October 1, 2012:
The Syrian Foreign Minister, Walled Muallem, pointed his finger at a number of countries including the US and France who he claims have helped the rebel forces in his country attain firearms and funding. Meanwhile, the Syrian government is being pressured by the UN to stand down in its conflict with the rebels. The number of casualties has come in at 48 as fighting continues in the Syrian town of Salqin. The battle in Aleppo continues despite the assurances by the rebel that they would cease. Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-19788780
Coming back to the home-front – Californian Gov. Jerry Brown has banned therapy with the intent to make gay teens straight. The practice has been deemed “unscientific” with no basis in fact. It can, in some cases, lead to depression or suicide. Some conservative groups have spoken against this law, saying the therapy allows the parents of LGBT teens to help their children through their gender confusion. – Personal interjection here: trying to make your child straight is not helping them understand their gender confusion. Let them be who they want to be and accept them for who they are. Let them know that you are there for them if they need you. Besides, sexual orientation and gender association are two different things. Thank you – . Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19789505
October 2, 2012
Around 25 people were killed in Mubi, Nigeria, at around midnight on Oct, 1. Twenty-two of them were students at the Federal Polytechnic Mubi University. There have been claims that at least 40 people were either shot or stabbed to death. There has been speculation over the connection of these killings to attacks on the Boko Haram militant group and student union protestors. The university is now closed. Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19801814
It was the butler. Paolo Gabriele, the former butler of Pope Benedict XVI, has been accused of stealing documents from the pontiff’s private chambers. He denies the theft, but admits to betraying the trust of the Pope and claims that he has been mistreated by his jailors. He also admits to copying the sensitive documents and leaking them to the media. Read more at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-19795742
October 5, 2012
On Oct. 4, a landslide in Yunnan province, China, wiped out an elementary school and nearby homes. The following day, all eighteen of the children in the elementary school were confirmed dead, along with an adult that had previously been declared missing. The students were supposed to be on holiday, but earthquakes in early September had made the students behind on school work. Read more at: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-19839932