Feb. 5 Israel: African migrants face deportation
The Israeli government gave 20,000 male African migrants notice to leave the country within two months or risk jail time. The migrants, who are mostly from Sudan and Eritrea, are being offered $3,500 and a plane ticket to an unspecified destination in sub-Saharan Africa. The deportations sparked backlash against the right-wing government, which has called the migrants infiltrators and accused them of seeking work rather than asylum.
Feb. 7 India: Unlicensed doctor suspected of infecting patients with HIV
Dozens of people, including some children, tested positive for HIV in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh after an unqualified individual allegedly injected them with a contaminated syringe. Police arrested suspect Rajendra Yadav, who has been accused of passing himself off as a doctor and providing house calls and medication to his patients. All infected individuals say they were treated by Yadav.
Feb. 8 Taiwan: Aftershocks complicate rescue efforts following major quake
More than 220 aftershocks rattled the city of Hualien two days after a magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck the island’s eastern coast, hampering efforts to locate and rescue survivors trapped in the rubble of four collapsed buildings. At least 10 people were killed and 270 more were wounded.
Feb. 9 South Korea: Winter Olympics begin with show of Korean unity
Teams from North and South Korea marched together under the unification flag at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang. During the ceremony, South Korean President Moon Jae-in shook hands with Kim Yo Jong, the sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, as well as ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam, fueling hopes for the normalization of diplomatic relations on the Korean peninsula.
Feb. 10 Nigeria: Boko Haram militants free hostages
Boko Haram released 13 hostages to the Nigerian government after negotiations directed by President Muhammadu Buhari and facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross. The hostages—three lecturers from the University of Maiduguri and 10 female police officers—were all kidnapped last year as part of the same campaign of attacks.
Feb. 11 Pakistan: Human rights campaigner dies at 66
Prominent lawyer and activist Asma Jahangir, who faced death threats and imprisonment for her work as a champion for democracy during military rule, died of a heart attack at age 66. In addition to her pro-democracy work, Jahangir was known for her fearlessness in the face of authority and her unwavering advocacy for human rights.
I am a fourth-year student in the University Honors College studying political science and Arabic. I started with Vanguard in August 2017 as a reporter for the international section before becoming international editor at the beginning of this year. I have been working with the news team since spring 2018. As news editor, I am responsible for curating, editing and reporting on content relating to the goings-on of PSU and its surrounding area while working with a team of reporters to accurately and responsibly inform the campus community.
