Headline Writers: Headline Anchors:
The Americas- Caleb Barnhart Oriana Luquetta
Europe- Christiana Weidanz Sebastian Zar
Africa- Andrea Borrelli In-Focus Anchors:
Asia- Matt Ausloss Zishan Jiwani
Middle East- Alyssa Alfano Quemars Ahmed
Asia- Matt Ausloss Zishan Jiwani
Middle East- Alyssa Alfano Quemars Ahmed
Update on Haiti
Efforts to assist Haiti continue while many international actors and aid workers have significantly increased their involvement. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is visiting Haiti to examine the devastated country. Sarkozy is the first French leader to tour the former French colony. This visit is accompanied by a promise of $400 million additional dollars for assistance by the French government. Efforts to rebuild the nation have been estimated in the billions.
Second, while many aid workers have successfully gone to Haiti and alleviated the burden upon the nation, some American missionaries have complicated issues. After the initial arrest of American missionaries a few weeks ago, there have been more developments. On Wednesday, eight of the ten missionaries charged with attempting to kidnap Haitian orphans by taking them to the Dominican Republic were released. After spending three weeks in prison, the missionaries have been temporarily released into the custody of the U.S., but are expected to return to Haiti if summoned. Two other missionaries are still being questioned about their previous trips to Haiti.
The earthquake that struck Haiti killed over 200,000 people and reconstruction efforts will be a part of the re-building process for many years to come.
Vancouver Olympics News
While Canada spent over $100 million on its “Own the Podium” initiative in hopes of increasing its medal count at the Olympics, it has not become a leader in the current medal count. After a week, Canada is ranked fourth, but the goal of placing first appears unlikely as both the United States and Germany have an exceptional lead. American snowboarder Nate Holland stated that the United States planned to “rent” the podium from Canada. If the United States wins the Olympic medals race, it would be the first time since the games in Lake Placid, NY in 1932.
Elsewhere in the Americas…
IRS Targeted in Plane Crash
A small single-engine plane crashed into the Austin, Texas office of the International Revenue Service on Thursday. The police are calling the crash “a criminal act by a lone individual.” 53 year-old Joseph Andrew Stack is believed to have been the pilot of the plane, and intentionally targeted government officials in the seven story building. A website registered to Stack complained about the IRS as well as corrupt politicians and bank representatives. Moments before the crash an explosion ripped through his house while his daughter and wife were still inside. Many recalled images of 9/11 as the building was engulfed in flames. Overall, thirteen individuals were injured, two hospitalized, and one unaccounted for.
CPAC Begins in D.C.
Conservative activists gathered in Washington D.C. for the start of the Conservative Political Action Conference. What was once a fringe group of the Republican Party; CPAC is now drawing mainstream attention and serves as a stepping stone for presidential hopefuls. Speakers at the event included former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney and former congressman J.D. Hayworth, Sen. John McCain’s opponent in the Arizona’s GOP primary. With the rise of the Tea Party movement and increasing grassroots support, attendance at the conference is expected to exceed 10,000 people.
Chavez Foes Lose Media Voice
A primary anti-Chavez television station, Globovision, lost its news director last week. Alberto Ravell, the former director, is believed to have left the station due to internal differences. However, many opposition leaders fear the media conglomerate’s credibility is coming under question as a reporter for the station recently attended a government sponsored event. In the past, Globovision had been excluded from such events, but Ravell’s resignation comes at a time that the government could be putting pressure upon the station to change its focus.
Turning now to Europe…
NATO Raises Issue with Russia-Abkhazia Deal
NATO has pushed Russia to revoke a deal signed this week between itself and Abkhazia, a breakaway region of Georgia. The agreement discussed the establishment of a military base in the Abkhazia region. Critics say that the agreement will make Abkhazia more dependent on Russia and allow Russia to maintain thousands of troops on the Abkhazia border.
NATO has denounced the most recent agreement, deeming it invalid and stating that the deal violates the previous ceasefire agreement between Russia and Georgia after the war in 2008.
Czech Workers Party to Challenge Court Ban
A far right workers party in the Czech Republic has announced this week that it will appeal the decision by the Supreme Court which denied the party legitimacy in the upcoming election. The party complains that the court’s decision is a deliberate attempt to exclude it from upcoming elections, and the party is determined to be a part of the democratic elections. The party’s policies are very controversial. The court described it as a “xenophobic, anti-Semitic and homophobic” and said “it shared the ideology of Hitler’s Nazi party while maintaining links to openly white-supremacist groups.” The party disputes these claims. It is also not well represented in the small country. It holds no seats at the national level, and only 3 seats at local levels.
Officials to Resume Search for Air France Wreckage
France is set to resume its search for wreckage from the Air France flight that crashed over the Atlantic Ocean this past summer. The flight went down shortly after takeoff from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, and all 228 passengers were killed. Immediately following the crash, investigation permitted the recovery of over 600 pieces of debris and 51 bodies. However, the “black box” that will provide the real cause of the crash has not yet been retrieved. The search was called off in September. Since September, investigators have used several computer models to try to narrow the search area. France will also have help and addition resources from several countries.
In Africa…
Controversial Genetic Research Now Turns to Africa
Genetic blueprints have been uncovered of South Africa’s Archbishop Desmond Tutu and a Bushman from Namibia. Such blueprints are part of a controversial project to decipher genomes of different peoples in order to move towards “personalized medicine”. Such research can aid in the development of AIDs medication and other widespread diseases. Some criticize the project, saying that the publication of such information could be used against an individual‘s employment rights, including property ownership. Others praise the research, seeing it as a potential breakthrough in the medical field.
Niger Coup Leaves Capital City Calm
Thursday brought about gunfire and explosions in a coup that has left President Mamadou Tandja’s whereabouts unknown in Niger’s capital city of Niamey. The city is said to presently be in a calm state, with guards surrounding the Presidential Palace. The military junta responsible for the coup identified their leader as Salou Djibo, and asserted that civil servants will run the government until a new government can be formed.
US Criticized for Hindering Somali Aid
After the recent restrictions placed on Somalia by the US, the UN has publically taken a stand, claiming that this aid is necessary for the country’s survival. Aid was originally pulled back by the U.S. to prevent financial support to al-Qaeda. The UN does not wish to see a “politicization of humanitarian issues,” and has seen little proof that the money is being used effectively.
Let’s look at the Middle East…
Iran Not Seeking Atomic Bombs, says Iran’s Supreme Leader
On Friday, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei stated that Iran is not seeking to develop atomic bombs. His statement was made after the International Atomic Energy Agency report, released Thursday, said that Iran may be secretly developing a nuclear warhead for a missile. The recent discovery of a secret nuclear facility in Qom prompted the report. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned the United States and other nations on Tuesday not to continue to impose sanctions in response to Iran’s nuclear program. Iran has continued to enrich uranium, despite UN orders.
Obama Names Syrian Envoy
President Obama announced the formal nomination of veteran diplomat Robert Ford to serve as the United States Ambassador to Syria on Tuesday. Ford will be the first US ambassador to Syria in five years. In 2005, the US withdrew their ambassador after the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. Obama’s appointment of Ford shows a sign of improving relations between the two nations and an effort to establish peace in the region.
Suicide Bomber Kills 13 in Anbar Province
On Thursday, a suicide bomber struck and killed at least 13 people, near government headquarters in Iraq’s Anbar Province. Over two dozen people were wounded in the attack. The bomber wore a vest of explosives and approached the government compound in Ramadi, the province’s capital. The attack has considerably heightened sectarian and ethnic tensions in the region. Officials predict a wave of violence before next month’s parliamentary elections.
British Journalist Arrested by Hamas
A British journalist was arrested and detained by Hamas authorities in Gaza on Sunday. Hamas cited security offences as the reason for the arrest. Journalist Paul Martin was the first arrest of a foreigner by Hamas since they took over Gaza in 2007. Martin was not reporting in Gaza at the time of the arrest, but was voluntarily testifying for a Palestinian man on trial for collaboration with Israel. Martin, who has produced reports for the BBC in the past and also filmed a documentary in Gaza, will be detained for 15 days.
And finally, in Asia…
China angry over meeting between Dalai Lama and Obama
China has protested against the meeting Thursday between President Obama and the Dalai Lama, stating that the U.S. has seriously undermined relations between itself and Washington. China issued a statement asserting its “strong dissatisfaction and resolute opposition” to the meeting. The US emphasized that the meeting was a private visit between the president and a respected international religious figure. The meeting has been held amid increased tensions between the US and China over US arms sales to Taiwan, and allegations of Chinese cyber spying.
Australia threatens to bring Japan to court over illegal whaling charges
Australia has said that Japan must stop whaling in the Southern Ocean by November or will be brought to the International Court of Justice. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd hopes talks will convince Japan to voluntarily halt the practice. The Japanese Foreign Minister is in Australia this weekend. Australia has threatened to take legal action before, but the fact that this statement was made a day prior to the Japanese Foreign Minister’s visit, is significant. Japan kills hundreds of whales each year, despite an international moratorium that has been in place since 1986.
Rare Sumatra Rhino Expecting Calf
A member of the critically endangered species of Sumatra rhinos is expecting a calf, according to conservationists in Indonesia. It has been announced as a breakthrough in efforts to save the animals. The eight-year-old female is expected to give birth in May. There are only an estimated 200 Sumatran rhinos left in the wild. The numbers have halved in the past 15 years. Only three Sumatran rhinos have been born in captivity, and when this calf is born it will be the first born in captivity in Indonesia. Sumatran rhinos are the smallest rhinoceros species in the world and are considered solitary animals.
Malaysia to Extradite Terror Suspects
Nine foreigners arrested last month on terrorist charges will be extradited by Malaysia, according to officials. The suspects are from Jordan, Nigeria, Syria, and Yemen and are currently being held under the Internal Security Act. This decision has proved controversial because it allows for indefinite detention without trial. The authorities have not said who the suspects are or what terrorist group they are alleged to have been a part of. Right-wing groups in a variety of countries have condemned the detentions and have called for the government to show evidence for the arrests.
Investigative Report: US – China Relations
By Chris Sprague
The 30 year diplomatic and economic relationship between the United States and China is beginning to show signs of wear. China’s unbelievable economic growth rates, foreign investments and military modernization have enabled the Chinese Communist Party to internalize their governing focus on the domestic populous. As the Beijing leadership realizes its waning dependence on the US market, domestic opinion increasingly reflects China’s rise to global power status. This pressure from the bottom up, while historically irrelevant, has encouraged the Chinese government to become more openly assertive with members of the international community, especially with respect to the United States.
China’s trade relations with Western partners are so deeply entrenched that the extent of this booming confidence has limits. However, three recent developments portray Beijing’s desire to be heard as equals among power players in geopolitics.
Prior to the Dalai Lama’s meeting with US President Barack Obama, China explicitly warned of serious consequences to Sino-American relations if the White House welcomed the controversial Tibetan spiritual leader. After the meeting, China reiterated its stance and threatened possible sanctions on bilateral trade agreements despite their historical unwillingness to damage diplomatic and economic ties with the West.
Although exiled for decades, China frequently accuses the former Nobel Peace Prize winner of inciting separatist sentiments in Tibet. The Dalai Lama downplays these charges and claims that he only desires more religious freedoms for the Tibetan people. The sensitivity of the issue coincides with China’s long-standing policy of non-interference in the domestic affairs of other sovereign countries, behavior Beijing demands of other states in return. Even still, the commanding response to Mr. Obama’s decision suggests a willingness to sacrifice business interests for principle, which is uncharacteristic of the Chinese leadership.
Another incident involves statements made by China’s defense ministry earlier this year over a US arms trade deal with Taiwan. Under the Taiwan Relations Act, Congress has reserved the right to continuously arm Taiwan even after rapprochement between the US and China stripped the island of its UN seat, leaving the PRC as the sole representative of China in international relations. Chinese state media accused the US of arrogance after President Obama approved a $6.4 billion arms trade deal in late January. Despite the suspension of communication between the US military and the People’s Liberation Army, the United States went through with the deal. US firms associated with the trade agreement have been placed under sanctions by the Chinese government.
A third conflict involves American internet giant Google, who threatened to pull its service from the Chinese market over state-run censorship and hacking practices. US trade officials, who are pondering action with the World Trade Organization over internet censorship in China, are actively probing for more information in the case. US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton took a strong stance against the Beijing establishment and other countries that oppress online freedoms and engage in cyber attacks on other nations.
The Chinese response has labeled US accusations as groundless and warned that further statements on domestic affairs in China would damage Sino-US relations. China surpassed Japan this year to become the world’s number two economy, and their behavior in international forums is increasingly reflecting their economic success. With both states holding extensive nuclear arsenals and engaged in billions of dollars worth of trade annually, the outbreak of war between the two states is unlikely. However, China’s new found assertiveness will surely be problematic for US policymakers in the years to come. As the world recovers from an economic meltdown of global proportions, China has emerged as a power player in international politics, leaving little room for US superpower to control the future of the cross-Pacific relationship. These events signal the beginning of a new era in Sino-American relations, one where the US must accommodate China or risk being placed on the backburner as Beijing develops the capacity to pursue its national interests unilaterally.
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