Wednesday, February 12

Day: July 1, 2016

Was Brexit fear a giant hoax or is this the calm before the next storm?
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

Was Brexit fear a giant hoax or is this the calm before the next storm?

    Let us separate matters. We face a political upheaval of the first order, but this is a necessary catharsis. Governments come and go. So do political parties. We face a much more serious constitutional crisis. It is why some of us want a national unity government, keenly alert to the interests of Scotland and Northern Ireland. As Professor Kevin O'Rourke from All Souls College argues here, most Leavers waltzed into Brexit with scarcely a moment's thought for trauma inflicted on both sides of the Irish border. This carelessness must be rectified immediately. What we do not yet face is a global financial crisis or a “Lehman moment”. The world’s central banks were ready for Brexit and have acted in unison. The S&P 500 index of Wall Street stocks has shrugged off the vote....
Bingeing Kim Jong Un piling on the pounds: Seoul spies
Asia, ENGLISH

Bingeing Kim Jong Un piling on the pounds: Seoul spies

    Kim Jong-Un took power in North Korea following the 2011 death of his father North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un has piled on around 40 kilograms (90 pounds) since he took power four years ago, bingeing on food and drink, South Korea's spy agency said Friday. The young leader is also suffering from insomnia and is paranoid about his personal safety, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) reported to a parliamentary committee behind closed doors. When he took over after the 2011 death of his father, Kim's weight was believed to be 90 kilograms. He bulked up to 120 kilos in 2014 and then 130 kilos this year, a ruling Saenuri Party lawmaker Lee Cheol-Woo told journalists after the NIS briefing for lawmakers. "(According to NIS), he is suffering from insomnia," Lee added. "He kee...
Kalandia Checkpoint: Dozens of Muslims throw stones at Israeli security forces
Arab world, ENGLISH

Kalandia Checkpoint: Dozens of Muslims throw stones at Israeli security forces

    As today marks the last Friday of Ramadan, dozens of Muslims who were on their way to pray at the Temple Mount threw stones at Israeli security forces and tried to break through the Kalandia Checkpoint. Two Broder Policemen were injured during the riots. According to Palestinian media outlets, a man in his 40s died due to the security forces’ use of tear gas. Two Border Policemen were slightly injured today (Friday) from stones that were thrown at them by dozens of Muslim worshipers who tried to break through the Kalandia Checkpoint near Jerusalem. The Israeli security forces that were at the scene used non-lethal weapons designed for dispersing riots. Palestinian news agencies are reporting that one person was killed in the riots. According to the Palestinian News Agency ...
Michael Gove launches Tory leadership bid with Brexit promise
ENGLISH, United Kingdom

Michael Gove launches Tory leadership bid with Brexit promise

    Michael Gove has launched his bid to be the Conservative party leader, pitching himself as the candidate for change who will deliver on the British people’s desire to leave the European Union. In his speech in Westminster the day after he put Boris Johnson out of the race, Gove claimed to be a man of conviction, rather than ambition, who only entered the contest at the last minute after concluding the former London mayor was unsuited to the job. “I want this country I love – and which has given me so much – to embrace this opportunity for change with optimism and conviction,” the justice secretary said. “I never thought I’d ever be in this position. “I did not want it, indeed I did almost everything not be a candidate for the leadership of this party. I was so very relucta...
Hajj pilgrims to be given e-bracelets
Arab world, ENGLISH

Hajj pilgrims to be given e-bracelets

    Saudi Arabia is to issue electronic bracelets to pilgrims travelling to Mecca for this year's Hajj, the world's largest Islamic gathering. It follows a stampede last year in which more than 750 people are believed to have died, with 900 injured. The bracelets will contain personal and medical information to help authorities care for and identify people, according to the Saudi Press Agency. Nearly 1,000 new surveillance cameras have also been installed. The ID bracelets will contain crucial information such as passport numbers and addresses but will also offer information to worshippers, such as timings of prayers and a multi-lingual help desk to guide non-Arabic speakers around the event. They will be water-resistant and connected to GPS. The information can be accessed by...