Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Sunday Times journalist Marie Colvin killed. U.S. to Syria al-Assad :Your days are numbered أمريكا للأسد: ايامك معدودة

Uploaded by on Feb 22, 2012
Marie Colvin of the Sunday Times, has been killed in an attack in the Syrian city of Homs.

The second journalist has been named as French photographer Remi Ochlik, who was also killed in an attack which is said to have targeted an opposition safehouse.

Ms Colvin had been a war reporter for the Sunday Times for 20 years, and during a career that took her to some of the world's most dangerous conflict zones, lost an eye to a shrapnel wound in Sri Lanka in 2001.

In a statement, the editor of the Sunday Times John Witherow said: "Marie was an extraordinary figure in the life of The Sunday Times, driven by a passion to cover wars in the belief that what she did mattered.

"She believed profoundly that reporting could curtail the excesses of brutal regimes and make the international community take notice. Above all, as we saw in her powerful report last weekend, her thoughts were with the victims of violence.

"Throughout her long career she took risks to fulfil this goal, including being badly injured in Sri Lanka. Nothing seemed to deter her. But she was much more than a war reporter.

"She was a woman with a tremendous joie de vivre, full of humour and mischief and surrounded by a large circle of friends, all of whom feared the consequences of her bravery."

Mr Ochlik was a 28-year-old award-winning photojournalist, who had covered events in Haiti and Libya. He is the second French journalist to be killed in the unrest in the country, after cameraman Gilles Jacquier died in a mortar attack during an authorised press trip, also in Homs.
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U.S. to Syria al-Assad :Your days are numbered 
 أمريكا للأسد: ايامك معدودة
Uploaded by on Feb 7, 2012
The United Nations now says 6,000 people have been killed since demonstrations erupted almost a year ago, and opposition activists say the death toll has topped 7,000. Many of the victims have been peaceful activists.
http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2012/02/07/us-military-beginning-review-of-syri...
Tens of thousands have been injured. Thousands have been arrested; others have simply disappeared. And beyond that, thousands of refugees have fled to neighboring Turkey, Jordan and even Iraq.
This is truly an international disaster.
In the meantime, the United Nations Security Council can't even pass a simple resolution demanding that President Bashar al-Assad step down. That's because of a Russian and Chinese veto.
The Russians continue to provide weapons to the Damascus regime, even while the violence continues, although the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. tells me the Russians support the Syrians "for the time being."
Ambassador Susan Rice says she believes al-Assad's days are numbered. When I asked her if the U.S. would support arming the opposition, as Sen. John McCain and others have suggested, she said, "our strong preference is not to fuel what has the potential to become a full-blown civil war. Assad is off the reservation. ..."
She also hinted that the United States is indeed considering all its options, saying, "before we start talking about military options, we very much want to ensure that we have exhausted all of the political, economic and diplomatic means at our disposal."
As we all know, there is no real appetite in the U.S. or among the NATO allies to take direct military action, even along the lines of what was done most recently in Libya ("the no-fly zone") and back in the 1990s in Bosnia and Kosovo.
The Arab world, the Europeans and the United States can certainly intensify the diplomatic and economic pressure on the al-Assad regime, but these kinds of sanctions are unlikely to achieve much, given the economic and diplomatic support the Damascus government receives from Russia, China, Iran, Lebanon and even from the supposedly pro-U.S. Iraqi government of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki.
Amid all this, the al-Assad regime is stepping up its military assault on the anti-regime forces.
The U.S. is certainly using stronger language. When I asked Rice to look into the camera and speak directly to al-Assad, this is what she said:
"The United States stands with the people of Syria, fully and unequivocally, in their aspirations for peace for democracy and for a brighter future. Your days are numbered, and it is time and past time for you to transfer power responsibly and peacefully. The longer you hang on, the more damage you do yourself, your family, your interest and indeed your country."

Britian - Kate Middleton Sparks Fashion Frenzy and Reveals Puppy's Name During Charity Visit

Uploaded by on Feb 21, 2012
Hey there, I'm Karli Bulnes. Kate Middleton sparked a fashion frenzy and revealed her puppy's name during her latest charitable visit. We've got the details in today's PopSugar Rush.

Iran - UN inspectors return empty-handed unable to get permission to visit a key military site

Published on Feb 22, 2012 by
http://www.euronews.net/ The United Nations' nuclear watchdog says talks with Iran have failed over its disputed atomic activities.

Inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency have returned to Vienna saying that after two days of negotiations they were unable to get permission to visit a key military site. They suspect it is being used as a test centre for nuclear weapons.

Syria - Two foreign journalists killed Marie Colvin (Sunday Times) & French photographer Remi Ochlik.

Published on Feb 22, 2012 by
http://www.euronews.net/ Bombardment of the Syrian city of Homs continues, with activists claiming at least another 17 people were killed on Wednesday.

There are also reports residents of the city's Baba Amr neighbourhood tried to negotiate a ceasefire with the army. The area has been hit particularly hard and a strike on makeshift media area there killed two journalists - Marie Colvin from the Sunday Times and French photographer Remi Ochlik.

Afghanistan - Kabul US embassy staff warned after Koran desecration

Published on Feb 22, 2012 by
http://www.euronews.net/ Allegations that foreign troops in Afghanistan burnt copies of the Koran has led to extra security measures at the US embassy in Kabul.

Protests that began in Bagram, on Tuesday after the claims were made, have now spread to the capital.

The US embassy there has cancelled all travel and is warning its staff to be particularly careful.

Seventy year old protester Khan Gul was enraged:

New Zealand - Megaupload founder Dotcom freed on bail

Published on Feb 22, 2012 by
http://www.euronews.net/ The founder of the file-sharing site Megaupload, wanted by the US for alleged widespread internet piracy, has been granted bail by a New Zealand court.

The judge in Auckland rejected claims that Kim Dotcom posed a flight risk pending an extradition hearing, and instead put him under effective house arrest.

The 38-year-old German is accused of copyright piracy, racketeering and moneylaundering. He had been in custody for over a month.

Australia - Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd resigns citing a lack of support from Prime Minister Julia Gillard

Uploaded by on Feb 22, 2012
Kevin Rudd has resigned from his post citing a lack of support from Prime Minister Julia Gillard

Brit Awards‎ 2012 - Ed Sheeran two awards for best male artist and best breakthrough act

Uploaded by on Feb 21, 2012
The 21-year-old singer-songwriter picked up two awards for best male artist and best breakthrough act.

Brit Awards‎ 2012: Adele lifts two awards and her middle finger

Uploaded by on Feb 21, 2012
Singer Adele picked up the statuette for British female solo artist and scooped the coveted best album honour for 21, but ended up gesturing with her middle finger in frustration onstage at being cut off during her acceptance speech.

China - Foxconn: An Exclusive Inside Look into the factory that makes Apple products.

Uploaded by on Feb 21, 2012
Bill Weir takes an in-depth look into the factory that makes Apple products.

e-business: your privacy on the line How Safe Is It?

Published on Feb 21, 2012 by
http://www.euronews.net/ It is not only on social networks that we are giving away our privacy. Most companies on the internet now collect and process our personal data, and sometimes they also sell them.

Names, phone numbers, e-mail addresses: to make purchases or access services online, users have to give this information.

Greece - Austerity measures cause dairy farmers to scuffle with police in a northern town

Uploaded by on Feb 21, 2012
Austerity measures cause dairy farmers to scuffle with police in a northern Greek town, highlighting public anger.

Britain - Duchess of Cambridge fashion spoof - Alison Jackson Kate Middleton´s look a like

Uploaded by on Feb 21, 2012
Alison Jackson creates a fake royal scene for The Rodnik Band's British Royal
themed fashion collection.

Britain - Stars parade the Brits red carpet - Adele, Kylie, Jessie J, Emeli Sande

Uploaded by on Feb 21, 2012
Adele, Kylie, Jessie J, Emeli Sande are just some of the stars who turned out on the red carpet at the O2 Arena for the Brit Awards

Libra Daily stars for today 22 February 2012 - www.shelleyvonstrunckel.com

At the moment your timing in certain issues is being dominated by certain individuals. While, obviously, you'd rather set the agenda yourself, your instincts that they're playing a strategic game are correct. By early next week, you'll not only be able to express your views, others will be prepared to listen.
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