Did you hear about the Pope’s resignation? Or how about the giant meteor blast over Russia? NEWSFLASH is back, so read on to see what other big stories rounded up this week’s news cycle!
Pope Benedict XVI Announces Resignation
In a statement delivered on February 11, Pope Benedict XVI announced that he will be stepping down from his post. Georg Ratzinger cited poor health and old age as the main factors fueling his resignation, leaving 117 cardinals to decide on his successor.
Ratzinger’s resignation has shocked clergy members, politicians, and worshippers all around the world. While Ratzinger had previously hinted at the possibility of resigning as Pope due to health problems, the news still comes as a total surprise to many.
“I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering,” said Ratzinger.
“However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to steer the ship of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.”
Ratzinger was elected Pope in 2005 at the age of 78, making him one of the oldest men to hold the position.
The last Pope to resign was Pope Gregory XII nearly 600 years ago. Ratzinger is set to step down on February 28.
North Korea Conducts Third Nuclear Test
North Korea conducted its largest nuclear test to date on Tuesday, alerting the international community to the possibility that Pyongyang may be inching closer to building a sophisticated nuclear weapons program.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the test as “deplorable” and the UN Security Council currently seeks to corner North Korea with more economic and political sanctions.
However, the UN has already imposed multiple sanctions on North Korea following Pyongyang’s first nuclear tests in 2008 and 2009. The North Korean regime has consistently defied the UN’s orders, nullifying the Security Council’s efforts.
Tuesday’s nuclear test was the first of its kind under Kim Jong-un, Kim Jong-il’s son and North Korea’s current leader.
Olympic “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius Charged with Girlfriend’s Murder
South African Olympic sensation Oscar Pistorius was charged with the murder of his supermodel girlfriend, 29-year-old Reeva Steenkamp, who was fatally shot to death early Thursday morning.
Pistorius was immediately taken into custody following Steenkamp’s death. The athlete was the sole suspect from the crime scene, as he and Steenkamp were the only two people in Pistorius’ upscale Pretoria home at the time the shooting took place.
Steenkamp was shot in the head, hip, arm, and hand as she cowered in a bathroom following a heated argument with Pistorius. A trail of her blood was found leading from the bathroom to the entrance of Pistorius’ home, where the runner reportedly cradled her body and sobbed as Steenkamp bled to death.
As of this morning, a bloodied cricket bat was found at the crime scene that could be used as evidence against Pistorius.
Pistorius was one of the most talked about athletes during the 2012 Olympic Games in London when he became the first amputee runner to compete in the Games’ track and field events.
The athlete will attend a bail hearing on Tuesday, where he will dispute the murder charge. For now, South Africa’s infamous “Blade Runner” remains behind bars in a Pretoria jail.
Meteor Explodes Above Russian City, More than 1,000 Injured
More than 1,000 residents of Chelyabinsk, Russia, were injured Friday morning following a meteor blast above the city that shattered windows and caused widespread panic.
The “tiny asteroid,” as described by NASA, caused an explosion equivalent to at least 300,000 tons of TNT, ten times the energy released by the atomic bombs that hit Japan during World War II. It was the largest recorded meteor blast since 1908 when an asteroid exploded over central Siberia, flattening over 820 miles of forest.
The asteroid reportedly broke apart 12 to 15 miles above the surface due to the shock of atmospheric entry. Observers reported a bright flash and a deafening bang when the meteor exploded.
Fortunately, most of the injured did not need to be hospitalized, but the incident has reinforced the importance of monitoring outer space for any potential hazards to mankind.
Leaked White House Document Proposes Path to Residency for Illegal Immigrants
On Saturday, an unnamed Obama administration official distributed a White House paper to various agencies and USA Today that detailed the President’s plans for helping illegal immigrants obtain legal residency status.
The proposal would allow undocumented immigrants to apply for a “Lawful Prospective Immigrant” visa and become legal residents within eight years. If approved, immigrants can then appeal for provisional legal status for any spouse or children living outside the country.
Illegal immigrants currently held in custody or facing deportation can apply as well.
The document also calls for more security along the border and frequent background checks on employees’ immigration status by business owners.
Members of Congress are still drafting their own immigration bills, and it remains to be seen what they will propose for immigration reform.