Last night the IOC announced the next host of the Summer Olympic games, with Rio and Sochi under fire as the next 2 Olympic hosts this story was big news, here's the announcement
http://edition.cnn.com/video/data/2.0/video/world/2013/09/07/sot-olympic-2020-city-selection.cnn.html
So the games 32nd Olympiad were awarded to the city of Tokyo in Japan, I for one am upset, mainly because I will never be able to afford to go and because the time difference is so great. Tokyo beat off strong competition from Istanbul in Turkey and Madrid in Spain, but it's hardly surprising that this was the outcome, after the recent history of the 2 defeated nations is discussed. Of course the bid went to Tokyo, it was the safe option and recently global sporting events have taken the gambles, South Africa in 2010, Rio 2014 and 2016 and the Winter Olympics given to Sochi in Russia and the football world cups post next year's Rio grand will go to Russia and Qatar, all controversial, so I guess they had to return to the sensible, safe option eventually.
Also think of the financial implications if Spain can't host it due to finances, I guess the sentiment is that the country that has the organisation skills and technological capability that is second to none should have the games.
Meanwhile currently Japan is newsworthy due to the on going leak of radioactive material into the oceans from the Fukushima plant damaged by the quake in 2011, having described the bid as safe, well make of it what you will!
Meanwhile neighbouring Turkey is Syria, the violence and conflict continues, however discussion has evolved to encompass the idea that the conflict may result in a challenge to the current 'unipolar' world we have with Americanisation in control of the globe, the tension between the USA and it's previous cold war enemy (or at least a large part of it) is reaching fever pitch and we in the UK have been described as a
'Just a small Island, no-one pays any attention to them'
little Island that doesn't matter, the status of superpowers is shifting, will it be centred on Syria?
Andrew Marr articulated this well on his show this morning, the link is below- it's just the opening preamble you need to hear really!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03bf185/The_Andrew_Marr_Show_08_09_2013/
It's excellent for when we come to do the Superpowers unit for unit 3 in a few weeks time.
You can join the debate on the crisis in Syria here
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/09/04/opinion/opinion-roundup-syria/index.html?hpt=hp_t5
Lots of opinions to help you decide?
Should the US attack Syria?
Over in Senegal a local fisherman has found a unique way to preserve a key part of his culture, by doing this
Fishing craft to foosball tables, furniture to float your boat
Whilst in Somalia they are building, building and building and asking, what about tourists, can a nation with perhaps, the most negative brand of all attract visitors?
http://edition.cnn.com/2013/05/30/business/mogadishu-holidays-business-economy/index.html?iid=article_sidebar
scroll down for video about what they are doing.
Certainly looks like somewhere pristine and 'other worldly' in this image.
I would love to visit Somalia one day and personally would love it to rebrand itself and become the place it was before the world interfered and colonials came and the fighting began.
Good luck Somalia, my heart is with you and your people.
Over in Australia (down under as they say!) they have a new prime minister, Tony Abbott who claims he aims to stop people arriving by boat and stop the carbon tax, he is a liberal-national coalition leader and this result is the first time the labor party have not won in 6 years.
How will he unite Australia?
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