The past week’s biggest events around the world, summarized.
MIKE JOHNSON ELECTED AS US HOUSE SPEAKER. On Wednesday, Oct. 25, House Republicans unanimously elected Representative Mike Johnson, R-LA., to the office of Speaker of the House. The Trump-backed candidate, who has in the past advocated for the criminalization of homosexuality and a nationwide abortion ban, won out over 15 other congressmen competing for the position.
ISRAELI AIRSTRIKES HIT JABALIYA REFUGEE CAMP. On Tuesday, Oct. 31, Israeli airstrikes struck apartment buildings in the Jabaliya refugee camp near Gaza City. While the attack’s exact toll is unknown, the director of a nearby hospital claims that hundreds were wounded or killed. The Israeli military claims that the attack destroyed a militant command center in the area and killed a Hamas commander.
MASS SHOOTING IN MAINE KILLS 18. On the evening of Wednesday, Oct 25, an armed gunman entered a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine and killed seven before leaving and killing eight more at a nearby bar. The suspect was found dead on Friday due to a self-inflicted gunshot. This shooting is the 36th mass killing in the US this year.
VENEZUELAN HIGH COURT SUSPENDS ELECTION PRIMARY. On Monday, Oct. 30, the high court of Venezuela suspended the primary election and results of the opposition party. More than 2.4 million Venezuelans voted in the Oct. 22 primary election, all of whom had their identities revealed to the government after the high court ordered documents used in the vote to be handed in. Three of the opposition candidates, including winner Maria Corina Machado, were banned from running for office.
FDA READY TO APPROVE GENE EDITING TREATMENT FOR SICKLE CELL. On Tuesday, Oct. 31, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advisors positively assessed a new treatment for sickle cell disease using CRISPR. This marks the final step of the approval process before the FDA makes an official decision. This new treatment has been shown to be safe and successful (in 97.6% of cases) in resolving the extremely painful episodes associated with the disease.
