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19 May 2011 00:35

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World: Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigns from IMF amid scandal

  • I want to protect this institution which I have served with honor and devotion, and especially —especially — I want to devote all my strength, all my time, and all my energy to proving my innocence.
  • Dominique Strauss-Kahn • In a letter revealing his resignation as the International Monetary Fund’s head. “I think at this time first of my wife—whom I love more than anything—of my children, of my family, of my friends,” he also stated in the note. “I think also of my colleagues at the Fund; together we have accomplished such great things over the last three years and more.” Strauss-Kahn’s arrest on sexual assault charges has thrown French politics in a tizzy in the past week, due to his prominent status, and this letter will only continue to drive the conspiracy theories around the case in France. (h/t ProducerMatthew, Samuel Rubenfeld) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 May 2011 16:14

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World: A little good news coming out of Tripoli

  • 4 journalists freed from their detention by Gaddafi’s military source
  • » At long last: Gaddafi’s authorities have set Nigel Chandler, Manu Brabo, Claire Gillis and James Foley free — and authorities said that they may stay in the country if they wish (though journalistic professionalism aside, one could understand if they didn’t especially want to). Brabo, Gillis and Foley were all captured near Brega on April 5th. As for Chandler, however, who Libyan authorities believed worked with the BBC (they have since said they have no journalist in their employ by that name, and no other organization has claimed him), no location of his detainment is yet known. The four are now under consular care of Tripoli’s South African embassy.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 May 2011 11:19

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World: Poll: Many French people think Dominique Strauss-Kahn was set up

  • 57% of French voters think Dominique Strauss-Kahn was set up in the IMF leader’s sexual assault case
  • 70% of French voters in the Socialist Party (the politician’s own party) think the same thing source
  • » Another conspiracy theory flourishes: French society is one where conspiracy theories like this can flourish — in part due to mistrust of business and political elites. But the fall of a man expected to run for president has many in absolute disbelief. “It highlights France’s denial . . . People do not want to believe it and it is interesting from the collective psychology point of view,” said Jérome Sainte-Marie of the polling group CSA. If it makes you feel better, French people, the U.S. loves its conspiracy theories too.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 May 2011 10:43

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World: Slate’s French site names victim in Dominique Strauss-Kahn case

  • Did you guys know there was a French version of Slate? It’s true. And while it shares the same hue of purple as the mothership, it’s editorially independent and the Slate company owns a tiny 15 percent share of the product. Anyway, the site yesterday published an article noting the reported victim’s name in the Dominique Strauss-Kahn scandal (which we will not link directly here; if you’re interested, you can dig yourself) — a usual no-no in the world of journalism. And one that a few other outlets have also broken. But why Slate.fr, which carries the rep of a highly-regarded site that would never do something like that? According to an interview by The Atlantic Wire, the site’s founder, Eric Leser, says they did it to fight buck against the conspiracy theories that have grown around the story in France. “The story that we have published is proving that all of [these] theories are false,” he said. “That’s our main reason.” Do you guys agree with this stance? Do you think Slate.fr is making a mistake by publishing this? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

18 May 2011 10:17

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World: Reported al-Qaeda leadership change suggests a major rift

  • appointment According to many independent but unconfirmed reports, al-Qaeda’s new interim leader is Saif al-Adel, an Egyptian militant wanted in the bombings of two U.S. embassies in 1998 — al-Qaeda’s best-known attacks before 9/11.
  • slight If this is the case, it would be a major slight for Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden’s longtime right-hand man. Both men, however, are longtime senior members of the group, and a permanent change in structure is still forthcoming. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

17 May 2011 15:45

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World: Will the U.S. destroy its stockpile of the smallpox virus?

  • NO they’ll keep the smallpox, due to fear of bioterrorism source
  • » Smallpox keeps on kicking: Presently the U.S. has 451 samples of the smallpox virus, under the care of the Center for Disease Control (CDC), while Russia has just 120 in storage in a town somewhere in Siberia. Some would like to see these samples destroyed outright, in a bid to eradicate the virus from the world altogether. Dr. Donald Henderson, for one, who helped with in eradication efforts throughout the 70s, argues in favor of destroying the samples, but Kathleen Sibelius, Secretary of Health and Human Services, disagrees, saying that destroying the samples would be a “symbolic” act that would make it harder to vaccinate a population in the event of a terrorist attack utilizing the highly lethal virus.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

17 May 2011 11:29

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World: Dominique Strauss-Kahn case creates trouble for French TV stations

  • The principle of freedom of expression and right to information shouldn’t ignore the fact that such images can harm a person’s dignity.
  • A statement from the French broadcasting authority • Reminding television networks in the country that they should be careful in showing images of IMF leader Dominique Strauss-Kahn wearing handcuffs. While it’s illegal to shoot photos or video inside French courtrooms (and photographers can’t shoot people in handcuffs unless the person has been convicted), it’s not in American courtrooms, creating a complicated situation — and a rare sight on French television. It’s not clear that the French government could fine television stations that show the images, but officials are looking into it. But either way, it appears that the stations may be violating the spirit of the 2000 law (designed to encourage a presumption of innocence), if not the letter of it. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

17 May 2011 10:54

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World: Queen Elizabeth finally visits Ireland, because really, why not?

It’s the first visit by a reigning British monarch since Ireland first went independent in 1922. There have been two bomb threats already. She’s 85 — might as well get this visit in now. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 May 2011 17:06

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World: No bail for accused IMF chief Strauss-Kahn

  • IMF Chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn denied bail: Strauss-Kahn, 62, accused of attempting to rape a hotel maid and forcing her to perform oral sex on him, will continue to sit in a jail cell in New York. Prosecutors said that they are investigating reports that this was not the first such incident involving Strauss-Kahn, who many once considered a major challenger to Nicolas Sarkozy in France’s next Presidential election. Yeah, that’s pretty much over. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

16 May 2011 14:41

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World: Despite massive damage, Fukushima timetable stays the same

  • 9 months maximum needed to get Fukushima under control source
  • » That number isn’t changing: While they’ve discovered more damage than they originally anticipated — such as damage to fuel reactors — and are still dealing with meltdowns. Despite these discouraging discoveries, officials are sticking to this timetable, saying that the reactors are continuing to cool despite the more extensive damage. “The point [Japanese Prime Minister Naoto] Kan is making is that the reactor cores are being cooled down despite the apparent meltdown,” said Goshi Hosono, the prime minister’s special adviser on the issue.
Posted by Justin Jones • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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