News – Change for Cuba?

Americas

Cuba will, apparently, sign two major UN agreements on civil and political rights as well as allow periodic UN monitoring of their human rights record. Sounds good to me. Perhaps we can finally see some progress in Cuba and US relations with them.

A third cut for US interest rates. How low can it go?

Middle East

Human Rights Watch accuses Egypt of fabricating the existence of a terror group in a legal case. I continue to question the US government considering this nation to be an ally.

On the eve of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, Israeli tanks are still rolling. As well, examining Israel’s potential reactions to the US NIE on Iran.

Olmert remains fixated on Iran. So, we have an official US intelligence report that says Iran has no current nuclear weapons program. But no one believes them, some even making allegations that a small cadre of individuals tweaked the report to its conclusion. Just can’t win, the bombers will eventually bomb what they want, regardless of how good or bad an idea it might be.

Africa

Looks like the issues Sudan was having on wrangling for peace have faded for the moment. One hopes things will stay that way, we need some peace somewhere in the world, too many flash points have been flaring without any of them cooling.

The rebels in DR Congo retake a town that was lost to government forces last week.

Asia/Pacific

The US moves to block Burma from exporting gems, whilst prodding others to increase pressure on the country’s military rulers. Of course, while sanctions and the like can be effective, they’re most effective when mixed with actual diplomacy in my opinion.

China’s first safe sex advert starts none other than Jackie Chan. That amuses me greatly.

Europe

Former Bosnian Serb General Dragomir Milosevic is to be jailed for 33 years for attacks on civiliajs during the siege of Sarajevo.

Russia suspends its participation in an arms control treaty dating from the Cold War. Question remains as to the ultimate results of this, but it reduces the level of transparency that has existed for military movements, thus can be seen as a loss.

General

Digital video makes itself useful once more, with snagged footage outing human rights abuses when placed online.

A Danish study suggests that babies born through elective Caesarean section may be at greater risk t develop breathing problems.

The origin of the televised Yule Log.

The Blogs look at a former CIA officer saying water boarding is a necessary torture, a KBR employee says she was raped in the Green Zone and Harvard lowering its undergraduate price tag.

Today’s Papers has the automatic republican reflex to block democratic legislation in congress, the U.S. Sentencing Commission voting unanimously in favor of retroactively applying reduced penalties for offenses involving crack cocaine, Putin’s handpicked successor expressing a desire for Putin to be his PM and more in the one page news.

Amusements

Paragon of investigative journalism CNN posts a shocking article about a Facebook group for girls to post drunk pictures of themselves. If you can imagine such a thing

Guess the plot. Article contains the words “Bowling,” “Drunk,” “Trailer,” “Grandkids,” “Shooting,” “Leroy” and “Dreads.” Difficulty: West Virginia

Shoplifter arrested with beer in his pants. Judges give him suspended sentence and one more chance to sort his life out. After all, he only has 71 previous convictions. (Question: Judges?)

Jokes about Bill Clinton pounding more chocolate booty than Barack Obama may go over well on late night TV, but at a political fundraiser it just leads to uncomfortable silence and next-day apologies

Kid, 16, uses the old “video camera in the bushes” to bust his 48-year-old female neighbor vandalizing his house, including eggs and the smearing of cat poop. Stay classy, Florida tag

Today’s Nanny State News comes from the UK, where they want to regulate the thickness of your sandwich bread

A former county councilman charged with drunken driving was found at the scene drinking suntan lotion

There are smarter ways of getting out of jury duty then bringing a 2.5 foot sword into court

Merriam-Webster’s Word of 2007: ‘W00t.’

Actual Headline: “Naked man sent to wrong house for sex”

A man that lead police on a 25 mile chase says he couldn’t stop because his parking brake was stuck. Wait… what?

Not news: Man steals car. News: Car belonged to crime victim who was talking to police just feet away. Fark.com: TV news crew gets it all on video. (video + mugshot)

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop what these two cuties are looking at

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this little cowboy

Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop Challenge: Help mediate the Wales-UK dispute over the Union Jack by designing a new flag for the United Kingdom