Artist Thomas Wei Gao bridges gap between Columbia and Beijing

By Andrew Withers
Photos by Jeremy Johnson

Tucked away in a quiet, wooded subdivision of Columbia is Thomas Wei Gao’s home. Unassuming at first, it sits on a gentle hill overlooking a forested gully. The beauty of the surroundings are enough to give pause; late afternoon light filtering through the stripped branches, the odd bird chirping, the rustle of a nearly nonexistent breeze through a bed of leaves. But the beauty of what’s outside the house is easily matched by what’s inside.

Gao is a painter who works in the traditional Chinese ink wash style of painting, among other techniques. But it wasn’t always that way.

A journalist by trade, Gao spent 10 years covering the auto industry and economics as a reporter in Beijing. Because of the nature of his work, he often traveled throughout Asia, Europe and North America.

“If you are a journalist, you have to go to many places to interview people and see something new,” Gao says. “Sometimes I traveled to Paris 10 times a year. We’d have three days for work and three days for paradise. The others choose shopping; I spend all my time in museums.”

In April 2013, one of his trips took him to New York for a show put on by British automaker Jaguar. In his free time between events, he visited the Museum of Modern Art. Moved by the artwork, Gao purchased a set of painting materials when he got back to Beijing.

Development of his style

From there, his painting took off.

“I messed up a lot in the beginning,” Gao says. “But I taught myself. Jimmy Page is one of my biggest influences. He didn’t even know how to read music (at first).”

From the start, Gao’s career as a journalist influenced his painting. Incorporating lessons from his travels and reporting, he found he was able to apply the same principles of his writing to his art.

Thomas Wei Gao says he often plays the flute while he’s waiting for his paintings to dry.

“‘Journalist’ is a very good job to start with in your career because you can discover things,” he says. “You can know society; you can know the whole system. In other careers, you cannot get the whole picture. Sometimes, mistakes and failures are the best thing for you, the best thing to succeed.”

Gao compares his artistic process to the way he lays out and writes a story.

“Writing an article is the same thing as a painting,” he says.” You organize different areas together and make them look good. I think the very first painter was a journalist. 10,000 years ago, in the cave, that’s somebody trying to send a message.”

His creative process

Gao’s style is influenced by many different facets of art. He cites Tang Dynasty art from China as his biggest influence, as well as painters such as Edvard Munch and Francis Bacon. But he’s careful to maintain that he doesn’t consider himself a subscriber to any individual style.

“You can’t put Munch in a category of one style,” he says. “I don’t have a cage. I can go anywhere I want — total freedom.”

Gao paints in the fresco style, a technique in which ink is applied to a surface and is allowed to diffuse by means of water through the medium, which, in Gao’s case, is paper. The resulting bleeding effect is the essence of traditional Chinese ink wash painting. Layer upon layer of ink is added, with periodic washes in order to fade the painting out in certain areas.

“I flood it with water to wash the ink out,” he says. “I’m trying to get rid of the paper so that the painting shows up.”

Special brushes, calligraphic ink and a unique type of bamboo paper from China are among the tools Gao uses. He also works with oils and acrylic.

But the creative process is in full swing long before the brush hits the paper.

“I have to think about (a painting) for a long time before I begin and make a plan,” he says. “ I learned a sentence that’s really useful here. ZZ Top, on his first album: ‘It’s all in your head.’”

Once Gao has a mental plan, it can take him weeks or months to finish a painting. It might take several hours for one layer of a piece to dry before he can continue onto the next one. Gao often uses these breaks to collect his thoughts.

“Sometimes, when I finish one step, I come outside, have a cigarette and enjoy the air,” he says.

Other times, Gao plays the flute as his paintings dry. He can play the flute and the guitar, and he says that his music and artwork often complement one another.

The subjects of Gao’s paintings range, but he typically works with religious themes. Buddhist elements are often featured in his art, but influences from other major religions are present as well. The lotus flower, hands and Buddha are all typical subjects for Gao. He does not consider himself an adherent of Buddhism, however.

“I want to get over the boundary of religion,” he says.

Thomas Wei Gao says he often uses the traditional Chinese style of ink wash painting. Behind one of his paintings, he inscribed the Heart Sutra, a Buddhist scripture.

Gao’s style and subject matter are exemplified in a series of paintings he created called the Nirvana Series. In one painting, called No. 1, a set of limbs are shown dying, leaving an ocean of suffering behind. In another, No. 3, a river is shown with falling water, trees and rocks. Yet another, No. 11, shows a hand engulfed in flames, making a Buddhist gesture. These paintings, he says, illustrate the attainment of Nirvana, a Buddhist enlightenment achieved after all desire, hatred and delusion are removed from the mind.

Behind one of his paintings, Gao inscribed the Heart Sutra, a short Buddhist scripture involving techniques to help with liberation from life’s suffering.

“Just like the (crucifixion) for Christians, all of the past suffering disappears,” Gao says.

Throughout several paintings in the series, as well as the entirety of Gao’s work, large geometric hands are a common fixture. These hands were prevalent in the ancient style of Chinese art from which Gao draws inspiration. In these paintings, Europeans were often depicted as having larger and more robust hands, which Gao says likely represents power.

Community support

Gao says his art has been extremely well received in Columbia. Support and praise for his work has come from numerous people in the community, including MU journalism professor and art collector Katherine Reed, his neighbor and MU sociology professor Rex Campbell and Joel Sager of Sager Braudis Gallery.

“Rex (Campbell) used to be an appraiser,” Gao says. “I’m lucky he comes and checks out my art. He really likes my hands of Buddha.”

Thomas Wei Gao says he sometimes draws inspiration from religious symbols and artists such as Francis Bacon.

Gao says the art scene in Columbia is worlds different from that of Beijing.

“Beijing is like New York — lots of people, it’s not quiet, and everyone is running fast to get money,” he says. “ I used to be a guy like that: no time for family, no time for myself. So I push myself to learn something more here. This place is a magic place. Columbia is like my sweet home.”

Gao has been in talks with Sager and other local gallery owners, hoping to have his artwork exhibited sometime soon. He also recently returned from a trip to Chicago, where a gallery is interested in displaying some of his work.

His art has already been shown in a large exhibit in Beijing. As for his long term plans, though, Gao is keeping it simple.

“Just keep painting,” he says. “That’s it.”

Advice for aspiring artists

“We have a saying in China,” he says. “’If you learn from me, you will be successful. If you (are) like me, you will die.’”

Using other artists as sources of inspiration is important, he says, but imitation will never lead to success. In order to really find your style, you have to be yourself.

“I cannot express myself in (English),” he says. “But I can in my painting.”

Gao says he can easily distinguish between himself as a writer and himself as a painter. He feels that his artwork, rather than his writing, is closer to what he wants to be saying.

“10 years ago, I wanted to be a famous journalist, and wanted to influence a lot of people, so I did a lot of hard work,” Gao says. “Almost anyone who is educated can do that. But painting, that is unique thing. It makes me proud.”

Chinese Dumpling Extravaganza: creating a home away from home

Photos by Annmarie Welser

Story by Sierra Morris

As people flowed in and out of room 204, the smell of fresh dumplings poured into the halls of Memorial Union South. The room was teeming with more than 50 students and professors, all gathered for the April 7 Multicultural Hour: Chinese Dumpling Extravaganza. The annual Chinese Qingming festival, celebrated in April, was the inspiration.

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The Asian Affairs Center hosts Multicultural Hour events every Thursday at 4 p.m. The events are free to the public, and the mission is “to improve understanding and promote better relationships among different cultures.”

MU international student Wenbin Guo is from China and is studying industrial engineering. Guo says he came to the event to meet new friends and to create a family away from home.

Tzuyang Chao, director of the MU Multicultural Hour events, says the Qingming festival is all about bringing people together.

“This festival is for family,” Chao says. “ In China’s culture, we focus more on family than in American culture. In China, we grow up with our parents. Here in America, you must become independent.”

Each dumpling was like no other, and molding the dough is an art form by itself. Traditionally, each shape is individually designed with a purpose: to feed the family and to connect at the dinner table.

“No matter what festival is going down, we always eat a dumpling together,” Chao says. “The dumpling is easy. It’s easy to cook, it’s easy to make, so that’s why we always make the dumpling.”

Although the festival focuses on families in a traditional sense, family can come in many different forms. Here at MU, friends gathered with helping hands and stories from memories of celebrating the festival at home.

Up next for the Multicultural Hour: bubble tea. Chao anticipates there will be more than 100 bubble teas prepared.

 

Global News Roundup Feb. 14- 21

Pope speaks out about drug trafficking in Mexico

Pope Francis spoke against the “moral’ harm that selling and using drugs are having on the Mexican community. His speech took place at the Mexico City cathedral on Feb. 14 in front of church leaders. He stressed the significance of showing care for every Mexican citizen as opposed to only the upper class.

Pope Francis. Courtesy of Wikimedia.

Rate of civilian deaths in Afghanistan growing

The United Nations announced on Feb. 14  that 3,545 people were killed due to war in Afghanistan in 2015. The number marks a 4% increase of civilian deaths since the U.N. released their last report. Another 7,457 people have been injured due to warfare in the country. Most of these injuries and deaths can be attributed to attacks by Muslim extremist groups like the Taliban.

 

There has been a 9% increase in injuries of Afghani citizens due to war. Courtesy of Pixabay.

Doctors Without Borders hit – again

Eight Doctors Without Borders staff members are missing after an airstrike hit the facility they were working in on  Feb. 15 in Syria. The attack comes in the wake of a series of airstrikes being aided by Russian officials in the country. In other middle eastern provinces like Aleppo and Azaz, there were two separate attacks, one on a chilren’s hospital, which left a total of 24 people dead.

A Doctors Without Borders center. The organization also frequently goes by its French name Medicins Sans Frontieres or MSF. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

Australian authorities find $900 million worth of liquid meth

In Australia, police recovered $900 million worth of liquid methamphetamine on Feb. 15. The drugs were found in boxes of silicon bra inserts, painting sets and glue bottles. The event marked the biggest drug bust in the country’s history. The multi-million dollar find could have created 1,100 pounds of crystal meth.

Australian police recently made the country’s largest drug bust in history. Courtesy of Wikimedia

South Africa confirms the Zika virus has reached the country

South African health officials announced their first case of the Zika virus on Sunday. A man from Colombia had the illness while visiting South Africa but has since then recovered. The Zika virus has been most prevalent in Central and South America among expecting mothers. It has been linked to brain deformities in newborn infants.

The Zika virus is thought to be spread largely through mosquito bites. Courtesy of Wikimedia.

Israeli soldiers share their stories

By Lily Cusack

Precursor: The last names of the two soldiers in this article were not released in order to protect their families in Israel.

Fighting in a war is a scary concept for many, but in Israel, it’s a reality; all civilians are put into the draft at birth.

“It’s not one of the American wars where you can go fight very, very far from home,” Idan, an Israeli soldier, says. “I had soldiers in my company. They live across the road.”

On Feb. 17, two Israeli soldiers told an audience in Stotler Lounge how they gave up their teenage lives to fight in a war right outside their windows. Sagie and Idan were drafted to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in their late teens to help ease Israeli-Palestinian tensions.

The event was put on by Students Supporting Israel, a pro-Israel group that attempts to educate about Israeli culture and history. Members of the group believes that it’s essential for students to know how different people across the world live.

“It shows you a first-person glance of what it’s like to be an Israeli, to be a part of their world,” Vice President Hannah Turner says. “I think the best way that you can learn about a place and learn about their people is to hear it from their mouths.”

The speech featured two soldiers in reserves: Sagie, a 27-year-old student studying Law and Business from Kfar Saba, Israel, and Idan, a 29-year-old student studying Middle East Studies and International Studies from Karmiel, Israel. Both shared their separate stories of how they got into the army and what they did while serving.

Sagie started his story by describing his childhood dream: to be a basketball player.

“Back then, my dream was to break the barrier and become the first Israeli player in the NBA,” Sagie says.

However, a childhood tragedy quickly changed his mind. During the Second Intifada from 2000 to 2005, Palestinians staged an uprising against Israel. There were more than 140 terrorist attacks and more than 1,000 deaths.

On Nov. 4, 2002, a suicide attack took place in Canyon Arim Mall in Kfar Saba, very close to where Sagie lived.

“Try to imagine, I was sitting in front of the television watching the news, and I can’t believe I can go out on my balcony and see everything because I live close to the mall,” Sagie said.

Two people were killed in the attack, including Sagie’s friend Gaston.

“I found myself, as a teenager, sitting in front of Gaston’s parents with all my basketball friends. We didn’t know what to say,” Sagie says. “That was the day I was forced to grow up.”

He decided to extend his army service by five years and continues to serve in the reserves today. Serving in the reserves means he might have to drop his life and studies at a moment’s notice to fight for the IDF.

This happened in 2006 when Sagie was drafted to serve in the Second Lebanon War. He was dropped in a village right outside the Gaza Strip.

A few hours later, he was sent to join the artillery rocket team. They were preparing to shoot the rocket to the Palestinian side when they were told to stop. Some Palestinian kids were seen playing in the target site.

“They’re educating us to become moral, especially as an officer, because I need, in the future, to teach my soldiers how to behave properly, how to use the weapon in the right way,” Sagie says.

Idan joined the army in 2004, during a tumultuous time in Israeli history. Most of his duties in the beginning of his career involved guarding the border to ensure that terrorists did not enter the country.

“Every couple of days, there was a terrorist attack in one of the big cities in Israel or around the borders.”

One of his first missions of his service came in 2005 during the Israeli disengagement. Israel decided to withdraw from the Gaza Strip to initiate the peace process with the Palestinians. Although many citizens admired the more than 10,000 Israelis who lived in the regions, the IDF had to go in and force them out of their homes.

“We hoped this major gesture, this major sacrifice of the Israelis, the Palestinians would understand that,” Idan says. “They would take that and try to make progress toward peace.”

The plan did not work, and in 2006, Hamas, a violent terrorist organization, took over the Gaza Strip.

“The Hamas control over Gaza gave them a lot of opportunities to shoot rockets and to make terror attacks on the Israeli settlements around the Gaza Strip,” Idan says.

In 2009, Israel decided to enter the First Gaza War to take back the Gaza Strip from Hamas.

“We went to the exact same places we just left four years ago, which we gave them in order to make peace with them,” Idan says. “Unfortunately, I lost some very close friends of mine trying to take back some of the same places we just left.”

The fighting tactics of Hamas was often at the expense of civilians. They would put missile launchers in villages and towns, force the IDF to go into these towns and then use civilians as “human shields” while they shot at the soldiers.

One night, Idan received a covert mission to go into a town to take down the terrorists shooting rockets out of a building.

For many of the soldiers in his company, this location hit close to home.

They were secured outside the building and were ready to take the terrorists down, but Idan had to stop and think through his decisions. He knew that there might be civilians who had been taken hostage by the terrorists, and destroying the building would mean killing the civilians as well.

“We know that there is a big possibility of civilians inside [this] building. We can do nothing,” Idan says.

Idan decided to take one of his infantry platoons inside the house. They had a short battle with three terrorists, in which all of the terrorists were killed. It was not until the next morning that Idan found out he helped around 30 civilians escape the house.

“My rules of engagement is my weakness in the army, but it’s my point of strength in society, and I’m very proud of that,” Idan says.

Although they have done a lot with the army already, Sagie’s and Idan’s work with the IDF is far from over. Right now, they are trying to deal with terrorist organizations drafting teenagers into their ranks.

“We can be the strongest soldiers ever, but it’s not easy to fight teenagers,” Idan says. “We are not prepared for that.”

 

Global News Roundup: Jan. 4 – Jan. 10

By Shy Hardiman

1. Scores of People Die in Police Academy Bombing

Libya. Courtesy of Wikimedia.

60 people died after a bomb went off at a Libyan police academy on Thursday. 200 more recruits were injured by the terrorist attack, for which the Islamic State quickly claimed responsibility. Thursday’s event comes after a series of attempts by Muslim extremists to expand their presence in North Africa by exploiting the nation’s instability.

2. Chinese Stocks Doing Poorly in the New Year

Chinese trading room.  Courtesy of Wikipedia.

Chinese stocks plummeted on Thursday causing the economy’s shortest trading day in 25 years. The low stocks created international upset with share prices decreasing dramatically in Europe and other parts of Asia. China’s currency experienced a sharp devaluation in the midst of the stock dive, which has resulted in a lot of questioning of the market’s future.

3. North Korea Reports Use of H-Bomb

North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. Courtesy of Flickr.

North Korean officials said they successfully tested their first hydrogen bomb on Wednesday. According to statements released from the isolated country’s government, the H-bomb was created to protect against possible U.S. aggression. Speculation on whether the nuclear arsenal was in fact detonated or even exists has still not been confirmed.

4. Sunni-Shiite Tensions Continue to Grow

After Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic ties with Iran, tensions between the two countries continued to grow on Monday. Saudi officials released a statement warning that they would cease air travel and trading with Iran. The rift came after the execution of a Shiite cleric by Saudi authorities and will persist, according to Saudi officials, until Iranians stop sending fighters to stage attacks.

5. Possible Drug-Gang Connection in the Murder of Mexican Mayor

Gisela Mota, the mayor of the Mexican city Temixco, was killed on Sunday, just one day after assuming office.  Two suspects were killed in connection with the murder, and three others, including a minor, have been taken into custody. Mota’s death comes in the wake of multiple murders of Mexican officials in territories that are heavily populated with drug gangs.

 

6 Things I Learned Abroad

By Isabelle Gustafson

Photos courtesy of Isabelle Gustafson

I spent five months studying in Pamplona, Spain and visited 11 countries (and, well, a lot of cities) in my time abroad. I’m no travel expert, but I picked up on a few things along the way. And though I’m back in the Show Me State and no longer buying plane tickets on a whim (if only because of my waning bank account), I’ve found this list to be equally applicable to my everyday life.

1. Say yes.

Buy the ticket, go to the city, get the souvenir. Do whatever it is that you’re contemplating. Open yourself up to new experiences. “No” is easier and safer, but it’s ultimately unfulfilling.

Cinque Terre, Italy

2. Let it go.

In travel (and in life), things will go wrong. It’s inevitable, no matter how much you prepare or how long you spend poring over itineraries and guidebooks. What you can control is your perspective. Instead of letting a setback ruin your trip, choose to learn from it. Learn to say to yourself, “Well, now I know.”

“Running” with the (taxidermy) bulls in Pamplona, Spain

3. Memory only goes so far.

There’s something to be said for living in the moment and not letting the recording of events interrupt the event itself. But at the same time, you’ll want to have something to look back on when your memories start to fade. So take those pictures, record that video, and write in your journal. You’ll thank yourself later.

Park Güell in Barcelona, Spain

4. Go with the flow.

Travel can be unpredictable. That’s okay. Just go with it, and don’t worry about the plans you made. In fact, don’t make any plans at all. Everyone has those must-see spots, but don’t turn your visit into a checklist.

Prague, Czech Republic

5. Life is meant to be enjoyed.

We have this cultural instinct as Americans that says we must constantly be busy and working, and we feel guilty when we allow ourselves time to relax and do nothing. Let go of that feeling. This is your life, and you can choose to be busy and stressed all the time or to relax and enjoy it. I recommend the latter.

Venice, Italy

6. People are mostly good.

You’ll never lead a happy life if you’re constantly afraid. So go ahead and talk to strangers (sorry, mom). Sure, trust your instincts in sketchy situations, but don’t spend your life paralyzed by paranoia. In the end, we’re all just people, and we’re in this together.

Valentino in Pamplona, Spain

Global News Roundup: Dec. 28 – Jan. 3

By Isabelle Gustafson

1. Central Dubai Hotel Fire Injured 16

 

A 63-story Dubai hotel caught fire on New Year’s Eve Thursday. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

16 people were injured on New Year’s Eve when a 63-story Dubai hotel caught fire.

Everyone was evacuated, and the area around the hotel was cleared. Most injuries were minor, but one person suffered a heart attack. Firefighters managed to subdue the flames, but part of the Address Downtown Hotel suffered major damages, according to BBC News.

Authorities are still unsure of what caused the fire.

The Address Downtown Hotel is located in the city center, and despite the fire, the fireworks display at the nearby Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, started as planned at midnight.

2. Obama, Attorney General to Discuss Executive Action on Guns

President Obama will discuss gun control with Attorney General Loretta Lynch, pictured. Photo courtesy of Flickr.

President Barack Obama announced in his weekly address that he will meet with Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Monday to discuss plans for the introduction of gun controls.

The White House released the address on Friday, one day earlier than usual. One of the main proposals Obama is likely to adopt would require  gun dealers to get licenses and conduct background checks on potential buyers, according to The Washington Post.

“I get too many letters from parents, and teachers, and kids, to sit around and do nothing,” Obama says in his address. “I get letters from responsible gun owners who grieve with us every time these tragedies happen; who share my belief that the Second Amendment guarantees a right to bear arms; and who share my belief that we can protect that right while keeping an irresponsible, dangerous few from inflicting harm on a massive scale.”

The president says he is moving unilaterally because Congress has failed to address the growing problem of gun violence.

3. 2 Killed, 7 Injured in Tel Aviv Shooting

 

The suspect in Friday’s Tel Aviv shooting is still large. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Police are searching for the suspect in a deadly shooting that killed two people and wounded at least seven near a pub in Tel Aviv Friday.

The gunman fired an automatic weapon near the Simta pub on Tel Aviv’s Dizengoff Street before fleeing, according to CNN.

After seeing video broadcast by Israeli media, family members identified the suspect as a 29-year-old Arab-Israeli man who was previously sentenced to five years in prison for attempting to steal an Israeli soldier’s weapon. His name has not been released. But a statement released Saturday suggested authorities were still open to the possibility that the man had help.

A police spokesperson told CNN “it is not possible to determine if this is a criminal or terror attack.”

4. Saudi Arabia Executes 47 Men

Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr was one of 47 executed in Saudi Arabia Saturday. Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Saudi Arabia executed 47 men Saturday in firing squads and beheadings, the Saudi Press Agency say.

Among those executed was dissident Shiite cleric, Nimr al-Nimr, who had spoken out against the government and the Saudi royal family, according to CNN.

The Iranian government and religious leaders throughout the Middle East condemned al-Nimr’s execution and warned of the potential for widespread backlash.

European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini also issued a statement, saying Nimr’s case raised “serious concerns regarding freedom of expression and the respect of basic civil and political rights.”

5. Al Qaeda Group Uses Donald Trump Footage in Recruitment Video

Pictured: Donald Trump. Photo courtesy of Flickr.

Footage of Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump is featured in a terrorist recruiting video for Al-Shabab, a Somali-based group affiliated with al Qaeda.

The group released the video as a documentary about racial injustice in the United States featuring Trump’s recent call to ban all Muslims from the country, according to The Guardian.

“So remember this, so listen, Donald J. Trump is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what the hell is going on,” Trump says in the clip.

Trump has also called for surveillance of mosques and has said he is open to establishing a database for all Muslims living in the U.S.

Global News Roundup: Dec. 21-Dec. 27

By Niki Kottmann

1. Iraqi Military Announces First Major Victory Over the Islamic State

American and Iraqi soldiers board a Marine Corps helicopter in Ramadi, Iraq in 2009. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

The U.S.-trained Iraqi army declared its first major victory over ISIS in 18 months on Sunday. Iraqi troops stormed the city of Ramadi on Dec. 22 in an attempt to drive out ISIS, which took control of the Sunni Muslim city in May. According to Reuters, the operation to recapture the city, which is about 60 miles west of Baghdad, began in early November, but progress was slow due to the government’s attempt to rely solely on its own troops. The alternative would be to use Shi’ite militias like it has in the past, but the government wants to avoid rights abuses that occurred after using outside militias previously. After weeks of encircling the city, troops made a final push Sunday and seized the central administrative complex. A U.S.-led coalition continues to wage an air campaign against ISIS in Iraq.  

2. Islamic State Releases Message Supposedly from Leader Al-Baghdadi

Mugshot of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi by U.S. armed forces at Camp Bucca in 2004. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

A new audio message that is said to be from Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was released Saturday saying that airstrikes by Russia and a U.S.-led coalition failed to weaken ISIS. According to Reuters, the authenticity of the message is in question because it was posted via Twitter accounts that have published ISIS statements in the past but have not been verified.

“Be confident that God will grant victory to those who worship him, and hear the good news that our state is doing well. The more intense the war against it, the purer it becomes and the tougher it gets,” says the voice in the audio recording, according to Reuters.

3. New Israeli Bill That Restricts Foreign-Funded Nonprofits Criticized

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who, earlier this month,  rejected U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry’s comment that if the Palestinian government collapses, the Israeli government must govern the West Bank. Courtesy of Wikipedia.

Critics say a new Israeli bill that was given preliminary approval by Israeli Cabinet ministers Sunday is meant to restrain groups that are critical of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policy towards Palestinians. According to Al Jazeera, the bill was proposed by Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked and approved by a committee of ministers. The bill imposes restrictions on nonprofits that receive more than half of their funding from other countries. Critics of the bill mention that most nongovernmental groups that don’t agree with the Prime Minister are majorly dependent upon donations from European countries.

4. Pope Addresses Terrorism and the Migrant Crisis in Christmas Speech

Pope Francis, who shared his support Friday for non-extremist Muslims and others practicing their faith who are condemned because of extremism: “To our brothers and sisters, who in many parts of the world are being persecuted for their faith, may the child Jesus grant consolation and strength.” Courtesy of Wikipedia.

In his annual Christmas address Friday, Pope Francis called for worldwide peace and reconciliation. According to BBC, the Pope expressed his support for the recent United Nations resolutions for peace in Syria and Libya, saying he would pray for their success. He also condemned the violent acts that took place in France, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia and Mali in the past year and praised countries that have welcomed Middle Eastern refugees past their borders. The Pope’s address came a week after the U.N. Security Council created a resolution to end the nearly five-year  war in Syria, proving to be both a breakthrough and a roadblock in peace negotiations since the fate of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad and the classification of armed groups as terrorists are still highly contested.

5. Chicago Police Questioned After Fatally Shooting Two People

Location of West Garfield Park, a neighborhood where two fatal shootings occurred Saturday, within the city of Chicago. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

Quintonio LeGrier, 19, and Bettie Jones, 55, were shot and killed by police in West Garfield Park on Saturday after officers responded to a domestic disturbance report. Authorities say that Jones, a mother of five, was shot by accident. According to the Chicago Tribune, the fatal shootings are the first to occur at the hands of Chicago police officers after a 2014 video was released last month of Laquan McDonald’s death, putting the city in national headlines as police shootings continue to be one of the most controversial topics in the U.S. After confirming that the woman’s death was an accident, the police department announced that officers involved in shootings will now have to be placed on administrative duty for 30 days following the instance. This is a big change for officers because the previous policy said that those involved in shootings must go off active duty for three days.

 

Global News Roundup Dec. 6-Dec.12

By Katie Johns

1. COP21 Climate Change Summit reaches deal to limit rise in global temperature

COP21 finally reached an agreement on climate change resolutions. Courtesy of Flickr.

On Saturday, nearly 200 countries reached a solution surrounding a global agreement on climate change. The goal of the environmental agreement is to reduce human-made greenhouse gas emissions. “A deal to attempt to limit the rise in global temperatures to less than 2C has been agreed at the climate change summit in Paris after two weeks of negotiations,” according to BBC reporting.

This is the first time all countries involved have joined the pact to cut carbon emissions, which is both partly voluntary and partly legally binding. The measures in the final draft include:

• Cap greenhouse gas emissions as soon as possible
• Reach a balance between sources and sinks of greenhouse gases
• Review progress every five years
• Keep global temperature increase below 2C [ 3.6F]
• Budget $100 million per year in climate finance for developing countries.

This is not the first time a deal has been attempted. In 2009, talks of a climate agreement failed in Copenhagen. Some say the rumor of imposing emission targets on countries was one of the reasons the deal failed. The latest negotiations avoid this regulation.

2. Saudi women to legally vote for the first time

 

Saudi women walking in the Faysali shopping center. Some women have expressed still having barriers to voting and registering as candidates for political office. Courtesy of Flickr.

979 women candidates and 130,673 women voters registered for the Saudi Arabian municipal elections for the first time on December 12. In addition to being able to vote, women were also allowed to run for office in the nation’s elections. Some of these first-time voters reported a lack of registration centers and difficulties proving identities and residency, according to Human Rights Watch. Female candidates were also prohibited from talking with male voters and had to segregate in campaign offices. The elections will fill roles on local offices, which mostly oversee planning and development issues. 5,938 men ran for election and more than 1.3 million men registered to vote.

Officials first proposed the right for women to vote in 2005, and in 2011, King Abdullah issued a decree saying women would be allowed to vote and register as candidates in the municipal elections. In 2013, he demanded that 20 percent of the seats in the Consultative Council be reserved for women, CNN reports.

3. Donald Trump calls to end Muslim immigration to the U.S.

Donald Trump speaking at the 2015 Conservative Political Action Conference earlier this year in Maryland. Courtesy of Wikimedia.

On Monday, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump released a statement denouncing the admission of Muslim immigrants into the U.S.

He called for “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on,” The Atlantic reported. This statement comes shortly after President Obama’s plea for the nation to “reject discrimination” against Muslims. Trump’s proposal angered many, including fellow Republicans. Jeb Bush tweeted about Trump becoming “unhinged,” and Ted Cruz followed with a milder retort, simply saying that he did not share the same ideals as Trump.

Although he is not the only GOP candidate calling for Muslim immigration restrictions, he poses the most extreme limits. Both Cruz and Bush have suggested allowing only Christian refugees enter the U.S. Trump also stated that anyone belonging to the Muslim community should be considered a potential threat. The proposed ban would apply to more than just immigrants. Tourists and business travelers would be banned from the U.S. as well as Muslim-American citizens traveling out of the country who are trying to return home, Time reported.

4. Third Paris attacker identified

The Bataclan theater in Paris was the site of terrorist shootings in November. The third attacker was identified this week. Courtesy of Wikimedia.

This past week, authorities identified the third attacker of the Bataclan and Paris shootings. On Nov. 13, 2015, 90 people died during the attacks in the Bataclan in Paris, and the death toll rose to 130 as the attacks moved to the streets of the City of Lights. Previously, two attackers had been identified: Omar Ismail Mostefai, 29, and Samy Amimour, 28. Foued Mohamed Aggad, a 23-year-old man from Strasbourg, France, and a French army reject, was identified as one of the attackers through DNA testing. About two weeks ago, Aggad’s mother received an English text message saying that her son died as a martyr on Nov. 13, which a common way for ISIS to notify families of casualties. After receiving the text, she gave police a DNA sample, which showed that one of her sons was killed in the Bataclan. According to reporting from The Guardian, Aggad went to Syria with his brother and friends at the end of 2013. Most of Aggad’s friends and his brother, Karim, were arrested three months after their return to France. Two members of the group were killed. All three attackers involved in the November Paris attacks were killed, two by suicide vests and one by the police.

5.  At least 34 dead in Burundi capital following military attacks

A map of Burundi, an African country under much political tension. Recently, attacks have taken to the streets of the country’s capital, Bujumbura. Courtesy of Wikimedia.

At least 34 people were killed in Burundi overnight Friday. Most of the deceased bodies were found lain out in of the country’s capital, Bujumbura, after militia stormed the area with guns. Residents are accusing police of taking revenge after military sites were attacked Friday, killing at least 87 people, eight of whom were security forces. “Unrest has plagued Burundi since an attempted coup in May and protests over the president’s continued rule,” according to BBC reporting.

Police spokespeople say the victims killed were behind the attacks on government installations. Since April, at least 240 people have been killed, and 200,00 have fled to neighboring countries. Some are concerned that this violence is stirring a return of the violence seen during the Hutus and Tutsis tension. The catalyst of the protests began in April when President Pierre Nkurunziza announced his campaign for a third term in office.

 

Global News Roundup Nov. 16-21

By Shy Hardiman

1)   A hostage standoff at a hotel in the Malian capital of Bamako ended on Friday after several hours. At least 20 people are believed to be dead and more than 100 hostages were rescued, some of whom suffered injuries. The Blue Radisson hotel where the attack occurred is located in an opulent neighborhood of Bamako and frequented by foreign nationals and diplomats. No information has been released connecting this incident with the ISIS-led attack in Paris earlier in November.

2)   The suspected leader of last week’s Paris attacks is believed to have died during a police raid outside the French capital on Thursday. Extremist Abdelhamid Abaaoud’s death comes in the wake of several raids that police have been conducting in an effort to capture the terrorists responsible for the Paris attacks that killed 129 and left more than 350 wounded.

Pedestrians walk down a busy street in Saint-Denis, a northern suburb of Paris where alleged ISIS attack ringleader was killed. Courtesy of WIkipedia.

3)   32 people died and another 80 were injured in a blast at a market in Nigeria on Tuesday. The suspected perpetrators are terrorist organization Boko Haram who sparked international upset and the #BringBackOurGirls movement after claiming responsibility for the kidnapping of 273 Nigerian school girls last year.

4)   A newborn was declared Guinea’s last known Ebola case on Monday. More than 11,000 people have died since last year during the West African Ebola outbreaks. Doctors are monitoring the child—whose mother died of the disease—and anyone who recently came into contact with him. Sierra Leone and Liberia were declared Ebola free earlier this year.

President Obama. Courtesy of Flickr.

5)   On Thursday, after representatives from the White House announced that President Obama had plans to veto a bill being pushed by the GOP, the House passed it. The bill enforces intensive security screening for refugees immigrating from war-torn areas. Several Republicans across the nation have expressed concern that the terrorists involved in the Nov. 13 Paris attacks were allowed access into France because they were disguised as Syrian refugees.

6)   France carried an airstrike over a city in Syria on Sunday. The bombing came just two days after terrorist group ISIS attacked seven different locations in Paris. French authorities targeted the Syrian city of Raqqa because it’s home to a jihadi training camp and an ISIS munitions dump.