News – A New Low for Israeli Authority

Middle East

Thus far, UN clearance experts have found over 100k unexploded cluster bomblets at 359 sites in Lebanon, leading the UN to accuse Israel of “completely immoral” use of said ordinance. It’s estimated that 90% of the clusterbomb attacks were in the last 72 hours of the conflict, which is after a resolution was in the works. If these things are true, it shows that Israel’s government and military have sunk to a new and disturbing low. How many children will die because of these unexploded parting gifts? How many have already? I don’t k now, but far more than none, which is the preferred number. It’ll take months to years to clean them all up and even then.. the insidious thing about cluserbomb munitions is that it’s very easy to miss some. And, years later, when some unfortunate stumbles across it.. yet one more late casualty of a conflict long over. But that’s no problem for Israel, collateral damage to the innocent has never been an issue for Israel, in the face of their ‘self defense’ actions.

Peter Taylor, after a year speaking to terrorists and their families, opines on why they hate.

Many of the captured Palestinian politicians from the Hamas led government are now being set up for trial by Israel’s military. If these men are convicted and sent to jail for ten years, that will pretty much break what little credence the US has for spreading democracy in the Middle East. Palestine had a free and fair election and voted who they wanted into office. And all those has done is make things worse in Palestine, largely due to the actions of Israel and the US. Things aren’t going so good in Iraq either, mind.

In the wake of the Lebanon conflict, let’s not forget Palestine, where Gaza remains under siege by Israel. Where a humanitarian crises remains, ready to blow out of control as conflict continues and the small stretch of land remains blocked off from the outside world.

Kofi Annan says he’s gotten a pledge from Syria to increase security along its border with Lebanon, to try and prevent arms from entering the country.

Pte John Jodka, one of eight US soldiers accused taking Hashim Ibrahim Awad from his home in Hamdania and shooting him dead, will not face the death penalty.

Nadim Injaz, from Ramallah in the West Bank, breaks into the UK embassy in Tel Aviv and demands asylum in the UK. Later Israeli commandos storm the embassy and take the man away. He was armed with a toy gun. He is reported to be a Palestinian informant and believed that he may be killed by Palestinian militants, but the Israeli authorities refused to help him. Five will get you ten we never hear from him again, one way or the other.

Iran ignores a UN deadline to stop it’s nuclear programs, leaving the UN to decide just what to do. The US, obviously, wants sanctions. For all the good that will do. Sanctions are often one of the weakest ways to persuade someone to do things your way.

A series of coordinated bomb blasts claims another 55 lives. I rarely show bomb deaths like this anymore, they’ve become too much a background noise with their frequency. However, this one shows that the ones who fight in Iraq remain able to enact coordinated actions within Iraq, despite attempts by the US to end the violence.

Europe

The Scream and Madonna were recovered after having been stolen from the Oslo museum two years ago.

A Dutch court allows Dutch intelligence to tap reporters’ phones, but only under special circumstances.

Convicted pedophiles in the UK are using a loophole to travel outside the country and continue exploiting children. They’re allowed to travel abroad for three days without informing the police(used to be eight), but the time is still enough to allow repeat offenders to find children in central and eastern Europe.

Religion works its way into Russian public schools. I think, at most, it should be an optional elective. No child should be forced to go through said education. Especially of their parents object.

Asia

The UN Conference on Trade and Development issues a report saying that Japan and Germany need to buy more imports to help stimulate the world economy. Of course, the US is doing disproportionate trade when it comes to buying imports. Seems silly to me to try an cajole nations into buying more stuff they obviously don’t want or need because other nations are buying more than they should. The sad fact is that the US has more desire for cheap crap from overseas than some countries have for expensive crap from overseas. I’m sure Germany and Japan would happily buy more if someone made something they wanted..

Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Shinzo Abe formally announces his candidacy to succeed current Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. If he makes it, few changes are expected for Japanese policy.

North America

Bush defends his war again and lets us know what he thinks. “The war we fight today is more than a military conflict,” Mr Bush said. “It is the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st Century.” That’s sad, cause we’re not really winning in the decisive sort of way you’d like. We’ve muddled through thus far, but I doubt muddling through would be considered a real victory.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel ousts Condi Rice from the list of the world’s most powerful women, according to Forbes magazine anyway.

Answering Rummy’s four questions.

General

Two men have had their skin cleared of skin cancer using genetically modified versions of their own immune cells. It might work for breast, lung and liver cancers too. However, 15 other patients didn’t have their own skin cancers removed by the treatment. The therapy can work, however. Now comes the task of raising the success rate.

A new study suggests that regular drinking of fruit and vegetable juices might cut the risk of Alzheimer’s significantly.

An interesting argument for safe sex is that semen may fuel the growth of cervical and womb cancer, according to a study. However cancer experts believe that the chances of unsafe sex effecting a patient’s outcome are slight.

A US team, following 670 male military veterans, finds that those with high levels of hostility had poorer lung function than those who were more mellow. So have a care for your lungs(and those around you) and chill out, man.

Scientists think they’ve captured a stellar supernova in real time.

Netflix has started to produce indie films to go along with the rest of their by mail rentals. Not a bad idea, since they can get these films to people for less and easilymake a profit off of obscure films.

Explainer sees if someone can force you to be a Muslim.

The Blogs ponder Rummy’s latest anti-fascist rhetoric and California’s emissions cap.

Today’s Papers notes Republicans again running on national security, Shanghai high school textbooks losing most mention of Mao and some other things in a slow day for the one page news.

Amusements

Mark Fiore: Whoopsi Gras 2

Latest image controversy involves IKEA, which is furiously denying it Photoshopped a dog in its catalog to make it look like it had a human penis. “It really is just a dog with its leg on the couch – nothing else,” says company

Bar patron leaves $10,000 tip on a $26 bill

South Korean sex expo that promised foreign women in lingerie, striptease acts, and sex seminars should have checked the immigration laws first

Checklist for home invasion: Guns? Check. Rope? Check. Good battery in getaway car? Uh, hold on a sec

Mormons upset over “sexy episode” of Without a Trace… Apparently they also have a list of a brazillion other things that upset them that everyone else doesn’t even care about

Not news: Guy makes U. of Nebraska cheerleading squad. News: He just got out of PMITA prison. Fark.com: For chatting inappropriately with a young girl. Due diligence surrenders

Oregonian man steals women’s underpants. Facing up to 11 years in prison as this is his 4th conviction for this crime. Profit

Middle school goes into lockdown after someone notices eight-foot alligator sunning himself on basketball court

Not news: Biographer writes book about English poet. News: Biographer unknowingly includes fake love letter. Fark.com: Letter contains coded insult to the biographer

The US doesn’t negotiate with terrorists. Unless the negotiation could free some kidnapped Fox News reporters

Man serves “Eviction Notice” by shooting a laptop computer off his brothers girlfriends lap, police kindly arrange for alternate housing for him

Man already wanted on warrants for meth, pulled over while smoking meth, in his mobile meth lab. “Meth” doesn’t even look like a word anymore

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Farker’s wife’s luggage destined for Fresno mysteriously ends up in Taiwan. Photoshop what might have happened

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this Chance Maximillian Curtis, three weeks old tomorrow

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Smuckers sells PBJ sandwiches with the crusts cut off. PS some other products made easier than they really should be