February 28, 2010

Welcome to the Global Current, your window to the world. Due to the Snowicane, a podcast for this week’s show will not be available (clicking “listen now,” will bring you to last week’s show). For now, here are your headlines, America!

Headline Writers:

The Americas- Rehana Nathoo, Oriana Luquetta
Europe- Christiana Weidanz , Renee Callender

The Middle East- Matt Ausloss, Vivian Moreno

Africa- Andrea Borrelli, Kristen Velloza

Asia- Caleb Barnhart

The Americas

Chilean Government Announces “State of Catastrophe” after Quake

On Sunday, an 8.8 magnitude earthquake shook the Latin American country, leaving hundreds dead and displacing 2 million more. Concepcion, the city’s second largest metropolitan area, is expected to have suffered the most casualties and experts are certain that the death toll will rise as workers continue to sort through the rubble. Images of toppled buildings and ruined cars were reminiscent of the catastrophe that struck Haiti almost a month ago. The differences in the Chilean case, however, are improved building standards as well as the more remote location of the quake. Saturday’s quake has tied for the fifth largest in the world since 1900. The tsunami waves that were a result of the Chilean quake instigated preliminary evacuation procedures in Hawaii but the threat was deemed minimal some 15 hours later.

Update on Haiti

As recovery and reconstruction continues in Haiti, a new issue emerges for survivors. Survivors who were trapped in old buildings and under cars now have to deal with crushed and infected limbs that require amputation. Thousands of new amputees are facing the shocking reality of living with disabilities in a country with already poor infrastructure and access. They will continue to need care and rehabilitation in a country that offers no physical or disability therapy, particularly in light of the fact that amenities like food and shelter have been hard to come by given the recent earthquake. The Haitian government believes that 6,000 to 8,000 people have lost limbs or digits and Handicap International estimates between 2,000 and 4,000 Haitians have undergone amputations. Accommodating the increase in the disabled population will be yet another complication in Haiti’s attempt to reconstruct their state and society.

Final Update on the Vancouver Olympics

The 2010 Vancouver Olympics wrap up with their 17-day stretch on Sunday February 28th. Many athletes across different sports are anticipating a showdown between the U.S.A and Canada in the Gold Medal Hockey Game, taking place Sunday afternoon in Vancouver. The final day of the Olympics has only two events left – the gold medal game and the Men’s 50km in Cross Country and most athletes have completed their events as the Olympics come to a close. As of Sunday morning (ET), the US holds the medal count lead with 36, followed by Germany with 29 medals, and Canada with 25 medals. The host nation holds the largest number of gold medals, with 13.

These 2010 Olympics were not without controversy and tragedy, however. The international sporting event had barely started when Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili was killed during a trial run on the Vancouver track. The warm weather in Vancouver also created some issues with rink conditions for speed skaters, as well as hill conditions for skiers. Last Sunday morning, Canadian figure skater Joannie Rochette’s mother passed away in a Vancouver hospital at the age of 55. Rochette went on to compete in an emotional and crowd moving short program, and finished with a bronze in her event. Team USA Olympic skiers Julia Mancuso and Lindsay Vonn also faced some controversy. Vonn crashed in her run during their event, thereby forcing Mancuso, who was on the hill right after her to restart her run and ultimately cripple her medal aspirations.  Comments swirled from both camps about tension between the teammates, but Mancuso took home two silver medals, while Vonn won a gold and bronze medal. Finally, the most recent controversial event was the celebratory antics by the Canadian Women’s Hockey Team upon winning the gold medal last Friday. The team celebrated with champagne and cigars on the ice, eliciting strong rebukes from the IOC and fellow athletes.

Supreme Court rules against the "Right to Remain Silent"
The Supreme Court ruled that the Miranda Rights' "right to remain silent" has now been limited   to 14 days. Anything stated after this time period by the crime suspect can be used against him in a court of law. "The right to remain silent" was originally intended to prevent freed suspects from being questioned repeatedly. The Supreme Court decided to create this new limit, after several cases where the freed suspect could not be jailed after confessing to guiltiness,  This new ruling was exemplified by the Maryland vs Shatzer case, where Michael Shatzer was convicted for abusing his son even though his confession was stated after his initial questioning. The Supreme Court ruling took place on February 24, 2010.

Venezuela Annuls Election of anti-Chavez Mayor
The 2008 election of Jorge Barboza  as mayor was annulled by the Supreme Court on Wednesday, February 24th on the grounds of his failure to pay $292 in local taxes.  Barboza is an opposing leader of the Chavez ruling party. Instead, the Supreme Court appointed Humberto Franka Salas, a strong member of the party, to fit the position. Barboza called the ruling a "coup against a democratically elected official" in brief comments to the local Globovision channel in Venezuela. Chavez denies this allegations, stating that he had nothing to do with the decision of the judges.

Europe

Ukraine Elects New President

This week the opposition leader, Viktor Yanukovych, was inaugurated as Ukraine’s new president. His victory has been highly controversial, both the Prime Minister and the outgoing president have refused to recognize his victory. Yankovych only won in the runoff election by 3.5% and he is the first Ukrainian president to have the backing over less than 50% of those who voted. The new president hopes to bridge the gap between the Eastern and Western countries, and have stronger relationships with Western Europe and the U.S.

Turkey Fears Military Coup

Several people were arrested this week in connection with a suspected coup plot in Turkey. Arrests included two serving admirals, three retired admirals and three retired generals. The president made a statement this week in an attempt to calm citizens and there fears about government unrest. He also said that the newly arisen tensions between the military and government, in connection with the coup, will be resolved through the law. Several military leaders have been imprisoned or charged as part of "Sledgehammer," an alleged plot hatched by secular military to plant bombs in mosques to destabilize the country's elected and Islamist-inspired government.

Muammar Gaddafi calls “holy war” against Switzerland

Muammar Gaddafi, President of Libya, angered by the recent Swiss vote against the building of minarets, has called for Muslims to boycott the country.  Gaddafi has not had a good relationship with Switzerland in the past.  In 2008, one of his sons was arrested and accused of assault in Geneva.  He further went on to say that, “Any Muslim in any part of the world who works with Switzerland is an apostate, is against Muhammad, God and the Koran.”

The Middle East

Algerian police chief killed

Ali Tounsi, the chief of Algeria’s national police force, was killed in the capital Algiers, according to officials.  He was shot dead by a colleague. The alleged killer was overcome by what officials describe as a “fit of madness” and shot himself after shooting the police chief.  He is currently in the hospital with serious injuries. Islamic groups have so far not been identified in the shooting.  An inquiry has been opened into the shootings. A group called Al-Qaeda in the Land of Islamic Maghreb carries out periodic attacks on the Algerian government.

Dubai widens assassination investigation

Police in Dubai have widened their investigation into the killing of a Hamas official by releasing 15 additional names suspected in the killing.  The total number of suspects now stands at 26. 

The suspects carried various fake European and Australian passports, prompting European governments and the Australians to inquire about how the passports came into existence.   

Dubai’s police chief told news media in the United Arab Emirates that he was “99 percent, if not 100 percent”  sure that Mossad, Israel’s secret service, carried out the assassination of Hamas official Mahmoud al Mabhouh. Israel has not commented on the accusations, which it usually does with issues related to the Mossad.  Video cameras show the suspects tracking Mabhouh in Dubai.

Muslim Extremist Group Leader Arrested

Sunni leader of the Jundullah group, Abdolmalek Rigi, has been arrested by Iranian authorities. Rigi is accused of having led a number of car and suicide bombings, abductions and targeted killings in Iran within the last three years.   The radical group was established by Rigi in 2002 and has since aimed to defend the Baluchi Sunni minorities in south east Iran from Shiite persecutors, while keeping its base in Pakistan.  Iran has been highly critical of Pakistan’s allowing of the continuing operation of the group’s base causing some diplomatic strife between the two nations.
 

Troubling Talks for the West  

Today, Iranian president, Mahmoud Amadinejad and Syrian president, Bashar al-Assad, held a series of talks in Damascus. The talks revealed Syria’s plans of maintaining strong relations with Iran despite the US’s call to keep distance from the country. President al-Assad also expressed his Syria’s support of Iran’s enriching of uranium and denied claims of Iran of having a nuclear military program. The talks began days after the first appointment of a US ambassador to Syria since 2005 which was seen by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as a small improvement between US-Syrian relations.  

Africa

Sudan's President says “Darfur is Over”

In El-Fasher, on Wednesday, Sudan’s President Omar al-Bashir stated in his speech, “the war in Darfur is over.”  As of now, the 50 detainees on death row have been released.  Al-Bashir spoke about how the Justice and Equality Movement, Darfur’s main rebel group, signed an agreement for peace. However, it seems smaller rebel groups such as the Sudanese Liberation Army of France-based exile Abdelwahid Nur have refused to talk to Khartoum. Al –Bashir said “Darfur is now at peace," regarding the seven-year long conflict among the state.

Tennis Star Serena Williams plans to help Africa

US Tennis player Serena Williams stated on Wednesday she wants to reach out to Africa. She plans to help build one new school every year, in parts of Africa where there is a lack of education for children. Progress such as building schools and providing student grants has already begun in Kenya, Senegal and South Africa.  Serena stated "It is my goal to open many schools for thousands of children who do not have the opportunity to get good education. I plan to do one every year," She concluded her three-day tour in Kenya where she opened a second school in Makueni, about 100 miles southeast of Nairobi.

Rwanda and France Look to Move On

French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, flew to Rwanda on Thursday to reestablish ties between the two nations.  After the Rwandan genocide in 1994, Rwanda accused France of aiding the government and Hutu militias during the conflict.  France, who has previously denied such accusations, now admits that mistakes in judgment were made during the genocide.  France has suggested setting up a committee of historians to study the country’s decisions from that time.  The visit Thursday is hoped to have opened the remaining doors in the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Algerian Police Chief Murdered By Police Official

The chief of police in Algeria was shot and killed on Thursday in police headquarters by another police official.  Colonel Tounsi and the other officer were said to be in an argument when Tounsi was killed.  The officer pleads it was temporary insanity.  Tounsi’s death is noted as a significant loss for the policy force but it will not deter the government’s counter-insurgency progress.

Asia

Thai Customs Under Scrutiny

Two tons of ivory from elephant tusks were seized in Thailand in the country’s largest seizure ever.  As poaching increases within Africa, the market for illegal ivory continues to grow within Asia.  The $3.6 million seizure signifies that Thailand is becoming an emerging scene for black market trade.

Southwest China Rocked by Earthquake

A 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck the southwest portion of China’s Yunnan Province on Thursday.  Rural homes within the area were destroyed and nearly two dozen people have been reported injured.  While this earthquake has detrimentally impacted the province, it does not compare to the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that hit Sichuan Province, north of Yunnan, in May 2008 which affected over 5 million people in the area and left nearly 90,000 dead or missing.

War Games Threaten North Korea

With upcoming military exercises between the United States and South Korea, the North Korean military has readied itself against any possible attack.  While U.S. Special Envoy to North Korea, Stephen Bosworth, believes multilateral talks will resume with North Korea regarding its nuclear program, it is unlikely North Korean aggression will decrease.  Nuclear disarmament negotiations with North Korea continue to be tense as any United States military presence, deemed highly necessary by the majority of the international community, remains within South Korea.