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30 Mar 2011 13:06

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World: Obama speaks out on Ivory Coast’s Gbagbo

  • He’s now using his thugs to try to stay in power and intimidate the opposition and the duly elected president.
  • President Barack Obama • On the continued grip on power by Laurent Gbagbo, the Ivory Coast strongman who was electorally defeated by Alassane Ouattara last November. As power-hungry, unscrupulous leaders are prone to do, Gbagbo didn’t relinquish power to Ouattara, instead orchestrating a campaign of intimidation and violence against the citizenry. Some 400 people have been killed as a result, and it’s estimated more than a million have been displaced, fleeing their homes and seeking peaceful refuge elsewhere. It’s nice to hear the President talk about this, because frankly, the people of the Ivory Coast have gotten short shrift with all the upheaval in the Middle East. He emphasized that a diplomatic effort with surrounding African nations is the crux of the U.S. effort to isolate and pressure Gbagbo out of power, downplaying military options. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

30 Mar 2011 12:51

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World: Beghjet Pacolli, president of Kosovo, resigns following court ruling

  • OUT The President of Kosovo has resigned source
  • » Why? Behgjet Pacolli was elected by parliament a month ago. Today, a constitutional court ruled this ascension in violation of the country’s constitution, and in respect of their decision, Pacolli stepped down. But down though he is, he’s not yet out: Pacolli has announced his intent to run for President in the next election, which has yet to be scheduled. The Republic of Kosovo declared independence in 2008 following ten years of interim UN rule, and gained international recognition that same year.
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Mar 2011 19:37

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World: Obama: Gaddafi will ultimately step down from Libyan rule

  • At this point, in addition to maintaining a no-fly zone protecting civilian populations, we also have political tools, diplomatic tools, sanctions freezing his assets — all of which continue to tighten the noose. And so our expectation is that as we continue to supply steady pressure, not only militarily but also through these other means, that Gaddafi will ultimately step down.
  • President Barack Obama • Offering a follow-up to the sentiments he made last night about the American military action in Libya. While Obama says he was reluctant to start another military campaign, here we are — Obama emphasizing that we could “save a lot of lives” in Libya. Doesn’t this contradict all the stuff he’s been saying  about this being a specific mission with a limited scope? source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Mar 2011 13:50

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World: Gaddafi rachets up violence; explosions in Tripoli

  • explosions heard in libyan capitol: For the first time since the Libyan rebellion began against Muammar Gaddafi, a series of explosions were heard in Tripoli during daylight hours. Reporting indicates there were three loud blasts, over the course of about twenty minutes. This comes amidst generally dire news for the Libyan rebellion, to say nothing of the citizenry; a witness tells CNN that a large scale butchery has gone on in Misrata, with Gaddafi’s forces killing civilians and driving them from their homes in a bid to claim control. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Mar 2011 13:43

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World: Sure, why not? Hugo Chavez wins Argentine journalism award

  • A true fighter for press freedom? He’s received the Rodolfo Walsh Prize from the Argentinian University of La Plata, so awarded for “unquestionable and authentic commitment to support the freedom of peoples.” Chavez has, as the university points out, created a broad public news outlet, but he’s also tightly muzzled and repressed independent and private media, making this award pretty controversial. Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional gives a dire take: “That a South American university doesn’t know about this grave situation and dares to honor this military leader with the Rodolfo Walsh Prize says much about the destruction of values that the Kirchners have imposed on the Argentine nation. Walsh was a victim of military repression and his example is now stained absurdly.” (photo via nicogenin on Flickr) source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Mar 2011 10:41

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World: More Fukushima drama: Plutonium found in the ground nearby

  • Plutonium is a substance that’s emitted when the temperature is high, and it’s also heavy and so does not leak out easily. So if plutonium has emerged from the reactor, that tells us something about the damage to the fuel. And if it has breached the original containment system, it underlines the gravity and seriousness of this accident.
  • Japan’s Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency deputy director Hidehiko Nishiyama • Discussing what the finding of plutonium in the ground near the Fukushima reactors means. No, that doesn’t sound very good at all. In other news, France sent over some of their most knowledgable nuclear experts to help out the Japanese. The surrender-prone European nation is also the one most dependent on nuclear energy. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Mar 2011 08:36

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World: Libyan government official: Men accused of rape suing the accuser

  • I heard that the attorney-general brought her in for questioning because she is now not just the accuser, she is the accused. There is a case against her.
  • Libyan government spokesperson Moussa Ibrahim • Revealing the woman who dramatically accused a number of men of violently raping her has been sued for those claims. “Now the four guys are having a case filed against her because instead of going to a police station and filing a case against them she went to the media and exposed their names,” he noted. “Now their honor is tainted, their families black-named and this in the Islamic law is a very grave offense.” Because, as we all know, it’s all about the men accused. Why not try the case first? (By the way, this is the same man who called her a “prostitute.” Yuck.) source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

28 Mar 2011 23:46

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World: Libyan rebels sign oil export deal with Qatar

  • We are producing about 100,000 to 130,000 barrels a day. We can easily up that to about 300,000 a day.
  • Libyan rebel spokesman Ali Tarhouni • The rebels have reportedly signed a deal with Qatar under which they’ll export oil to the nearby country. Ahh, oil politics, we’ve missed you. source
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Mar 2011 23:34

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World: Arrests made in Libya in wake of rape allegations

  • » Amongst the arrested: The son of a high-ranking Libyan police officer. Also, the woman’s family says that government employees (some of whom have accused her of being a “known prostitute and thief,” as if that’s at all relevant) have offered her money and a house if she retracts her allegations. Something tells us she won’t.
Posted by Seth Millstein • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Mar 2011 15:58

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World: IAEA chief calls for safety review in Vienna

  • YES the IAEA chief has called a nuclear safety summit source
  • » Clarifying the lessons learned? Yukiyo Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, has called a nuclear safety summit in Vienna. He wants all hands on deck for this, with ministers from all 151 member states in attendance. It’s an obvious move, and frankly it would be hard for the IAEA to have claimed much credibility if they had failed to do something like this. That said, this is a worthwhile reminder that safety reviews are always better early than late.
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
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