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North Korea sets trial date for U.S. journalists

Two American journalists will be tried in a North Korean court this June for entering the country illegally and intending “hostile acts.” Pyongyang’s official news bureau reported Thursday that Laura Ling and Euna Lee were taken into custody on March 17 along the China-North Korea border. Their trial will begin on June 4. 

The International Press Institute last month called on North Korea to “immediately free journalists who are being used as apparent political hostages in [North Korea's] wider diplomatic disputes with the United States.” The U.S. State Department claims that “there was no indication that independent, non-governmental defense lawyers existed.”

Last month, a Swedish diplomat was allowed to meet with the journalists. The State Department said it has received information that the journalists are being well treated while awaiting their trial. 

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Obama condemns Sri Lanka fighting, urges aid

On Wednesday, President Obama urged Sri Lanka to halt “indiscriminate” shelling of civilians held hostage and dispersed into the Tamil Tiger camps as protection. 

Obama criticized the Tigers for using “human shields,” and urged the rebels to let the captives go. He also called on them to surrender.

But perhaps more importantly, Obama called on the island’s government to desist from using heavy weapons and bombs in the conflict zone — and thereby killing captives. “Without urgent action, this humanitarian crisis could turn into a catastrophe,” said the president.

Since 1983, the Tamil Tigers have been fighting for a smaller independent state for the country’s minority population. As many as 70,000 people have been killed since the fighting began, and the United States and European Union have declared the Tigers a terrorist organization.

Ex-Mexican president calls for legal marijuana

Vicente Fox, the former Mexican president and 2008 Andrews Speaker at Principia College, called this week for the legalization of marijuana.

“I believe it’s time to open the debate over legalizing drugs,” Fox told CNN on Tuesday. “It must be done in conjunction with the United States, but it is time to open the debate.”

Fox pointed to when the United States ended Prohibition in 1933. This policy change, said Fox, reduced organized crime.

Fox’s position now matches the view of his predecessor, former president Ernesto Zedillo. The former heads of Colombia and Brazil, also members of the Latin American Commission on Drugs and Democracy, also favor legalization.

Fox acknowledged that legalization would have to be in conjunction with an education campaign in schools and homes, warning children about the health risks of marijuana. 

New York moves closer to same-sex marriage

The New York State Assembly passed a same-sex marriage bill Tuesday. The bill will now head to the Republican-controlled Senate for a vote later this month. If the Senate were to pass the bill — and the fate of the bill in the Senate is far from certain — Governor Paterson has said he will sign the bill.

“I applaud … members of both parties for moving this historic legislation forward,” said New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in a statement released by the mayor’s office. “I hope New York will soon become the latest state to adopt a law whose time has come.”

Democratic State Senator Thomas Duane released a statement saying, “I am confident that this year my Senate will uphold this fundamental legal principle and vote for my right, our right, to be married this year.”

In 2007, the New York State Assembly passed a same-sex marriage bill. However, the bill stalled in the Republican-controlled Senate.

If New York were to pass the bill, it would follow Maine as the second state whose legislature approved such legislation.

Russian military celebrates Victory Day

Celebrated every March 9, Victory Day is a Russian national holiday celebrating the end of World War II.

“It’s our country’s best holiday,” said Ivan Maksakov, 69, who was a child when the war broke out. “If this holiday didn’t exist, we wouldn’t exist on this earth.”

The militaristic holiday worries some of Russian’s neighbors, who are not consoled by the speech of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. “Russia’s defense is our holy duty,” said Medvedev this year at the annual parade on Red Square, in front of the mausoleum housing the body of the Soviet Union’s first leader, Vladimir Lenin. “Any aggression against our citizens will be rightfully repelled.”

Russia fought a five-day war with Georgia last summer, and tensions remain.

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In Bethlehem, Pope calls for Palestinian state

On Wednesday, Pope Benedict XVI made a powerful plea for an autonomous Palestinian state. He mixed prayer with politics and the birthplace of Jesus, reaching out to “all the homeless Palestinians who long to be able to return to their birthplace.”

Palestinian politicians used the high profile visit to protest the Israeli occupation, and Benedict said he understood their frustration. Benedict did, however, urge Palestinians to “resist any temptation to resort to acts of violence or terrorism.”

The pope’s most forceful comments concerned the wall the Israeli government has constructed along the West Bank. “In a world where more and more borders are being opened up … it is tragic to see walls still being erected,” he said. “How earnestly we pray for an end to the hostilities that have caused this wall to be built.”

The Israeli government’s spokesman Mark Regev offered a somewhat sharp retort: “We did not want to build a security barrier. We were forced to by the continuous infiltration of suicide bombers entering our country and murdering our people. We wish the reality were different.”

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Spy satellite images are believed to show a train loaded with a large missile heading to a missile launch site. These images have sparked media speculation about another North Korean missile test, similar to the failed test in 2006. South Korean officials reportedly said that North Korea is preparing to test-fire its farthest range missile, supposedly capable of reaching the United States. There has been no official confirmation of a missile test from the North Korean government. The missile test is speculated to be at least a month away and contributes to mounting tension between North and South Korea. 

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Sudanese army recaptures rebel held town

Three weeks ago, the rebel forces of the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM), seized Muhajiriya in the southern portion of Darfur. Sudan army forces mobilized, entered the town, and pursued the fleeing JEM rebels. A JEM commander claimed the rebels withdrew voluntarily to spare civilians from the Sudan military’s air strikes. UN peacekeepers have refused to leave Muhajiriya, saying they will remain to protect the town’s civilians, many of whom sought shelter at their base. The rebel movement in Darfur emerged after African tribes rebelled, citing discrimination by Sudan’s Arab-dominated government.

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Protests erupt across Russia over economy

Thousands of Russians held demonstrations protesting the government’s mismanagement of the economy. The largest rally took place in the eastern city of Vladivostok. With lower prices on oil, and unemployment rising in Russia, the Communist Party organized the massive protest in Vladivostok. The protesters claim that the crisis is not market based, but based on the decisions of Russia’s leadership. They proceeded to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Protests of this type were inconceivable just a few months ago, as Russia’s oil based economy prospered from record high oil prices.

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Iran demands US acceptance of nuclear program

A senior adviser to Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says President Obama’s recent attempts at diplomacy with Iran will fail unless the US accepts Tehran’s right to have a nuclear program. The United States has always opposed Iran’s attempts to enrich uranium, the most crucial part of a nuclear program. The US also doubts Iran’s statement that its proposed nuclear program is “peaceful in nature.” Further escalation of diplomatic tension occurred on Tuesday, as Iran launched a homemade satellite, demonstrating its increased understanding of ballistic missile technology.