World in brief: September 22, 2010
COPIAPO, Chile
Sept. 18 marked the two-hundredth anniversary of Chile’s independence. A group of Chilean miners who have been trapped in a mine since Aug. 5, 2010, joined in singing the Chilean national anthem. The miners were trapped when the mine they were working in collapsed and aren’t expected to be freed until early November. In the meantime, three bore holes have successfully been made in order supply the miners with food and water.
–Compiled by Katie Rose
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa
A man known as the “Pigspotter” has been using Twitter as a means of warning drivers of roadblocks and speed traps in Johannesburg. The man, who has 6,000 followers on Twitter, has agreed to stop posting warnings in return for airtime on a local radio station.
Legally police are required to be in clear sight when performing speed traps, so while the police have accused the man of obstructing justice the man believes he has not done anything wrong.
–Compiled by Katie Rose
BAGHDAD, Iraq
Two car bombs went off in front of a mobile phone company in Baghdad on Sept. 18.
The blast left over 100 people wounded and at least 23 people are dead.
Violence in Iraq has said to have been on the rise in recent months following the March elections, which caused concern when no evident winner was selected. Attacks like this one are becoming all too common.
–Compiled by Katie Rose
BALKH PROVINCE, Afghanistan
At least 17 people were killed during this weekend’s elections in Afghanistan. In Balkh Province three workers for the Independent Election Commission (IEC) bodies were found after they were kidnapped. Concerns have been raised in regards to potential fraud in Afghanistan’s electoral process.
–Compiled by Katie Rose
THE VATICAN, Italy
Ettore Gotti Tedeschi, the director at the Vatican, is under investigation following allegations of money laundering. Tax police in Rome have seized 23 million euro from other financial institutions following two suspicious transactions that were reported by Italy’s financial intelligence unit. In 1982, the Vatican experienced a similar scandal when governor Archbishop Paul Marcinkus was indicted in his involvement with the collapse of Italy’s largest bank at the time, Banco Ambrosiano.
–Compiled by Alex Mitsiopoulos
ASUNCION, Paraguay
President Fernando Lugo has sacked the commander of the armed forces, shortly after the dismissal of all three branches of the armed forces: the army, navy and airforce.
This is the fourth time the president has replaced Paraguay’s military commanders since 2008. The former commanders were just hired this past November, replacing several members who have been charged with attempting to stage a coup d’etat. Critics have claimed that the president has attempted to replace his commanders with younger officers who are more likely to stay loyal.
–Compiled by Alex Mitsiopoulos
ABUJA, Nigeria
Finance minister Olusegun Aganga has claimed that Nigeria’s economy has been primed to grow by ten per cent over the next two years. Aganga’s predictions are based upon the economy’s successes over the past half year, growing approximately seven per cent. He affirms that growth will be stimulated by stringent plans to privatize the power sector and by building new infrastructure.
–Compiled by Alex Mitsiopoulos
Chennai, India
Divya Ajith Kumar, a cadet in the Indian army, will become the first female to be awarded the prestigious Sword of Honour, which has become a milestone for women in the military. Females were admitted into the officer corps in 1992.
They are denied, however, service in combat units. Instead, they are posted in other areas, including engineering or intelligence .
–Compiled by Alex Mitsiopoulos