Domestic:

Dozens of wildfires have burned along the West Coast since the beginning of August. Strong winds  and low humidity have been hampering efforts to curb the fire. As of Sept. 16, the wildfires have destroyed an area about the size of New Jersey, have killed 36 people and smoke from the fires has spread all the way to the east coast.

Hurricane Sally continues to ravage the South East, leaving a path of flooding, power outages, and other forms of damage.  The storm took form last weekend in Southern Florida and then traveled west towards Alabama and New Orleans. The National Hurricane Center issued a warning saying that “Historic and catastrophic flooding, including widespread moderate to major river flooding, is unfolding.”

International:

On Wednesday, Sept. 16, four Afghans were charged with arson for a fire that destroyed a large migrant camp on the Greek island of Lesbos last week. The migrant camp had housed over 12,000 people, who were all forced to flee as the fire swept up their shelter. After a week of investigation, Lesbos officials were able to identify the four men and formally charge them in a court on the island. The Afghan government is arguing that the fires were set by migrants of the camp, in protest against their lock-down following a coronavirus outbreak.

Most recently, President Nicolás Maduro, along with selected officials, has been accused of committing human rights violation, including inhumane killings, torture and sexual violence crimes against government critics. Last week, UN investigators, of the Human Rights Council, appointed a three-member panel to look into these allegations and determine their involvement. On Wednesday, Sept. 16, the panel announced that there are “reasonable grounds to believe” that Maduro and his officials not only contributed to but also ordered many of these killings and acts of violence. These crimes have been ongoing and in coordination with political motives.