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Weekly Wrap-Up Jan 15-21

Written by India Trivikraman

Edited by Annika Lilja


Image under Public Domain

Top Story from Europe: British Lawmakers Pass PM Sunak’s Controversial Rwanda Asylum Plan

  • The UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda bill that declares that Rwanda is a safe country to deport asylum seekers has passed its third reading in the House of Commons that would allow refugees arriving in the UK to be sent to Rwanda.

  • The bill was passed with 320 votes to 276, a 44 majority. The bill will not go into effect yet as it has to go through the same process in the House of Lords where the legislation will then be amended and voted on. The house of Lords doesn't have a conservative majority, so it's likely the Lords will delay and amend the legislation but ultimately cannot overrule the elected House of Commons


To learn more about the Rwanda Bill: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-61782866

To learn more about the UK political system: https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works


Where our information is from, and where you can go to for more details:


 

Top Story from Asia: Israel Refuting South Africa's Claim of Genocide

  • Israeli rhetoric against Palestinians has become central to South Africa’s genocide case. South Africa says comments made by Israeli leaders, soldiers and entertainers are proof of Israel’s intent.

  • Two days after October 7, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said Israel was “fighting human animals,” and Deputy Knesset speaker Nissim Vaturi from the ruling Likud party wrote on X, that Israelis had a common goal of ‘erasing the Gaza Strip from the face of the earth’. South Africa argues that these comments are evidence of the country’s genocidal intent, lawyer Tembeka Ngcukaitobi remarked before court ‘The language for systemic dehumanisation is evident here’

  • Israel's response doesn’t completely disregard the accusation of hate speech but highlights that these remarks were mostly made by officials with little role in determining Israeli policy and that its Justice system would take action against inacceptable speech, critics say there is no evidence of action being taken. The point of hypocrisy was also made as they commented on the genocidal intentions, actions and hate speech against Israelis made by Hamas.


Where our information is from, and where you can go to for more details:


 

Top Story from South America: Ecuador Security Forces Launch Major Prison Operation 

  • Soldiers and police officers have finally entered and restored order to the prison complex in Guayaquil following a week of rioting across the country in response to the gang leader Adolfo Macias Villlamar ‘Fito’ escaping from the same complex earlier this month.

  • Ecuador’s president Daniel Noboa declares ‘We are at war’ with gangs and organised crime, he declared a 60-day state of emergency for the country on the 8th of Jan

  • The government’s recent move comes shortly after the murder of César Suárez, a prosecutor investigating organised crime in Ecuador who was on his way to a hearing on Wednesday. Two people that were accused have been detained by authorities. Local media reported that the suspects are linked to one of Mexico’s powerful drug cartels


To learn more about how Ecuador is in this situation: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-67912242


Where our information is from, and where you can go to for more details:

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