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Staying on top of the news can be a challenge. It's so tough, in fact, that we've decided to help by gathering the most impactful, bizarre, or simply jaw-dropping stories every week.
The week that ushered us into March began with a dramatic turn of events. In the small European nation of Slovakia, the tragic execution of a journalist sparked a sequence of events that could reshape the entire region. Meanwhile, China was preparing for a pivotal moment, we delved into the mysteries of the universe, and a bloody enigma took hold in Britain. Here’s a look at the key events.
10. A Slovak Journalist Was Killed Over His Investigations
On Sunday, 27-year-old Jan Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kusnirova, were murdered in their home in Slovakia. Each of them was killed by a single gunshot wound, in what appeared to be a contract killing. This brutal act marked the first time a journalist had been murdered since Slovakia gained independence in 1993.
The killing shocked not only Slovakia but the entire EU. In Bratislava, Prime Minister Robert Fico appeared on television beside a table piled with one million euros, offering the reward for anyone who could provide information about Kuciak’s killers.
In Brussels, unsettling comparisons were made to the assassination of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia by car bomb in the final months of 2017. (Her investigation remains ongoing.)
Both Galizia and Kuciak, in addition to holding EU passports, were investigating corruption at the highest levels of their governments. However, while Galizia’s death seems to have silenced her findings, Kuciak’s murder amplified his allegations, bringing them to the forefront.
9. The Murder Unveiled Startling Truths About Slovakia’s Government
Just days after Kuciak’s murder, his unfinished last story was released by an independent website. The press soon picked it up, and for good reason. If the details are true, Kuciak had uncovered an enormous corruption network that infiltrated the core of Slovakia’s government.
The story revealed the presence of the Italian mafia group ‘Ndrangheta in eastern Slovakia. Kuciak claimed that Italian businessman Antonino Vadala was using the group to divert EU funds intended for poverty relief in Slovakia’s rural east.
But the most shocking revelation came next. One of the prime minister’s closest advisers—a woman with little political experience whom Fico had hired without explanation—was found to have strong ties to Vadala. It now appears that the ‘Ndrangheta had secured a direct line to the PM.
Since the story broke, three ministers with close ties to Vadala have resigned from Fico’s government. Slovak police have arrested 10 Italians in the east. Kuciak had also claimed that the Slovak secret service was deeply involved. His final report could potentially bring down the Slovak government.
8. Brazil Removed Amazon Rainforest Protections
This might seem like a minor event in the grand history of 2018, or it could turn out to be the beginning of a much bigger narrative. This week, Brazil’s Supreme Court upheld significant amendments to a 1965 law designed to protect the Amazon from deforestation. The revised law could make it more likely that destructive logging will proceed.
The changes themselves are somewhat technical. They grant amnesty to those who engaged in illegal logging before 2008, permit more logging on hilltops, and eliminate the obligation to restore nearly 300,000 square kilometers (116,000 mi) of logged land—an area equivalent to Italy. The agriculture sector claims these adjustments will boost Brazil’s economy, while activists warn they could lead to irreversible harm to the Amazon.
It may take many years to determine who is right in this debate. But one thing is certain: The Amazon is an irreplaceable treasure of our planet. Once lost, it’s gone for good.
7. We Detected Evidence Of The Universe’s Very First Stars
Do you picture the big bang as a blinding explosion that set everything ablaze? Well, prepare to rethink that image.
The real big bang didn’t create fiery chaos—it resulted in a pitch-black universe filled with hydrogen and radiation, all at temperatures that barely reached -270 degrees Celsius (-454 °F). It wasn’t until 180 million years later that the first stars began to form. This week, we picked up signals from those very first stars.
This discovery is nothing short of extraordinary. These ancient stars existed over 13 billion years ago in a universe that was vastly different from our own today. (For example, black holes wouldn’t appear for another 70 million years.)
It was once believed that detecting them was impossible, but an antenna in Australia managed to do just that. In fact, it was several years ago when the discovery was made. However, the team waited to publish their findings in order to continue testing and ensure that no other explanations could account for it.
6. China Moved Closer to a New Dictatorship
China is not a democracy. It is governed by a single party that exercises absolute control, swiftly suppressing opposing views. However, the Politburo at least had the foresight to acknowledge the failure of Mao’s dictatorship and incorporated a two-term limit for presidents into its constitution.
This week, those term limits were quietly removed. There was no announcement, no fanfare—just a brief sentence buried within a routine party report.
Though it was subtle, the change paves the way for Xi Jinping to remain president for life, possibly making him the first true dictator China has had since the death of Mao. This wasn’t entirely unexpected—Xi sparked concerns when he chose not to designate a successor during the last party congress.
However, this marks a significant shift in how China views itself and the image it may seek to project globally in the 21st century. As China nears superpower status, how Xi leads Beijing will likely influence nations around the world.
5. A US Tourist Was Arrested for Dismembering a Japanese Woman
The presence of US citizens in Japan has become a controversial topic in recent years, with those stationed at military bases being blamed for various crimes. This week, a US tourist may have committed a crime that could further strain diplomatic relations.
A woman from Hyogo Prefecture, Saki Kondo, was discovered dismembered, with her body parts scattered miles apart. American tourist Yevgeniy Vasilievich Bayraktar was swiftly arrested in connection with the crime.
Bayraktar arrived in Japan in January and was known to have met several local women through social media. In a particularly disturbing development, images have emerged of him escorting multiple women back to the apartment where he is alleged to have dismembered Kondo. If he is indeed responsible for the murder, it appears he may have rehearsed his actions beforehand.
Currently, Bayraktar faces charges of corpse desecration and disposal rather than murder. He has opted to remain silent throughout the investigation.
4. An Earthquake Devastated Papua New Guinea, Leaving It in Economic Ruin
Early Monday morning, a powerful 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck the already struggling island nation of Papua New Guinea (PNG), causing massive tremors, a landslide, and the collapse of buildings. Around 30 people lost their lives, and over 300 others were injured in the quake—a tragic outcome, though not unusual for such events.
However, the destruction to infrastructure was far more severe. Throughout PNG, roads were destroyed, health centers wiped out, schools buried under debris, and power sources cut off. With nearly 90 percent of the population living in rural areas, the widespread devastation could lead to an economic disaster.
The true extent of the destruction was highlighted in Tari, where surgeons had to perform life-saving operations under the dim glow of their mobile phone lights. Meanwhile, oil and gas companies, which are vital to PNG’s economy aside from tourism, found themselves in disarray due to the quake's impact.
The real concern is that the far-reaching aftermath of the earthquake could end up damaging this already fragile nation even more than the initial disaster itself.
3. A Mysterious Explosion Shattered the British City of Leicester, Leaving It in Shock
It was the kind of incident that should have been a national tragedy. On Sunday, an explosion devastated a Polish store in the British city of Leicester, destroying the building and the house above it. Five people died, including a store worker and three members of a family living above the shop. Another five were severely injured.
However, rather than becoming a moment of collective mourning, the explosion quickly became a source of speculation. At the time of writing, the police still have no idea what triggered it.
Three men have been arrested and charged with manslaughter, but the police insist that it’s not connected to terrorism. This still leaves a long list of possible causes, each concerning in its own way.
It’s believed that the true cause of the explosion won’t be known for many days or weeks. Until then, the people of Leicester must cope with a tragedy that remains mysterious and beyond explanation.
2. Saudi Arabia Dismissed Its Entire Military Leadership
The past few months have been eventful for Saudi Arabia. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched a series of reforms and crackdowns, pushing Western culture and women’s rights while simultaneously jailing or purging hard-liners and rivals from the ruling families.
Following his attack on business elites at the end of 2017, the crown prince has begun 2018 with a new target: the military. This week, Riyadh dismissed the entire senior leadership of the military and air force, including the chief of staff. It’s the largest shake-up in the country’s armed forces in decades, much like other moves bin Salman has made.
While the purge has been framed as part of a broader liberalization effort (with women now being allowed to serve as soldiers, for example), there’s speculation that money may be at the heart of it all.
Saudi Arabia is eager to reduce its dependence on American, British, and French technology in its controversial war in Yemen. The removal of the generals could be seen as a way to eliminate opposition to Crown Prince bin Salman’s new strategy of manufacturing weapons domestically.
1. Afghanistan’s Prime Minister Reached Out to the Taliban for Peace Talks
When you can't defeat them, why not offer them peace? This seems to be the logic behind Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s speech on Wednesday. He proposed recognizing the Taliban as a legitimate political entity and offering them offices in Kabul in exchange for peace talks. His goal is that this bold gesture will convince the Taliban to end their 16-year insurgency against the government.
Among his proposals, Ghani suggested new elections in which the Taliban could participate, provided passports for their leaders, and constitutional changes to address the fighters' concerns. These proposals mirror the 2016 peace efforts made by Bogota with the FARC to end Colombia’s 50-year civil conflict. Ghani presumably believes that what worked for one militant group could work for another.
This offer comes at a delicate moment. Just last month, a Taliban bomb concealed in an ambulance claimed the lives of over 100 people in central Kabul.
