Old conflicts and mirrors of previous events have been coming up this week. The old debate on the Dakota Access Pipeline has once again come into focus. Tragedies have also been occurring due to both natural and man-made circumstances. Don’t know what we’re talking about? Don’t fret! We present to you this week’s 5 Things to Know.

1) Dakota Access Pipeline

Remember the Dakota Access Pipeline? It was an issue of whether an oil pipe should be implanted for those who can benefit from it with the side effect of cutting off a Native American tribe’s water supply. The Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, along with their supporters, argue that the building of the pipeline (if it were to rupture Missouri River) would cut off the tribe’s water supply and lead to many hardships. News has recently come in stating that the pipeline could possibly be rerouted, and this has been cheered on by the tribe and their supporters. However, it could be short-lived, as the next administration of the U.S may not grant the rerouting of the pipeline.

2) Italy Referendum 

Earlier this week, Italy held a referendum on whether the constitution of 1948 was to be amended or not. The referendum was handed out by Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi, where he promised to accelerate Italy’s slow rising economy with the altered constitution. He suffered defeat when nearly 60% of Italy voted that the constitution shouldn’t be changed and said that he would resign. Italy’s president has the next move, whether he continues with his current parliament or hold a general election is his decision. A general election could lead to Beppe Grillo’s win, an entertainer-turned-politician who promoted saying no to the referendum.  His victory could lead to the scrap of the Euro and go back to the old currency and possibly leave the European Union altogether as said by Foreign Observers.

3) Pakistan Crash

A PIA plane crashed yesterday, December 8, near Abbottabad, Pakistan, killing all 47 passengers. The pilot made a mayday call prior to the crash, saying that they no longer had control over their engines, states PIA Chairman Azam Saigol. “We were confident that the plane could land with one working engine,” Saigol said. “This is a tragedy. We are not absolving ourselves of any connection to this incident.” Pop star-turned-religious artist Junaid Jamshed, along with two infants were some individuals who were lost during the crash.

4) Syria

The Syrian government troops have taken control of most of the neighbourhoods in the city of Aleppo. Now, the rebels only hold about a quarter of what they used to have of the city. However, those who are still under the hold of the rebels are suffering hunger, with an exhaust of food and medical supplies, with no other alternative to go to. An activist in Aleppo called the situation “apocalyptic”, with the hospitals resembling “slaughterhouses” due to the lack of facilities and materials. UNICEF stated on Wednesday that 31,500 people have been displaced over a span of 10 days, almost half of then being children.

5) Indonesian Earthquake

A 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck the Indonesia province of Aceh on Wednesday morning. At least 102 people were killed and 136 were injured. The earthquake managed to damage buildings, houses, and mosques in the district of Pidie Jaya. “Now our priority is the search and rescue operation. We have to move so fast to save them,” says National Board for Disaster Management spokesman, Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. No Tsunami warnings for the aftermath of the issue were regarded, however, citizens still flee to the mountains, most likely traumatised by the last big earthquake in 2004.