World News

By: Ry Williams (12th Grade)

Haiti - The world has had its eyes on the Caribbean in the past few weeks as the country continues to undergo a wave of violence and political strife. On March 3, a state of emergency was declared in the country following a gang takeover of the capital, Port-au-Prince. The most prevalent and powerful gang leading this takeover is known as G9, headed by Jimmy “Barbeque” Cherizier. When asked about the gang’s motivation for overthrowing the government, Cherizier explained that the economic inequality in Haiti had reached an unbearable point for those in lower socioeconomic classes and that a “civil war” was necessary to rectify these injustices. Meanwhile, recent reports have stated that over 1,000 Americans living in Haiti have reached out for assistance from the US government after having fears for their own safety. US Security of State, Antony Blinken, has been working alongside various American delegates to help ease the tension in the Caribbean.

Vladimir Putin - Monday, March 18, Vladimir Putin was announced as the winner of the Russian presidential election for the fifth time. Putin won in a landslide over his opponent, claiming more than 87% of the total vote. Vladimir Putin has been leading Russia (both as Prime Minister and President) since 1999, and he has contributed a lot to Eastern European politics and affairs with Western countries since his political rise. Many Western leaders, including the Foreign Secretary of the UK and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, have condemned the results of the Russian election, calling it a “threat to democracy.” These figures have pointed to Putin’s comparatively long tenure as President as a sign that the country may be living under a pseudo-authoritarian rule.