News in brief
Elizabeth Wagner, Staff Reporter
May 8, 2012
Filed under Campus, News in Brief
International News
Putin’s Inauguration accompanied by mass anti-Putin demonstrations
Anti-Putin Demonstrations occurred on Sunday against the inauguration of Vladimir Putin in Moscow. Organizers of the protest say 20,000 people attended the rally, while police released the number of 8,000. Protestors proclaim that the election was unfair and call for a new, just election. Cries of “We are the Power” were chanted throughout the streets According to the BBC news, the demonstrations began peacefully. However, after a few protestors wearing riot gear broke the line of police, “clashes” began between protestors and police. Putin is set to be sworn in to the Presidency on Monday despite the rising tensions.
Massive explosion at Thai power plant
Thailand’s largest Petro-Chemical facility Map Ta Phut exploded Saturday killing 120 individuals. The facility has been a cause of much debate since opening, particularly between residents and environmentalists. The cause of the explosion is still unknown, though a forensic team has begun to study the debris for clues. Citizens of the surrounding Rayong province have been evacuated.
Francois Hollande elected President of France
The results from France’s Sunday election show Socialist Party candidate Francois Hollande to have beat his incumbent opponent Nicolas Sarkozy, earning 52% of the vote to Sarkozy’s 48%. For France, this is the first time since 1988 that a Socialist will have been elected President and the first time since 1981 that the incumbent was beat. Hollande focused largely on the economy, promising to raise taxes for the rich and to raise minimum wage.
The United States
Fairness of 9/11 trials questioned
The trials of five individuals considered to have devised the 9/11 attacks took place at Guantanamo Bay this week, including the trail of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed who in the past has declared himself the architect of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. However, the proceedings are not completely transparent. Reporters sit in a separate room and when information arises that the court feels is too sensitive, the video recording that the press is permitted to watch goes dark. Moreover, the torture (particularly the waterboarding) that took place in Guantanamo Bay has been largely hushed during the proceedings. According to the lawyers of the accused, times when the screen has gone dark for reporters has been during times when the torture was discussed in the courtroom.
UN 0fficials call for U.S. to restore tribal lands
During a twelve-day trip to the United States James Anaya called for Mount Rushmore and the surrounding Black Hills area to be restored to those who had legitimate claim to the land. Anaya’s trip was focused around assessments of whether the United States was abiding by the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous People. U.S. legislators originally rejected the Act. President Barack Obama reversed the decision and endorsed it in 2010.