Page 2 • NEWS
Thursday, January 22, 2015 Leicester, England Brussels, Belgium
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Beijing, China
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Marcela Oliveira Head Content Editor Alexandra Mariano Head Copy Editor Lauren Waymire Content Advisor Nolan Brewer Webmaster Kate Barnekow Daniel Udell Copy Editors Eric Hilton Raquel Leon Section Editor Kaitlyn Alkass Micah Bradley Nicholas D’Alessandro Staff Writers Matt Boggs Production Assistant
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Leicester, England British Mars lander Beagle2 was discovered on the surface of Mars nearly 12 years after losing contact with it. The robot was successfully launched in 2003 and was supposed to land on the neighboring planet on Christmas Day of the same year but contact was lost. It was only through satellite imaging that the robot was finally spotted this month. Pictures reveal that the robot did not fully deploy because of malfunctions in a solar panel, and data therefore cannot be collected from the $85 million piece of technology. Brussels, Belgium Following a series of anti-terror raids, Belgian police
have arrested five suspects and left two others dead. Those arrested are accused of having ties to Saïd and Chérif Kouachi, the brothers responsible for the Charlie Hebdo killings, and Amedy Coulibaly, who incited terror in a kosher market in Paris. Police in France and Germany also arrested suspects thought to have ties to terrorism. Evidence taken in on these raids, particularly in Germany, pointed to future attacks on European soil with the Berlin suspects having ties to extremist group ISIS, or Islamic State, in Syria.” Washington, D.C. British Prime Minister David Cameron and President Obama announced that the Unit-
ed Kingdom and United States would carry out “war game” cyber-attacks on each other as part of a new initiative to combat cyberterrorism. The two heads of state met in the nation’s capital to discuss cyber security and counterterrorism. The British government is seeking to have a greater exchange of information between the two countries and better preparedness in the face of the newer threat of cyber-attacks. The exercises will involve cooperation between “cyber cells” in the FBI and MI5, marking the first time the United Kingdom has carried out such a program with another nation. Beijing, China The smog levels in Chi-
na have once more soared to a dangerously unhealthy level, prompting outcry from public health organizations and action from the Chinese government. The World Health Organization recommends a maximum of 20 micrograms per cubic meter of particulate matter for optimum air quality. Levels in the Chinese capital city reached 568 mpc, causing local health authorities to advise residents to wear face masks and avoid outdoor activities. The Chinese government vowed to decrease air pollution after readings hit 886 mpc in 2013. After this most recent spike they have halted the construction of new cement, steel, oil-refining and thermal power plants.
France falls victim to terrorism Lauren Waymire Content Advisor
Cover Art Designed By: Kayla Powers ‘17
Despite what many may have hoped for, the New Year brought in tragedy before many could finish packing away their 2014 holiday decorations. The city of Paris, France, was thrown into fear and sadness after twelve people lost their lives and several others were injured at a French publication. Two masked gunman by the names of Chérif and Saïd Kouachi walked into the offices of Charlie Hebdo, a week-
ly satirical newspaper founded in 1970, and began shooting. They ultimately killed 12 and injured 11. They proclaimed after leaving the building that they had avenged Muhammad and “killed Charlie Hebdo.” The French publication had long been known for controversial depictions of the Prophet Muhammad as well as religious figures from other faiths. The brothers managed to escape the building and led police on a two-day manhunt that culminated in a hostage cri-
sis not far from the Charles de Gaulle Airport, France’s largest international airport, which resulted in the closure of two runways. Chérif and Saïd were killed after a lengthy standoff on January 9. Both had been on American no-fly lists as well as terrorism watch-lists for sending fighters to face U.S. forces in Iraq. On the same day that the Kouachi brothers were caught and killed, another terrorist took to a kosher market in Paris and gunned down four civilians. The three gunmen were all linked to
the Yemen branch of Al-Qaeda, which ultimately claimed responsibility for the attacks. The attacks did more than remind the Western world that religious extremism is still very present, but also instilled fear in traditionally Jewish enclaves in Europe; thousands of police were dispersed throughout France in the following weeks to Jewish neighborhoods, schools, and synagogues to ensure security and peace of mind for the group that had been simultaneously targeted on the terror spree.