This Week in the World: October 23rd, 2014

Michael Dunn receives life sentence

Michael Dunn, 47, has been convicted for the first-degree murder of Jordan Davis, 17, in Jacksonville, Fla. Dunn shot and killed Davis during an argument over loud music coming from the car Davis was in, firing 10 times into the vehicle after the dispute in a parking lot. Dunn maintained that he fired in self-defence, saying he thought the teenager was reaching for a gun. Police never found a firearm and witnesses did not see one. Dunn was sentence to life in prison. Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty and Davis’ family said they did not want him to be executed.

Hurricane Gonzalo hits Bermuda

Hurricane Gonzalo hit Bermuda directly, downing power lines and damaging buildings. BBC reports that Bermuda was “bruised” but came out of the storm much better than expected. The Oct. 17 storm was the second in a week to hit the tiny island. Only minor injuries were reported, though it was the strongest storm to hit Bermuda in a decade. The power was cut to 31,200 homes, but at least two-thirds of people had their electricity restored by the afternoon of Oct. 18. Falling debris caused the closure of many roads, and the international airport was closed ahead of time.

Boko Haram agrees to ceasefire

Nigeria’s military has agreed to a ceasefire with Islamist militants Boko Haram and has reached a deal for the release of more than 200 schoolgirls kidnapped sixmonths ago. The kidnapping of the girls sparked an international campaign to ‘Bring Back Our Girls.’ Reported on Oct. 17, there has not been a confirmation on the ceasefire and release of the girls from the rebels. Western allies including the United States have confirmed the deal, saying that it had followed three days of talks with the Islamist militant group. The government did not give any details, only saying that the girls’ release could happen in the coming days.

Divisions in Catholic Church 

Catholic bishops have scrapped the document that was to be their welcome to the gay community, showing deep divisions within the Catholic Church. Over the past two weeks, Pope Francis sought a meeting with Catholic bishops to create a more merciful approach to ministering to Catholic families, reports the National Post. Rather than considering gays as individuals who had gifts to offer as planned, the revised document referred to homosexuality as a problem that Catholic families have to confront. It stated that homosexuals must be welcomed and respected, but also repeated that marriage is only between a man and a woman. The passage failed to obtain the majority needed to pass.

Obama refuses travel ban for Ebola

President Obama urged Americans not to give in to hysteria about the spread of the Ebola virus after three people were diagnosed with the virus and over 100 are being monitored for symptoms in the U.S. The president has said that he will not implement a travel ban from the worst-hit countries in West Africa, as he does not want people to cut themselves off from an entire region of the world, reports CBC. Obama has been criticized over his administration’s handling of Ebola alongside World Health Organization, which has been faulted for not doing enough to halt the spread of the outbreak. Pharmaceutical companies continue to work on experimental drugs for a vaccine for Ebola.

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