37th & The World: 5in5 for the week of August 4, 2024

In this week's 'Five in Five' segment, we cover the eruption of anti-immigrant riots in England, diplomatic tensions in the Middle East following the assassination of Hamas and Hezbollah leaders, the swearing-in of Muhammad Yunus as Bangladesh's interim leader, escalating anti-government protests in Kenya, and the cancellation of Taylor Swift's Austrian shows due to a foiled terrorist plot.

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Episode Transcript

Unknown (00:01):
Hello, you're listening to 37th and The World, the
official podcast of theGeorgetown Journal of
International Affairs, theflagship academic publication of
Georgetown University's WalshSchool of Foreign Service. On
37th and The World, we dive intocrucial global trends and speak
directly with experts working onissues ranging from security to

(00:24):
the economy, technology tosociety and more. In this
segment, the five in five, 37thand The World, will delve into
the top five most crucialForeign Affairs developments
from the past week in just fiveminutes.
I'm Leah Favero, and this week,first anti immigrant and far

(00:44):
right riots have erupted acrossEngland, following last week's
tragic stabbing at a dance classwhere 10 children were attacked.
Second following last week'sassassination of Hamas and
Hezbollah leaders by Israel, theMiddle East braces for a
retaliation by Iran, yetPrussian diplomats in Tehran

(01:05):
asked for the nation to avoid anescalation. Third, Muhammad
Yunus has been sworn in asBangladesh's interim leader
following the resignation of theprime minister from weeks of
student protests, which lefthundreds dead. Then Kenyan
police have turned to using teargas to disperse anti government

(01:25):
protesters in the nation'scapital as the new cabinet is
sworn in. Finally, Taylor Swiftcanceled three shows in Austria
this week after authoritiesuncovered a terrorist plot
involving three suspects linkedto the Islamic State in Al
Qaeda, first, anti immigrant andfar right riots have erupted
across towns in England andNorthern Ireland following the

(01:46):
tragic murder of two young girlsand stabbing of eight others at
a Taylor Swift inspired danceclass last week, Axel
rudacupana, a 17 year old bornand raised in England, has been
arrested and charged withmurders. However, before his
identity was confirmed, falseclaims spread online alleging

(02:07):
that he was a Muslim asylumseeker who had entered the UK by
boat. This misinformation fueledtensions, leading to hundreds of
protesters gathering outside anearby mosque, where they
shouted anti immigrant andIslamophobic slogans, resulting
in clashes that left 50 policeofficers injured in the
aftermath, 1000s across the UKhave taken part in riots or

(02:30):
counter protests, leading toover 400 arrests. Second though,
Russia condemned last week'skilling of Hamas and Hezbollah
leaders in quote, dangerousassassinations, Moscow's
diplomats have surprisinglyasked for Iran to stand down in
its response to Israel as theglobe races for its retaliation.

(02:50):
This comes as Russia and Iranhave in recent years
strengthened ties as an anti UScoalition with Tehran supplying
Moscow with attack drones andmissiles to help carry out its
war in Ukraine. The two alsocooperate on electronic warfare
plaguing the Ukrainians bycountering United States jamming
technology. Next after weeks ofstudent protests demanding the

(03:14):
prime minister's resignation,Muhammad Yunus has been sworn in
as the interim leader ofBangladesh, pledging to, quote,
uphold support and protect theConstitution. He and a dozen new
Cabinet members took the oathjust days after the
authoritarian Prime Minister ofover 15 years fled to India and
stepped down. Professor Yunus, aNobel Laureate, was appointed

(03:37):
following a meeting betweenPresident Mohammed Shehab UDIN
and both military and studentleaders, notably, two of the new
Cabinet members are students wholed the anti government protests
and rejected a military ledgovernment after a year's of
autocratic rule, there isrenewed hope that Professor
Yunus will restore democracy inBangladesh, then anti tax

(03:59):
protests In Kenya have againintensified as the new cabinet
was sworn in this week,following months of unrest that
has turned increasingly deadly,the protests led primarily by
youth activists have spreadacross the country, demanding
President William ruto'sresignation. The pressure from
these demonstrations has alreadyforced the government to

(04:19):
withdraw proposed tax increasesand dissolved the previous
cabinet in an attempt to easetensions, William Ruto appointed
four opposition members to keeppositions in the new cabinet,
including the critical financeand energy posts, calling it a
quote, Alliance of rivals,despite several arrests and the
use of tear gas to dispersecrowds, the recent protests were

(04:41):
smaller in scale than those thatculminated in the torching of
the parliament building justweeks ago. Finally, Taylor Swift
canceled three concerts inAustria on Wednesday after
authorities successfully foileda terrorist plot targeting her
performances. The three suspectsarrested have died.
Applies to the Islamic State andal Qaeda, with the primary

(05:03):
suspect confessing that heplanned to cause mass casualties
using homemade knives andexplosive devices despite the
incident, Swift will continuewith the remaining five shows in
England to conclude the Europeanleg of her tour, with British
authorities confirming that theshow proceed with enhanced
security measures. You.