By Dylan Hackett, News Editor
Africa: (Central African Republic) The former president of the Central African Republic, Francois Bozize, had an arrest warrant issued against him last week under the charge of crimes against humanity. Bozize was ousted from power in a coup in March and has since fled to Cameroon. The current regime claims their charges have grounds in the International Criminal Court, who has yet to process any charges. Bozize came to power in 2003 through a coup and won two dubious elections after. The new regime states an election will be held after an 18-month interim period.
North America: (United States) A second touchdown of extreme weather hit Oklahoma in the month of May, putting the month’s tornado death toll at 33. The second passing of extreme weather has hospitalized at least 89 others and caused horrendous damage to infrastructure and homes, as well as concurrent flash flooding trapped motorists across highway routes in the Oklahoma City area.
Asia- Pacific: (Japan) The Japanese government has condemned statements made by Osaka mayor Toru Hashimoto who claimed that sex slaves abducted from nearby countries during World War II had a viable military purpose. Upwards of 200,000 women were taken from Korea, China, and the Philippines for the purpose of occupying soldiers’ pleasures. Hashimoto cancelled his upcoming visit to the United States after Japanese defense minister Itsunori Onodera condemned his remarks. Hashimoto also told US military to allow soldiers the use of brothels as a crime-reduction strategy.
Middle East: (Iraq) UN figures show Iraqi civilian casualties for the month of May to be at 1,045. Over half of those dead were killed in the Greater Baghdad area by car bombs, prompting security forces to issue a ban on temporary license plate issuing. Many of the bombers and killers are Sunni-minority militia groups and al-Qaeda. Sunni mosques were also attacked in recent weeks giving cause to believe that the Shia majority groups are also engaging in the local violence.
West Asia: (Turkey) Anti-government protests raging last weekend throughout urban centres in Turkey were met with tear gas and water cannons by police forces. What started as a small pacifist sit-in at Takism Square, became a series of public demonstrations focused against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan’s centre-right Justice and Development Party has held power since 2003. Solidarity protests have been held worldwide including one at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
