German coalition agrees to cut carbon emissions up to 95% by 2050.
Lightning strikes behind wind turbines during a thunderstorm near the border between Germany and Poland. (Image courtesy of Getty Images)
Germany’s coalition government has agreed on a new climate change proposal that plans to diminish greenhouse gas emissions by 80% to 95% before 2050. It requires the German industry and energy sector to reduce their emissions by one fifth and one half respectively. This plan was originally introduced in 2015 but was rejected due to fears of job loss. Germany seeks to act as a role model for other countries in the fight against climate change. The current plan will be reviewed again in 2018, and the repercussions thoroughly evaluated.
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Donald Trump is elected President in stunning repudiation of the establishment.
Trump addresses his supporters at the New York Hilton Midtown. (Image courtesy of The New York Times)
On 8 November 2016, Donald J. Trump was elected as the 45th president of the United States in a shocking victory against Hillary Clinton. He was carried to victory by the underestimated blue collar, working-class Americans. In the final words of Trump’s campaign, he surprisingly promised to unify the country and thanked Mrs. Clinton for a difficult race. Hillary Clinton’s defeat stemmed from her failure to promote enough change and trust to overshadow her email scandal. As a result, states like Michigan and Wisconsin who were expected to vote Democrat voted Republican instead. This was not only a defeat for Clinton but also a disappointment for those who thought she would be the first female president. Other Republican races fared just as well on election night, as the party retained control of the Senate.
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Four killed in Taliban attack on German consulate.
An Afghan soldier inspects the scene of multiple suicide bombings that targeted the German consulate. (Image courtesy of CBC)
This past week, four civilians were killed and 120 were injured when a truck filled with explosives rammed into a wall around the German Consulate in Mazar-i-Sharif, a city located in northern Afghanistan. Due to the truck crash, most of the building was damaged, windows were broken, and glass was shattered. The Taliban has taken responsibility for this attack, stating that it was a retaliation for the recent NATO strikes on the city of Kunduz, during which thirty people were killed. At least one suspect was arrested after the explosion. This attack not only put a spotlight on the security issues surrounding Afghanistan, but also exposed the country’s need for a strong foreign policy.
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Music legend Leonard Cohen put to rest.
Leonard Cohen, Canadian Music Icon. (Image courtesy of CTV News)
Canadian music icon, Leonard Cohen, was put to rest in a traditional Jewish memorial ceremony on 11 November 2016. Three days after his death in Los Angeles, the musician was buried alongside his mother, father, and grandparents in Westmount, Quebec. Cohen had released his new album and was playing at his sellout shows just weeks before his passing. While his death was unexpected, his son stated that he “passed away peacefully at his home in Los Angeles with the knowledge that he had completed what he felt was one of his greatest records.”
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Preserved shipwreck uncovered in Lake Superior.
The helm wheel is seen leaning against the wreck’s starboard side. (Image courtesy of Smithsonian.com)
An impeccably preserved cargo ship has been discovered in Lake Superior. The J.S. Seaverns, said to have sailed in the 17th century, was a 130 foot ship that unloaded food and supplies at a tiny port on the northeast coast of Lake Superior. The ship eventually sunk due to a hole in its body. After weeks of research on the ship and its usual route, searchers were able to pinpoint its location, and divers equipped with cameras were sent to recover the preserved contents. Most of the ship was found to be intact.
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