Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi has died.
Zenawi is known for turning Ethiopia into one of Africa's leading countries.
He is also known for being overly repressive and jailing anyone who criticized Ethiopian government.
Officials told media he died in a foreign hospital after battling an infection.
He was 57.
Myanmar government announced the abolition of censorship of private publications on Monday.
Government officials left a statement on their website.
"All publications in Myanmar are exempt from the scrutiny of press scrutiny and Registration Department."
Things have been looking up for the Asian country after President Thein Sein promised to better the country's economy.
"We won't be as free as the Phillipine press or the Thai press," said Editor Thiha Saw. "But we will be much more liberal than Cambodia, Vietnam, or Singapore."
The censorship lasted for over 40 years.
Ghana's Vice president John Mahama became President hours after John Atta Mills' death on Tuesday.
Mills died 3 days after his 68th birthday and his cause of death is still unknown.
"The Ghanaian people were happy with this president and his program for the development of the country," said Taxi Driver Nour Ousmane Aladji.
Mills was known for the democratic transformation in Ghana and his success in turning the country into a world oil exporter.
Mahama's quick inauguration proves how far Ghana has come as a country and the impact Mills had as President.
His successor, Mahama, told media, "We are deeply distraught, devastated as a country."
The African Union Commission elected a female as its' head for the first time on Sunday.
South African Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma ran against Jean Ping and won 37-17.
When Dhlamini-Zuma was asked what she would bring to the African Union Commission, she said:
"Like a doctor, you first diagnose and then you treat. I will have to take it from there."
Aung San Suu Kyi attended the Myanmar Parliament as a lawmaker on Monday.
The opposition leader was surrounded by reporters as she made her way into the assembly.
Suu Kyi took office in May after Thein Sein, Myanmar's current president, agreed to reconcile.
The Nobel Peace Prize winner recently completed a European tour after being under house arrest for two decades.
She told AFP, "I will try the best for my country."
Watch her arrival (below):
Texas' controversial challenge to the 1965 Voting Rights Act heads to court today.
The trial, Texas v. Attorney General Eric Holder, asks the court to approve Texas' Voter ID law that requires voters to have a government issued ID to vote.
Republicans say the law will prevent voter fraud, while Democrats say the law will block poor and minority voters.
The trial will end on Friday.
Libya is preparing for its' first free election in 60 years.
Millions of Libyans are registered to vote and must choose from the 1400 candidates who are running for a seat in the countries' 200 seat National Assembly.
The National Assembly will form a temporary government and write a constitution that will decide how the country's president is elected next year.
"Stuff hasn't become suddenly a lot better. That's just truth right now. But obviously we know it will get better because there still needs to be time for the elections to happen and for a new government to come and bring change," said Student Amin Siyala.
Voting will begin on Saturday.
President Obama welcomed 25 US service members as citizens on Wednesday.
"Happy Fourth of July," he said. "What a perfect way to celebrate America's birthday... The world's oldest democracy, with some of our newest citizens."
He added, " I have to tell you, just personally, this is one of my favorite things to do. It's an honor for me to serve as your commander-in-chief."
Watch the ceremony (below):
Later, the President and his wife joined more U.S service members on the South Lawn. Together, they enjoyed entertainment from The Marine Corps Band, Country singer Braid Paisley, and fireworks (of course!) .
Happy July Fourth :) .
The Supreme Court upheld ObamaCare with a 5-4 ruling on Thursday.
The healthcare ruling is monumental for the Obama administration and the millions of Americans it will affect.
Democrats celebrated the ruling.
"The President had the courage to bend the needle of history and did something presidents have tried to do for 60 years," said Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.
Republicans believe this is a mistake and are fighting against what they believe is a bad policy.
"What the court did not do in its' last session, I will do on the first day if elected president of the United States, and that is to repeal ObamaCare," said Presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
Lawsuits have already been filed against the ruling.
An Egyptian court removed a decree that allowed the military to arrest civilians.
Former President Hosni Mubarak used the decree to intimidate Islamists.
Judge Ali Fikry, of the Cairo administrative court, said, " The court has blocked the decision of the Justice Minister that gave military and military intelligence officers power of arrest."
The decision came after the Supreme Constitutional Court dissolved the lower house of parliament in an attempt to weaken the Muslim Brotherhood.
"We do not accept having a president without powers. The solution being worked out now is scaling back those restrictions so that President Morsi can deliver to the people what he promised," said Presidential aide Essam Haddad.
Morsi will be sworn in on Saturday.
Mohammed Morsi was announced the winner of Egypt's first democratic election on Sunday.
Thousands of Egyptian protesters gathered in Tahrir Square to hear the commissioner announce their new president.
Mohammed Morsi won with over 50% of votes in the run-off election.
The crowd jumped for joy, shed tears, and shared hugs as Morsi became the fist Islamist to lead an Arab state.
"In my dreams, I wanted this to happen, but it is unbelievable,"said 20 year old Hudaida Hasan.
The presidential elect promised to be "a president for all Egyptians" in a state wide broadcast on Sunday.
"We as Egyptians, Muslims, and Christians, are preachers of civilization and building; so we are, and so we will remain God willing." he said. "We will face together the strife and conspiracies that target our national unity."
He continued, "We are all equal in rights, and we all have duties toward this homeland," he added. "But for me, I have no rights, I only have duties."
Morsi moved into the presidential office on Monday.
Egypt's election commision announced that the presidential announcement scheduled for Thursday has been delayed due to claims of fraud.
Tensions in the country have been extremely high with both candidates claiming victory and rumors of Former President Hosni Mubarak's death.
A state run newspaper called it, "The most dangerous 48 hours in the history of Egypt."
Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohammed Morsi claims to have earned over 50% of the votes, providing photocopied election results online.
Former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq claimed vistory as well, but did not provide anything to back his claims.
Zakaria Abdel Aziz, a member of judges who followed the election, backs Morsi's claims.
"Our numbers were very close to the Brotherhood's campaign numbers because we all get them from the same source, the polling stations," he said. "There won't be major discrepancies unless the commission cancels votes."
No word on when the election commission plans to make the announcement.
(Source)
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has been declared clinically dead.
Mubarak,84,was serving a life term sentence for his involvement in the killing of peaceful Tahrir Sqaure protesters.
The military hospital where he was declared clinically dead confirmed the report to media.
"Former President Hosni Mubarak has clinically died after his arrival at Maddi military hospital on Tuesday evening," said MENA. "Mubarak's heart stopped beating and was subjected to a defibrillator several times but did not respond."
UPDATE- According to Reuters, Mubarak is unconscious and on a respirator. He is NOT clinically dead.
President Obama enacted a new immigration policy on Friday that will halt the deportation of young immigrants.
The policy applies to people who are 30 or younger, who moved to the country before they turned 16, and lived in the U.S. for at least 5 years.
Eligible immigrants will be given the ability to apply for ,"deferred action" which will allow them to avoid deportation for 2 years.
They can also apply for work permits.
Maria Praeli, a 19 year old, said,"I can finally drive and not have to worry about the police. I can finally have a work permit and not just to make money but to pursue a career."
Watch the President's Speech on Immigration(below):
(Source)
Egypt's Supreme Court ordered to dissolve parliament on Thursday.
The ruling could put an end to any hopes of triumph for Muslim Brotherhood's Mohamed Morsi in the upcoming election.
The court also gave Ahmed Shafik,former prime minister to ousted Hosni Mubarak, permission to stay in the presidential race.
Many Liberal and Independent Egyptians accuse the court of trying to preserve military control.
Mohamed el-Beltagy, senior leader of the Muslim Brotherhood, left a message on Facebook: "This is the Egypt that Shafik, and the military council want and which I will not accept no matter how dear the price is."
Egyptians are now faced with holding a new election for parliament and the possibility of losing the democracy they fought so hard for.
The presidential run-off between Morsi and Shafik begins on Saturday.
(Source)
Egyptian parliament is back to the drawing board after being criticized for being one-sided with their first constitutional assembly.
Despite appointing a new assembly, many minorities fear a return to the corruption they faced under Hosni Mubarak.
To make matters worse, over two-thirds of the Egyptian parliament are Islamists.
After deliberating over the assembly list, both sides came to an agreement on Tuesday.
"The assembly saw many twists that hindered it for some time, but in the end it was formed to represent all Egyptian groups," said Parliamentary speaker Saad al Katatni in a joint session.
Many Liberal and Independent Parliamentary members walked out of the session, claiming the list still does not represent minority Egyptians.
The presidential run-off between Muslim Brotherhood Mohammed Morsi and Ahmed Shafik, Mubarak's former prime minister will begin on June 16.
Governmental power will be handed to the winner on July 1.
(Source)
The Justice Department has decided to sue Florida for attempting to purge voting lists.
The state of Florida planned to began a voter purge program that would prevent ineligible voters from voting in the upcoming election.
Many believe that the plan is targeting minorities and democratic voters.
Three Florida counties agreed to end the purging program, but stopped after the state was sued.
Florida Governor Rick Scott has already made plans to sue the Department of Homeland Security to continue the purging program.
"I have a job to do to defend legitimate voters of our state," Scott said.
No word on when they are heading to court.
Respected Life is all for educating its' readers through different perspectives which is why we enjoy publishing guest posts.
We found this amazing article from Michael Rank online.
Michael Rank is a doctoral candidate in Middle East history who also writes at the educational website, Five Minute Courses. He has studied Turkish, Arabic, Persian, Armenian, and French but can still pull out a backwater Midwestern accent if need be. He has also worked as a journalist in Istanbul where he reported on religion and human rights.
This particular article questions the possibility of Modern Liberal Islamists. Enjoy :)
This is the question asked in the NY Times by Turkish journalist Mustafa Akyol. I’ve had the pleasure to meet Mr. Akyol on many occasions and he speaks intelligently on many topics: from religion and the free market to global human rights. In this column he asks whether Muslim countries can be pious yet accept personal liberty (or modernity, as some would call it) for its non-religious citizens. Here is his key idea:
The main bone of contention is whether Islamic injunctions are legal or moral categories. When Muslims say Islam commands daily prayers or bans alcohol, are they talking about public obligations that will be enforced by the state or personal ones that will be judged by God?
Mitt Romney won the GOP nomination on Tuesday after winning the Texas primary.
Romney is the first Mormon nominee to represent a major party.
He called his win, " An honor and a privilege and a great responsibility."
The GOP nominee won the 1,144 delegates needed to win the nomination by garnering over 97 delegates in Texas.
He went on to say, "And I know the road to 1,144 was long and hard, but I also know that the road to 11-06 — Nov. 6th — is also going to be hard and it's going to be worth it because we're going to take back the White House and get America right again."
(Source)
Reform leader Mohamed ElBaradei celebrated the end of 'the culture of fear' on Wednesday.
The day marked the first free presidential election for Egypt.
In an AP Interview, ElBaradei emphasized that national unity is more important than the election's winner.
"I think the most crucial factor is to get Egyptians to understand that they need to agree on the basic common values that they're going to live under in the future," he said.
The winner will be announced on June 21 and will succeed long time ruler Hosni Mubarak.
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