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Twilight' Stars To Join Us Live From Comic-Con!

2011-07-20T10:07:00.001+06:00

MTV News kicks off three days of live streams from San Diego with Thursday's one-hour 'Breaking Dawn' special on MTV.com.

It's that time of year again, when vampires and werewolves, witches and wizards, storm troopers and Spider-Men descend on San Diego for Comic-Con International, the annual pop-culture convention that draws celebrities, movie studios, comic book publishers and all their fans to one place for four jam-packed days of panels, premieres and parties.

As always, MTV News will be in the midst of all the action. This year, we are proud to announce that we will be presenting "MTV News: Comic-Con Takeover," three live-stream broadcasts on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 6 p.m. ET/ 3 p.m. PT.
The first of our three live Comic-Con-themed shows is a veritable feast for all the "Twilight" fans out there. We're kicking off our coverage in a big way Thursday with an entire hour dedicated to "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn." Mark your calendars and set your phone alerts to remind you to tune into MTV.com at 6 p.m. ET/ 3 p.m. PT for a smorgasbord of "Twilight" goodness that includes exclusive interviews with the film's superstar cast and filmmakers, news from the "Breaking Dawn" panel and other tidbits associated with the film's Comic-Con events.
And that's just Thursday. Friday and Saturday's live broadcasts promise to be just as enticing as our "Breaking Dawn"-themed hour. Expect to see your favorite stars and filmmakers stopping by our studio to chat about the biggest and most buzz-worthy films and TV shows heading to theaters and television sets near you.

US backs Syria reform plan leaving Assad in place

2011-07-01T17:52:00.001+06:00

A U.S.-backed "road map" for political reforms in Syria would transform the regime of Bashar al-Assad but leave him in place, a British newspaper reported Thursday.

The opposition plan was put forth despite Syrian protesters' demands for Assad's overthrow after three months of a bloody uprising, The Guardian said, citing unidentified sources. Details emerged as Assad's forces continued to fan out near the Turkish border.
The unpublished draft document calls for Assad to lead "a secure and peaceful transition to civil democracy."
The Syrian Authority would give up a large part of its control it now exercises through security and authoritarian service, popular organizations and Baath Party institutions, media and others, the document says.

AFP - Getty Images

Syria's President Bashar al-Assad, shown addressing the nation June 20 from Damascus University, would stay in power under a U.S. road map for peace.

msnbc.com staff and news service reports

"The first step on this path involves building confidence between the Authority and the people to bridge the gap between them, not in blood and destruction, but through the establishment of safe and secure bridges that cannot be demolished in future," it says.
Story: Syria tank assault kills 11 near Turkey border Rights campaigners say Assad's troops, security forces and gunmen have killed over 1,300 civilians since the uprising for political freedom erupted in the southern Hauran Plain in March, including over 150 people killed in a scorched earth campaign against towns and villages in Idlib.
They say scores of troops and police were also killed for refusing to fire on civilians. Syrian authorities say more than 500 soldiers and police died in clashes with "armed terrorist groups," whom they also blame for most civilian deaths.

Bahrain to citizens living abroad: Spy on countrymen, no protests permitted

2011-07-01T17:42:00.001+06:00

LONDON — Bahrainis living abroad have been ordered to spy on their countrymen in the wake of a deadly crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators.

Documents containing "loyalty pledges" — which also require expats to promise they will not protest against the tiny Gulf state's government — have been sent to students attending university in the U.K.
Some Bahrainis told msnbc.com that they feel abandoned by Western leaders in the face of an alleged campaign of intimidation that extends far beyond the country's borders.
At least 31 people have been killed during anti-government unrest in Bahrain since February amid demands for political freedoms and greater rights.

Bahrainis who receive funding to study abroad have been ordered to sign the pledges, which instruct expats to inform on fellow citizens.
"In the event that other students are not fulfilling their loyalty … it is my responsibility and duty to report them," one document obtained by msnbc.com reads.

Recipients of the memo also must vow not to compromise Bahrain's reputation "through the use of social media, public demonstrations or any other manner."

'Embracing tyrants'

'Embracing tyrants' Abdul, a student who is now based in the U.K., cited the pledges as an example of the kingdom's attempts to intimidate its citizens — even those living thousands of miles away from their homeland. He said many students feared that their scholarships will be axed if they don't comply.
Abdul, who asked that his real name not be used to protect family members who are still in Bahrain, said he is angry at the U.S. and Britain for not doing more to help his country's pro-democracy movement .
"We see them embracing tyrants," Abdul told msnbc.com. "They actually invite people from the Bahraini government to come and visit. In effect, we feel that even here we are not safe."
The families of some expats who were pictured at a pro-democracy protest in England were harassed, some Bahrainis alleged.
Story: Did Twitter, Facebook really build a revolution? An estimated 5 percent of the kingdom's workforce has been fired or suspended for taking part in protests, according to the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights. The kingdom has a population of around 525,000.
Bahrain has long been a reliable Western ally in the Persian Gulf.
Many members of Bahrain's elite studied in the U.K. King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa attended the University of Cambridge and trained with the British army.

Wedding invitation Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, who received degrees from Washington's American University and Cambridge, was on the guest list for Prince William's wedding to Catherine Middleton in April. He declined to attend but the fact he was invited despite the bloody crackdown sparked controversy in the U.K. The crown prince also met with President Barack Obama at the White House in June.
Hundreds of thousands of mostly Shiite Bahrainis took to the streets in February to demand an end the Sunni minority's hold on power. The country's Shiites, who make up around 70 percent of the population, complain of pervasive discrimination and say they are barred from top jobs in the government, army and police.
Centered on the iconic Pearl Roundabout in the capital Manama, the protests were initially peaceful.
But with the help of Saudi Arabia and other neighbors, the Sunni-led government later launched a crackdown. They used live rounds to quell demonstrations, demolished an encampment and rounded up opposition party members.

Milwaukee lays off 354 teachers

2011-06-30T15:21:00.001+06:00

(CNN) -- In a budget-cutting move likely to be echoed around the country, Milwaukee Public Schools said Wednesday it will lay off 519 staff members -- including 354 teachers -- because of $84 million in state cuts and the system's efforts to control costs.
Superintendent Gregory Thornton also said schools will likely see larger class sizes and the continued use of older textbooks. The state budget cut means $200 less per child, officials said.
The layoffs are effective Friday, the beginning of the third quarter, when cash-strapped state and local governments are forecast to shed up to 110,000 jobs, according to IHS Global Insight.
Thornton said he was "extremely troubled" that most of the affected teachers are in elementary schools.
"Children are being caught in the middle," Thornton told reporters. "They deserve better."
Anticipating the state cuts and the end to about $100 million in federal stimulus funding, the district's own budget cut school summer options and froze all "noncritical" building maintenance, Milwaukee Public Schools said on its website. Besides the 519 layoffs, the system will not fill about 500 open positions.
At a news conference, Thornton repeated his call for members of the the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association to contribute 5.8% annually to their pensions.
The union did not return a message left by CNN Wednesday evening.
Gov. Scott Walker on Sunday signed a two-year state budget that slashes spending to local schools. The state's highest court earlier this month reinstated a bitterly contested law, pushed by Walker, that restricts collective bargaining for state workers.
Milwaukee Public Schools, which has about 82,000 students, has made $182 million in budget cuts, said communications director Roseann St. Aubin. It also closed schools, with the number going from 184 to 175.
About 71% of the system's budget goes for salaries and benefits, St. Aubin told CNN.
Several unions representing school employees agreed to pension concessions, the spokeswoman said, but teachers, who have a contract through 2013, have not formally responded. If 5,600 members were to contribute 5.8% to their pensions, the district said it would have enough to pay 200 teachers.
St. Aubin described Milwaukee at the "tipping point" in its financial support for schools. The schools want a dialogue with citizens, potential donors and supporters, St. Aubin said.
"We're going to become a smarter, more efficient district," she said.
The outlook looks grim even past the upcoming school year. The state budget calls for cuts in 2012-2013 and Milwaukee schools have projected a $30 million deficit that year, according to St. Aubin.
Though tax revenue is starting to rise, states continue wrestling with multibillion-dollar budget gaps. Federal stimulus funds helped minimize job cuts until now, but that money essentially runs out on June 30. Property tax assessments have plunged in many areas.
So states are planning to slash funds for education, social services and local governments, as well as downsize their payrolls even more in the coming fiscal year.
Teachers and school staff will bear the brunt of the layoffs this summer, as tens of thousands will likely be laid off around the nation. The national job numbers should reflect the hit in July and September.
In April, the Detroit Public Schools district sent layoff notices to all its 5,714 teachers, saying it must determine its staffing needs amid a drop in enrollment.

A $66 billion budget approved Wednesday by the New York City Council prevented 4,000 teacher layoffs. As part of the deal, 2,600 retiring teachers will not be replaced. Opponents say that will lead to bigger class sizes, according to CNN affiliate NY1.

From CNN news .

Greece prepares to slash budget after confidence vote

2011-06-22T18:21:00.001+06:00

Athens, Greece (CNN) -- Greece is set to press ahead with new taxes, public-sector job cuts and the sale of everything from airports to gaming licenses after Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou narrowly survived a confidence vote early Wednesday.

Papandreou is planning to cut 150,000 government jobs, slash the salaries of those who keep their posts, and slap new taxes on property, yachts and swimming pools.

He's trying to win confidence from international lenders in order to get a second bailout package to keep the government from defaulting on debts.

But the austerity package is very unpopular. Weeks of protests forced Papandreou to shuffle his cabinet last week, leading to the confidence vote, which he won 155-143.

From cnn news full news here