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May 1 of each year countries around the world conduct demonstrations to celebrate labor rights. May Day is also known as the International Workers’ Day. Communist bloc countries such as Cuba and Russia are among countries that holds massive May Day rallies.

Even though most Americans don’t realize, the origins of the May Day is rooted in the U.S. The official start of the May Day is considered to be the job walk-off by more than 300,000 workers in over 13,000 businesses on May 1, 1886 in the U.S. Workers were demanding an 8-hour workday as well as improved safety measures. This job walk-off led to subsequent unrest in the country and struggles between police and workers for many months.

Today, May Day rallies are much more symbolic than actions. Workers in many cities like Los Angeles, promote special causes such as immigration rights on that day. In many countries it is an opportunity for workers to celebrate progress made by organized labor.

There are 66 countries in the world that recognize the May Day as an official holiday. Financial markets around the world including Germany and Hong Kong are closed on May Day. But the U.S. markets are open on that day.

Last week of April 2012, the Internet was bussing about a break of mad cow disease again in a facility in nation’s number one diary producing Tulare County, California. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) officials have confirmed that they found a cow infected with the disease and the cow in question has been euthanized. The U.S. authorities also stated that there is no real danger to the public from entering the infected meat into the food supply and the cow in question was never destined for the meat market. Indonesia immediately stopped importing beef from the U.S. However, Canada, Mexico, Japan and South Korea indicated that they will continue to import U.S. beef.

Unsteadiness and incoordination are the two main symptoms of the disease. The clinical name of the disease is bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The disease eventually kills brain cells. As a result of the recent discovery, two cattle farms in the area have been quarantined by the USDA authorities.

This was the fourth incident of mad cow disease ever to discover in the U.S. Last outbreak of the mad cow disease in the U.S. was in 2006. Any outbreak of the disease could cripple the dairy industry in the U.S.

First it was an article in the New York Times and then it spread over to the Internet during the last two weeks of April 2012 that a subsidiary of the retail behemoth Wal-Mart Stores, Wal-Mart de Mexico, is involved in a $24 million bribery scandal in Mexico in September 2005. It was alleged that the subsidiary paid to obtain expedited approvals and permits to build new Wal-Mart stores in Mexico. Investors were quick to dump the stock of the company resulting in approximately $16 billion market value loss. According to published reports, Wal-Mart’s own investigation revealed that there were some irregularities occurred in obtaining permits to build new stores in Mexico.

The U.S. companies conducting business overseas, among host of other regulations, are also subject to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA). The Wal-Mart is headquartered in Arkansas and therefore, is subject the 1977 act. This act mainly addresses accounting transparency requirements mainly implemented by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and bribery of foreign officials. It prohibits, among other things, bribery to influence foreign officials by individuals and enterprises.

If found guilty, Wal-Mart could face severe penalties under the FCPA and consequently some officials may eventually leave the company.

If there is no clear winner during the first round of presidential election, France uses a two-round system where two top vote getters fight for presidency and a voter uses a single vote to elect a president.

During the Sunday, April 22, 2012 first round of presidential election, none of the candidate took in an absolute majority. The incumbent President, Nicholas Sarkozy, received 27.2 percent, while Hollande received 28.6 percent and Le Pen receiving 18 percent. There were many others who received less than the three main candidates. Since no one received the absolute majority (over 50 percent), the presidential run-off between the two top vote getters (Hollande and Sarkozy) is scheduled for May 6, 2012.

Outcome of the run-off election is somewhat hazy. The leftist candidate, Hollande may receive the 11 percent received by the far-left candidate Jean-Luc during the first round of election. President Sarkozy is trying hard to win the 18 percent received by the far-right candidate Le Pen. However, she has not endorsed any candidate at this writing. Other European nations as well as the European Union are concerned that views expressed by the President Sarkozy to woo the far-right votes may lead to some unrest after the election.

The former head of the United Nation, Kofi Annan, representing the U.N. visited Syria and met with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In early April, President Assad accepted the U.N. brokered ceasefire. According to the agreement, government forces are to withdraw from Syrian towns and villages by Tuesday, April 10, 2012. Rebels are required to lay down their weapons by Thursday, April 12, 2012. These measures are to pave the way for a dialogue to end the ongoing killing in Syria. A small group of U.N. observers will be in Syria to monitor the truce.

However, the government forces continued to bomb rebel strongholds. According to newspaper reports more than 100 people have been killed since the ceasefire was announced. One estimate indicates that more than 9,000 Syrians have been killed since the start of the uprising.

The world is skeptical about the truce and finding a permanent solution to the more than a year old conflict. The Saudi Arabia estimates more than one million Syrians are in need of humanitarian assistance including food and medical assistance. Thousands of Syrian refugees are flocking to Turkey and other neighboring countries. Turkey estimate the number to be more than 23,000.

After 244 years, the print version of the Encyclopaedia Britannica will be discontinued. The 2010 print set which will be the last 32 volume print packed with 44 million words is in store bookshelves now and according to the publisher selling like hot cakes.

Encyclopaedia Britannica’s first volume was published in 1768 to 1771 in Edinburgh, Scotland and included only three volumes. Over 4,000 experts including Nobel laureates, curators, professors, historians and other experts contributed to the last print volume which contains more than 65,000 articles and more than 44 million words.

Once sold door-to-door by a fleet of salesmen, the Britannica ran into trouble due to intense competition from online behemoth Wikipedia. The company says that the print version generated only one percent of the company revenue.

The online version first introduced in 1994 and currently generates 15 percent of the company revenue. The Britannica expect to concentrate on the online version and charge $70.00 per year subscription or an App version for $1.99 a month. The younger generation is searching online via Google for free. Wikipedia is always the top choice of this generation. So, it is too early to say whether the new strategy will succeed or not.

Jim Marshall, the creator of the loud amplifier died at age 88 after suffering from several strokes and cancer.

Marshall introduced the amplifier to the rock music arena in 1960s. The stack of amplifiers dominated the industry during the following years. In 1960s The Who, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix and several decades later AC/DC, Motley Crue, Guns and Roses, and Nirvana all others in between have used the inescapable Marshall stack.

Born in London on July 29, 1923, Marshall spent his early childhood in hospitals due to a rare decease, bone tuberculosis. Due to late start in life, he began self-studies in engineering and took refuge in music. He gave guitar lessons and came in contact with famed musicians in London. He first succeeded in creating a 50-watt amp but due to the demand from the rock music industry he later developed a two stack 100-watt amplifier. Midrange and lower end products were introduced later. Twice he received the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement and honored by the Queen with an Officer of the Order of the British Empire award.

Marshall who twice married and divorced is survived by a son and a daughter, two stepchildren, and several grand and great grandchildren.

At Sunday, April 1, 2012 elections, party led by the Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi won 43 out of 45 seats contested in the by-elections. It was a huge blow to the ruling military-backed government who won the 2010 elections which was boycotted by Suu Kyi.

The U.S. government is ready to ease some of the sanctions imposed on Myanmar including a ban that prohibit U.S. corporations investing in Myanmar after the recent elections. During a recent visit by the Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the U.S. government reconnected with Suu Kyi. The French government is expected to request the European Union to lift some of bans on Myanmar. The Japan’s second largest bank, Mizuho Corporate Bank, opened a branch in Myanmar very recently. China stated that the recent elections were fair and urged the international community to lift sanctions. The renewed interest from the international community will pave the way for ending the economic isolation and economic development in Myanmar.

The general election in Myanmar is scheduled for 2015 and the ruling military-backed party, the United Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) will have to reconsider its strategy due to recent developments in the country.

Former President and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin claim victory following Sunday, March 4, 2012 Russia’s presidential election. Reports indicate that he received over 63% of votes. The outcome was widely expected. The former KGB operative held the office of President for eight years previously. Current President Dmitry Medvedev will become the new Prime Minister.

The opposition immediately claimed broad election fraud and demonstrations erupted in Moscow and elsewhere in Russia. Similar to parliamentary elections in last December, once again the controversy over presidential election diminished the credibility of President Elect Mr. Putin. Russian army was quick to control demonstrators. However, the momentum created against perceived election fraud will occupy the new administration domestically.

Mr. Putin will take the helm at a time when the Middle East, Iran and Syria, are embroiled in internal as well as external controversies. Russia’s position on Syria is very clear and Mr. Putin is expected to continue its stand. However, soon Mr. Putin will have to make some decisions on Iran nuclear stand.

Newly elected president invited all opposition candidates for talks. Soon to be Prime Minister is reviewing detentions of wealthy opposition leaders. These steps indicate that the new administration is concerned over recent gains made by the opposition.

U.S. President Barack Obama and Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu conducted talks in Washington D.C. on Monday, March 5, 2012 centered mainly on recent nuclear advances by Iran and its destabilizing impact on the region especially anticipated threat to Israel. Iran claims its efforts are aimed at developing nuclear capability is for peaceful purposes such as much needed energy production.

President Obama during a news conference following bilateral talks emphasized his willingness to allow additional time for sanctions imposed on Iran to work. However, Prime Minister Netanyahu expressed his concerns over recent developments and stated that Israel’s desire to take its own actions to protect citizens of Israel.

Any attack by Israel will have destabilizing impacts beyond the Middle East. Iran can cripple the trade in the Strait of Hormuz and destroy ships in the area. Oil and gas prices in U.S. and elsewhere will double crippling a fragile economic recovery in the U.S., Europe and other world countries. Iran may launch a military attack on Israel with civilian casualties. It will bring U.S. into the conflict with casualties. Cost of an another war will impact the U.S. economy and bring down most other world economies.