World News Post: Jun 4, 2011

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Four NATO soldiers killed in an attack in eastern Afghanistan

Kabul. .- Four soldiers from the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF) were killed Saturday by a bomb explosion in eastern Central Asian country, according to the international coalition without giving further details. At least 220 foreign soldiers have died in Afghanistan in 2011.

Of these, 57 were killed in May, the month of the year with the highest number of fatalities among the ranks of the coalition.

At least 53 civilians were killed Friday in a new crackdown in Syria

At least 53 civilians were shot dead by security forces in Syria, of which 48 died in the city of Hama, where demonstrations yesterday lived thousands of people against the Assad regime, according to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights . While other sources put the fatalities in more than 60 or even increase the total to more than 80 people killed by gunfire from security forces Asad regime.

Taiwan President calls for release of Liu Xiaobo and Ai Weiwei

Taipei. .- The Taiwanese president, Ma Ying-jeou called on China today, in the 22 anniversary of the massacre in Tiananmen, to release the Nobel Peace Prize Liu Xiaobo, the artist Ai Weiwei and other dissidents as part of a commitment to country's political reform. The early release of Liu Xiaobo, who is serving a sentence of 11 years, and Ai Weiwei, who disappeared after his arrest on April 3, would help improve China's international image and "reduce the psychological distance" with Taiwan, Ma said "The first step towards political reform is to treat dissenters with leniency and appreciate their social contribution," he said in a statement.

24 dead after attacks on a mosque and a hospital in Tikrit

At least 24 people have died and 75 were injured following a series of bomb attacks on Friday against a mosque and a hospital in Tikrit, former stronghold of Saddam Hussein located 160 km north of Baghdad, hospital officials said. A bomb hidden in a can of petrol exploded shortly after the end of Friday prayers at the entrance of a mosque in the center before a suicide activate her explosives belt in the early afternoon at a hospital who had been transferred numerous injuries.

CANADA - Bixi back in the saddle

The City Council of the City of Montreal has agreed May 17 to come to the rescue Society Bike service (SVLS), which offers Bixi. The city will invest 108 million Canadian dollars (about 78 million euros) to participate in the development of this company based in the capital of the province of Quebec.

"This will enable the company to continue to develop its activities in the city, but across the country and abroad," the Gazette. SVLS, which has been awarded contracts include installation of a bike in Boston and London, is in the running to win a contract in New York. But she needed financial assistance in order to achieve growth.

U.S. kills a possible successor to bin Laden in Pakistan

London. .- The Ilyas Kashmiri militant leader, one of the possible candidates to succeed the late Osama bin Laden in front of the international terrorist network Al Qaeda, died this last night during the attack by an unmanned U.S. in the region South Waziristan, according to local reports collected by the BBC.

Kashmiri, leader of the Islamic Struggle Movement - Harkat ul Jihad al Islami HuJI - and alleged mastermind of attacks like the Marriott hotel attack in Islamabad in 2008, which killed 54 people, would be among the nine died during the air assault made last night on the town of Laman, as such information has not been confirmed by official sources.

Pakistan (geolocation) Pakistan (homepage) Pakistan (wikipedia) Osama bin Laden (wikipedia) Frost over the World - Benazir Bhutto - 02 Nov 07 (youtube)

Fukushima recorded the highest level of radioactivity detected so far

TEPCO, which operates the nuclear power plant in Fukushima, radiation has been detected up to 4,000 millisievert per hour in the reactor building 1, which would be the highest level so far confirmed the air of the plant, Kyodo news agency reported today. The measurement was made yesterday, Friday, through a robot sent into the reactor unit 1, detailing sources of Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO).

United States - Obama prepared to speak on the Arab Spring

"Six months after the beginning of the Arab spring, the president of the United States, Barack Obama, still looking for how to bridge the historic transformations underway in the region and the stalled Israeli-Palestinian remained stalled. L opportunity now presents itself for him to redefine the debate.

On Thursday 19 May, he will deliver a speech on the Middle East at the State Department, "New York Times rapporteThe. The exercise proved very dangerous. The White House does not seem likely to revive the stalled Israeli-Palestinian conflict, says New York daily. Especially that the Arab Spring has exacerbated the tension between the two camps.

The prime minister and three counts of the Yemeni government, hospitalized in Saudi Arabia

Taiz. .- Yemeni Prime Minister Ali Mohamed al Muyawar has been transferred to Saudi Arabia, along with three more responsible, for treatment of injuries sustained in the attack yesterday, Efe reported an official source. Muyawar flew to the Saudi kingdom with the president of the Upper House of Parliament, Yehia Al Rai, said a senior source in the Yemeni government, who requested anonymity.

Were also transferred to the Deputy Minister of Defence Affairs and Security, Rashad al Alemi, and Deputy Secretary of the ruling General Popular Congress Party, Sadeq Amin Abu Ras. The four were injured in yesterday's attack against the presidential compound in Sanaa, causing minor injuries to the head the head of state, Ali Abdullah Saleh.

Edwards: lifelong regret my infidelity, but I have not broken the law

Former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards denied having used money from his campaign for the White House in 2008 to conceal an extramarital affair and pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance laws and accepting illegal contributions. "I accept full responsibility for wrongdoing and regret the rest of my life, but broke the law and never thought I was breaking the law," Edwards said nothing Friday to plead not guilty in a court of North Carolina.

SYRIA-LEBANON - Fleeing the minions of the regime in Damascus

The flood of refugees into northern Syria Lebanon continues to swell. They recount the horror of the repression in their country and fled. A report in the Beirut daily L'Orient-Le Jour.

A score of Spanish come out of Yemen in the first stage of evacuation

Oviedo. Spanish .- A dozen, mostly embassy workers in Yemen leave the country in the first phase of implementation escape the escalation of what has been seen in recent days. This has been reported the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Trinidad Jimenez, after inaugurating the XVI Forum Spain-United States held today in Oviedo.

According to the Foreign Minister, in a first phase would be willing to leave the country a score of Spanish, including embassy staff and aid workers, mainly. Jimenez has said that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and decided yesterday that it had to activate the pre-evacuation phase of Yemen in coordination with European partners and that gives them "peace of mind" that the EU has decided today to put in place the mechanisms to carry out this operation.

Saleh accuses the tribal forces of being responsible for the attack on his palace

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, claimed revenge in an audiotape broadcast on state television against tribal opposition leader Sadeq al-Ahmar and his brothers, whom he accused of assault committed against him on Friday. Saleh, who promised to eliminate "bands" of al-Ahmar, was slightly wounded in the back of the head by shrapnel from a missile that hit a mosque in the presidential compound in Sanaa, according to one of his aides.

UNITED STATES - DSK charged with sexual assault

Accused of attempted rape and sexual assault by an employee of a hotel in New York, Dominique Strauss-Kahn was arrested May 14 while he was aboard a plane about to depart for Paris . At the first hearing at which DSK has been informed of the charges against him, the prosecution explained that the owner of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had sexually assaulted the maid, he had tried to rape and forced her to perform fellatio.

Born in Malaysia, the obedient women's club

A group of Malaysian women has taken the initiative at issue in his country: to create the Women's Club Compliant. "Their goal is to teach Muslim women of this country in Southeast Asia to satisfy their husbands," said one of its founders, Maznah Taufik. The initiative certainly will not leave anyone indifferent.

Its precursor, is known to promote controversial projects. In 2009 he founded the Ikhwan Polygamy Club, in order to promote this family system, as far as Malaysian law allows Muslims to marry up to four wives. Behind this idea, as well as the launch of Women's Club Compliant and includes some members of the former World Ikhwan Association, an organization founded by former members of the banned radical Islamic group Al Arqam.

The UN report that repression of Asad has left over 1,000 dead in Syria

The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki-moon is "alarmed" by the escalation of violence by the Syrian government protesters. The agency says the crackdown has left more than a thousand dead, confirming the figure that drove the opposition to the regime of Bashar Assad. "The secretary general is alarmed by the escalation of violence in Syria, which have left at least 70 people just last week, bringing the total balance since mid-March to more than 1,000 people, being also many wounded.

CANNES 2011 - Exercise of cinema verite with dancers Cairenes

It took forty years before, like Acadia, Acadia Pierre Perrault and Michel Brault and Must go among the world's knowledge Fernand Dansereau, a Quebec documentary is carving a special place the heart of one of the biggest film events. The 64th Cannes Film Festival May 18 initiates a new tradition: to pay tribute to a homeland film (this year it was Egypt that was chosen).

No doubt, the Quebec documentary devoted to Egypt: At night, they dance, not go unnoticed. The film by Isabelle Lavigne and Stéphane Thibault, features a former dancer, Reda, whose three daughters, Amira, Hind and Bossy, earn their living by dancing at weddings, under the disapproving eye of locals.

Japanese government spokesman says the prime minister resign before year's end

Tokyo. .- The Japanese government spokesman ruled today that the Prime Minister, Naoto Kan, go to stay in power until next year and said he will retire in the near future, public broadcaster NHK reported. In remarks carried by the channel, the minister spokesman Yukio Edan, said the president has no intention of staying in office for a long time, contrary to what many local media had speculated.

Five Islamist militants killed in Pakistan by a U.S. missile

Five Islamist rebels have been killed Friday by a U.S. missile in a tribal area in northwestern Pakistan near the Afghan border, as announced by the security forces. The blow struck by the 'drone' U.S. has dropped three missiles had targeted a "building of militant Islamists and killed five of them around Ghwakhwa, 10 kilometers west of Wana, the region that manages the tribal area of South Waziristan, has stated on a senior Pakistani security.

Pakistan (geolocation) Pakistan (homepage) Pakistan (wikipedia)

FRANCE - No, Strauss-Kahn is not the victim!

The presumption of innocence is a fundamental principle in court, provided that it serves precisely to let justice take action, submit evidence, hear witnesses. When he brandished in juxtaposing words like "incredible", "stunt", "conspiracy" is already beyond the description of the facts. When, moreover, faced a charge of sexual assault, it evokes the temperament "libertine", "seductive", "hot rabbit" of the accused, it is as if the decision had already passed.

The polls give a slight advantage over Humala Keiko Fujimori in Peru

Lima. .- A new poll of voting intentions known today in Peru gives a very slight advantage of 1.2 percentage points over Ollanta Humala Keiko Fujimori, while still remaining within the error margins equivalent to a draw. The poll, commissioned by the company to a private customer Datum and filtered some media (for the public dissemination of polls is banned in Peru for 5 days) notes that in mock vote, Keiko Fujimori obtained 50.6 per % of support compared to 49.4% of Ollanta Humala.

Tunisia denies having recovered the bodies of drowned immigrants

Tunisian Maritime Guard, responsible for relief operations along its coasts, has denied Friday rescuing the bodies of migrants missing Thursday after shipwrecked. With this, contradict statements by the local Red Crescent and the UN. "We have recovered only two bodies of yesterday" and "we have suspended search operations due to bad weather," said Friday the Maritime Guard director, Lotfi Baili.

Eight Cuban dissidents arrested as they headed to a meeting of dissidents

Madrid .- At least eight people have been arrested as part of an operation of the forces of the Cuban regime against the opposition. The detainees were headed to the home of dissident Jorge Luis García Pérez (Antúnez) at the time of being apprehended by law enforcement. The leader of Young Cubans for Democracy, Lira Heriberto Romero, Europa Press reported that at the home of Antúnez-in Placetas, Villa Clara province were already twelve opponents who sought to organize a protest march along the island, among other activities of the resistance front.

Died Jack Kevorkian: Dr. Death

Jack Kevorkian, American physician known as 'Dr Death' for his staunch defense of euthanasia and have helped 130 people commit suicide, as acknowledged by himself, died today at 83 years of age. A spokesman for Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan, where the pathologist was admitted due to pneumonia and a kidney ailment, on Friday confirmed his death to the media.

Kevorkian became famous in the 90's when he was repeatedly accused of murder for helping some terminally ill patients end their lives. To meet the people who wanted to die developed an apparatus, which was called the 'suicide machine', which allowed a patient injected himself a lethal dose of potassium chloride.

UK-IRELAND - A historic visit

The visit of the Queen of England "heralds a new era" between the two countries, estimeThe Independent. The newspaper reported the remarks of officials who hope that this trip will be an opportunity to accelerate the development of a "new and better relationship between the British and Irish, based on mutual respect." So it's writing a new page in the long history between the two countries.

The Independent recalled the "tragic and troubled relationship" between London and Dublin and the special nature of this visit to be a witness "progress driven, and those who remain to achieve." The paper says, however, that the Anglo-Irish relationship will never be "normal cloudless. The Guardianrappelle the last British monarch to have visited Ireland was George V, grandfather of Elizabeth II in 1911.

Found dead tycoon Sammy Ofer Israeli

Tel Aviv (Reuters) The Israeli shipping magnate Sammy Ofer has been found dead Friday in his home, said Friday the Israel TV Channel 10. Ofer Brothers Group is in the midst of a scandal over its dealings with Iran. Sammy Ofer, 89, was one of the richest men in Israel. Channel 10 gave no details of the death and police have not made any official announcement.

U.S. sanctions imposed last month against the Ofer Brothers Group, accusing him of selling oil tankers to Iran, the main enemy of Israel. Sammy Ofer and his brother Yuli, co-owner of the company have denied any wrongdoing. This sale will jump the international sanctions against the sale and purchase of certain goods to Iran.

At least 17 dead and 55 wounded in an attack on a mosque in Iraq

At least 21 people were killed Friday and 74 others were injured by the explosion of a device near a mosque in Tikrit, 190 kilometers north of Baghdad, police sources in that locality. The sources, who earlier had reported five dead and 30 wounded, said a loud explosion occurred when the faithful were leaving the temple, in central Tikrit, after making the Friday Muslim prayer.

Among the wounded were Iraqi soldiers and police officers and two members of Provincial Council. Soon after, the security forces strengthened their presence in the area of the explosion to prevent further attacks. This attack comes a day after ten people were killed and twenty others were injured in an attack Quad Ramadi, 110 kilometers west of the capital.

GERMANY - The age of nuclear power plants again denounced

In one, the Berlin daily the alternative left refers to "old buildings about to collapse." May 17, Norbert Röttgen, Minister of the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of Germany, has in a press conference said that seven of the oldest nuclear reactors were not in a state to withstand an airplane crash.

This statement is widely reproduced and commented in the German press this morning. The disaster has forced Japanese Fukushima Berlin to examine the reliability of its reactors.

The Portuguese will vote Sunday on the social cuts

Lisbon (Writing / Agencies) - Portugal held an early election Sunday that could end months of political turmoil and economic, after which the new government will have to implement the tough measures in the rescue of 78,000 million euros it has received the country. The opposition center-right Social Democratic Party (PSD) is the most voted, according to the polls, but may need a coalition to take power and fill the void left in March, the fall of the socialist government, which had no majority, Reuters reports.

Japan has recorded more than 500 earthquakes of magnitude 5 since March 11

More than 500 earthquakes with an intensity of upper 5 on the Richter scale have shaken Japan from the quake which hit 9 degrees east of the country on 11 March, announced today the Japan Meteorological Agency. Since then there have also been recorded 81 aftershocks with intensity greater than 6 on the scale and 5 replicates cited above 7, has secured an agency spokesman.

Also on 11 March 158 replies were more than 5 degrees, close to the magnitude of the earthquake that struck on May 11 the town of Lorca (Spain and caused nine deaths, three hundred injured and thousands homeless. The Agency Japan Meteorological said that the chances of that in Japan creates new replicas over 7 degrees are becoming smaller.

JAPAN - Revelations about the crisis of Fukushima Daiichi

The power company TEPCO has finally acknowledged that the fuel rods from the reactor number 1 had melted only half past five after the tsunami. And evidence from sources internal TEPCO but not yet formalized, indicate that the reactors 2 and 3 also have shrunk the number 3 had even collapsed in his cell.

"This calls into question the crisis management of the operator, who was reluctant to use seawater to cool the reactors," estimel'Asahi Shimbun. TEPCO had previously stated that only 55% of the fuel a single reactor were damaged, but he admits now that the heart of No. 1 engine had finally melted away to form the corium, which implies a sharp deterioration in the jar this melt.

Mladic appear today before the Hague Tribunal for genocide and war crimes

The Hague. - Former Bosnian Serb General Ratko Mladic appear before the judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia (ICTY) Friday at 08:00 GMT, confirmed Nerma Jelasic, prosecution spokeswoman. At the hearing you will be asked to plead guilty or innocent, but also have the right to request a delay of a month.

For now Mladic has not said whether appointed counsel or assume its own defense, a strategy that used the former Serbian president Slobodan Milosevic and Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic to delay processes. Mladic, who was extradited on Tuesday to stand trial, has been charged with genocide for the slaughter of 8,000 Muslim men and boys in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica, and also faces other charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the civil war in the former Yugoslavia between 1992 and 1995.

Australia sent to Malaysia to children who arrive as refugees seeking asylum

Australian Prime Minister, Chris Bowen, has announced that Malaysia will send any unaccompanied children arrive in Australia seeking asylum, reports the BBC. Justified this action by declaring that it would send a clear message of deterrence to those who engage in rich through this business. This is part of a controversial exchange of refugees between Malaysia and Australia, which is being negotiated by the two during those days.