1) 2 suicide bombs in Niger killed 26 people this morning at a base. Another terrorist with the same group is believed to be holding soldiers hostage inside the compound. This is the first ever documented terrorist attack in the country. Rumors that it is connected to extremists in Mali.
2) France is the latest country in the European Union to push for listing Hezbollah as a terrorist group. Germany joined the UK’s petition earlier this week.
3) Obama comes clean about drones: says he will let Congress see each drone attack, says he is open to more review and also claims he personally reviewed each strike previously. This conversation devolved into foreign policy discussion on helping democracies and Gitmo.
1) Eric Holder admitted that 4 American citizens have been killed in US drone strikes in Yemen and Pakistan since 2011, this is one day before Obama is supposed to deliver a speech on the subject.
2) Horrible attack in Woolwich, a district of London, England. 2 men killed a soldier with meat cleavers in full view of the public then asked pedestrians to take photos and video of their bloodstained hands. They claimed on camera the act was retribution for the British government killing Muslims. Police opened fire on the men and they are currently being held in a hospital under police supervision.
3) Rioting continues in Sweden for the 4th night straight. The riots are taking place in an immigrant neighborhood of Stockholm, in response to the death of a mentally-ill men, shot by police after he allegedly threatened them with a knife. The riots come after a long period of unrest due to unemployment and other economic factors in the area.
North Korea launched 3-striaght days of missiles. Captured Chinese ship and held for ransom 24 hours
Russian government to shut down only independent polling agency, Levada Center for receiving foreign funds and not registering as “foreign agents”; Russia sent new weapons to Syria despite “wanting” peace
Syrian forces sweep rebel held town, estimated 70 dead, Assad said all peace talks will fail because West wants to “prolong” war; Israeli forces returned fire from Syria today
Pakistan military commander met with the newly elected incoming Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in a “show of support” for democracy and so on
Continued unrest in Egypt, secularists and extremists band together against Morsi and Brotherhood could impact parliamentary elections in fall
Incredibly violent week in Iraq, 89 dead yesterday, 230 this week in violence between Shia and Sunnis
4 arrested after violence during Gay Rights Demonstration in Georgia; former Prime Minister and head of the President’s political Party (United Movement) was arrested for corruption/embezzlement
As more and more peoples leave the Columbian FARC, the rebels have stepped up recruiting children
After a fatal shooting during a protest in Sweden, riots have continued for 2 days in Stockholm, 7 police injured
Thein Sein, President of Burma visited the White House today, 1st to visit in 47 years
Clashes in Tripoli, Lebanon over Syria led to the death of one soldier and 6 others wounded
There is a shortage of toilet paper in Venezuela, they will be importing 50 million rolls to meet demands, this is just one of many shortages seen in the country, cyclical blame between government, private companies and the media fear-mongering people into hording.
Greek member of ultra-right party Golden Dawn, Ilias Kasidiaris, was kicked out of parliament after shouting and making rude comments such as calling other members “sell-outs”, “goats” and yelled “Heil Hilter” in reference to them. Apparently this is the same guy who threw water in the face of a woman on TV and then slapped another 3 times before being pulled away. Video link.
In case you didn’t know, I’m getting married in a week and a half! (SQUEE!!) Until after my wedding in Malta, I will not be posting like a regularly do. That, and my microphone broke in Houston last week (donations welcome). I miss you guys but just too much on my plate. If I have a minute I will post if I can but certainly, in no regular capacity. And if you want to stalk my wedding, you can do that here.
1) Car bomb outside French Embassy in Tripoli, Libya. 2 guards were injured and extensive damage to nearby structures.
2) Two men in Canada, believed to be acting on orders from Al-Qaeda, tried to derail a passenger train in a terrorist plot. Both men are in custody and Iran denies any link with the two men. One is thought to be from Tunisia and the other from United Arab Emirates.
3) The country of Bhutan held its second parliamentary election today. 67 candidates ran for 20 elected seat in the upper house. 5 seats are for royal appointment. The monarch took a voluntarily smaller role after elections in 2008. The lower house voting will take place in June with 5 parties vying for seat. Results of the election are expected tomorrow.
Boston bombing suspect is in the hospital but is not being charged an an enemy combatant, says the White House. However Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is officially facing federal charges and has made an initial court room appearance form his hospital bed. The 2 brother’s father says he will fly to the US to seek “justice” and the boys were set up. Russia is also claiming they shared information on at least one of the Boston bombing suspects, where they had him flagged as a possible terrorist.
187 killed and 2000 homes destroyed in Nigeria says the Red Cross while the government tries to push out the Al-Qaeda linked group Boko Haram from the country.
Serbia has approved a deal to normalize relations with Kosovo, thousands of Serbs have turned out to protest the agreement.
EU has dropped Sanctions on Burma to help trade and democrozation / Also lifted embargo on oil trade with Syria to provide “economic” support to the rebels
Obama will visit city of West, TX after fertilizer explosion
At least 100 dead in Syria in past week from army attacks
Azerbaijan’s foreign minister Elmar Mamadyarov makes first trip to Israel, Israel praised their role in “countering” Iran’s influence in the Middle East
Pakistan’s Supreme Court does not charge former military ruler Pervez Musharraf with treason, they will allow the winner of the next election to decide his fate, he is currently under house arrest and last week literally ran away from a courtroom that refused to grant him bail over a decision to dismiss judges 2007 / Pakistan helicopter crash leads to captures – 7 Turk, 2 Russians and Afghan, Taliban responsbile
Chile’s President Sebastian Pinera names new Education minister Carolina Schmidt, after the last one was impeached last week for failure to monitor budgets
Georgia’s Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili met with Jean-Claude Mignon, President of PACE (Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe) on integration into Europe
Russian activist Konstantin Levedev begins trial for organizing mass disorder which he pled guilty, the prosecutors are asking for a sentence of 5 years
After the rebel takeover of Central African Republic, rebels are still in the streets demanding compensation for their part, speculation is that new leader Michel Djotodia cannot control them
6 dead in shooting in Russia, a man opened fire while attempting to rob a gun store
Local elections this weekend in the Ivory coast were boycotted by the opposition
Czech Republic had to make a statement to let Twitter know it wasn’t Chechnya
United Arab Emirates now has fines for skimpy swimsuits
1) Boston bombing suspect is in the hospital but is not being charged an an enemy combatant, says the White House. However Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is officially facing federal charges and has made an initial court room appearance form his hospital bed. Russia is also claiming they shared information on at least one of the Boston bombing suspects, where they had him flagged as a possible terrorist.
2) 187 killed and 2000 homes destroyed in Nigeria says the Red Cross while the government tries to push out the Al-Qaeda linked group Boko Haram from the country.
3) Serbia has approved a deal to normalize relations with Kosovo, thousands of Serbs have turned out to protest the agreement.
Oppsotion leader and blogger, Alekei Navalny began trial today for embezzlement (a weak case against him). The trial was almost immediately adjourned however, as the defense asked for more time to hone their case. Navalny said he would win the case y proving his innocence, even if the court found him guilt of crimes he denies.
Margaret Thatcher’s funeral happened early this morning (US time). While the UK did make it an official state event, the procession and ceremony will be seen as one of the most elaborate services in Great Britain since the death of Winston Churchill.
German courts are reviewing a case involving a NATO airstrike in Afghanistan 2009 brought by families
Secular political parties in Pakistan are calling on the government to do more to protect them after multiple attack as elections get closer, the parties rightly point out that this violence from the Taliban not only threaten the lives of their participants but impacts their potential political power / After angry comments from President Karzai of Afghanistan, Pakistan has offered to comply with requests to remove the blockade along the disputed border between the countries
The EU stated that Hungary is in non-compliance with requests to reinstate judges it forced to retire
A day after protests from the opposition in Venezuela, Maduro supporters took over the National Electoral Council building where backers of Capriles planned to hold an event, the MAduro group damaged the building, burnt flags and posters of the opposition leader and threw homemade bombs; State police arrived to protect buildings but made no attempt to arrest anyone at the scene; 7 dead
Bombing in Sudan by the government of rebel-backed South Kordofan providence is leading to starvation for the civilians living there, a report from Amnesty International says
700 Brazilian Indians occupied the lower house on congress today in protest of an amendement that would allow congress to decide demarcation of their land instead of the executive branch (borders)
Morocco canceled planned annual military exercises with the US today after the White House backed UN measures to monitor human rights abuses in the disputed territory of Western Sahara
Egypt’s Muslim Brother Hood condemned the bombing in Boston, calling it “sinful”
A man was arrested in Mississippi today suspected of sending 2 poisoned letters, one to President Obama and the other to Republican senator, Roger Wicker; the suspect is apparently elvis impersonator
In Belarus, a TV technician has been arrested after playing a banned music video and a porn segment on national TV; the music video by Lyapis Trubetskoy is banned because of their music that includes criticisms of Belarus President Lukashenko and President of Russia Vladamir Putin
1) Serbia and Kosovo have restarted talks in Brussels.
2) Oppsotion leader and blogger, Alekei Navalny began trial today for embezzlement (a weak case against him). The trial was almost immediately adjourned however, as the defense asked for more time to hone their case. Navalny said he would win the case y proving his innocence, even if the court found him guilt of crimes he denies.
3) Margaret Thatcher’s funeral happened early this morning (US time). While the UK did make it an official state event, the procession and ceremony will be seen as one of the most elaborate services in Great Britain since the death of Winston Churchill.
