EU plans penalties for refusing asylum seekers

Migrant Crisis: EU plans penalties for refusing asylum seekers

Europe’s migration system has been placed under exceptional pressure in the recent months as asylum seekers continue to flood into neighboring European countries for safety. Yet some countries accepting refugees have experienced disproportionate numbers of asylum claims, while other countries continue to refuse refugees.

To combat this problem, the European Commission has proposed harsh financial penalties ($290,000 per person) to be imposed on countries that refuse asylum seekers. Since a deal with Turkey has already been made to reduce migrant numbers, the EU Commission is hoping to obtain support from most member states.

Under this proposal, the refugees would still have to claim asylum in their new countries. The countries receiving more than 150% of its “fair share” of asylum seekers (calculated by the country’s population and economy), then the relocation scheme would kick in. Countries that have mainly carried the burden of the massive influx of refugees would receive the money that the countries refusing refugees would be fined. Greece is an example of a country that has carried much of the burden, when around 50,000 migrants and refugees were left stranded in Greece after fences and imposed border controls in the neighboring countries were established.

The aim for this proposal is to control for fairness within European countries in handling the influx of migrants. The UK, Ireland, British government and Denmark will not take part. Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic all disagree with the proposal (some were even angered by it), but the quota plan was agreed and these four countries were outvoted.

Jessy Krempp

Article: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-36202490

No Need to Fear

With Donald Trump's crazy campaign and his way of swaying voters he often talks about getting rid of whole ethnic groups. The article I read spoke of the attacks in Paris and how he believes we should fear all Muslims. France said that this fear is irrational, and there is no need to be afraid of Muslims entering the country. The article said, "liberal democracies are not opening their doors to terrorism when they let Muslims in". I couldn't agree more with this statement. It seems to me that a lot of people are writing off the whole group because of a few bad people. This isn't fair to them and this stereotype needs to be changed!

Pat Gallagher

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/united-states/2016-04-26/dont-fear-muslim-immigrants

"The Snail" Caught by Colombians, and Sent back to Peru

Colombian police found, and arrested Gerson Galvez, a Peruvian drug lord known as "The Snail," yesterday, and promptly deported him back to Peru. He was found shopping in Medellin, Colombia. They used the fact that he didn't posses migration papers to deport him.

Galvez is being accused of running one of the most powerful cocaine-trafficing gangs in Peru. Not only that, but he and his "gang" is accused of committing a number of other crimes, including murder. 

He reportedly claimed to be innocent, rejecting all allegations put upon him by the Colombian and Peruvian governments. He expressed that he had "the right to the presumption of innocence. They didn't find anything [drugs] with [him]." He was then escorted onto a Peruvian Air Force plane, and sent back to Peru. 

Crime in Peru and Colombia surrounding cocaine-trafficing and such is very prevalent now, as they are "the world's main growers of coca leaves - the main ingredient for cocaine." Colombian and Peruvian officials alike publicly thanked Colombian police for taking down "one of the most feared drug lords in the region," and declared the arrest "a powerful shot against translational crime." The capture of Galvez symbolizes the ability of these governments to take control of the cocaine-trafficing problem in their countries, and potentially end the fear and suffering of their citizens surrounding this issue. 

- Livia Gazzolo

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-36184737 

China tightens its grip on foreign NGOs

China has recently passed a controversial law imposing new regulations for all nongovernmental organizations operating within the country. This law requires those organizations to submit to any police inspection and let the government know at any point in time where their funds are coming from and going to. This has led to widespread criticism from human rights activists globally because of the harsh infringements on freedoms of expression and assembly. My own thoughts about this is that China is no cakewalk for anybody, this has been known for many years so having a law like this go into effect just does not surprise me. Sure it is probably a human rights and privacy violation in many regards, but China plays by their own rules. Some might say by doing something like this you will drive away business, which is likely to happen. But in reality, business as usual will continue, you will just have to be prepared to hide all of the "medicinal" drugs when the government randomly shows up at your door one day! But my guess is that these checks won't be too stringent considering China does not want to drive away business from their country.

-Chris Kucinsky

http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/28/asia/china-foreign-ngo-law/index.html

Critical Journalists Arrested After Cairo Police R

Two journalists are arrested by Egyptian police after a raid at a press syndicate. Both journalists were known to be critical of the government in Cairo. The interior ministry refuses to recognize the raid of 40 police officers, only claiming it was 8. This sparked a storm among the journalists and they think an apology is deserved. It has also sparked a sit-in with the other journalists in protest of the unnecessary raid. Amanda Pringle http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2016/05/01/world/middleeast/01reuters-egypt-rights.html?ref=world

"More Belgians close to nuclear facilities get iodine pills for emergencies"-CNN

As Belgium is changing their "nuclear emergency plan," the government has begun to pass out iodine pills to its citizens spanning over a sixty two mile radius than their preceding twelve mile radius. The iodine protects against any radiation posioning that could be affecting the thyroid from the plants. Their revision of the nuclear power plan has nothing to do with the increased terrorism, as the Belgian government said, but they are increasing their protection against the plants since so much of their electricity is dependent on these plants.

By: Katie Cotter

http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/30/world/belgian-government-iodine-pills-irpt/index.html

The UK breaking off from the EU? A blow to globalism?

In the New York Times article cited below the surprising response of British companies towards the status of the country in the EU was addressed. Shockingly, businesses, the entity which would be most effected by a change in policy, has said little about the debate. The companies, who would likely benefit from staying within the larger market have kept quiet for fear of upsetting customers with the opposite opinion. This clearly shows that the support for leaving the EU is becoming more and more widespread. The European Union implemented the ideas of a global marketplace on a smaller scale but now it seems that some wish to back out. What does this mean for globalism? And if Britain does back out how will this effect the rest of the union?

McKenzie Parlatore
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/02/world/europe/brexit-referendum-companies-neutral-eu.html?ref=world&_r=0

Rio Olympics: South Korea unveils anti-Zika uniform

With the Rio Olympics less than 100 days away, many countries and their athletes have begun to release a range of their uniforms and outfits for competition and ceremonies. Among these is South Korea, who announced that they will be sporting tracksuits and long pants and blazers that are infused with insect repellent to keep mosquitoes away.  They are the first to take this approach to combat the threat of the Zika virus that has plagued South America. Brazil alone has had over 90,000 suspected Zika virus cases from February to April 2016. It has already reached 43 countries between three continents. The World Heath Organization announced three months ago that the virus is considered a global public health emergency, which can cause microcephaly in babies and some cases are linked to a muscle weakening disease in adults. South Korea's design tactics show the looming possibility of the virus spreading and being exposed to such a high population for the summer games in Rio De Janeiro.

--Kassie Whaling--
http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/29/sport/rio-olympics-zika-south-korea/index.html

Kurdish group claims suicide attack in Turkish city of Bursa

A Kurdish military group announce today that they were responsible for a suicide attack in Bursa a city in Turkey.  This suicide which killed thirteen people was organized by the Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, TAK.  TAK recently announced the name of the bomber who killed herself she was only twenty-three years’ old, and apparently she did not make it to her intended target.  Eser Cali, the bomber, blew up before reaching her intended target.  TAK has also claimed responsibility for another attack which resulted in the death of sixty-six people.

Peter Olache

http://globalnews.ca/news/2673502/kurdish-group-claims-attack-in-turkish-city-of-bursa/

Villagers just protected a sacred forest outside India's polluted capital

The Mangar Bani forest of India, with its thick cover of trees and its dozens of chirping birds, wild leopards and rare species of insects and flowers, survived untouched for centuries because the local villagers believed it was a sin to cut its trees. But in recent years, Gurgaon — called “a suburb on steroids” — has experienced urban sprawl. An explosion of luxury condos, office buildings, tollways, malls and nightclubs are threatening to destroy hundreds of acres of the Mangar Bani forest. Real estate companies and residents argued in India’s National Green Tribunal, known as the green court: Is Mangar Bani a forest, farmland or just a bunch of arid rocks? They fortunately decided it was a forest, and a sacred one. Now, after almost six years of battles in court, government departments, and on the streets, citizens have managed to save the 677-acre Mangar Bani sacred grove from builders, even though developers own dozens of acres of forestland. The state government has declared it a no-construction zone. Environmentalists are wary though, because developers have attempted to carry out illegal logging there. The state forest department has deployed guards around the clock at an attempt to protect the sacred forest. 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/villagers-just-protected-a-sacred-forest-outside-indias-polluted-capital/2016/04/26/f3a06eef-cd29-4389-a319-f345990ef126_story.html

Emily Alaimo

Blast Kills Two Police In Turkey Near Headquarters

At 9:20am on Sunday, May 1st, an explosion from a car bomb occurred outside the Police Headquarters in Gaziantep, Turkey that left twenty-two people critically injured and two dead. Out of the twenty-two victims, eighteen of them were police officers while the other four were civilians. The two deaths were also police officers. There currently has been no mention of who was responsible for this act of terror, but Turkey still remains suspicious of the terrorist group, ISIS.

Kyla Singleton

http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/01/europe/turkey-blast-police-gaziantep/index.html

Kenya Burns Elephant Ivory to Defy Poachers

On Saturday, Kenyan officials created a stockpile of all the confiscated and recovered elephant tusks from the illegal ivory trade and elephant poaching. In an effort to show that Kenya is serious about ending these acts, they burned an estimated 105 million dollars worth of ivory tusks, which represents from 6000-7000 dead elephants. Elephants are becoming increasingly closer to extinction, and thus Kenya and other countries are taking measures to try to stop the poaching of these animals.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/01/world/africa/kenya-burns-poached-elephant-ivory-uhuru-kenyatta.html?ref=world&_r=0
-Sarah Beck

Problems in Tunisia

As many of us know there are many problems in the Middle East. The article I read spoke of Tunisia and how it is the only democracy in that part of the world, and that they are failing miserably. There are a multitude of reasons for their implosion. The biggest one is that dozens of militants joined Isis and attacked a town called Ben Gardane. This really stuck out to me because I cannot fathom somebody doing that in the U.S. I don't understand how one can do that to their own country, but I tried to somewhat put myself in their shoes and see their point. In their heads they aren't doing anything wrong which is sad but true. Something needs to be done to stop this!

https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/middle-east/2016-03-17/democracy-arab-world

Pat Gallagher

Is Dilma Rousseff Alienating Allies?

Brazil's president, Dilma Rousseff, is facing impeachment over charges that she borrowed money from the state to fix budget holes. Now she is accusing her rivals of creating chaos in an attempted coup d'etat. However, many analysts say that Rousseff's personality and work style have driven away her allies, many of whom she has verbally berated in public. A trial in the Brazilian senate could begin in the coming weeks, and many analysts say that it could lead to her removal as president.

-William Dawes

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/02/world/americas/brazil-president-facing-impeachment-has-alienated-many-allies.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

Muslim’s Labour Party Candidacy Shapes London Mayoral Race

London has a Muslim running for mayor. Sadiq Khan is competing against Boris Johnson, an extroverted conservative who has been London’s mayor since 2008. Khan would be the first Muslim to lead the city. London faces a shortage of affordable housing and an overcrowded mass transit network. The fight between the two contenders has touched on the delicate issues of ethnicity and religion. The two are examples of London’s diversity and globalization, with one in eight residents identifying as Muslim. Besides their upbringing and ethnic heritage, from a policy standpoint there is little differentiation. They both have not “challenged London’s existing model of openness to immigration and investment, allied to rapid economic growth.” “Khan’s election would be a boost for the Labour Party at a time when Prime Minister David Cameron’s Conservatives are deeply divided on Europe.” I think that a Muslim mayor would spark speculation in London at a time when radical Islamists are terrorizing Europe. However, Johnson’s defense strikes low blows that disregard any real policy issues that matter in the election.

Rebecca Goeders

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/01/world/europe/muslims-labour-candidacy-shapes-london-mayoral-race.html?ref=world&_r=0

ISIS Claims Southern Iraq Suicide Bombings

On Sunday in southern Iraq, a pair of suicide bombers killed at least 11 people and injured at least 13 others. The terrorist group ISIS claimed the attack in the al-Samawa city on Sunday, stating that one assailant blew up his car during the gathering of the Shiite Ministry of Interior Special Forces and then a second attacker blew up his car when Shiite security forces arrived at the initial site. Both attacks killed and wounded others.

The previous day (Saturday), hundreds to thousands of protesters rushed the government buildings and foreign embassies to break in and ransack rooms and gesture at cameras at the scene. Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who led attacks against the American fighters in Iraq, inflamed the crowd with a speech claiming corrupt leaders in Iraq. Sadr and protestors boycott all politicians suspicious of corruption. In response to this protest, an order was made that states that anyone who attacks security forces, members of parliament and citizens who destroy public property are to be prosecuted. This order was made on Sunday, the same day as the two bombings, yet it was not clear if it was made before or after the bombings.

Jessy Krempp

Article: http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/01/middleeast/iraq-violence/index.html

"Iraq PM Orders Arrests After Breach of Baghdad's Green Zone"

Protesters, in support of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr in Iraq breached the Green Zone (the inner government district in the capital) and stormed the parliament building on Saturday. Sadr' had previously called for the pressuring of the Iraqi government into implementing reforms. The protesters left the parliament building that night and held a sit-in at the Saddam-era Grand Festivities Square. The protesters expressed that they are angry with the corruption in their government and want a political system that cares more about its people that pleasing political parties. The only reasons that security forces did not open fire on the protesters were that more chaos would ensue and that they could not force them from the area. In the face of financial crisis, attacks by ISIS, and a corrupt government, the Iraqi people have gained concern from the U.N., which has released a statement condemning the violence against government officials and urges "'calm, restraint and respect for Iraq's constitutional institutions at this crucial juncture.'"

Meredith Teuscher

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/iraq-pm-orders-arrests-after-breach-baghdad-s-green-zone-n565471