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The Walt Disney company has stopped any production of branded merchandise in Bangladesh, responding to a devastating garment factory building collaps there last week that kill more than 400 people. The New York Times reported.

The Disney had sent a letter in March to thousands of licensees and vendors arranging new rules for overseas production at the "highest-risk countries," like Bangladesh, in order to bolster safety standards in its supply chain. CNNMoney reported.

Disney and other western apparel companies who have production ties to Bangladesh response swiftly to address public concerns about working conditions there. The company's efforts had elevated because of the November fire at a Tazreen Fashion Factory in Bangladesh that left 112 people died. The Disney's banning decision also extends to other countries, including Pakistan, where a fire killed 262 garment workers last September. "After much thought and discussion we felt this was the most responsible way to manage the challenges associated with our supply chain," said Bob Chapek, president of Disney Consumer Products. CNNMoney reported.

The number of Guantanamo Bay detainees involving in hunger strike rise to 94 on Thursday, according to a spokesman on Thursday. Three of the detainees are in hospital with non life-threatening conditions, the spokesman said. Yahoo!News reported.

Lt. Col. Sam House also said that no suicide was committed since April 14, the day after guards raided Guantanamo's Camp Six and forced detainees from communal environment area into their individual cells in an apparent effort to stop the prolonged hunger strike. There were two suicide attempts earlier this month. Huffingtonpost reported.

The hunger strike is in its third month now, with more than half of its inmates participating. The cause of the strike is still in dispute. The lawyers of the detainees say the guards searched Koran disrespectfully gave rise to the turmoil, while the military officials disagree with that cause. But both prison officials and lawyers for the detainees admit the underlying cause of the revolt: a growing sense among many prisoners that they will be locked here for the rest of their lives without a trial. Guantanamo currently holds 166 detainees, only few of whom have ever been charged. The New York Times reported.

President Obama's effort to change national gun laws in response to Newtown massacre was defeated by Senate on Wednesday as they opposed several merits to expand gun control. The New York Times reported.

Obama's administration has lobbied hard for increased background checks on potential gun buyers and for new limits on assault rifles and high-capacity ammunition magazines. The emotional reminder of gun violence overtook Washington when the relatives of those killed in mass shooting in Newtown, Conn. visited senators' offices and that made the president and others believed that the majority votes are in their favor. Washington Post reported.

It turned out that the proposal faced strong opposition from the National Rifle Association and its Capitol Hill allies in both parties. The Democratic-led Senator rejected Obama's proposals to expand background checks. Even Obama won the argument over gun control with 90 percent American on his side, he got only 54 votes on the Senate.Speaking after the vote, Obama called Wednesday "a pretty shameful day for Washington." Opponents from both parties said they made their decisions based on logic, not passion. The New York Times reported.

Margaret Thatcher, the first and the only woman served as prime minister of Great Britain, left the country she had transformed for 11 years at 87. Associated Press reported.

Thatcher's former spokesman Tim Bell said that the former prime minister had died of a stroke. Thatcher remained Britain's longest-serving prime minister in 159 years. Being designated the "Iron Lady", she played an instrumental role in ending the Cold War; she led Britain on a rightward economic course after the war slump; She won her country a new esteem that had been decreasing after World War II. The New York Times reported.

As a grocer's daughter, she said to officials who would plan her service that she knew she would remained as a contentious figure in death. Protesters said she worsened the social tension and made the life of poor people harder; admirers said she rescued the country sickened by inflation, budget deficit and high unemployment rate. She remained a close friend with Ronald Reagan,who also believed in free market with less government regulations. Together with President Reagan, she speeded an end to the Cold War.
She created the principle known as "Thatcherism" by the time she left her office. Associated Press reported.

Obama administration captures signs that China is changing its attitude toward North Korea and is pressuring the Chinese government to rein in North Korea. The New York Times reported.

China quickly signed up to UN sanctions after the North conducted its third nuclear test in February. Last week it voiced serious concern over the sudden escalation in rhetoric and urged calm on all sides. Responding to intensifying worries over North Korea's nuclear threats, China's new leader, Xi Jinping, indicated on Sunday that North Korea is creating chaos over the region and the world for "selfish gains." The Washington Post reported.

Washington's best chance of altering the standoff on the Korean peninsula will depend on how much further Beijing is willing to go for sanctions. China has traditionally supported the status quo, which allows North Korea to act as a buffer state between it and the South, where tens of thousands of US troops are based. China's concern expressed on Sunday is seen as veiled criticism of its longtime ally. Tom Donilon, Obama's national security advisor, said "timing of this is important." Donilon said it was an early examination between U.S. and China. The New York Times reported.

On Tuesday, the Indiana Supreme Court approved the state's voucher program as constitutional. This sets a national precedent as other states explore programs that redefine public education. Associated Press reported.

Rather than supporting neighborhood schools with funds, legislators uphold programs that provide public money directly to families who have limited choices for which school to attend. The New York Times reported.

The Indiana state's highest court voted unanimously for a 2011 law upholding vouchers for families that can't afford better education. The voucher programs is he most extensive in the nation because it is open to a much wider range of people, including households with incomes of "up to nearly $64,000 for a family of four". Associated Press reported.

Besides Indiana, Arizona has set up a tax-credit scholarship program. Opponents critic these movements can exclude students with special needs. The program also come in the wave of public schools facing challenges such as lack of funds and conform to better teacher performance. The vouchers also create constitutional controversies as some state clauses preventing religious schools receiving public money. It is also unsure that students who use vouchers to attend private schools improve their school performances. New York Times reported.

Minnesota's growing frac sand industry was confronted with a setback Tuesday when the St. Charles City Council voted unanimously against requests from Minnesota Proppant LLC to annex nearby township land for a major frac sand site and rail depot. Star Tribune reported.

Officials from the developer of the plan, Minnesota Proppant did not attend Tuesday night's meeting.Mayor Bill Spitzer said the issue has divided the community and ruined friendships. Residents feared what the project would cause for the environment as its a scenic town; other people like investors regarded it as a chance for economic developmentStar Tribune reported.

"'It just comes to a point where you have to look at what's in the best interest for the community,' Mayor Bill Spitzer said." State agencies, industry participants and anti-frac sand activists from all over the state have had their eyes on the significant St. Charles proposal, because it sends out important messages that frac sand mining will be treated differently from Wisconsin. Minnesota Public Radio reported.

North Korea warned of pre-emptive nuclear attack against United States and South Korea after the United Nations voted unanimously on new economic sanctions over the North Korea's nuclear program on Thursday. The New York Times reported.

North Korea responded aggressively on Friday that it was invalidating nonaggression agreements with South Korea that stopped the three-year Korean War, and was cutting-off the hotline with the United States military in South Korea. The New York Times reported.

The armistice is the key document to Korean Peninsula, which remains a state of war in six decades. The threat of ceasing the armistice means the North Korea would be refused to recognize the Demilitarized Zone and has the ability to attack South Korea, a South Korea analyst said. Associated Press reported.

According to the resolution introduced by United States and China, the expanding sanction would target North Korea bankers, tighten inspection of suspect air cargo and ship. China's participation in writing the resolution suggesting the North Korea is losing its great protector, China. The New York Times reported.