Category: International

British Parliament Debates Murdoch’s News Corp

Submitted by Mark Esposito, Guest Blogger

We’ve been following the growing worldwide scandal of  phone hacking of  the families of victims of terror and lost servicemen by the British tabloid, News of The World. The 186 year-old British weekly  publication shut down earlier this month amid cries for a full investigation into sensationalist journalism that apparently relied on listening in to voice mails of the victims. British PM David Cameron has recalled Parliament into extraordinary session to debate the phone hacking scandal engendered by Rupert Murdoch’s media empire. Murdoch, his son, James, and officials from NOW’s parent company, News Corp, have appeared before Parliament Select Committees amid torrents of popular protest to answer questions about upper management’s role. To date, Murdoch and his lieutenants have denied any prior knowledge of the methods used to fuel the gotcha’ stories. Calls are now being heard for PM Cameron’s resignation and that of Murdoch himself who has denied any  wrongdoing.

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Au Revoir: The Turleys Invade France

In a few hours, the Turleys will start our conquest of France. As previously announced, we are taking the kids on their first international trip for three weeks in France. We will be roughly a week in the Bordeaux region, a week in the Normandy region, and a week in Paris. Our guest bloggers have agreed to help with postings during this period, though I hope to continue to file occasional stories (including travel blogs) during this period — assuming that I can maintain both sobriety and a signal long enough to post.
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Report: Assassin of Hamid Karzai’s Brother Was Trusted CIA Operative

News reports indicate that the bodyguard who assassinated President Hamid Karzai’s brother was a trusted CIA operative and worked closely with US Special Forces. He also appears to have been an undercover operative for the Taliban. Sardar Mohammad shot Ahmed Wali Karzai at his home in Kandahar City on Tuesday. He has two brothers-in-law serving in a CIA-run paramilitary unit, the Kandahar Strike Force.
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Be Careful What You Wish For…

 

Submitted By: Mike Spindell, Guest Blogger

When my NY Times headline feed came in today the headline and then to this article stood out:

 Egypt Military Aims to Cement Muscular Role in Government

 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/17/world/middleeast/17egypt.html?_r=1&nl=todaysheadlines&emc=tha2

Reading it, I thought of the euphoria that we felt when Hosni Mubarak left, overthrown by the bravery of the Egyptian people as they had fought and protested for a more democratic way of life. How stirring the unfolding story was of Muslim Peoples beginning to rise up and overthrow the tyranny they under which they lived. The tipping point in Mubarak’s ouster was the support of the powerful Egyptian Military, who promised a civilian authored constitution and democratic reforms. Knowing Egyptian history for the last 60 years or so did little to damp my enthusiasm, despite the fact that every regime change came about by military coup/intervention. Afterwards, like many of us Egypt passed out of my thoughts as other issues came to the fore. Then this story drew me back to the experiences of my life and the stream of disappointments that followed every seemingly triumphant political moment I’ve lived through. Continue reading “Be Careful What You Wish For…”

Iranian Christian Told By Supreme Court To Renounce Faith Or Face Punishment

When I saw this story on Reddit, I had a hopeful moment. It said Iran’s Supreme Court had actually annulled the death sentence of Yousef Nadarkhani, who was arrested in 2009 and given the death sentence late last year for apostasy. However, it turns out the evangelical pastor has simply been sent back to the trial court to be given a chance to “repent” and renounce Christianity.
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Saudi Cleric: Islam Has No Minimum Age For Marriage

In this video, Saudi Cleric Muhammad Al-‘Arifi answers the question of whether there is a minimum age for marriage. He concludes that there is not — noting that Muhammad married Aisha when she was seven and consummated the marriage at nine because she was “ready.” Accordingly, it is perfectly ok for some girls to be married off at an age when they could not even get on some amusement rides at Disneyland due to their age.
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Driver Succeeds In Effort To Wear Pasta Strainer On License As Pastafarian

If this driver’s license appears a bit odd, it may be due to the fact that Niko Alm is wearing a pasta strainer. An atheist, Alm claimed that the pasta strainer was religious headgear as a pastafarian and member of the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. It is not clear if he listed his weight as al dente.
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Israeli Court Refuses To Charge Police In Shooting Of 10-Year-Old Palestinian Girl in 2007 Because Too Much Time Has Passed

In a controversial decision, Israel’s High Court has ruled that Israeli policemen will not face trial in the shooting of a 10-year-old Palestinian schoolgirl Abir Aramin in 2007 because it feels too much time has passed. An earlier court found that there was “no debate” that Abir was shoot by border guards. Yet, her family will not receive a trial — or a hope for justice in the case.

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Putinodox Faith: Russian Official Proclaims That Putin Was Sent By God

It appears that Vladimir Putin is not just an action hero but an actual gift of God. First deputy administration chief Vladislav Surkov set a new standard for sycophants and lickspittles everywhere by announcing that Putin was sent here by God to lead the Russian people. Wow, I thought he was just sent by Marvel.

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Icelandic Town Discovers Source of Construction Problems — Angry Elves

The town officials of Bolungarvik have been plagued by construction delays and accidents in their effort to complete a tunnel and an avalanche barrier. Local citizens believe the problems are the work of angry elves and have begun singing songs and offering prayers to appease them.

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Lone Star State: Perry Refuses To Stop Execution Of Mexican Citizen Despite Treaty Violation

Many people thought it was a bit odd when Governor Rick Perry indicated that he might run for President of the United States after previously suggesting that Texas may want to secede from the United States. Perry seems not only want to be the John C. Calhoun of presidential aspirants, but he has also decided to add the violation of international law and treaties as a resume booster. Over the objections of President Obama and a host of leading international figures, Perry has refused to stop the execution of of Humberto Leal Garcia — a Mexican national denied his rights under the Vienna Convention.

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Report: Russian Anti-Corruption Lawyer Beaten To Death By Eight Guards in “Sailor’s Silence” Prison

A leading Russian anti-corruption lawyer, Sergei Magnitsky died recently in custody. It was immediately called suspicious and now there is a report that eight guards who beat him while handcuffed in a small cell. The guards reportedly forced an ambulance to wait as they beat him to death.

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India Health Minister Denounces Homosexuality as “Unnatural Disease” At AIDS Conference

Indian Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad shocked the world community at an AIDS conference by describing homosexuality as an “unnatural disease” spreading around the world at an alarming rate. In the world’s least surprising revelation, Azad informed the crowd “There is a substantial number of men having sex with men in our country.”
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