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CHANDRA SENTELL, features editor

Italy

Matteo Messina Denaro, a mafia boss, was arrested in Italy after eluding his capture for 30 years. Denaro was sentenced in 1992 for the murders of two prosecutors and other crimes including bombings, strangulation and the kidnapping of a 12-year-old boy. He was arrested outside a medical clinic after showing up for an appointment under an alias. Law enforcement believe his arrest will weaken the Sicilian mafia and disrupt its business because Denaro was a major player, especially as his former leaders are either dead or already imprisoned.

United States

Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Priscilla and Elvis Presley, died at the age of 54 on the 12th of January, 2023. Paramedics arrived at Presley’s Calabasas home following a 911 call for a possible cardiac arrest. Upon their arrival, they had to perform immediate CPR, and Presley was rushed to the nearest hospital where she passed. She leaves behind her three daughters and a legacy in the form of her music career, published writings and the Graceland home that belonged to her father, Elvis Presley.

Ecuador

In Yasuní National Park, some of the last groups of Indigenous people have been put at risk with a newly built oil platform that resides in the Amazon Rainforest. The drilling teams have slowly moved closer toward off-limit zones that are meant to protect these Indigenous groups and allow them to live in isolation. Most of Ecuador’s oil reserve lies beneath the rainforest, and as the government searches for ways to create more revenue, it leaves the people at risk of exposure, forcing them to leave their tribes to find a new place to survive.

Ukraine

Despite the war between Ukraine and Russia, one public school near Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, has found a way to continue to educate 430 schoolchildren, with ages ranging from 6 to 18, and has provided a sense of normalcy for these children. The community has banded together to help support the school by providing warm meals for the students and resources for them to continue their education. Due to the war, blackouts are a pressing concern for the school, and with Russian airstrikes being a constant threat, the school has begun to administer first aid training to its high school students. The school has safety measures in place and serves as a second home to many of its students.

Australia

The Australian Open has banned Belarusian and Russian flags after a fan displayed a Russian flag during a first-round match between a Russian and Ukrainian player. Following the Australian government’s policy, the Australian Open has allowed Russian and Belarusian athletes to participate in the open, but they are unable to represent their countries while competing. While other countries’ flags and symbols are on display, the Russian and Belarusian flags have been replaced by white boxes and removed from the tournament as a whole.