THE WEEK IN REVIEW: JULY 26-AUGUST 1, 2015

IT'S INDEPENDENCE DAY IN BENIN!

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD THIS PAST WEEK...

*Barack Obama became the first American President to ever address the African Union. After a prepared speech that encouraged the world to strengthen economic ties with the country while commenting on its lack of democracy, he took questions from the crowd.
*Beijing, China has been selected to host the 2020 Winter Olympics. Meanwhile, China is fighting to prevent their own economic crisis.
*The man who shot and killed the famous African lion known as Cecil may be extradited back to Zimbabwe to face criminal charges.
*While Puerto Rico has missed the initial deadline on a bond repayment, the country still hopes to work out all their financial problems soon.
*The Middle East is experiencing a record heat wave, with physical temperatures reaching over 50°C/122°F and a heat index of 68°C/154°F!
*Some parts of the Northern Hemisphere begin their fall harvest season (Lughnasadh) while their counterparts in the Southern Hemisphere celebrate Saint Brigid and Spring (Imbolc).

RUSSIAN REPORT
*France has agreed to refund Russia their down payments on 2 warships, whose sale was cancelled in the wake of the Ukrainian situation beginning.
*Russia has vetoed an United Nations Security Council proposal to investigate the crash of Malyasia Airlines Flight 17 by an International Criminal Tribunal.

TERRIBLE TERRORIST ACTIVITIES...
*The Taliban has confirmed the death of their former leader (Mohammed Omar) but swears to carry on his work after naming his successor.
*Bombs, whether planted in advance or used by suicidal terrorists, still seem to be the weapon du jour, with several incidents reported over the past week across the Middle East.
*Boko Haram continues its attacks on Nigerian villages.

PASSING PARADE...
*Former President of India P. J. Abdul Kalam has passed away.
*Former Prime Minister of Vanuatu Edward Natapei is no longer with us.
*Canada's first female Foreign Minister Flora MacDonald has passed away.
*Whitney Houston's only child Bobbi Kristina Brown is no longer with us. Declaring a cause of death is dependent upon autopsy results.
*Wrestler/actor "Rowdy" Roddy Piper (born Roderick Toombs) has passed away.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA...
POLITICALLY...

*Congressional Republicans have been discussing another potential government shutdown unless the organization known as Planned Parenthood is totally defunded.
*Barack Obama became the first American President to ever address the African Union. After a prepared speech that encouraged the world to strengthen economic ties with the country while commenting on its lack of democracy, he took questions from the crowd.
*The Koch Brothers and their data companies are allegedly withholding information from the Donald Trump campaign.
ELSEWHERE...
*The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia reports its has performed the first double hand transplant on a pediatric patient, who is doing well in the recovery phase.
*The FBI's investigation into Jared Foogle continues as they have acquired a subpoena to view his text messages to a female Subway employee.

The Free Choice E-zine celebrated its 1500th post this past week & thanks its loyal
readership for granting us 3,127 page views in July.


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