France struggles with free speech issues

After the now infamous attack on the magazine, a million Parisians gathered in the center of their city to protest the horrid attacks, posters with the slogan “Je suis Charlie” galore. Their protests seemed relatively harmless, but, according to the French government, 54 other protests were considered enough of a danger that they were detained, many of them jailed. They feel that their various remarks, some of them yelled in the thick of the protests in the street, and some of them through social media, were justified; many French citizens are calling out the government for what they feel to be a strong double standard.

The Charlie Hebdo attack and its effects have been felt around the world. The attack and its justifications hit on the crux of a free speech matter that no one can agree on.

For more information, go to http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-eu-30829005

72nd Annual Golden Globes Awards

The 72nd Golden Globes Awards were on this past Sunday night. The inevitable ‘Best Dressed’ and ‘Worst Dressed’ lists had plenty of fodder, but the awards show seemed to be going as expected – except for its raunchy hosts, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. The well-known comedienne duo hosted with a bit of audacious flair, seen in the jokes they decided to tell. One joke in particular caught the attention of news outlets and at-home-couch-watchers alike, a rape joke focusing on Bill Cosby. The pair have since been heaped upon with both criticism and some supporters arguing for its comedic value.

Notable awards winners included Amy Adams (Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy), Boyhood (Best Motion Picture, Drama), How to Train Your Dragon (Best Animated Feature Film), and Gina Rodriguez (Best Actress in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy).

For more information, go to http://www.forbes.com/sites/anushayhossain/2015/01/13/golden-globes-prove-why-hollywood-needs-to-lean-in/

Boko Haram massacre

The terrorist group Boko Haram is believed to be behind a recent massacre of many Nigerians. Some reports have claimed that as many as 2,000 were killed, but the report of the Nigerian government regarding the attack puts the death toll at 150 people. The event proved to be utterly catastrophic to the landscape as well, with satellite images showing the drastic decrease in buildings and plant life. According to human rights organization Amnesty International, a total of 3,720 structures were raxed in the attack.

The news of the massacre continues to paint an increasingly ugly picture about Boko Haram violence in Nigeria. A presidential election looms on the horizon, and many wonder if the country is stable enough for it.

For more information, go to http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-30826582

Islamic terrorist attack on Belgian police

Belgium is filling its streets with troops to anticipate a strong threat of terrorism after the attacks in Paris, on the Charlie Hebdo magazine. Just last week, the Belgian town of Verviers was shaken by a fatal attack by Islamist gunmen. 28 people across Europe have already been arrested following the wake of the attack in Paris, and some countries in Africa, including Niger, have rioted, expressing that they “are not Charlie.” Although there’s not much to agree on regarding this issue, one thing everyone can agree on is that the issue of free speech has proven to be most divisive in the context of religion.

For more information, go to http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-17/belgium-threatened-by-jihadis-returning-from-syria.html

Pope Francis visits the Philippines

The pope travelled to Manila in the Philippines this week during his six day tour of Asia. At a welcoming ceremony at the palace of the President, he called on the leaders of the Philippines to end corruption and social inequality. He will present an open-air mass, which is expected to attract millions.

For more information, go to http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30843811