The top 5 stories from this past week:
- Gang Violence in Haiti
With Prime Minister Ariel Henry still stuck out of the country, gangs have seized control of the capital city Port-au-Prince. This week they surrounded the main international airport, shutting down flights in and out of the country. The gangs destroyed police stations, raided prisons, freeing over 4,000 inmates, and killed dozens of people in the streets.
- France Codifies Right to Abortion
On Monday, French legislators voted 780-72 to approve a constitutional amendment that will make it the first country to explicitly protect abortion rights in the national charter. This Friday, International Women’s Day, women all around the world demonstrated in the name of women’s rights. In many places globally, women still lack access to reproductive health care and birth control.
- Sweden Joins NATO
On Thursday, Sweden officially became the newest member of NATO. The country first applied in 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but was blocked by Turkey and Hungary until recently. Russia has threatened unspecified retaliation against Sweden’s accession and the growing influence of NATO over the Baltic Sea.
- Super Tuesday
In the U.S. on Tuesday voters from 15 states went to the polls to nominate the candidates for the Democratic and Republican parties. Unsurprisingly, Joe Biden and Donald Trump are officially the two options for the presidential election this November. Trump’s only real Republican opposition, Nikki Haley, has dropped out of the race.
- Nigerian Gunmen Kidnap 280 Students
This Thursday in the north-western town of Kuriga, bandits took over 280 students from local schools between the ages of 8 and 15. Kidnap gangs have been a recurring threat in the region over recent years. Typically, all children are returned after a ransom is paid.
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