Dreaming of Simplicity

Tuesday Newswrap

2008-08-19T16:57:00.013+01:00

Top story today, NATO has said that it will cool relations with Moscow in response to its actions in Georgia. NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer said, "The future of our relations with Russia will depend on the concrete actions Russia will take to abide by the words of President Dmitry Medvedev [regarding the peace plan], which is not happening at the moment," he continued "and finally... we also all agree, as you can see in the statement, that there can be no business as usual in our relations to and with the Russian Federation". Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has promised that the Russian withdrawal will be complete by Friday.

An Associated Press crew today saw Russian soldiers kidnapping Georgian troops and holding them prisoner at gunpoint. They also commandeered US Humvees awaiting transport back to the United States. Both Russia and Georgia have now accepted observers from Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) going in to the area to monitor developments. British Foreign Minister David Miliband accused Russia of breaching international law in its operations in Georgia. In another development in Georgia today, Russia and Georgia have successfully completed a prisoner swap.

In California, a court has ruled that doctors are not allowed to opt-out of treating people because they have a religious objection. The case was brought by a lesbian woman who was refused fertility treatment because of her sexuality. In the US Presidential election race, Obama looks ready to announce his Vice-Presidential running mate (requires free registration). Zambian President Levy Mwanawasa has died in a Parisian hospital. He was taken ill some time ago, it is widely expected that the Vice-President will succeed him.

In business, world markets sunk today after reports that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may be nationalised, which would leave their shareholders with virtually nothing. The former head of the IMF has warned that the current economic difficulties could destroy a string of US banks. US inflation has soared causing many jittery householders.

In Afghanistan, suicide bombers have attacked a US base killing 10 civilians and injuring 13 others. There were no US causalities. 10 French soldiers were also killed today in another attack in Afghanistan. In the US, tropical storm Fay has hit land in Florida. As power-sharing talks continue in Zimbabwe, inflation in the counrty has reached 11.2million percent. The rate is up from 2.2million in May. In February, the price of a loaf of bread in the country was less than 200,000 Zimbabwe dollars. On Monday, that same loaf of bread cost 1.6 trillion Zimbabwe dollars.

On the Olympics, Britain's medal count has broken a 100-year record. Odd news for today, Malaysia has cancelled an Avril Lavigne concert because she is too 'sexy' for an Islamic culture; Britain's domestic intelligence service, MI5, is seeking gay recruits and a trial collapses after a juror turns private investigator. In-depth, NPR looks at how rising food prices are threatening progress in developing nations.

Current Olympic rankings:

Monday Newswrap

2008-08-18T15:38:00.013+01:00

Top story today is the resignation of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf. Musharraf announced that he would resign earlier today after impeachment papers were filled against him earlier in the month. It marks an end to a political career that began when, in 1999, he lead a bloodless coup. As a key US ally in fighting terrorism, it will be interesting to see what effect the resignation will have on relations between Washington and Islamabad.

Also today, Russia has started to pullback from Georgian territory. However, a BBC News correspondent saw a convoy of Russian vehicles carrying around 60 soldiers heading deeper into Georgia. Also, Georgian television has video footage of Russian tanks literally crashing through a roadblock made up of Georgian police vehicles. The New York Times is even reporting that Russia is bringing missile launchers into the area. Meanwhile, Swiss newspaper Tages Anzeiger reports that Russian forces have control of a Georgian power plant. The Times of London reports of tough new rhetoric from Dmitry Medvedv.

In Japan, warrants have been issued for US and British anti-whaling activists. The three, two Americans and one Briton, are from the Sea Shepard Conservation Society. In Israel, Ministers have okayed the release of 200 Palestinian prisoners back to the West Bank. A ministerial press release said that the release would be a gesture to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

In Zimbabwe, opposition leader Morgan Tsvangari is to seek the help of regional leaders to solve the dealockm over a power sharing agreement. Tsvangari, of the Movement for Democratic Change, will head to Botswana today in a ten day tour of the region where he will seek support for a resolution in the talks with 'President' Robert Mugabe and his Zanu-PF party.

The Iranian rocket test at the weekend "did not successfully launch" according to US Department of Defence officials. The DoD said that although the first stage of the launch may of been successful, the send stage was "was erratic and out of control," according to US intelligence. The rocket test was meant to show that Iran had the capability to put satellites into orbit.

The Independent has the story of Afghan women who have been jailed for being victims of rape. The social situation in both Iraq and Afghanistan has become grave since the coalition invasions. Earlier in the year, the Observer had a case study of the rise in so-called 'honour killings'. The newspaper reported that a 17-year old girl was murdered by her father for falling in love with a Christian British soldier. Her father defended his actions, and the girls mother was gunned down after she left her husband.

In US Presidential election news, Barack Obama raised $8-million in one night as speculation about his choice of running mate reaches fever pitch.

Tropical storm Fay is headed for Florida after claiming up to 35 lives in the Caribbean. The storm is expected to bring 4-10 inches of rain with it, raising fears of flooding. Also in the US, the Grand Canyon Dam has burst leading to several people being airlifted to safety.

In business, Anglo-Australian mining giant BHP Billiton has posted record profits of $15.4-billion, boosted by second-half profits of $9.37-billion. The company has, however, warned of weaker economic growth in the short term. BHP Billiton's London shares closed up 0.52% at £15.37.

Odd news, a disabled turtle has been given its own skateboard to get around; a baby whale thinks that a yacht is its mother and the Norwegian Royal family's boat sinks. In-depth, PRI's The World takes a closer look at Musharraf's resignation. Finally, an Australian mayor has come under fire for asking 'ugly girls' to come to his town, or in his words the "beauty disadvantaged".

Current Olympic rankings:

Friday's Newswrap

2008-08-15T15:20:00.006+01:00

President Bush has condemned Russia's "bullying". Speaking earlier today, G.W. said that "bullying and intimidation are not acceptable ways of conducting foreign policy in the 21st Century". In a press conference earlier in the day with Angela Merkel, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said that it the breakaway Georgian regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia were "unlikely to live together with Georgia". For her part, German Chancellor Merkel said that she felt that Russia's actions had been "disproportionate". Georgian

President Mikheil Saakashvili has now signed the cease-fire agreement after 5 hours of talks with Secretary of State Condi Rice. Related, Russia has threatened to "punish" Poland for finally agreeing to host the US missile shield in Eastern Europe. Human Rights Watch has claimed that Russia is using cluster bombs, which were outlawed by 106 countries in a deal, lead by British PM Gordon Borwn, endorsed in May to be formally signed in December. Russia was not among the 107 countries to endorse the deal, nor was Georgia or the United States, both of which, in addition to Russia, are known to have cluster munitions. One Dutch news organisation is reporting that the slain Dutch cameraman was the victim of a clusterbomb (dodgy translation).

Nepal has elected a new leader after it's monarchy was deposed months ago. Pushpa Kamal Dahal, known simply as Prachanda, will become the new Nepalese Republic's first Prime Minister. Echoing Britsh security lapses, a sensitive government document was found lying in a puddle before being handed into CBC News. In Canada, Prime Minister Stephen Harper is threatening to call an election whilst his party attempts to obstruct an investigation into his parties finances. In Africa, Botswana is to boycott the Southern African Develpment Community (SADC) meeting this weekend over Zimbabwe. Botswana has said that Zimbabwe should not be represented at the meeting be members of the Zanu-PF regime.

In business, crude oil has fallen to a three-month low of just under $112 a barrel. Falling demand and a stronger dollar has lead the fall from record highs reached earlier this year. One of the many stories about impending recession from Europe, this one from France's Liberation. Bad news for Red Bull GmbH: Red Bull gives yo heart trouble!

In the US Presidential campaign, Barack Obama is hitting back against the smear campaign book by publishing a rebuttal entitled 'Unfit for Publication'. Unfit for Publication can be found here (PDF). Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson takes issue with the smear book itself. In the UK, the two murdered Chinese students have been linked to an internet betting scam. In California, continuing its record on green power, the state is to install two large solar plants.

Odd news for today: Californian police have arrested Cinderella, Snow White, Tinkerbell, and other Disney characters for a misdemeanor count of failure to obey a police officer and two traffic infractions at Disneyland Park; and twin baby panda's have been born in China. Finally in odd news, Nils Olav, the honorary colonal-in-chief of the Norwegain King's Guard has been knighted. The odd bit is that he is a 3-foot tall penguin. Friday's in-depth story, again from PRI's The World, is about circumcision in Uganda.

Every news website, in every country, in ever language today has a feature on Madonna turning 50. I've choosen the Guardian's 50 facts about Madonna at 50. It also has a picture gallery of Madonna through the ages. Finally, more fakery in China: the ethnically diverse children at the opening ceremony, were not from different ethnicities.

Current Olympic rankings:

China - 25 Gold, 9 Silver, 6 Bronze, 40 total
USA - 14 Gold, 12 Silver, 18 Bronze, 44 total
Germany - 8 Gold, 2 Silver, 4 Bronze, 14 total
Korea (South) - 6 Gold, 8 Silver, 3 Bronze, 17 total
Italy - 6 Gold, 4 Silver, 4 Bronze, 14 total
Japan - 6 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze, 13 total
Australia - 5 Gold, 7 Silver, 8 Bronze, 20 total
Russia - 3 Gold, 8 Silver, 8 Bronze, 19 total
France - 3 Gold, 8 Silver, 7 Bronze, 18 total
Great Britain - 3 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze, 8 total

Thursday's Newswrap

2008-08-14T16:14:00.004+01:00

Today's top story is still the situation in Georgia. Varying accounts out of Gori today, the BBC is reporting that Russia is preparing to withdraw, the Guardian says it is sending more troops into the city, and Al Jazeera reports that explosions have been heard on the edge of Gori. Reports of looting and robberies in Russian controlled Georgia continue to grow with two Israeli journalists being robbed by armed Russian soldiers. Russia has answered G.W.'s demand for it to "respect Georgia's terretorial integrety" with a resounding 'no'.

In Africa, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is preparing to meet, with much of its agenda dominated by Zimbabwe. This comes as Morgan Tsvangirai has his passport revoked to prevent him from travelling to South Africa. In Canada, Bush clone Stephen Harper (Canada's Prime Minister), has warned against carbon taxes that would "kill prosperity", apparently preventing the planet from being killed does not rank highly among Harper's priorities. In the US Presidential election, a Conservative author intends to destroy Barack Obama in the same way he tried to destroy John Kerry in 2004. Also in America, the chair of the Arkansas Democratic party has tragically been killed by a gunman. Reports suggest that the shooter had recently lost his job, although it is unknown if this factored into his motive.

In business, BA and AA are planning a merger that's not. British Airways and American Airlines are planning to tie up many of their operations. Currently, two thirds of passengers flying between the US and the UK fly with either BA or American. BA is also in discussions to merge with Spanish airline Iberia. On the same day, Scandanavian airline SAS has announced yet more job cuts. On the economic front, the Eurozone has seen a net decline in growth of 0.2%. More worryingly, Europe's biggest economy, Germany, has seen its economy decline by 0.5%. Also in business, Wal-Mart's profits have increased 17% in the last three months from $2.95-billion for the same quarter last year, to $3.45-billion this year.

In Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf is expected to resign in the next few days according to the New York Times. It comes after the new Prime Minister effectively refussed to reconcile. In odd news today, the US census bureau has today revealed that white Americans will be a minority by 2042 and Norway's souvenier market makes for interesting reading.. In depth, PRI's The World looks at China's urbanisation. Also in China, the Beijing Olympic organising committee deputy had a spectacular outburst during a press conference according to the Sydney Morning Herald.

Sad news, three coalition troops have been killed in Afghanistan. Details of their nationalities have not yet been released. USA Today says that 6 US Navy saloirs have been accused of abusing detainees in Iraq. The artist that created the controversial cartoons that depictied the Prophet Muhammad in various questionnable situations, says he is ready to face trial in Jordan, but fears he will not get a free trial.

Finally, in the UK A-level results are published today, good luck to all. And the UN says that British libel laws breach human rights.

Current Olympic rankings:

China - 22 Gold, 8 Silver, 5 Bronze, 35 total
USA - 10 Gold, 9 Silver, 15 bronze, 34 total
Korea (South) - 6 Gold, 7 Silver, 3 Bronze, 16 total
Italy - 6 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze, 13 total
Germany - 6 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze, 11 total
Australia - 5 Gold, 4 Silver, 7 Bronze, 16 total
Japan - 5 Gold, 3 Silver, 3 Bronze, 11 total
Russia - 3 Gold, 8 Silver, 3 Bronze, 14 total
France - 2 Gold, 7 Silver, 6 Bronze, 15 total
Great Britain - 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze, 7 total

Appologies that I'm so late posting today, my computer decided to play up for a while!

Wednesday Newswrap

2008-08-13T14:08:00.002+01:00

Top story today is still the Georgian crisis. Despite a ceasefire agreement, violence is said to be flaring up inside Georgia. Earlier in the day, the wires were reporting that Russian tanks were heading towards Tbilisi on the main highway. The tanks apparently turned off and did not proceed towards the Georgian capital. News breaking as I write this is that Russia has shot down 2 Georgian spy drones. Georgia has said it will leave the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) of which Russia is a member. As I'm late posting today, G.W. has just made a strong statement against Russia in the White House rose garden, adding that he will send Secretary of State Condi Rice to France and then onto Georgia where she will "express America's solidarity with the democratic Georgian government". He also said that the US military will lead a humanitarian mission to Georgia. That's somewhat surprising that the military will be leading it rather than the Agency for International Development (USAID). The West are considering expelling Russia from the G-8 according to some reports.

Michael Phelps has won his tenth Gold medal in the Olympics making him the 'greatest ever' Olympian in the modern Olympics 112 year history. Also at the Olympics, China has detained pro-Tibet protesters from Students for a Free Tibet. Other news today, the US has increased sanctions on Iran; 17 have been killed in an explosion in Lebanon; and aid workers have been killed in an attack in Afghanistan.

Sad news, a US army deserter is to be deported from Canada back to the United States. In the US, polls suggest that the Presidential election will be very tight. The New York Times has the story of yet another detainee dying in US hands. Also, how the right plans to use the same tactics to attack Obama as it did Kerry. The World, from PRI and the BBC, has an in-depth article about life in Ukraine. In the UK, the head of the Bank of England has warned of difficult times ahead. The Dalai Lama has wished the Chinese good luck in the Olympics whilst in France.

There have been various rumours about deals being reached in Zimbabwe flying around the internet over the last 24 hours, Le Monde reports. Liberation tells of how Russia is waging a cyber-war against Georgia. Finally, odd news for the day: the Pope has been criticised for a blatant lack of a conscience as he continues to wear fur.

Current Olympic rankings:

China - 17 Gold, 5 Silver, 5 Bronze, 27 total
USA - 10 Gold, 8 Silver, 11 Bronze, 29 total
Korea (South) - 6 Gold, 6 Silver, 1 Bronze, 13 total
Germany - 6 Gold, 1 Silver, 2 Bronze, 9 total
Italy - 4 Gold, 4 Silver, 3 Bronze, 11 total
Australia - 4 Gold, 2 Silver, 6 Bronze, 12 total
Japan - 4 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze, 9 total
Russia - 2 Gold, 7 Silver, 3 Bronze, 12 total
Great Britain - 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 3 Bronze, 7 total
Georgia - 2 Gold, 0 Silver, 1 Bronze, 3 total

Tuesday's Daily Newswrap

2008-08-12T13:33:00.001+01:00

Top story today, of course, is the news that Russia has said it will end its operations in Georgia. In a pathetically over-orchestrated conference shown live on Russian television, Vladimir Putin's puppet Dmitry Medvedev announced the suspension of hostilities not that the "aggressor has been punished". However, the Guardian is reporting that the fighting is still on going despite the words of the Russian President. Meanwhile the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) believes that 100,000 people have been displaced by the South Ossetia conflict. The New York Times has a haunting set of pictures of the conflict that show its human cost.

In China, three security personell have been killed in attack in Xinjiang region. Putin's not the only tyrant in the news today, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that Iran will never give up its nuclear program despite the threat of sanctions. Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said that Israel will leave the West Bank if-and-when the Palestinian Authority retakes Gazza. Twelve people have been killed in the Indian Kashmir region. G.W. has taken aim at polar bears, panthers and other species who get in the way of oil exploration. Bush is planning to weaken the Endangered Species Act, in a move that does not need to be approved by Congress.

In Canada, a new study has found that half of all overweight people may be healthy. The Sidney Morning Herald has spotted a trademark Microsoft glitch during the Beijing opening ceremony. Also during the opening ceremony, the sweet little girl who sang did not. Apparently she mimmed the song because the girl who was really singing was not sweet enough. Finally, odd news for the day: a thief who tried to rob a store in a Winnie-the-Pooh costume has been arressted!

The Olympic current rankings:
1. USA - 7 Gold, 21 total

2. China - 13 Gold, 20 total
3. Korea (South) - 5 Gold, 12 total
4. *JOINT* with 9 total: Italy (3 Gold), Australia (3 Gold), Russia (2 Gold), France (0 Gold)
8. DPR Korea (North) - 1 Gold, 7 total
9. Japan - 3 Gold, 6 total
10. *JOINT* with 4 total: Great Britain (2 Gold), Germany (2 Gold), the Netherlands (1 Gold)