tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-126614902025-02-11T06:44:57.431+11:00Mike Hitchen Online: i On Global TrendsTruth is only dangerous to the dangerous!The award winning, flagship blog of Mike Hitchen Online. Read by government departments, NGOs, and numerous agencies. First published May 2005, the blog has more than 24,000 articles and 500 plus topics including Human Rights, Violence Against Women, Women's Issues,Corruption, Human Trafficking, Child Exploitation,Child Soldiers, Zimbabwe, Iran, Sri Lanka, Middle East, Burma and the tragic ongoing betrayal of Madeleine McCann.Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comBlogger24002125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-59344644415420815082015-05-08T19:56:00.001+10:002015-05-09T13:30:46.571+10:00Time to say goodbyeIn January 2012, I decided it was time to plan ahead. I knew which way I wanted my life to go and had a pretty good idea of the time frame. I made a decision.
On January 05, 2012, I published a post called "May 2015 - the road ahead" announcing my intention to retire from blogging on May 8, 2015 - exactly ten years after the blog was first published.
That day has arrived. It is time to say Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-22703820931217236202015-05-08T19:44:00.002+10:002015-05-08T19:44:36.097+10:00UK: Conservatives close in on victory in UK electionDavid Cameron's Conservatives have defied expectations and are heading towards a slim parliamentary majority, amid a devastating night for the Labour Party and the Liberal Democrats.In Scotland, the nationalist SNP completed a rout, taking 56 of the 59 seats in the region.Al Jazeera's Tim Friend reports.
Exactly ten years after I first published this blog, today is the last day of publication.Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-45346704423752838062015-05-08T13:27:00.003+10:002015-05-08T13:27:43.124+10:00Cambodia: Cambodian Villagers Put Curse on Development Firm, Demand More Compensation
Former Boeung Kak villagers protest outside Shukaku Inc. in Phnom Penh, May 7, 2015. RFA
Copyright © 1998-2014, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. http://www.rfa.org
Cambodian Villagers Put Curse on Development Firm, Demand More Compensation
About 100 villagers and activists from the Boeung Kak community in the
Cambodian capital Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-39628285490278406162015-05-08T13:18:00.001+10:002015-05-08T13:29:12.502+10:00Yemen: What are African countries really doing in Yemen?
Source: ISS
What are African countries really doing in Yemen?
When Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser deployed tens of thousands of troops in Yemen in the mid 1960s for several years to support a nationalist coup modelled on his own, ‘It was a bloody and fruitless experience that historians call “Egypt’s Vietnam,”’ as The New York Times recently wrote.
Will the current Saudi-led militaryMike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-82732028308664171482015-05-08T13:08:00.000+10:002015-05-08T13:10:21.498+10:00Bilateral Relations: Minister wants Iran to supply crude oil, build refinery in Indonesia
Source:IRNA
Kuala Lumpur, May 7, IRNA – Director General of Oil and Gas from Indonesian Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources said on Thursday that Indonesia wants Iran to supply crude oil and build oil refineries in Indonesia.
Gusti Nyoman Wiratmadja said that Indonesia is negotiating with Iran for importing crude oil and building new refineries in Indonesia.
He added that cooperation Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-80106557557867599132015-05-08T12:54:00.000+10:002015-05-08T12:56:12.635+10:00Stirring up the South China Sea (III): A Fleeting Opportunity for CalmSource: International Crisis Group
Stirring up the South China Sea (III): A Fleeting Opportunity for Calm
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The South China Sea is the cockpit of geopolitics in East Asia. Five
countries – Brunei, China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam – plus
Taiwan have substantial and competing territorial and maritime claims in
a body of water that is both an Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-5690176577076582832015-05-08T11:52:00.001+10:002015-05-08T11:52:17.014+10:00Argentina: OPERATION CONDOR: National Security Archive Presents Trove of Declassified Documentation in Historic Trial in ArgentinaThese materials are reproduced from www.nsarchive.org with the permission of the National Security Archive
OPERATION CONDOR: National Security Archive Presents Trove of Declassified Documentation in Historic Trial in Argentina
Documents given to Court Reveal Condor Precedents; Secret Summary of
Inaugural Condor Meeting Introduced into Court for First Time
National Security Archive ElectronicMike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-15207775047377073982015-05-08T11:43:00.000+10:002015-05-08T11:44:16.867+10:00Syria: US Begins Training Syrian Rebels Defense Secretary Ashton Carter says the U.S. has started training moderate Syrian rebels in the Middle East in an effort to strengthen forces fighting Islamic State extremists. VOA Pentagon reporter Carla Babb has more.
Exactly ten years after I first published this blog, today is the last day of publication. I would like to thank Voice of America for the excellent content they have provided Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-81294787072384197972015-05-08T11:37:00.001+10:002015-05-08T11:37:10.791+10:00Terrorism: Cincinnati-Area Man Charged with Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIL U.S. Department of Justice
Office of Public Affairs
A federal grand jury has brought an additional charge against Christopher Lee Cornell, 21, of Green Township, Ohio. In a superseding indictment returned in Cincinnati, he is now also charged with attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. The charge is in addition to the original Jan. 21, 2015, Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-28554515967416637782015-05-08T11:32:00.002+10:002015-05-08T11:32:39.459+10:00South Sudan: UN confirms new influx of displaced persons seeking refuge at Mission base
The Protection of Civilians (POC) site near Bentiu, in Unity State, South Sudan. UN Photo/JC McIlwaine
UN – The number of internally displaced persons seeking refuge with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) has grown to 53,000 following the latest bout of fighting in the African country, a spokesperson for the Organization has confirmed.
The announcement comes just one day Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-68301414340188874042015-05-08T11:25:00.001+10:002015-05-08T11:25:19.489+10:00Nepal: Restoring health, hope and dignity for affected women and girls in post-earthquake NepalSource:
UN Population Fund
KAVRE DISTRICT, Nepal – Dignity cannot be delivered in a kit alone – it is a human right. But dignity kits have gone a long way in alleviating the spirits of Bipana Karki in Mahendra Jyoti village and thousands upon thousands of other displaced women and girls who are being reached by UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, and its partners on the ground. Twenty Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-42019837540464442512015-05-08T11:15:00.001+10:002015-05-08T11:15:34.348+10:00Syria: Whatever happened to Kobani?Photo: IRIN Contributor. Up to 70 percent of Kobani has been destroyed
Source: IRIN
Whatever happened to Kobani?
By Joe Dyke
BEIRUT, 7 May 2015 (IRIN) - Seven months ago, all eyes were on the Syrian town of Kobani as Islamic State militants and local Kurdish forces battled it out to the last fighter. An estimated 400,000 Kurds fled across the border into Turkey. During the 16 weeks since the Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-42056727859034510662015-05-08T11:00:00.000+10:002015-05-08T11:00:51.546+10:00Canada: Ex-Guantanamo Child Soldier FreedSource: Human Rights Watch
Omar Khadr Conditionally Released, Needs Rehabilitation
(Toronto) – The Canadian
court’s release on bail of the former child soldier and Guantanamo
detainee Omar Khadr on May 7, 2015, is a significant step toward ending
his ordeal, which began almost 13 years ago, Human Rights Watch said
today. The Canadian government should rehabilitate Khadr as it is
Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-29607153702046008622015-05-07T19:55:00.001+10:002015-05-07T19:55:10.291+10:00Russia: Putin's 15 years: A presidential retrospective Fifteen years ago when Vladimir Putin came to power, Russia was in a dire state. He had a tough job to put it back on track. His supporters say he all but succeeded, although many remain critical of his methods. Murad Gazdiev looks back at the challenges Putin faced.
Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-33205022311492369202015-05-07T19:48:00.002+10:002015-05-07T19:48:43.053+10:00Myanmar: Villagers Voice Opposition to Coal-Fired Power Plant in Western MyanmarCopyright © 1998-2014, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. http://www.rfa.org.
Villagers Voice Opposition to Coal-Fired Power Plant in Western Myanmar
Hundreds of residents from a township in western Myanmar expressed their
opposition to a Korean coal-fired power plant when they met on
Wednesday with officials from companies Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-45889936677497127052015-05-07T19:44:00.001+10:002015-05-07T19:44:07.984+10:00South Africa: Sticks and stones for xenophobes, words for politicians
Source: ISS
Sticks and stones for xenophobes, words for politicians
Speech matters: although perhaps not to the government ministers who don’t seem to fully understand the fall-out of the comments they make. Recently the South African Minister of Social Development, Bathabile Dlamini, visited a camp in Isipingo, close to Durban, for those displaced in the xenophobic violence. Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-44735615712697261192015-05-07T19:35:00.003+10:002015-05-07T19:35:55.219+10:00Social Media: Are hashtags for human rights hot air, or a powerful tool for change?IFEX
Are hashtags for human rights hot air, or a powerful tool for change?
The once-forgotten keyboard symbol is changing our cultural landscape, playing a major role in significant historical events and featuring prominently in the world of campaigning and free speech
Katie Moffat
5 May 2015
The birth of an icon
The social media hashtag was born in August 2007, first proposed Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-82002474400594028782015-05-07T19:17:00.001+10:002015-05-07T19:17:26.019+10:00Congo: Is Democratic Change Possible?
Ruling party PPRD victory rally in Kinshasa following Joseph Kabila's re-election, 28 November 2011. Colin Delfosse
Source: International Crisis Group
Congo: Is Democratic Change Possible?
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONSThe presidential and legislative polls scheduled for 2016 are a potential watershed for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); they could be the first elections Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-8838878028134827082015-05-07T13:53:00.001+10:002015-05-07T13:53:21.794+10:00Armenia: Doubts Abound on Anti-Corruption InitiativeOriginally published by EurasiaNet.org
Armenia: Doubts Abound on Anti-Corruption Initiative
by Marianna Grigoryan EurasiaNet.org
The Armenian government is pressing ahead with a new effort to
contain corruption. But some critics question the integrity of those in
charge of the initiative, citing possible conflicts of interest.
Armenia’s cabinet decided to revamp a state Anti-Corruption Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-59689428646359318852015-05-07T13:49:00.000+10:002015-05-07T13:49:20.057+10:00Nigeria: Small Steps to Normalcy for Boko Haram Kidnap Victims After their rescue from a Boko Haram stronghold in northeast Nigeria, nearly 300 women, girls and children are starting the long road back to normalcy. VOA's Chris Stein reports.
Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-70695349804402504002015-05-07T13:43:00.003+10:002015-05-07T13:43:44.779+10:00Corruption: Former Vice President and Seven Others Charged in Scheme to Defraud Beer Company of More Than $7 Million U.S. Attorney’s Office
Northern District of Illinois
CHICAGO—A former Vice-President of a brewing company was charged in a twenty count indictment yesterday along with seven co-defendants, as a result of an alleged scheme to defraud the company of at least $7 million by submitting false estimates and invoices that billed for fictitious promotional and marketing events. DAVID COLLETTI, 58, Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-39685086149228927422015-05-07T13:36:00.001+10:002015-05-07T13:36:26.530+10:00IDPs: World’s forcibly displaced hit record 38 million, prompting UN appeal for ‘all-out effort’ for peace
Iraqis displaced from Ramadi District in Anbar Governorate. Photo: UN Iraq
UN - By the end of 2014, a record-breaking 38 million people had been forced to flee their homes within their own country because of conflict or violence, prompting the United Nations refugee agency to appeal today for “an all-out effort to bring about peace in war-ravaged countries.”
The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRCMike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-55180488164671691252015-05-07T13:30:00.000+10:002015-05-07T13:30:02.869+10:00Syria: 169 Civilians including 42 Children and 30 Women have been Killed by the International Collation Forces Source:
Syrian Network for Human Rights
169 Civilians including 42 Children and 30 Women have been Killed by the International Collation Forces
Documenting the targeting of Ber Mahli village in Aleppo suburbs where 64 civilians were killed
First: Geographic Location and Military Control
Ber Mahli village is located about 10 kilometers east of Sirrean
town, and 35 kilometers away from Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-82161196913025242942015-05-07T12:05:00.001+10:002015-05-07T12:05:25.871+10:00Yemen: Fuel shortage leads to Yemen hospital shutdowns
Photo: Almigdad Mojalli/IRIN An injured child at the Yareem Hospital in the city of Ibb
Source: IRIN
Fuel shortage leads to Yemen hospital shutdowns
By Almigdad Mojalli
SANA'A, 5 May 2015 (IRIN) - For a doctor in the middle of a warzone, Hamoud al-Jehafi has spent very little time in recent days dealing with patients. The head of Yareem Public Hospital in the central Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12661490.post-57564233681782345652015-05-07T11:45:00.000+10:002015-05-07T11:45:50.091+10:00Africa: Kerry’s Lost Opportunity in Mogadishu Source: Human Rights Watch
Dispatches: Kerry’s Lost Opportunity in Mogadishu
Maria Burnett
Yesterday, United States Secretary of State John Kerry made an unprecedented move for someone serving in his position – he spent three hours in Mogadishu, Somalia. Unfortunately, despite goodwill and an important meeting with some civil society leaders, he missed a critical opportunity to publicly Mike Hitchenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04941415634345652481noreply@blogger.com