Updated News

Crisis In Mali Worsens

War News Updates Editor — Tue, 15 May 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Ecowas Threatens Mali Coup Leaders With New Sanctions — BBC

The West African regional bloc Ecowas has threatened to re-impose sanctions on officers who led a coup in Mali in March, accusing them of blocking a return to constitutional rule.

Ecowas lifted sanctions in April after the coup leaders agreed to hand back power to a civilian government.

But in a statement, the bloc said the junta was still interfering in the country’s politics.

Ecowas objects to its plans to replace interim President Djouncounda Traore.

Afghanistan War News Updates — April 14, 2012

War News Updates Editor — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 13:00:00 +0000

Salahuddin Rabbani (C) prays after he was introduced as the care taker to Jamiat-e Islami party during a gathering at the Kabul Intercontinental Hotel, October 4, 2011. Photo: Reuters

Afghanistan Appoints Son of Slain Peace Envoy — Voice of America

Afghanistan has appointed the son of slain statesman Burhanuddin Rabbani to replace his father and lead the country’s High Peace Council charged with finding a political solution to the Afghan war.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai said in a statement Saturday that Salahuddin Rabbani is the country’s new top peace envoy. Rabbani is currently Afghanistan’s ambassador to Turkey.

World News Briefs — April 14, 2012

War News Updates Editor — Sat, 14 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Syrian Forces Shell Homs On Third Day Of Truce — Reuters

BEIRUT (Reuters) – Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad shelled the battered Syrian city of Homs on Saturday, killing one person, opposition activists said, in the first such shelling since a ceasefire began two days ago.

Read more ….

MIDDLE EAST

UN to vote on Syria monitors as both sides allege ceasefire breaches. Syrian troops threaten ceasefire by firing on demonstrators. Obama approves aid package to Syrian rebels.

Gulf states to meet over UAE-Iran island row: source.

Iran-6-power nuke talks begin. Iran raises hopes of nuclear trade-off to halt oil sanctions.

Did U.S. miss 2010 chance for Iran nuke deal? Turkey says yes.

Yemen army clashes with Islamists, at least 34 killed. 222 ‘killed in five days’ in Yemen.

Israel forces airline to cancel tickets of British ‘flytilla’ activists.

ASIA

Humiliating rocket launch raises fears of North Korea detonating nuclear device. North Korea’s failed missile may foreshadow nuclear test. North Korea rocket launch raises questions about Kim Jong Un’s leadership.

Standoff near Philippines over; Chinese boats keep catch.

Maldives stage first vote after coup claims.

China: Sharp slowdown, or soft landing?

Neil Heywood death: Bo Xilai’s son ‘escorted from his home near Harvard university by US officials’.

AFRICA

Bissau army hold president, former premier in coup. Bissau parties to meet as world condemns coup.

S.Sudan says repulses Sudan army attack on Heglig.

W. Africa council urges regional troops in Mali.

Nearly 40% of Egyptians undecided ahead of vote.

Saving the condemned children of Ethiopia.

EUROPE

Nicolas Sarkozy: Britain ‘in far worse economic situation than France‘.

Sarkozy’s comeback hopes crumble, polls show.

Hungarian PM attacks EU ‘blackmail’ over IMF loan.

Norway massacre survivors brace for killer’s trial.

Germany’s solar woes dim the promise of green jobs.

AMERICAS

Venezuela’s Chavez set for more Cuba cancer treatment.

Obama praises US-Latin America trade relationship.

US, Canada alone at summit in Cuba stance.

US Secret Service agents recalled from Colombia.

’99 Percent Spring’ protests gearing up locally, nationally.

TERRORISM/THE LONG WAR

Lockerbie bomber health deteriorating, says family.

US has no intention of ending drone strikes, officials say.

Pak to deport Osama’s family to Saudi Arabia.

Military trials resume in Guantanamo.

Habeas in the House: House Republicans seek to affirm constitutional rights for American detainees.

ECONOMY/FINANCE/BUSINESS

Analysis: IMF funds drive caught in global power shift.

Ocampo ends World Bank bid, backs Nigerian.

Apple denies price-fixing charges on e-books.

Google’s stock split raises questions.

CBS CEO Moonves’ pay hits $68 million in 2011.

World News Briefs — April 14, 2012 is a post from: Updated News

World’s strongest boy does push ups while balancing on glass bottles

SS — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 09:44:00 +0000

The world’s strongest boy doing push ups while being held up on the tops of glass bottles shows that he continues to challenge himself.

The clip, released on YouTube Friday, shows seven-year-old Giuliano Stroe balance his hands and feet using green glass bottles.

Once he steadies himself on the small bottle tops, he proceeds to do 12 push ups.

This is not little Giuliano’s first brush with fame.

The exceptional pre-schooler performed the fastest ever 10m hand walk with a weight ball between his legs in 2009 and was put into the Guinness Book of World Records for the feat.

Father Iulian Stroe, 36, previously said: ‘He has been going to the gym with me ever since he was born. I always took him with me when I went training.’

Mr Stroe now trains both Giuliano and his younger brother Claudiu in their family home in Romania.

He added there is no danger of the youngster harming himself, saying: ‘I have been training hard all my life myself.

‘He is never allowed to practice on his own, he is only a child and if he gets tired we go and play.’

Giuliano, the oldest of four children, says his stardom has not gone to his head and he still enjoys normal kid stuff like painting, watching cartoons and playing in the park when he is not weightlifting.

But it seems he has picked up a taste for fame during his incredible exploits, revealing he enjoys it when he is applauded after performing.

In the four days since the latest video was posted, it has been viewed 146,622 times.

And, in terms of applause, he is getting a mixed bag of virtual appreciation, with 245 ‘likes’ and 169 ‘dislikes’.

World’s strongest boy does push ups while balancing on glass bottles is a post from: Updated News

War leaves Poverty in its Wake

Joseph Robertson — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 01:48:00 +0000

Afghans are met by both poverty and the freezing cold of winter after over a decade since the start of the U.S.-led war in Afghanistan.

Afghans fight both cold winter, poverty

In the center of a city into which wealth has poured in the last decade, these people have been left behind. And while America’s spending over $100 billion a year on this war, these Afghans say life has never been so bad.

War leaves Poverty in its Wake is a post from: Updated News

UN Calls for End to Energy Poverty

Joseph Robertson — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

The UN Secretary-General called for an end to energy poverty this past week, asking for a “global action to achieve sustainable energy for all by 2030.” There are two concepts I like to focus on when thinking about ending poverty – attaining true sustainable energy, and eliminating income inequality (and/or removing money control as form of slavery).

It’s about time we focused on the important stuff.

Ban calls for end to energy poverty

“This is the right time for this initiative. Across the world we see momentum building for concrete action that reduces energy poverty, catalyses sustainable economic growth and mitigates the risks of climate change,” said the UN Secretary-General.

UN Calls for End to Energy Poverty is a post from: Updated News

UN Calls for End to Energy Poverty

Joseph Robertson — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

It’s about time we focused on the important stuff.

Ban calls for end to energy poverty

UN Calls for End to Energy Poverty is a post from: Updated News

Disease in Poverty Declining

Joseph Robertson — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

The part of this article which should be the most surprising, but doesn’t actually surprise me, is that the developing nations of the world are doing more for their lower class than the wealthiest nations. The report mentioned suggests that income inequality – regardless of amounts of wealth – leads to health consequences.

WHO Director: disease of poverty declining

Yesterday Margaret Chan, the Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), opened the WHO board meeting with a challenge. “Few will disagree with my statement,” she said. “Our world is in very bad shape.”

Disease in Poverty Declining is a post from: Updated News

The Trap of Poverty

Joseph Robertson — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:35:00 +0000

The sad but unsurprising truth of poverty is that it traps people – children are the most likely to become victims of this. If you are born into poverty, you are likely to remain poor…

Poverty trap set at birth – study

New Zealand researchers have put hard numbers to the adage that success breeds success – and failure breeds failure.

The Trap of Poverty is a post from: Updated News

Success of Kenya’s Democracy in Debate

Joseph Robertson — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 14:00:00 +0000

This article takes a look at Kenya’s economic development with respect to its democratic government, suggesting that the presence of a democracy could be hindering it’s ability to grow.

Is democracy bad for Kenya’s economic development?

As Kenya has entered another election year, debates on the achievements of its democracy are likely to increase. A functioning democracy needs more than elections, but even the management of elections has proven difficult for Kenya in the past, which partly explains why the economic performance has often been weak in election years and beyond.

Success of Kenya’s Democracy in Debate is a post from: Updated News