Despite worldwide negative publicity following increase in attacks on foreign students, Australian cities occupy five of the top 20 places in a British survey conducted to find out the "most liveable cities" among the 140 cities in the world. Melbourne (photo above), which recently catapulted into news as an "unsafe" place for Indian students, ranked third in the world, … [Read more...] about Melbourne Is World’s Third Best City: Poll
It may be time to remove North Korea from the Map
It appears that China has no idea how to reel in its insane neighbor that gives “communist totalitarianism” a really bad name. It’s just not going to happen because China is simply not up to the task, diplomatically or militarily. Sooner or later North Korea will be able to lob a messy and deadly nuclear device onto South Korea or Japan and then what will everyone say and do? … [Read more...] about It may be time to remove North Korea from the Map
Sarkozy Sings ‘Happy Birthday’ To Sasha Obama
Why is US President Barack Obama cold-shouldering European leaders? While we search for the answers, French President Nicolas Sarkozy thought of the next best thing...if the US president could not be persuaded to socialise with him, why not play host to Obama's family? Sarkozy enjoyed a consolation prize yesterday: lunch with the President’s wife Michelle and their children, … [Read more...] about Sarkozy Sings ‘Happy Birthday’ To Sasha Obama
Muslim ‘Suspicion’ Over Obama’s ‘Operation Seduction’: Le Quotidien d’Oran of Algeria
Continuing our monitoring of Muslim reaction to President Obama's Cairo speech - now being called the 'Cairo Declaration,' Kharroubi Habib of Algeria's Le Quotidien d'Oran speaks for a huge swath of the Muslim world when he expresses appreciation mixed with skepticism - not in regard to the president's sincerity, but whether Mr. Obama can and will make real the declarations he … [Read more...] about Muslim ‘Suspicion’ Over Obama’s ‘Operation Seduction’: Le Quotidien d’Oran of Algeria
Union Rejects Contract; Boston Globe’s Future in Doubt
WCVB-TV: The Boston Newspaper Guild rejected the contract negotiated after the Globe's parent company, the New York Times Co., said it needed $20 million in annual savings from Globe unions - half of that from the Guild - to avoid shutting down the 137-year-old newspaper. The Times Co. had said if the contract were rejected, it would try to impose a 23 percent wage cut. It … [Read more...] about Union Rejects Contract; Boston Globe’s Future in Doubt
What Does It Take To Prosecute a Settler?
Ha'aretz reports that prosecutors have dropped an indictment of a Hebron settler who went to the house of local Palestinians, drew his gun, initiated an argument, and then assaulted and shot two at close range. And was caught on film doing it. This is not isolated. The settlers have recently embarked on a campaign of intimidation and violence: torching Palestinian fields, … [Read more...] about What Does It Take To Prosecute a Settler?
American Reporters Likely to Be Treated ‘Relatively’ Well: The Daily North Korea
It will probably come as small comfort to the families of American reporters Laura Ling and Euna Lee that although the two have been sentenced to 'twelve years of reform through labor,' they are likely to go to one of two 'special camps' maintained for 'the detention of Workers’ Party officials, senior cadres and important figures who must be well-treated.' According to this … [Read more...] about American Reporters Likely to Be Treated ‘Relatively’ Well: The Daily North Korea
Thank You, Mr. Obama. We Hope Our Leaders Got the Message: Kitabat of Iraq
Continuing with our Muslim coverage of President Obama's speech to the Islamic world, we present this article from Iraq's Kitabat newspaper. So what are Iraqis saying about President Obama's long-awaited speech? While loathing the necessity of having Obama lecture Muslims on what they should already know about their own religion, Kitabat's Ali Abd al-Khaleq - 'appreciated' … [Read more...] about Thank You, Mr. Obama. We Hope Our Leaders Got the Message: Kitabat of Iraq
Republicans Seize Control of NY State Senate
The NYTimes alert: In a stunning reversal, the Democratic majority in the New York State Senate appeared to lose control of the chamber Monday afternoon when two senators broke party ranks to back a Republican motion to displace the Democrats as the party in control. The motion appeared to pass, 32-30, despite procedural moves to block it. The NYTimes City Room blog fills in … [Read more...] about Republicans Seize Control of NY State Senate
Number 10005
In October 2001, an Algerian relief worker, employed by the Red Crescent Society, was arrested in Sarajevo, Bosnia, where he lived with his wife and two young daughters. He was accused of being involved in plots to blow up the U.S. and British embassies in Sarajevo. Despite his consistent, repeated, and forceful assertions that he knew nothing about the conspiracy and had done … [Read more...] about Number 10005
Now Rush Limbaugh Reportedly Wants GM To Fail Too
Talking Points Memo reports that there's now a move on the part of some conservatives to boycott General Motors (that'll teach Barack Obama a lesson): The Detroit Bureau reports that an idea seems to be picking up some cachet on the right-wing blogs and in talk radio: Fighting the "Government Motors" bailout by boycotting the company. Most of it so far is limited to … [Read more...] about Now Rush Limbaugh Reportedly Wants GM To Fail Too
Someone May Have Told Sonia Sotomayor To “Break A Leg” In Confirmation Talks With Senators
And perhaps she took it too literally. She broke her ankle: THIS JUST IN!! And here's Sotomayor commenting on it: … [Read more...] about Someone May Have Told Sonia Sotomayor To “Break A Leg” In Confirmation Talks With Senators
Breaking the Streak
In a fascinating bit of political history research, Swing State Project blogger "Silver Spring" takes a look at the now-vacant NY-23 district (represented by John McHugh before he was nominated as Secretary of the Army) and finds that much hasn't been represented by a Democrat for awhile. A long while. Nearly half of the district hasn't been represented by a Democrat since … [Read more...] about Breaking the Streak
Is This Torture?
Don't click the link until you've decided. Think carefully, now. This is a trick question. … [Read more...] about Is This Torture?
Gallup Poll: Americans Like Obama But Not His Deficit Spending
A new Gallup Poll finds Americans like President Barack Obama so much that he's ahead of Democrat Bill Clinton and Republican George W. Bush at similar points in their first year in office -- but many Americans don't like his deficit spending:' While 67% of Americans view President Barack Obama favorably, his overall job approval rating and his ratings on specific areas … [Read more...] about Gallup Poll: Americans Like Obama But Not His Deficit Spending
Australia’s New Envoy to India: Peter Varghese
Peter Varghese, 53, a distinguished Australian diplomat and former senior advisor to ex-Prime Minister John Howard, has been appointed Australian High Commissioner to India. He is due to take charge in August from John McCarthy, a distinguished and popular diplomat, who completes his five-year term in India. Varghese brings with him vast experience in current international … [Read more...] about Australia’s New Envoy to India: Peter Varghese
Will Ferrell: Funny or Finished?
After investing the better part of a quarter billion dollars into the effort, Will Ferrell's new film, Land of the Lost, opened to sparsely populated theaters and sneering critics, netting less than twenty million over its first weekend. Everyone has a flop once in a while, but this makes about four in a row for the star of Anchorman which were either limp at the box office or … [Read more...] about Will Ferrell: Funny or Finished?
SCOTUS Turns Down Challenge to ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
Bloomberg: The rebuff spares President Barack Obama’s administration from the awkward task of mounting a legal defense for a policy the president says should be repealed. In urging the Supreme Court not to hear the appeal, administration lawyers said a lower court was correct to uphold the policy. The high court case stemmed from a lawsuit by 12 former service members who … [Read more...] about SCOTUS Turns Down Challenge to ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’
The Letters Have It
I have always believed that, whether dealing with local community issues or with issues of national import, much common sense and wisdom can be found in many of the letters written daily by regular Americans to the editors of their newspapers. In a book dedicated to Letters to the Editor*, the authors make this comment: As we leafed through thousands of letters, we … [Read more...] about The Letters Have It
The Beginning of Dialogue
Guest post by Hamid M. Khan It was risky and laughable the moment he uttered it as a candidate, the notion that a president could venture into the Islamic world, immediately after taking office, and attempt to alter America's image in the hearts and minds of Muslims. Upon reflection, however, not only did President Obama succeed but it is likely that his Cairo address will … [Read more...] about The Beginning of Dialogue