The Smoke Signal

By: Staff Writers Ella Chen and Ishika Chawla

Local: UC Berkeley Assistant Basketball Coach Fired After Sexual Harassment Claims

University of California, Berkeley’s assistant basketball coach, Yann Hufnagel, was fired for violating the university’s sexual harassment policy. According to his school biography, this was his second season with the Golden Bears following a coaching career at both Vanderbilt and Harvard University. The termination of Hufnagel comes just days after the UC Berkeley Dean of Law, Sujit Choudhry, took an “indefinite leave of absence” from his position after being sued by his former executive assistant for offensive sexual advances.

National: Donald Trump Campaign Cancels Chicago Rally

Republican Presidential Candidate Donald J. Trump’s Chicago rally was cancelled on Friday, March 11, 2016 due to security concerns. Protesters and supporters had gathered on the University of Illinois at Chicago campus  amidst loud arguments and turmoil. The rally was cancelled due to growing threats of violence and security concerns. Trump supporters were taken by surprise at the results of the event as they left the site of the rally.

International: Russian Troops in Syria Ordered to Withdraw

The Kremlin issued a statement from Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, March 14, 2016, ordering the majority of Russian troops in Syria to withdraw from their stations in the Syrian Civil War. After Russia had begun bombarding Syria with airstrikes, the balance has favored the Syrian government and significantly impacted rebel forces. Putin’s decision to withdraw troops may be a response to Western sanctions on Russia and the falling oil prices, which crippled the Russian economy.

Quirky: Hamas Burns 15 Tons of Snickers Bars

The Islamic group Hamas burned 15 tons of Snickers bars in the Gaza Strip on March 11. Authorities threw boxes of the chocolate peanut butter candy bars into a bomb crater, drenched them in fuel, and set them on fire following a company recall. This action occurred soon after the producer of the bars, Mars, recalled candy from its Netherlands factory after a piece of red plastic was found inside a Snickers bar, thus causing Hamas to burn the bars for safety precautions.. Israel has had extremely tight restrictions on imports since Hamas took over the Gaza Strip in 2007.

Photos Courtesy of The Tablet Magazine, NPR, BBC, and SF Gate