Weekly geopolitical events
By Keating Smith, Staff Writer
Africa: (Kenya) 42 police officers were killed in an ambush in northern Kenya after the team was in pursuit of a group of cattle rustlers. Several officers were airlifted to hospitals in Nairobi but subsequently died from their injuries. Government officials say several of the bandits were killed or severely injured during the incident although exact numbers are unknown. Cattle theft is a growing and common problem in the country, which results in deadly clashes between thieves and their rivals each year.
North America: (United States) British Petroleum has pleaded guilty charges related to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill and has agree to pay upwards of $4.5 billon into the southern US on top of the tens of billions the corporation has already poured into the initial cleanup.
Latin & South America: (Mexico) The State government in Chihuahua has collaborated with tortilla vendors in Ciudad Juárez to advertise for missing persons on tortilla wrapping paper. The advertisements are part of the ‘Protocolo Alba’ a program setup to help find missing persons in one of the most violent cities in the world.
Asia- Pacific: (China) Xi Jinping became China’s new leader shouldering top posts in the Communist Party and its powerful military. Jinping comes into power at a time when the country is undergoing a large political transition overwhelmed with government corruption and scandals, a slowing economy/GDP, and public demands for national reforms.
Europe: (Poland) Poland’s national independence holiday turned violent in Warsaw after hundreds of protestors threw brick, fireworks, and other miscellaneous objects at riot police. This is the second year the holiday has become violent, as left and right wing groups take advantage of the day to forcefully face off against one another on political issues concerning those who want a conservative, religious society that rejects foreign influence and those who want the country to join the European ‘norm.’
Middle East: (Israel/ Gaza) Tensions between Hamas and Israel have intensified over the week after both sides failed to a peace truce. The IDF has launched an offensive against militants in Gaza coined Operation Pillar of Defense. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has order 30,000 reservists on standby in the event the IDF does make a ground assault on the coastal enclave. Rockets from Gaza have hit targets as far as Tel Aviv — 71 km to the north of Gaza City.
