An in-depth analysis of the news from March 23rd - March 27th. The sources we will use include The Globe and Mail, The New York Times, CBC News: The National and BBC.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

CBC News: The National - March 26th, 2010

1. Headline: Good News for Autoworkers
It has been announced that GM will be hiring new workers and recalling more than 700 laid off employees. These new hires are a the first in over a decade and shows that GM is finally recovering. The new hires will boost production of it's Cross-over Utility Vehicle.
Article.

2. Headline: Vatican Is Pushing Back about Ignoring Abuse Complaints
The Vatican is trying to move on business as usual and is dening the claims that they knew about any of the abuse scandals that have recently surfaced. Hoping to have Youth Day be the the story of the church right now, it seems the media has more to ask about the sex scandal. The Vatican editorial printed a story that said that their is a smear campaign going on against the church, true or false, the questions or the blame is not going away.
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3. Arms Control Deal is Finalized
The United States and Russia have finalized the new arms control deal. The agreement limits each country to 1500 war heads. A 30% reduction from previous weapons treaty, the Obama Administration is said to be pleased with the deal.

4. Headline: Toronto is a Leading Lady in an Upcoming Film
An all star cast including Julianne Moore and Amanda Seyfried is coming out this weekend and featuring Toronto has the backdrop for the steamy thriller. Canadian directory Atom Egoyan, first realized the movie at the TIFF last year.

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

New York Times - March 26th, 2010

1. Headline: A Bold U.S. Plan to Help Struggling Homeowners

The Obama administration is set to provide help for homeow
ners who are behind on mortgages. Pressure comes from congress to do something about the foreclosure which is straining the economy. These actions could possibly draw protests from people who have kept up payments.

2. Headline: Pope Had 'No Knowledge' of Transfer, Vatican Says

Pope Benedict apparently knew more than the church led on about a pedophile priest who resides in Germany. In 1980, the Pope is copied on a memo that said the priest has gone back to partials work within days of beginning his mental health treatment. Pope Benedict claims this is false information.

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3. Headline: American Scout for Mumbai Attacks Was Jokingly Called ‘Agent Headley’ by Friend
David Headly, an American man admitted last week, was charged with helping plan the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai. For 7 years, Headly commuted undetected to his home in Chicago to well established training camps in Pakistan. Headly has cooperated with the Government since his arrest in 2009 and "has provided substantial assistance to the criminal investigation".

4. Headline: Differences Set Aside, Palin Lends McCain Aid

Over the past 17 months, tension has been high between John McCain and Sarah Palin. Appearing in Tucson, Arizona together, McCain faces a primary challenge in his bid for a fifth term in the senate. McCain has been rounding up republican support during his campaign. Palin's presence resulted in his biggest turn out yet since his presidential campagin.
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BBC News - March 26th, 2010

1. Headline: MPs raise concern over Zimbabwe children after visit

Though the UK government pledged £60m in aid to Zimbabwe in 2009, the country is still in a period of fragile transition. Aid agencies last ear estimated more than 1.5 million orphans in the African country, many who are said to have lost their parents through HIV/Aids, malaria or cholera. The present Zimbabwe government still has the major problems with political violence and intimidation.


2. Headline: Mexican drug gangs 'spread to every region of US'

The National Drug Threat Assessment has issued a report estimating $40 billion in cash being moved across the Mexican border by drug gangs each year. Mexican gangs were active in every region of the US, it found. Heroin production doubled in 2008, and trade in marijuana, ecstasy and methamphetamine grew, despite the US funding for the war on drugs. Mexico has long been the main channel for illegal drugs smuggled into the US, but efforts to stop the trade on both sides has fallen short of effective.


3. Headline: US and Russia announce deal to cut nuclear weapons

After months of negotiation, US President Barack Obama and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev have agreed to a new arms reduction deal. The leaders will sign the pact, limiting both sides to 1,550 warheads, in Prague on April 8. The US is said to have more than 2,000 deployed strategic nuclear weapons, while Russia is believed to have more than 1, 500. Both countries will go into next month’s Washington Summit on nuclear security being able to claim some moral high ground. Both Presidents are hoping the new deal will put pressure on Iran to abandon plans to develop nuclear weapons.

4. Headline: Israeli PM says Jerusalem policy will not change

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced his policy on Jerusalem will not change, and will carry on to build 1, 600 homes in East Jerusalem. Palestine claim their capital to be in East Jerusalem, but Israel insists Jerusalem will remain its undivided capital. This row has caused one of the worst crises in US-Israeli ties for decades. The US protested when the pan for the homes was initially approved last year. Pressure is being put on the US to forge ahead with some serious peace negotiations.

The Globe and Mail - March 26th, 2010

1. Headline: Sisters' Obamacare lobby second to nun

More than 50,000 Roman Catholic nuns across the United States staunchly support US President Obama’a health-care bill, though debate about abortion coverage threatened to derail the bill completely. The nun’s have separated themselves from the States’ Roman Catholic bishops, who warn the new law would allow the funding of abortion. Nuns argue abortions would be covered by separate private policies.

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2. Headline:U.S., Russia sign off on nuclear pact


In efforts to “reset” relations with Russia, U.S. President Barack Obama has agreed with Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to sharp cuts in the nuclear arsenals of both nations. The pact, which reduces both sides’ arsenals by about a third, is replacing and expanding a 1991 treaty that expired in December. It is viewed as a gesture toward improved U.S.-Russian relations that have been badly frayed.

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3. Headline: Allawi wins thin plurality in Iraq election


Iraq’s current Prime Minister, Nouri al-Maliki, has called for a recount after results indicate that a secular Shiite, Ayad Allawi, has won a narrow plurality in Iraq’s national election. Though Mr. Allawi’s Iraqiya party took 91 of the 325 seats (al-Maliki’s won 89 seats) in Iraq’s Council of Representatives, it is the religious Shia party, the third-place Iraqi National Alliance, that will likely determine if Allawi will form a government.

4. Headline: Hope fades for 46 missing marines after South Korean ship sinks

After a naval ship exploded and sank, in one of South Korea’s worst naval disasters, military divers have searched in vain for 46 missing marines from the ship. Families voiced their anger and grief as hopes faded for finding the bodies in the tense maritime border between South Korea and North Korea. The exact cause of the ship explosion is unclear, but officials have said North Korea does not appear to be to blame.

New York Times - March 25th, 2010

1. Headline: Households Facing Foreclosure Rose in 4th Quarter

Issued by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency say that the amount of households facing foreclosure rose by a quarter-million households this past quarter. One reason for the increase? Foreclosure is becoming a progressively lengthy process.

2. Headline: Conflicting Demands Test Netanyahu

Israel's prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is currently responding to a political task put forth by the American government to limit Israeli building in East Jerusalem.

3. Headline: U.S. Plans Big Expansion in Effort to Aid Homeowners
The Obama administration will announce later in the week new plans to help American homeowners. Efforts include refinancing government-backed mortgages and reducing loan payments for the unemployed.

4. Headline: Legal-Marijuana Advocates Focus on a New Green
In order to ease some of California's financial strains, voters are suggesting to legalize marijuana. A plan that backers say could raise $1.4 billion and save law enforcement and prison resources, sources say that "It's time to control it" and "tax it".

Sunday, March 28, 2010

CBC News: The National - March 25th, 2010

1. Headline: Price Charles goes to Afghanistan

Prince Charles headed to Afghanistan to show his support this past week. Charles spent his time talking to British troops and meeting Afghan civilians. Charles also commented on what it was like to have his own son, Harry, serve overseas. The trip was kept under wraps until after he left.

2. Headline: Democratic Backlash

Since the recent adoption of health care by the Obama Administration, Democrats are receiving threatening phone calls regarding the new health care system. All threats and incidents are taken seriously and are being investigated by the FBI, U.S. Capitol Police and other law enforcement agencies to identify and bring to justice those responsible.

3. Headline: Robert Pickton to Stand Trial Again?

Lawyers for Robert Pickton are making a case for a new trail at the Supreme Court of Canada. The British Columbia native who was convicted of killing 6 woman, Pickton is currently serving a life sentence with no change of parol. It is unknown at this point whether Pickton will face a trial again.

4. Headline: NHL Adopts a New Rule


NHL members and it's players union have moved quickly to adopt a rule on blind side hits. After a series of ugly hits, the NHL deemed this new rule a priority and will be in effect as of today.

CBC News: The National - March 24th, 2010

1. Headline: Baby Slings Recalled

Over a million baby slings are being recalled in the U.S, 15,000 in Canada. The U.S consumer product safety commission says babies could suffocate in the soft fabric slings made by Infantino. Linked to three infant deaths, these slings should be returned immediately.

2. Headline: Victoria Police Exposed

A you tube video filmed by a student in downtown Victoria was released showing the Victoria Police using excessive, perhaps unnecessary force. Seen kicking a young man several times, the situation look quite out of control. 6 men were detained according to police and were released later on the night.

3. Headline: Volcano Eruption in Iceland


After 200 years of in-activeness, a large volcano erupted in Iceland. The large eruption forced 500 people to temporarily clear out of there homes. No injuries have been reported and the citizens are now back in there homes however their is concern that a second eruption will occur.

4. Headline: A Fire Truck hit by a Train



Detroit's Fire Department is trying to figure out what one of their trucks was doing driving across a train track. As the video shows, the fire truck being hit buy an Amtrack train, no serious injuries occurred. The firemen were apparently responding to a car accident call nearby.