Morning Blog

Good morning everyone.

There is a good chance I might not be able to bring you Tuesday’s updates, I will let you know as soon as I can.

Have a good Mumbly Monday wherever you may be, take care, be safe and stay warm.

Sayonara from my evening corner of Tokyo, where we saw lots of sunshine but chilly winds today. Mata ashita ne.
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A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
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Hallelujah!!
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All atomic power to halt ‘momentarily’

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120416a2.html

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The government wanted to jump ahead even without all the required safety measures being implemented. They have learned nothing from 3/11 last year.
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Move to restart Oi’s reactors blasted as misinformed haste

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120416a3.html

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Another thermometer breaks at Fukushima

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120416a1.html

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Govt to subsidize debris tours / Visits to disaster-hit areas may help accelerate removal of debris

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120415001616.htm

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No-entry designation lifted for Minami-Soma

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/no-entry-designation-lifted-for-minami-soma

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Insurgents’ RPGs hit Japanese Embassy in Kabul

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120416a6.html

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The government has just finished telling us that we are broke, and that is why our consumption tax is going up from 5% to 10%. They must have found an extra $60 bil under the sofa seats.
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Japan considering $60 bil contribution to IMF

http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/japan-considering-60-bil-contribution-to-imf

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
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Just so you don’t feel so isolated with your nutters in politics in the U.S., here is one of ours.
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Lord Ahmed suspended from Labour Party after ‘offering £10m bounty for capture of Obama and Bush’

Lord Ahmed, a controversial British, peer has been suspended from the Labour Party amid reports that he offered a £10 million bounty for the capture of President Barack Obama and his predecessor President George W Bush.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/9206078/Lord-Ahmed-suspended-from-Labour-Party-after-offering-10m-bounty-for-capture-of-Obama-and-Bush.html

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Or how about this one? Will they send out a bounty hunter for me?
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Register to vote or face fines, under plans backed by Nick Clegg

Adults who fail to register to vote face being fined under plans being drawn up by the coalition.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9205952/Register-to-vote-or-face-fines-under-plans-backed-by-Nick-Clegg.html

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Well of course they did
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Ed Miliband’s party donation cap plan snubbed by Tories

Labour proposal for £5,000 limit described as meaningless, but party says it would curtail discretionary donations by unions

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/apr/15/ed-miliband-party-donation-cap

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As if we or they are hearing it for the first time. 🙄
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Treasury reveals how little tax the super-rich pay

Figures were backdrop to George Osborne’s ‘tycoon tax’ in budget to cap relief on charitable giving

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/15/treasury-reveals-super-rich-tax-rates

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Remember folks, “There is no global warming”. Repeat after me, “There is no global warming”.
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Wildlife and farming disaster warning as drought spreads across England

Officials warn dry spell could last into next year and hosepipe bans could be extended to cover larger areas

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/apr/16/drought-wildlife-farming-disaster-warning

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Eurozone crisis live: Euro slides as Spanish fears grow

• Sterling hits 19-month high against the euro
• Today’s agenda

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/16/eurozone-crisis-spain-bonds-euro

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France elections 2012: Nicolas Sarkozy declared most unpopular president in history

Nicolas Sarkozy was declared the most unpopular president in French history in a damning poll on Sunday ahead of the first round of the presidential elections next week, as the two leading candidates vied to rally voters in mass, open-air speeches in Paris.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/nicolas-sarkozy/9205652/France-elections-2012-Nicolas-Sarkozy-declared-most-unpopular-president-in-history.html

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Suspected Paris serial killer arrested

A suspected serial killer was on Sunday under arrest in connection with a spate of murders in suburban Parisian housing estates after detectives identified him thanks to motorbike he drove to the crime scenes.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9205703/Suspected-Paris-serial-killer-arrested.html

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How can you defend that Silvio, it’s bribery and corruption. Have you lost your tiny mind?
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Silvio Berlusconi defends paying money to former showgirls in ‘bunga bunga’ trial

Silvio Berlusconi has defended paying thousands of pounds to former TV starlet Nicole Minetti and two showgirls due to testify in his “bunga bunga” prostitution trial in Milan.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/silvio-berlusconi/9205401/Silvio-Berlusconi-defends-paying-money-to-former-showgirls-in-bunga-bunga-trial.html

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Norway killer Anders Behring Breivik barred from reading ‘new manifesto’ in court

Anders Behring Breivik has been banned from reading a “new manifesto” he has written when he stands to give testimony over the massacre in Norway, his lawyers have told The Daily Telegraph.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/norway/9205393/Norway-killer-Anders-Behring-Breivik-barred-from-reading-new-manifesto-in-court.html

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Gag him, no one has to listen to that, especially not the families of the victims..
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Norway killer Anders Behring Breivik trial: latest

The terror trial against Anders Behring Breivik begins, amid concerns that he will use the proceedings to showcase his extreme views.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/norway/9206193/Norway-killer-Anders-Behring-Breivik-trial-latest.html

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Nervous Kremlin seeks to purge Russia’s internet of ‘western’ influences

Unlike Vladimir Putin, many Russians have taken to the internet with great enthusiasm. Now liberals and gay rights activists are among those feeling the heat from the Kremlin

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/apr/15/kremlin-purge-russia-internet-western-influences

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Barack Obama: ‘Of course I’ll be angry’ if prostitute accusations are true

President Barack Obama, speaking for the first time about allegations that Secret Service agents hired prostitutes, has said “of course I’ll be angry” if those accusations are proven true by an investigation.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/barackobama/9206086/Barack-Obama-Of-course-Ill-be-angry-if-prostitute-accusations-are-true.html

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US to make profit from bailouts, Treasury says

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17720012

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Google fined by FCC over Street View

Web giant to pay $25,000 for collecting personal information without permission and impeding investigation

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/apr/16/google-fined-fcc-street-view

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This is definitely too much. I’m still in shock after finding our house for all to see a few years ago. This is not just an invasion of privacy, it is an invitations to stalkers and criminals too.
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Google accused of invading privacy with pictures of house numbers

Google has sparked a new privacy row by forcing users to decipher blurred photos of private house numbers to access their own accounts.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/google/9205486/Google-accused-of-invading-privacy-with-pictures-of-house-numbers.html

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Five killed, 29 hurt, as 100 tornadoes rake central US

Forecasters warn more twisters possible after homes and businesses are wrecked and thousands left without power

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/15/oklahoma-tornado-two-dead

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Good Lord!
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El Salvador marks murder-free day

Central American country marks first day in almost three years that no one has been murdered

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/16/el-salvador-murder-free-day

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Syria: first UN peace monitors arrive – live updates

• UN advance team arrives in Syria to monitor fragile peace
• Leading candidates banned from Egypt’s presidential race
• Human Rights Watch directors arrested in Bahrain

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/16/syria-un-monitors-arrive-live

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What ceasefire??
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Syria’s fragile ceasefire on the verge of collapse

Syria’s fragile ceasefire was on the verge of collapse on Sunday night after the regime was accused of shelling the rebellious city of Homs and staging attacks in other towns.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9205732/Syrias-fragile-ceasefire-on-the-verge-of-collapse.html

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The poster that illustrates Syria’s anger

A poster of Asma al-Assad by an anonymous writer expresses her and her country’s disgust

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/shortcuts/2012/apr/15/poster-syrias-anger

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Egypt’s Islamists threaten street protests over presidential election chaos

Islamist radicals threatened to take millions of people to the streets of Egypt on Sunday night after a ruling which plunged the presidential elections into chaos by banning most of the leading candidates.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/9205604/Egypts-Islamists-threaten-street-protests-over-presidential-election-chaos.html

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Well at least they didn’t gun them down like the last time.
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Israeli police detain ‘flytilla’ Palestinian protesters

Israeli police detained dozens of pro-Palestinian activists who had attempted a mass “flytilla” protest at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airport on Sunday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/9205594/Israeli-police-detain-flytilla-Palestinian-protesters.html

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Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails to go on hunger strike

Around 1,600 prisoners expected to take part in protest against imprisonment without charge and solitary confinement

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/15/palestinian-prisoners-israel-hunger-strike

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Juba accuses Khartoum of bomb attack

Former civil war foes close to full-blown war after South Sudan seizes Heglig oilfield, prompting shelling and air raids by Sudan

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/15/south-sudan-accuses-sudan-bombing-oilfield

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Swiss woman abducted by gunmen in northern Mali

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17724256

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Iran agrees to concrete proposals for resolving nuclear crisis

A new effort to break the deadlock over Iran’s nuclear ambitions is set to begin after 10 hours of talks between Tehran and the world’s leading powers ended with rare words of mutual praise.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9205403/Iran-agrees-to-concrete-proposals-for-resolving-nuclear-crisis.html

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Insurgents who launched multiple Kabul attacks killed in overnight operation

Afghan security forces have regained control of Kabul, killing all the Taliban militants who launched one of the biggest coordinated attacks on Kabul in a decade of war, officials said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/9206092/Insurgents-who-launched-multiple-Kabul-attacks-killed-in-overnight-operation.html

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India factory collapse ‘traps many’ in Punjab

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-17724544

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Ok, so now prove that this is just not some government plot against a very popular and successful politician and businessman, and his wife.
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Neil Heywood was poisoned with cyanide, official Chinese report reveals

The Old Harrovian businessman Neil Heywood was poisoned with cyanide on the orders of a powerful Chinese politician’s wife, according to a report compiled for the Chinese government, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/9205859/Neil-Heywood-was-poisoned-with-cyanide-official-Chinese-report-reveals.html

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China’s censors tested by microbloggers who keep one step ahead of state media

China may have the world’s most internet-savvy government but Beijing has been struggling to keep a lid on bold social networks

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/apr/16/internet-china-censorship-weibo-microblogs

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Just in case anyone gives a flying squirrel.
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Kim Jong-un delivers first North Korea address

North Korea’s leader made his first televised public speech on Sunday on the centenary of the birth of the country’s founder, promoting himself as a powerful military leader.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9205387/Kim-Jong-un-delivers-first-North-Korea-address.html

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Philippines-US war games begin amid China tensions

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17699176

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TRIVIA QUIZ

Yesterday’s answer. Indonesia. It’s kretek cigarettes are two parts tobacco to one part cloves.

Today’s question.

Which is the only state flag wih different designs on its front and back?

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Has Kony 2012 changed anything?

The film about the Ugandan warlord, produced by the US charity Invisible Children, has now been viewed on YouTube nearly 90m times. On Friday the campaign will go offline with thousands of people poised to plaster major cities overnight with posters calling on governments to get together to arrest Joseph Kony. What has the campaign achieved so far?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2012/apr/16/has-kony-2012-changed-anything

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Long time no see Charlie Brooker.
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Some people are gay in space. Get over it

Video game players can now identify their characters as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender. Which is wonderful, unless you’re a sad homophobe

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/15/charlie-brooker-gay-video-game

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Britain must find its own way to overcome its racism

Black Britons have a harder time in the job market than African Americans – but US-style affirmative action isn’t the answer here

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/15/racism-britain-affirmative-action

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Why does the 1970s get painted as such a bad decade?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17703483

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Dr Dillner’s health dilemmas: will chemotherapy affect my job?

Treatment can be tiring and isolating, but some research suggests that leading as normal a life as possible may help cancer patients

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/apr/15/will-chemotherapy-affect-my-job

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Orthodox Easter – in pictures

Eastern Orthodox churches, which observe the ancient Julian calendar, usually celebrate Easter later than western churches

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gallery/2012/apr/15/orthodox-easter-churches-in-picture

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Week in pictures: 7-13 April 2012

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-17702006

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24 hours in pictures
A selection of the best images from around the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2012/apr/15/24-hours-pictures

Good morning everyone.

It will have to be a bit of a quickie this morning, I’m running a bit late this afternoon.

Have a good Sunday wherever you may be, take care, be safe and stay warm.

Sayonara from my late afternoon corner of Tokyo. Mata ashita ne.
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Sunday’s Bits & Bobs.
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Okinawa bases stored toxic defoliant, ex-soldier says
U.S. vet pries lid off Agent Orange denials

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120415a1.html

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Oi reactor restarts hinge on assembly, locals: Fukui governor
Nishikawa tells trade minister to consult with Kyoto, Osaka and host town’s residents over resumption

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120415a2.html

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Machine fell into MOX spent-fuel pool: Tepco
Hydrogen blast likely caused 35-ton behemoth’s plunge; no damage seen

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120415a4.html

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Namie to seek medical fee exemption for all resident

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120415a3.html
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Ministers sound retreat in charity tax row

Ministers are preparing a climbdown in the face of intense pressure over plans to cut tax relief on charitable donations, The Sunday Telegraph has learned.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9204963/Ministers-sound-retreat-in-charity-tax-row.html

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About time too. May I signal my distaste of this woman altogether?
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Judges signal distaste for Theresa May’s human rights reform

Judges have fired a warning shot against Theresa May’s plan to stop foreign criminals abusing human rights laws.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/immigration/9204527/Judges-signal-distaste-for-Theresa-Mays-human-rights-reform.html

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There is that scary word again, “private”, and all it conjures up for the consumer, the patient and the student, with the added bonus of a rip-off from con men along the way.
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DIY firms allowed to send staff into homes and push their own products in Green Deal scheme

B&Q staff are to be allowed to enter homes, decide how to make them more energy efficient and then sell their own green products to householders, under a new Government scheme.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9204767/DIY-firms-allowed-to-send-staff-into-homes-and-push-their-own-products-in-Green-Deal-scheme.html

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Friends: The One Where Nick Worries About His Finances

It all gets a bit much for the DPM, but Miriam keeps her cool, in the latest episode of our political sitcom.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/nick-clegg/9204227/Friends-The-One-Where-Nick-Worries-About-His-Finances.html

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Far-right anti-Muslim network on rise globally as Breivik trial opens

Report highlights UK role in the growth of groups that inspired Norway’s mass murderer

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/14/breivik-trial-norway-mass-murderer

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Bad news for Nicolas Sarkozy in Burgundy’s bellwether village

The prescient voters of Donzy, like the rest of the country, have yet to make up their minds. But the mood is for change

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/15/burgundy-village-mirrors-french-election-news-bad-sarkozy

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This certainly won’t be a picnic for the families of the victims.
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As final preparations are made for trial of Anders Behring Breivik, Norway families fear it could become a circus

The man accused of mass murder in Norway last year has called a bizarre array of expert witnesses and threatens to use his trial to spread his poisonous ideas.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/norway/9204793/As-final-preparations-are-made-for-trial-of-Anders-Behring-Breivik-Norway-families-fear-it-could-become-a-circus.html

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US secret service scandal widens to include military

Five soldiers confined to quarters over claims of inappropriate conduct as 11 secret service members are put on leave

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/15/us-secret-service-scandal-military

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Another clueless idiot. No Wayne LaPierre, it wasn’t the media, but the people who are demanding justice for yet another senseless gun crime.
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NRA official accuses media of creating controversy over Travyon Martin case

Wayne LaPierre, executive vice-president of National Rifle Association, says media ignore ‘everyday victims’ of crime

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/15/nra-official-media-trayvon-martin

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Mitt Romney’s poor judgment is already undermining his candidacy

Finally, Obama’s opponent has been confirmed, but can the Republican nominee mount an effective challenge?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/15/michael-cohen-mitt-romney-presidential-nominee

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Tornadoes sweep across US Midwest

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17710248

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UN Security Council votes to send ceasefire monitors to Syria

The UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously voted its first ever resolution on the Syria crisis, allowing an advance party of ceasefire monitors to go to the country on the brink of civil war.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9204705/UN-Security-Council-votes-to-send-ceasefire-monitors-to-Syria.html

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Homs shelled on third day of truce

Forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad shell the battered Syrian city of Homs, killing one person, opposition activists say.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9204563/Homs-shelled-on-third-day-of-truce.html

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Egyptian presidential hopefuls barred from race

10 of the candidates planning to run, including an ex-spy chief and key Islamists, will not be allowed to stand

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/14/egyptian-presidential-hopefuls-barred-race

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Militants attack Yemen checkpoint

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17714437

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Teenage protester in intensive care as Bahrain Grand Prix gets green light

A teenage mourner shot by police in Bahrain was in intensive care on Saturday as Formula One bosses said next week’s Grand Prix will proceed as planned.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/bahrain/9204530/Teenage-protester-in-intensive-care-as-Bahrain-Grand-Prix-gets-green-light.html

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Bahrain Grand Prix: Formula One demeans itself with this event

Whoever participates in this race is tainted by association with a malign regime

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/15/editorial-boycott-bahrain-grand-prix

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Khartoum forces ‘bomb South Sudan town

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17712848

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Mining giant Glencore accused in child labour and acid dumping row

London-listed company denies polluting river in Congo and profiting from children working underground

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/14/glencore-child-labour-acid-dumping-row

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Iran nuclear talks begin with rare mood of optimism

The first talks between Iran and the world’s leading powers for over a year have opened on a rare note of optimism, with a diplomat hailing the ‘completely different’ atmosphere of the first session.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9204531/Iran-nuclear-talks-begin-with-rare-mood-of-optimism.html

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Pakistan militants free hundreds of prisoners

Armed Islamists attack jail in north-western town of Bannu, allowing almost 400 prisoners to escape

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/15/pakistan-militants-free-prisoners

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Murdered Afghan talks head Rabbani replaced by son

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-17712058

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Chinese police seek blogger who revealed death of Neil Heywood

Journalist defends role in telling the truth as details emerge of British consular suspicions about Neil Heywood’s death

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/15/china-neil-heywood-death-blogger

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Inside North Korea: Empty screens and blank faces as rocket launch fails

It was meant to be a triumphant day for Kim Jong-un and his North Korean generals. But, as Angus Walker reports, things didn’t quite go as planned.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9204477/Inside-North-Korea-Empty-screens-and-blank-faces-as-rocket-launch-fails.html

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Bomb hits Philippines cock-fight

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17714442

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TRIVIA QUIZ

Yesterday’s answer. The painting shows Van Gogh with his right ear bandaged, but it was his left earlobe that he cut. Experts believe the self portrait is a mirror image.

Well done kes. 😉

What country uses about half the world’s production of cloves – primarily in cigarettes?

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British farmer’s quest to find lost Spitfires in Burma

A Lincolnshire farmer has told how he spent 15 years trying to find a lost squadron of Spitfires that was buried in Burma at the end of the Second World War.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/burma/9204921/British-farmers-quest-to-find-lost-Spitfires-in-Burma.html

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The Penge Mystery: the murder of Harriet Staunton

In 1877, Harriet Staunton’s husband and three others were accused of starving her to death and lurid newspaper reports of the Penge murder trial held the nation’s rapt attention. A bestselling novel about the affair – written in 1934 and now republished – proves as gripping today

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/15/harriet-staunton-penge-murder-jenkins

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Titanic’s 1,512 dead are remembered in mid-ocean 100 years after sinking

Remembrance service held aboard cruise ship Balmoral at mid-Atlantic spot where the Titanic went down

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/15/titanic-memorial-service-balmoral

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Titanic: Unlikely friendship in lifeboat eight

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17583924

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If you’ve lost the philatelists, your days are surely numbered

Who will buy Royal Mail now that even the stamp collectors have turned against it?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/15/david-mitchell-royal-mail-stamps

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Be good and eat all yer veggies. 🙂
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A taste of spring, from Ruth Rogers

The River Café’s Ruth Rogers makes a feast from fresh spring vegetables with four exciting new recipes

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/apr/15/ruth-rogers-river-cafe-spring-recipes

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The Songkran Festival: new year in Thailand and Burma marked with water fights

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/worldnews/9203238/Songkran-festival-new-year-in-Thailand-and-Myanmar-marked-with-water-fights.html

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Your pictures: Spring

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-17675717

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24 hours in pictures
A selection of the best images from around the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2012/apr/14/24-hours-in-pictures

Good morning everyone.

Well I don’t know about you, but it was a miserably wet and cold Saturday here today, and I think the last cherry blossoms must be gone now. I didn’t see any this year. 🙁

Have a good day wherever you may be, take care, be safe and stay warm.

Sayonara from my rainy corner of Tokyo. Mata ashita ne.
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A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
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Rocket failure an embarrassment for North
Taepodong-2 launch fails after a minute in flight

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120414a1.html

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ANALYSIS
Blown launch might be followed by nuclear test, internal strife, purge

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120414a2.html

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Failure spoils North’s bid to salute new young leader

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120414a4.html

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Thank the Lord it wasn’t an air-raid warning that we were expecting.
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Govt took 43 minutes to announce missile launch

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120413006101.htm

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Yes because someone has been payed a bribe to hurry it up.
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Ministers declare Oi nuclear reactors safe for reactivation

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120414p2g00m0dm004000c.html

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For a second there I thought a voice would say, “Cross my palms with silver”, then I read it again. 🙂
————

Bank to install palm-reading ATMs

http://www.japantoday.com/category/technology/view/regional-bank-to-install-palm-reading-atms

—-

Senior U.S. diplomat heads to Japan, other Asian nations amid N Korea tensions

http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/senior-u-s-diplomat-heads-to-japan-other-asian-nations-amid-n-korea-tensions

—-

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Pond pals

http://www.japantoday.com/category/picture-of-the-day/view/pond-pals
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Who can blame them, anyone would suffer from low morale watching these clods in charge make a total, bumbling mess of things.
———–

–

A quarter of senior civil servants quit Whitehall under Coalition

One in four senior civil servants have quit since the Coalition formed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9203416/A-quarter-of-senior-civil-servants-quit-Whitehall-under-Coalition.html

—-

Oh bloody brilliant, now we should all be able to feel safer in our beds at night. 🙄
————

Beat bobbies to be replaced by ‘plastic police’

A police force has come under fire over plans to take PCs off the streets and replace them with community support officers in a move that would spell the end for the “bobbie on the beat”.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9201760/Beat-bobbies-to-be-replaced-by-plastic-police.html

—-

Can someone find a vacant island for this drip, I’m sure he would be much happier there creating his own world with its own rules. Shangri-La is the other way Lansley.
———–

Lansley comes under fire over plain cigarette packet plans

Health secretary faced criticism from within his own party after announcing plans for a consultation on cigarette branding-

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/13/lansley-plain-cigarette-packet-plans

—-

Staff deporting foreigners out of UK ‘loutish and aggressive’

Firm hired by Home Office to deport refused asylum seekers and foreign prisoners admits its guards lack respect for minorities and women

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/13/staff-deporting-foreigners-loutish

—-

You can stuff it.
————

‘Gay cure’ Christian charity funded 20 MPs’ interns

Christian Action Research and Education has supplied staff to Conservatives, Labour and Liberal Democrats

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/13/gay-cure-christian-charity-mps-interns

—-

The legacy of Orgreave and Hillsborough is still with us

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/13/legacy-orgreave-hillsborough

—-

Hackers beware!
————

BPAS hacker jailed for 32 months

Anonymous member James Jeffery intended to publish details of 10,000 women stolen from British Pregnancy Advisory Service

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/13/bpas-hacker-james-jeffery-jailed

—-

Let’s get the ball rolling by sacking those at the top.
————

Ministers need to be ready for a revolution

Politicians must prepare for a fundamental change to the way this country is governed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/9202963/Ministers-need-to-be-ready-for-a-revolution.html

—-

Alex Salmond ‘manufacturing outrage’ over Economist Skintland cover

Given Alex Salmond’s famously short fuse, he was never going to take kindly to the front cover of the Economist’s new edition mocking his claims about a separate Scotland’s wealth.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9203329/Alex-Salmond-manufacturing-outrage-over-Economist-Skintland-cover.html

—-

NightJack blogger files claim against the Times over email hacking

Detective seeks aggravated damages from paper for breach of confidence, misuse of private information and deceit

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/apr/13/nightjack-blogger-times-email-hacking

—-

Sarkozy is spitting and growling like a cornered wild animal. Bye bye Nic.
————

Nicolas Sarkozy: Britain ‘in far worse economic situation than France’

Britain is in a “far worse economic situation than France,” Nicolas Sarkozy has claimed as he took a swipe at the “Anglo Saxon” model to help boost his waning hopes of re-election.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/nicolas-sarkozy/9203584/Nicolas-Sarkozy-Britain-in-far-worse-economic-situation-than-France.html

—-

Father of Anders Behring Breivik considered committing suicide

The father of Anders Behring Breivik considered taking his own life after hearing his son carried out the Oslo and Utoya massacres that killed 77 people.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/norway/9203814/Father-of-Anders-Behring-Breivik-considered-committing-suicide.html

—-

Five men shot dead near Macedonia capital Skopje

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17704960

—-

Obama paid higher rate than Mitt Romney, 2011 tax returns reveal

White House says president believes he should pay more tax as returns show he and Michelle paid 20.5% on $789,674

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/13/barack-obama-us-taxation

—-

More of Romney’s slimy lies.
————

Mitt Romney plays to NRA interests in bid to win over conservative base

Address to annual meeting of gun lobbying group focuses on anti-Obama rhetoric and an assurance to protect gun rights

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/13/mitt-romney-nra-conservative-speech

—-

US secret service agents sent home from summit over claims of misconduct

Officials say 12 agents accompanying Barack Obama to leaders’ meeting in Colombia have been relieved of duties

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/14/us-secret-service-agents-summit

—-

Oklahoma pair handed murder and hate crime charges over Tulsa gun spree

Police say Jake England, 19, and Alvin Watts, 33, confessed to weekend shooting spree that left three black people dead

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/13/oklahoma-murder-hate-crime-charges

—-

Trayvon Martin death raises issue of racism in America, says Toni Morrison

Nobel prize-winning novelist says Republican presidential hopefuls used hateful language against Barack Obama

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/13/toni-morrison-trayvon-martin-racism-police

—-

This is sickening, surely this is so very wrong?
————

American Nazi Party registers first Washington lobbyist

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17710570

—-

Two vipers at each other’s throats. Newt who? Fox what? Pathetic.
————

Fox News hits back at ‘bitter’ Newt Gingrich over claims of campaign bias

News channel says Gingrich is ‘auditioning for a gig at CNN’ after former House speaker complained Fox favoured Romney

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/12/newt-gingrich-complains-fox-news

—-

Neil Heywood death: Bo Xilai’s son ‘escorted from his home near Harvard university by US officials’

The son of the Chinese power couple embroiled in the scandal over British businessman Neil Heywood’s death was escorted from his home by US officials, as experts said he could obtain asylum in America.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/9203549/Neil-Heywood-death-Bo-Xilais-son-escorted-from-his-home-near-Harvard-university-by-US-officials.html

—-

Syria ceasefire: UN expected to vote on monitor team

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17710358

—-

As expected, sorry to say.
————

Syrian forces shell central Homs, breaking ceasefire, activists claim

Human rights group says Syrian regime has started bombing for first time since ceasefire began on Thursday, injuring several

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/14/syrian-forces-shell-homs-ceasefire

—-

Syrian troops threaten ceasefire by firing on demonstrators

Syrian troops fired on and broke up demonstrations as crowds poured on to city streets across the country, threatening a ceasefire even before the UN monitors supposed to guard it arrived.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9203727/Syrian-troops-threaten-ceasefire-by-firing-on-demonstrators.html

—-

Syria: Turkey threatens to invoke Nato’s self-defence article

Turkey has resurrected the prospect of western military intervention in the Syrian crisis, threatening to invoke NATO’S self-defence mechanisms over violations of its territory by Assad regime troops.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9200822/Syria-Turkey-threatens-to-invoke-Natos-self-defence-article.html

—-

Thousands of Islamists demonstrate in Tahrir Square

Thousands of Islamists demonstrated in Egypt’s Tahrir Square to demand that members of ousted President Hosni Mubarak’s regime be barred from standing in next month’s presidential election.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/9202946/Thousands-of-Islamists-demonstrate-in-Tahrir-Square.html

—-

Tear gas and fire bombs exchanged as police and protesters clash in Bahrain

As the FIA confirm that next weekend’s Bahrain Grand Prix will go ahead, the latest amateur video from the Gulf state shows violence on the streets of Manama.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/bahrain/9202110/Tear-gas-and-fire-bombs-exchanged-as-police-and-protesters-clash-in-Bahrain.html

—-

Cowards and bullies.
————

Israel forces airline to cancel tickets of British ‘flytilla’ activists

Jet2.com move follows pressure from Israel as 2,000 pro-Palestinian activists prepare to fly in on way to West Bank

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/13/palestinian-territories-israel

—-

Sudan troops ‘advance on Heglig oil field

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17707977

—-

Sudan ‘arming civilians’ to fight South Kordofan rebels

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17706113

—-

Guinea-Bissau coup suspected as military seizes parts of capital

Witnesses report explosions in Bissau as troops seal city centre and fire on prime minister Carlos Gomes Junior’s residence

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/13/guinea-bissau-coup-suspected

—-

Iran calls for ‘comprehensive, long term dialogue’ over nuclear talks

Iran’s foreign minister called for “comprehensive, long term dialogue” yesterday as the adversaries in the confrontation over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions prepared for crucial talks.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9203235/Iran-calls-for-comprehensive-long-term-dialogue-over-nuclear-talks.html

—-

One Iranian human rights activist released, another sentenced to jail

Kouhyar Goudarzi is reported to have been temporarily released while campaigner Mansoureh Behkish is sentenced to jail

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/iran-blog/2012/apr/13/kouhyar-goudarzi-released-iran

—-

Pakistan gunmen kill eight Shia Muslims

Attackers on motorcycle stage two sectarian attacks in south-western city of Quetta, leaving eight people dead

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/14/pakistan-gunmen-kill-shia-muslims

—-

Neil Heywood’s widow ‘silenced by Chinese police’

The Chinese widow of Neil Heywood, the British businessman whose death has been linked to one of China’s most powerful politicians, has reportedly been gagged by local police.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/9203339/Neil-Heywoods-widow-silenced-by-Chinese-police.html

—-

Humiliating rocket launch raises fears of North Korea detonating nuclear device

Concerns are growing that North Korea is stepping up plans to detonate a nuclear device after the launch of a rocket on Friday ended in humiliating failure.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9203138/Humiliating-rocket-launch-raises-fears-of-North-Korea-detonating-nuclear-device.html

—-

Can’t help feeling sorry for the people of N. Korea, their brainwashing is so complete, and it’s not their fault that their leaders are bonkers.
————

North Korea rocket failure gets brief mention on local TV

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17707288

—-

China and Philippines end fishing standoff

Chinese fishing boats leave disputed shoal in South China Sea, ending days of tension

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/14/china-philippines-end-fishing-standoff

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TRIVIA QUIZ

Today’s question.

What is misleading about Vincent van Gogh’s 1889 painting “Self-Portrait With Bandaged Ear”?

—-

Saving the condemned children of Ethiopia

In remote Ethiopia, where tribes still practise ritual infanticide, one man has made it his mission to save the children

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/ethiopia/9189136/Saving-the-condemned-children-of-Ethiopia.html

—-

Gay ‘conversion’ therapies give moral authority to bullies, says ex-missionary

Former Pentecostal Christian Peterson Toscano says his life was ruined by his church authorities’ attempts to alter his sexuality

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/13/gay-conversion-therapies-bullies-missionary

—-

Change.org thrust into spotlight in wake of Trayvon Martin case

The online campaign platform is growing at breakneck pace as petition success proves its ability to impact real world change

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/apr/13/change-org-social-activism-trayvon-martin

—-

Occupy Wall Street: the story behind seven months of protest – video

In September last year, anti-corporate activists descended on a small park in lower Manhattan and Occupy Wall Street was born. As protesters ready for a spring resurgence, film-maker Kat Keene Hogue looks back at more than six months of Occupy, a movement that spread from Zuccotti Park to over 100 cities around the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2012/apr/13/occupy-seven-months-of-protest-video

—-

Toni Morrison: ‘I want to feel what I feel. Even if it’s not happiness’

Nobel prize-winning author Toni Morrison talks to Emma Brockes about being a single mother, the death of her son and why love doesn’t last

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/13/toni-morrison-home-son-love

—-

Little boy lost finds his mother using Google Earth

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17693816

—-

Adventures of Yvonne the runaway cow to be made into film

Lion King producer to turn tale of the German cow who bolted from farm and evaded capture by hunters into animation

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/13/yvonne-runaway-cow-film

—-

Andre Kuipers, space station astronaut, sends pictures to Earth via Twitter.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/picture-galleries/9202815/Andre-Kuipers-space-station-astronaut-sends-pictures-to-Earth-via-Twitter.html

—-

News tweets: Corey Booker, Charles Manson and more

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17707344

—-

Week in pictures: 7-13 April 2012

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-17702006

—-

24 hours in pictures
A selection of the best images from around the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2012/apr/13/1

Good morning everyone.

It’s Friday the 13th and here in Asia it could have been a very different day. Thankfully the “Sense of Humour God” let the N. Korean “rocket of misfortune” once again drop harmlessly into the surrounding sea after less than a minute of flying time. Thank you for that, and although I can make light of it now, it has been time consuming and worrying time for Japan and S. Korea who were in the flight path. After all we went through last year, the thought of another person being injured or killed here by things we couldn’t control, was more than enough. Like the new leader of that country, the rocket fell out of the sky like a limp noodle without ever reaching space. So much for showing the world what a great leader you are Kim Jung un, your food aid deal just sunk with your rocket.

Have a good Friday today, take care, be safe and stay warm.

Sayonara from my early evening corner of Tokyo. Mata ashita ne.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

North Korean rocket launch reported as failure

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120413x1.html

—-

G-8 calls for U.N. action over launch
Foreign ministers charge rocket development violates resolutions

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120413a4.html

—-

Governors visit Oi nuke plant

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120413a5.html

—-

7.7% of quake debris recycled / Rate remains low as firms fear causing anxiety among locals

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120412005114.htm

—-

Threat of monster tsunami poses ominous possibilities

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120413f1.html

—-

16 in Kyoto mowed down by minivan
Driver plows into busy crosswalk in Gion district

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120413a1.html

—-

Chinese aircraft approaches Japanese destroyer in E. China Sea

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120413p2g00m0dm051000c.html

—-

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Personally I can’t see what all the fuss is about, I find tall buildings quite ugly, and this is no exception.
————

Standing tall

http://www.japantoday.com/category/picture-of-the-day/view/standing-tall-2
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This is really disgraceful when so many families can’t even manage to make ends meet, especially now after all the cuts to benefits and care for the elderly, most of which are then implemented by local councils on behalf of the government.
————

Council pension schemes costing £2,000 for every family in Britain

Councils have a combined black hole in their staff pension schemes worth £54billion – the equivalent more than £2,000 for every family in Britain – new figures show.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/council-spending/9200869/Council-pension-schemes-costing-2000-for-every-family-in-Britain.html

—-

Charity tax relief proposals: The taxman’s greed will strangle Britain’s amazing culture of giving

Charities cannot exist without their generous backers, so a Treasury assault on them is intolerable.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9200166/Charity-tax-relief-proposals-The-taxmans-greed-will-strangle-Britains-amazing-culture-of-giving.html

—-

That these advertisements are even allowed is scandalous, they sound so familiar, and I smell the interference of the U.S. RR here as well as the connection already exposed in the anti-abortion groups in the U.K. Good for Boris, well done. What on earth is wrong with the Brits?
————

Boris Johnson bans ‘gay cure’ bus adverts

Boris Johnson faces being drawn into a bitter dispute over homosexuality after banning advertisements on London buses promoting the idea that gay people can be “cured”.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/borisjohnson/9201095/Boris-Johnson-bans-gay-cure-bus-adverts.html

—-

Met police chief to face MPs over racism scandal

Bernard Hogan-Howe summoned for cross-examination over growing number of cases of alleged racism referred to the IPCC

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/12/met-police-chief-mps-racism-scandal

—-

Black people more likely to be jobless in Britain than US, research reveals

During last three recessions, unemployment among black men was up to 19 percentage points higher in UK than US

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/13/black-people-unemployed-britain-us

—-

Eurozone crisis live: Another Friday the 13th horror story?

GDP figures out of China, where the economy grew at its weakest pace in nearly three years, could weigh on markets

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/13/eurozone-crisis-live-market-friday-13th

—-

Why do that, we are not blind or deaf over here. We would have known about it, and certainly have seen it on our news. The man is desparate.
————

Nicolas Sarkozy facing ridicule after false Fukushima claims

Nicolas Sarkozy was facing yet more political embarrassment on Thursday after falsely claiming he visited Fukushima nuclear power plant after Japan’s devastating earthquake and tsunami last year.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9201646/Nicolas-Sarkozy-facing-ridicule-after-false-Fukushima-claims.html

—-

Just when you think that you might have heard the last of him, up he pops like a bad penny. Up to his old tricks of bribory again, that should get him another 12 years.
————

Silvio Berlusconi paid £100,000 to showgirls due to testify in trial

Silvio Berlusconi paid more than £100,000 to glamorous showgirls expected to testify in his “bunga bunga” prostitution trial, it emerged on Thursday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/silvio-berlusconi/9200509/Silvio-Berlusconi-paid-100000-to-showgirls-due-to-testify-in-trial.html

—-

Muhammed cartoon revenge plot trial to open in Denmark

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17698436

—-

Trayvon Martin: George Zimmerman makes first appearance in court

George Zimmerman has appeared in court for the first time, 46 days after he shot and killed the unarmed black teenager Trayvon Martin and sparked a murder case that has gripped America.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9201146/Trayvon-Martin-George-Zimmerman-makes-first-appearance-in-court.html

—-

Guantánamo war crimes tribunals ‘transparently unfair’

The Guantánamo war crimes tribunals are “transparently unfair” and will be the only court in US history where the rights of the US Constitution do not apply, the lawyer charged with defending the alleged Al Qa’eda mastermind behind the USS Cole bombing claimed last night.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-politics/9201667/Guantanamo-war-crimes-tribunals-transparently-unfair.html

—-

News Corp faces growing threat of phone-hacking lawsuits in US

Lawyers preparing News of the World phone-hacking claims in New York

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/apr/13/news-corp-phone-hacking-lawsuits-us

—-

Lehman administrators earn £500m in fees

• PwC admits it could take 20 years to unravel debts
• Figure does not cover pay to lawyers and former staff

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/13/lehman-debt-pwc-unravel

—-

There will be plenty of this before November Mitt. Can’t think of anyone who deserves it more than you do.
————

US Election 2012: Former Mitt Romney healthcare expert accuses him of hypocrisy

One of the experts behind Mitt Romney’s Massachusetts healthcare reforms has accused him of “fundamental hypocrisy” as the Republican frontrunner struggled to explain the difference between his law and the one passed by President Barack Obama.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-election/9201050/US-Election-2012-Former-Mitt-Romney-healthcare-expert-accuses-him-of-hypocrisy.html

—-

Mexico hit by two strong earthquakes

Two large quakes strike western Mexico within 12 hours, shaking buildings in the capital more than 200 miles away

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/12/mexico-two-strong-earthquakes

—-

I hope this couple sues.
————

Argentinian mother attacks hospital over baby ‘miracle’

A mother whose newborn baby was found alive in an Argentine morgue 12 hours after being declared dead on Wednesday blamed hospital negligence for the near-fatal mistake.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/argentina/9199430/Argentinian-mother-attacks-hospital-over-baby-miracle.html

—-

Syria opposition calls for day of protests – live updates

• UN security council move to send observers to Syria
• Clashes reported near Turkish border
• Bahrain grand prix ‘will go ahead’ despite protests

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/apr/13/syria-ceasefire-protests-bahrain

—-

Syria ceasefire: UN plans to send observers ‘in days’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17698852

—-

Syria: Assad regime ‘has failed to implement peace plan’

The United Nations was drawing up plans for a 200-strong monitoring mission to Syria after its envoy, Kofi Annan, declared that the Assad regime had failed to implement his peace plan by withdrawing troops from the streets.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9201101/Syria-Assad-regime-has-failed-to-implement-peace-plan.html

—-

President Bashar al-Assad won’t make same mistake as Colonel Gaddafi – so the West must act

Syria’s fragile UN-brokered ceasefire will do nothing to topple its ruthless and astute leader.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9200160/President-Bashar-al-Assad-wont-make-same-mistake-as-Colonel-Gaddafi-so-the-West-must-act.html

—-

Homs activist: this is the quiet before the storm

Speaking from Homs via Skype, Abo Allith tells the Telegraph that there have been four mortar attacks on the city despite the ceasefire.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9200230/Homs-activist-this-is-the-quiet-before-the-storm.html

—-

Well that was certainly quick and to the point.
————

Egypt passes legislation banning Mubarak officials from running as president

Egypt’s Islamist-dominated parliament has passed legislation that would ban top officials who served under Hosni Mubarak from becoming president, a move which could derail former Vice President Omar Suleiman.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/9201194/Egypt-passes-legislation-banning-Mubarak-officials-from-running-as-president.html

—-

Libya’s failure to hand over Gaddafi son must be referred to UN, says ICC counsel

Xavier-Jean Keïta’s call for formal complaint follows inadvertent release of scathing report on treatment of Saif al-Islam Gaddafi

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/12/libya-failure-hand-over-gaddafi-icc

—-

South Sudan choosing the ‘path of war’

Africa’s newest country was accused of choosing the “path of war” after South Sudan invaded its neighbour and seized a crucial oilfield.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/south-sudan/9200747/South-Sudan-choosing-the-path-of-war.html

—-

More suffering in Sudan

South Sudan’s invasion of its neighbour’s territory is reckless behaviour.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/9200177/More-suffering-in-Sudan.html

—-

Mali’s new leader threatens ‘total war’ against Tuareg rebels

Mali’s new interim president, who took over from coup leaders on Thursday, has threatened “total war” against the Tuareg and Islamist rebels who have seized half the country since the putsch three weeks ago.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/mali/9201664/Malis-new-leader-threatens-total-war-against-Tuareg-rebels.html

—-

Legality of attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities hinges on UN charter

While some experts argue that the UN recognises ‘self-defence’, others say any pre-emptive action would break international law

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/12/iran-attack-un-charter-experts

—-

Iran’s nuclear programme: legal debate stirs over basis for US or Israeli attack

As US and Israeli officials weigh up prospect of military strike on Iran, critics say any attack would go against international law

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/12/iran-military-attack-legal-debate

—-

Iranian intellectuals raise alarm over war

A group of Iranian writers, artists, lawyers and intellectuals living in the country have voiced their opposition to military action against Iran

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/iran-blog/2012/apr/12/iran-intellectuals-raise-alarm-war

—-

Afghan officer who killed British servicemen ‘showed no hints of extremism’

An Afghan officer who shot dead two British servicemen in an argument over access to a base in Helmand had never shown hints of extremism or links to the Taliban, his family said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/9200576/Afghan-officer-who-killed-British-servicemen-showed-no-hints-of-extremism.html

—-

China’s internet users temporarily blocked from foreign websites

Unexplained, hour-long incident sparks speculation about changes to ‘great firewall’ net censorship system

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/12/china-internet-users-foreign-websites

—-

North Korea’s rocket launch fails as world condemns action

Launch ends in failure and embarrassment for North Korea, breaking up only minutes after lift-off

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/13/north-korea-rocket-launch-fails

—-

No wonder it’s people are starving while idiots in charge play war games. Their rocket lies in the sea, and they are a laughingstock with nothing to show for it.
————

North Korea rocket cost impoverished country £533 million

North Korea is spending $850 million (£533 million) on the imminent launch of what it claims is a rocket to put a satellite into orbit, an amount that would feed millions in the impoverished country.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9200407/North-Korea-rocket-cost-impoverished-country-533-million.html

—-

Wrong turn grants glimpse behind North Korean curtain

It’s hard to know what is real in North Korea, but foreign press got a chance to see life behind the facade by accident

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/13/north-korea-real-life-press-bus

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TRIVIA QUIZ

Yesterday’s answer.

Germany (‘Ein Volk, ein Reich, ein Führer’ was a slogan of Nazi Germany before and during World War Two)

There will be no question today. Sorry.

—-

A few facts for the Romneys.
————

Ann Romney, stay-at-home moms and the real facts about women at work

US government researchers find most women who stay home with kids are less educated and can’t afford to pay for child care

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/apr/12/ann-romney-stay-home-moms

—-

Stand Your Ground: Four case studies

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17693084

—-

Jeffrey Sachs on the US economy: ‘It’s been an amazing ride for the rich’ – video

Jeffrey Sachs in conversation at the Guardian Open Weekend. Here, he discusses how globalisation has exacerbated income inequalities and the control over politics exerted by the rich, citing the Occupy movement which he describes as a ‘public relations hazard not a health hazard’

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/video/2012/apr/12/jeffrey-sachs-us-economy-video

—-

Somalia conflict keeps Ethiopia’s Dolo Ado refugee camp busy – audio slideshow

Fleeing conflict, drought and famine in Somalia, about 130 people arrive daily at the Dolo Ado refugee camp in south-west Ethiopia. The number represents a significant decrease compared with last summer, but – as clashes continue between al-Shabaab and Ethiopian troops across the river border – humanitarian agencies are worried that increased fighting or drought could once again turn a manageable trickle of arrivals into a flood. Last month, Ruth Evans spoke to World Food Programme aid workers and refugee Zainab Mohammed at Dolo Ado’s Buramino camp

http://www.guardian.co.uk/global-development/audioslideshow/2012/apr/12/somalia-conflict-dolo-ado-audio-slideshow

—-

Titanic: Faces of the crew

To mark the 100th anniversary of Titanic’s fateful maiden voyage, the BBC has brought together 250 photos of the ship’s crew in one of the biggest collections of its kind. Find out more about the people who worked on the ship by rolling over the images.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17669380

—-

Why not, we did all these things when we were kids. It’s healthier than staying indoors watching tv or playing video games any day.
————

National Trust: The 50 things to do

The National Trust is aiming to get the UK’s ‘cotton wool kids’ outdoors. Here is their list of the 50 things to do before you are 11 ¾:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/9201607/National-Trust-The-50-things-to-do.html

—-

This was a first for me.
————

Firefighters rescue woman from neck massage machine

A 64-year-old woman’s family was forced to call the emergency services after her hair got accidentally trapped in a neck massager in southern China.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/9200848/Firefighters-rescue-woman-from-neck-massage-machine.html

—-

Angry Roman centurions besiege Colosseum

Complete with red skirts, tunics, armour, swords and feathered helmets, the protesting centurions clashed with police in front of the city’s tourist attraction, the Colosseum, built in the times of Ancient Rome.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9201344/Angry-Roman-centurions-besiege-Colosseum.html

—-

😯
————

German man calls police over insatiable date

A German man hid on a balcony and called police for protection after his companion during a one-night stand refused to let him leave her flat

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/9201336/German-man-calls-police-over-insatiable-date.html

—-

Our moment of “Awwww”.
————

Female Bengal tiger and a Siberian tiger give birth to three cubs

Jaguar Zoo in southern Mexico has three new members, a litter of half-Bengal, half-Siberian tiger cubs born on 3 April.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/9201096/Female-Bengal-tiger-and-a-Siberian-tiger-give-birth-to-three-cubs.html

—-

24 hours in pictures
A selection of the best images from around the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2012/apr/12/24-hours-in-pictures

Good morning everyone.

A beautiful Spring day here today, the outside tribe were immensely happy to be rolling around in the dirt once again, plenty of washing for me to do soon though.

Japan is ready for N. Korea’s rocket launch, which could happen in the next 3 days. As you can imagine, no one in the region is too happy about this. We will see what happens.

Have a good Thursday wherever you may be, take care, be safe and stay warm.

Sayonara from my corner of Tokyo where I’m wondering just how much money we have saved by not using the heater today. Mata ashita ne.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Japan remains on alert as Thursday rocket launch window closes

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120412a9.html

—-

Government to keep close eye on Kim Jong Un’s consolidation of power

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120412a1.html

—-

37,000 tsunami-damaged vehicles stuck in limbo

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120412a6.html

—-

Kyoto unable to dispose of firewood from Iwate

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120411003869.htm

—-

Kindergarten sues TEPCO for damages

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120411005004.htm

—-

TEPCO to sell additional 800 properties to raise funds for compensation

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/tepco-to-sell-additional-800-properties-to-raise-funds-for-compensation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Cameron always comes off like an 8 year old being scolded for doing something bad, he fits that role perfectly. If charitable donations from those who can afford it stop, who will pay for caring for those most in need? The government? Santa Claus?
————

David Cameron ‘must retreat’ on charities, senior Tory MPs warn

David Cameron must back down over plans to cap tax breaks on donations to charity or risk undermining Britain’s culture of philanthropy, senior Tory MPs have warned.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9198625/David-Cameron-must-retreat-on-charities-senior-Tory-MPs-warn.html

—-

IMF warns of £750bn pensions time bomb

Britain’s ageing population is threatening a pensions time bomb that could cost as much as £750billion, the International Monetary Fund has warned.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/pensions/9198756/IMF-warns-of-750bn-pensions-time-bomb.html

—-

NHS chief to investigate overnight discharges

Medical director says he is concerned by survey suggesting hospitals discharge patients at night 8,000 times a week

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/12/nhs-overnight-discharges-investigated

—-

Selling arms and snooping technology is no way to help democracy, Cameron

Any business deal that makes Britain complicit in extrajudicial killings, censorship and torture abroad is a Faustian pact

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/11/selling-arms-cameron

—-

Met police ‘showed poor judgment’ in hiring former News of the World deputy

Former Scotland Yard press chief Dick Fedorcio criticised in wake of phone-hacking revelations for giving Neil Wallis contract

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/apr/12/met-police-news-of-world

—-

Occupy storms AIB’s Dublin HQ

Occupy protestors unfurled banners stating that ‘The Banks Got Bailed Out We Got Sold Out’ and ‘Warning Bail Out in Progress by AIB’

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/11/occupy-aib-hq

—-

Eurozone crisis live: Italy tries to raise €5bn of debt

Mario Monti will hope the markets have recovered when his government approaches the debt markets

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/12/eurozone-crisis-live-italy-approaches-debt-markets

—-

Germany monitors Koran distribution by Salafists

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17680908

—-

Die Weltwoche sparks anger over ‘racist’ Roma story

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17687435

—-

Spain accused of ‘draconian’ plans to clamp down on protests

Spain has been accused of planning “draconian” new laws against street protests by curbing the use of social networking.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/9198496/Spain-accused-of-draconian-plans-to-clamp-down-on-protests.html

—-

Greece to hold snap general election

Greece is to hold a snap general election on May 6 amid popular opposition to European Union imposed austerity measures and deep anger at how the Greek governing coalition has handled the country’s economic crisis.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/9198241/Greece-to-hold-snap-general-election.html

—-

Prominent Muslim Metin Mekhtiyev stabbed in Moscow

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17679417

—-

Russian opposition MPs snub Putin with walkout

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17674878

—-

George Zimmerman to face second-degree murder charge

Neighbourhood watch leader who shot dead Trayvon Martin will plead not guilty and is expected in court on Thursday

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/12/george-zimmerman-second-degree-murder-trayvon-martin

—-

News International braced as lawyer brings phone-hacking scandal to US

Lawyer’s visit brings UK scandal to Rupert Murdoch’s front door and raises prospect of lawsuits involving US legal system

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/apr/11/news-international-lawyer-phone-hacking

—-

Not the most popular guy on the block.
————

US election 2012: Rick Santorum’s conservative backers prove reluctant to fall in line behind Mitt Romney

Rick Santorum’s conservative supporters are proving reluctant to fall in line behind Mitt Romney after their champion pointedly refused to give his backing to the Republican frontrunner.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-election/9198343/US-election-2012-Rick-Santorums-conservative-backers-prove-reluctant-to-fall-in-line-behind-Mitt-Romney.html

—-

I hope they won’t listen and still invite him, he deserves a medal, not condemnation. The Koch brothers and their power doesn’t or shouldn’t reach across the Atlantic.
————

Heartland Institute calls on Oxford to ban Peter Gleick from giving lecture

Conservative thinktank says Gleick should be barred for his role in leaking Heartland’s plans to discredit climate science

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/apr/11/heartland-calls-on-oxford-ban-lecture

—-

UC Davis chancellor blamed over use of pepper-spray on Occupy protesters

Task force finds breakdown in chain of command proceeded officer’s use of unauthorized canister, seen widely in viral video

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/11/uc-davis-pepper-spray-occupy

—-

Canada emissions figures put 2020 target in doubt

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17685982

—-

Trapped Peru miners rescued after six days underground

The nine men had been stuck about 656 feet below ground since the wildcat copper-and-gold mine partially collapsed on Thursday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/peru/9198600/Trapped-Peru-miners-rescued-after-six-days-underground.html

—-

Unbelievable.
————

Mother finds ‘stillborn’ baby alive in hospital morgue in Argentina

An Argentine woman who gave birth to a “stillborn” baby found her alive in a hospital morgue 12 hours after doctors pronounced the infant dead.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/argentina/9197937/Mother-finds-stillborn-baby-alive-in-hospital-morgue-in-Argentina.html

—-

Syrian ceasefire begins – Thursday 12 April

The ceasefire for Syria proposed by UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan came into force at 6am local time

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/apr/12/syria-ceasefire-begins

—-

We will see how long it lasts. The man knows no honour.
————

Syrian ceasefire comes into effect despite scepticism from the west

A ceasefire in Syria came into effect on Thursday morning with no new reports of violence in the region, despite scepticism from the west that the agreement would hold.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9199122/Syrian-ceasefire-comes-into-effect-despite-scepticism-from-the-west.html

—-

Europe has left Syria to a distinctly Ottoman fate

On Syria there’s a moral case for intervention – but with the west reluctant, Turkey and other powers will be the ones to decide

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/11/europe-left-syria-to-ottoman-fate

—-

Saif Gaddafi ‘wants to be tried in Libya’

Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the imprisoned son of the former Libyan dictator, has aligned himself with the new government by declaring his opposition to extradition to face war crimes charges in The Hague.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/9198080/Saif-Gaddafi-wants-to-be-tried-in-Libya.html

—-

Saudi Arabia denies activist on hunger strike

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17675671

—-

Bahrain activists call on BBC and Sky to boycott Formula One race

Bahrain Grand Prix’s future in doubt amid mounting pressure over continued violence and fears for health of hunger striker

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/11/bahrain-grand-prix-broadcast-boycott-call

—-

Algeria’s first president Ahmed Ben Bella dies

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17683449

—-

Sudan mobilises army over seizure of oilfield by South Sudan

African Union gravely concerned as border crisis deepens and threatens to turn into an outright war

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/11/sudan-south-border-war-crisis

—-

Mali’s Dioncounda Traore to take over from junta

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17686468

—-

African Union ‘deeply alarmed’ at growing Sudan and South Sudan unrest

The African Union has said it is “deeply alarmed” by worsening violence between Sudan and South Sudan and called for the withdrawal of Southern troops from the Heglig battle zone.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/south-sudan/9198036/African-Union-deeply-alarmed-at-growing-Sudan-and-South-Sudan-unrest.html

—-

Iran promises ‘new initiatives’ ahead of landmark talks over nuclear ambitions

Iran has sent a rare conciliatory signal, promising “new initiatives” when landmark talks with the world’s leading powers open on Saturday, having dropped any preconditions for negotiating over its nuclear ambitions.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9198079/Iran-promises-new-initiatives-ahead-of-landmark-talks-over-nuclear-ambitions.html

—-

Indian court sentences Gujarat rioters to life

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-17686875

—-

India Maoists release Italian hostage Paolo Bosusco

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-17686504

—-

There is no evidence to prove that she did it yet, and might just be a convenient way for China to delay a proper investigation.
————

Thousands clash with Chinese police in Chongqing district of Wansheng

Officials claim order restored after violence followed news of Bo Xilai’s expulsion, though economic problems blamed

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/11/thousands-clash-chinese-police-chongqing-wansheng

—-

Bo Xilai: Neil Heywood’s mother ‘horrified’ at murder inquiry

The mother of Neil Heywood said she was “horrified” to hear that her son may have been murdered by the wife of one of China’s most powerful Communist party leaders.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/9197827/Bo-Xilai-Neil-Heywoods-mother-horrified-at-murder-inquiry.html

—-

South Korea’s ruling party holds on to parliament

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17685360

—-

Such a sham.
————

New titles for North Korea leader

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17686183

—-

Philippines sends second ship amid China stand-off

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17686107

—-

Indonesia tsunami warning revives nightmares of Boxing Day 2004

A major earthquake off the coast of north-western Indonesia triggered panic across the Indian Ocean on Wednesday, causing people to flee for higher ground and reviving memories of the devastating 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/indonesia/9197924/Indonesia-tsunami-warning-revives-nightmares-of-Boxing-Day-2004.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TRIVIA QUIZ

Yesterday’s answer. Massachusetts, in Quincy-Holo’s in 1925; Dunkin’ Donuts in 1950.

Today’s question.

It is illegal to use the slogan ‘One People, one Empire, one Leader’ in what country?

—-

Horrifying.
————

Uzbekistan’s policy of secretly sterilising women

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17612550

—-

Lewis Hine: The child labour photos that shamed America

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17673213

—-

Witness to the cult of North Korea’s Kim dynasty

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/04/12/world/asia/north-korea-grant-kim-cult/index.html?hpt=hp_c1

—-

Ivory demand in Far East could see African elephant wiped out

A soaring demand for ivory in China and the Far East is putting Africa’s elephant population under strain and could see the creatures wiped out altogether by poachers in some countries, conservationists have warned.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/wildlife/9198258/Ivory-demand-in-Far-East-could-see-African-elephant-wiped-out.html

—-

Arctic oil rush will ruin ecosystem, warns Lloyd’s of London

Insurance market joins environmentalists in highlighting risks of drilling in fragile region as $100bn investment is predicted

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/12/lloyds-london-warns-risks-arctic-oil-drilling

—-

Shift workers ‘risking’ diabetes and obesity

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-17680882

—-

Who, What, Why: Who gets on the FBI’s ‘top 10’ list?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17680954

—-

Angela Hartnett’s sweet and sour pork ribs with lime and chilli recipe

A great dish for sunny barbecue days, or even oven-cooked if it’s gloomy outside

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/apr/11/sweet-and-sour-pork-ribs

—-

Day in pictures: 11 April 2012

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-17675072

—-

24 hours in pictures
A selection of the best images from around the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2012/apr/11/24-hours-in-pictures

Good morning everyone.

Rain, rain and more rain today, and unfortunately much too dark to do much of anything worthwhile.

Hope you all have a good day wherever you may be, take care, be safe and stay warm.

Sayonara from my cooling corner of Tokyo, where it was quite sticky today. Mata ashita ne.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kansai leaders boost pressure against restart

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120411a1.html

—-

Tokyo becomes largest shareholder in TEPCO

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120411p2g00m0dm087000c.html

—-

Environment Ministry eyes geothermal power stations under national parks

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/environment-ministry-eyes-geothermal-power-stations-under-national-parks

—-

Kyocera to build Japan’s biggest solar power plant in Kagoshima Pref

http://www.japantoday.com/category/technology/view/kyocera-to-build-japans-biggest-solar-power-plant-in-kagoshima-pref

—-

The man is an interfering idiot. Worldwide sanctions against Iran and he goes there being too dumb to realize that his visit will be used for propaganda by the Iranian government, who end up saying that he criticized the International Atomic Energy Agency. A well seasoned politician would have known, now he returns in shame and complains to the Iranian Embassy here. How dumb is that? Well what do you expect from a man who sends his son to Russia to study world affairs?
————

Government takes hands-off stance to controversy
Hatoyama on his own after ‘private’ Iran trip

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120411a5.html

—-

LDP, Komeito to demand Hatoyama testify before Diet on visit to Iran

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120411p2g00m0dm086000c.html

—-

Poll: Only 28% approve of Cabinet

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120410005409.htm

—-

More than a satellite at stake

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/eo20120411mr.html

—-

Editorial: World community must unite to stop North Korea’s missile, nuclear programs

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/perspectives/news/20120410p2a00m0na001000c.html

—-

PICTURE OF THE DAY

SAKURA

http://www.reuters.com/news/pictures
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As they should be, he is really either very dumb, or a heartless jerk.
————

Charities’ anger over Osborne’s ‘tax dodge’ attack on donors

Charities warn that their funding is under threat after Downing Street launched an attack on wealthy individuals who benefit from tax relief on donations.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9196618/Charities-anger-over-Osbornes-tax-dodge-attack-on-donors.html

—-

Big society turns out to be a big disappointment

Subscriber to David Cameron’s concept urges the PM to better explain the idea, as funding for her women’s centre dries up

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/10/big-society-big-disappointment

—-

Only if he’s been living in a cave for the last 30 years.
———-

Can George Osborne really be ‘shocked’ that the richest people avoid tax?

The chancellor has expressed shock that the wealthiest people aggressively avoid paying tax. Is it so surprising?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/reality-check-with-polly-curtis/2012/apr/10/george-osborne-richest-avoid-tax

—-

Clegg seems to be joining the ranks of the “I was for it before I was against it” crowd. He has been for many issues privately, and against them when found out. Nick, you are two-faced, just like your new pals, the Tories.
————

Nick Clegg denies endorsing Coalition’s ‘snooping’ plans

The coalition spat over extending internet surveillance intensified tonight after Nick Clegg denied he had signed up to the plans.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9196081/Nick-Clegg-denies-endorsing-Coalitions-snooping-plans.html

—-

Scandalous, Theresa May the HS, doesn’t have a clue.
————

UK Border Agency unable to fulfil its basic functions, MPs warn

Home affairs select committee says agency’s failures are tarnishing the reputation of the government

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/11/uk-border-agency

—-

It seem quite fitting as the only people he deems worth helping are the rich.
————

David Cameron uses oil firm’s plane

Prime minister forced to use Angolan oil company Sonangol’s plane after British carriers were unable to release an aircraft

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/apr/10/david-cameron-sonangol-oil-plane

—-

Eurozone crisis live: Spain in crisis as borrowing costs soar

Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy hopes to send a message of calm to markets when he speaks on cuts this morning

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/11/eurozone-crisis-live-spain-in-crisis

—-

Shocking if you understand what her racist party stand for. Reminds me a bit of the young voters for Ron Paul.
————

Marine Le Pen wins over young voters in French presidential election race

Front National candidate leads among 18- to 24-year-olds but overall poll ratings slip as Nicolas Sarkozy targets rightwing

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/10/marine-le-pen-young-voters

—-

French WWII resistance hero Raymond Aubrac dies aged 97

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17674554

—-

I always said here that I didn’t think he was insane, and am glad that there was a second opinion sought.
————

Norway massacre gunman Anders Behring Breivik ‘not insane’

A new psychiatric examination has found that confessed Norway massacre killer Anders Behring Breivik is not criminally insane, contradicting an earlier assessment.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/norway/9195351/Norway-massacre-gunman-Anders-Behring-Breivik-not-insane.html

—-

Can Norway please hurry up and get this trial over with so that we don’t ever have to hear anything from the foul mouth of this despicable monster again.
————

Anders Behring Breivik will tell a court he ‘regrets not going further’

Anders Behring Breivik, the far-Right extremist who killed 77 people in Norway last summer, will tell a court that he regrets “not going further, after a new psychiatric examination rule that he is not criminally insane.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/norway/9195753/Anders-Behring-Breivik-will-tell-a-court-he-regrets-not-going-further.html

—-

Poland commemorates Smolensk plane crash victims

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17663232

—-

Russian Church leader under fire after backing Putin

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17667782

—-

Ukraine seeks Libya ‘mercenaries’ release

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17667268

—-

Lawyers for Trayvon Martin shooter George Zimmerman stand down

Hal Uhrig and Craig Sonner say Zimmerman – with whom they have lost contact – spoke to prosecutors without their knowledge

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/10/george-zimmerman-lawyers-trayvon-martin

—-

Taxes paid by America’s highest earners drop sharply

Taxes for America’s highest earners have fallen sharply since 1995, according to a White House report, released ahead of a speech by President Barack Obama on fairness in the tax code that is a key part of his campaign for reelection.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9195520/Taxes-paid-by-Americas-highest-earners-drop-sharply.html

—-

Guantánamo judge to rule on allowing al-Qaeda suspect to testify about CIA torture

The US war crimes tribunal in Guantánamo Bay is to due to make a landmark ruling later today over whether to allow an alleged al-Qaeda mastermind to testify in public about his torture in secret CIA prisons set up after the September 11 attacks.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/al-qaeda/9196890/Guantanamo-judge-to-rule-on-allowing-al-Qaeda-suspect-to-testify-about-CIA-torture.html

—-

ADX Florence supermax prison: the Alcatraz of the Rockies

Colorado facility where extradited terror suspects would be held is one of the most secure environments in the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/10/abu-hamza-isolation-supermax-prison

—-

Bomb threat diverts Korean plane to Canadian army base

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17673425

—-

New drug gang wars blow Colombian city’s revival apart

Hard-won peace process clears path for bloody challenge to Medellín’s top cartel

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/10/colombia-drug-gang-rivalry-medellin

—-

Syria: Annan optimistic on ceasefire but violence continues – live updates

• Kofi Annan hopes for ‘improved conditions’ within 24 hours
• Syrian government has promised ceasefire – Annan
• Fresh violence reported including shelling in Homs

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/apr/11/syria-annan-optimistic-on-ceasefire-but-violence-continues-live

—-

How will they pay, I see no evidence except for sanctions of any real pressure against the Assad murder squad. I respect Annan, but feel this peace plan was just a pipe dream from the beginning. How do you negotiate with a brutal madman?
————-

Syria: Bashar al-Assad ‘will pay’ for breaking peace pledge

President Bashar al-Assad of Syria fell under renewed threat of international action today after peace negotiator Kofi Annan said his regime had broken its promises to embrace a ceasefire.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9196588/Syria-Bashar-al-Assad-will-pay-for-breaking-peace-pledge.html

—-

William Hague: Syria could face International Criminal Court

The Foreign Secretary warns that Britain will intensify support for Syria’s opposition and get the Security Council to refer President Assad to the International Criminal Court if he does not honour an agreement to pull back his troops.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9196789/William-Hague-Syria-could-face-International-Criminal-Court.html

—-

Syrian rebels run low on food and hope

Snipers, shelling and decomposing bodies; Two activists tell of life on the streets of Homs despite the UN-brokered ceasefire

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/10/syria-middleeast

—-

I wonder just how long Turkey will put up with this from Syria.
————

Syria: refugees living in fear as the fighting moves closer

Just beyond the row of Turkish flags that mark both the end of Kilis refugee camp and the national border, a military helicopter circled menacingly, seeking out unrest in the shrub below.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9196627/Syria-refugees-living-in-fear-as-the-fighting-moves-closer.html

—-

Egypt court suspends constitutional assembly

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17665048

—-

Bahrain Grand Prix in doubt amid tension over hunger striker

Concern over Abdulhadi al-Khawaja’s fate and bomb blast in Manama increases demands for race to be cancelled

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/10/bahrain-tension-doubt-grand-prix

—-

Israeli forces prepare for pro-Palestinian ‘flytilla’

Israeli security forces said on Tuesday they had begun preparations for a “fly-in” of hundreds of pro-Palestinian activists expected to arrive at Ben Gurion airport this weekend.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/9194985/Israeli-forces-prepare-for-pro-Palestinian-flytilla.html

—-

Gaza executions: Hamas condemned over ‘inhuman punishment’

Human Rights Watch calls for a moratorium on death sentences in Gaza after three men were hanged at the weekend

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/10/gaza-executions-hamas-human-rights

—-

Oh that’s such a shame, I thought we had something to celebrate soon.
————

Zimbabwe regime dismisses Mugabe deathbed reports

Claims leader is fighting for his life in a Singapore hospital are malicious hogwash, senior Zanu-PF party officials say

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/10/zimbabwe-mugabe-deathbed

—-

Sudan says South Sudan controls largest oil field

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17672727

—-

If you believe the Iranian government that is.
————

Iran’s Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says they can withstand oil embargo for ‘2 to 3 years’

Iran has amassed sufficient reserves to withstand a total embargo of all oil exports for “two to three years”, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad claimed on Tuesday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9196219/Irans-Mahmoud-Ahmadinejad-says-they-can-withstand-oil-embargo-for-2-to-3-years.html

—-

The husband is arrested. The U.K. demands China look into Heywood’s murder, and Bo Xilai’s wife is arrested. How very convenient for the Chinese government.
————

Bo Xilai’s wife Gu Kailai arrested for Neil Heywood’s murder

Gu Kailai, the wife of Bo Xilai, one of China’s most powerful Communist party leaders, has been arrested for the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatnews/9196486/Bo-Xilais-wife-Gu-Kailai-arrested-for-Neil-Heywoods-murder.html

—-

North Korea fuels rocket ready for launch

Engineers pump fuel into rocket set to carry satellite into space ahead of five-day window set for the controversial launch

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/11/north-korea-fuels-rocket-launch

—-

There has been an increase in these incidents as China tries to flex its maritime muscles in the region. China’s increasing encroachment into the territorial waters of other countries, is a growing problem in Asia. Land grabs are not enough, now they want to try “sea” grabs too.
————

Philippine warship in standoff with China vessels

Philippines warship in confrontation with two Chinese surveillance ships over disputed shoal in South China sea

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/11/philippines-china-stand-off-south-china-sea

—-

Aung San Suu Kyi meets Burma President Thein Sein

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17670440

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TRIVIA QUIZ

Yesterday’s answer.They shaved off their eyebrows, and I’m going to give this one to kes because she was close. Well done again kes. 🙂

Today’s question.

Which state was home to the very first Dunkin’ Donuts shop and the very first Howard Johnson’s restaurant?

—-

The wisdom of women written out of history

A golden age of female achievement, buttressed by an acceptance in the sacred sphere, is now largely unknown

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/10/wisdom-women-written-out-of-history

—-

Forecasting Africa’s future through Bong County

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17668616

—-

Are our street names sexist?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17203823

—-

How free speech can get you fired

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17660865

—-

DIY woman trapped in flat pack wardrobe for 90 minutes

A woman dialled 999 after she got trapped for 90 minutes inside a flat pack wardrobe she was assembling.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/9195172/DIY-woman-trapped-in-flat-pack-wardrobe-for-90-minutes.html

—-

Pantanal: protecting the world’s largest wetland – video

The world’s largest wetland, the Pantanal in South America, is a paradise for wildlife. Its annual cycles of flooding and drought create a strikingly beautiful and rich ecosystem. It is a haven for almost 5,000 species of animals and plants, and attracts about a million tourists a year – joining the eight million people who live there. The region’s ‘ecosystems services’, such as irrigation of agriculture and wildlife tourism, have been valued at $112bn a year. But this paradise is at serious risk

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/video/2012/apr/10/pantanal-largest-wetland-wwf-deforestation-video

—-

We had fields and woods full of them every year, and I stopped to pick some for my mother and neighbours on the way home from school. It was breathtaking, everywhere looked like a blue carpet, it would be tragic to see them disappear. I have always loved wild flowers over cultivated ones.
————

Bluebells: The survival battle of Britain’s native bluebells

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17597489

—-

Cherry blossom season around the world – in pictures

As Japan hold festivals to celebrate the annual cherry blossom bloom, unseasonal weather has caused trees on the eastern seaboard of the US to flower early while those in Germany have had to withstand snowfalls

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2012/apr/10/cherry-blossom-season

—-

Day in pictures: 10 April 2012

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-17662951

—-

24 hours in pictures
A selection of the best images from around the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2012/apr/10/24-hours-in-pictures

Good morning everyone.

Another warm day here today which was great because from tonight it has given rain, something I used love until our nuclear crisis last year, but now it just scares me.

Have a good day wherever you may be, take care, be safe and stay warm.

Sayonara from my early evening corner of Tokyo. Mata ashita ne..

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If the required safety standards can’t all be met until 2015, why should the reactors be allowed to reactivate now?
————

Oi reactors secure from blackout-induced meltdowns, Edano says
Kepco submits new timetable for mid- to long-term safety measures

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120410a1.html

—-

New standards for reactivating nuke reactors are too hasty and sloppy

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/perspectives/news/20120409p2a00m0na018000c.html

—-

Decontamination needed even after residents return

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120409003637.htm

—-

JAL, ANA, others reroute flights to avoid N Korean rocket path

http://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/jal-ana-philippine-airlines-avoiding-north-korean-rocket-path

—-

Sony to lay off 10,000 worldwide

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nb20120410a1.html

—-

I criticize for the simple reason that he was a useless PM here, and clearly hasn’t a clue what he’s talking about when abroad either.
————

Gov’t rebukes Hatoyama over Iran visit, criticizing IAEA

http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/japanese-govt-rebukes-hatoyama-over-iran-visit

—-

Ok, it’s not all that funny, I’ve encountered flashers here before too, but the way he was dressed made me laugh out loud, and I think that policemen over here need some extra time off, they have been featured in the news doing weird things quite often lately.
————

Policeman in schoolgirl uniform arrested for flashing

http://www.japantoday.com/category/crime/view/policeman-in-schoolgirl-uniform-arrested-for-flashing

—-

Cherry blossom viewing can be harmful to your health. 😉
————

Hospitals admit scores of ‘hanami’ revelers

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120410a4.html

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PICTURE OF THE DAY

Out and about

http://www.japantoday.com/category/picture-of-the-day/view/out-and-about
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Well that’s a surprise. No one expects the Tories to have much of a clue about fixing the economy. No one who remembers a bit of history that is.
————

Tax reform project running into trouble, say experts

The far-reaching reform of the tax system has ‘critical’ weaknesses that need ‘immediate attention’, a leaked report discloses.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/9194620/Tax-reform-project-running-into-trouble-say-experts.html

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Ok George, give us a shout when you start, we would so hate to miss it. 🙄
————

George Osborne: I’m going after the wealthy tax dodgers

George Osborne was left ‘shocked’ after an analysis of the tax returns of multi-millionaires which he personally ordered found that they are exploiting loopholes to pay little or nothing at all.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/georgeosborne/9194558/George-Osborne-Im-going-after-the-wealthy-tax-dodgers.html

—-

Osborne is throwing out the baby with the bath water here. Tax them on their incomes and investments, not on their charitable contributions. Lord you are thick.
————

We should applaud those who give, not tax them

George Osborne should think again about restricting tax relief on charitable donations.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/telegraph-view/9194156/We-should-applaud-those-who-give-not-tax-them.html

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The tax and finances of every citizen must be open to public scrutiny

The tax genie is now out of the bottle. It is secrecy that enables inequality, while transparency underpins social justice

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/09/tax-finances-every-citizen-scrutiny

—-

This is highly embarrassing, but definitly not exclusive only to the U.K.
————

One in 40 UK diplomats fluent in language of country in which they work

Just one in 40 British diplomats is fluent in the language of the country where they work with the majority lacking even basic grasp sufficient for day-to-day exchanges.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/9194006/One-in-40-UK-diplomats-fluent-in-language-of-country-in-which-they-work.html

—-

Abu Hamza can be extradited to US, human rights court rules

Radical cleric can be sent to US to face terrorism charges, European court of human rights rules

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/10/abu-hamza-extradited-us-court

—-

Dissident republicans arrested in Londonderry

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-foyle-west-17658661

—-

Eurozone crisis live: Bombs in Athens over Easter break

Greeks protest austerity measures with small fire-bombs

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/10/eurozone-crisis-live-athens-protests-bombs

—-

German exports rise for the second month in a row

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17662058

—-

Russian outcry after ‘sadistic beating’ of 15-year-old girl

Russia’s top criminal investigator has been forced to intervene after police caused a public outcry by failing to press charges over the “sadistic beating” of a 15-year-old schoolgirl at the hands of two female classmates.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/9194269/Russian-outcry-after-sadistic-beating-of-15-year-old-girl.html

—-

Former KGB chief wins South Ossetia

A former KGB chief on Monday scored a victory in the run-off presidential election in Georgia’s breakaway province of South Ossetia.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/georgia/9194128/Former-KGB-chief-wins-South-Ossetia.html

—-

US elections 2012: ‘Super PAC’ founded by former George W. Bush aides rounds on Barack Obama

Barack Obama is braced for a barrage of attacks from a political campaign group founded by former aides to President George W. Bush and backed with tens of millions of dollars in corporate funding.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-election/9194195/US-elections-2012-Super-PAC-founded-by-former-George-W.-Bush-aides-rounds-on-Barack-Obama.html

—-

Trayvon Martin case: prosecutor rules out grand jury

The family of black teenager Trayvon Martin called for the immediate arrest of his killer after prosecutors cancelled a grand jury hearing into the case in a move expected to spark widespread protests.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9194434/Trayvon-Martin-case-prosecutor-rules-out-grand-jury.html

—-

Why must people be so dumb, his father’s killer is already in jail.
————

Tulsa shooting suspect ‘was seeking revenge for killing of his father’

A suspect accused of murdering three people during a racist rampage was allegedly seeking revenge for the death of his father at the hands of a black killer.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9194381/Tulsa-shooting-suspect-was-seeking-revenge-for-killing-of-his-father.html

—-

I hope this is just saber rattling.
————

US flexes muscles as it sends aircraft carriers to Persian Gulf

The United States sent Iran a message of intent yesterday by despatching two aircraft carriers to the Gulf region just days before the resumption of negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9194512/US-flexes-muscles-as-it-sends-aircraft-carriers-to-Persian-Gulf.html

—-

US scientists campaign for veto of ‘Monkey Bill’ on creationism in Tennessee

Scientists are pleading with the governor of Tennessee to veto a proposed law known as the ‘Monkey Bill’ which would allow teachers to teach creationism in the classroom.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9194214/US-scientists-campaign-for-veto-of-Monkey-Bill-on-creationism-in-Tennessee.html

—-

Costa Rica diplomat kidnapped in Venezuela

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17659179

—-

Syria: Shelling continues as ceasefire deadline passes

• New attack by government forces in Homs
• Syrian foreign minister in Moscow for talks
• UN chief’s appeal for Bahrain hunger striker

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/apr/10/syria-crisis-live-updates-ceasefire-bahrain-tunisia

—-

Didn’t hold out much hope for it anyway when dealing with a conniving, lying monster like Assad.
————

Syria ceasefire plans close to collapse

A last minute demand by Bashar al-Assad’s Syrian government has been rejected by the opposition, as the prospect of a UN-brokered ceasefire looked increasingly bleak.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9193838/Syria-ceasefire-plans-close-to-collapse.html

—-

He still doesn’t get it.
————

Egypt’s former spy chief Omar Suleiman says he won’t ‘reinvent’ Mubarak regime

Omar Suleiman, Egypt’s former intelligence chief and ally of Hosni Mubarak has declared that he will not “reinvent” the old regime in a bid to reassure voters on Monday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/9194218/Egypts-former-spy-chief-Omar-Suleiman-says-he-wont-reinvent-Mubarak-regime.html

—-

Libya stops paying rebels as fraud mounts

Libya’s interim authorities have stopped paying bonuses to former rebels due to widespread fraud costing millions of Libyan dinars, the country’s official news agency reported.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/9194767/Libya-stops-paying-rebels-as-fraud-mounts.html

—-

Scores dead in Yemen al-Qaeda clashes

At least 44 people were killed Fighters from al-Qaeda-linked group attack military camp near southern Yemen city, Lawdar, on Monday when fresidents and local officials said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/yemen/9194172/Scores-dead-in-Yemen-al-Qaeda-clashes.html

—-

Abdulhadi al-Khawaja’s death would be a stain on Bahrain

Bahrain risks instigating a collapse of its civic society if it fails to release this respected human rights activist and hunger striker

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/09/open-letter-bahrain-abdulhadi-al-khawaja

—-

Palestinians to mount renewed statehood bid at UN

The Palestinian Authority has declared its intention to resurrect its statehood bid at the United Nations within a month if Israel refuses to heed its conditions for renewing peace talks.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/9194194/Palestinians-to-mount-renewed-statehood-bid-at-UN.html

—-

Somalia bombing kills at least 12

Al-Shabaab claims responsibility for attack targeting Somali and Ethiopian troops near a market in the city of Baidoa

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/09/somalia-bombing-kills-12-alshabaab

—-

Malawi’s new president sacks police chief

Joyce Banda’s decision, a day after she took office following predecessor’s death, is welcomed by rights groups

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/09/malawi-president-sacks-police-chief

—-

London 2012: Iran ‘blocks’ official Olympics website

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17657450

—-

Message of hope as Iraqi Christians mark Easter

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17656333

—-

New wave of well-off Pakistani women drawn to conservative Islam

Wealthy, educated women are increasingly embracing the trend for religious inquiry and observance

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/09/pakistani-women-conservative-islam

—-

Afghan suicide bomber kills nine

Three police and six civilians die as suicide bomber detonates explosives outside government building in Herat province

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/10/afghan-suicide-bomber-kills-nine

—-

Chinese activist jailed for fraud and ‘making trouble’

Supporters say prison sentence given to Ni Yulan, disabled after police beating, is illegal, unfair and inhumane

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/10/chinese-activist-ni-yulan-jailed

—-

After their botched nuclear test in 2006, high levels of radiation were detected by ships in the Sea of Japan. These loose cannons in charge should never have nukes.
————

North Korea ‘building tunnel for third nuclear test’

North Korea is digging an underground tunnel in apparent preparation for a new nuclear test, intelligence reports have claimed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9193861/North-Korea-building-tunnel-for-third-nuclear-test.html

—-

North Korea rocket launch – in pictures

Pyongyang has readied a rocket for launch from a forested valley in its remote north-west this week that will showcase the reclusive state’s ability to fire a missile with the capacity to hit the continental United States

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2012/apr/10/north-korea-missile-launch

—-

Malaysia acts to end indefinite detention without trial

Prime minister Najib Razak hails ‘historic day’ as government introduces law to prevent arrests on grounds of political belief

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/10/malaysia-indefinite-detention-without-trial

—-

Burmese conservationists battle to save Rangoon’s colonial heritage

Conservationists in Burma are battling to save Rangoon’s unique colonial heritage amid fears that many of its admired British Raj-era buildings will be destroyed once sanctions against the government are lifted.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/burmamyanmar/9194162/Burmese-conservationists-battle-to-save-Rangoons-colonial-heritage.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TRIVIA QUIZ

Yesterday’s answer. Egypt

Today’s question.

According to Herodotus, the Greek historian, how did ancient Egyptians express their grief over the death of a pet cat?

—-

Truly heartbreaking, and I hope those responsible will be arrested soon.
————

Ethiopian migrant suicide: ‘I can’t tell my daughter that her mother is dead’ – video

Alem Dechasa, an Ethiopian migrant, was beaten in the streets of Beirut by men who allegedly worked for the company that recruited her in Lebanon. Later she was found dead in hospital, having apparently killed herself. Alem’s partner, Lemesa Ejeta, explains why he cannot bring himself to tell their two children that she is dead

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2012/apr/09/ethiopia-migrant-suicide-video

—-

Nothing is simple in Burma’s great gold rush

If a sudden inflow of capital enriches only the few, then the consequences for global economic re-balancing are worrisome

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/09/great-burma-gold-rush

—-

Survivors of Uganda’s LRA rebel insurgency

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17657995

—-

Peering behind North Korea’s celebrations

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-17658524

—-

A child’s experience of her mother going to prison

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17627258

—-

Titanic 100: We survived

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17608126

—-

‘Universal’ cancer vaccine developed

A vaccine that can train cancer patients’ own bodies to seek out and destroy tumour cells has been developed by scientists.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/science-news/9191848/Universal-cancer-vaccine-developed.html

—-

On the trail with Bigfoot-hunters

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17615457

—-

24 hours in pictures
A selection of the best images from around the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2012/apr/09/24-hours-in-pictures

Good morning everyone, and welcome to Mumbly Monday.

Hope you all had a good weekend, and will wish you a good day wherever you may be. Take care, be safe and stay warm.

Sayonara from my corner of Tokyo, where temps reached 24C today. Mata ashita ne.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Here we go again with China.
————

Japan, China, South Korea urge North Korea to cancel rocket launch

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120409a1.html

—-

Ex-prime minister Murayama expresses regret over supporting nuclear power

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120409a4.html

—-

35 prefectures, cities positive about taking debris

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120407002821.htm

—-

Govt to monitor reactor safety measures

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120407002810.htm

—-

Pakistan airlifts Japanese tourists out of Gilgit

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120409a2.html

—-

Japan swings back to current account surplus

http://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/japan-swings-back-to-current-account-surplus

—-

Ready and waiting

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20120409dy01.htm

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PICTURE OF THE DAY

Row your boat

http://www.japantoday.com/category/picture-of-the-day/view/row-your-boat
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INTERNATIONAL NEWS
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😆 How, with foot stomping and sulking?
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Lib Dems prepared to ‘kill’ Government surveillance plans

The Liberal Democrats are prepared to “kill” controversial Government plans to monitor online communications, the party’s president warned yesterday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/liberaldemocrats/9193395/Lib-Dems-prepared-to-kill-Government-surveillance-plans.html

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Yes Cameron, get a grip. You and your MP’s are so out of touch with the pulse of the country, it’s surprising you don’t suffer a collective heart attack. And please dump that annoying smirk.
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David Cameron urged to get a grip on police racism allegations

David Cameron has been urged to get a grip on allegations of racism that are “spiralling out of control” in the police service.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9193236/David-Cameron-urged-to-get-a-grip-on-police-racism-allegations.html

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Be sure to read the fine print before you commit. Why work for most of your adult life if you have nothing to show for it when you retire.
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Workers to be offered guaranteed pensions under new plans

Workers will be offered a new type of guaranteed pension to replace gold-plated final salary schemes under radical plans being drawn up by ministers.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/pensions/9193305/Workers-to-be-offered-guaranteed-pensions-under-new-plans.html

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Teachers get angry every year. Now it’s time to listen

Through academies, Gove has destroyed the power structure that governed English education for more than a century

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/08/share-teachers-seasonal-anger-gove

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Tougher tax credit rules and lack of full-time jobs create benefits trap

Analysis shows only half of vacancies meet government’s tougher rules for working tax credit qualification

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/08/tax-credit-rules-families-benefits-trap

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Who is “point-scoring” Cameron, and aren’t the taxpayers paying for those government iPads?
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Ministers to be ‘points-scored’ by David Cameron on his iPad

Ministers are set to be “points-scored” by David Cameron for the first time, The Daily Telegraph can disclose

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9193367/Ministers-to-be-points-scored-by-David-Cameron-on-his-iPad.html

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UK jobless total ‘to rise by 100,000 over summer’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17649817

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Paris building collapse kills child, 6, in Pierrefitte

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17651626

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Russian dissenters allowed to protest in Red Square

Police allow free movement and make only one arrest as anti-Putin demonstrators gather next to the Kremlin

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/08/russia-red-square-protest

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Air traffic controller dismisses emergency landing call as a prank

US aviation officials are investigating an air traffic controller accused of ignoring a request for an emergency landing, believing it to be a hoax, after a commercial airline pilot reported smoke in the cabin.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9192890/Air-traffic-controller-dismisses-emergency-landing-call-as-a-prank.html

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Tulsa shootings: Facebook posts suggest racial revenge motive

Suspect in shootings of five people appears to have left angry messages online about his father’s killing by a black man

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/09/tulsa-shootings-facebook-racial-revenge

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Egyptians flood Obama’s Facebook page in election row

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-17656215

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Obama has been the president for 3 years and 3 months, what has Romney done in this time except for counting his money and not paying his full share of taxes? So who is out of touch? Romney’s idea of fixing the economy when the economy is improving already under the President’s leadership, is a bad joke and not even funny. His foreign policy is nonexistent, and from the snippets I’ve heard, would be a disaster. Weren’t the 8 years of Bush enough for most Americans?
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US election 2012: Barack Obama and Mitt Romney accuse each other of being out of touch

A line has been drawn in the early stages of the battle between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, the likely Republican challenger.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-election/9193177/US-election-2012-Barack-Obama-and-Mitt-Romney-accuse-each-other-of-being-out-of-touch.html

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Mike Wallace: ‘Without him, there wouldn’t be a 60 Minutes’

Colleagues and friends of the CBS correspondent Mike Wallace, who died on Saturday, have posted their memories of him

http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/2012/apr/08/mike-wallace-tributes

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Peru appeals for help to free trapped miners

Plea for heavy machinery as rescuers resort to pickaxes and shovels to reopen tunnel that collapsed during blasting

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/09/peru-appeals-help-trapped-miners

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Syrian forces fire on Turkish refugee camp

Unconfirmed reports say two people were killed at camp close to Syrian border, as concerns mount over ceasefire plan

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/09/syrian-forces-injure-three-turkish-refugee-camp

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If there is anyone who wasn’t expecting this, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.
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Syria peace plan in disarray as Bashar al-Assad regime backs away from troop withdrawal

President Bashar al-Assad’s government backed away from a pledge to complete a troop withdrawal before Tuesday’s deadline as the opposition claimed more than 1,000 people had been killed since a UN-backed ceasefire deal was struck.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9193391/Syria-peace-plan-in-disarray-as-Bashar-al-Assad-regime-backs-away-from-troop-withdrawal.html

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Syria’s online army is simply playing into Assad’s hands

A successful overthrow of the regime needs more muscle than social media can supply, writes David Blair.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9193823/Syrias-online-army-is-simply-playing-into-Assads-hands.html

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Syria: Easter cancelled in Homs after churches bombed

For the first time in centuries no services were held to mark the festival of Easter in Christian churches of war-torn Homs as the Syria government inflicted a heavy bombardment in defiance of UN-brokered ceasefire talks.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9193394/Syria-Easter-cancelled-in-Homs-after-churches-bombed.html

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Then stop running for office, you are part of the old regime and the people don’t want you.
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Omar Suleiman accuses Islamists of sending him death threats

Omar Suleiman, Hosni Mubarak’s former intelligence chief, said his bid for the presidency does not have the support of Egypt’s military rulers and accused Islamists of sending him death threats, an Egyptian newspaper reported on Monday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/9193821/Omar-Suleiman-accuses-Islamists-of-sending-him-death-threats.html

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Another explosion along Egypt to Israel gas pipeline

Conduit for gas supplies to Israel and Jordan has been sabotaged 14 time since uprising against Mubarak

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/09/egypt-israel

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Tariq Ramadan: the Muslim Brotherhood currently lacks political substance – video

Tariq Ramadan, author of The Arab Awakening, on the Muslim Brotherhood, which has chosen to field a presidential candidate in Egypt. He says there are tensions in the movement between those prepared to reach out to secularists – as Ennahda has done in Tunisia – and those who want to go it alone. He goes on to argue that at the moment the Brotherhood relies heavily on historical and religous legitimacy rather than presenting a serious set of policies for dealing with Egypt’s stark economic and social problems

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/video/2012/apr/09/tariq-ramadan-muslim-brotherhood-video

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Bahrain rejects Danish request for prisoner transfer

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17651613

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Turkish prime minister visits China

Trip by Recep Tayyip Erdogan is first to China by a Turkish leader for 27 years and is designed to boost business ties between the booming economies

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/09/turkish-prime-minister-visits-china

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Try convincing Netanyahu of this, and good luck, you will need it.
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Israel ‘would not be able to destroy Iran’s nuclear programme with pre-emptive air strike’

Israel would not be able to destroy Iran’s nuclear programme in a pre-emptive air strike with its current airforce, forcing its leadership to look for alternative means of attack, an influential defence report has concluded.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/9193013/Israel-would-not-be-able-to-destroy-Irans-nuclear-programme-with-pre-emptive-air-strike.html

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Typical Netanyahu overreaching and Grass did not say “plotting Iran’s annihilation” in his poem. Here are the exact words he used, and it speaks to the number of civilian Iranians who would die as a result of an attack. If anyone is naive enough to believe that an attack on Iran’s nuclear facility wouldn’t be met with retaliation that would be met with further retaliation from both sides and turn the region into chaos, causing many civilian deaths on both sides, then you are missing the point, and the point I believe Grass was making in his poem. It is after all a poem and not an essay.

“It’s the alleged right to a first strike

that could destroy an Iranian people

subjugated by a loudmouth

and gathered in organized rallies,

because an atom bomb may be being

developed within his arc of power”.

BTW, I don’t believe that 84 year old Mr. Grass will be losing too much sleep over this childish threat, and anyone condemning him in the West should be ashamed of themselves for not owning up to the truth. The truth being that Israel’s pitbullish neocon government policies, are a threat to peace in the ME, and to world peace.

We need to remember that almost 70% of Israeli are against this strike too.
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Israel bars German author Günter Grass over poem

Israel on Sunday barred German author Günter Grass from entering the Jewish state, citing a poem in which he accuses Israel of plotting Iran’s annihilation and threatening world peace.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/9193044/Israel-bars-German-author-Gunter-Grass-over-poem.html

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Palestinian activist wins appeal against deportation

Tribunal overturns home secretary’s decision to expel outspoken critic of Israel’s policies during his visit to UK

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/09/activist-deportation-overturned

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Nigeria car bomb leaves 38 dead

Car bombers blocked by police from approaching a church instead detonated their explosives in a busy street in Nigeria on Sunday, killing 38 people in an apparent repeat of Islamists’ attacks on Christians on Christmas Day.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/nigeria/9193249/Nigeria-car-bomb-leaves-38-dead.html

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Mali’s president resigns after coup

Army promises to relinquish power as neighbouring states argue over how to deal with separatist rebels

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/08/president-mali-resigns

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Western powers to demand closure of Iran’s best-protected uranium facility

Major Western powers are to set two demands, including the closure of Iran’s best-protected uranium facility, when negotiations over the country’s nuclear programme resume this week.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9193190/Western-powers-to-demand-closure-of-Irans-best-protected-uranium-facility.html

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Hopes fading for 135 Pakistanis trapped in avalanche at Siachen

Hopes are fading for more than 100 Pakistani soldiers missing after an avalanche swept through a remote mountain base on Saturday morning.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/9192984/Hopes-fading-for-135-Pakistanis-trapped-in-avalanche-at-Siachen.html

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US agrees to hand over control of night time raids against Taliban targets to the Afghans

America has agreed to hand over control of night time raids against Taliban targets to the Afghan government.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/9193336/US-agrees-to-hand-over-control-of-night-time-raids-against-Taliban-targets-to-the-Afghans.html

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Indian court finds Gujarat rioters guilty of killings

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-17655715

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Pakistani president visits Indian shrine after talks with PM

Asif Ali Zardari discusses trade, security and Kashmir with Manmohan Singh and spends an hour at saint’s tomb

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/08/pakistan-president-visits-india

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Indian tribe’s Avatar-like battle against mining firm reaches supreme court

Dongria Kondh people pledge to carry on fight to prevent Vedanta Resources from mining bauxite in Niyamgiri hills

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/08/indian-tribe-avatar-supreme-court

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South Korea police chief resigns over murder outcry

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17655300

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North Korea moves rocket into position for launch

Pyongyang vows to go ahead with launch of what it says is a satellite launch but US fears is a long-range missile test

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/08/north-korea-rocket-positioned-launch

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Encouraging.
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What North Koreans really think of Kim Jong-un

Secret telephone calls to North Korea reveal what citizens of the world’s most secretive and dictatorial regimes really think about their new leader Kim Jong-un.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9191998/What-North-Koreans-really-think-of-Kim-Jong-un.html

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Voters in Indonesia’s Aceh cast ballots for governor

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17655283

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TRIVIA QUIZ

Yesterday’s answer. Nikita Khrushchev, and well done again kes.

Today’s question.

What is the only country whose homeland spans Africa and Asia?

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Special report: Rendition ordeal that raises new questions about secret trials

In 2004, Fatima Bouchar and her husband, Abdel Hakim Belhaj, were detained en route to the UK, and rendered to Libya. This is the story of their imprisonment, and the trail of evidence that reveals the involvement of the British government

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/08/special-report-britain-rendition-libya

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Mamie Till’s warning still holds true in a racist world

On both sides of the Atlantic, black parents are forced to weigh children’s self-esteem against their safety

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/08/rooting-out-racism-us-uk-black

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Obama as Atticus Finch is the defender of the American mainstream

The president’s endorsement of To Kill a Mockingbird combines his message on race with a nostalgia for small town values

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/apr/08/obama-atticus-finch-us-elections

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‘An ECG could have saved my child’

Two of Kathy Moyle’s daughters and a grandson died suddenly. Had she been aware of a genetic link, she says, they might still be alive

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/apr/08/ecg-could-have-saved-child

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New York’s oldest taxi driver recalls a life on Manhattan’s streets

When he first took to the wheel of a taxi 75 years ago, it cost two dimes to travel a mile and racism was so rampant that many white people shunned him.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/9193066/New-Yorks-oldest-taxi-driver-recalls-a-life-on-Manhattans-streets.html

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Swiss village in Alpine valley votes to turns its back on $1.2 billion goldmine

Villagers almost anywhere in the world would be celebrating if more than a billion dollars of gold was found under them. But not in Switzerland.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9191676/Swiss-village-in-Alpine-valley-votes-to-turns-its-back-on-1.2-billion-goldmine.html

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In pictures: Easter Sunday celebrated around the world

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-17652049

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Easter Sunday around the world – in pictures

From Bulgaria to Belarus and from Malawi to Manila, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. In Rome, more than 100,000 people turned out to see the pope recite Easter wishes in 66 languages. In Jerusalem, Catholics and Protestants took turns to hold ceremonies at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the site where many Christians believe Jesus was crucified and buried

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/gallery/2012/apr/08/easter-sunday-world-pictures

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24 hours in pictures
A selection of the best images from around the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2012/apr/08/24-hours-pictures

Good morning everyone.

A sunny but cool day here today, the days without a heater are still a few weeks away. Getting ready to Skype with our favourite Welshman on my new iPad, this should be fun.

Have a good Sunday whatever you are doing, wherever you may be. Take care, be safe and stay warm.

Sayonara from my still light corner of Tokyo. Mata ashita ne.
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Sunday’s Bits & Bobs.
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Strikes loom as teaching unions vote to escalate industrial action

Two of the UK’s biggest teaching unions were today on a collision course with the Government after voting for further industrial action, including strikes, over pensions, pay and job losses.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/9191885/Strikes-loom-as-teaching-unions-vote-to-escalate-industrial-action.html

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Don’t hold your breath waiting for any straight answers, they have none.
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‘Civil liberties? They’re safe.’ And if you believe that…

The government has yet to show why we should trust the security forces with sweeping new powers of surveillance

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/apr/08/civil-liberties-surveillance-security

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Hackers ‘shut down’ Home Office website

The hacking group ‘Anonymous’ appeared to have shut down the Home Office website on Saturday night, in an apparent protest against extraditions of British citizens to the US and so-called “draconian surveillance proposals.”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/crime/9192699/Hackers-shut-down-Home-Office-website.html

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Here I was thinking that these two Eaton toffs were BFF.
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Cracks are beginning to open along the Downing Street fault line

They vowed that it would never happen, but the prime minister and the chancellor are increasingly at odds

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/08/andrew-rawnsley-cameron-osborne-relationship

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“Bizarre” is too trivial a word for it.
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George Osborne faces revolt over ‘tax on giving’ as charity donations dry up

National Theatre chief calls budget move ‘bizarre’ amid cabinet unrest over chancellor’s bid to target rich

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/07/george-osborne-charities-donation-tax-revolt

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David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband – focus groups won’t win you our love

Politicians have never been so unpopular, while never has so much effort been expended in finding out what voters think and want.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/9191496/David-Cameron-Nick-Clegg-and-Ed-Miliband-focus-groups-wont-win-you-our-love.html

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Friends: The One Where Nick Sees the Light

There’s a moment of revelation for the DPM in the latest episode of our Westminster sitcom.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/nick-clegg/9191500/Friends-The-One-Where-Nick-Sees-the-Light.html

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Another watchdog group suggestion, one of far too many, and who watches the watchdogs?
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Senior officer calls for watchdog after Met police racism revelations

Police cannot restore trust over racism on their own, says chairman of Black Police Association, Bevan Powell

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/07/racism-metropolitan-police-stephen-lawrence

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France election 2012: Islam takes centre stage in battle for France

The Toulouse shooting, arrest of 30 Islamic radicals and expulsion of 10 more has all shone an uncomfortable light on France’s Muslim community. But, as Harriet Alexander finds out, the politicians are revelling in the spotlight.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9191923/France-election-2012-Islam-takes-centre-stage-in-battle-for-France.html

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Tulsa police launch manhunt after shootings kill three

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17648620

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John Derbyshire fired for article urging children to avoid African Americans

US conservative magazine National Review says it has parted ways with columnist over ‘nasty and indefensible’ article

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/08/john-derbyshire-fired-article-african-americans

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The Trayvon Martin case reveals a vigilante spirit in the US justice system

Prosecutorial misconduct, police corruption and ‘stand your ground’ laws are part of the lingering lynch mob mentality

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/apr/07/trayvon-martin-vigilante-spirit-us-justice

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Navy jet crash leaves dozens without homes

All residents of apartment blocks destroyed when navy jet crashed on Friday have been accounted for, rescuers say

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/08/navy-jet-crash-dozens-homes

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God and Mammon: row over Wall Street rector engulfs Anglican church’s $1 billion parish

Furious members of the Rev James Cooper’s flock demanded his ousting at New York’s Trinity Church in a row over ‘lavish spending’ and ‘Wall Street pay and conditions’.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9191962/God-and-Mammon-row-over-Wall-Street-rector-engulfs-Anglican-churchs-1-billion-parish.html

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Women voter are not his only problem.
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US election 2012: Mitt Romney’s problem with women

The polls may show Republican contender Mitt Romney can’t win support from women today, writes Mark McKinnon. But he certainly can’t win without them come election day.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-election/9191906/US-election-2012-Mitt-Romneys-problem-with-women.html

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Peru mine collapse leaves nine workers trapped

Rescuers deliver oxygen and liquids through hose to miners stuck 200 metres below ground at ‘wildcat’ mine

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/08/peru-mine-collapse-workers-trapped

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Syria fighting ‘kills 100’ ahead of ceasefire

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17644404

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Libya to defy UN on handing over Saif Gaddafi, documents reveal

Tripoli blocking efforts of war crimes tribunal to try late dictator’s son in the Hague, say lawyers

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/07/libya-saif-gaddafi-war-crimes-hague

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Yemen’s Sanaa airport closed by pro-Saleh protest

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17644405

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Danish bid to help Bahrain inmate on hunger strike

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17646022

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Hamas hangs Gaza prisoners, including one ‘collaborator

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17644406

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Handed from one tyrant to another.
————

Robert Mugabe strikes secret deal to hand Zimbabwe power to Emmerson Mnangagwa

Robert Mugabe has struck a secret “gentleman’s agreement” to hand over power in Zimbabwe to his feared defence minister, Emmerson Mnangagwa, sources close to the two men have revealed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/9192076/Robert-Mugabe-strikes-secret-deal-to-hand-Zimbabwe-power-to-Emmerson-Mnangagwa.html

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The “Maliban”.
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Triumphant Tuareg rebels fall out over al-Qaeda’s jihad in Mali

As one group of rebels proudly proclaimed the independent state of Azawad in the “liberated” north of Mali last week, their allies were preparing for jihad by cutting off the hand of a “criminal” and forcing women to wear the veil.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/mali/9191760/Triumphant-Tuareg-rebels-fall-out-over-al-Qaedas-jihad-in-Mali.html

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Joyce Banda sworn in as new president of Malawi

Women’s rights campaigner and country’s vice-president succeeds late leader Bingu wa Mutharika

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/07/joyce-banda-new-president-malawi

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Iran can make nuclear weapons – but won’t, says top politician

Statement is first time an Iranian politician has admitted country has capability to produce nuclear arms

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/07/iran-can-produce-nuclear-weapons-politician

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He must have had a deeper hole to hide in than his pal Saddam.
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‘Fugitive Saddam Hussein aide’ appears in video attacking Iraqi government

Video purports to show Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, the most senior member of the former regime still at large

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/08/fugitive-saddam-hussein-aide-video

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Pakistan avalanche: rescuers recover soldiers’ bodies

Helicopters, sniffer dogs and troops deployed to Siachen Glacier to find up to 150 soldiers buried in Kashmir army base

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/07/pakistan-avalanche-rescuers-search-soldiers

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Pakistan President Zardari visits India for talks

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17648622

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Fang Lizhi, China dissident who inspired Tiananmen, dies

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-17645597

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Oh dear, if that rocket passes through Japanese air space or over our mainland, it’s gone, and S. Korea is on alert to shoot it down too. Should we move?
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North Korea threatens ‘merciless punishment’ as it readies rocket launch

North Korea has threatened retaliation and “merciless punishment” against any country that shoots down the long-range rocket it is preparing to launch this coming week.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9192301/North-Korea-threatens-merciless-punishment-as-it-readies-rocket-launch.html

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North Korea promotes nuclear and missile chiefs as Kim Jong-un consolidates power before rocket launch

Kim Jong-un, the new North Korean leader, has strenthened his grip on power by promoting heads of the regime’s nuclear and missile programmes to his inner circle.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9191814/North-Korea-promotes-nuclear-and-missile-chiefs-as-Kim-Jong-un-consolidates-power-before-rocket-launch.html

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TRIVIA QUIZ

Today’s question.

Who succeeded Joseph Stalin as leader of the Sovient Union?

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Zlata Filipovic, whose journal was Sarajevo’s answer to Anne Frank’s diary, tells of her fears for Bosnia today

Zlata Filipovic was a teenager in Sarajevo – and her diary of life under siege touched the world. Now, 20 years later, she says the lessons of that terror still have not been learnt.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/bosnia/9192248/Zlata-Filipovic-whose-journal-was-Sarajevos-answer-to-Anne-Franks-diary-tells-of-her-fears-for-Bosnia-today.html

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Bosnia stories: then and now – in pictures

Survivors of the Bosnia war tell how they have rebuilt their lives after the horrors committed by the Serbian army 20 years ago

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2012/apr/08/bosnia-stories-then-now-in-pictures

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A fading past: How America remembers World War I

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17620822

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The Delhi child servant scandal that has outraged India

Plight of 13-year-old locked in house while employers went on holiday sparks revulsion

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/07/india-child-labour-delhi-outrage

—-

The month in photography – audio slideshow

The Observer New Review’s monthly guide to the 20 best photographic exhibitions and books, featuring Simon Norfolk, Weegee, Andy Hall, Roger Ballen and Eve Arnold.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/audioslideshow/2012/apr/06/month-in-photography-audio-slideshow

—-

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s Easter recipes

Easter is a time of celebration, not mountains of chocolate eggs, ‘spring’ lambs that have barely seen the light of day and increasingly cynical marketing

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/apr/06/easter-recipes-hugh-fearnley-whittingstall

—-

The week in pictures: 6 April 2012

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/theweekinpictures/9189216/The-week-in-pictures-6-April-2012.html

—-

In Pictures: 100 years of Washington cherry blossom

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/17589684

—-

24 hours in pictures
A selection of the best images from around the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2012/apr/07/1

Good morning everyone, and a Happy Easter and Passover to all who are celebrating.

Where did the day go, still have things to finish off and it’s already getting dark. Must rush.

Have a good Saturday wherever you may be, take care, be safe and stay warm.

Sayonara from my chilly corner of Tokyo, where we had a bit of snow falling last night. Where is our Spring? Mata ashita ne.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Newly consolidated safety criteria for reactor restarts finalized

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120407a4.html

—-

Debate growing over ‘local’ reactor consent
Governors of prefectures without units seek greater say in process

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120407a1.html

—-

11 crew members of Hong Kong freighter rescued off Kagoshima Pref.

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120406p2g00m0dm022000c.html

—-

Govt report: North Korea’s nuclear program poses global threat

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120406004914.htm

—-

All this trouble because Kim junior wants to flex his nonexistent and mostly flabby muscles.
————

J-Alert hard to use for 30% of local governments

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120406004913.htm

—-

NHK tsunami documentary wins Peabody Award

http://www.japantoday.com/category/entertainment/view/nhk-tsunami-documentary-wins-peabody-award

—-

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Photogenic

No they are not mine, but could have been if the beautiful trees across from me hadn’t been chopped down to make way for an ugly parking lot. My outside tribe used to love climbing trees. 🙁

http://www.japantoday.com/category/picture-of-the-day/view/photogenic
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Andrew Lansley is living in Oz about so many things, but his latest claim is ludicrous. Smokers will not stop smoking just because they stop advertisements and promotion. Once a person gets hooked on smoking, it’s not pretty pictures, billboards or supermarket displays that keeps them smoking, it’s nicotine addiction, and this is our Health Secretary pushing so hard for NHS reforms? Just how dumb can you get?

Will we now have to find our “pushers” in unlit shop doorways, or in alleys across the country I wonder, because you know how things go with illegal drugs, there is no shortage, and where there is a will, there is a way. We’ll find em Lansley. What’s next for this government, a sex curfew? No sex after midnight in rural areas, and no sex after 6 am in the cities??
————

Smoking “no longer part of life”, Lansley hopes

The ban on promoting cigarettes and tobacco in shops will help more addicts give up, and ensure “we no longer see smoking as a part of life”, health secretary Andrew Lansley has said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9191171/Smoking-no-longer-part-of-life-Lansley-hopes.html

—-

All David Cameron’s problems gone, in a puff of tobacco smoke

The shutters are coming down over cigarette displays in supermarkets, we shall not see them lit again.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9191217/All-David-Camerons-problems-gone-in-a-puff-of-tobacco-smoke.html

—-

Carers versus Atos’s attempts to protect its image – video

Jon Ronson investigates Atos, the company that vets disability benefit claimants on behalf of the government, which has gone to great lengths to control references to it online. Ronson meets two people who have experienced this first hand, Frances Kelly and Phil Lockwood

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/video/2012/apr/06/carers-versus-atos-image-video

—-

I agree with the “pure politics” part 100%, and have never felt that Cameron’s concern was sincere.
————

We don’t need to get married, says gay MP

The first MP to enter into a civil partnership has dismissed David Cameron’s plans to introduce homosexual marriage as “pure politics”

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9190155/We-dont-need-to-get-married-says-gay-MP.html

—-

Talk is cheap Osborne, and you know what, we wouldn’t trust your government as far as we could throw them.
————

Osborne ‘very happy’ for government to consider publishing MPs personal tax returns

George Osborne today says he is “very happy” for the Government to consider publishing the personal tax returns of ministers before the next general election.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/georgeosborne/9191222/Osborne-very-happy-for-government-to-consider-publishing-MPs-personal-tax-returns.html

—-

Tax avoidance: UK urged to rejig Swiss tax deal for the super rich

The Treasury estimates taxes on Swiss accounts could raise £5bn for the exchequer

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/06/tax-avoidance-uk-swiss-accord

—-

One would hope so, unless the voters have all gone stark raving bonkers.
————

Lucy Mangan: the Tories are panicking. Rejoice!

Ever since the budget, it’s been back-to-back bad news for the PM and his chums. Can we dare hope the jig is almost up?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/apr/06/tories-panicking-lucy-mangan-taxes

—-

Looks like the Met have been burying scandals for years and not only the phone hacking types.
————

Metropolitan police ‘buried’ report in 2004 warning of race scandal

Scotland Yard veterans claim spiralling crisis triggered by recording of racial abuse was ‘accident waiting to happen’

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/06/metropolitan-police-warned-racism

—-

Teachers’ poll reveals crisis of morale

42% of respondents to YouGov survey rate their morale as low or very low, blaming workload and unrealistic expectations

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/apr/07/teachers-poll-reveals-crisis-morale

—-

Phone hacking: ‘Hold back on News International witnesses,’ MPs told

Lawyers fear select committee criticism could prejudice fair trials if former executives are charged

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/apr/06/phone-hacking-select-committee-legal-pressure

—-

France fears another serial killer as scooter shooter strikes in Paris suburbs

A series of murders in suburban Parisian housing estates has sparked fears that a serial killer is on the prowl, as the same gun was used to kill four apparently innocent citizens in five months.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9190171/France-fears-another-serial-killer-as-scooter-shooter-strikes-in-Paris-suburbs.html

—-

Greek dockworkers clash with police

In Athens dockworkers clash with police during the protest over losing their savings.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/9190651/Greek-dockworkers-clash-with-police.html

—-

Bosnia-Hercegovina marks 20th anniversary of war

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17636640

—-

Grief of Bosnia war lingers on

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17636221

—-

Russia sure likes its home grown villains, and yet will stand by as Assad and other tyrants, murder thousands of their own citizens.
————

Russia vows to bring ‘Merchant of death’ Viktor Bout back to motherland

Moscow responded angrily on Friday to the jailing in New York of Russian arms trafficker Viktor Bout, dubbed the Merchant of Death, calling his sentence “unfounded, biased and political”.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/9190702/Russia-vows-to-bring-Merchant-of-death-Viktor-Bout-back-to-motherland.html

—-

Iraqi woman bludgeoned to death in ‘hate crime’ was ‘planning to divorce husband’

An Iraqi woman bludgeoned to death in America was planning to divorce her husband, police have disclosed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9190704/Iraqi-woman-bludgeoned-to-death-in-hate-crime-was-planning-to-divorce-husband.html

—-

US Navy F-18 jet crashes into Virginia apartment building

A US Navy fighter jet slammed into an apartment complex in Virginia yesterday, bursting into flames and destroying several buildings.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9190923/US-Navy-F-18-jet-crashes-into-Virginia-apartment-building.html

—-

Ohio woman admits keeping granddaughter in barricaded bathroom

Rivae Hart, 50, pleads guilty to endangering children after girl was reportedly kept in bathroom and rarely let out for years

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/07/ohio-woman-granddaughter-barricaded-bathroom

—-

Absolutely disgraceful!
————

National Review writer ignites firestorm over ‘disgusting rant’ on race

Conservative columnist writes piece urging parents of ‘nonblack’ children to shield kids from contact with black Americans

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-news-blog/2012/apr/06/john-derbyshire-firestorm-race-column

—-

New York Public Library’s plan to take books off shelves worries scholars

City institution’s $300m transformation will make way for an up-to-date lending library, but some fear research will suffer

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/06/new-york-public-library-jersey

—-

Cuba celebrates Good Friday for first time since 1959 revolution

Day of holiday is marked at request of pope, who visited communist country last week

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/07/cuba-good-friday-1959-revolution

—-

I’m sorry, printable words fail me on this.
————

Colombian girl, 10, gives birth to baby girl

A 10-year-old girl has given birth to a baby in Colombia, becoming one of the world’s youngest mothers.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/colombia/9189944/Colombian-girl-10-gives-birth-to-baby-girl.html

—-

This is the government who want the opposition to lay down their arms. I get pretty tired of hearing and seeing the word “rebel” in every story about those who oppose a leader or a government, what these protests and the consequent fighting to defend their town from Assad’s bombardment has shown without a doubt, is the kind of man Assad is, and to what lengths he will go to stay in power. Having witnessed the scenes in so many towns, especially Homs, how can anyone broker a peace deal that would include this monster staying in power or even sharing it?
————

Syrian security officials ‘tortured pregnant mother with electric shocks in front of infant sons’

Syrian security officials tortured a pregnant mother and a father with electric shocks in front of their infant sons, according to an eyewitness who was held in the same cell.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9190549/Syrian-security-officials-tortured-pregnant-mother-with-electric-shocks-in-front-of-infant-sons.html

—-

Syrian claims of withdrawal from cities thrown into doubt

Syrian claims to have begun withdrawing troops from restive cities in accordance with a UN-backed ceasefire plan have been called into question after it mounted one of its biggest offensives against rebel strongholds in months.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9189417/Syrian-claims-of-withdrawal-from-cities-thrown-into-doubt.html

—-

Syrian exodus prompts call for urgent UN evaluation

Turkey urges UN to send officials to border as thousands flee Syria each day to escape government violence

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/06/syrian-exodus-urgent-un-evaluation

—-

Hundreds of Libyans protest against militias

Soldiers and police join demonstration in Benghazi against armed groups still active months after helping to oust Gaddafi

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/07/hundreds-libyans-protest-against-militias

—-

These guys just don’t get it.
————

Former Mubarak intelligence chief to stand in Egyptian presidential race

Omar Suleiman announced decision to run as crowds protested about possible conspiracy against another candidate

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/06/egypt-rally-hazem-abu-ismail

—-

Tunisians jailed for posting ‘Naked Muhammad’ cartoons

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17640207

—-

It really should be.
————

Bahrain unrest fuels calls for grand prix to be cancelled

Grand prix should not go ahead amid violence on streets and a hunger strike by jailed activist, opponents say

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/06/bahrain-unrest-calls-grand-prix-cancelled

—-

Bahrain hunger-striker al-Khawaja moved to hospital

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17640200

—-

All in the family and not much of a shake up at all.
————

Yemen’s president shakes up military commands

Yemen’s president removed a half brother of former leader Ali Abdullah Saleh on Friday as head of the air force, replacing nearly 20 top officers but leaving Mr Saleh’s son, nephew and other allies in place as heads of important military units.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/yemen/9191527/Yemens-president-shakes-up-military-commands.html

—-

The new Somalia?
————

Mali coup: al-Qaeda linked rebels declare independence of territory larger than France

Tuareg rebels fighting alongside Islamist revolutionaries linked to al-Qaeda have declared the “irrevocable independence” of a swathe of northern Mali larger than France.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/mali/9190558/Mali-coup-al-Qaeda-linked-rebels-declare-independence-of-territory-larger-than-France.html

—-

More than 100 Pakistani soldiers die in avalanche

More than 100 Pakistani soldiers were buried by an avalanche near the Siachen glacier on the border with India on Saturday, an army spokesman said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/pakistan/9191605/More-than-100-Pakistani-soldiers-die-in-avalanche.html

—-

Suicide bomber kills Afghanistan peace councillor

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17637353

—-

Why are India’s army and government at loggerheads?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-17635618

—-

That a 17 year old can sell his kidney shows the overwhelming problem in Chinese society of too much regulation in one place, and hardly any to protect the innocent in another. I hope that whoever performed the surgery and took the kidney will be thrown in jail.
————

Chinese boy ‘sells kidney to buy iPad’

A Chinese boy is suffering from kidney failure after he sold his organ to buy an iPad and iPhone, state media reported on Friday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/9191325/Chinese-boy-sells-kidney-to-buy-iPad.html

—-

Crew of Chinese cargo ship hijacked off Iran ‘rescued’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17636649

—-

China’s most-wanted man appears in court in ‘the city he once owned’

China’s most-wanted man went on trial yesterday on Friday, 13 years after he fled the country, charged with masterminding a multi-billion pound smuggling ring that was so powerful it at one point controlled an entire city.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/9191288/Chinas-most-wanted-man-appears-in-court-in-the-city-he-once-owned.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TRIVIA QUIZ

Yesterday’s answer. Tuber.

Please forgive me as I haven’t got the time for a question today. Will be back with one tomorrow.

—-

Inside Keppel: finding freedom in a children’s prison

The Guardian has been given exclusive access to a unit in West Yorkshire trying new ways to reach the most disturbed children

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/06/children-prison-inside-keppel-unit

—-

Autistic workers: loyal, talented … ignored

Employers could recruit a whole army of unique workers. But ignorance and fear get in the way. Lynne Wallis looks at why autism is so misunderstood and what sufferers can offer

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/apr/06/autistic-workers-employers-ignorance

—-

A Cambodian American who can never ‘go home’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17527030

—-

Dispossessed: the South Sudanese without a nationality

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17624075

—-

Simon Hoggart’s week: Andrew Lansley performs the splits

Response to the Telegraph story on abortion clinics shows this is is not a government but a PR agency with fabulous offices

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2012/apr/06/simon-hoggart-andrew-lansley-abortion

—-

Doris Lessing’s Golden Notebook, 50 years on

Lessing’s radical exploration of communism, female liberation, motherhood and mental breakdown was hailed as the ‘feminist bible’ and reviled as ‘castrating’. Four generations of writers reflect on what it means to them

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/06/the-golden-notebook-50-years-on

—-

Good Friday around the world – in pictures

Christians across the world have taken part in re-enactments, processions and services to mark Good Friday

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2012/apr/06/good-friday-around-the-world-in-pictures

—-

Cute, but I’ll stick with the bunnies.
————

Easter bunny? Australia introduces Easter bilby – video

Instead of rabbits to represent Easter, conservationists in Australia aim to replace the Easter bunny with the Easter bilby. This rare native marsupial is on the threatened species list, with as few as 600 of the animals left in the wild. Its habitat is being destroyed by rabbits, which were introduced to Australia and are now seen as a pest

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/video/2012/apr/06/easter-bunny-australia-introduces-bilby-video

—-

Good, but get rid of five, and five more will take their place.
————

Twitter sues ‘spamming’ websites

Social network launches action against five sites it accuses of creating tools for spamming users

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/apr/06/twitter-sues-spamming-websites

—-

Beautiful? Did I miss something, or is she pulling our legs?
————

Samantha Brick goes transatlantic with awkward Today show interview

High-profile British media spectacles this week have made American women realise they’re not all like Kate Middleton

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-news-blog/2012/apr/06/samantha-brick-today-show-daily-mail

—-

News tweets: Gosling to the rescue?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17640837

—-

In Pictures: BP Portrait Award 2012 shortlist

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17608425

—-

24 hours in pictures
A selection of the best images from around the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2012/apr/06/1

Good morning everyone.

A pleasant day here today, not quite Spring yet, but the tribes slept through most of the day. A small slice of heaven for this tired bod. 🙂

Have a good day wherever you may be, take care, be safe and stay warm.

Sayonara from my twilight corner of Tokyo. Mata ashita ne.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Strontium from No. 1 plant taints Pacific

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120406a5.html

—-

Govt to check Oi procedures / Results of 30-point safety plan will affect possible resumption date

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120405004775.htm

—-

High levels of cesium detected in produce

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120405004955.htm

—-

What about the bosses?
————

No bonuses for TEPCO employees this year

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/no-bonuses-for-tepco-employees-this-year

—-

Village near Fukushima plant speeds up decontamination work prior to reopening of schools

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120405p2a00m0na007000c.html

—-

Coast Guard cannon fire sinks Japanese ghost ship

http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20120406p2g00m0dm079000c.html

—-

First glaciers in Japan recognized

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120406a3.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Wow 5p. About the only thing it’s good for would be to straighten out a wobbly table leg. Actually that would be like fighting off a real “monster” with a matchstick.
————

Businesses to save average of just 5p each from plans to cut health and safety

David Cameron’s pledge tackle Britain’s “health and safety monster” has been ridiculed after it emerged flagship plans to cut red tape will only save businesses an average of 5p each.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9188669/Businesses-to-save-average-of-just-5p-each-from-plans-to-cut-health-and-safety.html

—-

They won’t publish it because the country would panic and riot, rightly so I might add. We will never see the original.
————

Minister ‘must publish NHS risk register to calm down public alarm’

Health ministers have made “general alarm” over the NHS reforms even worse by refusing to publish a register showing how risky the changes might be, a judge has found.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9189086/Minister-must-publish-NHS-risk-register-to-calm-down-public-alarm.html

—-

That’s a lot of money to most families.
————

Working couples face losing nearly £4,000 a year under new tax rules

Working couples face losing nearly £4,000 a year under changes to tax rules that come into force tomorrow, the shadow chancellor has revealed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/how-budget-affect-me/9187769/Working-couples-face-losing-nearly-4000-a-year-under-new-tax-rules.html

—-

Labour says tax change is a ruthless assault on low income families

Opposition and coalition trade blows over major tax and benefit changes including raising personal income tax allowance

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/apr/05/labour-tax-change-assault-families

—-

Talk about foot in mouth, what an idiot.
————

It’s a compliment to be a tax haven, says Francis Maude

Francis Maude has boasted about trying to turn Britain into a “tax haven” sparking claims the Conservative minister’s gaffes are “going from bad to worse”.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9189492/Its-a-compliment-to-be-a-tax-haven-says-Francis-Maude.html

—-

Do these nincompoops ever look at other countries where academies have failed miserably, I suppose not when your eye is on the money. Privatizing either education or health care, doesn’t work for the people, and could lead to a U.K. version of the Kochs, or the RR taking over the curriculum of unsuspecting students. No thank you!
————

Academies to become a majority among state secondary schools

Over half of Britain’s 3,261 state secondaries have become, or applied to become, academies, government data shows

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/apr/05/academies-majority-state-secondary-schools

—-

How Scotland Yard’s racism allegations unfolded

The week’s allegations of police racism date back to just after the 2011 riots, and encompass assault and verbal abuse

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/05/scotland-yard-allegations-of-racism

—-

Sky News admits hacking emails of ‘canoe man’ John Darwin

Sky News has admitted senior executives authorised a journalist to hack into the emails of John Darwin, the “canoe man” accused of faking his own death in 2002.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/phone-hacking/9188402/Sky-News-admits-hacking-emails-of-canoe-man-John-Darwin.html

—-

That’s ok, Sarkozy has become cheesy enough himself recently.
————

France election 2012: Nicolas Sarkozy bans cheese from Elysée Palace

It is an admission that is verging on sacrilegious for a French president. But Nicolas Sarkozy’s top chef has revealed that the French head of state has banned cheese from the table at the Elysée Palace.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/nicolas-sarkozy/9189535/France-election-2012-Nicolas-Sarkozy-bans-cheese-from-Elysee-Palace.html

—-

I want to tell them that it’s not exclusive to Greece.
————

Death in the morning: how one pensioner’s suicide has traumatised Greece

Until Wednesday morning, Dimitris Christoulas, a respectable middle-class pensioner, was familiar only to the residents of the quiet Ampelokipous district of Athens where he had lived and worked hard for nearly 40 years.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/9189562/Death-in-the-morning-how-one-pensioners-suicide-has-traumatised-Greece.html

—-

I believe that they are doing the same in China. Like two peas in a pod. 😯
————

Russian officials to be prevented from buying foreign cars

State officials in Russia are to be prevented from buying expensive Mercedes, Lexus and other foreign saloons in order to cut costs and boost the domestic auto industry.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/9188776/Russian-officials-to-be-prevented-from-buying-foreign-cars.html

—-

Trayvon Martin killing: UN human rights chief calls for investigation

UN Human Rights chief Navi Pillay has called for an “immediate investigation” into the circumstances surrounding the death of Trayvon Martin, the unarmed black teen who was shot dead by a volunteer neighbourhood watchman in Florida.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9189884/Trayvon-Martin-killing-UN-human-rights-chief-calls-for-investigation.html

—-

Viktor Bout sentenced to 25 years in prison

Russian arms dealer known as ‘the Merchant of Death’ convicted on terrorism charges resulting from a US sting operation

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/05/viktor-bout-sentenced-25-years-prison

—-

US Marine faces dismissal for criticising President Obama

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17635878

—-

Truly priceless. 🙂
————

US Election 2012: Newt Gingrich’s think tank files for bankruptcy

A healthcare think tank founded by Newt Gingrich has filed for bankruptcy, piling further humiliation on the Republican presidential hopeful following the virtual collapse of his campaign.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-election/9189378/US-Election-2012-Newt-Gingrichs-think-tank-files-for-bankruptcy.html

—-

Syria crisis – live updates

• More violence in Damascus suburbs – activists
• More that 2,800 flee from Idlib to Turkey in one day
• Kurdish bloc quits Syrian National Council

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/blog/2012/apr/06/syria-crisis-live-updates

—-

Syria crisis: Turkey refugee surge amid escalation fear

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17635434

—-

Why, when the truce has already been broken by the government? The only thing to encourage any sort of peace plan, is for Assad to relinquish power, and I can’t see him doing that without further bloodshed.
———–

Syria: UN Security Council backs ceasefire deadline

The UN Security Council has given formal backing to a deadline that UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan agreed with the Syrian government to end its military offensive on protest cities.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9188627/Syria-UN-Security-Council-backs-ceasefire-deadline.html

—-

Syria: troops attack Damascus suburbs despite peace plan

Syrian authorities have told Kofi Annan they have begun withdrawing troops from three areas, despite fresh reports this morning that they are attacking a suburb of the capital Damascus.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9187939/Syria-troops-attack-Damascus-suburbs-despite-peace-plan.html

—-

Syria’s Christians caught in the middle

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17629499

—-

Gaddafi son ‘attacked in custody’ in Libya, ICC lawyers say

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17630335

—-

Egypt Brotherhood candidate registers for presidency

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17629067

—-

Yes, well, we knew that, we’ve been saying that for quite a few years now, but thanks for confirming it.
————

Israeli architect of Oslo accords says Middle East peace process is over

The chief Israeli architect of the Oslo accords has urged the Palestinian leadership to declare the death of the peace process he helped instigate as Britain issued one of its strongest ever condemnations of Israeli settlement policies.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/9189227/Israeli-architect-of-Oslo-accords-says-Middle-East-peace-process-is-over.html

—-

Israel’s dogs of war are straining at the leash to attack Iran – can Barack Obama stop them?

An attack in September looks almost inevitable unless Tehran changes course on developing nuclear weapons.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/iran/9188515/Israels-dogs-of-war-are-straining-at-theleash-to-attack-Iran-can-Barack-Obama-stop-them.html

—-

Malawi President Bingu wa Mutharika ‘dead’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17636393

—-

Mali coup: Islamists kidnap Algerian diplomats

Armed Islamists stormed the Algerian consulate in northeastern Mali and abducted seven diplomats Thursday amid fears Al Qaeda-linked fighters are turning the country into a rogue state and fuelling a humanitarian crisis.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/mali/9189810/Mali-coup-Islamists-kidnap-Algerian-diplomats.html

—-

Iran and Turkey open rift over Syria

Tensions between Iran and Turkey are in danger of scuppering a new round of international talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/iran-blog/2012/apr/05/iran-turkey-rift-syria

—-

Boy what an ego. Is he feeling a tad fragile these days, he should be.
————

To Iran’s supreme leader Khamenei, with love and squalor

An Iranian organisation has called on writers to submit devotional poems in praise of the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/iran-blog/2012/apr/05/iran-khamenei-poetry-festival

—-

Australian energy company CEO stands down after slew of racist remarks on Facebook

An Australian energy company has lost contracts and had its ties with a football club cut after its CEO made a slew of offensive remarks on Facebook about Aborigines, Asians, Jews, Muslims and women.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/9187965/Australian-energy-company-CEO-stands-down-after-slew-of-racist-remarks-on-Facebook.html

—-

‘Smuggling kingpin’ Lai Changxing on trial in China

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-17635521

—-

China adds six Uighurs to terrorist list

Beijing claims the men were trained to carry out terror attacks in another south Asian country – most likely Pakistan

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/06/china-uighur-terrorist-list

—-

Chinese government tells military to ignore internet in wake of coup talk

Regime’s jitters evident in thinly veiled reference by army newspaper to rumours that prompted crackdown on chat sites

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/06/china-military-ignore-internet-coup

—-

Neil Heywood seemed ‘very happy’ days before he died

British businessman Neil Heywood, whose death in a Chinese hotel room has become swept up in the biggest political scandal to hit the country in decades, appeared carefree and “very happy” to a friend just a few days before he died.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/9187880/Neil-Heywood-seemed-very-happy-days-before-he-died.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TRIVIA QUIZ

Yesterday’s answer. Daniel, well done to kes. 🙂

Today’s question.

Technically the potato is a: Tuber; Root; Stem; or Fruit?

—-

I agree about the weak gun control laws.
————

Rise in justifiable homicides linked to weak gun control laws

Guardian analysis finds 25% rise in justifiable homicides, and casts doubt on claim of a link to stand-your-ground laws alone

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/05/stand-your-ground-gun-control-data

—-

Fears over wind turbine plans in Bronte country

Plans to build a £12 million wind farm on the “wild and wonderful” moorland that inspired Wuthering Heights have enraged conservationists and locals.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/9189105/Fears-over-wind-turbine-plans-in-Bronte-country.html

—-

Singapore to drive road through historic cemetery

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17594008

—-

How awful.
————

HS2: 50,000 bodies ‘to be exhumed’ for high speed rail link

Up to 50,000 bodies will need to be exhumed to make way for the new high speed rail line from London to Birmingham, it has emerged.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/9189588/HS2-50000-bodies-to-be-exhumed-for-high-speed-rail-link.html

—-

Drugs not best option for people at risk of psychosis, study warns

Counselling and therapies effective in treating psychotic experiences that can lead to conditions such as schizophrenia

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/apr/06/drugs-psychosis-schizophrenia-counselling

—-

Buford, Wyoming, ‘smallest town in US’, is auctioned

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17630161

—-

In pictures: From elephant stampedes to hairdos in Zimbabwe art

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17565574

—-

World’s rarest ducklings Madagascan pochards hatch

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/17616488

—-

A Cat in Paris: ‘Part childlike fable, part old-fashioned cops and robbers’ – video review

Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gagnol’s charming Oscar-nominated animation has been described as ‘Hitchcock for middle-schoolers’. It’s not quite that purrfect, says Andrew Pulver, but this engaging tale – about a mute girl (voiced by Oriane Zani) and a burglar (Dominique Blanc) that share custody of a crafty feline – deserved a stroke or two during the awards season

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/video/2012/apr/06/a-cat-in-paris-video-trailer

—-

Day in pictures: 5 April 2012

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/17624838

—-

24 hours in pictures
A selection of the best images from around the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2012/apr/05/24-hours-in-pictures

Good morning everyone.

It got to be 18C here today, and the first time that I could turn off the heater for half a day since November last year. Spring??

Have a good day wherever you may be, take care, be safe and stay warm.

Sayonara from my slightly cooling corner of Tokyo. Mata ashita ne.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Softbank plans huge Hokkaido solar plant
With output of 200,000 kw, facility will be nation’s larges

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nb20120405a1.html

—-

Storage of large amounts of radioactive water near Fukushima No. 1 sparks safety concerns
Long-term no-go areas considered

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120405a1.html

—-

Nitrogen injection briefly halts at N-plant

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120404005065.htm

—-

Radiation expert takes on red tape in disaster zone

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120405f2.html

—-

Megasolar rush a band-aid on a bullet hole

http://www.japantoday.com/category/kuchikomi/view/megasolar-rush-a-band-aid-on-a-bullet-hole

—-

Pro-N Korea newspaper in Japan hints at nuclear test

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/pro-n-korea-newspaper-in-japan-hints-at-nuclear-test

—-

Gasoline prices rise for 7th straight week

http://www.japantoday.com/category/business/view/gasoline-prices-rise-for-7th-straight-week
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I bet they either vote Tory, or stand to gain some sort of benefit from the new bill because if they honestly cared about patient care, they would be against it.
————

Just 12% of GPs back NHS shake-up, says poll

GPs are increasingly unconvinced that the Government’s shake-up of the National Health Service will lead to improved patient care, according to a poll.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/9187263/Just-12-of-GPs-back-NHS-shake-up-says-poll.html

—-

NHS watchdog attacks blitz on abortion clinics

Andrew Lansley’s directive seen as an attempt to placate Tory right as concerns grow over monitoring of patient care

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/apr/04/nhs-abortion-clinics-andrew-lansley

—-

The Tea Party Tories

Angry rightwingers who seek a return to the mythical golden age of Thatcher need to wake up

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/04/tea-party-tories-cameron

—-

Millions affected as tax and benefit changes come in

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17619212

—-

So Cameron thinks that keeping the public in the dark will be protecting Britain while taking away their privacy, how does that work I wonder? “Secret trials” sound very dodgy to me.
————

David Cameron: ‘it is my job to protect Britain’

David Cameron defends the Government’s plans to hold “secret trials” and gather personal data, saying he will only act to protect Britons.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/9185592/David-Cameron-it-is-my-job-to-protect-Britain.html

—-

Petrol prices hit 170p at some garages as strike talks begin

The price of fuel has hit a record high of more than 170p per litre at some garages, as tanker companies and unions began talks aimed at avoiding strikes.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9185928/Petrol-prices-hit-170p-at-some-garages-as-strike-talks-begin.html

—-

No wonder the country is broke.
————

George Osborne’s corporation tax cut may not win business for Britain

Amazon not the only company to have shifted headquarters out of UK, other multinationals could do same and save billions

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/apr/04/george-osborne-corporation-tax-cut-amazon

—-

Amazon: £7bn sales, no UK corporation tax

Online retailer’s British operation owned by company in Luxembourg which receives all payments for books, DVDs and other goods

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/apr/04/amazon-british-operation-corporation-tax

—-

How Amazon finds tax loopholes

Company’s US map shows states in red, yellow or green colour to warn executives where laws could trigger tax collections

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/apr/04/amazon-tax-loopholes-us

—-

Chechen separatist allegedly targeted by president says he feels safe in UK

Akhmed Zakayev says he is not surprised by alleged plot disclosed in deportation appeal hearing

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/04/chechen-separatist-akhmed-zakayev

—-

Hosepipe bans come into force for southern and eastern England

20 million people face £1,000 fine if they defy hosepipe bans, introduced after one of driest two-year periods on record

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/apr/05/hosepipe-bans-southern-eastern-england

—-

France election 2012: Nicolas Sarkozy accused of using Islamist terror swoops to boost campaign

Ten Islamist terror suspects were seized in France on Wednesday the latest in a wave of arrests, as Nicolas Sarkozy’s rivals stepped up criticism that the swoops were electioneering.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/nicolas-sarkozy/9186107/France-election-2012-Nicolas-Sarkozy-accused-of-using-Islamist-terror-swoops-to-boost-campaign.html

—-

The rich are the same the world over.
————

Italian police uncover widespread tax evasion amongst yacht owners

Italian police who raided a smart marina found it packed with shiny new yachts owned by people who had declared zero or almost no income, in the latest example of the country’s brazen tax evasion.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/italy/9186069/Italian-police-uncover-widespread-tax-evasion-amongst-yacht-owners.html

—-

Norway massacre: Breivik disputes psychiatric report

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17613822

—-

Greek debt suicide provokes Athens violence

There were tense clashes between police and protesters as people gathered near the spot where a retired pharmacist shot himself after falling upon hard times.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/greece/9187366/Greek-debt-suicide-provokes-Athens-violence.html

—-

Obama campaign leaves Mitt Romney trailing as focus shifts to November

Shackled by the internal battle for the GOP nomination, Romney has been closing offices in key battleground states while the president has been firing on all cylinders for months

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/04/obama-campaign-romney-trails-november-election

—-

California shooting: nursing director says she fears she was target

The nursing programme director at a Christian college where alleged gunman One Goh killed seven people has said she thinks she may have been the suspect’s intended target.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9187383/California-shooting-nursing-director-says-she-fears-she-was-target.html

—-

September 11 mastermind Khalid Sheik Mohammed facing death penalty

Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged mastermind of the September 11 terror attacks, faces a potential death sentence after being formally charged with the murder of thousands of Americans.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/september-11-attacks/9187027/September-11-mastermind-Khalid-Sheik-Mohammed-facing-death-penalty.html

—-

New tests after French academic Descoings found dead in NY

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17619046

—-

Wisconsin: America’s democratic struggle laid bare

Scott Walker’s recall, pitting a big-spending Republican against grassroots activists, is an apt prologue to November’s election

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/apr/04/wisconsin-struggle-america-democracy

—-

Utter madness.
————

Students hit with pepper spray during tuition fee protest

Students who were hit by pepper spray during a rally against a hike in tuition fees have expressed their shock over the incident, as college officials defended their actions.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9187520/Students-hit-with-pepper-spray-during-tuition-fee-protest.html

—-

Inside America’s Drone HQ

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17516156

—-

2.4 million victims of human trafficking worldwide, says UN

The United Nations has called on the international community to strengthen efforts to combat human trafficking, saying 2.4 million people worldwide are victims of human trafficking at any one time.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/9185811/2.4-million-victims-of-human-trafficking-worldwide-says-UN.html

—-

Syria: Fresh attacks raise ceasefire doubts – live updates

• Assaults ‘across the country’ – activists
• 800-900 refugees enter Turkey in 24 hours
• Russia warns against arming Syrian rebels
• ICC orders Libya to hand over Saif al-Islam

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/apr/05/syria-attacks-ceasefire-live-updates

—-

New Syria clashes as UN envoy set to arrive

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17622310

—-

Russia sticking its big, cold nose in once again. What do they want the opposition to do, lay down their arms and be shot at in the streets, imprisoned and tortured or killed in cold blood?
————

Syria’s rebels will never defeat Bashar al-Assad, even if they are ‘armed to the teeth’, says Russia

Proposals to arm Syria’s opposition are doomed to fail because the country’s disparate rebels will never be able unseat President Bashar al-Assad even if they are “armed to the teeth”, Russia has warned.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9186766/Syrias-rebels-will-never-defeat-Bashar-al-Assad-even-if-they-are-armed-to-the-teeth-says-Russia.html

—-

Hand over Gaddafi son, international criminal court tells Libya

Tribunal in The Hague calls on Libyan authorities to deliver Saif al-Islam Gaddafi rather than hold their own trial

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/05/gaddafi-son-international-criminal-court

—-

Israel evicts settlers from Hebron house

Police say group put up no resistance to eviction, hours after settlers were given three weeks to comply with order to leave

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/04/israel-evicts-settlers-house-hebron

—-

Fuel arrives in Gaza to ease power crisis

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17607549

—-

Somalia’s prime minister narrowly escapes female suicide bomber

Somalia’s prime minister narrowly escaped assassination when a female suicide bomber blew herself up at a VIP event at the country’s National Theatre, killing herself and the country’s two most senior sports officials.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/somalia/9186566/Somalias-prime-minister-narrowly-escapes-female-suicide-bomber.html

—-

Senegal musician Youssou Ndour given ministerial post

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17620917

—-

Tuareg rebels announce end to ‘military operations’ in Mali

The UN Security Council called for an immediate ceasefire and return to democracy in Mali on Wednesday, prompting an announcement of an end to “military operations” by Tuareg rebels in the north.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/mali/9187608/Tuareg-rebels-announce-end-to-military-operations-in-Mali.html

—-

US soldiers among 10 killed in Afghan suicide bombing

Taliban claims responsibility for attack after motorcyclist detonates explosives at gate of Maimana park

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/05/us-soldiers-afghan-suicide-bombing

—-

Kabul Bank scandal: Hamid Karzai sets up special tribunal

Afghan president moves to tackle $900m Kabul Bank corruption scandal ahead of latest round of aid funding decisions

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/04/kabul-bank-hamid-karzai-special-tribunal

—-

India to free Maoists for abducted Orissa politician

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-17621253

—-

New Zealand container ship owners charged over environmental disaster

The owners of a stricken container ship wrecked on a reef off a popular New Zealand holiday spot have been charged with causing the country’s worst environmental disaster in decades, maritime officials said on Thursday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/newzealand/9187623/New-Zealand-container-ship-owners-charged-over-environmental-disaster.html

—-

China considers Seychelles military base plan

China is weighing up whether to open an Indian Ocean naval base in the Seychelles in a move which will heighten tensions with India amid fears of a regional arms race.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/seychelles/8953319/China-considers-Seychelles-military-base-plan.html

—-

North Korean ‘poisoned needle assassin’ jailed in Seoul

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17621110

—-

Ok, this is weird.
————

Ballet dancers denied entry to Malaysia over ‘indecent costumes’

A group of dancers from Singapore have been denied entry to Malaysia to perform The Nutcracker and other ballet works due to concerns about “indecent” costumes.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/malaysia/9187604/Ballet-dancers-denied-entry-to-Malaysia-over-indecent-costumes.html

—-

US to ease sanctions against Burma

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17619519

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TRIVIA QUIZ

Yesterday’s answer. Easter Island, which is what Dutch explorer Jacob Roggeveen named it when he came upon it on Easter Sunday in 1722.

Today’s question.

Which of these was not the name of an apostle in the Bible: Philip; Daniel; Simon; Thaddeaus; or Andrew?

—-

Bosnian war 20 years on: peace holds but conflict continues to haunt

Two decades after the conflict started, Bosnia is divided more than ever as bitter memories permeate society

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/04/bosnian-war-20-years-on

—-

In Cambodia, a landmine victim’s long recovery

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17569854

—-

Forty years in solitary confinement and counting

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17564805

—-

I don’t think he got it wrong, and have enjoyed his poetry since I was a teenager. So because of our past history, we are not allowed to voice our opinions about Israel’s policies for fear of being labeled anti-Semitic, I find that ridiculous. We are talking about their government, not their citizens, and I find the German government’s attitude very disappointing. Not everything that Israel does is right, in fact there is a lot that is plainly and very wrong. When will we as Germans be able to lift our heads from the shame that every generation born after the war, which includes me, has been bought up to acknowledge and live with since we could talk and understand the world around us? Must being born German carry a stigma for the rest of our lives on earth?

I haven’t read the poem yet, but will try, and as far as I could gather from this article, Grass is only voicing what millions of us around the world are thinking.
————

Günter Grass launches poetry attack on Israel

German Nobel literature laureate Günter Grass says Israel is a threat to world peace in his poem What Must Be Said

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/04/gunter-grass-poetry-attack-israel

—-

James Murdoch: the rise and fall of a News Corp scion

As a story, it has everything: dynastic succession, Oedipal conflict, vaulting ambition, hubris, crisis, catastrophe … read on

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/apr/04/james-murdoch-news-corp-scion

—-

Florida woman parks car for last time after 576,000 miles and 48 years

A 93-year-old Florida woman has parked her beloved “Chariot” for the last time after clocking up 576,000 miles behind the wheel in 48 years.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/news/9186398/Florida-woman-parks-car-for-last-time-after-576000-miles-and-48-years.html

—-

Easter tree festooned with 10,000 painted eggs

An apple tree in Germany has been decorated with 10,000 hand-painted eggs ahead of Easter celebrations.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/topics/easter/9186042/Easter-tree-festooned-with-10000-painted-eggs.html

—-

Welcome home little kitty. 🙂
————

German woman reunited with cat after 16 years

A German woman was preparing on Wednesday for an emotional reunion with her long-lost cat, missing and thought dead, but then handed in after 16 years apparently living in the woods, an animal home said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/9185269/German-woman-reunited-with-cat-after-16-years.html

—-

How do you track a wolf pack?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/17540978

—-

Haven’t made it for ages, will make it again soon though. Love aubergines.
————

How to cook perfect moussaka

A summer holiday favourite perfect for the British spring’s combination of scintillating sunshine and sudden sharp showers

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2012/apr/05/how-to-cook-perfect-moussaka

—-

Easter week around the world – in pictures

From Jerusalem to Damascus and from Spain to Haiti, Christian communities around the world have been celebrating Easter week

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2012/apr/04/easter-week-world-pictures

—-

Day in pictures: 4 April 2012

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-17608483

—-

24 hours in pictures
A selection of the best images from around the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2012/apr/04/1

.

Good morning everyone.

We are still all in one piece but a few plants weren’t so lucky. A few times during the night, the wind sounded like a freight train speeding by, and by morning it was blue skies and sunshine, with a humidity that follows any storms here.

Have a good day wherever you may be, take care, be safe and stay warm.

Sayonara from my darkening corner of Tokyo. Mata ashita ne.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So where was he, hiding in the Ladies room?
————

Prime minister’s office not linked to teleconference system during nuclear crisis

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120404a1.html

—-

And here you have the main obstacles for fighting against nuclear energy. Whether in Japan, the U.S. or Europe.
————

Nuclear agency under fire for donations from industry body

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120404a6.html

—-

Cesium in excess of new gov’t limit detected in smelt from Gunma lake

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120404p2g00m0dm032000c.html

—-

How about starting at the top?
————

TEPCO mulling not paying summer bonuses to employees

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120404p2g00m0dm029000c.html

—-

TEPCO declines wood chips as fuel for thermal power generation

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120403005212.htm

—-

Editorial: Catastrophic quake, tsunami projections demand policy rethink

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/perspectives/news/20120403p2a00m0na010000c.html

—-

Ministers to continue discussion on Oi reactors’ reactivation

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120404p2g00m0dm044000c.html

—-

U.S. tracks derelict ‘tsunami ship’ drifting toward Alaska

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120404a7.html

—-

Sanctions on North Korea extended 1 yr / Missile launch cited; tougher steps possible

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120403005214.htm

—-

U.S., Japan again warn N Korea not to launch rocket

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/u-s-japan-again-warn-n-korea-not-to-launch-rocket

—-

Storm briefly halts cooling system at Onagawa nuclear plant

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/storn-briefly-halts-cooling-system-for-fuel-pool-at-onagawa-nuclear-power-plant

—-

Strong storm wreaks chaos nationwide
Transportation grinds to a halt amid powerful gusts, heavy rainfall

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120404a2.html

—-

I had no idea that NHK had a sense of humour, their programs always make me sleepy.
————

NHK apologizes for April Fool’s Day Twitter joke

http://www.japantoday.com/category/entertainment/view/nhk-apologizes-after-april-fools-joke-causes-outrage

—-

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Long journey

http://www.japantoday.com/category/picture-of-the-day/view/long-journey
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Most certainly.
————

New snooping powers could be illegal, human rights watchdog warns

New powers to snoop on every email, web visit and phone call could be illegal by breaching privacy laws, the human rights watchdog warned yesterday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9183641/New-snooping-powers-could-be-illegal-human-rights-watchdog-warns.html

—-

Poor Nick, he still believes that people will listen to what he might have to say.
————

Nick Clegg pledges open hearings over web surveillance plans

Draft clauses in new parliamentary bill will be scrutinised by a parliamentary committee as anger grows over measures

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/apr/03/nick-clegg-open-hearings-surveillance

—-

This woman thoroughly annoys me most times, now even more so as she claims that the abuse of privacy for all of the citizens of the U.K. is ok because you catch one killer out of hundreds. Nonsense, if the police are doing their job properly, that’s how it used to be done Ms. May. If Cameron hadn’t implemented the cuts on the police force, maybe our streets would be safer because there would be more boots out in the streets. Don’t make the nation suffer because of the lousy job your government is doing to protect us. You can’t even protect our borders, so there is little room for talk.
————

Theresa May: data snooping helped jail Ian Huntley

Plans to monitor emails, phone calls and websites are vital to track down and convict killers like Ian Huntley, the Home Secretary has said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/9182478/Theresa-May-data-snooping-helped-jail-Ian-Huntley.html

—-

This is a disgrace. Do they think the resignation of their top person was enough to entitle them to carry on with the same? That they are even under consideration is scandalous.
————

Welfare-to-work provider A4e in running for new contract despite fraud inquiry

A4e is in the running for a major contract with the Home Office despite fraud investigations into the company owned by David Cameron’s former “families champion”.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/journalists/rowena-mason/9184426/Welfare-to-work-provider-A4e-in-running-for-new-contract-despite-fraud-inquiry.html

—-

Then take a seat because it’s been happening for as long as I can remember.
————

Met police commissioner urges staff to report racist behaviour

Bernard Hogan-Howe says he has been ‘shocked’ by recent revelations and ‘will not stand for any racism or racists’

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/03/met-police-commissioner-report-racist-behaviour

—-

Phone hacking: timeline of the scandal

The key events in the phone hacking scandal, which has led to the closure of the News of the World, halted Rupert Murdoch’s BSkyB takeover bid, and prompted the arrest of several key figures.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/phone-hacking/8634176/Phone-hacking-timeline-of-a-scandal.html

—-

Eurozone crisis live: Spain faces bond auction test

Madrid goes to the bond markets for the first time since its austerity budget, with last week’s general strike fresh in the memory
• Fed minutes send shares falling
• Today’s agenda

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/04/eurozone-crisis-spain-bond-sale

—-

France launches raids to arrest 10 suspected Islamist suspects

Elite police arrested 10 Islamist suspects in early morning raids across France on Wednesday ordered by President Nicolas Sarkozy after seven people were killed by an al-Qaeda-inspired gunman last month.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9185023/France-launches-raids-to-arrest-10-suspected-Islamist-suspects.html

—-

Whole of Cyprus left without electricity after power grid failure

The whole island of Cyprus has been left without electricity after a problem at one of the island’s power plants resulted in the entire grid shutting down.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/cyprus/9184809/Whole-of-Cyprus-left-without-electricity-after-power-grid-failure.html

—-

Roma face persecution in Europe, says Amnesty

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17606004

—-

“You’ve come a long way Baby”. Not!
————

Russian schools to keep exercise books with portrait of Joseph Stalin

Russia’s education minister has said he has no power to ban children’s exercise books featuring a portrait of Soviet tyrant Joseph Stalin that have gone on sale in Moscow causing public condemnation.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/9184293/Russian-schools-to-keep-exercise-books-with-portrait-of-Joseph-Stalin.html

—-

Obama accuses Republicans of ‘social Darwinism’ over Paul Ryan budget

Stinging attack accusing GOP of favouring the rich comes as Mitt Romney expected to win at least two primaries on Tuesday

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/03/obama-accuses-republicans-social-darwinism-budget

—-

California shooting: Oakland gunman One Goh was looking for female administrator

One Goh, the gunman who shot and killed seven people at a college in Oakland, California, was looking for a female administrator.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9183567/California-shooting-Oakland-gunman-One-Goh-was-looking-for-female-administrator.html

—-

Tornadoes touch down in Dallas area causing ‘considerable damage’

Large tornadoes reported just south of Dallas, but no injuries reported from twisters that ripped through neighbourhoods

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/03/tornadoes-cause-damage-dallas

—-

Prominent French academic found dead in New York hotel room

A prominent French academic, Richard Descoings, was found dead in a New York hotel room on Tuesday afternoon and New York police opened an investigation into the circumstances of his death.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/france/9184802/Prominent-French-academic-found-dead-in-New-York-hotel-room.html

—-

Amazing.
————

Elderly US woman lands plane after pilot-husband dies

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17605770

—-

Sculptor Elizabeth Catlett dies aged 96

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17607706

—-

Memo shows US official disagreed with Bush administration’s view on torture

Previously-unreleased document shows state department official thought techniques were ‘cruel’ and ‘degrading’ punishment

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/04/george-bush-state-department-torture

—-

Yahoo layoffs: 2,000 staff expected to go in latest shake-up

More turmoil at internet company after change of CEO, hostility from major shareholder and Facebook lawsuit

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/apr/04/yahoo-layoffs-2000-staff-go

—-

Rick who??? 🙄
————

Rick Perry criticises UK initiative to influence US climate sceptics

The governor says the UK government was ‘misdirected’ to try to ‘educate’ policymakers and ‘move them from a state of denial’

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/apr/03/rick-perry-climate-sceptic-policymakers

—-

Mexican drugs kingpin jailed for 25 years

Mexican drug kingpin Benjamin Arellano Felix has been sentenced to 25 years in prison by a US judge for leading one of the world’s most powerful cartels for more than a decade.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/centralamericaandthecaribbean/mexico/9182355/Mexican-drugs-kingpin-jailed-for-25-years.html

—-

Syria crisis – UN peacekeeping team heading for Damascus – live updates

• New security council draft on Kofi Annan’s peace plan
• Syrian official claims troop withdrawal has begun
• New clashes between rival militia in western Libya

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/apr/04/syria-bashar-al-assad

—-

Syria: fierce clashes as regime forces abandon truce

Fierce clashes erupted after Syria’s regime sent reinforcements into rebel areas despite a truce pledge, as the UN said it was rushing a team to Damascus to pave the way for peace monitors.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9184778/Syria-fierce-clashes-as-regime-forces-abandon-truce.html

—-

UN advance team to begin Syria mission in 48 hours

An advance UN team preparing the deployment of Syrian observers is expected in Damascus within the next two days.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9183406/UN-advance-team-to-begin-Syria-mission-in-48-hours.html

—-

Syria: Bashar al-Assad’s uncle Rifaat says he will not hold on to power for much longer

Rifaat al-Assad, the exiled uncle of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, has said it is unlikely his nephew can hold on to power for much longer.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9182788/Syria-Bashar-al-Assads-uncle-Rifaat-says-he-will-not-hold-on-to-power-for-much-longer.html

—-

Libya clashes: ‘At least 14 dead’ around Zuwara

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17602343

—-

UN urges Lebanon to investigate Ethiopian maid’s death

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17598437

—-

Moroccan teenager’s death puts focus on women’s rights

Protests over case of 16-year old Amina Filali, who killed herself after court ordered her to marry man who allegedly raped her

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/03/moroccan-teenager-death-women-rights

—-

The Arab spring has shaken Arab TV’s credibility

Their biased coverage is undermining viewers’ faith in the Middle Eastern satellite channels that sprang up in the 1990s and 2000s

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/03/arab-spring-arab-tv-credibility

—-

Turkey 1980 coup leader Kenan Evren goes on trial

Ankara court to hear case against 94-year-old leader of military takeover that led to executions and 500,000 arrests

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/04/turkey-1980-coup-kenan-evren

—-

ICC prosecutor rejects Palestinian recognition

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17602425

—-

Of course he would. This man thinks he can do whatever he chooses.
————

Israeli PM halts eviction of hardline Jewish settlers in Hebron

Binyamin Netanyahu overrules defence minister who said settlers lacked purchase permit for three-storey property

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/03/israel-netanyahu-jewish-settlers-hebron

—-

‘We don’t know of any Kony video’: villagers tell of reality of violent attacks

As world attention is drawn to their plight, victims of the Lord’s Resistance Army say their situation is getting worse

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/03/kony-terrorised-villagers-rebel-attacks

—-

Iranians count the cost of Nowruz traffic carnage

Over the New Year holiday period Iran suffered a spike in a road accident rate that is already one of the worst in the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/iran-blog/2012/apr/03/iran-road-safety

—-

Afghan suicide bomb ‘kills six

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17607699

—-

Afghanistan: Militants ‘kill police by poisoning food’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17597797

—-

Leading Afghans cast doubt on election schedule

Talk in Kabul that presidential vote due in 2014 could be delayed or brought forward by a year, threatening constitutional crisis

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/03/afghans-doubt-election-schedule

—-

Afghanistan near deal on night raids

US and Afghan officials close to a deal to give Afghan security forces the lead role on night raids, a US official has said

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/04/afghanistan-near-deal-night-raids

—-

First US marines arrive in northern Australia

The first detachment of 200 US Marines has arrived in northern Australia, where a permanent joint training hub is taking shape as part of a US shift of military strength in the Asia-Pacific region.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/9184787/First-US-marines-arrive-in-northern-Australia.html

—-

North Korea refugees ‘arrive in Seoul after China stay’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17607839

—-

Oh right, they can’t even get it to launch properly, it just keeps falling in either the Pacific, or in the Sea of Japan. Did they think we hadn’t noticed? Really makes me wish I could say “Oh do shut up” in Korean.
————

North Korea ‘preparing to unveil missile capable of striking continental US’

North Korea is preparing to unveil a new long-range missile that is capable of striking targets in the continental US.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9182604/North-Korea-preparing-to-unveil-missile-capable-of-striking-continental-US.html

—-

Burma sanctions must be lifted, south-east Asian nations say

Ten leaders urge western nations to lift the embargo after Aung San Suu Kyi’s landslide election victory

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/04/burma-sanctions-lift-aung-san

—-

Burma elections: President Thein Sein happy with result

Burma’s president, the former military leader Thein Sein, has welcomed the country’s by-elections, in which Aung San Suu Kyi’s party won a landslide victory, and pledged to continue his liberal reform programme.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/burmamyanmar/9183220/Burma-elections-President-Thein-Sein-happy-with-result.html

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TRIVIA QUIZ

Yesterday’s answer. Sausage (originally via French, saussiche, from Latin salcicius/salsicia, from salsus, salt) You were so close kes. 🙁

Today’s question.

By what name do we know the South Pacific island that’s called Rapa Nui by its Polynesian inhabitants?

—-

Scientist reveals how he made bird flu that could spread between people

Researcher created a hybrid of H5N1 bird flu and swine flu viruses then isolated a strain that can infect cells in the throat

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/apr/03/scientist-bird-flu-spread-people

—-

Life returns to streets of Mogadishu – in pictures

The capital of Somalia is full of life for the first time in two decades following years of civil war and the absence of a government

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/gallery/2012/apr/03/life-returns-normal-mogadishu-in-pictures

—-

Who, What, Why: How many soldiers died in the US Civil War?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17604991

—-

Shut-out parents create co-op schools

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-17593589

—-

Life and death on my street in Sarajevo

For two years, Barbara Demick chronicled the trials of one Sarajevo street during the Serbian siege. In her latest book, Besieged: Life Under Fire on a Sarajevo Street, she catches up with the people she befriended

http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/apr/03/life-and-death-in-sarajevo

—-

Convicting a murderer with no dead body

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17464298

—-

Huh? How ridiculous to even be having this conversation and wasting time.
———-

Should offensive online comments be an imprisonable offence?

Anti-bullying legislation is close to completion in Arizona thatwould class as a misdemeanor online or text messages that ‘intimidate, harass, annoy or offend’. Should verbal nastiness on the internet be an imprisonable offence?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/poll/2012/apr/03/offensive-online-comments-poll

—-

Woolly mammoth may have been killed by humans

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/17525070

—-

Day in pictures: 3 April 2012

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-17595990

—-

24 hours in pictures
A selection of the best images from around the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2012/apr/03/24-hours-in-pictures

Good morning everyone.

Happy to let you know that the Mac is fixed and running much faster than before, although I believe I will be saving my pennies for a new one by the end of this year. We are having an early typhoon here in Tokyo, and have been advised to stay indoors tonight. The rain and wind is already quite fierce, and the hubby is on his back from a golf game.

Have a good day wherever you may be, take care, be safe and stay warm.

Sayonara from my windy and wet corner of Tokyo. Mata ashita ne.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A few stories and opinions from around the globe.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SDF to send 450 to Ishigaki to man rocket interceptors

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120403a2.html

—-

In light of further nuclear risks, economic growth should not be priority

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/perspectives/news/20120402p2a00m0na002000c.html

—-

Nuclear agency received large donations from nuke plant operators

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120403p2g00m0dm053000c.html

—-

‘New start’ for nuclear evacuees / But residents concerned over delayed decontamination, rebuilding

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120402004436.htm

—-

New employees commence work in disaster-hit areas

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T120402004929.htm

—-

Children who created newspaper in quake-hit city honored by UNESCO

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20120403p2g00m0dm050000c.html

—-

WELFARE COMMISSIONER
Volunteers struggle to track neediest residents

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120403i1.html

—-

New nuclear regulatory agency delayed amid political infighting

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/new-nuclear-regulatory-agency-delayed-amid-political-infighting

—-

DPJ lawmaker’s resignation reveals divisions
Young Ozawa ally bolts over consumption tax bill, driving speculation others could follow sui

http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20120403a1.html

—-

Osaka Mayor Hashimoto opposes Kansai Electric restarting any nuclear reactors

http://www.japantoday.com/category/politics/view/osaka-mayor-hashimoto-opposes-kansai-electric-restarting-any-nuclear-reactors

—-

Japan rejects N Korean invitation to send observers to rocket launch

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/japan-rejects-n-korean-invitation-to-send-observers-to-rocket-launch

—-

It’s late afternoon, and the strong winds and rain have just started a few minutes ago.
————

203 flights canceled as typhoon-strength winds hit Kanto region

http://www.japantoday.com/category/national/view/kanto-workers-urged-to-go-home-early-ahead-of-typhoon-strength-winds

—-

PICTURE OF THE DAY

Bloom of youth

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/photojournal/graph/photojournal/1.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

INTERNATIONAL NEWS
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I wonder if a warning from their own party is enough to penetrate those thick skulls, somehow I doubt it.
————

Tory MPs round on David Cameron and George Osborne

Conservative MPs warn the Prime Minister he must make major changes in the way he runs his Government and his party to reconnect with voters and retain public confidence.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9179475/Tory-MPs-round-on-Cameron-and-Osborne.html

—-

The last thing we need is politicians who feel our pain

It could be the Prime Minister’s greatest strength to be out of touch.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9180934/The-last-thing-we-need-is-politicians-who-feel-our-pain.html

—-

Insanity, remind me not to send any emails to the U.K. The poll at the bottom indicates that the majority feel the same as I do. Paying to be spied on, whatever next??
————

Taxpayers must foot £200 million bill to have their emails snooped on

Taxpayers will have to pay £200 million a year so police and security agencies can spy on their every email and phone call.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9181326/Taxpayers-must-foot-200-million-bill-to-have-their-emails-snooped-on.html

—-

Email snooping laws: as idiotic as they are illiberal

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tomchiversscience/100148695/email-snooping-laws-as-idiotic-as-they-are-illiberal/

—-

Hugely embarrassing.
————

Britain won’t be the only country snooping on people’s internet use

If the government gets its way and starts monitoring what you’re emailing, it will join a list of countries with a draconian approach to the internet

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/shortcuts/2012/apr/02/countries-snooping-on-internet-use

—-

Ed Miliband: the Government has betrayed middle Britain

The Labour leader says voters cannot trust the coalition parties as he launches his local election campaign.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/david-cameron/9180561/Ed-Miliband-the-Government-has-betrayed-middle-Britain.html

—-

Poor pupils in weak schools face ‘double disadvantage’

Labour says inequality, which result in poor being left a year behind richer pupils, is one of biggest barriers to social mobility

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2012/apr/03/poor-pupils-weak-schools-disadvantage

—-

The fight for the NHS is not over: this is what we need to do now

Professionals and policymakers give their thoughts on the act’s implications and on campaigning for the future of the service

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/apr/02/fight-for-the-nhs

—-

Metropolitan police race row deepens after assault claim

Exclusive PC caught on tape allegedly assaulting teenager, hours after colleague was recorded making racial slur

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/02/police-race-row-assault-claim

—-

Abortion protests: ‘what my mum fought for is being threatened’ – video

Hundreds of pro- and anti-abortion activists staged rival protests in Bedford Square in central London on 30 March as the 40 Days For Life anti-abortion group intensified its campaign. In Brighton, Rosie Swash reports from an abortion clinic that has been targeted by anti-abortion campaigns

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2012/apr/02/abortion-protests-mum-fought-video

—-

BREAKING:

James Murdoch to step down as BSkyB chairman – live

Full coverage as it is confirmed the News Corp heir apparent is to leave his role at the satellite broadcaster

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/apr/03/james-murdoch-bskyb-live

—-

Former NoW deputy editor: I gave PR advice to Met police commissioners

Neil Wallis tells Leveson inquiry of his unofficial role while still a journalist, claiming he helped Lord Stevens get the top job

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/apr/02/now-deputy-editor-met-police-commissioners

—-

Eurozone crisis live: Wolfson Economics Prize shortlist revealed

A quarter of a million pounds is on offer to the winning suggestion for how to handle the break-up of the eurozone – we get the shortlisted entries this morning

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2012/apr/03/eurozone-crisis-euro-breakup-wolfson

—-

France expels five Islamist radicals

France has expelled two Islamic radicals and is planning to deport three more as part of a crackdown announced after a gunman killed seven people, officials said on Monday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9181726/France-expels-five-Islamist-radicals.html

—-

Hungary’s president steps down after plagiarism scandal

The president of Hungary has quit after being stripped of his university doctorate in a plagiarism scandal.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/hungary/9181220/Hungarys-president-steps-down-after-plagiarism-scandal.html

—-

Yulia Tymoshenko allowed to leave jail for hospital treatment on back

Former Ukrainian PM will be treated for suspected herniated disc as government appears to bow to western pressure

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/02/yulia-tymoshenko-jail-hospital-treatment

—-

Deadly blaze hits Moscow market warehouse

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17594267

—-

Russian plane crash kills 31 in Siberia

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17580917

—-

Oakland school shooting: police identify gunman

Oakland police chief Howard Jordan identifies the suspect as One L Goh after seven people were killed and three more were injured at a small Christian university in California.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/9182476/Oakland-school-shooting-police-identify-gunman.html

—-

Barack Obama ‘confident’ Obamacare will not be scrapped

President Barack Obama last night warned the US Supreme Court that scrapping his overhaul of America’s healthcare system would be an “unprecedented” move by an “unelected group of people”.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-politics/9182165/Barack-Obama-confident-Obamacare-will-not-be-scrapped.html

—-

Pressure grows for Rick Santorum to drop out as Obama surges in polls

Mitt Romney expected to win Tuesday primaries as GOP eager to end contest and shift campaign against the president

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/02/pressure-rick-santorum-drop-out-obama

—-

George W. Bush: Barack Obama’s Best Friend in the 2012 Election
by Michael Tomasky Apr 3, 2012 4:45 AM EDT

The GOP wants to erase George W. Bush’s ruinous presidency from the nation’s memory, but the Dems shouldn’t let it happen. Michael Tomasky on the gift that keeps on giving.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/03/george-w-bush-barack-obama-s-best-friend-in-the-2012-election.html

—-

US official resigns ‘over taxpayer-funded mind reader and clown’

The head of a top US government department resigned on Monday amid a furor over a luxury $800,000 Las Vegas conference for staff, reportedly featuring a mind reader, a clown and a comedian.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-politics/9182357/US-official-resigns-over-taxpayer-funded-mind-reader-and-clown.html

—-

The Kochs and the Cato Institute: a hostile takover?

The rightwing industrialists are locked in a battle for control of a libertarian thinktank. If that sounds contradictory, it’s because it is

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/apr/02/kochs-cato-institute-hostile-takeover

—-

Stupidity at it’s lowest, and this is ok with you Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner? Shame on you.
————

Falkands anniversary sparks attack on British Embassy in Buenos Aires

Petrol bombs and stones are thrown at police guarding the British Embassy on 30th anniversary of Falklands war.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/southamerica/falklandislands/9182505/Falkands-anniversary-sparks-attack-on-British-Embassy-in-Buenos-Aires.html

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Colombia Farc rebels free 10 soldiers and police

Guerrilla group claims the hostages represent its last police and military captives but president tempers peace hopes

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/02/colombia-farc-rebels-soldiers-police

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Syria crisis – live updates

• Syria’s pledge to withdraw troops greeted with scepticism
• Refugees describe their escape from terror
• Free Syrian Army confirms switch to guerilla tactics

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/middle-east-live/2012/apr/03/syria-crisis-live-updates

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Syria’s rebels abandon territory in major cities in favour of new guerilla war

Syria’s rebels have been forced to abandon efforts to hold territory in major cities and towns after a series of devastating battlefield defeats, senior opposition commanders have conceded for the first time.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9181867/Syrias-rebels-abandon-territory-in-major-cities-in-favour-of-new-guerilla-war.html

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What the heck is the matter with these people? Seriously, vote to throw Russia out of the UNSC.
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Syria: Russia rejects Kofi Annan’s six-point peace plan deadline

Russia on Monday rejected the deadline for Kofi Annan’s six-point peace plan whilst Syrian government forces continued their crackdown on rebel bastions in the north, killing at least 18 people.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/9181439/Syria-Russia-rejects-Kofi-Annans-six-point-peace-plan-deadline.html

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Syrian refugees: In their own words

Thousands of Syrians have escaped the violence and persecution that followed the Arab spring. In camps along the border, refugees talk about the dangers they face and what it means to leave their homes behind

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/02/syrian-refugees-their-own-words

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Paul Conroy’s wife says he will return to Syria

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-17591828

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Muslim Brotherhood raises fears among liberals as it names Egypt presidential candidate

The Muslim Brotherhood has angered secular liberals in Egypt by naming a candidate in next month’s presidential election, reneging on a pledge not to seek the country’s top office.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/egypt/9179297/Muslim-Brotherhood-raises-fears-among-liberals-as-it-names-Egypt-presidential-candidate.html

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Shocking!
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Ethiopian maid publicly abused in Lebanon takes her own life – video

An Ethiopian domestic worker who was filmed as she was attacked in public outside the Ethiopian embassy in Beirut has taken her own life. The video, aired by Lebanese television, has caused outrage in the country, where reports of mistreatment of domestic workers are common. The woman’s employer, who was seen trying to bundle her into a car, has denied beating her

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/video/2012/mar/15/ethiopian-maid-publicly-abused-suicide-lebanon-video

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Red Cross delivers fuel to Gaza hospitals

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17590139

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Palestinian hunger striker Hana Shalabi exiled to Gaza

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17582868

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Bahrain protests flare against F1 after protester dies

Bahraini police fired tear gas and arrested demonstrators as protests were mounted against the Formula One race to be held in the Gulf kingdom following the death of fellow dissident.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/bahrain/9180063/Bahrain-protests-flare-against-F1-after-protester-dies.html

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Mali coup: West African countries meet to discuss cutting country off

West African leaders gathered in Dakar on Monday for a meeting on the unfolding crisis in Mali, in which they are expected to decide whether to cut off Mali’s trade and financial ties to its neighbours.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/mali/9181017/Mali-coup-West-African-countries-meet-to-discuss-cutting-country-off.html

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Sudan and South Sudan hold talks in Addis Ababa

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17590065

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Iran gives Reuters news agency chop over ‘ninjas’ story

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17592224

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Iraq demands Qatar hand over Vice-President Hashemi

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17583666

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US puts $10m bounty on Lashkar-e-Taiba’s Hafiz Saeed

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-india-17594018

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“Talks with the Taliban” always sounds so impotent to me.
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Afghan foreign minister in Qatar to set up Taliban talks

Afghanistan’s foreign minister is to visit Qatar, where the Taliban are due to open an office ahead of possible peace talks, a spokesman for the ministry in Kabul said on Monday.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/afghanistan/9180949/Afghan-foreign-minister-in-Qatar-to-set-up-Taliban-talks.html

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China micro-blog comments back after rumour ‘clean up

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-17594006

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North Korea test build-up at rocket launch site

New satellite images of a North Korean rocket launch site show a mobile radar trailer and rows of empty fuel and oxidiser tanks as preparations get underway for a test launch.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9180224/North-Korea-test-build-up-at-rocket-launch-site.html

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Unfortunately for those of us living in the region, the whole family is just as dumb.
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Kim Jong-un’s poor marks exposed

Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, was the class dunce at a Swiss school where he studied for two years.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9180501/Kim-Jong-uns-poor-marks-exposed.html

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Landslide victory for Aung San Suu Kyi sets Burmese nerves on edge

Burma’s democracy movement leader Aung San Suu Kyi hailed her overwhelming victory in a series of by-elections as a “triumph for the people” after a landslide victory.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/burmamyanmar/9180175/Landslide-victory-for-Aung-San-Suu-Kyi-sets-Burmese-nerves-on-edge.html

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Kachin plight reveals Burma’s patchy

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17564726

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

TRIVIA QUIZ

The answer to the last trivia question, “What was the original use of the term “tabloid”? It was the name created and trademarked in 1844 by Burroughs, Wellcome & Company for a small pill containing a concentration of different ingredients. The term was soon being appied to anything in compressed form, and eventually becaume associated with newspapers with short condensed articles.

Today’s question.

What modern convenient foodstuff takes its name from the Latin meaning ‘salted (and preserved meat)’?

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Confronting Argentina’s people-traffickers

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17560518

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India parents ‘reject newborn girl for baby boy’

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-17587284

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Caravaggio ‘ was killed by the Knights of Malta’

His mysterious death at the age of 38 has been blamed variously on malaria, an intestinal infection, lead poisoning from the oil paints he used or a violent brawl.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/art/art-news/9181383/Caravaggio–was-killed-by-the-Knights-of-Malta.html

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Scientists find clue to human evolution’s burning question

The discovery in Africa of a one million year old fireplace may enable us to identify when humans first began using fire

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2012/apr/02/scientists-clue-human-evolution-question

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The giant snake that stalked the Earth

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-17544885

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Move over Mary Poppins.
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Dutch inventors make flying car

A car which can fly for up to 315 miles at speeds of 110mph, has been produced in the Netherlands.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/motoringvideo/9182040/Dutch-inventors-make-flying-car.html

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Audio slideshow: Giant cosmic eyes of the Atacama Desert

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17567694

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24 hours in pictures
A selection of the best images from around the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2012/apr/02/24-hours-in-pictures-gallery

Good morning everyone and welcome to your weekend.

Due to a bad tempered Mac, there will be no news updates this morning, sorry. I should be back as soon as I give my temperamental computer a good spanking, or a visit to the Apple doctor’s office. I’ve managed to leave some pictures, the ones with the language signs are hilarious. Enjoy. 😀

Have a good day wherever you may be, take care, be safe and stay warm.

Sayonara from my rainy corner of Tokyo. Mata ashita ne.
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Earth Hour will be watched over from space as the lights go out

The event will have live commentary from space as landmarks from the Eiffel Tower to the Sydney Opera House switch off their lights

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/mar/30/earth-hour-from-space

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Earth Hour – in pictures

At 8:30pm on Saturday 26 March 2011, landmarks across the world switched off their lights for one hour in a bid to highlight global climate change

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/gallery/2011/mar/26/earth-hour-climate-change-energy

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Week in pictures: 24 – 30 March 2012

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/in-pictures-17560585

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The best of Sign Language: February 2012

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/signlanguage/9108227/The-best-of-Sign-Language-February-2012.html

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The best of Sign Language: March 2012

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/picturegalleries/signlanguage/9176200/The-best-of-Sign-Language-March-2012.html

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24 hours in pictures
A selection of the best images from around the world

http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/gallery/2012/mar/30/24-hours-in-pictures