What’s News? Catalyst News picks the top 5 stories that made headlines this week

Credit: Dave Hunt: AAP; Zuma Wire/Rex/Shutterstock; Daniel Kalisz: Getty Images

Chloe Karis / @chloekaris

Richmond wins 2020 Toyota AFL Grand Final

Richmond scores a back-to-back premiership after beating Geelong by 31 points on Saturday night at the Gabba in Brisbane.

The outcome of the game was 12.9 (81) to 7.9 (50) with a clear win by the Tigers for their 12th premiership win.

Dustin Martin won the Norm Smith Medal after kicking four goals and 21 disposals for the Tigers. Dusty is now a back-to-back and first ever three-time Norm Smith Medalist. 

The 2020 Grand Final was the last Gary Ablett Jr played after spending 18 years playing AFL.

It was the first time the AFL Grand Final was played outside of Victoria and the first ever twilight premiership starting at 6:30pm (AEST).

Poland ruling almost bans abortions

Poland’s Constitutional Tribunal has almost completely banned abortions on Thursday.

Women are not allowed to get an abortion even if it is “severe and irreversible fetal defect or incurable illness that threatens the fetus’s life.”

The ruling will mean women are only eligible for an abotion if the mother’s life is endangered, or the pregnancy was a result of incest or rape. 

Leah Hoctor, Regional Director for the Center for Reproductive Rights said, “Poland must act now to bring its law into line with other EU member states and legalise abortion on a woman’s request.”

Since the ruling, protests in Poland’s capital, Warsaw, have started to go against it. Warsaw Police have used pepper spray against the hundreds of protesters. 

Poland is said to be one of the most Catholic countries in Europe. 

Final US Presidential debate

President Donald Trump and democratic nominee Joe Biden had their last US presidential debate on Thursday at Belmont University at Nashville.

Kristen Welker, who was the moderator for the debate, said to President Trump and Biden to “speak one at a time” while being able to mute their microphones. 

When Ms Welker asked about the debate topic of ‘race in America’, Trump said he is the “least racist person in this room.” Biden then said Trump is “one of the most racist presidents we’ve had in modern history.”

Other debate topics included ‘fighting Covid-19’, ‘national security’, ‘climate change’, ‘leadership’ and ‘American families’. 

The US Presidential election takes place on November 3.

Shane van Gisbergen wins Bathurst 1000

New Zealand’s Shane van Gisbergen won for the first time at the Bathurst 1000 at Mount Panorama last Sunday.

With the safety car still out at almost three laps to go, there was 18km left of racing making it a close final three laps.

After just losing last year against Scott McLaughlin, van Gisbergen had won by 0.8663 of a second, claiming victory for Holden’s Red Bull Racing.

Cameron Waters for Ford had come second with Holden’s Chaz Mostert coming third.

On lap 160/161, van Gisbergen had done his fastest lap at 2.05.641. 

This year’s Bathursts was the last Holden were going to provide factory support for the Commodores in the Supercars.

Colorado faces two devastating fires

Colorado has seen its largest fire in the state’s history with the Cameron Peak fire, exceeding the Pine Gulch fire in September.

The fire has burned over 206,000 acres since Wednesday with more than 1,500 firefighters working to contain the fire. 

The fire in northern Colorado began on August 13 which was ignited from a lightning storm.

As of October 14, the East Troublesome fire was reported, which has burned over 169,000 acres since Thursday, being the second largest fire in Colorado’s history.

Commander, Noel Livingston, said “there’s certainly the potential” for both fires to come together as they are about 16 km apart.

The surrounding areas of the fires have been issued evacuations.

Catalyst has been the student publication of RMIT University since 1944. We may be older than your parents but we’re still going strong!

Sign up for Catalyst Magazine

Get the latest on what's happening
* = required field