Compiled by Chris Lee and Safina Syed
Queen Elizabeth II
After reigning over the United Kingdom for 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II died on September 8, 2022 at Balmoral Castle in Ballater, Scotland. After her death, a 10 day mourning period commenced, with many ceremonies and events held to pay respects to the late monarch. During her reign, Queen Elizabeth II oversaw the United Kingdom’s transition from empire to commonwealth, held weekly audiences with 15 prime ministers, and reformed the monarchy through greater public engagement. Following the queen’s passing, her eldest son—Prince Charles— was proclaimed King Charles III in an accession ceremony on September 10, 2022. Due to royal succession formalities, his official coronation will not take place until next May.
Protests in Iran
On September 16, 2022, Mahsa Amini died after being arrested by the morality police for failing to wear her hijab correctly. While her family and several Iranian physicians have attributed her death to Amini being beaten and struck in the head, the government and police have denied the accusations—they claim that her death was caused by a heart attack. Amini’s death sparked mass protests against the harassment and detainment of women who don’t follow hijab laws. More than 300 people have been killed as a result of these protests. Although the Iranian attorney general noted the disbandment of the morality police on December 3, 2022, there has been no regime-wide confirmation.
College Admissions
The United States (U.S) Supreme Court began to hear arguments in Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina (UNC) on October 31, 2022. Both cases seek to overturn the Grutter v. Bollinger precedent set in 2003, which allows colleges to consider applicants’ races to help create diverse campuses. Students for Fair Admissions argued how applicants are evaluated differently based on their race, leading to racial discrimination. On the other hand, Harvard and UNC countered by noting how race was just one of the many factors used to guide their holistic admissions processes. A decision is expected in late June or early July next year.
Midterm Elections
Republicans reclaimed control of the U.S. House of Representatives by a narrow margin after this year’s midterm elections. Although Democrats will no longer have a government trifecta, the party successfully fended off the “red wave” that many pollsters predicted. Through successes in key swing states, Democrats remained in control of the Senate with 51 seats. After assuming office in January, House Republicans are not expected to continue investigating the January 6 Capitol Riots or former President Trump’s tax returns. Instead, GOP leaders have expressed interest in pursuing other issues, such as the United States’ exit from Afghanistan, COVID-19-related mandates, and border security.
World Cup
Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup sparked controversy between FIFA and seven European soccer captains who planned to wear “One Love” armbands in support of LGBTQ inclusivity. Although same-sex marriage is legal in most of the western world, the Qatari government does not recognize these civil unions. Hours before Monday’s England vs. Iran game, FIFA warned that players wearing the armbands would receive a yellow card, endangering teams’ statuses in the tournament. In response, the German team briefly covered their mouths before their match against Japan, in protest of FIFA’s censorship on an important issue.
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