Read a little. Learn a lot. • Tightly-written news, views and stuff • Follow us on TwitterBe a Facebook FanTumble us!

13 Feb 2011 11:12

tags

World: In Algeria, police put on full-court press, triple-team protesters

  • 3:1 the ratio of police to protesters in Algers, says the AP source

13 Feb 2011 10:41

tags

World: Update: What the Egyptian military leadership plans to do next

  • before The Egyptian military took control of the country’s government after Hosni Mubarak resigned late last week.
  • now The military has now dissolved the country’s parliament and has called for fresh elections within six months or so.
  • later Emergency rule still rules, but it’s something the army says will go away once the security situation improves. source

12 Feb 2011 12:03

tags

World: How does Mubarak feel about Egypt’s move towards democracy?

  • He called up an Israeli lawmaker just before he resigned to speak his mind a little. To put it simply, Mubarak feels, much like many Israeli officials, that a move towards democracy in Egypt will give rise to extremism. “He gave me a lesson in democracy and said: ‘We see the democracy the United States spearheaded in Iran and with Hamas, in Gaza, and that’s the fate of the Middle East,'” said Binyamin Ben-Eliezer, a former Israeli cabinet minister. “‘They may be talking about democracy but they don’t know what they’re talking about and the result will be extremism and radical Islam.'” In other words, Mubarak is all grumblecakey about the rise of democracy in the country, which he feels will hurt the region more than help it. And yes, we said “grumblecakey.” source

12 Feb 2011 11:47

tags

World: Algerian riot police literally puts stranglehold on protests

A number of people reportedly took part in the protests against President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, but unfortunately for them, thousands of riot police were out in full force. source

11 Feb 2011 23:56

tags

Biz, World: Wael Ghonim’s situation a TAD uncomfortable for Google

  • They did not know anything about this and actually when I took the time off and I went to Cairo, they did not know I was going to the protest. But when everything became public, I talked with the company and they suggested that I take a leave of absence and I also suggested that to them and I think it was a good decision for that. Google has nothing to do with this.
  • Wael Ghonim • Talking about the now-unbreakable tie between his activism and his employment with Google. This is not the kind of thing that people like to see in the workforce – employees tied to public companies taking an active role in the political process, and as a result, tying the company’s name to the issue. “It’s one of those things that companies don’t want to touch with a ten foot pole,” one public-relations executive in the tech industry said about the matter. As far as Ghonim’s situation goes, he took a leave a leave of absence with the company and is happy to return at some point. Well, that is “if I’m not fired.” source

11 Feb 2011 20:04

tags

World: On the Islamic Revolution’s 32nd anniversary, could Iran be next?

If Ahmadinejad has a nervous look on his face, it’s because the Egyptian protests may give Iranian activists new life on Monday. Especially after Wael Ghonim gave the Green Revolution a big up. source

11 Feb 2011 18:07

tags

World: One country not cheering about Mubarak’s exit: Israel

  • The Muslim Brotherhood has already said they won’t be committed to the peace treaty. I don’t see a military conflict with Israel. But the whole regional order of the last 30 years will be totally shattered.
  • Former Israel ambassador to Egypt Eli Shaked • Expressing his, and by extension his country’s fears over losing a major ally in the revolution that ousted Hosni Mubarak. Unlike the United States, Israel never turned away from their longtime ally in fear of what would come for Egypt after. Their biggest fear? While they don’t expect another war in the region, they fear the possibility that the Muslim Brotherhood, a group they feel would be against Israel, would gain a foothold in Egyptian politics. There’s a point where diplomatic concerns becomes a poor reason to diplomatically block a country’s freedoms, and most countries feel we passed it. Israel apparently didn’t. source
 

11 Feb 2011 11:21

tags

World: Mohamed ElBaradei on Mubarak: “The country has been liberated”

  • This is the greatest day of my life. The country has been liberated.
  • Egyptian opposition figure Mohamed ElBaradei • In his immediate reaction to the news that Hosni Mubarak has left power in Egypt. It’s too soon to tell what happens next, but the excitement is strong in Tahrir Square. source

11 Feb 2011 11:10

tags

World: BREAKING: Hosni Mubarak steps down as Egyptian president

  • yesterday In a defiant speech, Hosni Mubarak made it clear that he was in fact not stepping down from his perch as Egyptian leader.
  • today Vice President Omar Suleiman announced that Mubarak just stepped down today. Guess that wasn’t so true, huh? source

11 Feb 2011 09:34

tags

World: Is Hosni Mubarak effectively out? Most signs point to yes.

So, what happens when you claim to still be the leader of a country, then immediately leave the city as if in exile? Considering Hosni Mubarak’s recent moves, we may find out. source