Buzz
Staying up-to-date with the latest news can feel overwhelming. To ease the burden, we've curated the most jaw-dropping stories from the week. The week that bridged May and June was a rollercoaster of events.
For each devastating natural disaster, there was an incredible scientific breakthrough. For every violent act, a strange and intriguing tale about buried treasures emerged. From the troubling to the remarkable, here’s a recap of last week’s whirlwind of events.
10. The Afghan Capital Was Shattered by a Massive Bomb
Until recently, Kabul was considered one of the safest cities in Afghanistan. The capital was shielded by the so-called “ring of steel”—a nearly impenetrable barrier of police checkpoints and roadblocks. While the rest of the country was falling apart, Kabul thrived, becoming one of the most liberated cities in the Middle East.
However, that all began to shift two years ago as the Taliban gained momentum and ISIS made its presence known. Deadly attacks at protests and hotels claimed numerous lives. But none was as brazen as Monday’s attack. A suicide bomber managed to smuggle a truck full of explosives past the security ring into the highly protected embassy district. He detonated it at a busy intersection, leveling the area, killing over 90, and injuring 400.
The blast was the largest to hit Kabul in years. People on the other side of the city mistook it for an earthquake. Though neither ISIS nor the Taliban has formally taken credit, it is widely suspected that one of them was behind the atrocity. The days when Kabul was a haven of safety amidst the chaos of the country now seem to be a distant memory.
9. Panama’s Brutal Former Dictator Has Finally Passed Away
Manuel Noriega was the embodiment of a deranged Latin American dictator. Rising to power in the early 1980s, he became the CIA’s trusted ally in Panama, feeding information to the U.S. while simultaneously flooding Miami with cocaine. Known as “Pineapple Face” due to his disfigured appearance, he resembled a cartoonish villain. But there was nothing funny about his reign. Under Noriega’s rule, political adversaries were routinely abducted, tortured, and killed.
By 1989, Noriega had become too unstable, even for the CIA. After his forces attacked off-duty American soldiers, President George H.W. Bush ordered the invasion of Panama. Around 27,000 U.S. troops swiftly overwhelmed the small nation. Noriega was captured at the Vatican Embassy on January 3, 1990. From that point until his death at 83 this week, he spent the rest of his life behind bars.
His passing marks the end of two peculiar chapters in American history: one in which the CIA openly supported Latin dictators, and another where U.S. military intervention could swiftly restore democracy to a foreign authoritarian regime.
8. We Got a Closer Look at Jupiter
If you’re someone who loves dramatic deep space imagery (count me in), these past few years have been an exciting time to be alive. NASA’s rover mission to Mars and its flyby of Pluto have brought us images of jaw-dropping, otherworldly beauty. And now, the space agency has wowed us once again. This week, we received the first photos from their mission to Jupiter. And yes, they were nothing short of awe-inspiring.
The images showcased swirling ammonia clouds with ice crystals, massive bright blue cyclones spanning 970 kilometers (600 mi), and mesmerizing patterns, spirals, and storms roiling across the surface of the largest planet in our solar system. It was the most detailed view we’ve ever had of Jupiter, leaving the world in a state of sheer amazement.
Of course, NASA didn’t venture to Jupiter just for stunning visuals. The brightest minds among us are also thrilled by new insights into Jupiter’s fluctuating magnetic fields. But for the rest of us, these images alone are enough to evoke that pure, childlike wonder.
7. Sri Lanka Was Devastated by Catastrophic Floods
Just off the coast of India, the small island nation of Sri Lanka—smaller than Scotland—often faces the harsh impact of the subcontinent's unpredictable weather. However, few storms have hit the country as severely as the one that struck this past weekend. Monsoon rains brought catastrophic flooding, submerging entire communities under 4 meters (12 ft) of water. Landslides wiped out whole villages. By the time the waters began to subside, more than 200 lives were lost and over half a million people were left without homes.
This is the worst flooding Sri Lanka has experienced since 2003, when 250 lives were claimed in similar monsoon rains. Tragically, this year’s death toll could surpass that dreadful number. Many regions remain submerged, and the displaced have been packed into overcrowded, unsanitary shelters. These dire conditions also pave the way for a potential dengue fever outbreak, with the disease already claiming 125 lives this year.
Similar to the deadly landslide in Colombia reported in April, the death toll in Sri Lanka has been worsened by overlogging, as the removal of forests has intensified the mudslides. We can only hope that measures will be taken to prevent such devastation in the future.
6. Russian Explorers Uncovered A Hidden Cache of ‘Commie Gold’
The myth of hidden Nazi gold is well-known, but recently, the same can't be said for its Soviet counterpart. On Sunday, a team from Saint Petersburg, while exploring an old mine a few hours from Moscow, made an unexpected discovery—a pile of banknotes totaling one billion Soviet rubles.
The BBC estimates that this “Commie treasure” is worth around $18 million. But we say “around” because there’s one major catch. The Soviet notes are no longer in circulation within the Russian Federation. The massive sum of money that could’ve once purchased an entire town is now entirely worthless.
Nevertheless, the discovery is significant from a historical standpoint. The banknotes, issued between 1961 and 1991, offer a fascinating glimpse into Soviet-era currency. They also reveal interesting insights into post–Communist Russia's efforts to suppress its past. Reports suggest there could be at least two more such sites across Russia, where billions of notes still await discovery.
5. A Shocking Knife Attack Stunned Portland
This week demonstrated that good intentions don't always end in reward. When a young man, Jeremy Joseph Christian, began hurling racist slurs at two women on a Portland train, three men rose to intervene. Their names were Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche, Micah Fletcher, and US Army veteran Ricky John Best. For their efforts to make the world a better place, they were stabbed in the throat and left to die.
Following his arrest, the attacker referred to himself as a “patriot” and expressed his hope that all three men would die. Tragically, two did. Namkai-Meche, 23, and Best, 53, died from their injuries, while Fletcher narrowly survived by just a millimeter. In his final moments, Namkai-Meche told those around him to “tell everyone on this train I love them.”
The attacker now faces the death penalty, a sentence Oregon hasn't executed in more than 20 years. Yet, even if he is executed, it won't undo the pain: Best's four children are left without their father, and Namkai-Meche's parents are now without their son. With his senseless actions, the attacker made an already harsh world even more unforgiving.
4. Mississippi Endured Its Deadliest Mass Shooting
Until this week, the deadliest mass shooting in Mississippi's history was the 2003 Lockheed Martin plant massacre, which claimed seven lives. Unfortunately, that tragic number has now been surpassed. On Sunday, a dispute over child custody in a small rural town escalated beyond control. The father grabbed a weapon, and by the time the chaos ended, eight people were dead.
After killing three of his family members and a sheriff’s deputy in one house, the shooter went on to two more locations, adding four more victims to the grim tally. Perhaps the most disturbing part is that the massacre wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision. At least seven hours passed between the initial killings and the final slaughter, an agonizingly long time for a cop killer to remain at large.
Upon his arrest, the 35-year-old shooter claimed he had intended to end his life by provoking a police officer, but “ran out of bullets.” With Mississippi’s use of the death penalty, his wish will likely be fulfilled soon. It’s a tragic irony that he took eight innocent lives before he got what he wanted.
3. The Paris Climate Agreement Was Ripped Apart
Yesterday, President Trump declared that the United States will withdraw from the 2016 Paris climate accord (also known as the Paris Agreement). This agreement was the largest climate pact ever signed, initially backed by 195 countries (including the US at the time). Only Nicaragua and Syria opted out.
It was one of President Obama’s crowning achievements, but critics argue that it hinders growth in the US oil and coal industries. With the US pulling out, other major CO2 emitters might soon follow suit.
But will they? The EU, China, and Russia have all reaffirmed their commitment to the Paris Agreement in the past few hours, potentially leaving the US to stand alone on the global stage. Is the Paris Agreement now doomed? Only time will tell.
2. Jared Kushner Got Caught Up in the FBI’s Russia Investigation
The White House has stopped answering questions about Russia. Whether it’s because they’re hiding something or just tired of the topic, it’s unlikely that the constant stream of stories will slow down.
Last Friday, The Washington Post and The New York Times reported that President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner met with the head of Russia’s state-run Vnesheconombank in December to discuss creating a private “back channel” for communications. This would allow him to communicate with Moscow without Congress, the CIA, or the FBI having any knowledge of their discussions.
This isn’t entirely out of the ordinary. President Obama set up a similar back channel with Iran during nuclear negotiations. However, US law prohibits private citizens—like Mr. Kushner prior to January 19—from engaging in diplomatic talks.
Since it’s alleged that he discussed financial matters, this could also violate sanctions placed on Russia after the annexation of Crimea. US law even forbids discussing business with a sanctioned bank. If Kushner faces charges, it could create even more Russia-related headaches for the White House.
Update: In breaking news today, new Clinton emails have surfaced, revealing that Huma Abedin, working for Hillary Clinton, established back channels with the Russians through the State Department. Perhaps “people in covfefe houses shouldn’t throw covfefe.”
1. Bangladesh’s Government Finally Confronts Fundamentalism
Despite its secular status, Bangladesh has faced increasing challenges from a surge in Islamist fundamentalism. Attacks on atheists and liberals, along with anti–free speech protests, have created an atmosphere of fear, with hardline forces seeming to gain the upper hand.
The tale of Lady Justice appeared to be another bleak instance. After mass protests organized by hardliners, the government was forced to remove a statue of Lady Justice from the Supreme Court. The protesters argued that the female figure’s proximity to a prayer ground was disrespectful to Islam. However, as soon as the statue was taken down, fresh protests erupted, this time targeting statues that were far removed from any sacred locations. It seemed as though senseless extremism was triumphing.
Then, unexpectedly, the government decided to reinstate the statue (though inside the building).
It seemed that the secular Bangladeshi government had finally grown tired of being dictated to by Islamist extremists and had started to show some resilience. This decision was a significant blow to hardliners, signaling that enlightenment values outweighed their distorted interpretation of religion. Hopefully, this marks the turning point where Bangladesh’s gradual slide into Pakistan-style religious mob rule has been arrested.
+ Whitehouse Leaking And Surveillance Scandal
Just yesterday, it was revealed that the Department of Justice had obtained FISA warrants to tap the phones of certain journalists in order to uncover White House staffers leaking classified or sensitive information to the media. This comes on the heels of subpoenas being issued to the NSA, FBI, CIA, and former Obama officials Susan Rice (National Security Advisor), John Brennan (CIA Director), and former UN Ambassador Samantha Power.
The purpose of the subpoenas is to determine whether the Obama administration was unlawfully using foreign-intelligence powers to spy on U.S. citizens, including Trump campaign staff. If this proves true, it would far exceed the Watergate scandal, as certain members of the Clinton campaign had access to Obama’s daily security briefings, giving them access to secret wiretaps of their political opponents. This could reveal a case of extreme projection by the DNC, with its daily accusations of Russian interference in the 2016 election.
While spying on journalists is highly unusual, there is a precedent... In 2013, news broke that Obama’s Justice Department had seized the phone records of multiple AP journalists over a two-month period. In a further twist, just days before Trump was inaugurated, Obama signed an executive order extending the reach of federal agencies to wiretap U.S. citizens and greatly expanded the pool of unmasked intelligence data.
