THE WEEK IN REVIEW: DECEMBER 14-20, 2014

THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE WINTER SOLSTICE IS DECEMBER 21st.

MEANWHILE, THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE WILL BE

EXPERIENCING ITS SUMMER SOLSTICE.

CHRISTMAS IS DECEMBER 25th.

BOXING DAY IS DECEMBER 26th.

KWANZA BEGINS DECEMBER 26th.

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD THIS PAST WEEK...

*Laurent Lamothe has resigned as Prime Minister of Haiti in the wake of violent protests there. No word on when a new election will be scheduled yet.
*The Liberal Democratic Party has won a majority in the Japanese general election.
*The Parliament of Greece failed to elect a new President in the first round of voting.
*Hong Kong authorities report there are no longer any protest camps in existence following students wanting voting reform from the Chinese government.
*Known Ebola Virus deaths have risen over 7000 victims for 2014, according to the World Health Organization.
*Denmark has filed a claim with the United Nations for sovereign ownership of the North Pole.
*The United Nations is taking steps to address the issue of climate change.
*Same gender marriages are now legal in Scotland.
*Rolene Strauss of South Africa is the new Miss World, 2014.

CONCERNING NORTH KOREA...
*North Korea has forced Sony Pictures to pull The Interview (about a fictitious attempt on the life of current leader Kim Jong-un) from theaters before its debut, or have movie houses targeted for attacks "that would rival 9-11".
*Meanwhile, Paramount Pictures will not allow theaters to show Team America: World Police in The Interview's place. That comedy featured former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il as a villain.
*North Korea also denies all allegations of involvement in the hacker attacks against Sony Studios, and claims there will be "serious repercussions" if America refuses the country's offer to help with the ongoing investigation. Meanwhile, America has not accepted their offer and has requested China's help in tracking down the foreign based hackers.

TERRORISM UPDATE...
*Taliban gunmen stormed a school in Peshawar, Pakistan; killing over 140 people, mostly students. In the aftermath of this attack, Pakistan has reestablished the death penalty for guilty terrorists.
*India has declared a ban on ISIS/ISIL after some of their members were found responsible for violent acts in that country.
*Yemen has been the target for a rash of car bombs.
*Members of Boko Haram reportedly have stormed the village of Gumsuri, Nigeria; killing over 30 people while kidnapping roughly 200 hostages.


BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE UKRAINE...
*Russia is trying to stop the rapid decline of the ruble.
*The European Union and the United States have imposed new sanctions against Russian occupied Crimea.
*Donetsk, Ukraine is still occupied by pro-Russian separatists at this time.

PASSING PARADE...
*Robert Simpson, co-creator of the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane wind scale, is no longer with us.
*Actor Booth Colman (The original Planet of the Apes franchise, Norma Rae, etc) has taken his last bow on life's stage.
*Arthur Gardner (Film/TV producer/actor) is no longer with us.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA...

*President Barack Obama has announced efforts to renew diplomatic relations with Cuba. America is scheduled to reestablish an embassy in Havana in 2015.
*In its last week of work before the 2014 Winter Break, while still having a Democratic majority, the Senate approved Vivek Murthy as the new Surgeon General.
*The national average for a gallon of gasoline has fallen below $2.75; but nobody is thanking or blaming President Obama for it.
*America has imposed new sanctions against Russian occupied Crimea.
*Pending any last minute legal challenges, Florida will officially recognize same gender marriages come January 2015.

For more news at any time, either scroll down to our IN OTHER NEWS at the bottom of your screen or visit any other reputable news source.