For the first time in decades, Iran and the international community came together and struck an interim deal that will see Iran halt their uranium enrichment program in exchange for a lift on some U.N. imposed sanctions. In North Korea, the country’s central news agency released a video of detained U.S. war veteran Merrill Newman “confessing” that he had committed crimes against the North Korean government and its citizens during the Korean War. Meanwhile, Black Friday was once again a frenzy this Thanksgiving long weekend with reports of violence surfacing from a few states as well as a visible drop in shoppers. Finally, the years-long political drama involving former Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi continued after the disgraced politician was expelled from the Italian Senate, leaving him more vulnerable to criminal charges.
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Iran and World Leaders Come Together for ‘Breakthrough’ Nuclear Deal
In what has been deemed as a “breakthrough” for international relations, Iran agreed to a six-month interim deal last Sunday that will halt the country’s higher-grade uranium enrichment program.
The U.S., France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia convened in Geneva to finalize an agreement with Iran. Months of secret talks between Iran and the U.S. built a foundation for the deal.
For years, the Iranian government faced criticism for possibly constructing nuclear weapons, though Iran declared that its uranium enrichment program was to develop nuclear energy for peaceful civilian use. While neither claim was completely verified, the U.N. Security Council still imposed sanctions on Iran, crippling the country’s economy.
By agreeing to the deal, Iran will see some of the sanctions lifted on its gold, precious metals and automotive sectors. But the country’s oil industry still faces trade restrictions, impeding one of Iran’s most essential resources for economic recovery.
Israel has vehemently opposed the deal, calling it a “historical mistake.” The U.S. responded by reaffirming its commitment to Israel, as a possible breakdown in Israel-U.S. relations could leave America without a key ally in the Middle East.
The Iranian government has stated that it will immediately begin complying with the agreement.
U.S. War Veteran Detained In North Korea ‘Confesses’ to Crimes
An American Korean war veteran has “confessed” to crimes committed against North Korea and its citizens, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
Merrill Newman, 85, has been held in North Korea since October 26 following a tourist visit to the country. The released video shows Newman reading a long handwritten apology on November 9 detailing his supposed crimes against North Korea during the war from 1950-53.
“I realize that I cannot be forgiven for my offensives (offenses) but I beg for pardon on my knees by apologizing for my offensives (offenses) sincerely toward the DPRK government and the Korean people and I want not punish me (I wish not to be punished),” he is seen reading in the video.
The statement claims that Newman served as an advisor to one of the special operations units acting against North Korea.
While North Korea claims that the plead for forgiveness came from Newman himself, the country’s government has been known to coerce detainees into giving confessions.
Kenneth Bae, another American citizen, has been detained in North Korea since November 2012. But unlike Newman’s case, there has been no word from Bae and no information on his situation.
Black Friday Frenzy Marked By Some Violence, Less Shoppers
A significant number of retailers the whole country over began their Black Friday deals on Thanksgiving Day to get a head-start on the annual frenetic shopping extravaganza, leaving shoppers with two whole days to take advantage of sales. Reports of violence emerged from several states that included a handful of deaths from firearms. But this year, shoppers also pointed out a curious trend foreign to Black Friday: Noticeably less people turned out for Black Friday, though this claim remains largely based on observation than empirical fact.
Shootings and stabbings were reported as early as Thursday night in Illinois, Nevada and California. In Las Vegas, two assailants reportedly attempted to rob a man at gunpoint following a TV purchase. The man was shot in the leg after refusing while the attackers sped off in a car. Police officers were also involved in a few incidents as they tried to stop shoplifters and break up fights that erupted throughout the two days.
Aside from the violence, shoppers also reported an evident drop in the number of people who turned out for Black Friday. While official reports will be released sometime in the next few days, shoppers commented on how many stores were significantly less crowded than the year before. The drop may have resulted from Black Friday being two days instead of one or from the rise of online shopping in recent years.
Black Friday’s start on Thanksgiving Day also pushed many workers to protest against working conditions they face, with the most notable demonstrations led by Wal-Mart employees at a handful of store locations. Police made ten arrests at the Ontario, Calif. Wal-Mart where workers had gathered to fight for higher wages.
Black Friday has often been thought to drive a huge economically positive retail boom in the U.S. Experts are warning against such conclusions, however, stating that the huge shopping event does not make up for the decline in retail sales seen in the last few years.
Former Italian PM Berlusconi Expelled from Senate
On Wednesday, the Italian Senate informally voted to expel former prime minister Silvio Berlusconi from the country’s parliament.
While no official vote took place, the Senate speaker gathered that there was enough opposition to drive Berlusconi out from the upper house. Berlusconi has publicly commented that the decision marks a “bitter day” in Italian politics.
The expulsion also means that Berlusconi will likely have to answer for charges laid against him. Berlusconi has previously been tried for tax fraud involving his own media company and paying for sex with an underage girl at one of his infamous “bunga bunga” parties.
Reports have also surfaced that Berlusconi paid off witnesses who testified at the trials targeting his “bunga bunga” parties. There have now been calls to investigate Berlusconi and the judicial system for corruption.