Our Top Stories for the Week of December 12, 2022

Updated December 16, 2022 | Infoplease Staff

It’s been a busy week, from political tensions to forward steps in LGBTQ+ rights. Who has time to keep track of it all? That’s why we’ve boiled it all down to our top stories of the week.

International Updates

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Russia Ban 200 Prominent Canadians: On Friday, December 9, 2022, in reaction to personal sanctions imposed by Ottawa, Russia's foreign ministry in Moscow barred 200 prominent Canadians from visiting the country. According to the government, "200 Canadian individuals are denied entrance on a reciprocal basis in reaction to personal sanctions imposed by Ottawa." The Russian Foreign Ministry announced earlier on Friday that it had summoned Canada's ambassador to Moscow.^[1]
UK’s 2035 Climate Goals Threatened By Coal Mine: On Friday, December 9, 2022, The United Kingdom's government approved its first coal mining operation in 30 years, a project that critics have labeled "disastrous" to the UK's climate change ambitions. The coal mining venture, which was approved by the in October 2020 and is supported by 40 conservative MPs, aims to produce steal rather than generate power. This prompted experts to warn that the development would hinder the UK from attaining its aim of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 78% by 2035.^[2]
Morocco Reaches The Semifinal: On Saturday, December 10, 2022, Morocco made history by becoming the first African team to reach a World Cup semifinal after defeating Portugal 1-0 in Qatar to continue its outstanding performance. As Morocco maintained another clean sheet, Youssef En-Nesyri scored the game's sole goal right before halftime. The last time these two sides faced was in the 2018 World Cup, where Cristiano Ronaldo scored the lone goal.^[3]
Rishi Sunak Faces New Demand From Party: On Sunday, December 11, 2022, politicians in the ruling conservative party launched two new campaigns to address the actions of the party and the government, creating a new challenge for the newly appointed prime minister. Some members of the party aim to outline a report that could assist the government on how to shed wastage and help to cut taxes and spend more on frontline services.^[4]
Iranian Government Carries Out Fresh Executions: On Monday, December 12, 2022, Iran stated that a 23-year-old had been publicly killed, marking the second death tied to recent anti-government rallies. After a judge discovered that Majidreza Rahnavard had stabbed to death two members of the paramilitary Basij Resistance Force, they accused him of "enmity against God." He was hung up early on Monday morning. When his family arrived, the security agencies had already buried his body.^[5]
Barbados Strike Down Anti-Gay Laws: On Tuesday, December 13, 2022, a high court in Barbados overturned colonial-era rules that outlaw homosexual sex. It is the third conservative Caribbean country to do so this year. The Barbados high court verdict is a watershed moment for campaigners and non-profit groups that have long battled against such legislation.^[6]
Dead Bodies Of Migrants Found In Chad: On Wednesday, December 14, 2022, the remains of 27 migrants who were suspected to have died of dehydration were discovered in the Chadian desert. The migrants allegedly departed Moussoro, a crossroads village in central Chad, 17 months ago aboard a pick-up truck. According to the IOM, 110 migrants have died in Chad since 2014, although the figure might be higher because many fatalities go unreported.^[7]

Sources: [1] Reuters [2] BBC [3] CNN [4] Reuters [5] BBC [6] The Guardian [7] Reuters

Across The United States

US politics

Photo Source: iStock

Kyrsten Sinema To Leave The Democratic Party: On Friday, December 9, 2022, Kyrsten Sinema, a United States Senator, declared her desire to quit the Democratic Party after four years in office. The 46-year-old did not announce if she will compete for re-election in 2024, but she did tell Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of her decision. According to sources, the White House has also been told of her plans.^[1]
Governor Of Arizona Erects Wall: On Sunday, December 11, 2022, before handing over the keys to his successor, a Democratic, in January Republican Governor of Arizona has begun to create a new barrier using shipping containers along a section of the US-Mexico border. It contained parts of metal jammed into gaps, reaching more than three miles into Coronado national forest territory south of Tucson. The Governor has declared intentions to expand it up to ten kilometers at the cost of $95 million.^[2]
Biden Sign Same-Sex Marriage Into Law: On Tuesday, December 13, 2022, Biden signed the Marriage Respect Act in front of hundreds of invited visitors on the South Lawn. According to the new Defense of Marriage Act, marriage is between a man and a woman. It requires states to recognize the legitimacy of out-of-state marriage licenses, including same-sex and interracial marriages. Not long ago, many individuals in Washington thought such a law was unthinkable.^[3]
Meta Announces Ban Online Threats From Spyware Programs: On Thursday, December 15, 2022, Meta, a massive digital corporation, warns that people must become more watchful as more individuals, particularly journalists and activists, become victims of spyware. According to data from Meta, it removed more than 100 Facebook and Instagram identities related to a Russian firm named Avalanche. Some of the previously prohibited firms have updated their malware to avoid the Ban Meta.^[4]