Tag Archives: country

This Preposterous Week! Paul Slansky’s News Index

Baldwin, Paul •release from prison of after serving one-year term for stealing a can of beer is quickly followed by another arrest of — the 153rd — for assault Baron Cohen, Sacha •Eminem’s face is landed on by bare butt of during MTV Movie Awards, leading to days of babble about whether or not the stunt had in fact been planned, which — DUH! — it had Berlin, Alan David •firing of from position as aide to Pennsylvania state senator famous for being tough on sex crimes after arrest of for propositioning a 15-year-old boy on the Internet and discussing having sex with him while wearing animal costumes Blagojevich, Patti •tarantulas are dined on by Boyle, Susan •loss of in Britain’s Got Talent finals is not taken well by Breaking Bad •airing of brilliant season finale of — ending with plane crash over Albuquerque — coincides with plunge of Air France jet into the Atlantic Carradine, David •details of the passing of are apparently not for the squeamish Cheney, Dick •blame for 9/11 is placed by on Richard Clarke, who repeatedly warned about the danger of such an attack Cheney, Liz •absurdly Orwellian insistence of that father of never sought to link Iraq to 9/11 Coleman, Norm •imminent surrender of Epstein, Marcus •2007 assault on African-American woman — he stopped her on a Washington, D.C.

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Guinea-Bissau killings raise coup fears

Two high-profile political officials linked to Guinea-Bissau’s recently assassinated president were killed Friday, according to a statement from the West African country’s interim army chief. The killings raised fears that a military coup may be under way

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Why Doctors from Sri Lanka’s Combat Zone May Face Jail

The veil of secrecy over the whereabouts of three doctors who worked in Sri Lanka’s shrinking war zone last month has finally been lifted. On Thursday, Colombo announced that three doctors, all of whom were treating patients in Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam -held areas in the final days before they were gained by Sri Lankan government forces, are now in government custody and face court action for collaborating with the Tigers.

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Under-pressure British PM reshuffles Cabinet

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown began a government reshuffle Friday which is crucial to his political survival and marks a reassertion of his authority. Crucially, Alan Johnson — the man who many Labor lawmakers expect to succeed Brown if he is forced to step down — has signaled his support for the beleaguered prime minister. He has accepted the promotion from Health secretary to Home secretary, taking the place of Jacqui Smith — one of three Cabinet ministers who rocked Brown by resigning this week

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U.N. report alleges widespread killings by Kenyan police

A U.N. special investigator called for the resignation of top Kenyan officials and sweeping changes in the country’s security forces to end reported widespread killings by police across the African nation. “The special rapporteur concluded that police in Kenya frequently execute individuals and that a climate of impunity prevails,” Philip Alston said in a report a recently submitted to the U.N

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Viewpoint: The Case Against Omar al Bashir

Friday is a defining moment in the history of justice. The members of the United Nations Security Council will be presented with the results of the International Criminal Court’s Darfur investigation — an investigation that they requested. Their response will determine whether there is going to be an international standard of justice that holds perpetrators accountable for the worst crimes in the world

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What Is Killing Chile’s Coastal Wildlife?

First, in late March the bodies of about 1,200 penguins were found on a remote beach in southern Chile. Next came the sardines — millions of them — washed up dead on a nearby stretch of coastline in April, causing a stench so noxious that nearby schools were closed and the army was called in to shovel piles of rotting fish off the sand.

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GOP chastises Obama’s speech over Israeli-Palestinian issue

President Obama’s speech to the Muslim world on Thursday faced mixed reaction abroad — and a very clear directive at home from Republicans and conservatives: The United States cannot ruin its relationship with Israel. Speaking in Cairo, Egypt, the president took on the heated and controversial Palestinian-Israeli conflict by reaffirming that the U.S

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