What’s What in the World

By Brandi Mitchell
Web Content Contributor

It’s no surprise that as midterms approach, classwork piles up and the average college student becomes inundated with a list of to-do’s, keeping up with the daily news becomes far less of an imperative. 

Understanding that most of you have little time to stay informed, but firmly believing that being informed citizens keeps democracy alive, here is a five minute rundown on the news you should know right now:

The Trump Impeachment Inquiry

This has likely triggered your radar as an important event unless you live under a rock. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced on Tuesday, Sept. 24 that the House would launch an official impeachment inquiry against President Trump, only the fourth time an impeachment inquiry is taken against a sitting President in American history. 

This announcement follows President Trump’s phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that involved him asking the Ukrainian President to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden’s son’s business ventures. The Trump Administration released the phone call and you can read the full transcript here.

The People’s Republic of China celebrates 70 years

Beiijing celebrated the 70th anniversary of the formation of the People’s Republic of China with a military parade and fireworks. President Xi Jinping addressed the nation by saying, “no force can shake the status of this great nation.”

Currently, the U.S. and China are also in a heated trade war, with America imposing tariffs on Chinese imports and China hitting back with tariffs on U.S. goods.

In Hong Kong, thousands protest

Thousands of people in Hong Kong protested simultaneously during the celebration in Beijing; this comes after a long series of protests sparked by a move to unite Hong Kong with mainland China, leaving the people of Hong Kong worried about the erosion of freedoms they currently enjoy. Technically, Hong Kong was ceded to China in 1997 after being a colony of Great Britain for 150 years, but even since 1997 has operated independently with a currency, government, and culture separate from the Chinese. 

Closer to home:

Off-Duty Officer Amanda Guyger given 10 years

Guyger, who shot and killed Botham Jean, an unarmed black man, in his Dallas apartment after mistaking it for her apartment was sentenced to 10 years in prison after being convicted of murder. Read coverage of the moving brother of victim statement here.

Looking ahead:

The Democratic debate on Oct. 15 will have 12 candidates participating, the largest field we have seen on stage together. The debate will take place in Ohio at Otterbein University, and in the past debates we have seen healthcare, immigration, and gun control emerge as leading topics. We will likely see this trend again, along with a new and vigorous focus on the Trump impeachment inquiry.

Featured image by Carter Jenkins.