Across The World

IRAN-U.S. CONFLICT LEADS TO IRANIAN PROTESTS  

A U.S. drone killed Iran’s Major General Qassem Soleimani on Jan. 2. In retaliation, Iran launched 20 missiles at Iraqi bases that held U.S. troops. That same day, the Iranian government accidentally shot down a Ukrainian plane that had 176 passengers and tried to cover it up. After the government admitted to accidentally shooting down the plane, Iranians, united after Soleimani’s death, took to the streets in protest.

Phys.org

WILDFIRES SPREAD ACROSS AUSTRALIA

Kangaroo Island in South Australia went up in flames last week. Over a dozen koalas and kangaroos were killed, adding to the hundreds of thousands of animal casualties from fires in December. In an effort to help the animals, Steve Irwin’s family has opened their zoo to over 90,000 animals.

BRITAIN TO LEAVE EUROPEAN UNION WITH BREXIT

Though the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union in 2016, Brexit will finally become a reality on Jan. 31. Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s Withdrawal Agreement, which describes the transitional period, was approved by the House of Commons earlier this month.

UNAUTHORIZED FUEL DUMP CAUSES INJURIES  

Sixty people, including 20 children, were treated for minor injuries after plane fuel was dumped on seven Los Angeles elementary schools on Jan. 14. Delta Flight 89 was making an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport when the pilots decided to dump the fuel without asking for approval, an action that has raised questions among aviation experts.

MAJORITY OF RUSSIAN GOVERNMENT RESIGNS

Russian president Vladimir Putin announced a proposal on Wednesday that would allow him to stay the leader after 2024 when his presidency would end. He later suggested amendments that would grant the prime minister and parliament more power. However, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and the entire Russian government resigned.