News

Here and There: The World Right Now

The following selected domestic and international events provide an image of the world in brief.

1. Culture: Jennifer Lopez and Shakira Perform at Super Bowl LIV

Jennifer Lopez and Shakira performed at the halftime show of Super Bowl LIV, making history as the first Latina duo to ever headline the show. Lopez performed some of her most popular songs, such as “Jenny on the Block,” “Ain’t It Funny,” and “Get Right.” She closed her set with “Waiting for Tonight.” Shakira opened with “She Wolf,” then performed a medley of her most popular songs, including “Hips Don’t Lie.” Their performance sparked online conversations about how the performance industry’s fixation with youth may be waning, as both Lopez and Shakira are over the age of 45.

2. Health: Chinese officials estimate that the latest death toll of the coronavirus is at 563, with 28,018 confirmed cases in China. In the United States, the virus has been confirmed in 12 states. Novel coronavirus (CoV) is a larger family of illnesses that are zoonotic, which means that the virus can be transmitted between animals and people. A new strain, 2019-nCoV, is causing worldwide panic as it has not been identified before in humans, according to the World Health Organization.

3. Politics: The Senate voted on Wednesday to acquit President Donald Trump on both articles of impeachment—abuse of power and obstruction of Congress—that arose after the investigation of Trump’s conduct regarding his relationship with Ukraine. The vote was split along party lines, with only one Republican, Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT), breaking partisan barriers by voting to convict Trump on abuse of power.

4. War & Conflict: French President Emmanuel Macron said on Wednesday that Turkey breached the terms outlined in an international agreement to uphold a United Nations arms embargo and halt interference in the region, as Turkish warships accompanied by Syrian mercenaries were found arriving in Libya. The Second Libyan Civil War is an ongoing conflict that began in 2014; currently, Turkey backs the UN-supported Government of National Accord in Tripoli, whereas France assists a rival government aligned with the Libyan Arab Armed Forces.

This Day in The Phillipian’s History: Ping-Pong Play On In Commons (February 7, 1942)