News!! April 11th 2013

whats new on today's news? a lot!

should we begin from the North/South Korean standoff or the latest in the Nigeria/Boko Haram/amnesty triangle? No! Think there's so much of that out there already....Lets move to several interesting news stories gripping the world today:

Cuba/America Child abduction case (April 11th 2013)

In America, reminiscent of the Elias Gonzales hostage crises, a couple: Josh and Sharyn Hakken, reportedly kidnapped their two sons Chase and Cole from their maternal grandmother (Sharyn's mother) after breaking into her home and tying her up, before whisking the boys away. They sailed away to Cuba triggering an international manhunt that ended this week. Sadly for the couple, Florida laws are not too lenient on child abduction and they could end up spending the rest of their lives in prison after sentencing. 

A court had awarded custody of the boys to their grandparents and terminated the parent's parental rights due to the increasingly erratic and unsafe behaviour of the parents.

The Cuban government was instrumental in getting the children back home due to the extensive cooperation between the two countries....the beginning of a new era? Lets wait and see..:)


Its time for yet another Madonna/Malawi war of words (why cant both parties just remain in their respective homes)

Pop star Madonna is in yet another bitter dispute with the government of Malawi following her 'goodwill' visit to the nation earlier this week. She was accused of demanding a five-star reception on arrival in the country and over-stating her contributions to build schools. Madonna has had a seemingly love-hate relationship with Malawi after adopting two children son David Banda and daughter Chifundo James, from the African nation and several projects including a documentary 'I am because we are' highlighting disease devastating children in the nation.

Madonna's manager Trevor refuted these claims stating that Madonna is the largest individual philanthropist in Malawi and would continue to fund programmes that support children in the country.

Only time would actually tell exactly how this relationship ends...


A federal judge in America ordered the US Food and Drug Administration to make the morning after pill available to all girls of reproductive age, even without a prescription. The pill is usually taken by women after un-protected sex to prevent pregnancy. The ruling has undoubtedly given rise to differing opinions on the rightness or otherwise of the pronouncement.

As expected, reproductive and women's rights groups have hailed the ruling as a plus for females who should have the right over their bodies and choice of reproduction. Conservative groups have however decried the ruling as encouraging early sexual relations without fear of consequences.

The debate continues...

(Additional information obtained from www.CNN.com, BBCnews.com, Reuters.com)