Spring Break brings breaking news
April 12, 2016
Hope everyone had fun in the sun over spring break, but it’s time to turn the attention away from sun tan oil and sandy beaches to what’s going on in the world. Here are some events that unfolded during the week.
New North Korean Weapon (April 2)
Just as spring break kicked off on Saturday, North Korea started the day by shooting off a new weapon. Korean Central News Agency released photos of the test launch that day. The pictures depict a “new type of anti-air guided weapon system.”
It was discovered through the recently investigated Panama Papers that a British banker allegedly set up an offshore account for North Korea, allowing for the nation to further fund its nuclear projects and sell weapons. Nigel Cowie denies having a hand in these transactions, but the banker has ties to North Korea and headed a bank responsible for pumping millions of dollars into the isolated nation’s nuclear war chest. Investigations are still underway as officials analyze years of suspicious behavior in conjunction with North Korea’s latest project.
Cruz, Sanders Wisconsin Victory (April 5)
Tuesday brought a twist in the presidential race with the Wisconsin primary results. Republican candidate Ted Cruz had a crushing win over Donald Trump and John Kasich, taking 48.2 percent of the votes to 35.1 and 14.1 percent respectively.
Southeast Wisconsinites overwhelmingly voted for Cruz, giving him 36 delegates and only six for Trump. The defeat of frontrunner Trump gave way to new hope for the Cruz campaign with only the District of Columbia and 16 state primaries left for the Republican race.
On the other side of the aisle, another frontrunner fell to the underdog. Bernie Sanders defeated Hillary Clinton with 56.5 percent of the vote over her 43.1 percent. Wisconsin was Sanders’ sixth state win in the past seven primaries. He won the majority in all but Milwaukee County, taking 48 delegates. Although she didn’t win the state, Clinton received a substantial 38 delegates from Wisconsin.
ISIS Kidnapping of 300 (April 7)
Islamic State militants kidnapped over 300 cement contractors and workers on Thursday in the Syrian region of Damascus. The al-Badia Cement Company employees were located in Dumeir where ISIS attacked.
Several attacks on the area took place in the days and weeks leading up to the most recent onslaught of violence. Hundreds of families fled the area following Tuesday’s military airport bomb threat, Wednesday’s power station attack and Thursday’s civilian kidnapping.
The Syrian government has shifted in and out of militant hands recently, yet allied forces with Russian assistance secured its recapture. The constant attacks, however, are taking their toll on Syria’s strength, which accounts for the most recent kidnapping. ISIS has reportedly released a large number of those captured, but with approximately half unaccounted for, there is fear circulating that some may have already fallen at terrorists’ hands.
Temple Fire in India (April 10)
On the last day of a peaceful spring break morning, death and destruction broke out on the other side of the world. Flames engulfed a Hindu temple in southern India in the early hours of the morning. The use of unauthorized fireworks resulted in the death of at least 100 individuals, leaving 400 more injured in its wake. The complex had thousands of people inside when the explosion occurred and fire spread.
Prior to the 3 a.m. disaster, Hindus gathered to witness the temple’s annual competitive fireworks display, honoring the close to a traditional week-long festival. Unlike previous years, district officials denied the temple permission to hold the firework event, fearing the potential hazards that could arise under the competitive circumstances. The display continued nonetheless, resulting in the blaze that took several lives in the crowded temple complex.
