uawchild
uawchild's JournalNATO report into Kunduz hospital air strike delayed
Source: Reuters
A preliminary NATO report into a U.S. air strike on a hospital in the northern Afghan city of Kunduz on Oct. 3, originally expected to be released within a few days, has been delayed while investigations continue, officials said.
U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter told a briefing in Washington on Friday that the report into civilian casualties at the hospital from the commander of international forces in Afghanistan, U.S. General John Campbell, was not yet complete. "We want to get this done, and I want him to get it done, but we wanted to get it done absolutely right," he said.
The hospital operated by the medical charity Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) was hit by a U.S. air strike while Afghan government forces battled to regain control of Kunduz from Taliban insurgents who had seized the city.
MSF, which has called for an independent international investigation, on Saturday revised the death toll in the incident, one of the worst of its kind in the 14 year-long conflict in Afghanistan. It said 13 MSF staff members were confirmed dead and one other presumed dead, while 10 patients were confirmed dead and another two presumed dead. It said efforts were being made to establish the identities of seven other bodies found in the ruins of the hospital and which had now been buried.
Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/10/24/us-afghanistan-hospital-idUSKCN0SI0M520151024
Professor Claims Women 'Don't Understand' Fracking
"She said women are against it because they base their opinions on "gut reaction" rather than facts.
A science professor and the chairwoman of the United Kingdom's leading shale gas lobby claims women don't support fracking because they "don't understand" the science behind the oil extraction procedure.
"Frequently the women haven’t had very much in the way of a science education because they may well have dropped science at 16. That is just a fact," Averil Macdonald, a professor of science engagement at the University of Reading and chairwoman of U.K. Onshore Oil and Gas, told British newspaper The Times.
“Women do not tend to have continued with science. Not only do [they] show more of a concern about fracking, they also know that they don't know and they don't understand. They are concerned because they don't want to be taking [something] on trust. And that's actually entirely reasonable," she said."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/averil-macdonald-fracking-women-dont-understand_562a9bb9e4b0aac0b8fcff49
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Woah. Is there a word when a woman does "mansplaining" to other women? If not, we need one for this professor. I'd usually laugh at this point, but the misogyny has broken my absurdity responses.
Maldives police arrest vice president Ahmed Adeeb over plot to assassinate president
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Maldives vice president Ahmed Adeeb has been arrested in a probe over a speedboat explosion targeting president Abdulla Yameen, police and government officials said.
Mr Yameen was unhurt in the September 28 blast in his presidential boat Finifenmaa while he was returning from Saudi Arabia after the Hajj pilgrimage.
"We have arrested the vice president in relation to the Finifenmaa incident," a police media official said. "He is now in police custody in Dhoonidhoo detention centre."
Mr Adeeb was arrested at the Maldives' main international airport at around noon local time on Saturday as he returned home from Singapore.
Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-24/maldives-arrests-vp-over-plot-to-assassinate-president/6882498
Hard hit by the Indian Ocean tsunami -- in, what, 2008? -- the country's image as a tranquil tourist destination has been tarnished. It has even larger problems, long term, thanks to climate change.
"Maldives is the lowest country in the world, with maximum and average natural ground levels of only 2.4 metres (7 ft 10 in) and 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) above sea level, respectively. In areas where construction exists, however, this has been increased to several metres. More than 80 per cent of the country's land is composed of coral islands which rise less than one metre above sea level.[46] As a result, the Maldives are at high risk of being submerged due to rising sea levels. The UN's environmental panel has warned that, at current rates, sea level rise would be high enough to make the Maldives uninhabitable by 2100"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maldives
Islamic State claims responsibility for Bangladesh bombings on Shias
Source: The Time of India
Islamic State (ISIS) has claimed responsibility for bombings that targeted Shias in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, on Saturday, the monitor group SITE said.
It cited Islamic State as saying "soldiers of the Caliphate in Bangladesh" detonated explosive devices in Dhaka during "polytheist rituals". Islamic State — an ultra-hardline Sunni Muslim group that sees Shias as apostates — claimed responsibility for the attack.
Read more: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Islamic-State-claims-responsibility-for-Bangladesh-bombings-on-Shias/articleshow/49517781.cms
Are we concerned about what ISIS is doing in other countries besides Syria? It's time that we demand that our "allies", including Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey stop funding or otherwise facilitating ISIS's reign or terror against civilians.
Warm welcome awaits Justin Trudeau on world stage
"Considered an international climate laggard under Stephen Harper, Justin Trudeau can make a quick impression for Canada.
So that’s it, the end of the Harper era, done and dusted. It was as decisive a message from Canadians as one could have imagined. The road back for Canada to repair its damaged and diminished place in the world will not be easy, but thankfully it has begun.
...
But the potential global meaning of Canada’s election received even more attention. The results clearly startled Canada’s allies. Canadians brought to a close the widely unpopular Harper era, in which Canada became known for incessantly hectoring and lecturing all and sundry but actually delivering little of substance on the world stage.
Equally surprising to many outside of Canada, Canadians voted for a centre-left government that rejects fiscal austerity, promises that climate change will become a priority, favours diplomatic solutions over military posturing and vows to increase its engagement with international bodies such as the United Nations."
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I read that the Liberals won so convincingly because young voters wanted their OLD Canada back -- a stinging rebuke to conservative Stephen Harper's government that tried its best to turn Canada into Tea-Party-Lite-istan.
Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan’s charm offensive wows the world but disguises a harsher reality
Source: South ChinaMorning Post (Hong Kong)
Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan’s charm offensive wows the world but disguises a harsher reality, critics say
The appearances of Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan in her tailored suits and gowns left Britain’s press swooning – describing her as “graceful”, “stunning”, “sophisticated”, “glamorous” and “chic” – during President Xi Jinping’s four-day state visit to the United Kingdom last week.
The Daily Telegraph called her “a master in the art of diplomatic dressing”, describing the blue silk coat-dress she wore to the state banquet in Buckingham Palace as “the height of restrained elegance”.
The blue gown was her third outfit of the day. At the Houses of Parliament, she wore an elegant grey coat with a matching silk bow blouse. When meeting the Queen, she wore a simple white dress suit with embroidered pockets. “Madame Peng is not just holding her own, but helping to define the new world-facing image of China,” the Telegraph said.
Peng’s carefully crafted image is a stark contrast to the wives of former Communist leaders. At the state banquet with the Queen during Hu Jintao’s visit to the UK 10 years ago, his wife wore a plain jacket and a knee-length skirt more suited for a business meeting.
Read more: http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/1871688/chinese-first-lady-peng-liyuans-charm-offensive-wows-uk
More from the article:
'Kerry Brown, a professor of Chinese Studies at King’s College, London, said Peng and Xi were now “part of the same propaganda exercise” and the use of her abroad to advance China’s soft power is “highly tactical”.
Her English ability and fashion sense were “huge assets to promote this image of a China that is modern and exciting... and presents the softer, more publicly palatable side of the Xi era,” Brown said.
Retired political scientist Joseph Cheng, formerly with the City University of Hong Kong, said Peng represented a change of generation of leaders, much like Raisa Gorbachev, wife of Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in the 1980s.'
"Peng’s graceful and glamourous image, as well as approachability and English skills, is the antithesis to the wives of former Communist leaders."
Poland’s right-wing opposition looks increasingly likely to emerge as the largest party
"Poland’s right-wing opposition looks increasingly likely to emerge as the largest party in this month’s parliamentary election. However, if it falls short of an overall majority then the minor parties will determine whether it can form a government or if the current ruling party can cobble together a weak and unstable coalition.
The left’s marriage of convenience
On October 25th Poland will hold a parliamentary election whose outcome could determine the future shape of the political scene for years to come. Opinion polls suggest that the right-wing Law and Justice (PiS) party, the main opposition grouping, has a clear lead of around 10% over the ruling centrist Civic Platform (PO) and is almost certain to emerge as the largest in the new parliament. However, it is unclear if Law and Justice will secure an overall majority; no party has yet achieved such a result in post-communist Poland. If it does not, then the party will need to find coalition partners, which means that the performance of the minor political groupings, particularly which ones cross the minimum vote threshold required to secure parliamentary representation (5% for individual parties and 8% for electoral coalitions), will be crucial in determining the shape of the next government."
https://polishpoliticsblog.wordpress.com
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Poland lurches to the right? Election is this Sunday, we will see...
Canada's feminist Prime Minister Justin Trudeau targets GamerGate in anti-misogyny call to action
"New Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has described himself as a proud feminist and named GamerGate as an example of an issue that society needs "to stand clearly" against. He made the comments prior to winning the national election as leader of the Liberal Party on Monday 19 October.
Speaking in a recent TV interview (via The Star) Trudeau said: "Yes, Yes. I am a feminist. Proud to be a feminist. My mom raised me to be a feminist. My father raised me, he was a different generation, but he raised me to respect and defend everyone's rights, and I deeply grounded my own identity in that, and I am proud to say that I am a feminist. The things we see online, whether it is issues like Gamergate, or video games misogyny in popular culture, it is something that we need to stand clearly against." "
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/canadas-feminist-prime-minister-justin-trudeau-targets-gamergate-anti-misogyny-call-action-1525176
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What a huge change in attitude from outgoing conservative Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
Ukrainians transform statue of Soviet founder Lenin into Star Wars villain Darth Vader
Source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Just in time for the release of the latest Star Wars blockbuster, Ukrainians in Odessa have transformed a statue of Lenin into one of Darth Vader, an oddly prominent figure in local politics.
Soviet founder Lenin, long despised by most in non-separatist parts of Ukraine, fell victim to a law adopted in April that ordered the removal of all symbols and insignia reminding the country of its communist past.
Darth Vader is also cast as the embodiment of evil in the George Lucas movies — a black-masked, light sabre-wielding villain who is in permanent battle with the good Force. But the Dark Lord of the Sith is a rather more popular figure in Ukraine, where Western culture is being embraced and the Soviet past erased from history, a transition that outrages Russia.
One masked villain tried joining last year's presidential race, being denied registration only after he refused to disclose his real name and identity papers. Later that year, Darth Vaders ran as candidates for mayors of Kiev and Odessa, the historic Black Sea port where the new statue was formally unveiled on Friday.
Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-10-24/ukrainians-transform-lenin-statue-into-darth-vader/6881648
The statue in Odessa — formerly of Lenin — was altered to the Sith Lord instead of simply destroying it.
LOL Ok, this is amusing.
Fear and xenophobia poison Polish polls
Source: The Guardian UK
The country is thriving, but the rightwing Law and Justice party’s anti-migrant and introspective campaign has won over many voters before Sunday’s election. Call it the Polish paradox. As voters head to the ballot box on Sunday to pick a new parliament, the mood is decidedly at odds with the facts. The country has taken in few refugees during Europe’s year of desperate migration – yet the campaign is marked by introspection and xenophobia (“migrants carry very dangerous diseases,” said the head of the frontrunner rightwing party last week).
The Polish economy is one of Europe’s most robust – but the talk is of mismanagement, tax avoidance and surrender to Germany. Poland should be a confident, big European player but it appears mired in fear, recrimination and an almost pathological antipathy to the idea of change.
“They are not talking about the issues that matter,” said one voter, Janina Zurowska-Filipek, a fruit and veg seller from Warsaw. “They are promoting fear of immigrants when, in fact, migrants are not going to come to Poland. They want to go to rich countries.”
“We have reached the limit of our capacity to absorb changes,’’ said Jacek Kucharczyk, director of the Institute of Public Affairs. “We are about to give the country to a bunch of political extremists who have been smart enough to send consoling signals to people who are scared. We are going through a kind of counter-Reformation.” By “extremists” he means the Law and Justice party of Andrzej Duda, who won a presidential vote five months ago. Law and Justice may need a partner to form a government but according to the latest surveys, his party will finish at least 10% ahead of the governing centrist Civic Platform.
Read more: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/23/poland-election-law-and-justice-party
Sadly, this xenophobic streak runs thru many of the new eastern European members of the EU and NATO. Many have relatively small populations, all have no real history of immigration and assimilation like here in the US, and most still defensively protect their hard-won restored sovereignty and their national cultural identity.
Becoming a truly modern nation is a process. Yeah, I know, who are we to talk in light of the racist comments from leading Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, but still.
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