Current Events
Africa
Uhuru Kenyatta wins Kenya election with 50.07% of vote, 3/13. Rival Odinga refuses to concede. ICC accuses him of bankrolling death squads in 2007 election. Stress for U.S., since Kenya is a major African ally.
Ethnic tension.
The U.S. and Kenya have had good relations since Kenya's independence from Britain in 1963. The U.S. provides Kenya notable monetary and charity-based support.
Asia
North Korea's 2/13 nuclear test marks "new phase of confrontation" w/ U.S. U.N. imposes new sanctions, supported by China. In respose, NK vows to null all nonaggression pacts w/ SK.
If there is a military clash, US likely to get involved.
Noted trend in aggressive flares right after election of new SK president; this time, Park Geun-hye.
Central & South America
The death of Hugo Chavez. Former VP and now acting president is Nicolas Maduro, trying to ride off Chavez emotional outpour. Elections expected in April.
Many don't like that Maduro is both acting president and running in the April election.
Maduo is a Baba devotee. Wasn't expecting that.
Opponent of Maduro is Henrique Capriles, centrist politician who lost to Chavez in October.
Chavez, though autocratic, used country's oil reserves for heavy social spending throughout his 14 years. He was highly popular among poor.
Europe
United States
Economy
Politics
(BACKGROUND)September attack on a U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya.
Republican senators (inc. KY Rand Paul) filibustered acceptance of Brennan b/c of concerns over drone program and Libya attack
Obama's new drone program
Obama criticized that drone program is more unethical than torture in detention, b/c it kills w/o giving a chance--- But the argument glosses over the difference between killing that is authorized by the state—such as in self-defense in combat and police raids—and torture of a defenseless captive, which is always illegal.
Rand Paul is being considered as the 2016 GOP presidential candidate.
Filibuster condemned by some other GOPs, revealing divisions w/i the party (such as SC Lindsay Graham and AZ John McCain)
John O. Brennan chosen by Obama as new CIA director
