Read a little. Learn a lot. • Tightly-written news, views and stuff • Follow us on Twitter • Be a Facebook Fan • Tumble us!

05 Nov 2011 15:21

tags

World: Nigeria: Terror group runs roughshod over Nigerian government

  • 67+ killed after bombings in northern Nigeria source
  • » A terror group takes responsibility: A terror group known locally as Boko Haram seems to be taking advantage of the weakness of the country’s central government in Northeastern Nigeria, planning attacks to escalate sectarian violence and going after government buildings and police stations in the process. “There’s that fear that something might possibly happen again,” said Nigerian Red Cross official Ibrahim Bulama. The group has threatened to continue its attacks “until until security forces stop their excesses on our members and vulnerable civilians.”
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

04 Nov 2011 19:47

tags

World: Greek PM George Papandreou survives no-confidence vote

  • yeah … After a week full of hand-wringing (he called a referendum on an aid package, then backed off) after months of general annoyance, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou managed to survive a no-confidence vote on Friday.
  • … but Don’t expect him to remain in power for long; Papandreou reportedly plans to work towards forming a unity government, which he may or may not lead. He says he’s willing to step aside if it’s a good choice for the country. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Nov 2011 20:23

tags

World: Cuba’s crazy non-communist-sounding idea: Property sales

  • then For decades, Cuban gave its citizens socialist housing, which was tough to move out of because that required government approval; many families and even divorced couples stayed together under the same roof as a result.
  • now Cuba’s changing its policies in reaction to economic concerns, it’s now allowing people to buy and sell property — which sounds kinda like capitalism. The government, however, says they’re working hard to protect socialism.  source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Nov 2011 15:22

tags

World: Syrian government already in defiance of Arab League deal

  • 30 Syrians killed in separate attacks just after the Arab League deal source
  • » It didn’t take long: Syrian citizens skeptical of the deal struck between the Arab League and the Assad government seem to have been proven right. The deal stipulated that Syrian security forces would withdraw from cities, a free domestic and international media presence would be allowed, and the government would free its political prisoners. And yet, just one day later, security forces (not having withdrawn from the city of Homs, obviously) have killed 11 people. Another 19 died in a tank shelling in the activist-heavy Bab Amro district. Maybe it wasn’t right to expect much to come of the Arab League deal, given the abysmal human rights record of Bashar al-Assad’s government, but this is horribly discouraging.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Nov 2011 19:09

tags

World: Syrian state television announces deal with Arab League

  • Some steps to end the violence? As we mentioned yesterday, the Assad government in Syria had announced an agreement with the Arab League to (hopefully) bring about a resolution to the chaotic violence that’s been perpetrated upon protesters and opponents. At the time, we had scant few specifics, but now we know a bit more; the deal would require Assad to withdraw security forces from cities, allow open media coverage into Syria, and release detained political prisoners. Some Syrians are skeptical that this deal is a feint by Assad to buy time, however, perhaps in advance of another brutal crackdown — this is a story that deserves your long-term attention. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

02 Nov 2011 10:27

tags

World: Wikileaks: UK court says Julian Assange can be extradited to Sweden

The leader of Wikileaks has been fighting his extradition (on sexual abuse charges) for roughly a year, and the decision is a major setback. Assange plans appeal to the UK’s highest court. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Nov 2011 14:13

tags

World: Syria says they’ve agreed to Arab League plan to end upheaval

  • Peace can’t come fast enough: Syrian state media have claimed that Bashar al-Assad, still at the helm of a great deal of violence and death committed against the citizens of his nation, has agreed to a plan with the Arab League to quell the calamity. Specifics on the plan weren’t given, and are expected tomorrow. Syrian state media can’t really be taken at face value, however, so it’ll be very instructive to see what if anything comes from this agreement; the United Nations estimates over 3,000 people have been killed by the Assad government’s crackdown on protest and dissent. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

01 Nov 2011 10:25

tags

World: Stocks hate democracy: Greek PM puts aid package up for referendum

  • cause In a surprising move that threw off the entire world market, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said that he would put the country’s aid package up to a public referendum.
  • reaction Stocks worldwide reacted to the news poorly, including the U.S., which fell by more than two percent. The markets were already volatile; the danger of Greek default made things even worse. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

31 Oct 2011 23:21

tags

World: Milestone? China could send its first female astronaut into space

  • We suppose a Chinese space station would be a real blast to reside in. China will be sending a spacecraft up soon to collect data regarding a future space station. “Although Shenzhou-8 is unmanned, we equipped the spacecraft with devices recording real images and mechanical parameters during its flight, both of which are vital to future manned missions,” said Wu Ping, a spokesperson for the Chinese space program. If this flight proves successful, China will send up two more missions next year; one of those missions will be manned. There are currently two female astronauts being trained by China, and if one of them is picked, they’ll be the first Chinese woman in space. Is this about time, or does no one really care who China sends into space?  source
Posted by samimain • 0 Comments • Permalink

31 Oct 2011 20:25

tags

World: Anonymous threatens Mexican drug cartel over captured member

  • You made a huge mistake in taking one of us. Release him, and if anything happens to him, you will always remember this upcoming Nov. 5.
  • A message from Anonymous • Threatening a Mexican drug cartel with the disclosure of information if they do not release an Anyonymous member taken by the Zetas. Anonymous threatens to release the names of officials, taxi drivers and police officers who have allowed the Zetas to have a run of the region. “We demand his release,” said an Anonymous representative. “We want the army and the navy to know that we are fed up with the criminal group Zetas, who have concentrated on kidnapping, stealing and blackmailing in different ways.” The date is symbolic — it’s Guy Fawkes Day; the representative, speaking in a YouTube video, was wearing a Guy Fawkes mask. Curious to see what happens next. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
<< newer 
top tags
older >>