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28 Feb 2012 15:31

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World: UN’s estimate of Syrian death toll increases with recent surge in killing

  • 7,500 killed in Syria since last March, UN says source
  • » “Indiscriminant bombardment by tank and rocket fire”: Those were the words of the UN’s undersecretary general for political affairs, Lynn Pascoe. The killing in Syria has reached something of a fever pitch in past months, with the bombardment of Homs in particular leading to grim headlines, and truly ghastly footage. The UN currently estimates that over 100 people per day are being killed by Bashar al-Assad’s security forces. Said U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, on Assad as a war criminal: “I think that based on definitions of war criminal and crimes against humanity, there would be an argument to be made that he would fit into that category.”
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

19 Oct 2011 11:07

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U.S.: Owner of Ohio exotic wildlife preserve opens cages, commits suicide

  • It’s always been a fear of mine knowing (the preserve’s owner) had all those animals. I have kids.
  • Neighbor Danielle White • Discussing the bizarre incident involving an Ohio wildlife preserve, where numerous animals — lions, tigers and bears, plus more — had to be taken down in shoot-to-kill fashion after the owner opened up the cages housing numerous animals … then reportedly committed suicide, allowing the animals to run free throughout the area and creating a number of challenges for authorities. The preserve had been the subject of many complaints over the past decade. White, for example, once saw a lion escape. Most of the animals have been put down, but nearby schools had to close as a result of the bizarre incident. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

03 Oct 2011 09:26

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U.S.: This year’s Nobel Prize for Medicine co-winner died three days ago

  • Friday Ralph Steinman, a senior physician at Rockefeller University noted for his research into dendritic cells, dies after suffering from pancreatic cancer for the past four years. A big loss for the world of medicine.
  • Monday The Nobel Prize Committee awards the Nobel Price for Medicine. Steinman won for his research into the immune system. They don’t give out prizes posthumously. The Nobel folks didn’t know. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

01 Sep 2011 10:40

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World: War casualties: Iraq War hits historic low, Afghan War hits historic high

  • 4,464 number of U.S. troops that have died in the Iraq War since fighting began in mid-2003; combat operations ended last year, but training and support staff remain
  • zero number of U.S. troops that died in the country in August; the shocking part is that this is literally the first month without a casualty since the start of the war source
  • » Afghan War in sharp contrast: Part of the reason for the lack of troop deaths in Iraq is that the war in Afghanistan has picked up. There, it was a record month where 66 Americans died — a total which was much higher than it would’ve been due to the deadly Chinook helicopter crash that killed 30 highly-specialized troops.
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

24 May 2011 15:41

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World: Hosni Mubarak to be tried for the deaths of protesters

  • Mubarak will stand trial over Tahrir Square protests: Reportedly in ill health, former Egyptian strongman Hosni Mubarak will stand trial for his alleged crimes, among them the deaths of protesters during the nation’s revolutionary movement in Tahrir Square (over 800 died before Mubarak’s departure), and the illegal acquisition of wealth during his time in office. Mubarak is in a hospital at the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, while authorities also detained his two sons, also charged with corruption, in Cairo’s Tora prison. source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

28 Apr 2011 14:42

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U.S.: Catastrophic storms, tornados wreak a historic toll

  • The carnage in context: Obviously, it’s tough to quantify the costs in property damage, land damage, and the hideous trauma that has been thrust upon so many, and in the case of the trauma it’ll probably never be. That said, in terms of the most irreversible damage done, lives lost, we at least know this much — this was a big one by America’s standards. With the death-toll grimly ticking upwards as hours roll by, this will be at least the 7th largest loss of life by storm in American history, and that could easily change in the following days. Our thoughts are with them. (photo by Dusty Compton, from the Tuscaloosa News’ photo gallery) source
Posted by Chris Tognotti • 0 Comments • Permalink

29 Jan 2011 10:39

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World: Egypt death toll estimates: Three sources, three different numbers

Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 

08 Jan 2011 12:48

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World: Mexico’s drug war: The gruesome deaths keep happening

  • 15 dead bodies were found in a Mexican resort town of Acapulco today
  • 14 of the bodies had their heads decapitated (ugh, disgusting)
  • 30k+ people killed in Mexico since the drug war heated up in 2006 source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

05 Jan 2011 11:11

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U.S.: Was ex-Pentagon staffer killed because of feud with neighbor?

  • weird The body of a former Pentagon staffer, John P. Wheeler, was recently found in a landfill – which, let’s admit it, is disturbing and doesn’t exactly happen everyday.
  • weirder Reports suggest that not long before Wheeler died, he may have tried to blow up somebody’s home. He was apparently in a feud with a neighbor. He must’ve lost. source
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink

21 Sep 2010 09:44

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World: Afghan helicopter crash leads to record NATO deaths in 2010

  • 9 NATO troops died in today’s deadly Afghan helicopter crash source
  • 529 NATO troops have died in combat so far this year
  • 521 NATO troops died last year, which is now the old record
Posted by Ernie Smith • 0 Comments • Permalink
 
 
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