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Uprising’s guest expert Rahul Mahajan, a sociologist and author of Full Spectrum Dominance: US Power in Iraq and Beyond, analyzes today’s news headlines:

Thousands of migrants were rescued in the Mediterranean Sea over the weekend. About 3,500 migrants were picked up on Saturday, and 2,400 on Sunday by Italian, British, Swedish, and Spanish ships. The migrants hail primarily from Libya, Eritrea, Syria, and other nations in the Middle East and North Africa. Given the numbers rescued this weekend, 2015 is shaping up to be the worst year for migration to Europe by sea, and by extension, likely to result in the greatest number of migrant deaths. Local leaders in Northern Italy vowed not to accept more migrants, reflecting increased anti-immigrant sentiment in Europe. Michael Fallon, Britain’s Defense Secretary told a radio station, “[w]e need to find out who is doing this trafficking, how they are making money from it, and we need to go back and smash the gangs themselves.” European policies, alongside those of the US, have significantly contributed to wars and economic oppression that drives migration north. Click here for a Christian Science Monitor article, and here for an Associated Press report about the story.

Also in Europe, today is the second day of the G7 annual meeting. Formerly known as the G8 – until Russia was kicked out last year over the conflict in Ukraine – European and US leaders discussed climate change and the war on ISIS among other things. German Chancellor Angela Merkel has taken a strong stand on curbing greenhouse gas emissions, and on providing funds to poor nations to help them adapt to a warming planet. US President Obama focused on the war in Iraq and Syria against the Islamic State. Obama announced that he was “absolutely confident we will succeed” in the war on ISIS as long as the coalition supporting the Iraqi government remains committed. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon was also present at the G7 meeting, and warned that human rights must be respected in the fight against terrorism. Mr. Ban said, “when counter-terrorism efforts ignore the rule of law and violate fundamental rights – which they do far too often – they not only betray the values they seek to uphold, but can also end up further fueling violent extremism.” Click here for an Associated Press article, and here for a San Francisco Chronicle article about the story.

And finally 22-year old Kalief Browder has died, apparently of suicide. The African American man was the center of a horrific story of incarceration and a failure of the justice system. At the age of 16 Browder was arrested on suspicion of theft and languished at New York’s Rikers Island prison for nearly 3 years when his family was unable to pay his $10,000 bail. He was tortured and abused, and placed in solitary confinement. All along he maintained his innocence but was offered only plea bargains to accept guilt or risk decades in prison. Two years ago he was released with all charges dropped and eventually began suing the city of New York. Browder hung himself on Saturday after struggling with depression. Meanwhile, also in New York, two inmates Richard Matt and David Sweat are reported as having escaped from a correctional facility near the Canadian border. They may have had help from prison guards. Click here for an LA Times article, and here for a Reuters article about the story.