Thursday, April 28, 2011

Syrian Crackdown

More world leaders called on Syria today to end the bloody crackdown against peaceful anti-government demonstrators. Russian President Medvedev, meanwhile, urged new international regulations on nuclear power safety while in the U.S., Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour announced he would not be a candidate for President in 2012.



Thai-Cambodia Border Issue

Thai and Cambodian troops have exchanged fire for a sixth consecutive day near two disputed 12th century Hindu temples.
A Thai army spokesman says one Thai civilian was killed Tuesday by Cambodian rocket fire. It brings the total dead in the wave of clashes that began Friday to 14. The fighting is centered around the ruins of the Ta Moan and Ta Krabey temples, which are on territory claimed by both countries.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva visited displaced people at Ban Khok Klang evacuation center in the province and continued urging for a bilateral solution to the conflict.
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said, "There should be talks, but they have to stop. What Cambodia did yesterday affected people, especially locals. Thailand never started shooting. We're doing our duty, which is to protect our land. I want them to stop or we need to respond, we have no choice but to respond (to their shooting)."

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Singaporean general election

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is also the Secretary-General of the People's Action Party, said: "The candidates coming in this General Election, I hope reinforced by a few more coming in the next election, will have to form the future leadership team for Singapore. And they have to be ready within two terms, by around 2020, and 10 years is not very long to develop a new team of leaders.

"They have to master the responsibilities in the ministries, they have to learn how Singapore works, they have to win the confidence and respect of the voters and trust of the voters, and take over from my colleagues and me."

The PAP's manifesto is entitled "Securing Our Future Together", and this will be a task for the core new team.


Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said he believes the People's Action Party (PAP) will remain the strongest party in Singapore.

In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Mr Lee said there may be a few seats for the opposition either as constituency or non-constituency members.

That is because Singapore has introduced new rules to allow up to nine of the "best losers" from the opposition to be in Parliament, so that the opposition's voice is heard.



Obama birth certificate issues

The White House on Wednesday morning released the president's long form birth certificate in an attempt to put "birther" questions to rest.

"The President believed the distraction over his birth certificate wasn't good for the country. It may have been good politics and good T.V., but it was bad for the American people and distracting from the many challenges we face as a country," White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer said in a statement..

The president had released his certificate of live birth in 2008, but many "birthers" said the absence of a long form birth certificate prompted questions about Obama's birthplace of Hawaii. In recent weeks potential GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump has brought birther questions into the forefront of the media.

Read more (source)


Tuesday, April 26, 2011

France considers suspending Schengen deal

France is considering suspending the Schengen border-free travel agreement to block a massive rise in migrants from Tunisia and Libya.

A source close to President Nicolas Sarkozy's office says France wants to make it easier to set up temporary border controls. Sarkozy is due to address the issue when he meets Italy's Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in Rome on Tuesday.

Last weekend, France shut its borders to trains carrying African migrants from Italy, triggering a dispute between the two governments.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Yemeni President accepts power transfer plan

Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh has accepted the Gulf Cooperation Council mediated initiative.

The plan calls for him to announce his resignation in 30 days, but his ruling party insists that Saleh should be kept as "honorary president" for five months after he transfers power.

The head of the GCC submitted a plan to Yemen's President Ali Abdullah Saleh and the opposition on Thursday for resolving the country's crisis.

The plan proposes Saleh to form a joint national government incorporating all political parties, with Saleh then shifting power to his deputy in exchange for immunity given to him and his family.

The plan calls for Saleh to hand over power within three months. It sets 30 days as the deadline for Saleh to announce his resignation and 60 days for the transitional president and the unity government to hold presidential elections.

The opposition Joint Meeting parties has accepted the plan. But the ruling party insists that they want Saleh to stay as "honorary president" for five months after he transfers power to his deputy.

Yemen has been facing a political crisis ignited by opposition-backed street protests since mid-February. The protesters have been demanding the end of the 33-year rule of Saleh.

The massive demonstrations are still continuing in major provinces, undermining the security and stability of the country.

source

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Ban Ki Moon In Ukrane Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster

Making the first visit by a United Nations (UN) Secretary-General to Chernobyl, the site of the April 1986 nuclear accident, Ban Ki-moon today (20 April) paid tribute to the many victims of the disaster and called for a new chapter to begin in the areas still affected.
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President Obama Facebook Townhall

President Obama speaks online to the Facebook audience in Silicon Valley California.
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