Keeping Up with the Chaos
Catch up on this week’s news highlights from around the world. The Middle East conflict flares up again, causing civilian casualties. Germany’s Catholic Church responds to Vatican’s ban on homosexual marriages with the Love Wins initiative. Colombia faces escalating riots and protests, while Japan grapples with COVID-19 concerns ahead of the Olympics. Meanwhile, Brazil witnesses violence and public outcry following a deadly raid in a Rio favela. Stay informed with the latest updates.
MIDDLE EAST
The Palestine tragedy has reignited with reports of civilian deaths on both sides. The conflict, which spans various levels and has deep-rooted causes, was triggered by riots on “Jerusalem day.” Palestinian injuries caused by Israeli police led to Gaza launching rocket attacks. The situation’s intensity remains uncertain, although long-term escalation is not in the interest of either side occupied with internal struggles. Lacking diplomacy raises concerns of the conflict becoming self-sustaining. The next few weeks hold significant implications.
GERMANY
The reaffirmation of ban of homosexual marriages through the Vatican in March had irated the liberal community of the catholic church. As a response, priests all over Germany have joined the “Liebe Gewinnt” or “Love Wins” initiative, blessing same-sex couples for one week week in Berlin, Munich, and Cologne, as well as rural areas. One of the priests explains that he’s engaging in the initiative, since he doesn’t want to be separated from the daily living reality of the people he encounters as a priest.
COLOMBIA
As riots and protests continue, the government responds more violently or as they call it “heavily handed”, initiating the clashes even more. Governmental sources reported 26 deaths but speakers from the protest movement and humanitarian organizations corrected the number up to almost 50. Now one of the former leading protesters has also been declared dead. He had been in the hospital for a week after unknown motorcycle riders had fired multiple gunshots at him. The whole country seems to be spiralling into a stage of emergency since the pandemic is also slowly slipping out of control.
JAPAN
With Covid-19 cases rising in countries all over the world, and Japan extending its third state of emergency to deal with the pandemic, thousands of people have signed an online petition calling for the Olympic Games to be cancelled. This week, Japan’s top executives have also voiced their concerns saying that it would be a “suicide mission” for the country to host the Olympics this summer and raising safety concerns over volunteers, athletes, officials, and the Japanese public. “It just doesn’t feel right to celebrate, when there are thousands of people dying in your neighbouring state” said one petition signer referring to the deteriorating situation in India.
BRAZIL
It’s been one week since the violent razzia that has caused at least 25 deaths in the Jacarezinho favela, one of the main bases of the “Comando Vermelho” (Red Command) in northern Rio. Criminal syndicates such as the “Comando Vermelho” and several smaller gangs are fighting in the slums to control drug trafficking and money protection. As a response to the disproportionate police violence of the action, thousands went on the streets of Sao Paolo and Rio de Janeiro calling out the fuelling racism and injustice in Brazil since the razzia, which killed mostly young black men, fell together with the annual celebration of the end of slavery in brazil on May 13th..
