San Diegans kicked off a flight for speaking Russian

Taken From: The Voice of Russia

Date Published: May 25th, 2013

Summary: Six residents of San Diego were taken off an airplane flight in the United States for speaking Russian. The six people, were flying to Las Vegas for an anniversary party last Thursday. Less than 10 minutes in their seats they were asked to leave. One of the passengers said he was very confused. All of them are Russian natives. They claim they were chatting about the party in their regular voices speaking in Russian, when they were approached by an airline worker and were asked to leave. the airline employee calms one of the stewardesses were intimidated by their different speaking language. The passengers were refunded for the costs of their flights, but missed their anniversary party. Attorney Daniel Petrov said it is illegal to discriminate someone based on national origin. He says it's to be kicked off a plane because of speaking language. 

Opinion: I think it is terribly wrong for the six passengers to be booted off the flight purely based on their speaking language. I do think this is going to improve, people are still paranoid about the recent events in Boston. I think they should have let the frightened stewardess off the plane rather than the six passengers. The passengers did nothing wrong, but speak in their native languages. The airline should have acted with more respect and though through what they were doing before kicking the passengers off the plane. 

Huge anti-gay marriage protest march in Paris

Taken From: BBC News UK

Date Published: May 26th, 2013

The sign reads: "I am an ass. I voted for Hollande."

Summary: Tens of thousands of people gathered together in Paris to rally against the new law allowing gay marriage and gay adoption. Police estimate its around 150,000 but organizers say its up to 1 million people there. The rally erupted when activists clashed with riot police. Nearly 100 people were arrested and around 50 were detained for blocking the Champ-Elysees. Despite having 4,500 police deployed, police were forced to use tear gas. Some protesters brought donkeys with signs that mocked the French President for voting for same-sex marriage. Leading activist Virginie Tellan, was there and was greeting protesters, but did not participate. The bill that allowed same-sex marriage and gay adoption, was signed into law by President Francois Hollande last week. It was signed in after months of heated debate. The French people have been bitterly divided over the issue. On Tuesday, a historian shot himself dead in from of the Notre Dame cathedral, leaving messages in which he denounced gay marriage. France is now the ninth country in Europe, 14th globally, to legalise gay marriage. 

Opinion: I think it the right decision to legalize same-sex marriage and gay adoption. I don't think people should be discriminated for being born a certain way. They are born that way and they cannot change it. I'm sure there are people that would change, but they simply can't because they are born that way. It isn't rational to discriminate people on something they can't change. 

Sweden riots spread beyond Stockholm despite extra police

Taken From: BBC News Europe

Date Published: May 25th, 2013

Firefighters putting out a car set on fire.

Summary: It has been the sixth night of rioting in Sweden's capital Stockholm, despite having police and reinforcements present. Many cars were set on fire in poor suburbs inhabited largely by immigrants. The rioting has spread out side of Stockholm, with youths setting fire to more vehicles and buildings in two towns.  The United States and United Kingdom have already warned their citizens that stay out of that area. It is believed the rioting was sparked by the death of an elderly man nearly a week before, when he was shot by police after he allegedly threatened to kill them with a machete. On Friday, Stockholm's police force was reinforced by specially trained officers, from different cities that have experience with riots and that have handled them before. In the town of Orebro, around 25 masked youths set fire to three cars, a school and an empty building. Reports of arson were also reported in Linkoping, south of Orebro. 

Opinion: I think it is okay to protest, as long as it is peaceful. But rioting and destroying property of others is not right. Rioting in such a way is not necessary, especially when what they are fighting for is unsure. It is only a matter of time, when things get out of hand and somebody gets hurt. It then becomes a problem. Police should continue to work to stop the riot for spreading further. It seems as though people are just using this riot as an excuse to destroy things. 

Canadian mine giant Barrick fined a record $16.4M in Chile

Taken From: CBC News

Date Published: May 25th, 2013

El Corral, a village with 200 inhabitants, mostly from the
Diaguita ethnic group.

Summary: The Diaguita Indians live in the foothills of the Andes, just downstream from the world's highest gold mine. And long as anybody can remember the Indians have drunk straight from the glacier-fed river that irrigates their orchards and vineyards with its clear water. Then thousands of mine workers moved in with huge machines, and moved to the mountain tops. River levels dropped, the water turned murky, and now the Indians complain of cancerous growths and aching stomachs. The villagers are convinced it is Barrick Gold Corp. that is causing the health problems. 

"We don't know how much contamination the fruit and vegetables we eat may have," complained Diaguita leader Yovana Paredes Paez. "They're drying up the river, our farms aren't the same. The animals are dying of hunger. Now there's no cheese or meat. It's changed completely."

Chile's empowered environmental regulate confirmed nearly two dozen violations of Barrick's environmental impact agreement. They blocked construction on the $8.5 billion project until the company keeps its promises to prevent water contamination.  The environmental superintendent fined Barrick a record $16.4 million. The highest environmental fine in Chile's history.

Opinion: I think it is not right of the mining company to abuse its rights and violate the environmental agreement they signed with Chile. I believe Chile made the right choice in fining them and halting construction until they have cleaned up the mess. It hope the Diaguita Indians have their problem sorted out and can continue to live how to lived before. I hope the company responds with respect and listens to what Chile has to say, after all they are in Chile.

At what cost? Life-saving drug withheld

Taken From: The Independent

Date published: May 26th, 2013

Dianna Illingworth diagnosed with aHUS.

Summary: A women awaiting a transplant for a rare condition that has left her kidneys gone, has had her operation cancelled because the government refused to pay for the drug that prevents the organ from being rejected. Her name is Dianne Illingworth, she is 41 years old. There are up 70 patients that are in the same position as her. They have to hold and hope the condition does not get worse until they can access the drug needed. The drug is called Eculizumab, it costs more than $300,000 per patient. Illingworth is from Newcastle and suffers from the rare atypical haemolytic uraemic syndrome (aHUS). It is an inherited condition. The surgery date was scheduled for February after her husband, Lee, volunteered to be the donor. The surgery was cancelled when the government did not pay for the drug. The drugs can be life-saving but are hugely expensive, because they effective such a small number of patients. A spokesperson for NHS England says: "Patients who are critically ill and who need Eculizumab urgently will receive it."

Opinion: I think that the government is right in some ways. They are not funding the drug because she does not urgently need it. She can wait, but that also puts her at risk of the condition getting worse, and the transplant not being an option. I think it is great that her husband is volunteering to donate his own organ to save her. I think if, her condition worsens the government should step up and fund for it. Otherwise they should provide it to the people that need to urgently or more than others.

Police rescue woman from flying to Africa to meet online scammer

Taken From: new.com.au

Date Published: May 22nd, 2013

Summary: This is the second time police have stopped an elderly women from boarding a plane to Africa to meet a scammer she met online. The online scammer already scammer her of $75,000. The elderly women's daughter feared she could have been kidnapped and ransomed if she hadn't been stopped from boarding the flight. The scammer claimed he ran a business in Africa and wanted money to set up an orphanage. The scammer called and had online exchanges everyday. The scammer calmed he loved her and wanted marriage. The scammer in reality turned out to be a 26 year old African man. There is almost no hope of recovering the money, she had been scammed of. Police have identified 22 other victims of fraud and scammers. 

Opinion: I think people, especially the elderly should be more careful of what they encounter on the internet. I believe it is terrible that scammers are targeting the elderly. The elderly are especially vulnerable to attacks on the internet. The police did a good job of discovering the scammer and stopped her from boarding the plane. I think authorities should continue to work hard to finding scammers and stopping them.

Fisherman shares bunk bed with croc

Taken From: Brisbane Times

Date Published: May 23rd, 2013

An example of a crocodile.

Summary: A fisherman from north Queenland has experienced something most people don't. The fisherman spend his birthday sharing a bunk bed with a two-meter long crocodile. Ashley Sala was fishing from a bank at a creek in Innisfail on Tuesday with the crocodile latched onto his fishing line. 

"At first I thought it was a massive barramundi and I thought all my birthdays had come at one."

After a lengthy fight, the fisherman had hauled the creature onto the bank realizing it was a crocodile. Fearing the crocodile might die, he put it in the boot of his car and drove it to the local councilor's house seeking advice. The crocodile was caught in his fishing line. He was told to take the crocodile home for the night. He was also told the rangers would deal with it in the morning. Wanting to keep an eye on the crocodile overnight he put it in the bottom bunk of his bed. He slept on the top bunk. The next day the rangers came and took the crocodile to a farm. The fisherman claims there isn't enough being done to deal with dangerous reptiles in the area.

Opinion: I think the fisherman did what was right. He risked his life to save the crocodile. I think the fisherman is right, there should be more done about reptiles like crocodiles. They pose a risk to children that are fishing or just people in general in the area. I believe the rangers could have acted quicker to adress an issue like this. The man was almost forced to watch the crocodile to save it.