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Worldwide Views: Anran Wang '19

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Worldwide Views: Anran Wang '19

BY GABBY RAYMOND ’20

Making the trek to Mount Holyoke every year can result in over 20 hours of flying time for students coming from China; so what motivates so many Chinese international students to study here? For Anran Wang ’19, it was her spirit of adventure that led her to travel from her home   in Guangzhou, China, to South Hadley for school. Her family moved from a small town to the large metropolitan city of Guangzhou when she was finishing her elementary school years. She cited the switch to big city life as a turning point in her personality. 

The United States withdraws from UNESCO, alleging "anti-Israel" bias

The United States withdraws from UNESCO, alleging "anti-Israel" bias

BY VICTORIA WANG ’20

 The Trump administration announced its intent to withdraw from the U.N.’s Educational, Science and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) by the end of next year on Thursday, Oct. 12 due to an “anti-Israel bias,” as well as concern over mounting debt and the need for fundamental reform. 

NEWS BRIEFS FROM AROUND THE WORLD

BY SARAH LOFSTROM ’19 AND GABBY RAYMOND ’20

Iraq

Iraqi forces took over a Kurdish held territory in the center of Kirkuk City on Monday, Oct. 16. According to Al Jazeera, the operation was part of an incentive to take oil-rich provinces. Kurdish forces defend Kirkuk City for three days against the Iraqi forces. Thousands of Arab, Kurds, and Turkman civilians have fled the conflict. It took around 15 hours for Iraqi forces to successfully claim the area. 

Chinese Cultural Association invites students to celebrate Mooncake Festival on Skinner

Chinese Cultural Association invites students to celebrate Mooncake Festival on Skinner

BY SAVANNAH HARRIMAN-POTE '20

In conjunction with the Chinese Music Ensemble, the Chinese Cultural Association (CCA) hosted their annual Mooncake Festival on Skinner Green on Friday, Sept. 29. The celebration featured traditional and contemporary music, games and — of course -— mooncake. 

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Worldwide Views: Angela Nayiga ’20

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Worldwide Views: Angela Nayiga ’20

BY GABBY RAYMOND '20

According to the Mount Holyoke website, the first international student came to study at Mount Holyoke College in 1839, just two years after Mary Lyon opened a door to education for women all over the United States. In the 2016 to 2017 school year there were students from over 61 countries. Angela Nayiga ’20, from Kampala, Uganda who came to Mount Holyoke last spring is one of those international students. 

Saudi Arabia driving ban lifted

Saudi Arabia driving ban lifted

BY VICTORIA WANG '20

 The government of Saudi Arabia lifted its driving ban on women after a royal decree on Tuesday, Sept. 27. The act was first publicized on Sept. 26 at the United Nations by Saudi Arabia’s permanent representative, and it was soon followed by an official announcement from the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman onthe Saudi Foreign Ministry official Twitter account. The decree becomes effective on June 24, 2018. 

Second severe earthquake hits Mexico in September

Second severe earthquake hits Mexico in September

BY VICTORIA WANG ’20

A 7.1 magnitude earthquake hit Mexico City, causing massive damage on Tuesday, Sept. 19. The quake’s epicenter was Puebla,  a town about 100 miles south-east of the capital. According to BBC, the death toll has already mounted to 273 people. Mexican civil protection authorities told BBC that at least 38 buildings have collapsed in Mexico City. Among the ruins was primary school Enrique Rébsamen. Officials say 11 children were rescued, but 19 children and 6 adults died, as reported by the BBC.

Centre-right wing prime minister Erna Solberg re-elected

BY SARAH LOFSTROM ’19

Norway’s Erna Solberg, of the centre-right conservative Party, was re-elected as prime minister on Monday, Sept. 11. According to Al Jazeera, Solberg’s platform rested largely on her anti-immigration policy, proposed continued oil drilling in the Arctic and retaining close ties with the EU, of which Norway is not a part. Solberg and her primary coalition partner, the Progress Party, will control 89 of the 169 seat Parliament house. Her re-election is historically significant because Solberg is now the first centre-right Prime Minister to be re-elected in 30 years, as reported by BBC. 

Conflict escalates between Rohingyans and Myanmar

Conflict escalates between Rohingyans and Myanmar

BY BRONTE BRECHT ’19

Conflicts between the Myanmar state military and Rohingya groups have escalated this year after Rohingya militants attacked army and police outposts. Reaction from the Myanmar military has been swift and deadly, sparking massive systematic acts of violence against the Rohingya as a group. The New York Times defines the Rohingya as “a Muslim ethnic group that practices a form of Sunni Islam and have lived in Rakhine, one of Myanmar’s poorest states, for generations.” Myanmar is a predominantly Buddhist country with a population of over 52 million people. The Rohingya population in Myanmar is estimated at 1.1 million.

Hurricane Irma batters the Carribbean before reaching Florida

Hurricane Irma batters the Carribbean before reaching Florida

BY GABBY RAYMOND ’20

Hurricane Irma devastated the Caribbean Islands starting Wednesday, Sept. 6. Antigua, St. Martin, Anguilla, Puerto Rico, Barbuda and the Virgin Islands were the first hit, receiving the full force of the storm. The islands have all sustained major structural damage as well as power outages.

US drops largest non-nuclear bomb on Afghanistan

BY GABBY RAYMOND ’20

On Thursday, April 13, the United States Air Force dropped “the mother of all bombs” on the Achin district of Nangarhar, a province close to the Pakistani border of Afghanistan. The Massive Ordinance Air Blast bomb was used to specifically target a channel of tunnels that ISIS members had been supposedly using to cross in and out of Pakistan. According to the Guardian, the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command argued that wiping out the tunnels reduced the number of improvised explosive devices that could possibly be used against U.S. troops. Furthermore, it would also damage the ISIS offshoot that is allegedly responsible for recent terrorist attacks in the area. Gen. John W. Nicholson Jr., commander of American and NATO forces in Afghanistan said in a press conference in Kabul that “it was the right time to use it tactically against the right target on the battlefield, and it has enabled us to resume our offensive operations.” 

Five College African Studies Council hosts film festival

Five College African Studies Council hosts film festival

BY GABBY RAYMOND '20

From Wednesday April 5 to Saturday, April 8, the Five College African Studies Council hosted the African Cinema Symposium and Festival. Four films, “The Revolution Won’t be Televised,” “The Colonial Misunderstanding,” “Indochina: Traces of a Mother,” and “Viva Riva!” were shown for the festival.

Brazil rules work stoppages by public security officers unconstitutional

Brazil rules work stoppages by public security officers unconstitutional

BY SARAH LOFSTROM '19

Last week, the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court ruled police strikes to be unconstitutional. The ruling followed a high profile police strike that took place in February in the coastal city of Vitòria during which 100 people were killed, according to United Press International.

KASA hosts second annual Korea Night

KASA hosts second annual Korea Night

BY GABBY RAYMOND '20

On Saturday, April 1, the Korean American Sisters Association hosted their second annual Korea Night, catered by local Korean restaurant Cana. The 2 hour show included a mix of traditional and modern arts performances depicting the many aspects of Korean culture. Chloe Lopez-Lee ’18, the secretary of KASA, said, “We don’t have a specific theme for the show — we wanted it to be comprehensive and allow the members of our organization to showcase our culture.

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