By: Chris Salas and Ezra Agabra, Student Reporters

May 4th, 2023

USA - Tucker Carlson, famously known for his appearances on Fox News, has been let go after years of being the top rated news anchor across the country. Speculation has mostly been the driving force behind media coverage of this current event however recent findings have shown its partly due to the lawsuit against Fox News.

Fox News last year was taken to court over misrepresentation and unsubstantiated claims concerning the 2020 election. They reported counts of voting fraud and were sued over a defamation lawsuit. This was the lawsuit that led to the uncovering of Tucker Carlson's secrets. Along with evidence that helped win the case for Dominion Voting Systems, text messages from Carlson and third parties were revealed. In the messages, Tucker stated his extreme dislike of Donald Trump, a complete contradiction of his previous praise on his talk show. Not only that, sexist and derogatory remarks were made by Tucker towards executives and fellow coworkers of Fox News, with the curtain being unveiled, Fox News was quick to fire Carlson to avoid even more public humiliation.

The messages themselves have been redacted in hopes to save Fox News from any more embarrassment. However, Tucker demanded the messages be shown, to let the public know of what's been said. In an act of revenge or to “burn his bridges”, the reasoning behind why he said this still remains unknown.

Now, with a loss of 700 million dollars and their biggest talk show host gone, the future of Fox seems uncertain & rocky. This isn't even the biggest issue, however. With more and more information being released, we have been shown that much of what Tucker Carlson said on air were completely different from his own personal views. This means even the entire credibility of Fox News is at stake. Tucker Carlson was no more than a vessel used to promote right-wing views at an extremist level. It worked in persuading thousands across the nation but will that change when they realize they've been lied to? Conspiracy theories and liberal views constantly bashed on his show for hypocrisy, yet he himself was no better.

The lawsuit has also led to a better understanding of what went on behind the scenes. Former Fox News producer, Abby Grossberg, described the work environment as inhumane and stating, “it became apparent how pervasive the misogyny and drive to embarrass and objectify women was among the male staff at TCT,” Constant insults and unwanted advancements and the over sexualization of women is what led to Grossberg parting ways from the news giant.

Facing two aggressive lawsuits from Grossberg and already losing a total of $1.6 billion in defamation lawsuits and stock market drops, Fox News has taken severe blows for their reckless actions. So, what happens now at Fox? What happens now with Tucker Carlson? There is no doubt that Fox will recover from this and try to move forward but the damage has been done. It will be a while until we see Fox reclaim its previous power, if at all. As for Carlson? Maybe he will follow a number of other previous hosts who had left their respective companies and start their own shows away from the publication. But maybe not. Only time can tell.

Update: Further investigations on Carlson reveal some text messages he had sent the day after the January 6th capitol attacks. The messages reveal white supremacist and violent views.

By: Oscar Morales, Global News Reporter

May 4th, 2023

USA - Many writers for popular productions such as TV shows, Movies, and streaming platforms have all agreed to go on strike. A strike from the Writers Guild of America (WGA) has not been seen since 2007 which lasted for 100 days. The strike has been approved with a deadline of May 1st. The cause of the strike is due to the union who represents the writers claiming that they “need” to make changes as to how the writers are compensated. This negotiation might endanger the stability of this profession.

In this day and age, scripted news programs and shows are essential to the way people live their lives. If this strike goes through shows like “The Tonight Show”, “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, etc., would go dark. If these shows go down many will be without their entertainment and news that come from these shows. This is all being caused because the workers are demanding increased pay as well as to try and get some better working conditions. The WGA has tried to obtain pay increases during a time where there were many work layoffs because they were trying to make streaming platforms more profitable.

         Many problems originally happened in 2007 when they had a strike. Actors didn't have scripts or lines on set, and many shows that aren’t represented by the union had control of TV. This might occur again if this strike is to go through. The main reason for this happening is because the contract that the WGA has with many big studios is going to expire. Many negotiations held have not shown any progress toward an agreement. If no contract or agreement is reached by the deadline then the strike is authorized to happen.

Many writers from major studios like CBS, Marvel Studios, as well as streaming platforms such as Netflix will agree to leave work and go on strike. It has been 15 years since the last strike and from what we’ve currently seen it's inevitable. The entertainment industry has significantly changed since the recent rise of streaming platforms. The entire structure as to how workers are paid has been destroyed and replaced. Modern seasons of shows contain less episodes than before so writers are paid less even though they work longer and much harder.

As of writing this, the strike has been confirmed and is currently happening. As expected, shows have gone dark and are only airing because of reruns. This strike is not only happening here in Los Angeles but also all over the country such as New York. This strike contains over 11,500 writers from many different networks. Currently, we don't know how long this will last because they haven’t reached an agreement.

By: Julissa Castillo, Global News Reporter

May 4th, 2023

UNITED STATES - Highly sensitive documents were leaked from the Pentagon early this year, the government has finally taken notice and has made an arrest.

Around early January it was reported that documents regarding highly sensitive information concerning other countries were leaked. These documents have been reported to come from the Pentagon, one of the most prominent offices in the United States. These documents circled around for months until finally making an appearance on social media allowing a mass amount of audience able to view private government information. As the word grew larger, the United States government began investigating the leak and finally made an arrest on April 13, 2023.

The U.S. Pentagon is the Department of Defense headquarters located in Virginia. More than 30,000 military and government officials work inside this mass building daily and as a result, highly sensitive information is kept and stored. Like any other government worldwide, there are certain documents that the public eye can’t view for many high-risk reasons. It can cause disturbance among civilians, and even disputes with other countries, leaving the government to deal with the ramifications. The U.S. Pentagon document leak put the nation's security under threat and at high risk with other countries. 

The information leaked consisted of relevant information between February and March. They contained a lot of information concerning U.S. allies and other foreign countries such as Ukraine and Russia. The leaked document consisted of weapon forces between both sides of the war and mentioned how Ukraine's air defense system was running out and would be depleted by May 2, 2023. It was also leaked that Russia has had more casualties than Ukraine with Russia having 189,500-223,000 fighters killed in action and Ukraine 124,500-131,000. Information concerning China was also leaked, specifically information about its weapon programs. Information about China’s missile testing, and about their cyberattack capabilities.

Documents are suspected to be leaked by Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old who is in the air force intelligence unit of Massachusetts as an IT tech. On April 13, 2023, he was arrested for the leak; his conviction penalty is still unknown yet. Jack had access to these highly classified documents because he is known to be familiar with the Pentagon's most secret-secure computer network. Jack had access to the secret documents since he was a military IT tech and these officials typically are granted access to the pentagons computer networks which contain classified information. The FBI were able to track Jack down through his social media accounts where they found the classified documents to be uploaded on an app called Discord.

Document leaks like these put the nation's security at a compromise and huge risk. There are reasons why documents are hidden away from other nations and civilians, simply because certain information can cause serious consequences and jeopardize war outcomes. In the case of the Pentagon leak, secret information concerning the Ukrainian war, Wagner Group, and U.S spies could've improved or worsened the Ukrainian war and compromised the U.S allies. Jack Texeria is the primary suspect in this investigation, he supposedly leaked the documents on Discord in early January. The FBI has arrested him and so far a conviction penalty has not been released as of now.  

By: Angelina Alvarenga and Anthony Quintanilla, Global News Reporters

April 18, 2023

FRANCE - Protest broke out in many cities in Paris after French President Emmanuel Macron raised the retirement age by two years which angered many people.

The French people have been protesting since January 19, 2023 about the new retirement age in France that was passed. At the start of the protest, many sanitation workers had strikes in Paris from March 6th to March 29th in multiple cities of France. This led to garbage piling up in the streets of Pairs. Around 10,000 tons of garbage piled up in Paris until a private company came in and cleaned the streets of Paris. This also led to the decline of movement sanitation workers were having. After this, many people took to the streets of Paris to riot about this new law about age retirement. Some estimates claim around 300,000 protesters have participated in these big protests in France. Many protest leaders estimate around 70,000 have participated.

The major outcome of these protests happening currently in Paris have led to lots of buildings being vandalized and vehicles being lit on fire. One of the biggest companies in the world called Blackrock, recently got its headquarters raided in France by protesters and was also vandalized. The garbage that piled up in the streets of many French cities have been used as a symbol of protest. Much of the garbage was lit on fire by many protesters who caused violence around cities. The city of Bordeaux city hall was also lit on fire by protesters on March 23, 2023 when the “full force of the protest” was being felt by Macron. 

Protests across France have been mostly peaceful, but have degenerated into clashes. Europe's leading human rights watchdog has accused the French Police of using “excessive force” during the protest. They have been accused of making arbitrary arrests and using unnecessary force. The police used teargas to control the protesters and police in Lyon and southeastern France used water cannons. Hundreds of people have been arrested and detained, but the majority have been released without charges. “I can tell you, we have broken elbows and faces.” one officer reportedly said.

The president of France, Emmanuel Macron, was asked if he made any mistake and his response was, “Having failed to convince people.” He said that failure to raise the retirement age would be tantamount to “making our children pay because today you refuse to act with clarity and courage.” Mr. Macron would proceed with the plan to raise the retirement age, rejecting calls for a U-turn in response to growing public anger. Majority of the opinion polls show that they reject the pension bill. Mr. Macron said between the polls and the general interest of the country, he would choose the general interest. He does not have regrets and he wants to improve his fraught relationship with labor unions and involve them more in future decisions.

We recently interviewed a teacher, Ms. Ki, at 32nd Street MAE about their opinion and point of view about this protest that has affected many people in France. So our first question we asked our interviewee was “What is your current opinion on the current French protest currently happening?”.  She replied with “...as a citizen of a country as long as it is a democracy they have the power to say whatever they want.”. Our second question we asked was “What effects have you seen or known that the French Protest has caused here in the United States?” She responded with “I don't know if there has been a direct effect that I have seen. It's not like the protest has caused more protests here but I know more people are talking about it and commending them.”. Our final question we asked was “What would be your perspective or point of view if you were a French Citizen and this affected you?”.  Our interviewee responded with ¨Honestly if this affected me and I felt very strongly about the issue then I would participate in some certain protest but a peaceful protest and I think you should have the right to voice your opinion¨.

By: Katia Ozuna, Local News Reporter

March 16th, 2023

WASHINGTON, DC - President Biden has proposed the Student Loan Forgiveness Plan. The plan will provide about $10,000-$20,000 erasure in debt to each student who applies. This plan is to help any students who are in or are already out of school with student debt. It is to bring relief to students who were taking classes and struggling to pay their loans during the COVID lockdown. As of right now, the Supreme Court is looking into Biden's plan. In this article, we shall discuss the Supreme Court's views and possible outlook for this plan in motion.

On February 28, 2023, many students in Washington, D.C. rallied in support of Biden's administration in front of the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court made verbal arguments amongst each other for the plan. “Four justices on the court seemed to agree with the Biden administration’s arguments that the challengers lack standing…Several other justices were vague or silent on the issue of standing.” This shows that it will take a while for the justices to come to one clear decision. Over 20 million people have applied for this plan, hoping this can help free some of their student loan debt.

Justices from both conservatives and liberals have discussed their arguments. Many have expressed their sides to this conversation. Conservatives believe the plan seemed to show Biden what the line of the executive branch can and can not do. This opened the topic of the Major Questions Doctrine which is a legal theory that says Congress can be expected to speak with specificity when it gives an agency power to do something of great political or economic significance. Chief Justice John Roberts states that it “presents extraordinarily serious important issues about the role of Congress.”

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone, Justice Neil Gorsuch refuted that using the pandemic has become a way to exceed executive branch authorities. He had also expressed his concerns for the U.S. economy as this bill would erase almost $400 billion of student debt. (this is an estimate; subject to change). A few justices have also raised concerns if this plan was fair for everyone. People who have already paid off their student loans or are not eligible for receiving them.

We now move on to another point regarding the already established student loan organization such as MOHELA (Higher Education Loan Authority of the State of Missouri). MOHELA provides students with loans if Biden's plans go into motion this organization could cut 40% of its revenue claiming it is harmful to the State of Missouri. Justices Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, and Amy Coney Barrett have expressed concerns about these claims. Barret asked, “If MOHELA is an arm of the state, why didn’t you just strong-arm MOHELA and say you’ve got to pursue this suit,”. Therefore continuing skepticism towards MOHELA in hopes of moving a way to stop people from siding with MOHELA.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor said it best, “There’s 50 million students who are – who will benefit from this. Who today will struggle. Many of them don’t have assets sufficient to bail them out after the pandemic. They don’t have friends or families or others who can help them make these payments,”.

This is a huge decision for millions of American students all over the world. At least 4 justices have looked to lean for Biden’s plan, but the other 5 seem to be undecided or against it.  For a decision to be made, it would possibly be revealed during June or July 2023.

By: Chris Salas and Cody Cartier, Student Reporters

March 9th, 2023

USA – The effects of climate change have long been challenged by people all over the country. However, you cannot argue with the fact that the recent weather has not been anything less than catastrophic. Freezing blizzards overtaking the north, heat waves frying the south, and tornadoes rampaging throughout the U.S. The state of our country is determined through its population ability to sustain it and without the proper attention and funding to provide protection for this country’s citizens and ideals, I'm afraid we will continue to deteriorate. As of now, to be called the greatest country in the world is but an exaggeration and overestimate of our capabilities. 

Our country is quite literally collapsing and the federal government has shown how ill prepared they truly are. With the amount of snow fallen in California, people have been left stranded in harsh conditions. To the south is no different. Along with the normalcy of stormy winds, temperatures have been reaching peaks of around 110-120 degrees fahrenheit. This heat, in stark contrast with the cold, has caused a sudden influx of tornado reports. The cases of heat waves, blizzards, and bizarre weather are at astounding levels and the numbers truly put it into perspective.

The average temperature in the US has risen by approximately 0.87 °F, a higher increase than in the last century. Snowfall as well has reached 117 inches in some parts of California, an absurd 77 percent above the average. Even tornadoes have seen over 200 more cases appearing in the few months that passed. A more current case of this change is even more evident in  south-eastern cities and overall coastal cities as a whole.

The facts don’t lie,  multiple cities have reported that they'll be receiving a risk of damage from hurricane winds. This includes Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, etc. In the coming decades the risk of damage from hurricane winds will rise and shift which will lead to more people having to leave their homes or be killed. For example, hurricane Ian is the third costliest weather disaster in all of history and this was just recent which further proves our point. As these weather disasters spread it leads to floods that submerged tons of homes throughout the U.S. 

Climate change affects all people of the world, and just as such, it can only be remedied by the joint effort of everyone. Our situation is an all for one deal and we cannot afford to screw it up. Whether you organize an awareness event or go out of your way to recycle, every little action helps. Natural disasters cannot be stopped, but they can be defended against. Let's join together and share the message of climate change, not only to benefit ourselves, but future generations as well.

By: Angelina Alvarenga, Global News Reporter

March 6, 2023

AFGHANISTAN - 19.7 million people, almost half of Afghanistan’s population, are facing a hunger crisis according to Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). The humanitarian crisis of incredible proportion has grown even more complex and severe since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. The country's economy has withered development aid and assets are still largely frozen, leaving the country facing its most serious risk of famine in 20 years. The strength of the hunger barrier depends on the donor generosity. The economic slowdown and soaring prices driven by the war in Ukraine has left one of the world’s largest humanitarian crises struggling for financing.

Farmers are still suffering from one of the country's worst droughts in decades, with their shriveled harvest worsening which is already skyrocketing hunger. Field report indicates that half of the ground that normally snowed was fallow at the end of the planting window of last December. The few crops that were planted are likely to face harsh conditions, with La Nina, expected to bring drier than normal conditions in the coming months. Mawlai Mutiul Haq Khales, Afghan Red Crescent Acting President said: “Millions of families rely on farming, but they already lost last year’s crops to severe drought, leaving them without grain to get through the harsh winter or seeds to sow in the fields.” More than 70 percent of Afghanistan populations live in rural areas and around 80 percent of livelihoods depend on agriculture.

The US, other governments, and the World Bank Group revoked the credentials of the Central Bank of Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. Outside donors have severely cut funding to support Afghanistan health, education, and other essential sectors. Millions of Afghans have lost their incomes. Even though food and basic supplies are available in markets throughout the country, an Afghan humanitarian official told Human Rights Watch “People have nothing to eat. You may not imagine it, but children are starving… The situation is dire, especially if you go to the villages.” Over one million children under 5 are especially at risk of dying when deprived of food, meaning that if they survive, they face significant health problems, including stunting. The Afghanistan economic collapse was caused in part by a collapse in most families' incomes following the Taliban takeover and foreign donors' decision to suspend outside budgetary support for numerous government, humanitarian, and development sectors, including education and health.

Several organizations are working in the country to provide assistance, aid, and food. Afghans received 23 million aid from the World Food Program (WFP) in 2022. WFP needs US $1.1 billion to continue delivering monthly food and nutritional assistance to 18 million food-insecure Afghans. The WFP accepts donations from a minimum of $5. Link to donate to WFP. The American Red Cross has also provided aid such as clean water and medical care. The humanitarian partners have supported 8.2 million people with life-saving and life-sustaining food assistance. Including emergency food rations, school meals, agricultural supplies, nutritious foods, and supplements for nursing mothers and their infants.

In 2023, 17 million Afghans are still facing the hunger crisis. Including 6 million people at emergency levels of food insecurity. Afghanistan's population was estimated to pass 43 million in 2022, with 49 percent of the population being women and girls. 47 percent of the population are under 15 years old, one of the highest youth populations in the world. In 2023, a staggering 28.3 million people will need humanitarian assistance in order to survive as the country enters its third consecutive year of drought-like conditions and the second year of crippling economic decline. While reeling from the effect of the 40 years of conflict and recurrent natural disasters.

By: Enzo Merino and Jocelyn Lucha, Global News Reporters

March 7th, 2023

MEMPHIS COLORADO - Police opened an investigation on basketball player Ja Morant, who allegedly displayed a gun at a popular club while rapping with his shirt off.

Some big basketball fans may have heard of the recent investigation happening with Ja Morant and the entire gun situation. A quick fact on the analysis is that basketball player Ja Morant was caught on Instagram live showing off what looked like to be a gun at a club. This article will provide as much information as possible about this investigation.

Ja Morant is an African American basketball player, who plays for the Memphis Grizzlies. He’s been playing with the team since he signed up for the NBA. He is 22 years old, born on August 10th, 1999, and received “Rookie of the year” in 2020. He is also the youngest player to score 40-plus points in a season opener. He's a father to 4-year-old Kaari Jaidyn Morant and a husband to Kadre Dixon.

How could someone so admirable and achieving, do something like this? According to ABC News, “Morant began his Instagram Live session at 5:19 a.m. ET, hours after the Grizzlies' 113-97 loss to the Denver Nuggets. The All-Star guard, who was shirtless and rapping along with the music, could be seen holding up a handgun with his left hand. A Grizzlies spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the team. “

The reason for having the weapon is still unknown, while it can be assumed that he was just “ fooling around in a way that was not acceptable”.(cite who said this)  Due to this incident, player Ja Morant was benched for the next two games with the Grizzlies. According to https://basketnews.com/, “Ja Morant showed a gun during his Instagram Live early Saturday morning. The player got suspended for two games for it.” Also, according to Shams Charania from The Athletic, the guard has been suspended for two games. Morant hosted an Instagram live from a nightclub where he showed a gun to thousands of spectators. It's a wrong view for the player who was recently involved in numerous incidents involving guns.”

While some people are saying that player Ja Morant should be charged for performing this act of carelessness, the MPD couldn’t find probable cause for charges against him. “Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant will not be charged after he appeared to brandish a gun in a Colorado club last week, police announced Wednesday.

"GPD was not able to determine that probable cause existed for the filing of any charges," the Glendale Police Department said in a statement. "Although the video was concerning enough to prompt an investigation, there was not enough available evidence to charge anyone with a crime," says CBS News. Also coming from the MPD, "In this case, it should be noted that on the night in question, the GPD did not receive any calls for service at the nightclub regarding a weapon of any type. Subsequently, no disturbances were reported, and no citizens or patrons of the club came forward to make a complaint. The investigation also concluded that no one was threatened or menaced with the firearm and in fact, no firearm was ever located."

By: Alaiza Bucciarelli, Global News Reporter

March 6th, 2023 

OHIO - A Norfolk Southern train in Springfield Ohio derailed and led to a chemical spill in East Palestine and nearby towns. 

A northfolk southern train derailed in Springfield, Ohio, which sent 28 cars sliding. After the train derailment, Springfield released their safety plan. The plan is to add 20 sensors to its railroads and to speed up the development of more modern inspection equipment. The company said it would examine every part of the railroad where detectors are 15 miles apart or more and try to place more detectors where possible. Investigators say that the East Palestine train derails about 11 trains per year. Overall, there are over 1,000 derailments in the U.S. annually. 

The company announced a six point plan to address safety concerns. They said that they plan to improve the detectors on the railroad tracks to spot overheating bearings. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) plans to enhance the hot bearing detector network. Adding on to enhancing its use of hot bearing detectors. Norfolk Southern will immediately accelerate the deployment of acoustic bearing detectors, which play a different role in its safety inspection program. The derailment led to a toxic chemical spill, burn and mass evacuation in the town. Cars caught fire, and surrounding residents were ordered to evacuate their homes.

Ohio sued northfolk southern over the toxic train derailment. They filed a lawsuit against the company to make sure that they paid for the cleanup and environmental damage caused by the train. Ohio sued the company because the train was carrying toxic materials in East Palestine last month. Ohio met with northfolk southern representatives and talked about several possible ways to help the people in East Palestine, including enhancing the village’s water treatment operations. 

The derailment left residents of East Palestine and nearby towns concerned for the safety of their air and water. It caused the release of over one million gallons of hazardous chemicals. The derailment led to 5,000 residents to evacuate. Some residents reported health issues and  had concerns about their long-term safety. There was a meeting with Norfolk Southern officials  to discuss possible compensation to help residents with health effects from the derailment, in addition to the loss of real estate value. 

The railroad has promised more than $20 million to help the community recover while also announcing  safety upgrades. The lawsuit asks for the railroad to reimburse first responders and state agencies for the costs of dealing with the disaster. The amount of money that the state wants is unknown because the response is ongoing, but  made it clear the cost will be enormous. Ohio officials met with Norfolk Southern representatives on Monday and talked about several possible ways to help the people in East Palestine, including creating a fund to compensate long-term losses to real estate values and improving the village's water treatment operations. 

By: Samantha Ochoa and Katherine Lopez, Global News Reporters 

March 6th, 2023

ROCHESTER, NEW YORK - On March 5th, 2023 GloRilla and Finesse2tymes had a concert at the Rochester Main Street Armory. Towards the end of the concert, people started to go head towards the exits dangerously. There isn’t any evidence that guns were fired or people were stabbed during the event. The Rochester Police Department is working on the case to figure out what really happened. The police are investigating, and so far they think it can be overcrowding, shots fired, pepper spray, and other things as well. 

A thirty-three year old woman named Rhondesia Belton died due to a concert stampede. She was taken to a medical facility but sadly did not make it. Rhondesia was not only very young but also a mother. Marie Verse made a dedication post for her stating “You were one of the most dedicating loving moms that I know… Your son was your world…”. While she was heading towards the exits she was severely injured and that’s when she was taken to a medical facility. Rhondesia was very badly injured and suffered many injuries to her body especially. 

Another victim from the concert was announced dead on Monday, March  6, 2023. She was a thirty-five year old woman named Brandy Miller. Brandy was not only a wife but also a loving mother. She worked in the healthcare industry as a nurse. About two years ago, Brandy’s mom passed away unexpectedly and inspired her to work in the healthcare industry. She was a very nice and caring person. Brandy had been married to Gene Miller since 2005 and they had two daughters that are four and six years old. It’s sad that they lost their mother at such a young age. 

Unfortunately, these deaths are not the only thing that happened at the concert. There were also eight other individuals that were injured. There is another woman in the hospital suffering from injuries. The woman is about thirty-five years old and is still in critical condition. We are still waiting for an update on her name, family, and her age. The other seven individuals that got injured aren’t as injured as this woman. They still went to the hospital but did not have any life threatening injuries. 

According to NBC News, they were gunshots being fired that caused a commotion. I think that the exit should have been more organized. If they would have had better security, they probably could have avoided this. The chief of the Rochester Police Department believes that pepper spray may have triggered the large crowd to start rushing toward the exits. GloRilla did address that she was concerned about the victims by posting on Twitter. One of her tweets said "I am devastated & heartbroken over the tragic deaths that happened after Sunday’s show. My fans mean the world to me." 

By: Desiree Godinez and Ashley Hernandez, Global News Reporters

February 23rd, 2023 

TURKEY & SYRIA– In Turkey and Syria, thousands of people have been affected by a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. This earthquake hit both countries early on the morning of February 6, 2023. The tremor could be felt as far as Lebanon, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and Palestine. Over 5,000 people were initially injured and thousands more were affected. This has been one of the strongest quakes that has hit the region of Turkey in more than 100 years. Aftershocks are mainly felt after a large earthquake within the first hour after that it occurred. Over 100 aftershocks have been felt throughout the region and many don't know if they should expect more.

The quake originated in the Southern Turkish city of Gaziantep which is 150 miles away from the Turkish and Syrian border at 4:17 a.m. local time. Hours later (9) a second quake hit the epicenter and was categorized as a 7.5 magnitude earthquake. An additional earthquake hit near the city of Antalya, Turkey which is near the Syrian border on February 20th. This additional tremor was categorized as a 6.4 magnitude earthquake that injured over 294 people and killed 6 others. The death toll has not increased as much because it struck in an area that was relatively empty. However, there is now way for scientists to determine when these shocks will end or where they will strike. Earthquakes that have higher than 7.0 magnitude earthquakes are classified as major quakes and they cause severe damage as we can see by the devastating photos online. Had it been an 8.0 magnitude earthquake it would have been capable of destroying an entire community. Turkey is no stranger to earthquakes and they have gone through multiple incidents like this. They lie on the Anatolian plate that borders two fault lines. This has been a former site of many disastrous earthquakes, which includes the 1939 earthquake that resulted in 30,000 people's deaths.

As of recent times, the death toll sadly continues to rise and is now sitting at 40,000 deaths. Most deaths have occurred in Turkey compared to Syria according to the UN and the Syrian government. Search and rescue parties are now coming to an end but teams are still continuing to rescue those who are still stuck in the rubble. Martin Griffith, a United Nations aid chief said "The rescue phase is dragging live people out from the rubble and finding those who died in the rubble... that's coming to a close,". Their attention is now focused on the recovery of its citizens and their well-being. Focusing on providing shelter, physiological care, food, schooling, etc. which is now their obligation and is what's best for those who were affected.

To save those affected by this devastating tragedy, Australia and New Zealand have donated $11.5 million to help Turkey and Syria. The prime minister of Australia provided $10 million in humanitarian assistance to the red cross, red crescent, and humanitarian agencies. This will help the people affected and will provide them with food, tents, blankets, medical assistance, etc. The New Zealand prime minister has also provided $1.5 million. Aside from these countries helping, the U.S., Russia, Israel, Greece, Germany, South Korea, Britain, Lebanon, Egypt, India, the Czech Republic, Japan, Mexico, etc., have offered their assistance for these two countries.

Since the death toll has surpassed an all-time high, the contractors who constructed these buildings are now being investigated. More than 131 contractors are being investigated by the Turkish justice minister, Bekir Bozdah, for responsibility in the construction of the buildings that failed to withstand the massive earthquakes. Even though it was a big earthquake many people are blaming the multiplication of deaths on bad construction. Many contractors have been trying to flee because they have altered the buildings by cutting down columns to make more room in the collapsed buildings. This would ensure them that the contractors would be at fault for multiple deaths and the structures that have collapsed on top of people. After this disaster, the Turkish president, Tayyip Erdogan, announced that “collapsed buildings reminded the government of the need for stricter construction rules.” This goes to show that something like a natural disaster has to happen for the government to take action on something that should have been looked into a long time ago.

By: Analee Bonilla, Global News Reporter

February 21, 2023

MEMPHIS - After a traffic stop, with the reasoning still unknown, turned into a brutal beating, Tyre Nichols, a Black man, was killed. Five Memphis police officers have been charged with his death. According to a Times study of video from the deadly traffic stop that resulted in Tyre Nichols' death, police officers repeatedly gave orders that were unclear, confusing, and possibly even impossible to follow.

A police officer is seen approaching the crossroad where two unidentifiable police cars had surrounded Mr. Nichols' car at the start of the video. The officer exits the vehicle with his gun drawn and joins the two other officers who are rushing toward the front seat. The other two officers immediately begin shouting, "On the ground!" as soon as one of the officers gets Mr. Nichols out of his car. These are the first of several commands that will lead to a cycle of responses. Mr. Nichols says he is already seated on the ground in agreement with the police' directions. The same demand is shouted by several cops repeatedly, with physical threats and growing anger.

When Mr.Nichols tries to move it eventually becomes obvious that the officers would prefer that Mr. Nichols sit rather than stand. It then appears that the officers are much angrier because of Mr. Nichols' movement.  He tries to make it clear that he is not a threat.  "You guys are really working hard right now", he says, "I'm just trying to get home." Officers grip Mr. Nichols' arms, zap his leg with a taser, and scream verbal threats at him while his arms are being cuffed. We can then see one of the officers give Mr. Nichols more instructions before hitting him in the face with pepper spray three seconds later as he is on his stomach.

This city-released video showed multiple officers standing around as Nichols struggled while leaning up against a police car with severe wounds. After this, two sheriff's deputies who helped in Tyre Nichols' arrest were given a five-day suspension for failing to keep their body cameras on after attending the scene of Nichols' beating. When Mr. Nichols was reportedly beaten by five officers and officials found out who they were, they were fired and charged with second-degree murder. Another officer who participated in the traffic stop that led to the beating has been fired, but no criminal charges have been brought against him. Two deputies who responded to the scene after Nichols was beaten, according to the sheriff's office, have been disciplined and were under investigation.

Within 27 minutes after the beating emergency medics arrived at the scene and Nichols was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. Nichols died at a hospital three days later on January 10th. Despite the fact that it is obvious Mr. Nichols was severely injured, the exact reason for his death is still unknown.  There is blood surrounding his face in the footage, and we do see officers kick him twice in the head.  However, the whole report has not been made public but according to attorneys for his family, an independent autopsy concluded that he had "extensive bleeding caused by a severe beating." 

Many inquiries were made as a result of the media's huge interest in Nichols' passing and the release of the footage. Questions like "why did it take so long for the medics to get there?" and "could the medics have done more?" as well as "why did the cops pull him over?" are just a few examples. Police said on Friday that there is no evidence to support the accusation that Mr. Nichols was stopped for allegedly driving recklessly, according to what officers initially claimed. Nevertheless, as we can see from the video that has been made public, the incident only starts once police approach him at a crossroad at 8:24 p.m. local time. Police claim that the initial traffic stop was not recorded, but we are unaware of why. The video makes it clear that Mr. Nichols is in pain.  He crawls on the ground before leaning up against a car because he is unable to sit up straight. The recordings seem to demonstrate a lack of urgency on the part of the two medics to treat him after they arrive at the site.  Rodney Wells, Mr. Nichols' stepfather, has demanded that they be charged with crimes. They are equally at fault, he said. An ambulance wasn't dispatched for more than 20 minutes. Which leaves us to wonder how long it took before Nichols was taken to the hospital.

By: Julissa Castillo, National News Reporter

February 16th, 2023

UNITED STATES - Over the decades, drug substances have become more popular among all age groups, which has increased both suicidal and accidental overdose rates in the United States.

In the United States overdose deaths are one of the leading causes when it comes to injury-related deaths. While this has been a long-existing problem, recently over the years overdose deaths have exponentially increased more than normal. More people of all ages and genders purchase and consume large amounts of opioids and other illegal substances to overdose, which essentially ends their lives. Though the issue is not only dying from an overdose, some overdose non-fatally, causing a huge emotional toll on them and their loved ones as they recover. As our world has progressed, drug traffickers have found new and easier ways to distribute and sell their dangerous narcotic merchandise. As a result, they have contributed immensely to this national drug overdose epidemic.

Opioids are substances that provide morphine-like effects when consumed. Meaning when someone uses opioids they often use them for pain relief, etc. but the issue is that opioids are highly addictive. This is why doctors who prescribe opioid medications have great security measures to ensure the patient doesn’t abuse their medicine intake. Due to their medicinal features some opioid substances are legal, while others are not, such as the drug heroin. Heroine is sold illegally. Another drug that is highly addictive is fentanyl, the drug that is most commonly mixed with other opioids such as heroin, marijuana, etc. Due to these drugs being highly addictive, it makes a great profit for those that find ways to sell and distribute these narcotics.

For decades, many have made a business of drug trafficking, bringing drugs in and out of countries that prohibit them. Dangerous people manage these businesses and it is a very corrupt system that goes against U.S Laws. Due to the U.S. strict border

security, drug dealers have to get creative in how they smuggle in their products and even how they sell them. Additionally, they are targeting a younger generation. They have now adapted to take up social media sites (mainly Snapchat) to advertise their products. With teenagers and young adults having access to purchase drugs on their phones they fall into the drug trap. Since it's easy to buy, they purchase more and contribute to the development of their addiction.

Overdoses can happen accidentally or intentionally, typically mental illness plays a huge role in overdosing. Over the decade mental illness has gotten more and more severe in all age groups, especially adolescents. Illnesses such as anxiety and depression sometimes induce suicidal thoughts and some people go through with it. A popular way to commit suicide is through overdose, many take a lot more than the recommended amount of a medication or drug and it causes a variety of health complications. Your heart beats more rapidly, you become dizzy and disoriented, your blood sugar drops, etc., and eventually these symptoms become fatal. It's also very easy and common to overdose accidentally on illegal drugs. If someone is doing drugs and they are under the influence they won’t be mentally oriented enough to know when to stop. This causes them to take way more than the allowed amount, and they end up fatally overdosing or ending up in the hospital with severe health issues. 

The U.S. is currently facing a drug overdose epidemic and a lot of measures are being made to solve it, but one hasn’t quite solved it. Very powerful drugs are the cause of this epidemic, drugs such as heroin, cocaine, fentanyl, and other illegal opioids are the main drugs used to overdose. While some overdoses are on accident, many others overdose in an attempt to suicide. Another great factor in this epidemic is the low mental illness in all age groups but especially young teenagers and adults. This is very dangerous since drugs have been sold more easily than ever now. Drug dealers smuggling large amounts of illegal narcotics and selling them in various ways, now even through social media. With young people being more active on social media they are exposed to and able to purchase this harmful merchandise. As they continue to buy more they contribute to their addiction, which affects them severely and many end up overdosing.

By: Jasmine Castaneda and Sheyla Estrada, Global Reporters

February 16th, 2023

UNITED KINGDOM - Over the past two years, hundreds of unaccompanied minors, primarily Albanian teenagers, have gone missing from hotels located in the U.K where they were housed to wait for their asylum cases to be processed. These children are asylum seekers people who leave their country and seek protection from persecution and serious human rights violations in the country they come from. The missing children first arrived in boats crossing the English Channel in recent years. Out of the 4,600 children who have arrived in the U.K. since 2021, 440 children have gone missing, but half of the 440 have returned to their accommodations. The majority of missing children are boys from Albania.

An investigation published by “The Observer Newspaper” states that one hotel in the Sussex area of Southern England revealed that of approximately 600 unaccompanied children under the age of 18 who have passed through the hotel's doors in the past 18 months, 136 of them had been reported missing. 79 of these children are still unaccounted for. Local authorities say they believe that criminal gangs have picked up many of the missing children.

In London, at Victoria Station, a bus had dropped off a group of 11 people. The group of 11 people were asylum seekers that had previously been staying at a place called Manston Migrant processing center in Kent, southern England. The Manston Migrant processing center is a facility for charities. These asylum seekers have been accommodated in hotels since July 2021. “They were found hungry, cold, stressed, and disoriented” someone had stated from a homelessness charity called Under One Sky. They saw the group of people and assisted them with help. When those asylum seekers arrived they had nowhere to go. The home office employees were alerted and then later on found the group of 11 people a hotel accommodation for them to stay at.

The government has been searching for a solution for these asylum seekers. They had made a new policy where they would deport the asylum seekers to Rwanda but they had failed to accomplish it when it had been announced 7 months earlier. The Ramanauskas said that the plan wasn't working and that the government was stopping the asylum seekers from finding jobs which they say is a crime because they can’t keep people from poverty. While countries such as Sweden, Canada, and Australia allow asylum seekers to work immediately, but in the United States they would have to wait six months to enter into work. The UK had made a different rule where they will be creating new centers for asylum seekers but they would have to take a long journey through Europe.

Some facts and history of asylum seeking in the UK. The United Kingdom is a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights, they forbid torture and inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment. The UK started allowing asylum seekers to be protected from their country from persecution and serious human rights violations. The Government however makes it difficult for people to enter the UK to seek asylum. Asylum seekers are only allowed to stay in an asylum for a minimum of 30 months. Most of the asylum seekers that come to the UK are mainly from middle eastern countries.  Asylum seekers are also not allowed to work during their time in the UK. Asylum seekers can also get their British citizenship. The historical background of asylum was originally a religious obligation; many religions were to help strangers in need.

By: Joselyn Galindo, National News Reporter

February 16th, 2023

MOSCOW, IDAHO- It's been a few months since the Idaho murders happened yet to this day it's still very talked about. On November 13th, 2022 four gruesome murders occurred in Moscow, Idaho. all four of the victims were stabbed to death. The names of the victims were Ethan Chapin, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Kaylee Goncalves. They were all inside in the same house but only 2 victims survived, Dylan Mortenson and Bethany Funke. To this day neither of the two surviving victims were suspects in the murder.

The murders occurred between 4:00 - 4:25 a.m. During those 25 minutes the murderer was able to kill all four of the victims. Around 4:00 a.m one of the surviving roommates Dylan was woken up to what she thought was Kaylee playing with her dog. A bit after that Dylan said she heard what sounded like Kaylee saying “someones here” so Dylan then proceeded to open the door to look out but she didn't see anything so she just closed the door. A bit later she opened the door for a second time when she thought she heard crying from Xana’s room. When she had opened the door for the second time Dylan then said that she heard a male voice saying something amongst the words as “its ok im going to help you”. Dylan then closed the door and went back into bed but she then opened the door again for the third time as she heard crying once again. When she opened the door this time she said she saw a man in black clothes and a mask walking past her. Dylan then stood frozen and in shock from seeing the man.

The Morning after that night the two surviving roommates called friends over to the house because they thought that one of the victims from the second floor had passed out and wasn't waking up. Police said that at 11:58 a.m. they received a 911 call from the phone of one of the roommates. They had called for help for an unconscious person. Once the police arrived at the house they found all four bodies dead. Police had said that none of the people in the house while the 911 call was made was a suspect in the crime. When the bodies were found they were found in 2 different rooms. Kaylee and Madison were found on the same bed, on the third floor. While Ethan and Xana were found on the 2nd floor.

After all four bodies were discovered the investigation moved quickly. Authorities went through surveillance videos and saw the suspects white Hyundai Elantra go by the victims' house three times that night. Later that night he entered the area again at 4:04 a.m. Police then traced the car's travel that night back to Pullman, Washington. Which is where Bryan Kohberger lived. Bryans phone was also tracked on the events of that night and it was said that Bryan turned off his phone between 2:47 and 4:48 a.m. Which is in the timeframe of the murders. Then later that morning Bryans phone was traced back to the house where he committed the murders at around 9:00 a.m. Not only that but they were able to trace Bryan’s phone near the house at least 12 times starting since august before the murders.

To this day this is still an ongoing case. Bryans hearing will begin on June 26, 2023 so that his lawyer can go through all the evidence in the case. Overall the gap between the murder and the hearing is an unusual time gap. Although it can benefit both sides so that they can gather as much evidence to develop their cases. To this day authorities have yet to uncover the motive for the murders that Bryan Kohberger committed. For now, we'll all have to wait more time until the hearing begins and we can begin to learn more about the case that we have yet to know about.

By: Haley Romero and Valery Gonzalez, Global News Reporters

November 17th, 2022

MEXICO - On October 26th the LGBTQ+ community in Mexico received wonderful news, same-sex marriage was legalized throughout Mexico! On Oct. 26, 2022, at 9:59 p.m. Mexico City (Reuters) north eastern border state of Tamaulipas voted on Wednesday to legalize same-sex marriage in every district across the country with 23 votes in favor, 12 votes against, and 2 abstentions, the proposal to change the state's Civil Code was approved.

Since June 2015 many people have protested against the banning of same-sex marriage. Which caused many hardships as people weren’t allowed to love who they want. On June 2015 the Supreme Court tried to quietly ban same-sex marriage as they believed that marriage should only occur between a man and a woman. Same-sex marriage has been advancing in some places of Latin America, but it was quite peculiar as to why so many people of the same sex could not get wed in Mexico.  People have struggled through so much since the banning of same-sex marriage in the year of 2015. Some received backlash such as a couple that was attacked and robbed after a couple of people noticed they had been together and had been trying to get married. Another couple in Mexico stated that they had tried four times in the past 2 years to marry at city hall, but their offer was always rejected because of the law.

Yes, many people are supportive of same-sex marriage, but there are also many people who are against it. The banning of same-sex marriage is based on people’s moral disapproval of homosexuality. To others homosexuality isn’t “normal” it’s a “sin”, they believe that marriage should only occur between a man and a woman and nothing else. Religion plays an important part in why so many people are against same-sex marriage. In other people’s religions, they state that homosexuality is “unpure and evil”. They believe that homosexual people are going against God's words so they have a hatred against them for that. Propaganda also plays a role as to why there is so much hatred towards same-sex marriage as it puts out false information about them.

Despite the backlash, this didn’t stop others from changing who they are and who they had to love. They never tried to “fit in” to the standards that other people were looking for. When this life-changing law occurred on October 26, 2022, a lot of people had something important to say about this big event. Enrique Torre Molina, an LGBTQ activist stated, "Today is a historic day for the LGBTQ community and Mexico. Today we and our families are more visible and more equal, and we are a country with more justice.” President of the supreme court Arturo Zaldivar tweeted “The whole country shines with a huge rainbow. Live the dignity and rights of all people. Love is love.” A deputy with the National Action Party Nancy Ruíz Martínez presented the proposal to the state Congress and said that its approval ended one form of discrimination against gay people. There are no longer first and second-class citizens when it comes to the right to get married, she stated. She also stated that  “All people must enjoy that right,” and “Whenever there is a just cause to fight for, know that you have an unconditional ally in me.”

Overall, this new law caused major life-changing moments for those who couldn’t marry the ones they loved. There were many people who were supportive but at the same time there were also many people on social media who were incredibly against the new law of same-sex marriage, posting how it should be illegal, stating that their sexuality isn’t valid or just a “phase”. Another person anonymously stated that bombing Mexico is a good idea. Many people online are also saying that you shouldn’t say the word gay, many people are acting as if it a proscribed word.

By: Julissa Castillo, Global News Reporter 

November 17th, 2022

USA - Pediatric hospitals become flooded with younger patients this flu season in the United States due to the common Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) affecting younger children more severely than usual.

All over the United States, there have been multiple high reports of Influenza cases. It's the time of year as we progress into the holiday season, respiratory diseases begin to circulate across the nation more often. With cases doubling in numbers every day and our world experiencing a national health crisis, it's become hard to keep up with the high demand for health care. This is causing serious concern and strain on pediatric hospitals across the U.S as they are being overwhelmed by respiratory diseases this flu season. While this pediatric health shortage is only expected to be seen this season it still affects those who need emergency medical care during these times. 

Many of you may wonder what illnesses and specific respiratory diseases circulate during these times. The main concern for the US Center of  Disease Control and Prevention is Influenza due to the number of hospitalizations and deaths caused over the previous years. This season there have been over 2.8 million cases of the flu, over 23,000 hospitalizations, and more than 1,300 deaths alone. There are other concerning diseases going around such as RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) and Covid-19. RSV this season has been seen to affect younger infants more severely hence why it has kept pediatric hospitals more full these past few weeks.

RSV has always been common in infants but much more hospitalization cases have been seen in the previous weeks. At the Department of Pediatrics at Mass General for Children, they’ve said to report around 2000 cases of RSV in October and now over 1,000 cases in the first week of November. Most RSV patients receive treatment in urgent care facilities and in the emergency room which causes immense stress on healthcare facilities since there are tons of patients arriving at the ER looking for immediate medical attention. With a hospital fighting against RSV and Influenza patients more than ¾ of ICU beds are occupied making it difficult for other patients to receive the intensive care they require.  Aaron Chavez, a desperate father who has felt the strain of the pediatric hospital shortage, shared how difficult and such a long wait there was just to get a bed at the hospital for his baby girl who needed heart surgery.

Health professionals have always strongly encouraged the use of vaccines, especially against times like these. As a mindful society, we should all make the effort to get the vaccines available for these diseases in circulation to make us and others safe for this flu season. You will lose the risk of getting infected and infecting others which will cause fewer individuals to get hospitalized and straining hospitals. Vaccination rates against the diseases mentioned have been severely low, with one and five people not being vaccinated against covid and lower flu vaccines distributed than the other years. If the vaccination rates were to get higher its possible medical shortages wouldn’t be happening like the one pediatrics is facing at this very moment.

To sum up, everything that’s been stated, this year respiratory diseases such as the flu, RSV, and covid-19 have been severely high among the U.S population. With cases reaching thousands of hospitalizations, it has put a strain on hospitals, especially pediatric hospitals. A bigger strain has been seen in pediatric care since RSV affects younger infants more often and more severely. Ways to help with this healthcare strain is to listen to medical professional advice and tips to keep yourself and others safe. Another thing one can do is to get vaccinated against these diseases and reduce the risk of illness greatly.

Aaron Chavez, father of the baby who needed heart surgery expressed to CNN, “And they said, ‘Well, we would love to get her in as soon as possible. However, right now we don’t have beds."

Kenya Adame, Global News Reporter

November 7th, 2022

SAN JUAN PUERTO RICO- Fabiola Valentín and Mariana Varela were two contestants in the Miss Grand International competition. Mariana who is 26, won the Miss Universe Argentina pageant in 2019. Mariana was a top 10 finalist in the MGI competition where she met Fabiola. Fabiola who is 22, was a top-three finalist and the Miss Universe Puerto Rico in 2019. Fabiola finished in the top ten at MGI where she met Mariana.

Although neither of them won MGI, this competition brought the two together. When the pageant ended both contestants shared photos with each other on social media. The photos started just a little after the competition ended. The photos never made people question their friendship. For those two years, most believed they were just really close friends.

Fabiola Valentín and Mariana Varela shocked many with their most recent announcement. They announced on an Instagram post they got married in San Juan, Puerto Rico on October 28 of this year. Former Miss Argentina and Miss Puerto Rico surprised the world when they announced their secret marriage. The two met during the 2020 Miss Grand International competition in Thailand. In an Instagram reel, the two shared they announced their relationship with the rest of us. They also shared many pictures of each other to show their engagement.

The newlyweds confirmed their marriage on Instagram and revealed the day of the ceremony was October 28." After deciding to keep our relationship private, we opened our doors to you on a special day," the couple wrote on the post. In addition to the caption, they shared photos and videos of their honeymoon, including sunsets on the beach and a bed full of rose petals spelling out a message. They shared a post of a room full of lit candles and balloons spelling out “marry me” on the window. The post ends with them in front of the courthouse in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Soon after announcing their marriage, many took to Instagram to congratulate the two. Many fans commented showing support for the couple. The Miss Grand International competition shared their support for the couple by commenting “Congratulations to both of you. MGIO always supports “LOVE” without boundaries”. Abena Akuaba shared “Omg congratulations MGI brought together a beautiful union”, Miss Mexico 2020 (Angela Yuriar shared “WOOOW! congratulations, I hope you have all the happiness you deserve long live love” along with others showing congratulations to the two.