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22 Nov 2011 15:11

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World: UN passes resolution condemning Assad, Syria government

  • Some notable and important countries passed on sponsoring it, though. A committee in the United Nations has passed a non-binding resolution, which decries the gross human rights violations and widespread murder undertaken by the government of Bashar al-Assad in Syria. Since the violent crackdowns began in March, the UN’s own estimates suggest that over 3,500 Syrians have been killed. The resolution, perhaps most significantly, passed with support from many Arab states; Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Morocco, and Kuwait were all co-sponsors. Of note voting against the resolution: UN Security Council members Russia and China. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Nov 2011 11:12

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World: Three American students arrested in Cairo, accused of protesting

  • Their faces showed up on state television on Tuesday: These three study-abroad students, studying at American University in Cairo, were arrested for reportedly taking part in the mass demonstrations that have caused much unrest in the past few days. “The three boys were throwing molotov cocktails and had no passports on them when they were picked up,” claimed Adel Saeed, a spokesperson for the Egyptian general prosecutor’s office. Protesters have flooded Tahrir Square on Tuesday in reaction to a call for a “million-man” march. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Nov 2011 10:53

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World: South African parliament passes controversial secrecy law

  • cause The South African parliament passed a bill on Tuesday that they say is intended to “save lives, to enhance and to protect the freedom and security of persons, to bring criminals to justice, to protect the national security and to engage in effective government and diplomacy.” Jacob Zuma is expected to sign it into law.
  • reaction The bill has further strained the relationship between the press and the government. Many believe the law is an attempt to shield the country’s elite from criticism and prevent whistleblowing. A number of anti-apartheid leaders  have also come out against the bill, including Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, who called it “insulting.” source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Nov 2011 00:29

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World: Egypt: Cabinet offers resignations ahead of parliamentary elections

  • Protests in Egypt ahead of parliamentary elections: Last week, Egypt’s military-backed cabinet introduced plans for a new constitution — one that gave the military a lot more power, and the parliament a lot less. Reacting to the sudden changes, the Muslim Brotherhood started protests in Tahrir Square on Friday; over the weekend, hundreds camped out and continued protests. That growing group of people was met with riot police. As a result of all this, the interim cabinet offered their resignation Monday; this hasn’t stopped the protests, however. The elections start a week from now. source
Posted by samimain • 0 Comments • Permalink

22 Nov 2011 00:03

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World: Did the Daily Mail hack Hugh Grant’s phone, too?

  • I cannot for the life of me think of any source for these stories in the Mail on Sunday except my voicemail messages.
  • Hugh Grant • Accusing the Daily Mail of hacking his cell phone. Remember News of the World? Well, the Daily Mail took a page out of their book, according to Grant (who’s built a rep for being a phone-hacking crusader). He is claiming that they hacked into his voicemail for a 2007 story; it may have been done by a private investigator once used by News of the World until his termination in 2006. Of course The Mail “utterly refutes Grant’s claim that they got any story as a result of phone hacking.” Perhaps they’ve cried wolf just too many times. source
Posted by samimain • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Nov 2011 23:32

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World: UN greenhouse gas study: Carbon dioxide levels reach new high

  • 2.3 parts per million of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere between 2009 and 2010, a big leap from the last decade’s average of 2.0 ppm
  • 64% of climate warming is due to carbon dioxide released from burning fossil fuels, deforestation and changes in land usage, a UN study says source
Posted by samimain • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Nov 2011 10:09

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World: Egyptian protests in Tahrir Square surge anew over military power

  • People here feel that they have been cheated and that they have moved from an autocracy to a military dictatorship. So they are back to the square — back to square one — to ask for their rights once again.
  • Egyptian protester Mosa’ab Elshamy • Discussing the resurgence of the protests at Tahrir Square over the weekend. It’s been a particularly bloody weekend in Egypt, with at least 22 protesters killed and 1,700 injured, roughly 102 of those police officers. The military claims it didn’t intend for things to go the way they’re going, and plan to relinquish power after the country has its long-in-the-works elections. Those elections are planned for November 28, about a week from now. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

20 Nov 2011 09:51

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World: Libya won’t hand Gaddafi’s son over to the International Criminal Court

  • what Despite the fact that the new Libyan government has yet to put together a justice system of its own, the country says it plans to try Saif al-Islam Gaddafi within its borders, rather than sending him to the International Criminal Court.
  • why “The ICC is just a secondary court, and the people of Libya will not allow Seif al-Islam to be tried outside,” claimed information minister Mahmoud Shammam. Gaddafi’s son is wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Nov 2011 16:15

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World: Saif al-Islam Gaddafi captured alive, complete with iconic photo

With perhaps the most iconic photo to come out of a capture since Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Gaddafi’s most notorious son, fearing for his safety, gave himself up without a fight early Saturday. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 Nov 2011 20:36

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World: Arab League may impose economic sanctions on Syria

  • 3 day deadline for end to violence in Syria, Arab League says source
  • » Suspended and sanctioned? That’s the possibility facing Syria in the days to come. It was last Saturday that the Arab League voted to suspend Syria today if there was not a halt to the brutal violence and oppression by the government (Syria had already flagrantly ignored an agreement with the Arab League to facilitate this on November 3rd). Should the violent oppression not stop within three days, the price would be economic sanctions imposed by the League, which could have significant consequences for the Syrian citizenry as well.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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