Take a gander at what’s been happening outside the Bucknell Bubble this past week.
Budget Cuts Prompt Significant Release of Illegal Immigrants
Officials at the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (a branch of the Department of Homeland Security) have released an unspecified number of illegal immigrants who were being detained until deportation due to the recently announced $1.2 trillion in budget cuts “across-the-board.” The federal government, however, has not completely dropped these immigration cases. The recently released illegal immigrants are now on supervised release while their immigration cases continue to be heard in court. The release of these illegal immigrants has prompted many GOP members in Congress to speak out against the Obama administration, saying that the President and his cabinet have sabotaged the current negotiations over immigration reform and have consequently threatened the safety of the American public.
To learn more, visit:http://abcnews.go.com/ABC_Univision/Politics/sequester-cuts-impact-immigration-system/story?id=18600283
National Elections in Italy Affects Markets Worldwide
Italy’s most recent federal election yielded no political party majority in the Italian parliament, thus threatening political and economic instability and uncertainty. The center-left party has a majority in the lower house of Italy’s parliament, but failed to garner a majority to control the upper chamber of the Parliamentary Senate. World markets have felt the effect of Italy’s governmental gridlock. Since the election, economists have voiced their fear that the prominence of the vote for the anti-austerity parties within the Italian parliament will debilitate efforts to revitalize Italy’s public finances and labor laws, thus consequently threatening the European Union’s efforts to settle its nearly three-year debt crisis.
To read more about Italy and its recent election, visit: http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/26/us-italy-vote-idUSBRE91M0EB20130226
Chuck Hagel Named as Defense Secretary
Hagel, former GOP United States Senator of Nebraska, was confirmed as Defense Secretary on Tuesday, February 26th. The Senate voted 58 to 41 to name Hagel as Defense Secretary, despite controversy surrounding his views on Middle East security and the recent attack on the American consulate in Libya. Hagel, formerly an Army infantryman with two Purple Hearts awarded following his service in the Vietnam War, will become the first enlisted man to become Defense Secretary. This vote represents the most narrow margin for any Defense Secretary to date.
To read more about the United States’ newly-nominated Defense Secretary, visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/27/us/politics/hagel-filibuster-defense-senate-confirmation.html
Oscar Pistorius Plans to Hold Memorial Service for Slain Girlfriend
Less than a week after being released from prison on $112,000 bail, South African Olympic track star Oscar Pistorious is planning to hold a memorial service for his girlfriend (whom he is convicted of murdering) at the home of his uncle. The Pistorious family says that the Olympic athlete and members of his family will mourn the loss of Reeva in privacy.
For more on the Oscar Pistorius/Reeva Steenkamp story, visit: http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/26/world/africa/pistorius-steenkamp-memorial/index.html
Weekly Dose of Pop-Culture: Michelle Williams and Jason Segal Have Split
After dating for over a year, the How I Met Your Mother star and the Oz the Great and Powerful actress split up a few weeks ago. Sources say that Williams and Segal ended their relationship due to long distance (Segal is based in Los Angeles, while Williams lives in New York City).
For more information about the Williams/Segal breakup, visit: http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/michelle-williams-jason-segel-split-2013262