This week, tensions continue to increase in North Korea while on the other hand, Australia is introducing a survey asking the citizens whether they are in favor of or against same-sex marriages.  Here are a few highlights from the week covering topic mainly associated with political issues. To know what these are, continue reading “5 Things to Know”.

Monday, 4th September: McDonald’s’ first ever strike in the UK

For the first time in history, the fast food chain, McDonald’s, is facing strike action in the UK. Two workers of the restaurant walked out in a dispute regarding working conditions and use of zero-hour contracts. According to The Bakers and Food & Allied Workers Union, workers are demanding a minimum of £10 per hour while exclaiming that the current wage is “inexplicably” low. However, the workers taking action represent a minor fraction of the total workforce, being 0.01 percent only. The 0.01 percent is intending to strike in two out of the 1270 restaurants of McDonald’s in the UK. Moreover, the franchisees of McDonald’s have increased average hourly pay rate three times since April 2016, each time by 15 %.

Tuesday, 5th September:  Russian president comments on North Korea’s missile programme

Vladimir Putin, the Russian President said that prosecuting further sanctions against North Korea is completely futile because they are adamant of not giving up their nuclear programme. Mr. Putin also said that ramping up military hysteria in these conditions could lead to a global calamity and loss of human life to a great extent. According to him, the only “possible solution” to this problem is diplomacy.  While Mr. Putin attended the Brics summit, he declared that Russia has disapproved the provocations of North Korea saying that further sanctions will be ineffective. Besides, reports show that North Korea is arranging another intercontinental ballistic missile from its western coast.

Wednesday, 6th September: Hurricane Irma hits the Carribean

Hurricane Irma has made landfall on the small island of Barbuda striking it with howling winds. Later, it made its path along the Caribbean. Said to be recorded as one of the most powerful Atlantic storms ever, Irma sustained winds of 185 mph with its eye being larger than Barbuda. The National Hurricane Centre says that it’d be potentially cataclysmic if it was to hit the islands at high tides. Forecasts also show that the hurricane is expected to hit Florida sometime during the weekend. There have been warning signs for places like Saba and Puerto Rico with a population of 2000 to 3.5 million respectively. People have been evacuated from risk-areas across the Caribbean and residents have assembled in shops to collect food, water, and other emergency supplies. At least nine people have been killed.

Thursday, 7th September: Same-sex marriages in Australia

In Australia, a vote on legalising same-sex marriage will be prosecuted after the dismissal of two legals challenged by the court. Malcolm Turnbull, the Prime Minister of Australia said that the law could change if the majority of the votes are in favor of same-sex marriage. “We encourage every Australian to vote in this survey, to have their say”, he declared. The forms are expected to be sent out on September 12 and the result will be announced on November 15. The question that will be asked is: “Should the law be changed to allow same-sex couples to marry”? Furthermore, Australians have always been in favor of marriage equality. Quite a lot of people have been handing out leaflets and brochures encouraging a “yes”  vote, such as Anna Brown who is the director of the Human Rights Law Center legal advocacy group. She believes that everybody in Australia shall be allowed to marry the person they love.

Friday, 8th September: Malala to stand up for the Rohingya community in Myanmar

Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize winner said that the global community needs to get involved in order to protect the Muslim minority of Myanmar. Malala urged Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Myanmar, to speak up for the Rohingya as thousands of people have been displaced. She says that it’s hard to imagine the situation where a person’s citizenship and right to live is totally denied. According to her, governments should take action and prevent violence against the Rohingya. Roughly 90,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled to Bangladesh since August. This has led to the country facing major political challenges as Aung Sang Suu Kyi is not doing anything in favor of the minority.