Russia:Syrian Regime May Take Part in Peace Talks

For a few weeks now the U.S. and Russia have been attempting to create a conference that will help to end the civil war in Syria. Their goal is to reach some agreement where a transitional government can be put in place as a way of ending the conflict. Until now Syria had not made any commitment to these talks, but now something kind of like agreement has been made. Russia states that Syria has agreed "in principle" to attend the conference. While this may not be an actual agreement, it most certainly is a step forward.

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/clashes-lebanon-feed-fear-syria-spillover-19243863#.UZ93n6tj_bg

Egypt: 10 men suspected for the killing of 3 women in 'honor' crime

I know that I have already posted for this week, but I found this article to be rather interesting! On the morning of Friday, May 24, 2013, three women in Egypt fell victim to what is considered to be an "honor crime". Ten male relatives of a mother and her two daughters suspected that these females engaged in extramarital relations that brought shame to the family name. As a result, the ten males killed these three women and left their bodies in the Nile River near the city of Luxor. In Egypt, "honor crimes" are a common act of violence, typically used when women are involved in sexual relations outside of their marriage. "Honor crimes" are considered to be illegal in Eqypt and those who follow through with these acts of violence will be prosecuted if they are arrested.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/05/24/egypt-10-men-suspected-for-killing-3-women-in-honor-crime/

-Heather Krynicki
(10th blog post)

Obama Will Slow Down Drone Strikes But Keep Control

At his counter terrorism speech at the National Defense University today, President Obama laid out his plans for closing Guantanamo Bay and reorganizing the drone program.  Obama plans to refocus the conflict defined by Sept. 11^th and left hope for even possibly ending the “War on Terror.”  He states, “… We must define our effort not as a boundless "global war on terror‟ — but rather as a series of persistent, targeted efforts to dismantle specific networks of violent extremists that threaten America."  The Obama administration acknowledged the killing of four Americans in drone strikes abroad and has agreed to provide “new information to Congress and the public about rules governing his attacks on Al Qaeda and its allies.”   Obama stated that his administration has laid out a framework to govern the use of force against terrorists “— insisting upon clear guidelines, oversight, and accountability that is now codified in Presidential Policy Guidance” that he signed yesterday.

Visit this link to read the full speech: http://www.scribd.com/doc/143274176/The-Future-of-Our-Fight-Against-Terrorism

http://article.wn.com/view/2013/05/23/Obama_Will_Slow_Down_Drone_Strikes_But_Keep_Control/

Erin Burneson

French Mad about Bid to Add Courses in English

The French are in an uproar with a new law being proposed that French universities have to teach more classes in English. The article worded the problem as being "France sacrificing its language to "Americanization disguised in globalization." The people who support this are rallying behind it in the lower house of Parliament because they think the lack of English is hurting their competitiveness with the rest of the world. To prove a point a French newspaper printed the cover in English the next day after the proposal about supporting the law. One woman was quoted as saying the protests are due to "a lack of confidence in our culture."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/24/world/europe/french-upset-over-more-english-proposal.html?ref=world&_r=0

Jessica Connor

End of an Era in Afghanistan

President Hamid Karzai of Afganistan says that at the end of his current second term in office he will not run again.  He says that he is "exhausted" and that running again would "ruin my legacy by staying on and taking an opportunity away from Afganistan to become an instutitionalized democracy".  He has been known to a lot of the world as a gangster, a lame duck president and a perpetrator of a corrupt government.  Most of the criticism of Karzai, saying he is a gangster and perpetuates a corrupt government comes from the US.  Karzai responds to this by saying most of the corruption comes from contracting practices of foreign countries, "especially the United States".  He has been called a lame duck president by the political activists of Afghanistan due to the fact that most of the centralized power of their government lies in the president, who appoints everyone from ministers to governors.  The biggest controversy has been his attempt to outreach to India which has Pakistan concerned.  However, with the election of President Shariff in Pakistan and his goal of restoring relations with India, there is not much cause for alarm.  As for the assertions that Afghanistan will become a violent militant state like Iraq, Karzai says that these assertions have no merit and will not come to fruition.  He will be leaving office at the end of this term and though there are rumors that he will try to maintain power, he has said that he will not because he wishes for Afghanistan to become a democracy, not an autocracy.  Time will only tell if he stays true to his word.

Gardiner, H., & Rosenberg, M. (2013, May 23). Karzai says another term leading afghanistan is out of the question. New York Times. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1353975471?accountid=44854

By:  Adam Sehr

An audacious plan at the Western Wall

            Over the past months, there has been much argument and protest at the Western Wall. Because of all the turmoil, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked Natan Sharansky to help in the expansion plans of the sacred wall. Many believe that Sharansky will develop an addition to the wall that brings people of various faiths together; however, many believe there may be resistance from Muslims. Even though the plans to expand are supported by the government, the plans may not be agreed upon in Israel’s parliament. It is thought that the Parliament may even block funding for the project. The new portion of the wall is said to appeal to more liberal followers of Judaism. Here, men and women would be allowed to worship together, sing, and play music. Not only may Israel’s Parliament object to the new addition, but also archaeologists may object as well because they do not want he new addition destroying a long time history.

By: Allison Vigna

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle_east/over-protests-israel-plans-to-double-prayer-space-at-western-wall/2013/05/21/962882b8-bbf2-11e2-b537-ab47f0325f7c_story_1.html

The Slow Economic Trickle in Sierra Leone

Following civil war, the state of Sierra Leone is working to rebuild and grow. Educational programs are being used to explain the purpose of taxation and encourage citizens to pay them so that further infrastructure repairs and improvements are able to take place. The investment and growth has taken place primarily in the mining, while direct foreign investment in private business has lagged behind causing many people to be unable to see the effects of this rapid growth, but only the rising prices of daily-use goods.

http://allafrica.com/stories/201305221233.html?viewall=1

Rebeca Sandow

Spanish Couple Kidnapped in Colombia

Two Spanish tourists were kidnapped in Colombia while driving near the Venezuelan border in the town of La Guajira. The couple disappeared Friday but the Colombian government did not confirm it was in fact a kidnapping until Tuesday. Colombian authorities have reported the attackers identified themselves to the victims' families as members of the Farc left-wing rebel group in Colombia. This group has been in conflict with the Colombian government for many years and are in sensitive negotiations current day. The organization committed many kidnappings throughout the past few years but have reportedly given them up. No organization has confirmed the involvement or non-involvement of the attackers within their organization.

Written by: Michelle Ankerholtz
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-22619919

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/23/us/us-acknowledges-killing-4-americans-in-drone-strikes.html?hp&_r=0

It has happened. Actually, it already happened. The US government has admitted to purposefully targeting and killing an American citizen, Anwar al-Awlaki, via drone strike in September 2011. Dubbed a "radical Muslim cleric," this American citizen was in Yemen when he was targeted by a drone strike and killed, along with another American, Samir Khan. The son of al-Awlaki, also an American, was also killed in a separate attack in Yemen. The final American killed was Jude Mohammed, which occurred in Pakistan. This coming out right before President Obama is to deliver a speech to defend drone strikes. I think it is high time the government answer for these murders of American citizens. While only Anwar al-Awlaki has been admitted as being a target, killing Americans overseas is just as good as dragging them out of their homes in an American town and executing them in the streets. It is a violation of our American rights. It is indeed sad that the target was under suspicion of planning attacks against America, but if we do not have evidence enough to try American citizens in court, is it validated to murder them?

Attack in London Thought to be Terrorism

Today, a man walking through the streets of London near a military barracks was rammed by a car. Two men in the car then proceeded to exit the vehicle and brutally attack the man using a cleaver and a kitchen knife. Reports of some witnesses claim that one of the men shouted "Allahu akbar" during the attack (God is great). Although unclear as to the timing of the interview in regards to the attack, one of the men was recorded by a cell phone camera saying that he apologizes to women and children who had to see this attack - the barracks were near an elementary school and many mothers and children were leaving the school at the same time the attack was occuring. Furthermore, the man provided "because of what's going on in our own countries" as the motive for the attack (although the article does not indicate which country the men were from). Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron is quoted as saying, "There are strong indications that this is a terrorist incident," although no reasoning for that claim is provided. The suspects were shot by police and are currently being held in a hospital under guard. In response to the attacks, an emergency meeting of the Cobra committee was called.

Posted by: Liz Linning

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/23/world/europe/london-attacks.html?ref=world

Increase in Afghan women jailed for morals

Human Rights Watch has reported that the number of women jailed in Afghanistan for moral crimes has been increasing. It has gone up nearly fifty percent in the past eighteen months, and many of the women have been under the age of eighteen. Such crimes include adultery and running away from home following rape and abuse. Recent laws seeking to reduce violence against women have been halted in the Afghan parliament. Researchers have said that an increase in these prosecutions is the result of extreme conservatives responding to the upcoming withdrawal of American troops in Afghanistan.

Meghan Steinbeiss
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22614536

Drone Strikes on the Decline

The political discourse in the U.S. that questions the effectiveness, secrecy, and ethics of the drone program appears to be taking its toll. Obama will soon be making an "ambitious" address in which he is expected to discuss the justification of the drone program and the future plans for the war on terror. In the meantime, though, the number of reported drone strikes is decreasing. Perhaps the threats aren't as serious, perhaps the costs are too great (not so much economical), or perhaps diplomacy is becoming the preferred solution. At any rate, the drone program has fueled Al Qaeda's campaign, hatred of the U.S., and created serious controversy in our nation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/22/us/debate-aside-drone-strikes-drop-sharply.html?hp&_r=0

Stalled abduction talks with N. Korea may resume soon

North Korea's abduction of Japanese nationals in 1970s and 1980s has been an importnat issue for Japan for so long.  It seems that the next move for solving this problem will be seen soon;  Japan was considering the resumption of bilateral talks with North Korea following a recent trip to Pyongyang by one of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s top advisers. Their visit last week has made the United States and South Korea mad since Japan and the two allies had maintained a united front in their efforts not to engage the North in dialogue until Pyongyang took steps toward returning to denuclearization talks. Reportedly, the bilateral negotiations between Japan and North Korea, which has been suspended since last December,would be conducted through the Foreign Ministry.  Through the talk, Japanese officials are seeking to cover a reinvestigation into the fate of Japanese abductees, which is  believed to be 17 people. 

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2013/05/22/national/stalled-abduction-talks-with-n-korea-may-resume-soon/

Honami Nabeshima

Suicide in protest of France's legalizing gay marriage

Dominique Venner, a writer as well as a far-right essayist, in France, shot and killed himself in the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris in protest against France's legalizing gay marriage.  His suicide led to the evacuation of the cathedral, where many visitors were present.  Venner put a letter down at the alter before shooting himself; the rector of the cathedral says Venner was not a regular visitor of the church and that he did not think anyone had ever killed themselves there before.  Marine Le Pen, a major figure in the Far Right movement in France, tweeted her respect for Venner's "political act."

Marion Gibney
http://www.thelocal.fr/20130521/notre-dame-evacuated-after-man-shoots-himself#.UZwj6MphSNo

The Guatemalan Constitutional Court has overturned the recent ruling of genocide of Efrain Rios Montt

Guatemala's Constitutional Court overturned the ruling of Efrain Rios Montt's trial of genocide.  The case will begin where it stood April 19 when the proceedings were under speculation of being annulled by the judge after the tribunal hearing of the oral speakings. At this point in the trial, it was suspended.  Once the trial began the closing arguments, the first judge, Carol Patricia Flores, asked to be reinstated, although she was already asked to stepped down from the trial because of a supposed bias.  She was then reinstated then convicted Montt of genocide.  This made grounds for the defense for Montt to appeal to the Constitutional Court in Guatemala.  Montt spent one day in prison and is now in a military hospital.

Brooke Reed

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2013/05/201352132024243407.html?utm_content=automate&utm_campaign=Trial6&utm_source=NewSocialFlow&utm_term=plustweets&utm_medium=MasterAccount

Nigeria forces attack Islamist militants

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/17/18320726-nigeria-sends-jets-attack-helicopters-to-war-against-islamist-militants?lite

Nigeria attacked Islam militant camps on friday with helicopters and jets.  The number is still unclear, but one says that at least 30 have been killed in the attacks.  Nigerian forces are trying to regain territory that have been inhabited by Boko Haram Islamist insurgents.  Nigeria are serious about this--they say that all camps are under attack, and there have been sightings of fully loaded soldier trucks.  A state of emergency is the current fear striking the country.

Iran claims it hanged CIA, Mossad spies

The Iranian government reportedly hung two spies that had been working for Israel and the United States on Sunday. They had been providing classified information to Mossad and the CIA. This is not the first time such a public hanging has occurred. Past events have lead to the hangings of various people in conjunction with murders of physicists.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/19/world/meast/iran-hangings/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

Hot-air balloons collide near Turkish tourist hotspot; 1 dead, 24 hurt

There was a tourist from Brazil who was killed in a hot-air balloon after it collided with another hot-air balloon in central Turkey today. They were in Nevsehir which is famous for its geological features when the crash occurred also injuring 24 others. 

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/20/18373184-hot-air-balloons-collide-near-turkish-tourist-hotspot-1-dead-24-hurt?lite

Chinese leadership desires closer ties with India

After recent border disputes, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has made a diplomatic trip to India to meet with President Pranab Mukherjee. The purpose of this visit is to discuss recent tensions due to an alleged incursion by Chinese troops in Indian claimed territory in the Himalayas. This border dispute has been a matter of contentious relations since the 1950s. A resolution would be a massive diplomatic victory for both parties.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-22592770

William Ragan

Venezuela To Import 50 Million Rolls of Toilet Paper

Venezuela intends to import massive quantities of toilet paper to counter a shortage of the crucial material.  This comes as various other basic consumer products are reported to be suffering from shortages.  Private companies and the government continue to blame the other for the shortages in consumer goods.

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/15/world/americas/venezuela-tp-shortage/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

Afghan Parliament Halts Debate on Women's Rights Law

The debate by Afghan MPs about beefing up a law preventing violence against women was stopped after 15 minutes when traditionalists called for the law to be scrapped all together.  The 2009 law that bans violence against women, child marriage, and forced marriage was passed by the presidential decree, but did not gain the support of the MPs.   Many women were concerned about it being debated in parliament in that the debate could weaken the law, or throw it out all together.  During the debate some demanded the law be changed so that men could not be prosecuted for rape within marriage.  Some said that the president signing the law in the first place was against Sharia law.  Many are doubtful that any president of Afghanistan will have a commitment towards women’s issues.  

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-22579098

Erin Burneson

Tunisia police clash with Salafists over meeting ban

BBC News: Tunisian police have clashed with hundreds of Islamists after authorities banned a Salafist group from holding its annual meeting. Salafists are a jihadist group of Muslims among Salafi Muslims who consider themselves to be the earliest examples of Muslim practice. Salafists have been active since the mid-1990s and are estimated to make up less than 1% of the Muslim population as a whole. 500 supporters descended on the Tunis suburb of Ettadhamen on Sunday erecting barricades and hurling rocks. One man was killed and 11 policeman were injured during the protests. The government said their reasoning for banning the group's meeting was because of the group's "...disdain for state institutions, incited violence against them, and a posed threat to public security". The group has been vocal about stricter Islamic laws as well as introduction of Sharia law in Tunisa.

Emily Goodfellow (#8)
LEV 350

A Prison Site’s Future Stirs Up the Ghosts of Its Notorious Past

Maze prison in Belfast was the site where Bobby Sands and 9 comrades died in a hunger strike for the right to be treated as political prisoners instead of criminals. The prison has since been taken down and a debate is raging over what will take its place. There is a proposal for a peace and conflict center:

"But instead of being embraced as a powerful symbol of reconciliation and a shared future, the proposed peace center has already become mired in the continuing dispute between unionists and republicans over how the story of the Troubles will be told." 

Pro-British unionists think the center will become a "shrine to terrorism." Former IRA sympathizers and Sinn Fein supporters see it instead as a symbol of their struggle.  Apparently in Belfast, as industry begins to boom, so does tourism that is connected to the ghosts of Northern Ireland's past -- the creation of "terror tours." It seems that this center will become a shrine no matter what, it is just undetermined to which side the center will be sympathetic to. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/world/europe/maze-prisons-future-stirs-up-ghosts-of-its-past.html?pagewanted=1&ref=world&_r=0

Jill Laumbacher 

A fascinating map of the world’s most and least racially tolerant countries

The Washington Post: Using the World Values Survey, two Swedish economists evaluated racial tolerance globally. The survey asked responders in 80 different countries to identify the different kinds of people they would not want as neighbors. According to the survey, Anglo and Latin countries were the most tolerant and likely to embrace a neighbor of a different race. The least racially tolerant countries were India, Jordan, and Hong Kong. There was an interesting variation throughout Europe while South Korea and Pakistan were considered outliers. Critiques of the study have pointed out that the survey question gets to personal biases and does not reflect countries as a whole. The other criticism is that the United States and India are both large in population and population density so the results are skewed. However, if we treat this data as indicative of anything it is that red countries are more likely to express racial attitudes while blue countries are not.

Emily Goodfellow (#7)
LEV 350

More anti-Dalai Lama sentiment coming from Chinese government

Before the Chinese premier visits India, the Chinese government made sure to release a media campaign with messages against the Dalai Lama. They go as far as to blame him for the hundreds of self-immolations by Buddhists throughout Tibet, which had been done in order to protest the Chinese government. They say that they want to reveal the truth about these incidents. In this documentary, they also release how some of the Dalai Lama supporters in India have released instructions on self-immolation on the internet for people to follow.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-22564522

Kangaroo injury in Australia

On the lighter side of the world news, a politician was injured by a kangaroo while on his morning jog. He did not see the kangaroo and he ran into it. He fell to the ground and while the kangaroo was trying to get away, it jumped on the politician's legs, leaving a good size wound. 

http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/17/world/asia/australia-politician-kangaroo-attack/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

Sinai hostages ‘can no longer stand torture’ call on Mursi for help

Today the Egyptian President, Mohamed Mursi, stated negotiation with the kidnappers of the 7 Egyptians soldiers after releasing a video in YouTube showing the 7 kidnapped soldiers, Handcuffed and covered eyes asking the president to give the kidnappers what they want, so they release them. However, president Mursi responded at the official MENA news, “There are no negotiations with criminals and the awe of the state will be preserved,” the situation is very tense in the Sinai Peninsula. According to the article, “the Sinai Peninsula prompted angry police to protest and shut down border crossings with Gaza and Israel”

 

Limk of the article is provided below:

http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2013/05/19/egypt.html

 

Aljalidi Abdulrahman

 

Syrian activists: Regime shells strategic town near Lebanese border, killing 16

In the town of Qusair near Lebanon, sixteen residents and rebel fighters were killed on Sunday, May 19, 2013 after airstrikes and heavy shelling was released by government officials. Syrian activists stated that this town is strategically important because it is responsible for the linking between Damascus and the coast. In the areas near Damascus and the coast, it is heavily concentrated with regime loyalists such as the Alawites which are followers of a Shiite offshoot. Earlier this afternoon, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that the death toll of the civilians and rebel fighters killed in this attack is likely to increase within the next few days.

http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/05/19/syrian-activists-regime-shells-strategic-town-near-lebanese-border-killing-16/

-Heather Krynicki
( 9th blog post)

Iraq hangings

The following article explains that Iraq had hanged 21 prisoners that were convicted on terrorist charges. There was some harsh criticism against the Iraq government because of the capital punishments that were carried out.  The article explains that all of those that were hanged had carried out some sort of terrorist plot as part of Al Qaeda. With these 21 hangings the total number is now up to 50 for the year and it is only May.  The one surprising aspect of this is that Iraq apparently is one of the world leaders in executions.  The article says that Iraq was 4th in executions in the year 2011.  I really did not even think Iraq would be in this conversation so it is a little mind boggling that they are.  The article then goes on to say that the violence in Iraq is increasing because of the upcoming elections most experts speculate.  In the last part, it says that the minority, Sunnis, are carrying out attacks on the majority, Shiites, within Iraq.  So things are getting very interesting in Iraq around their elections.

James Modelski
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/04/17/iraq-hangs-21-prisoners-with-links-to-al-qaeda/

Role Reversal: Pakistan Fears Terrorists From Afghanistan

Back in 2009 the Pakistan military was able to remove the Taliban from an area known as the Swat Valley, however they are concerned that their efforts may not be able to hold out. Recent attacks have caused concerns for many in Pakistan. They are concerned that as the U.S. begins to lessen its presence in Afghanistan the Pakistani Taliban will begin to gain strength from havens across the border. Already in areas the Taliban has been beginning to take back areas. While the U.S. will maintain a small presence in Afghanistan some leaders are calling that control of some bases be turned over to Afghan control.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324743704578443261216771042.html

Mexican Sex Trafficking Coming to USA

The Mexican sex trafficking has been growing more rapidly than drug trafficking recently and spilling into the United States more with each passing day.  The experiences of multiple women who were liberated from their slavery in New York, New York are told anonymously in this article.  This article was written to shed light on what these people experience since human trafficking is an issue that most people do not pay attention to.  One woman speaks of eloping with her boyfriend, who turned out to be a pimp.  He would verbally, physically, and sexually assault her for any form of rebellion against her place in the world. She was forced to have sex with dozens of men for as many as 18 hours a day at the age of 14. She faced horribly brutal punishment if she did not manage to earn $600 per day.  Her average rate was a few dollars for 15 minutes.  She describes being beaten by phone cord, a broomstick, and numerous other items to the point that she would be unable to get up after the beating.  Approximately 70,000 minors are victims of human trafficking in Mexico.  Recently, 13 individuals were arrested in New York for human sex trafficking.

http://thecnnfreedomproject.blogs.cnn.com/2013/05/17/mexican-sex-traffickers-moving-into-u-s/?hpt=wo_c2

Syria

Fighting continues in Syria, with the government attempting to take the town of Qusair from rebels.  This article describes the situation, with reports from both the the Syrian government and rebels about the situation in the town.  The article also indicates the presence of Russian made missiles being used in the attack, however, Russia does not confirm that they supplied the missiles.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22586378

Jeff

Senior politician killed in Karachi

Zahra Shahid Hussian, the central vice-president of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party, was shot in the head twice by three gunmen on Saturday night. As Hussian was leaving her home, three gunmen attacked her. She was killed just before re-elections took place on Sunday at NA-250, a stronghold of PTI in Karachi. The city is controlled by Muttahida Qaumi (MQM), the rival party, which won 18 of 19 National Assembly seats in Karachi. MQM is considered to be a terrorist organization and its leader, Altaf Hussain, is wanted on murder charges in Pakistan. He leads the party from exile in England. Zahra Hussain’s death is has led to accusations against MQM, but Al Jazeera’s Imtiaz Tyab says “On average 12 people are killed in Karachi every single day…this could’ve been a robbery.” Some see this killing as a security failure by the provincial government. 

During last week’s election, 150 people were killed throughout Pakistan by the Taliban, who believe democracy is “un-Islamic”.  

Read more here. 

Dramatic helicopter shoot-out and car chase in Rio de Janeiro

Last weekend in Rio de Janeiro, a police helicopter gun fired at a moving car. Aiming at drug trafficker Marcio Pereira, he stopped his car and managed to escape and hide until the next day when he was found dead in a parked car in Favela da Coréia.

(check out the short and cool video clip!)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/brazil/10041638/Dramatic-helicopter-shoot-out-and-car-chase-in-Rio-de-Janeiro.html

Mexican priest fights for immigration reform in U.S.

Rev. Alejandro Solalinde is known for his migrant shelter in Mexico and is part of a group of migrants that are traveling together from Los Angeles to Washington to push for immigration reform. While pushing for immigration reform, Rev. Alejandro Solalinde not only wants his voice heard in the debate but the voices of "Not just the voice of the north, but the voice of the south, the voice of the poor, the voice of the migrants." Although he knows he does not have much power and his voice might get drowned out, Solanlinda is courageous. The rest of the group is  lobbying for a path to citizenship and greater attention to the human cost of immigration policies.


http://www.cnn.com/2013/05/14/world/americas/us-mexico-priest/index.html

North Korea Allegedly Fires 3 Missiles

Not to worry, though, as the missiles were short-range. South Korea reported the test after a period of mostly idleness from North Korea. The United States maintains their offering for peace and co-operation, urging North Korea to dismantle their nuclear weapons, which they have violently opposed. The likelihood of long-range, nuclear missiles being developed remains dubious. One bright side to this missile launch is that it might soothe tensions within the country without requiring a violent response or provocation.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/world/asia/north-korea-missiles.html?ref=world&_r=0

Republicans: IRS scandal shows agency 'rotten to the core,' needs major reform

The article written by Fox News highlights the current scandal by the IRS. The IRS has targeted conservative organinzations for audits and not allowing certain organizations to have tax exempt status. Recently, its has become known that corporations and small businesses that have donated to the Republican party during the last election have been audited by the IRS. The acting IRS commissioner Steven Miller has resigned and testified in front of the house Ways and Means committee to find out who said to target the conservative groups. The article says that "The IRS targeting Tea Party groups and other conservative-leaning political organizations has reignited calls for reform and the argument among Capitol Hill Republicans that the federal government has become too big and out of control. Among those leading the calls for reform is Michigan Rep. Dave Camp, chairman of the Republican-led House Ways and Means Committee, which held a hearing on the scandal five days after the targeting was made public and two days after the resignation of acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller.“This systemic abuse cannot be fixed with just one resignation,” Camp said at the start of the hearing Wednesday. “This is a problem of the IRS being too large, too powerful, too intrusive and too abusive of honest, hardworking taxpayers.” I think that reform is a important topic for future discussions. The IRS reform and tax code reform, I think in the short term the bigger issue is holding those responsible for targeting conservatives and making sure that it never happens again. 


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/18/republicans-irs-scandal-shows-agency-rotten-at-core-needs-major-reform/#ixzz2TgS2u7CB

Violence Picks Up in Afghanistan

In this article, we see that there has been a recent mass out-break in violence in Afghanistan, mainly targeting police officers. This out-break has been due to an anti-Taliban campaign. There have been multiple car bombings, killing mainly police officers, and injuring civilians. One of the more recent attacks was focused on civilians and at an area where families go to have picnics. It was regarded beforehand as a very peaceful area. This just shows that they are trying to instill terror.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/19/world/asia/police-officers-are-targets-in-wave-of-afghan-violence.html?ref=world&_r=0


Posted by: Patrick Weisgerber

France's Hollande Signs Gay Marriage Law

Finally, the hotly debate topic of allowing same-sex marriage in France came to conclude, making France the 14th country in the world to legalize gay marriage. It is considered the biggest social reform since the abolition of death penalty in 1981. "Love has won out over hate," was the comment Montpellier mayor, Helene Mandroux, after the bill was signed. She will celebrate France's first gay marriage on May 29 despite concern over possibility of violent protest. Even though huge and often violent demonstrations had broken out for months by opponents, polls showed more than half the country backed gay marriage. However, the leader of opposition to gay marriage has said that he is expecting another huge protest by millions of opponents to the law on May 26.

Read more at: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2013/05/18/world/europe/18reuters-france-gaymarriage.html?ref=global-home&_r=0

By Yen Do

Saudi woman makes history by reaching Everest summit

An inspiring story in lights of gender's role is society written today as Raha Moharrak became the first Saudi woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest. She is also the youngest Arab to conquer the highest mountain in the world. Interestingly, her group of four includes the first Qatari man and the first Palestinian man attempting to reach the summit. Ms. Moharrak's biography said that convincing her family to agree to her climb "was as great a challenge as the mountain itself," considering that she is from one of the most conservative Muslim countries in the world where women's rights are restricted.

Her group tried to raise $1m for education projects in Nepal.

Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-22580140

By Yen Do