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Staying on top of current events can be a challenge. So, to ease your burden, we’ve compiled a list of the most significant, unusual, and downright mind-blowing stories from the week.
This week brought an array of stories that would have been extraordinary even just a couple of years ago, but now seem almost commonplace in our rapidly changing world. Populist leaders triumphed in elections, investigations into presidents and presidential hopefuls were launched in Washington, a major Hollywood figure found themselves embroiled in a sexism scandal, and conspiracy theories about JFK gained new momentum. In other words, just another strange and typical week in the bizarre world of 2017.
10. The Czech Elections Saw Another Outsider Populist Emerge Victorious
In today's political climate, being an outsider populist seems like the most straightforward path to power, making it hard to understand why anyone would choose to run as a member of a traditional political party. Last Saturday, the Czech Republic joined the trend by electing controversial billionaire Andrej Babis, who secured 30 percent of the vote and will become the nation's next prime minister. In a parliament with nine parties, where most struggled to even hit the ten percent mark, this was a significant accomplishment.
The media quickly labeled Babis as the next Donald Trump or Viktor Orban. However, as the Financial Times pointed out, the reality is far less extreme (depending on your political stance). Like Trump and Orban, Babis holds strong anti-immigration views, especially regarding Muslim immigration. However, his ANO party (ano meaning “yes” in Czech) aligns with the Liberal and Democratic group in the European Parliament and believes that strengthening ties with Germany is essential for the future of the Czech Republic.
What is concerning about Babis, however, is that he is currently under investigation for two serious matters. In Slovakia, he is accused of collaborating with the secret police during the Communist era. Meanwhile, in the Czech Republic, he faces an investigation for allegedly defrauding a small business fund of €2 million.
9. The Japanese Elections Resulted in a Victory for a Mainstream Insider
It turns out there’s still at least one country where running as an insider actually works. On Sunday, Japan held a snap election called by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe just weeks before. Despite facing low approval ratings, Abe secured an easy victory. Now, with the mandate in hand, he can push forward efforts to amend Japan’s pacifist constitution.
The true shock of the election wasn’t Abe’s win, but rather the failure of Yuriko Koike’s outsider Party of Hope, which ended up in a disappointing third place instead of second. Koike, the Tokyo governor we mentioned in July, had formed the new party that had previously decimated Abe’s in the Tokyo elections. At that time, many believed she was destined to repeat Macron’s feat of unseating Abe in the general election. Instead, her popularity fizzled out.
Curiously, Abe’s rise in popularity may have been boosted by none other than the unpredictable Kim Jong-un. The moment Kim began launching missiles over Japan, Abe’s approval ratings surged.
8. We Might Have Finally Uncovered the Identity of the Infamous Crazy Brabant Killers
Though they might sound like a parody band from Insane Clown Posse, the Crazy Brabant Killers were far from fake. The “Crazy” part of their name was genuine, and so was the “Killers” part (and indeed, “Brabant” too).
In the early 1980s, a gang wreaked havoc on the Brabant region of Belgium, committing a series of robberies marked by sheer psychopathic violence. Their method was chillingly simple: enter a restaurant or supermarket, open fire on everyone in sight, and then steal whatever meager belongings they could find. They killed both men and women, and mercilessly slaughtered children for sport. They were ruthless cop killers. In one instance, they murdered store customers just to make off with some wine and a box of tea. By 1985, their body count had reached 28.
Belgium has been investigating these murders for over three decades. This week, authorities may have finally stumbled upon a lead. A former local policeman, on his deathbed, confessed to being the ringleader of the gang. Christiaan Bonkoffsky, who had been expelled from an elite Belgian commando unit shortly before the killings began, is thought to have been driven by a thirst for revenge.
7. We May Have Uncovered the Truth Behind the Possible Assassination of Nobel Prize–Winning Poet Pablo Neruda
Officially, Pablo Neruda, the Nobel Prize-winning poet from Chile, died in 1973 from prostate cancer. However, last Friday, that explanation was dramatically challenged. A team of 16 international forensic experts determined that it was impossible for Neruda to have died from prostate cancer. While they didn't provide an alternative cause of death, they did uncover a potentially deadly bacteria in his remains, suggesting the poet may have been murdered.
Neruda passed away shortly after General Augusto Pinochet took control in a violent coup. Neruda was outspoken in his opposition to the dictator. Unconfirmed reports suggest that he had been planning to go into exile and resist the regime from abroad. Given Pinochet’s notorious history of assassinations (including a car bomb killing two people in Washington, DC), it is now believed that the Chilean government may have conspired to assassinate the poet.
The case is further supported by Neruda’s own claim that he was injected with an unknown substance shortly before his death. Could this have been the source of the deadly bacteria? The investigation is ongoing.
6. A Tragic Fire at an Indonesian Fireworks Factory Claims the Lives of Nearly 50 People
In 2012, a devastating fire broke out at a garment factory in Bangladesh, killing 117 workers. The incident prompted a significant overhaul of safety regulations and changes in the way international companies managed compliance in Bangladesh. This week, a similar tragedy could lead to similar reforms in Indonesia.
On Thursday, a fireworks factory just outside Jakarta exploded with devastating force, sparking a fire that engulfed nearby neighborhoods. As of now, nearly 50 people have been confirmed dead, and with many still missing, the death toll could rise even higher.
The factory had been in operation for only a few months and was running illegally. Dangerous factories like this are prohibited from being constructed near residential areas. Disregarding these safety regulations appears to have played a role in the high death toll, as many victims were suffocated in their own homes. While the disaster is heartbreaking, it is hoped that it will finally motivate Indonesia to take action against similar legal violations.
5. Egypt’s Police Endured One of Their Deadliest Days in Recent History
Egypt is a nation grappling with significant turmoil. Militants are waging war against the state, while the government has a dark track record of silencing and murdering dissidents. Yet, even in such a volatile environment, no one could have foreseen the massacre that occurred on Saturday. Egyptian police forces raided a militant hideout, only to fall into an ambush. By the time the chaos subsided, 54 officers had lost their lives.
This has been one of the most devastating days for Egypt’s security forces in recent years. Among the casualties were conscripts, officers, commanders, and even a colonel. After attacking the police with everything they had, the militants reportedly took hostages, executing them only hours later.
The attack is believed to have been carried out by ISIS’s Egyptian affiliate, although the group has yet to claim responsibility—an unusual move in itself. According to ABC News, the Egyptian government is expected to intensify its crackdown on civil liberties in response.
4. A New Surge of Assault Allegations Hit the Media Once Again
After the accusations against Harvey Weinstein in mid-October, another wave of assault allegations took over the media this week. Among them was a fresh rape accusation against Weinstein. Meanwhile, many other influential men found themselves facing public scrutiny and media attention.
The most high-profile accusation came against screenwriter and director James Toback, who now faces charges of assault from 200 women. Toback, an Oscar-nominated writer with a history of collaborating with A-list celebrities, has become infamous for his involvement in harassment and predatory conduct.
Even those in smaller media circles have not been immune to allegations. Chef John Besh from New Orleans resigned after allegations surfaced, while MSNBC journalist Mark Halperin was accused of harassment by five female employees. These claims don’t even account for the latest allegations against Fox News' Bill O’Reilly.
However, the most shocking accusation came from actress Heather Lind, who accused former US president George H.W. Bush of inappropriately touching her twice in 2014. Bush has since apologized, attributing the incidents to a poorly-executed joke.
3. The Final JFK Files Were Released in Part
In 1992, President George H.W. Bush enacted the Assassination Records Collection Act, starting a 25-year countdown for the release of all official documents related to JFK's assassination. On Thursday, October 26, that deadline was finally met. The National Archives unveiled 2,981 files about America's most notorious assassination. The remaining files will undergo review for potential redactions over the next 180 days.
You can access the files yourself here, but don't expect any bombshells. As of now, journalists haven't had a chance to comb through them, but historians predict that the files won't reveal any smoking guns. Instead, they may offer more insight into the missteps of the CIA, FBI, and Secret Service, and possibly shed light on Lee Harvey Oswald's activities before the Dallas shooting. Don't hold your breath for a handwritten note from Lyndon B. Johnson declaring, 'I did it, suckers!'
The release is meant to signal the official conclusion of the long-standing mystery surrounding JFK’s assassination. However, don’t expect it to quell the public’s thirst for conspiracy. Polls indicate that more than half of Americans still don’t accept the official account of JFK’s death. Given that some files remain under wraps, it’s unlikely that these few thousand files will change many minds.
2. Washington Was Abuzz with Investigations, Revelations, and General Turmoil
It was another week of committee investigations targeting a current or former presidential figure. This time, the GOP initiated an investigation into a uranium deal Hillary Clinton arranged with Russia during Obama’s tenure. Representative Devin Nunes, who was removed from the Russia-Trump probe for disclosing classified information, will lead the investigation.
The reactions were predictable: Democrats criticized the probe as a political distraction, while Trump supporters dubbed it the 'real Russia story.' In the end, both parties seem certain that Russia is guilty of something bad, though neither is clear on exactly what that is.
Two bombshells related to the 2016 presidential campaign made waves recently. The first revealed that the dossier linking Trump to Russia, alleging he was filmed by the Kremlin with prostitutes, was funded by the Democratic National Committee. The second disclosed that the Trump campaign reportedly reached out to Wikileaks, urging them to hack Hillary Clinton’s email server. As more investigations unfold, it’s clear we’ll be revisiting this election for many years to come.
1. Spain Moves to Revoke Catalonia’s Autonomy
As you read this, the Spanish Senate is set to vote on whether to invoke Article 155 of the Spanish constitution. This provision, introduced after General Franco’s death, grants Madrid the power to suspend any Spanish region's autonomy during a crisis. It’s never been enacted before, but Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy may now enforce it against Catalonia.
For those of you who haven’t been keeping up: On October 1, Catalonia held a referendum on whether to break away from Spain and form an independent state. Madrid deemed the referendum illegal. Though 90 percent of those who voted favored independence, only 43 percent of eligible voters participated, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the outcome.
Despite the intense pressure, Catalan president Carles Puigdemont proceeded with declaring independence, only to unexpectedly—and somewhat perplexingly—revoke his own declaration shortly after. Since that moment, Madrid and Barcelona have engaged in a tense standoff, a high-stakes game that could escalate into chaos at any time.
If Madrid chooses to invoke Article 155, the outcome remains uncertain. Rajoy has proposed that Catalan leaders might face arrest and that the regional police could be placed under direct control of the state. However, whether these measures will be followed through or resisted is still to be seen.
