With North Korea talking about nuclear weapons which may be capable of reaching the United States territory of Guam, Wikinews interviewed Dr. Ron McNinch, a specialist in East Asian governments, and the chair of Public Administration and Legal Studies at the University of Guam, to learn more about the impact of the latest news on the island.

An aerial view of Guam
Image: [NASA's Earth Observatory http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasaearthobservatory/].

Is the current North Korean threat to Guam and other United States holdings in the Pacific one which is treated as a credible threat of potential nuclear action by the Guamanian and United States government?

Ron McNinch: Threats from a location such as North Korea should always be taken seriously, but to be frank, if North Korea wanted to attack the United States, there are far higher priority targets than Guam. Also, if North Korea is considering an attack, it is much more likely in the form of cyber or special operations disruptions, rather than nuclear strikes. Once a nation uses nuclear weapons, they lose the value of the weapon. It is the threat the weapon holds that expresses power, not using it.

Has the current North Korean threat to Guam impacted the daily lives of people living on Guam? Do the locals take it seriously?

RM: In my own assessment of the social effects of this rhetoric, the people of Guam use a pragmatic approach based around typhoon preparation. We prepare of course, but to be frank, the North Korean sabre-rattling last week was drowned out by small children on easter egg hunts and holiday barbeques with beer.

In the Marianas Variety April 1 edition, the threat was lampooned by the editors. This parody could readily sum up the effects of the North Korean threats. [See external links, Ed]

Is there potentially economic consequences for Guam as a result of this in terms of tourism dollars or the United States military presence changing?

RM: Our main tourism markets are Japan and Korea, both of which are under the same guns, no pun intended. Therefore, it will not likely affect our tourism.The US military presence is a form of stable tourism-like dollars and the effect of the military build up is best expressed in those terms.

In terms of Guam, how does this latest situation differ from past situations where North Korea has engaged in saber rattling?

RM: The difference this time is that North Korea claim to have or might have missles that can reach Guam.

What do you think will likely happen regarding North Korea in the coming weeks and months?

RM: Usually, North Korea engages in this sort of behavior when it feels that the international community is ignoring it. Therefore, this rhetoric will likely ratchet down once China tells them to back off. This is a common pattern in the past. This bad behavior affects China more than the United States.

What do you think of the how the current situation with North Korea has evolved to date?

RM: The problem with this current rhetoric is that the movie "Olympus has Fallen," which describes a North Korean action in Washington DC. The real threat from North Korea is the unconventional warfare techniques that they can use on US soil, not convention or nuclear threats. Disrupting basic power, water, medical or transportation services is a far greater threat than a nuclear threat.

wikinews

Supreme Court on Capitol Hill
Image: Ken Hammond.

This week, the United States Supreme Court is scheduled to address two cases before them on the issue of same-sex marriage. The federal Defense of Marriage Act case is scheduled to be heard on Wednesday. The other case involves California's Proposition 8. A ruling is unlikely to be made until June.

The federal case involves the denial of privileges afforded to heterosexual married couples on the federal level, and the legality of states to opt out of recognizing legal marriages performed in other states in the union and to deny state benefits for those couples.

Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy, potential swing vote on the Supreme Court
Image: Steve Petteway.

John Eastman, law professor at Chapman University and chairman of National Organization for Marriage, a group that opposes same-sex marriage, believes the eventual ruling will be a close one, with Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy likely to be the key swing vote. Eastman is quoted by U.S. News and World Report as saying of Kennedy, "All eyes are on Justice Kennedy and he's obviously written the two major gay rights decisions in the past decade and a half and that means that people rightly think that he's kind of open to taking this step, but he has studiously avoided taking that step in prior cases." Other court watchers agree with this sentiment.

In the lead up to the hearings, a number of high profile politicians have expressed their support for same-sex marriage including Democratic Senator Mark Warner of Virginia, Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri, former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican Senator Rob Portman of Ohio. Earlier this month, 40 United States senators signed a legal brief arguing against the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act that was submitted to the Supreme Court.

High visibility companies have also indicated support for legalized same-sex marriage in the United States, including Starbucks where CEO Howard Schultz gave company support at a share-holder meeting last week. After share-holder Tom Strobhar implied at the meeting that Starbuck's historical position of supporting same-sex marriage, which included open support of the same-sex marriage legalization efforts in the state of Washington last year, hurt the company's bottom line, Schultz responded by saying, "If you feel, respectfully, that you can get a higher return than the 38% you got last year, it’s a free country. You can sell your shares of Starbucks and buy shares in another company." The company's position is predicated on respecting diversity, even if it potentially did impact Starbucks earnings.

Goldman Sachs has also supported the push for same-sex marriage arguing that the lack of equality hurts businesses. Goldman Sachs, Marriott International and Thomson Reuters have all signed a legal brief condemning the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

Protesters gathered inside the state capitol building in St. Paul, Minnesota, to protest against the upcoming vote by the Minnesota House of Representatives to put an anti-same-sex marriage amendment on the 2012 election ballot.
Image: Fibonacci Blue.

A Washington Post-ABC News poll published last week showed support for same-sex marriage in the United States was at an all time high at 58%, an increase of 21% since 2003. A recent Gallup poll showed similar results, with 54% of Americans supporting federal benefits for gay and lesbian couples, an increase of 27% since 1996 when the federal Defense of Marriage Act became law. Last week, a poll published by Reuters/Ipso found 63% of Americans supported same-sex marriage or civil unions. Despite this, social conservatives argue that this support may be over-stated by as much as 7% when voters are asked to voice their opinion on the issue at the ballot box. They cite a 2010 study by New York University political science professor Patrick J. Egan. Social conservatives also argue that people lie to pollsters as they do not want to appear intolerant. 2000 Republican presidential candidate Gary Bauer said on Fox News Sunday, "I’m not worried about [same-sex marriage], because the polls are skewed. Just this past November, four states, very liberal states, voted on this issue and my side lost all four of those votes. But my side had 45, 46 percent of the vote in all four of those liberal states." Brian S. Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage, also argues that misleading polling questions over-count support for same-sex marriage in the United States.

Despite the potential for skewed polling, the four most recent ballot initiatives regarding same-sex marriage in the United States on a state level resulted in citizens voting to support same-sex marriage in Minnesota, Maryland, Washington and Maine. It also comes at a time when the most recent election cycle in the United States saw opponents of same-sex marriage outspent 3 to 1.

Jorge Mario Bergoglio in 2012
Image: Sandra Hernandez.

The Roman Catholic Church has elected Archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires as the new pope. He is to take the papal name Francis and take over from the recently retired Benedict XVI.

White smoke rose from the Sistine Chapel chimney at 7:06pm (Rome time) yesterday, signifying that the conclave had elected a new pope after four unsuccessful attempts. Following his election, he appeared at a balcony in St. Peter's Square to greet crowds of onlookers.

Introducing himself in St. Peter's Square, Francis was jovial: "Brothers and sisters, good evening. You know that the work of the conclave is to give a bishop to Rome. It seems as if my brother cardinals went to find him from the end of the earth. Thank you for the welcome." He went on to say: "Let's begin this long road from the Bishop of Rome to the people. Let us all behave with love and charity. Let us pray always not just for ourselves, but for others, for everyone in the word".

Born in Buenos Aires on December 17, 1936 and now aged 76, the new pope became a bishop in 1992, and was elevated to cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II. As a child, he lost a lung due to an infection. He is the first Jesuit pope and the first from the Americas. He was the President of the Bishops' Conference of Argentina from 2005 to 2011.

US President Barack Obama made a statement about the election of the new pope: "On behalf of the American people, Michelle and I offer our warm wishes to His Holiness Pope Francis as he ascends to the Chair of Saint Peter and begins his papacy." Obama's statement noted the new pope was a "champion of the poor and the most vulnerable among us", and "[as] the first pope from the Americas, his selection also speaks to the strength and vitality of a region that is increasingly shaping our world".

US House Speaker John Boehner also pointed out the new pope came from the Americas: "I think that reaching out beyond the traditional continent of our church is another big step in the right direction of our church." British Prime Minister David Cameron said that the papal election was "a momentous day for the 1.2 billion Catholics around the world".

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, said the election of a new Pope was of "great significance to Christians everywhere, not least Anglicans". He went on to describe the new pope: "Pope Francis is well known as a compassionate pastor of real stature who has served the poor in Latin America, and whose simplicity and holiness of life is remarkable. He is an evangelist, sharing the love of Christ which he himself knows."

In Argentina, he was outspoken against socially liberal policies including the provision of free contraception and gay marriage. Bergoglio said plans to legalize gay marriage in Argentina were "a plan to destroy God's plan" and "a move by the father of lies to confuse and deceive the children of God".

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi said Francis would be known as Pope Francis; "It will become Francis I after we have a Francis II".

wikinews

Wednesday, a team of researchers at the University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom published a study of the increasing deer population in the United Kingdom, in the Journal of Wildlife Management. They proposed to cull about half each year out of the estimated 1.5 million deer population.

Wikinews interviewed senior lecturer in ecology Dr. Paul Dolman, the lead author of the study, about the problems being faced from the increase in deer population.

A red deer stag with velvet antlers in Glen Torridon, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Image: Mehmet Karatay.

What prompted your research into the effect of the deer population on other wildlife?

Dr. Paul Dolman: As a conservation ecologist I have a long standing interest in woodland management.

What sort of problems are arising from the continuing increase in the deer population?

Dr. Paul Dolman: In North America and parts of Europe including the UK, increasing deer populations are changing the structure of forest habitats. This has knock-on effects on plant communities, bird and small mammal populations, with a reduction in the numbers of woodland birds that need a complex shrub layer. In Britain, declines in a number of woodland bird species have been linked to increases in deer numbers. Other problems include damage to agricultural crops, and increased numbers of deer-related road traffic accidents.

Which species of deer had the most severe impact on other animals and wildlife?

Dr. Paul Dolman: In the UK there are six deer species, of which two are native (red and roe) and four are introduced (muntjac, sika, fallow and Chinese water deer). There has not yet been sufficient detailed work to disentangle their effects, but it appears that fallow deer and muntjac have particularly strong effects on woodlands and other biodiversity.

Is there an absence in the number of natural predators of the deer, which would otherwise control population?

Dr. Paul Dolman: Increases in deer populations are at least partly related to the historic removal of large predators (including species such as wolf, brown bear and lynx), as well as the abundance of nutritious cropland. However in densely settled farmed landscapes such as much of lowland England reintroduction of predators is problematic and control by culling is therefore an important aspect of deer management.

wikipedia

Snow has accumulated to record depths, in excess of five metres, in the Hakkoda mountain range of Aomori Prefecture in Northern Japan. More snow fell in northern Japan over the weekend, and at least eight people died as people become trapped in their cars and buried underneath the heavy snow. A bullet train travelling from Tokyo to northern Japan also derailed, however no one was injured.

WIKINEWS

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez died this afternoon at 16:25 local time, Minister Nicolás Maduro said. "Chávez left us as heritage a free and independent country. We've got to grow out of this pain. Discipline and brothership"^((es)), he said on television national chain.

Chávez had not been seen in public since December, and in February he was brought from Cuba to Venezuela, to be admitted at the Hospital Militar in Caracas. Information Minister Ernesto Villegas recently said Chávez was suffering from a new infection that was affecting his breathing, and was undergoing "intensive chemotherapy."

Hugo Chávez announced he had cancer in June 2011. He was re-elected president of Venezuela in October 2012 for another term of six years; his swearing-in, however, was delayed because of his illness.

"Don't let there be violence nor hate, but love, peace, unity and discipline. Unity, fight, and victory, with the people's unity and the FANB"^((es)), Maduro said after

wikipedia

Following the second full day of competition at the IPC Alpine World Championships in La Molina, Spain yesterday, Austria led the medal race with three gold medals, a silver, and a bronze. Markus Salcher won gold in the men's standing downhill on Wednesday, with Matthias Lanzinger also making the podium in the bronze medal position. Claudia Lösch earned a gold in the women's sitting Super-G event. Slacher and Lanzinger went gold/silver yesterday in the men's standing Super-G to round out Austria's medal total.

Solene Jambaque of France in the Super-G event at the 2013 IPC Alpine World Championships in La Molina, Spain.
Image: Laura Hale.

France leads in the total medal count with six, two of each kind. Yohann Taberlet won a bronze in the men's sitting downhill. Marie Bochet won a gold and Solene Jambaque won a bronze in the women's standing downhill. In the Super-G, Bochet and Jambaque went gold/silver. Taberlet earned a silver in the Super-G.

With only eighteen medals available a day, a number of countries have failed to make the medal podium. They include the Netherlands, with Anna Jochemsen finishing ninth in the women's standing class in the Super-G yesterday, and Finland with Katja Saarinen finishing tenth in the same event. Australia's Mitchell Gourley finished eleventh in the men's standing Super-G. Czech competitor Oldrich Jelinek finished sixteenth in the men's sitting Super-G. Arly Velasquez of Mexico finished fifteenth in the men's sitting Super-G. New Zealand's Adam Hall finished ninth in the men's standing Super-G. Poland's men's visually impaired skier Maciej Krezel and guide Anna Ogarzynska finished thirteenth in the Super-G. South Korea's Jong Seork Park finished twenty-fourth in the men's sitting Super-G. Turkey's Erik Bayindirli finished nineteenth in the men's sitting Super-G.

Competition is scheduled to resume tomorrow with the slalom event after events were cancelled today because of predicted poor weather.

Wikinews

A map of the Eurozone as of 2013.
Image: Glentamara.

The European Commission has warned that the Eurozone economy will remain in recession for longer than expected and will not return to growth until 2014, reversing its previous forecast. In its winter forecast, the European Commission stated the economy of the Eurozone, which consists of 17 countries, is projected to shrink by 0.3% this year. This comes after a 0.6% contraction last year and marks a reversal from the committee's previous prediction of 0.1% growth in 2013.

Unemployment in the Eurozone is set to reach 12.2% in 2013, an increase from the 2012 level of 11.4%. Olli Rehn, the European Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs, said that "decisive policy action undertaken recently is paving the way for a return to recovery". He went on to say: "We must stay the course of reform and avoid any loss of momentum, which could undermine the turnaround in confidence that is underway, delaying the needed upswing in growth and job creation."

The International Monetary Fund stated in January they expected the group of countries to experience a "mild recession" throughout 2013. The extended recession will see millions of people lose their jobs, the European Commision said, with the level of people unemployed across the region expected to continue to rise. The rise in unemployment could reach over 20 million across the Eurozone as the recession persists.

Wikinews

At the 2013 IPC Alpine World Championships in La Molina Spain. Downhill event. Women's standing group. Petra Smarzova of Slovakia.
Image: LauraHale.

Yesterday in La Molina, Spain, IPC Alpine World Championships event organizers changed the competition owing to poor weather predicted later in the week with the Super-G now set to be run today.

Skiers were expecting to have the day off, with a Sport Forum originally on the schedule for today and the Super-G on the schedule for tomorrow. Some skiers competing were not scheduled to arrive in La Molina until today.

The race is scheduled to start at 10:30 European Central Standard Time. There are 6 scheduled starters for the women's visually impaired group including yesterday's downhill gold medalist Henrieta Farkašová, 11 women in the standing group, 8 women in the sitting group, 16 men in the visually impaired group including Spaniards Jon Santacana and Gabriel Gorce, 22 men in the standing group including Australian Mitchell Gourley and New Zealander Adam Hall, and 29 men in the sitting group

Wikinews