samoa’s Deadly Measles Outbreak Was Traced to Anti-Vaxxers
When the measles vaccine was first introduced in 1963, it was a literal lifesaver. Hundreds, mostly children, died each year in the US alone. After the vaccine was introduced, mortality rates dropped by 80 percent. For those who had lost loved ones to measles, the thought that people would someday choose not to take this life-saving vaccine would have been unimaginable.
Yet, here we are in late 2019, and yet another measles outbreak has been linked to the dangerous anti-vax movement. This time, Samoa is at the center, where nearly 40 lives have been lost in the latest outbreak. Thirty-five of the victims were children under the age of 4. A message for anti-vaxxers: when your rhetoric leads to the death of children, it’s time to reconsider your stance.
The Samoa outbreak began in October, but it has only gained widespread attention this week as the country's resources neared collapse. Shockingly, heartless individuals, disguised as social media influencers, continue to target the nation with anti-vaccine misinformation. Truly despicable behavior.
5. The New EU Commission Has Finally Taken Shape
Like many aspects of the EU, the role of the commission is little understood outside of political circles, and likely of little interest to most. However, its importance cannot be overstated. The European Commission essentially acts as the cabinet of the EU, overseeing the daily operations of the continent, proposing laws, and ensuring they are enforced in member states. It impacts the lives of 513 million people (451 million when—if—the UK eventually departs), and it has just undergone a significant overhaul.
After the EU elections in May, Jean-Claude Juncker's term at the helm of the Commission came to an end. After a lot of negotiations within the divided parliament, Ursula von der Leyen emerged as the compromise candidate to succeed him. This Wednesday – after yet more wrangling – von der Leyen’s team for the Commission was finally approved. She will officially take up her new role on December 1.
The real work starts almost immediately. The EU is grappling with the loss of 13 percent of its population and its third-largest economy as Brexit moves forward. On top of that, Europe is more divided than ever, with the rise of the far-right on one side and hard-left parties on the other. How von der Leyen handles these challenges will determine the future direction of the world’s largest trading bloc.
4. The UK Opposition Accused the Government of Selling Off the NHS
The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) is one of those quintessentially British institutions—frequently criticized but fiercely defended. Established by the Labour government after WWII to provide free healthcare for all, it has remained predominantly under public ownership, unlike most other government monopolies that have been privatized over the years.
But could that all be changing? As part of the ongoing UK election campaign, the Labour Party unveiled a leaked dossier this week, which allegedly showed that the NHS was up for negotiation in post-Brexit trade talks with the US. This revelation could very well shake up the entire election race.
The documents are related to drug pricing and patents, a concerning issue to be sure, but not exactly the “fire sale” that the Labour Party portrayed it as. Still, with the NHS being a classic rallying cry for British voters, the accusation could harm the Conservatives more than expected. Labour, of course, would hope for that outcome. Jeremy Corbyn’s left-wing party is currently trailing Boris Johnson’s Conservatives by as much as 11 to 19 points. At this point, they will need a significant shift to secure a victory. But, then again, the past few years have been full of surprising election results.
3. Impeachment Key Witness Faces Harassment Allegations
Another week, another twist in the saga of Donald Trump’s impeachment. Just last week, former US ambassador to the EU, Gordon Sondland, made headlines with explosive claims about Trump’s alleged quid pro quo with Ukraine regarding an investigation into Joe Biden’s son. This week, however, Sondland himself has become the subject of controversy.
On Wednesday, Portland Monthly magazine published accusations from three women who alleged that Sondland had harassed them. The allegations ranged from him exposing himself to them, to seeking revenge professionally after they refused his sexual advances.
Describing this story as complicated would be an understatement, given the numerous conflicting claims and motivations involved. One of the women involved in the story is the owner of the magazine reporting on the issue, although she maintains that she didn’t interfere with editorial decisions. Perhaps in response, Sondland has dismissed the entire situation as a politically-motivated smear, intended to undermine the credibility of his damaging testimony against Trump.
So, is this all just a smear campaign from the right? Or is it Sondland himself, exploiting liberal disdain for Trump to avoid the consequences of his own predatory behavior? This story, emerging at the intersection of several major US political movements – impeachment, #MeToo, the backlash against #MeToo, and the Democratic primaries – is possibly the most 2019 thing we’ve covered so far. One thing is certain: whatever the truth is, people will likely believe what they want to and ignore anything that doesn’t fit their narrative.
2. Iraq’s Unrest Becomes Deadly (Once Again)
Chile. Hong Kong. Iran. Bolivia. Lebanon. The list of countries facing large-scale protests against their governments seems to keep growing, as more nations experience political instability.
This week, Iraq joined that list. After protests in October left 149 people dead, violence erupted once again on Wednesday. In Najaf, demonstrators set fire to the Iranian consulate, with those inside barely escaping. The next day, separate protests in Nasiriya spiraled out of control, leaving at least 13 dead at the hands of security forces. This violence could signal an even larger eruption to come.
Like many around the world, Iraqis are demanding less corruption and better living conditions. And, like many governments across the globe, Iraq’s has responded with force. Protesters have been beaten, injured by tear gas canisters, and shot at with live ammunition. Although Prime Minister Abdul Mahdi has offered to resign, no replacement with enough parliamentary support has been found.
1. Australia Accuses China of Attempting to Plant a Spy in its Parliament
On Sunday, Wang Liqiang sat down with Australian reporters for an interview. Over the course of the hour, he told a shocking story filled with espionage, bribery, blackmail, and even possible murder, straight out of a late-night thriller. Liqiang claims to be a former Chinese intelligence operative, deeply involved in a scheme to place a spy within Australia’s parliament. The chosen candidate, according to him, was Bo "Nick" Zhao, a luxury car dealer who was found dead in a motel room last March.
The plan, as Liqiang describes it, was for Zhao to run as a candidate for the Liberal Party, using Chinese money to make an impact, and eventually securing a seat in Parliament. This strategy, shockingly, wouldn’t be as difficult as one might think. Security experts note that newly-elected MPs aren’t scrutinized in a way that would reveal any spy affiliations. Infiltrating Australia’s government appears to be disturbingly easy.
In retaliation, Chinese media released a video allegedly showing Wang Liqiang confessing to committing fraud in 2016, casting him as an unemployed fantasist. The truth of the matter remains unclear, and it’s yet to be determined who’s telling the truth.
