World Lens — Week in Review: May 8

Brazil backs Africa and U.S. won’t bargain with al Qaeda.

Brazil Makes Africa Pledge, Approves Affirmative Action  - Brazil announced plans to make major investments and transfers of technology to countries in Africa in efforts to repay a “solidarity debt” the South American nation says it shares with the continent due to its legacy of slavery. The country also ruled to maintain a sweeping federal affirmative action program that provides college scholarships to hundreds of thousands of Black and mixed-race students.    (Photo: SERGIO MORAES/Landov)

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Brazil Makes Africa Pledge, Approves Affirmative Action  - Brazil announced plans to make major investments and transfers of technology to countries in Africa in efforts to repay a “solidarity debt” the South American nation says it shares with the continent due to its legacy of slavery. The country also ruled to maintain a sweeping federal affirmative action program that provides college scholarships to hundreds of thousands of Black and mixed-race students.    (Photo: SERGIO MORAES/Landov)

U.S. Won’t Bargain for Captured Worker - The United States said it will not bargain with al Qaeda over the life of abducted American Warren Weinstein who pleaded with President Obama to save his life on a recording. "We don't make concessions to terrorists," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said when asked whether the U.S. would meet the demands contained in a video posted Sunday to several Islamist websites.(Photo: AP Photo/IntelCenter)

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U.S. Won’t Bargain for Captured Worker - The United States said it will not bargain with al Qaeda over the life of abducted American Warren Weinstein who pleaded with President Obama to save his life on a recording. "We don't make concessions to terrorists," State Department spokesman Mark Toner said when asked whether the U.S. would meet the demands contained in a video posted Sunday to several Islamist websites.(Photo: AP Photo/IntelCenter)

France - France elected socialist politician Francois Hollande to the office of president this May, beating incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy, who served just one term in office. (Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

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Socialist François Hollande Wins French Vote  - France now has a new president after electing socialist candidate François Hollande into office, beating Nicolas Sarkozy in a runoff vote. In his victory speech, Hollande alluded to the possibility of ending the austerity measures that have been adopted to combat the ongoing euro debt crisis.(Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

80 Years Sought for Charles Taylor - Prosecutors demanded an 80-year sentence for former Liberian President Charles Taylor following his war crimes conviction last week. Taylor was recently found guilty of 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including aiding and abetting murder and rape, for his part in arming Sierra Leone rebels in exchange for "blood diamonds" mined by slave laborers.(Photo: REUTERS/Peter Dejong/Pool)

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80 Years Sought for Charles Taylor - Prosecutors demanded an 80-year sentence for former Liberian President Charles Taylor following his war crimes conviction last week. Taylor was recently found guilty of 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including aiding and abetting murder and rape, for his part in arming Sierra Leone rebels in exchange for "blood diamonds" mined by slave laborers.(Photo: REUTERS/Peter Dejong/Pool)

Reformed Rapist Fights for Women’s Rights - In efforts to make amends for the rape he committed as a teen, South African women’s rights advocate Dumisani Rebombo returned to his childhood village and asked his victim for forgiveness. A woman is raped every 26 seconds in South Africa, according to People Opposing Women Abuse, a nonprofit group for the eradication of gender violence. (Photo: Courtesy CNN)

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Reformed Rapist Fights for Women’s Rights - In efforts to make amends for the rape he committed as a teen, South African women’s rights advocate Dumisani Rebombo returned to his childhood village and asked his victim for forgiveness. A woman is raped every 26 seconds in South Africa, according to People Opposing Women Abuse, a nonprofit group for the eradication of gender violence. (Photo: Courtesy CNN)

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Racial Disparities in Marijuana Possession Arrests Have Increased - Racial disparities in marijuana possession arrests have increased in 38 of the 50 states (and in the District of Columbia) over the past decade. The states where the disparities have increased the most since 2001 are Alaska (+384 percent), Minnesota (+231 percent) and Wisconsin (+153 percent). (Photo: Guillermo Arias/ XINHUA /LANDOV)

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Six Jamaicans Arrested in U.S. Lottery Scam - Police in Jamaica arrested six people accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from U.S. citizens through a lottery scam. One of the men was caught with more than $60,000 in an account believed to belong to the victims. (Photo: XINHUA/Landov)

Nigerian Cattle Market Raid Leaves Many Dead - At least 34 people were killed and nearly another 30 injured in an attack on a cattle market in north-eastern Nigeria last week. The market was set on fire by gunmen who police say may have been taking revenge for the killing of a man who previously tried to steal cattle.(Photo: AP Photos/Adamu Adamu)

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Nigerian Cattle Market Raid Leaves Many Dead - At least 34 people were killed and nearly another 30 injured in an attack on a cattle market in north-eastern Nigeria last week. The market was set on fire by gunmen who police say may have been taking revenge for the killing of a man who previously tried to steal cattle.(Photo: AP Photos/Adamu Adamu)

Mavado Must Pay for Road Rage - Jamaican dancehall reggae star Mavado was recently ordered to pay a fine of nearly $100,000 or spend up to one year in jail  for assaulting a man and damaging his car last year in a road rage spat between the driver and Mavado’s entourage.(Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

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Mavado Must Pay for Road Rage - Jamaican dancehall reggae star Mavado was recently ordered to pay a fine of nearly $100,000 or spend up to one year in jail  for assaulting a man and damaging his car last year in a road rage spat between the driver and Mavado’s entourage.(Photo: Cindy Ord/Getty Images)

Four African Leaders Invited to G-8 Summit  - Presidents Yayi Boni of Benin, John Mills of Ghana and Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia will attend this year’s G-8 summit chaired by President Barack Obama. The African leaders will join the member nations for a session on food security in Africa.(Photo: REUTERS/Christian Hartmann)

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Four African Leaders Invited to G-8 Summit  - Presidents Yayi Boni of Benin, John Mills of Ghana and Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia will attend this year’s G-8 summit chaired by President Barack Obama. The African leaders will join the member nations for a session on food security in Africa.(Photo: REUTERS/Christian Hartmann)

Columbian Sex Worker Calls Secret Service “Fools” - The woman at the center of the U.S. Secret Service Columbian sex scandal told reporters Friday that the agents were "idiots" and were careless with sensitive information that was left unguarded.       (Photo: REUTERS/Larry Downing)

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Columbian Sex Worker Calls Secret Service “Fools” - The woman at the center of the U.S. Secret Service Columbian sex scandal told reporters Friday that the agents were "idiots" and were careless with sensitive information that was left unguarded.       (Photo: REUTERS/Larry Downing)

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Gay Man Dodges Deportation From U.K. to Cameroon  - The U.K. deportation of a gay Cameroonian man, Ediage Valerie Ekwedde, has been stalled after he refused to board a flight home on the grounds that his life would be at risk if he returned to Cameroon.(Photo: Bruno Vincent/Getty Images)

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Gay Man Dodges Deportation From U.K. to Cameroon  - The U.K. deportation of a gay Cameroonian man, Ediage Valerie Ekwedde, has been stalled after he refused to board a flight home on the grounds that his life would be at risk if he returned to Cameroon.(Photo: Bruno Vincent/Getty Images)

Syria’s Elections Called a “Farce” - Syria held its first multiparty elections in 50 years on Monday amid renewed fighting between rebels and President Bashar Assad's forces in an oil-producing part of the country. "Syria's political system remains utterly corrupt and election results will be again determined in advance," opposition activist Bassam Ishaq, who unsuccessfully ran for parliament in 2003 and 2007, told Reuters. "There are effectively very few seats for independents, and these will go to the highest bidder."(Photo: EPA/YOUSSEF BADAWI/Landov)

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Syria’s Elections Called a “Farce” - Syria held its first multiparty elections in 50 years on Monday amid renewed fighting between rebels and President Bashar Assad's forces in an oil-producing part of the country. "Syria's political system remains utterly corrupt and election results will be again determined in advance," opposition activist Bassam Ishaq, who unsuccessfully ran for parliament in 2003 and 2007, told Reuters. "There are effectively very few seats for independents, and these will go to the highest bidder."(Photo: EPA/YOUSSEF BADAWI/Landov)