As the ever-talented Seth Meyers would say, here are this week’s top stories.
Paul Walker Dies in Fiery Car Crash
Paul Walker, a star of The Fast and the Furious franchise, died on November 30, 2013 in an explosive car crash. Walker was the passenger in a two-seater Porsche Carrera GT when the driver lost control of the car and hit a pole, setting the car aflame. The single car accident in Southern California also reportedly killed the driver of the vehicle. Fans of the franchise as well as Walker’s co-stars have most certainly reached out to Walker’s family in the wake of the loss of this famous star.
Man Killed in Shark Attack off the coast of Maui
A man was killed after being bitten on the foot by the shark while fishing off the coast of Maui. This recent attack marks thirteen total shark attacks this year in Hawaii (ten of those being in Maui) – far surpassing the state’s yearly average. Hawaii Wildlife officials will be keeping a close eye on their beaches and shark movement, and are launching a two year long investigation of the shark’s patters in Hawaii’s waters.
Federal Judge Allows Detroit to Move Forward with Bankruptcy
Judge Steven Rhodes has given the OK for Detroit to move forward with bankruptcy, the largest municipal bankruptcy to date. This certainly illuminates the harsh reality that exists in the nation’s once prosperous manufacturing city. This bankruptcy means severe cuts to pension benefits, and the city will be able to cut billions of dollars in payments owed to city employees, retirees, investors and other creditors.
Pope Francis Reveals He Used to be a Bar Bouncer
On Sunday, December 2nd, Pope Francis disclosed that he used to work as a bar bouncer during his youth in Argentina. In many ways, this only adds to the current Pontiff’s popularity and his ability to shed much of the image set forth by previous Popes. Pope Francis is certainly easy to imagine as one of the people with this new image of the 76 year old guarding a bar.
Nelson Mandela Dies
Nelson Mandela, a peace making and anti-apartheid icon in South Africa died at age 95 on December 5, 2013. Mandela was famously jailed for 27 years by a white-minority government, and after his release led South Africa to its first multiracial democracy. Mandela is and will forever be a symbol of the fight for equality in politics and against apartheid. There is certainly a sense of extreme loss in Mandela’s family, in South Africa, and in the world; but his legacy will endure for generations to come.
Sources:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/02/us/hawaii-fatal-shark-attack/index.html?hpt=us_t2
http://www.tmz.com/2013/11/30/paul-walker-dead-dies-car-accident-fatal-fire-crash/
http://money.cnn.com/2013/12/03/news/economy/detroit-bankruptcy-ruling/index.html?hpt=po_c2
http://www.latimes.com/world/mandela/#axzz2mojPOBrm
Photo Sources:
http://www.askmen.com/celebs/men/entertainment_100/106_paul_walker.html
http://money.cnn.com/2013/12/03/news/economy/detroit-bankruptcy-ruling/index.html?hpt=po_c2
http://guardianlv.com/2013/10/nelson-mandelas-top-five-contributions-to-humanity/