Opponent of Mexico’s Cartels Is Detained in Vigilantes’ Deaths

 http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/13/world/americas/opponent-of-mexicos-cartels-is-detained-in-vigilantes-deaths.html?_r=1

SUMMARY

        This article is about  Hipólito Mora, a man associated with vigilantism against the Knights Templar cartel that terrorized local lime growers. A year after those events, however, Mora is now being accused of those same offenses. He was detained as a suspect for the deaths of two men of a rival group. “Mora’s arrest tells us about the risks of vigilantes, acting according to their own standards,” said Rául Benítez Manaut. “They are in a state where justice is a very relative thing; they are used to living in a context where justice dos not exist.” Many people have defended him as a victim of a conspiracy, questioning the legality of his arrest. The government had at one point worked with Mora and his vigilante group to attempt to get rid of the Knights Templar. The leader of the Knights was killed. “The government should be very careful,” said Mr. Benitez. “They can’t start arresting vigilantes indiscriminately."

 

ANALYSIS

        This story almost rings as a Batman story. You see the discrepancy within the government when it comes to which types of groups it "supports" and which it  hunts down.  At one point, it asked for help from Mora and his group of vigilantes, and then later arrested Mora. Does this prove that vigilantes tend to be fighting for their own gain and not for the side of the law and justice? There are reasons as to why the US has set up laws against vigilantism, no matter how much we like to go and see a movie about it every once and a while. In the end, it's a very dangerous game.

Ukraine crisis: Russia tells UN it does not want war

 http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26564851

SUMMARY

        Russian Ambassador has said that Russia "does not want war" with Ukraine. It was brought up that in Donetsk, one person died in violence between rival protesters and several people were also injured. Things are getting heated. Mr Yatsenyuk went on to say how his country has been abused by Russia and has been a victim of their aggression, but he, too, wishes to resolve this in a peaceful manner. The Russian defense military, however, is doing exercises by the Ukraine boarder. 

 

ANALYSIS

        We get a look into Russia's foreign affairs here and how they work. We are also able to see their interaction with the UN. Here we have tensions between Ukraine and Russia with neither of them saying that they want outright war, but neither really acting as though peace is on the forefront of their minds, either, despite what they are saying. You can see a lot of mistrust going on between them, even though they have had decent relations in the past. 

Minister fuels pension debate with Lamborghini comment

 http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-26649162

 SUMMARY

        The Pensions minister Steve Webb made a comment saying, "If people do buy a Lamborghini but know that they'll end up just living on the state pension, that becomes their choice". In 2015, people reaching retirement age will be able to spend their pensions however they want. They will no longer be required to buy a guaranteed annual income. They said they were "relaxed" on how people spent their money. People are allowed, however, independent advice before making decisions as to how to spend this pension money. Mr. Osbourne refutes arguments that those retired people will spend all of their money at the begin and therefor must then rely upon the state.

ANALYSIS

        You get a glimpse within Great Britain's retirement funds from this. You get to see the line drawn  between people who are in favor of this freedom and flexibility of pensions and the people who believe that this is a bad idea and that other people are going to be the ones paying for it. 

Mexico City government mulls legalisation of marijuana

 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/mexico/10639879/Mexico-City-government-mulls-legalisation-of-marijuana.html

SUMMARY

         The Mayor of Mexico City wants to pass a law so that stores can sell up to five grams of marijuana per person. The Mexico City government is debating whether or not they should uphold this initiative. This law was proposed by the left-winged party of PRD. There are still vague points that haven't been cleared yet. The president of the PRI party is against this law and says that it will do nothing to lower the violence that has been rampant. The old law is that you could own up to five grams of the drug, but if  you were caught buying or selling any amount you would be arrested. Most politicians have not voiced their opinion yet. It states the American position on this issue for comparison. 

ANALYSIS

        This article allows you to see the difference that Mexico is handling one of the issues that has been so prevalent in America lately. We get to see their take on an issue that has been effecting them for a long time and in such a serious way. We get to see the process through which a law either comes into effect or is shut down. It talks about how the law has been since 2009 and some of the changes that have been made. I don't think that anyone should take a side in this matter quite yet--not until they put out more information about what they plan to do and what the projected results are going to be.

7 years ago, American went missing in Iran, family's anguish began

 http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/09/world/meast/iran-bob-levinson/index.html?iref=allsearch

SUMMARY

        Ten years ago Ben Levinson disappeared after traveling to Iran. It has been known as one of the longest-held captive stories of an American citizen. Levinson worked for the CIA.  His son announced that they haven't given up hope on their dad. He also talked about the relationship between Iran and America, and how now is an opportunity for discussions that they couldn't have otherwise. Levinson had gone to Iran to investigate about corrupted Iran officials. Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif told CNN, "I have not seen anything that could prove that (Levinson) was ever in Iran." 

ANALYSIS

        This reminded me a little bit about Argo--except there hasn't been a happy ending yet. You can see the inter-relations between the US and Iran through the negotiations involving Ben Levinson. There is more politics involved in this than first meets the eye. It also talks briefly about the corruption in Iran's government--a topic I wish they had delved more into. 

Nigeria horror: Boko Haram massacre dozens of students sleeping in dormitories 

 http://zeenews.india.com/news/world/nigeria-horror-boko-haram-massacre-dozens-of-students-sleephttps://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=272022934674290068#editor/target=post;postID=5417991770064208663ing-in-dormitories_914146.html

SUMMARY

        The militant outfit Boko Haram attacked a boarding school, killing 43 students who were asleep in their dormitories. They also abducted 16 girls. The girls were told to shun Western education and to get married instead. The fifty members of the Boko Haram went on a killing spree, and burned down most of the school, reducing much of it to ashes. This attacked within 24 hours of troops being withdraw from a nearby post. President Goodluck Jonathon paid his respects to the families of the deceased and condemned the terrorist group. This is the fourth attack in the past months. 

ANALYSIS

      Boko Haram means that Western education is a sin. It disgusts me that some people would go to such lengths just because a form of thinking does not agree with their own. There is a lot of mystery concerning why the troops were withdrawn, and I don't want to assume the worst, but if it was the worst that happened then this already disgusting occurrence has become even more morbid. You can see the complete lack of control that the Nigerian government has through this article. It's been months, and yet this group still is out there terrorizing. All that the government was able to do was to apologize and promise.

China to 'declare war' on pollution, cut energy use

 http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/ethnic/china/2014npcandcppcc/2014-03/14/content_17346330.htm

SUMMARY

        This article talks about how China plans to fight against the  increase in pollution. They plan on having harsher punishment for perpetrators. There are calls for more effective and environmental air cleaners. Li wants to include people's personal lives into this "war". He feels that that is going to be the most crucial and important step in the process. Along with pollution, the issues he wants to focus on are education and security. 

ANAYLYIS

        I beleive this is an important issues that other more developed countries should also be focusing on. It didn't go into great depth into what sort of programs they are going to institute, and I feel like that was an important issue that they should have brought up and discussed. If you are going to present a problem, you should present a solution to go with it. I also believe that getting the people involved is a smart move. People are the ones who pollute, and people should be the ones cleaning up the pollution.