Bird’s Eye View: Journalism giants, French students and Chicago strikes

This week, The Birds say farewell to Christiane Amanpour, a giant in the field of international correspondence. Additionally, the Supreme Court will hear a case which brings affirmative action back into the limelight after its overturning three years ago.  

In world news, France and other European countries are protesting President Emannuel Macron for high living costs and underfunding within public education. In Yemen, Houthi rebels attacked the city of Taiz, leaving civilians dead, injured or without proper resources.

Local

Chicago hotel workers strike 

Workers at the Hilton Chicago and Hyatt Regency Chicago went on strike Oct. 18, demanding safer working conditions along with better wages and benefits. Workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 1 voted to authorize a strike after nearly 7,000 workers across 46 hotels were left without a contract since the end of August, according to CBS.

National

Christiane Amanpour leaves CNN after 43 years

CNN’s Chief International Anchor Christiane Amanpour will be leaving after over 40 years of service, beginning in the early ‘80s as an assistant, then diving into the Gulf War coverage in the ‘90s that raised her to fame, The Associated Press reported. Amanpour didn’t give a reason for her departure, though it comes after personal health issues, as well as CNN and CBS coming under Skydance ownership.

Supreme Court will hear case about race-based admissions

Concerning four magnet middle schools in a diverse Maryland suburb of Washington, D.C., a parent group, in a lawsuit, claims the admissions policy is designed to advantage Black and Latino students, while disadvantaging those who are Asian American, AP reported. The case was dismissed by lower courts because Asian American kids weren’t underrepresented at those schools compared with the pool of students who applied.

International

Taiz, Yemen at risk of humanitarian crisis 

Iran-backed Houthi rebels attacked and besieged Yemen’s third-largest city, leaving two dead and residents cut off from most supply routes. The city, left without food and other necessities, is at risk of a “grave crisis,” The Associated Press reported.

Riots erupt across France

Over 800,000 protestors rioted across cities in France this past weekend in solidarity with high school students who criticized poor school conditions, staffing shortages and poor facilities.

Since then, protests have continued across Italy, Spain, Portugal and Albania, where citizens are now fighting against rising living costs and underfunded public services. While most protests were peaceful, violent groups attacked police vehicles and destroyed public buildings, according to Reuters.