Editor’s Note: This listicle is part of a weekly series by The Ball State Daily News summarizing five stories from around the world. All summaries are based on stories published by The Associated Press.
The Hong Kong protests, immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border, Pope Francis’ decree on poverty, the flooded streets of Venice and Russian interference in the 2016 Brexit vote make up this week’s five international stories.
Hong Kong police storm university held by protesters
Police breached a Hong Kong university campus held by protesters early Monday after an all-night siege that included firing repeated barrages of tear gas and water cannons. Anti-government protesters have barricaded themselves inside Hong Kong Polytechnic University for days. Police surrounded the area Sunday night and began moving in after issuing an ultimatum for people to leave the area.
Read more: Hong Kong
Migrants stuck in lawless limbo within sight of America
In years past, migrants moved quickly through the violent territory of the lawless border state of Tamaulipas in Mexico on their way to the United States. Now, due to the policies of President Donald Trump’s administration, they remain there for weeks and sometimes months as they await their U.S. court dates, often in the hands of the gangsters who hold the area in a vise-like grip. Here, migrants in limbo are prey and a boon to smugglers.
Read more: Immigration
Pope decries that ‘greed of a few’ worsens poverty of others
Pope Francis Sunday decried the “greed of a few” wealthy people is compounding the plight of the poor before sharing a meal with the jobless and the homeless that has become a tradition of his papacy. Celebrating a Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica dedicated to heightening awareness about poor people worldwide, he lamented the lack of concern about growing income gaps between the haves and have-nots.
Read more: Pope Francis
3rd record tide enters Venice as Italy hit with snow, rain
Venice was hit Sunday by a record third exceptional tide in the same week while other parts of Italy struggled with a series of weather woes, from rain-swollen rivers, to high winds, to an out-of-season avalanche. Stores and museums in Venice were mostly closed in the hardest-hit area around St. Mark’s Square, but tourists donned high rubber boots or even hip waders to witness and photograph the spectacle.
Read more: Italy
Leaked Russian interference report raises UK vote questions
Questions about the British government’s failure to release a report on Russia’s interference in the country’s politics continued to dog Prime Minister Boris Johnson, as critics said leaks from the document raised concerns about the security of next month’s election. The report from Parliament’s intelligence committee concludes that Russian interference may have affected the 2016 Brexit referendum, though the impact is “unquantifiable.”
Read more: Boris Johnson