Category Archives: World News

White Smoke rises from the Sistine Chapel, showing that a Pope has been chosen

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Image via the CBC

Image via AP

White Smoke has risen from the Sistine Chapel, signalling that the 115 cardinals have made a decision on who should lead them. The name of the new Pope shall not be revealed for a while yet, likely about an hour, when the new pope will step out onto the balcony of St. Peter’s Square.

The new Pope will also need to choose a new name. We will find out who the Pope will be within the hour.

220px-Card._Jorge_Bergoglio_SJ,_2008THE POPE: JORGE MARIO BERGOGLIO  

Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina was chosen as the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church, he will furthermore be known as Pope Francis. 

In the last conclave, he came in second to Pope Benedict. He was the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. He is 76 years old, about the age of Pope Benedict when he was elected.

He is the first non-European Pope.

Bells ring over the Holy See

Twitter trends

Twitter trends (Screenshot: Kyle Stewart/Magnae Famae)

As expected, bells are ringing over the Holy See. As the bells rings, crowds continue to gather, They are predicted to double, triple and quadruple as we wait for the Pope to walk out on to the balcony. He (however he is) is getting into his new “Pope wear”.

Gathered in a very cold and wet St. Peter’s Square, it is estimated that there are over 10,000 people. A fraction of the 1.2 billion members of the Roman Catholic Church.

Shortest conclave in 100 years

It has been pointed out time and time again, that no conclave has finished in under 5 days in over 100 years. Because of this, it was expected that this conclave would be no exception, because there was no clear front runner in this conclave. But, the conclave only had five votes over two days.

EDITOR’S NOTE: It has been pointed out by several, that this was not actually the shortest conclave in 100 years, but in 35 years. Our source for this fact was the CBC News Network, Magnae Famae regretfully did not double check this fact. Our apologies for any confusion this may have caused.

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Black smoke rises from Sistine Chapel on first vote for new Pope

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130312185109-black-smoke-first-ballot-t1-mainBlack Smoke has unsurprisingly risen from the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, signaling that no Pope has been chosen.

In order for a Pope to be chosen, they must receive a supermajority or 2/3 of the votes, unless there is a very strong front-runner, the first vote is typically Black. The world is waiting for White Smoke, which will signal that a Pope has been chosen.

Today only one vote was held, tomorrow two votes will be held. The conclaves can last days to weeks, and because there is no front-runner we may have a long wait to find out who will be the new leader of the Roman Catholic Church.

Here are the guesses of who is in the lead for this conclave, by analysts.

  1. Italian Cardinal Angelo Scola
  2. Brazilian Cardinal Odilo Scherer
  3. Canadian Cardinal Marc Ouellet

Thousands gathered

Thousands of people gathered in St, Peter’s Square to see the results first hand. The Black Smoke came out of the chimney on the Sistine Chapel at 8PM local time (3PM Eastern). The 115 cardinals inside of the Sistine Chapel are disconnected from the world when they are inside of the chapel, so as to not sway any of the results.

Magnae Famae will continue to cover the conclave as it progresses, with two votes tomorrow.

WHO DO YOU THINK WILL BE POPE?

Obama signs order for massive government-wide spending cuts

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Barack Obama speaking at the White House on March 1, 2013. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Barack Obama speaking at the White House on March 1, 2013. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

United States President Barack Obama has signed an order, for $85 billion in government-wide spending cuts. This would be an attempt to start cutting back on the US’s massive $16.6 trillion debt.

“We will get through this, [...] this is not going to be an apocalypse as some people have said. It’s just dumb and it’s going to hurt.”

-President Barack Obama

Already, much criticism is coming in, primarily from Republicans.

Obama has called the cuts “arbitrary” and “stupid”, showing his position on the cuts. Obama has said that he expects 750,000 jobs to be lost at a time when unemployment rates are still quite high.

In order to reduce the deficit, Obama’s plan calls for $580 billion in new revenue, over 10 years. He also brings forth the notion of cutting Medicare by $400 billion, and Social Security by $900 billion, both over 10 years. With all proposed cuts combined, the USA’s deficit may be cut be over $4 trillion, if all goes Obama’s way.

What do you think of the spending cuts and the deficit-reduction plans?

Christopher Gregory/The New York Times

Obama unveils gun control plan

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Carolyn Kaster/AP

Carolyn Kaster/AP

The United States has highest rate of gun ownership in the world.

Christopher Gregory/The New York Times

Barack Obama and Joe Biden announce gun control laws. (Christopher Gregory/The New York Times)

On January 16, American President Barack Obama announced plans to change national gun laws, with new laws.

This is the first national attempt at gun control in America since the Newtown, Connecticut shootings. However, New York State has already passed gun control laws, as a first attempt at gun control in the nation.

“To make a real and lasting difference, Congress must act, [...] And Congress must act soon.  [...]I’ll put everything that I’ve got into this. [...] This is our first task as a society — keeping our children safe,

“This is the land of the free and the home of the brave, and always will be,” Obama said, acknowledging the right to possess and bear firearms. “But we’ve also long realized … that with rights come responsibilities.”

-Barack Obama

Obama signed 23 executive actions, allowing plans to strengthen with congress’  approval. Among today’s announcement, Obama called on congress to work on a limit of ammunition magazines to “no more than 10 rounds”.

NRA responds

The controversial National Rifle Association released a statement, saying  ”Attacking firearms and ignoring children is not a solution to the crisis we face as a nation,” [...] “Only honest, law-abiding gun owners will be affected and our children will remain vulnerable to the inevitability of more tragedy.”

Predicting Obama’s move today, the NRA released a video in advanced to the announcement. The video received many views, and according to the NRA, gun sales are up.

The President’s Plan

Gun Homicides (Image via CBC; Stats via GunPolicy)

Gun Homicides (Image via CBC; Stats via GunPolicy)

Below is Obama’s $500 million, four step plan to reduce gun violence. Read the full plan here.

  1. Closing background check loopholes to keep guns out of dangerous hands;
  2. Banning military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, and taking other common sense steps to reduce gun violence.
  3. Making schools safer; and
  4. Increasing access to mental health services.

What do you think of the new plans? Will they help?

SOURCES: CBC; CNN; NRA; Maclean’s
Protesters blocked the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia, Ont., running between Canada and the United States. (Image via The Spec)

‘Idle No More’ co-founder goes against blockades

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Protesters blocked the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia, Ont., running between Canada and the United States. (Image via The Spec)

Protesters blocked the Blue Water Bridge in Sarnia, Ont., running between Canada and the United States. (Image via The Spec)

As the Idle No More movement grows in numbers and in strength, it must keep in mind the true meaning behind their protests.

Sylvia McAdam is one of the four co-founders of the now-international movement. She is a professor at the First Nations University of Canada.

As CTV News reports, McAdam “supports Spence, not blockades.” She is not in favour of the current blocking of rail lines, highways, nor bridges, that has been popular among Idle No More supporters.

“Right now the vision of Idle No More is that we’re peaceful and we’re working within the means of the legal boundaries,” she also added her thoughts on Theresa Spence, stating, “We allow people to express their resistance in creative ways, so we try to not limit that.”
-Sylvia McAdam, via CTV News

This car rear-ended another vehicle when the drivers were distracted by the Idle No More blockade on Highway 403 on Saturday. (Adam Carter/CBC)

McAdam also spoke about the Assembly of First Nations, “It doesn’t begin to address the issue that Idle No More is attempting to stop and that’s the legislation that’s going through Parliament, [...] All I can say is no political organization can speak on behalf of Idle No More. [...] We speak on different topics. We speak about removing the legislation that’s going through parliament and we also speak on behalf of indigenous sovereignty, protection of land and water,”

Theresa Spence (centre), said that she will not be attending a meeting with PM Stephen Harper on Friday. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)

Chief Theresa Spence decides to not attend meeting with PM Harper

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Theresa Spence (centre), said that she will not be attending a meeting with PM Stephen Harper on Friday. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)

Theresa Spence (centre), said that she will not be attending a meeting with PM Stephen Harper on Friday. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)

The hunger-striking, and face of the Idle No More movement, Chief  Theresa Spence of Attawapiskat, has decided to not attend a meeting with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

Among other things, Spence has been hunger striking on Victoria Island in Ottawa for over a month, wanting to speak with Harper and with Governor General David Johnston. At last, Harper agreed to a meeting that would take place on January 11. Spence pulled out.

“We have sent a letter to Buckingham Palace and requesting that Queen Elizabeth II send forth her representative, which is the Governor General of Canada,” Spence said in a News Release. ” [...]Canada is not acting in good faith and has set the tone this past week by releasing their approved audit through [Aboriginal] Affairs Canada and now the Governor General’s absence at this critical meeting,”

The Office of the Governor General said that he could not attend ”because it consists of a working meeting with government on public policy issues.”

Even with Spence pulling out, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that the meeting would still go forward.

Earlier this week, the Federal Government released an audit of Attawapiskat First Nation’s finances. The audit showed that the First Nation was lacking documentation in many areas, including in  expenditures of $104 million, causing national debate. Chief Theresa Spence called the audit a “distraction.”

Attawapiskat band police have also been under fire after threatening a Global News photojournalist, Jennifer Tyron, with arrest, and escorted the reporter back to the airport. This happened because the acting chief told her that Spence wanted all media out of Attawapiskat.

Markets are going upwards internationally after the news of a fiscal cliff deal. (Image via the CBC)

Fiscal cliff avoided with deal

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Obama and Biden announce the good news of the Fiscal Cliff deal. (Image via CNN)

Obama and Biden announce the good news of the fiscal cliff deal. (Image via CNN)

Markets are going upwards internationally after the news of a fiscal cliff deal. (Image via the CBC)

Markets are going upwards internationally after the news of a Fiscal cliff deal. (Image via the CBC)

The fiscal cliff that has been a hot topic in the news lately has been avoided after the American House of Representatives passed a deal yesterday.

The vote was 257-167 on January 1st (the day that America would go over the cliff). Many deals have attempted to go through the house… with no triumph.

“The approved plan maintains tax cuts for individuals earning less than $400,000 per year and couples earning less than $450,000. It will raise tax rates for those who make more — marking the first time since 1993 that federal income tax rates have gone up for any Americans, according to the Tax Foundation.

“The bill also extends unemployment insurance and delays for two months a series of automatic cuts in federal spending.”

-CNN

After bills have passed through the House of Representatives, they go up to the President. Obama has confirmed that he would sign the bill into law.

After the deal was made, markets have been going up internationally, a great, late Christmas gift for investors, who have been worried about the fiscal cliff and what that may mean for their investments.

Are you glad to hear about the fiscal cliff deal? Leave a comment below.

News Tip: Austin MacPherson

Theresa Spence

What is Idle No More?

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Theresa SpenceIdle No More is an ongoing Canadian movement, supporting Chief Theresa Spence. It has gained International support, through social media. Spence is currently on a hunger strike (as of December 31st, she is on Day 20), because she wants Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Governor General David Johnson to meet with First Nation chiefs, to talk about failing aboriginal rights in Canada, including the protection of lands.

The omnibus bill, C-45, will change the Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA), in such a way that pipelines will be able to cross rivers on First Nations land, which is almost universally opposed by the First Nations.

C-45 will also make significant changes to the Indian Act, allowing land to be leased on First Nations land without a majority vote.

Because C-45 passed without Aboriginal consultation, the Canadian Government failed to comply with previous treaties.

Theresa Spence is the chief of at Attawapiskat reserve, a reserve in Northern Ontario, on the Hudson Bay, that has been talked about in the press for their Housing and Infrastructure crisis (of which Theresa Spence declared a state of emergency, drawing national attention), a problem that is not uncommon on reserves in Canada. The reserve was a population of about 1,900.

Protests across North America

On December 30th, Theresa Spence met with about 20 MPs from the NDP and Liberal parties… no one from the Conservative party, which is the current Government. After 20 days, Harper has still failed to meet with Theresa Spence on Victoria Island.

Idle No More has inspired protests around the world. The majority of these protests are understandably in Canada, but protests have also occurred in Cairo, London, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco.

#IdleNoMore is a popular hashtag on Twitter. The Idle No More movement is also making constant headlines with their peaceful protests.

Hopefully Harper and Johnson will commit to a meeting soon… before anything tragic happens.

Many thanks to Jane Barter Moulaison.

Idle No More in Times Square on December 31st.

Idle No More in Times Square on December 31st.