Saturday, October 3, 2015

THE WEEK IN REVIEW: SEPTEMBER 27-OCTOBER 3, 2015

OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.
FOR THOSE OBSERVING THE JEWISH FAITH, HOSHANA RABBAH BEGINS AT SUNDOWN TONIGHT.
OCTOBER 3rd IS GERMAN UNITY DAY, NATIONAL DAY IN IRAQ & NATIONAL FOUNDATION DAY IN SOUTH KOREA.
THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW CELEBRATES ITS 40th ANNIVERSARY.

AMONGST EVENTS AROUND THE WORLD THIS PAST WEEK...
THOSE IN THE PATH OF HURRICANE JOAQUIN ARE ADVISED TO TAKE THE NECESSARY PRECAUTIONS. AFTER STRIKING THE BAHAMAS, THE ERRATIC STORM WILL EITHER GO STRAIGHT UP THE ATLANTIC OCEAN OR MAKE LANDFALL AGAIN SOMEWHERE ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD OF THE UNITED STATES.
MEANWHILE, BERMUDA IS ALSO PREPARING FOR THE STORM.
*Guyana claims Venezuela is gathering troops and weapons along the disputed border between the two countries.
*Russia has officially begun air strikes in Syria in support of the local government. France also reports successful air strikes against ISIS/ISIL forces in the region.
*Meanwhile neutral observers, from the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe; along the Donbass border monitoring the current cease fire report the presence of a new Russian weapons system that was not there at the start of the separatist movement in the Ukraine.
*Because Israel allegedly has not been honoring them, Palestine has announced they will no longer abide by the Oslo Accords either.
*Although the Separatists Party won a majority in the recent general election held in Catalonia, Spain's charter does not allow any region to break away from the country.
*The government of Nepal has now begun regulating who can attempt to climb Mount Everest in hopes of reducing climbing related accidents.
*Citing rising costs versus actual returns, the Royal Dutch Shell Oil Company has halted drilling operations around the Alaskan Coast.
*After failing to come to an agreement with the pilots' union Air France/KLM says it will soon be cutting 2900 jobs.
*Pope Francis is back in Rome after completing his recent visit of Cuba and the United States.
*Although highly poisonous to life as we know it, NASA scientists have confirmed the existence of water on Mars!
*Scientists have not only discovered a new reptile that has been dubbed the Hawks' Bill Sea Turtle, but it is also the first known instance of bio-fluorescence in a wild reptile. The animal has also been declared an endangered species.

TERRIBLE TERRORIST ACTIVITIES...
*Taliban forces have seized control of Kunduz, Afghanistan. Afghan forces claim to have since retaken the city.
*There is a report that five girl suicide bombers attacked Maiduguri, Nigeria on behalf of Boko Haram, resulting in 9 innocent victims, not counting the bombers, and over 30 injured.

PASSING PARADE...
*Singer Denise Lor ("I'll Give My Heart To You") is no longer with us.
*Film director/producer John Guillermin (The Towering Inferno, 1976 version of King Kong) has passed away.
*Singer Frankie Ford ("Sea Cruise") is no longer with us.
*Actress Catherine E. Coulson (best known as The Log Lady on Twin Peaks) has taken her last bow on life's stage.

WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA...
POLITICALLY...
*Despite an unsuccessful witch hunt Congressional hearing into the matter, some  Republican members of Congress are still threatening a government shutdown unless Planned Parenthood is totally defunded. However, the government only reimburses the organization for some healthcare services rendered to low and no income patients. Otherwise, Planned Parenthood is not an item on any Federal budget.
*After the recent tragedy in Oregon, both sides of the debate are gearing up for new arguments concerning gun control regulations.
*Political analysts are concerned that Alabama closing most of their driving license offices may result in voter suppression.
ELSEWHERE...
*The gunman who killed 9 people and left 9 others injured after opening fire on the campus of Umpqua Community College in Roseburg, Oregon on October 1st was himself killed during the subsequent shootout with police.
*The Vatican has confirmed that Pope Francis did meet with the infamous Kentucky clerk who has been refusing to grant marriage licenses to same gender couples in violation of Federal law. HOWEVER, their meeting was as part of group prearranged months ago for while the Pope was in Washington, DC. It is unknown if the Pope knew specifically who she was and the controversy that has developed around her since the meeting was scheduled.
*A five-year old girl has been dismissed from a private Christian school in San Diego, California. The reason? She has two mothers.
*Citing rising costs versus actual returns, the Royal Dutch Shell Oil Company has halted drilling operations around the Alaskan Coast.
*T-Mobile has reported being the victim of a recent computer hack attack via the credit agency Experian, resulting in over 15 million customers' personal information being stolen.
*Mike Flowers is retiring from the Tuscaloosa, Alabama Police Department as a 35 year veteran who has NEVER taken a single sick day in his whole career!
*The Oakland Athletics have become the first team in Major League Baseball to employee a female coach by hiring Justine Siegal for their Instructional/Winter League baseball camp.

THE FREE CHOICE E-ZINE WOULD LIKE TO THANK ITS LOYAL READERSHIP FOR CONTINUING OUR MULTI-YEAR STREAK OF 2000+ PAGE VIEWS EACH MONTH, WITH 2,192 DURING SEPTEMBER!



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

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