World Briefs
By Stephanie Dawber
News Editor
International
- Arrested Wife and Son of ISIS Leader Used as Leverage to Negotiate
Lebanese authorities arrested Saja al-Dulaimi, one of two wives married to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. She was detained with her 4-year-old son when they tried to enter Lebanon. al-Dulaimi’s arrest will be used as leverage to negotiate the release of 27 members of Lebanese security forces, who are being held by ISIS leader al-Baghdadi. al-Baghdadi is leading the Islamist terror group’s rampage across Syria and Iraq.
- Mexican President Submits Police Reform Bill to Congress
President Enrique Peña Nieto submitted a bill that would replace Mexico’s most corrupt municipal police forces in the states of Tamaulipas, Jalisco, Guerrero and Michoacan with state police within two years. This bill is in response to events which started in September, when a drug cartel-infiltrated municipal police force in Iguala detained 43 students and turned them over to a criminal gang, which reportedly killed them.
National
- Darren Wilson Not Charged in Fatal Shooting of Michael Brown; Wilson Resigns from Ferguson PD
On Monday, Nov. 24, a grand jury declined to indict police officer Wilson in the fatal shooting of Michael Brown. Last weekend, Wilson, 28, resigned from the Ferguson police department and did not receive any severance package.
- House Votes to Cut Off Social Security Benefits to Nazis
Congress unanimously passed a bill on Tuesday called the “No Social Security for Nazis Act” that would cut off benefits for suspected Nazi war criminals receiving Social Security. After 15 years of complaints to the federal bureaucracy, the bill would shut a loophole that allowed suspected Nazis to be paid millions of dollars in benefits.
- Obama Urges Congress to Approve $6.18 Billion Funding for Ebola
President Obama urged Congress on Tuesday to approve $6.18 billion in emergency funding to help fight the Ebola outbreak. In response to the successful Ebola vaccine created by the National Institutes of Health, (NIH) Obama stated the U.S needs to fund basic research and help nations such as Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The Ebola epidemic has killed more than 56,000 people worldwide.
- GOP Aide Resigns After Posting Negative Comments about Obama’s Daughters
Republican congressional aide Elizabeth Lauten resigned on Dec. 1 after making controversial comments about President Obama’s daughters. Lauten published a Facebook post criticizing the outfits worn by the daughters, advised them to “try showing a little class” and “dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar.”
Local
- Mass General Hospital Admits Possible Ebola Patient
On Tuesday, Dec. 2, Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) in Boston released an announcement on their website stating an individual is currently being tested for Ebola. According to the MGH website, “At 2 p.m. today while undergoing routine monitoring by the Boston Public Health Commission, an individual, determined to be a person under investigation for Ebola virus disease, was admitted to Massachusetts General Hospital for evaluation.” There has been four diagnosed cases of Ebola in the United States. On Dec. 3, the individual tested negative for Ebola and positive for malaria.
- Brockton Man Fatally Struck When Crossing Route 27
On Monday, Dec. 1, Thomas Ryan, 61, was fatally struck by an SUV as he crossed North Pearl Street on Route 27. The name of the driver has not been released.
Stephanie Dawber is the News Editor of The Comment. Follow her on Twitter @StephanieDawber or email her at sdawber@student.bridgew.edu