News – The Working Holiday News
Middle East
An official Iraqi inquiry into the Blackwater incident has concluded that the guards had not been attacked as they claimed, calling the shooting a deliberate crime. Now Iraq’s government has called for them to be prosecuted. The US embassy is conducting its own probe and Blackwater continues to defend the actions of their employees.
Bedouins in Egypt rampage through the streets of el-Arish in protest over local police not taking action in a tribal dispute.
Petraeus says that Iran’s envoy to Iraq is a member of the Revolutionary Guard.
Africa
Gambia arrests two Amnesty International workers and a local journalist on charges of spying. Amnesty says the government was alerted to the presence of the two workers, who were there for research purposes. I’m sure it didn’t help that the journalist was of the opposition variety.
An Islamic court in Nigeria bans a satirical play written by a rights activist that knocks at political corruption in states run under Sharia law.
Descendants of Lothar von Trotha, who ordered the killing of Herero people in Nambia, meet with representatives of said people to seek pardon for their forbearer’s actions.
Asia/Pacific
A look into Burma after the protests and the crackdown. The ruling government does its best to gloss over the recent turmoil, but the people know what the score is, even if they’re cowed into silence for now.
Storm chasers are strange people. They’ll travel to other countries to chase after storms where more rational people will leave countries to avoid them.
Europe
Kurdish rebels make more trouble near the border between Iraq and Turkey. Again the specter of crossborder fighting looms. Hopefully it will continue to do no more than loom.
A senior leader of the Basque separatist group Batasuna calls the arrest of 23 of the group’s members a declaration of war by Spain’s government.
Americas
One wonders just what Che Guevara would think of what has become of his image. An iconic image that has lasted the test of time, yet been embraced by commerce in a way I’d think ironic when contrasted with the subject of the image.
The opening of the North West Passage has prompted a spike in the current discord surrounding it, with Canada warning they plan to step up patrols within it.
A study finds that the tasers used by law enforcement are safe, with a low injury rate and most of those injuries being minor. If anything, they’re far more safe than someone being shot, so I’d much rather have cops tasing unruly suspects.
Candidate reaction to recent political outrages.
Damned Spot Fall Harvest: Recent political adds. Nice to see jabs at all sides.
The Democratic Candidate Mashup. I must say, I find Mike Gravel interesting. More so than the rest of the Democratic hopefuls.
General
The Blogs look at Al-Quds Day and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s call for a new Jewish state in Canada or Alaska and Kim Jong-il as an “Internet expert.”
Today’s Papers has the Iraqi army buying M-16s to replace their AK-47s, growing poppy growing in Afghanistan because no one wants to go about fighting the issue the right way, the differing views on reconciliation in Iraq and more in the one page news.
Amusements
Tobacco industry accused of “stealth marketing” smooth, sweet cigarettes (that make you 40% cooler to the opposite sex) on social networking websites
“Police arrest 83 people after protesters poured a bucket filled with fake blood and dismembered baby dolls onto the street.” Just another Columbus Day parade in Denver
Nigeria initially denies Bill Gates’ application for a visa stating that he had to prove that he would not reside in Nigeria indefinitely, causing a strain on social services and a general nuisance for immigration
Man faces 30 yrs to life for stealing a 52 cent doughnut
Actual headline: “MILF cautions against ‘witch-hunting.'”
Police launch frantic air and sea search for missing boater whose wrecked vessel washed ashore, locate him several hours later. At his mom’s house. Drunk. Lying on the sofa
Ovulating strippers get better tips. Here comes the science
Charity illegally feeds the homeless in West Palm Beach. In other news, it’s illegal to feed the homeless in West Palm Beach
The new red light cameras are so effective, that the city of Albuquerque has already paid them off, and is now able to pocket $5.8 million. It wouldn’t be news if someone didn’t complain
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this man and his puppet
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop the Big Rig Jig
Fark Photoshop Challenge: Photoshop this guy and his grill