[NEWS] Some Friday links

[rfmcdonald]

• Al Jazeera follows the story of the hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians deported from Saudi Arabia and observes that Russia is competing for influence in Central Asia with a rising China.


• Businessweek suggests that, coffee notwithstanding, McDonald's still has significant troubles business-wise. As well, the secession of Crimea may undermine Ukraine's potential for offshore oil, while Israeli migration to Germany--especially Berlin--in search for a better standard of living is a problem for Israelis.


• CBC notes that Ontario car manufacturers are worried by the new free trade agreement signed by Canada with South Korea, and presents Canadian doctor Danielle Martin's defense of medicare in front of a questioning American congressional committee.


• Der Spiegel's English edition notes that crystal meth use is taking off in Germany.


• The Inter Press Service notes the sufferings of African migrants to Europe and observes that a railroad in a poor north Brazilian state has not brought riches to the locals.


• Wired examines the evolution of extinct aquatic sloths and notes weirdness in the centre of our galaxy that may indicate dark matter is somehow being annihilated there.