2016 Presidential Candidacies Begin to Take Shape

Both Ted Cruz and Rand Paul recently announced they would be seeking the 2016 Republican presidential nomination. The men will be seeking support from opposite ends of the party, with Paul looking to snare some Democrats with his message, and Cruz looking to paint himself as the ultra-conservative option.

Fighting Continues in Yemen

The Saudi Arabian military continued pounding Houthi positions in Yemen. The military has also airdropped supplies to anti-Houthi forces in and around the port of Aden, and may also have non-military forces on the ground in Yemen.

South Carolina Officer Charged With Murder

After a video surfaced of a North Charleston, South Carolina police officer shooting a man eight times in the back, that officer has been charged with murder. The man was shot after dropping something at the officer’s feet and attempting to escape. If convicted, the officer could face the death penalty or life in prison.

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev Guilty of Murder

A federal jury found Dzhokhar Tsarnaev guilty of 30 counts of murder connected to the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. The 12-person jury will now reconvene to determine whether or not Tsarnaev will receive the death penalty. Despite pleading not guilty, Tsarnaev admitted guilt through his lawyers at the outset of the trial.

US, Cuba Hold Highest Level Diplomatic Meetings in 50 Years

US Secretary of State John Kerry met with Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez on Wednesday, marking another huge step in Cuban-American relations. The meeting came just before the Summit of the Americas in Panama, the first such meeting where a Cuban leader will be present. President Obama is expected to soon announce Cuba’s removal from the list of state sponsors of terrorism, which has been a major stumbling block in restoring diplomatic relations.