Ukraine issues arrest warrant for ousted President Viktor Yanukovych

The ousted President Viktor Yanukovych is wanted for mass killings of civilians and a warrant for his arrest was issued on Feb 24. Parliament had voted to remove Yanukovych over the weekend due to the persistent protesters, which had led to its deadliest violence since its independence. The ousted President, however, is nowhere to be found. Ukrainian Parliament is continuing to work towards its goal of having a new chief prosecutor, security chief and central bank head.

Egypt’s government resigns

On Feb 24 Egypt’s military-backed government resigned. Nile TV, based out of Egypt, reported that the government, led by Prime Minister Hazen Beblawi, turned in its resignation to President Adly Mansour. It is expected that a transitional prime minister will be appointed soon, who will have to put together a new Cabinet and manage state affairs until presidential elections in April. Many analysts expect that the army chief Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, who has served as defense minister, will run for president, but the candidates, as of Feb 24, are undecided.

Drug lord “El Chapo” Guzman caught

On Feb. 22 Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman was apprehended by Mexican Marines without needing to fire a single shot. Guzman and his family were hiding in Mazatlan, a Mexican Pacific resort city, when they were discovered. Marines used infrared and body-heat scanners to know when Guzman and everyone inside the condo where they were staying were asleep, before going inside and capturing the man. Some call him the most wanted drug lord in the world. Guzman’s wife and 2-year-old twin daughters were also in the condo with him. It is not clear when Guzman will go for trial; both Mexico and the United States want to prosecute him. Guzman had escaped a high-security prison in 2001, supposedly hiding in a laundry basket. Up until Feb 22 he had avoided being captured, mainly due to bribery.

Schools find new ways to battle snow days

Many school boards throughout the country are coming up with other ways to battle the days off school due to weather. Some schools are eliminating holiday breaks, adding minutes to the school day, days to the school year, cutting recesses, and or having school on Saturday. Pascack Valley Regional High School District is trying a new tactic: having students complete online lessons on days when conditions are bad enough to cancel school. Teachers prepare online lessons and assignments for students to complete from home. Students log onto school provided laptops and are able to ask teachers questions, work through assignments, and participate in class discussions. Pascack Valley Regional is unsure if the day will count towards their mandated total number of school days per year because the New Jersey Department of Education is currently undecided.