Saudi Arabia Vows to Dispel Claims in Assassination Plot
According to Fox News, Saudi Arabian officials vowed last Thursday to pursue a "measured response" to the Iran-backed plot to "assassinate its ambassador in the United States." Saudi Arabian Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisa, told Austrian reporters that his country would not bow to such claims made by Iran. As these comments were being issued, U.S. officials said they would issue sanctions as well as place diplomatic pressure on Iran in hopes to further isolate the regime. President Barack Obama also explained on Thursday that no options will be taken off the table, but he is confident the international community will hold Iran responsible for its accusations. Saudi Arabian officials have yet to say whether any options have been taken off the table at all. The one concern from the U.S., however, is that tensions between the two countries will escalate. According to Victoria Nuland, a spokeswoman for the State Department, "The relations have not been good for a while."
Kenya Hunts for Two Kidnapped Spanish MSF Aid Workers
According to BBC News, two Spanish women who work for Mecicins Sans Frontieres (MSF) were abducted near the Kenya-Somalia border. It is unclear who kidnapped the two women, but a search has already begun to find who is behind the kidnappings. The camp from which they were kidnapped lies about 50 miles from the Somalian-Kenya border "and houses nearly half a million refugees fleeing famine in the horn of Africa." In the past couple of weeks, this has not been the only abduction that has occurred, as two other foreign women were kidnapped, one from England and France. Kenya police are confident they will find the gunmen and kidnappers, as they already know they fled from the camp towards Somalia. According to the Kenyan Government, they believe the culprit of these crimes is the al-shabab militant group which controls large parts of Somalia. A senior official from the group has denied the accusation while the head of the MSF in Spain has condemned the attack. A crisis team has been established for the incident but will not provide "any further information for the moment in order to ensure a rapid and safe solution."
Wall Street Protesters Arrested in New York
According to BBC News, some protesters who have occupied Zuccotti Park for weeks in an outcry against corporate greed have been arrested during scuffles with the local police. Demonstrators explained that officials' plan to clean the park is " … a ploy to evict them." The report goes on to say that police made 14 arrests Friday in the lower Manhattan area. The demonstrators have spread from New York to other parts of the United States and even the world. Protests within the United States include areas such as Denver, Colorado and Seattle, Washington. Other protests were scheduled for this past weekend in countries such as England, Canada, Asia and Africa. Arrests in protesting U.S. cities continue; two dozen in Denver as police removed tents from Lincoln Park and ten from Seattle as they ignored orders to leave their tents in Westlake Park. BBC reports that the Facebook page for the demonstrators explains how New York Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, has used the removal tactic before to evict protestors, and the tactic is very popular in Europe as well. Park regulations for cleaning were made before the protests; however, they have not been enforced until now.
President Obama Sends Troops to Track down African LRA Leader
According to CNN, President Obama, in a written letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Daniel Inoye, said he is sending 100 U.S. troops to Africa to help hunt down Joseph Kony and other leaders of the Lord's Resistance Army. The group is notoriously known for violent acts, an example being the kidnapping young boys and forcing them to serve in the Army. In the report, CNN quotes Obama, saying the group "has murdered, raped and kidnapped tens of thousands of men, women and children in Central Africa." The military personnel sent will not engage Kony's forces unless it is out of self-defense. Since 2008, the U.S. has supported regional efforts to put a stop to the LRA's activity. The efforts provided are estimated to be around $40 million. According to Obama, Just in 2008, "the LRA has killed more than 2,400 people and abducted more than 3,400." Other numbers include 380,000 people who are believed to have been displaced due to the LRA's activity. The first set of troops was sent over last Wednesday and will be followed by a second group that will comprise mostly of communication, logistics and headquarters. The troops backing this operation consist mostly of Special Forces personnel.
Indy 500 Winner Dies in Fiery Crash
According to Fox News, after a 15-car pile-up at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, Dan Wheldon, two-time Indianapolis 500 champion, was pronounced dead two hours after he was airlifted from the track. The accident occurred on lap 13 when Wheldon's car became "ensnarled in a fiery crash" then flew over another vehicle and into the fence just outside turn two. He was airlifted to University Medical Center but was not able to be saved. IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard was quoted in the Fox News article, saying, "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family today. IndyCar, its drivers and owners, have decided to end the race." The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation expressed its sympathy by releasing a statement to the family and media, and also putting a wreath next to his ‘98 Show car in his honor at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Wheldon was a Reagan Foundation supporter and drove the "Bryan Herta Autosport and Curb/ Agajanian ‘98 car" that won the Indianapolis 500. On the car was the Reagan Centennial Seal. Wheldon is survived by his wife and two young sons.
