ROUNDUP

HITI GUPTA, staff writer Africa

On Aug. 22, five-time presidential candidate Raila Odinga filed a petition to the Kenyan supreme courts. His campaign claimed that they had evidence of misconduct by the electoral commission during the Aug. 9 presidential election that resulted in a victory for Deputy President William Ruto. Odinga has contested election results three times prior.

The Americas

Peru’s government, the National Institute of the Defense of Competition and Intellectual Property Protection (INDECOPI), are suing Repsol oil company for $4.5 billion (3 billion for ecological damages and 1.5 billion for damage to the locals) after a disastrous oil spill in January. The accident caused more than 10,000 barrels of oil to spill into the pacific ocean and became one of the worst ecological disasters to occur in Lima. Repsol has denied all responsibility.

Europe

Europe is currently experiencing its worst drought in 500 years. The extreme temperatures are causing havoc all across the continent with 47 percent of the continent under warning conditions and 17 percent under alert for low vegetation. The droughts have caused wildfires, disrupted transportation, left thousands homeless and led to hundreds of deaths.

Asia

On March 9, India accidentally fired a nuclear-capable missile into Pakistan, which crashed in Mian Channu 310 miles from the capital Islamabad.This led Pakistan to question India on their safety measures and protocol since ,according to the Arms Control Association, “The flight path of this object endangered many national and international passenger flights both in Indian and Pakistani airspace as well as human life and property on ground.” In response, India fired three of their officers after they were found guilty of deviating from standard operating procedures by the Court of Inquiry.

The Middle-East

On Aug.15, Saudi women’s rights activist Salma al-Shehab was, according to CNN, “sentenced to 34 years in prison” along with a 34-year ban not allowing her to leave the country. This was due to her Twitter activity where she demanded reform in the country’s guardianship system and the freedom of prisoners of conscience which was also in support of her sister, Loujain al-Hathloul, another prominent activist who spent more than 1,000 days in jail. Saudi officials claim that al-Shehabb was found guilty of trying “to disrupt public order, undermine the security of society and stability of the state, and support those who had committed criminal actions according to the counterterrorism law and its financing.”This sentence came after al-Shebab appealed her original sentence, which was 6 years.