Our Top Stories for the Week of June 20, 2022

Updated June 24, 2022 | Infoplease Staff

It’s been a busy week, from protests to tensions in Asia. 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.

Presidents: Current and Former

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Executive Backs Ukraine’s Bid To Join EU: On Friday, June 17, 2022, the bid for Ukraine to join the European Union received a major boost. This came after the bloc’s executive said Due to Russia’s invasion, it believes the country should be formally considered for candidate status. Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, said at a joint press conference in Kyiv that Russia’s attack on his country amounts to an attack on all of Europe. Among those who attended the conference were the French President, German Chancellor, and Italian Prime Minister.
Executive Backs Ukraine’s Bid To Join EU: On Friday, June 17, 2022, the bid for Ukraine to join the European Union received a major boost. This came after the bloc’s executive said Due to Russia’s invasion, it believes the country should be formally considered for candidate status. Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, said at a joint press conference in Kyiv that Russia’s attack on his country amounts to an attack on all of Europe. Among those who attended the conference were the French President, German Chancellor, and Italian Prime Minister.^[1]
Biden Falls From Bike, Uninjured: On Saturday, June 18, 2022, President Joe Biden, during a weekend trip to Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, fell off his bike when he stopped to greet his supporters. A White House official reported that the president only got his foot caught on the pedal while dismounting, and he is fine.^[2]
Trump’s Accused Of Involvement In Fake Elector Plot: On Sunday, June 19, 2022, there are reports from investigations of the United State House of Representatives concerning the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol is set to present this week. The evidence to be presented will show that former President Donald Trump had an involvement in a failed bid to have slates of fake electors submitted to overturn the 2020 election. In March, a non-profit watchdog group American Oversight published several copies of the fake electoral slates assembled by Trump supporters in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania.^[3]
Nicotine Content Of Cigarettes To Be Reduced: On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, the White House announced that President Biden’s Administration will make reducing addictive substances in a cigarette a priority. The effort follows the Biden administration’s announcement in February of a goal to decrease cancer mortality by at least half over the next 25 years as part of his Cancer Moonshot program. Smoking is still the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for 480,000 deaths yearly. The tobacco industry, on the other hand, is anticipated to oppose the measure.^[4]

Source: [1] CNN [2] Reuters [3] Reuters [4] BBC

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Tensions in Asia

Globe seen from space with Asia centered

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Third Aircraft Carrier Launched By China: On Friday, June 17, 2022, China launched its third aircraft carrier. It is the first-ever aircraft carrier to be designed and built entirely in the country; the event was said to have marked a turn in advance for the Asian superpower. The launch happened in s Shanghai shipyard. Compared to other Chinese carriers, the Fujian is more technically advanced. State broadcaster CCTV said it is the “first catapult carrier wholly designed and built by China.”^[1]
Human Right Index Of Hong Kong Plunges: On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, Hong Kong’s human rights ranking is reported to have fallen even worse. Hong Kong’s political liberties deteriorated severely following a crackdown on pro-democracy rallies in 2019 and the enactment of the national security law in 2020. The worsening has been attributed to the victimization of protesters, political activists, civil societies, and labor organizations.^[2]
People Displaced In China Due To Flood: On Wednesday, June 2022, severe flooding forced the evacuation of tens of thousands of residents in southern China. Almost 500,000 people in Jiangxi, a neighboring province, have had their houses destroyed and their livelihoods disrupted. The biggest floods in recent years in China happened in 1998, killing over 2,000 people and destroying approximately 3 million dwellings, primarily along China’s main river, the Yangtze.^[3]

Source: [1] The Guardian [2] The Guardian [3] The Guardian

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Protests, Difficulties, and Disasters

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Protesters Hit The Street In India Over Military Recruitment Plan: On Saturday, June 18, 2022, the new military plan caused protesters to hit the street in India’s eastern state of Bihar, as they expressed their outrage and demanded that the government reverse the course. Agnipath, or “path of the fire,” is the new scheme introduced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, designed to bring more people into the military on a four-year contract. Sanjay Singh, a senior police official, confirmed that at least 12 protesters were arrested and at least four policemen injured in the clash.^[1]
UK Inflation Rate At 40-Year High: On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that the inflation rate had gone up to 9.1% in May. The cost of gasoline and energy is the leading source of inflation. Workers and unions are battling for salary raise in response to rising prices. The Bank of England has warned that inflation may reach 11% this year since it is presently at its highest level since March 1982.^[2]
Drone Crashes Into Russian Refinery: On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, a social media footage of a drone crashing into the Novoshakhtinsk oil refinery in Rostov circulated. The Crash is suspected to be a breach of Russia’s air defense. Despite using drones during the war, Ukraine has not claimed responsibility for the alleged attack. No one was hurt in the incident; however, the refinery has seized operation as they wait for repairs.^[3]
Prosecutors Want 30 Years Sentence For Ghislaine Maxwell: On Thursday, June 23, 2022, Prosecutors suggested that Ghislaine Maxwell’s jail term should be at least 30 years. Ghislaine Maxwell was sentenced on June 28 after being found guilty of her role as the late billionaire and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s sexual exploitation of youngsters as young as 14, whom she brought into his orbit.^[4]
Powerful Earth Quake Hit Afghanistan: On Wednesday, June 22, 2022, Over 1000 individuals were reported killed, with over 1500 critically injured in the worst earthquake in Afghanistan in two decades. The event is proving to be a huge threat to the Taliban, which has other humanitarian crises to deal with. The 6.1 magnitude earthquake happened roughly 44 kilometers from Khost, and vibrations were detected as far away as Pakistan and India. ^[5]
An Embargo On Noble Gases Creates Difficulties For Chipmakers: On Friday, June 17, 2022, TASS reported that Russia, a major supplier of gases used in semiconductor fabrication, began to restrict shipments. Moscow will ban shipments of inert or “noble” gases like neon, argon, and helium to “unfriendly” countries at the end of May. All three gases are required to manufacture microscopic electronic chips found in a wide range of consumer gadgets. It is one of President Putin’s most recent steps against countries sanctioning Russia in response to the Russia-Ukraine crisis.^[6]