A bus strike in Rio de Janeiro is symptomatic of a number of issues in contemporary Brazil. Concerns about price increases a few months ago led to massive protests in many cities in the country, and there was a police shootout in one of the slums of the city a few days ago that led to a death. But the underlying cause of the protests is a sense within many in the country that the government does not protect the interests of citizens. The money spent on the upcoming World Cup football tournament (the month-long contest begins in June) is a symbol of the indifference of the government to the economic situation of most in the country. In that respect, the protest reflects the sentiment of many on other countries of the world as well.
There was a third act of violence in a train station in China’s northwestern province of Xinjiang a few days ago. The suspicion is that Uighurs who seek greater autonomy from the central Chinese government are responsible for the attacks. The attacks in train stations suggests that the Uighurs regard the train infrastructure as the most vulnerable part of the attempt by the Han Chinese to exercise greater control over Xinjiang. Crippling the transportation network also upsets the Chinese desire to develop land routes to the Middle East so that the country would be less vulnerable to disruptions in the sea lanes bringing critical oil.
The International Space Station has set up four High-Definition Cameras so that you can watch the earth in vivid detail as the station travels. The images are absolutely stunning, and are also mesmerizing. You should check it out. If the video is black, then it’s night. If the video is grey, then they are switching cameras or are being blocked for some reason. Come back at another time. There is no audio, but I would recommend playing something cosmic while you are watching.
World Politics News 
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