Does Sweden's #CakeGate point to racial problems?

A viral image of a Swedish cake art installation has touched off a firestorm of questions.

Artist Makode Linde says the showpiece, a cake in the shape of a naked black woman, was meant to highlight female genital mutilation on World Art Day.

The Minister of Culture Lena Adelsohn Liljeroth was captured cutting into the reproductive region of the artwork, leading to an outcry across the country and online.

She has apologised for any unintentional offense, but some say it’s not enough and have called for her resignation. Read More

Parliamentary no-show in Myanmar

The no-show in the Myanmar parliament by the National League for Democracy was an embarrassment for all concerned.

It should have been a day for both the reformists in the government and opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's party to celebrate.

Instead, it was a flop and the people of this country are left with more questions, when what they really need are answers to their many problems.

The oath that new members of parliament have to take basically says that they must "safeguard" the constitution.

The NLD wants it changed to "respect" the constitution, because they want to amend the charter, which reserves a quarter of all seats in parliament for the military. It wants, among other things, all MPs to be democratically elected. Read More

Tappin 'Relieved' After US Bail Release

A retired British businessman extradited to the United States on arms dealing charges has been released on bail.

Christopher Tappin, who faces up to 35 years in prison if convicted, was freed after his family paid $50,000 (£31,000) of a $1m bond.

Mr Tappin must stay in Texas after leaving Otero County detention centre and his family is planning to visit him as soon as possible.

As he left court the 65-year-old told reporters he was "relieved" to have been released.

Speaking after the judge set the terms of his release, his wife Elaine said she was "grateful for the judge's humanity". Read More

Kung Fu Guinea Pig

Slovaks are currently living in a fear of this tiny tearaway - whose fearsome fighting skills have seen it dubbed the Kung Fu Guinea Pig.

The pint-sized ninja terrified dog walker Marta Domotorova when it attacked her Hungarian pointer dogs during a stroll on heathland near her Hradok home. Read More

Girl Falls 20 Feet Through Pavement in China

What Austerity Measures? Brussels demands 7% budget increase

EU demands for an inflation-busting 7 per cent budget increase have been met with outrage by politicians.

Britain would have to shell out an extra £1billion under the European Commission’s proposals for a massive spending boost.

Downing Street and the Treasury vowed to fight the demands, saying they were unrealistic.

The Commission’s proposal would increase the EU’s budget by 6.8 per cent to nearly £114billion. Britain’s share, at around 12.5 per cent, would be £16.6billion – a rise of more than £1billion.

EU officials argued that the extra money was needed to pay bills for projects already signed off by member states.

Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso said the budget rise was not ‘money for Brussels’ but would be ploughed back for the ‘benefit’ of EU citizens, including Britons. Read More

First double dip for 37 years: But as Britain endures longest downturn for a century, PM vows not to change course

Britain has plunged into the first double-dip recession since 1975 and is enduring its longest economic slump for a century, shock figures confirmed yesterday.

But the Prime Minister insisted it would be ‘absolute folly’ to heed Labour calls to change course and borrow more money to try to get out of a debt crisis.

Economists had expected official data to show the economy grew by 0.1 per cent between January and March.

Instead, it suffered an unexpected 0.2 per cent slump, following a 0.3 per cent contraction in gross domestic product in the last three months of 2011.

Two quarters of negative growth mean Britain has officially entered a recession, three years after the last one in 2009. Read More

Earth faces a century of disasters, report warns

Economic and environmental catastrophes unavoidable unless rich countries cut consumption and global population stabilises.

World population needs to be stabilised quickly and high consumption in rich countries rapidly reduced to avoid "a downward spiral of economic and environmental ills", warns a major report from the Royal Society.

Contraception must be offered to all women who want it and consumption cut to reduce inequality, says the study published on Thursday, which was chaired by Nobel prize-winning biologist Sir John Sulston.

The assessment of humanity's prospects in the next 100 years, which has taken 21 months to complete, argues strongly that to achieve long and healthy lives for all 9 billion people expected to be living in 2050, the twin issues of population and consumption must pushed to the top of political and economic agendas. Both issues have been largely ignored by politicians and played down by environment and development groups for 20 years, the report says. Read More

Israeli general: 'Rational' Iranian leaders not pushing nuclear bomb....So why the Sanctions?

(CNN) -- Israel's top general said Iran is led by "very rational people" and doesn't appear poised to build a nuclear bomb that would threaten his nation.

Iran "is going step by step to the place where it will be able to decide whether to manufacture a nuclear bomb," Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz told Israel's Haaretz newspaper in Wednesday editions. "It hasn't yet decided whether to go the extra mile."

The head of Israeli Defense Forces set a different tone than that of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who suggested to CNN on Tuesday that time is running out for Western sanctions on Iran to have a meaningful effect on Tehran's nuclear program. Read More

France: Military Action May Be Needed In Syria

France has said the ceasefire in Syria is not working and has suggested military action may be the next step needed to stop the violence there.

French foreign minister Alain Juppe said the UN-backed peace plan has been "strongly compromised" and that monitors should be on the ground in a fortnight, not three months.

Without quick progress, Mr Juppe said the international community would have "to move on to another step which we have already started raising with our partners, under Chapter Seven of the United Nations charter".

A Chapter Seven resolution, which can be imposed by the UN Security Council if member states think peace is threatened by an act of aggression, authorises foreign powers to take measures, including military options.

After a meeting with Syrian opposition members the French politician said: "The Damascus regime does not respect the commitments it made. Repression is continuing. Monitors cannot work on the ground. This cannot last indefinitely." Read More

4.8 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTH OF THE FIJI ISLANDS - 26th Apr 2012

A magnitude 4.8 earthquake has struck South of the Fiji Islands at a depth of 34.6 km (21.5 miles), the quake hit at 02:49:24 UTC Thursday 26th April 2012
The epicenter was 296 km (184 miles) SSW from NUKU'ALOFA, Tonga
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

4.0 Magnitude Earthquake CENTRAL ALASKA - 26th Apr 2012

A magnitude 4.0 earthquake has struck Central Alaska at a depth of 93.4 km (58 miles), the quake hit at 00:10:42 UTC Thursday 26th April 2012
The epicenter was 51 km (31.6 miles) North from Petersville, Alaska
No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

5.0 Magnitude Earthquake TONGA REGION - 25th Apr 2012

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake has struck the Tonga Region at a depth of 33 km (20.4 miles), the quake hit at 23:43:11 UTC Wednesday 25th April 2012
The epicenter was 297 km (184.1 miles) South of NUKU`ALOFA, Tonga
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

4.5 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTHERN XINJIANG, CHINA - 25th Apr 2012

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake has struck Southern Xinjiang, China at a depth of 13.8 km (8.6 miles), the quake hit at 22:49:59 UTC Wednesday 25th April 2012
The epicenter was 250 km (155 miles) ESE of Hotan, Xinjiang, China
No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

4.6 Magnitude Earthquake NEAR THE EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN - 25th Apr 2012

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake has struck near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan at a depth of 44.1 km (27.4 miles), the quake hit at 22:11:52 UTC Wednesday 25th April 2012
The epicenter was 78 km (48 miles) ENE of Iwaki, Honshu, Japan
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

4.4 Magnitude Earthquake OFF THE WEST COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA - 25th Apr 2012

A magnitude 4.4 earthquake has struck off the West Coast of Northern Sumatra, Indonesia at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), the quake hit at 21:04:24 UTC Wednesday 25th April 2012
The epicenter was 361 km (224 miles) WSW of Sibolga, Sumatra, Indonesia
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

4.7 Magnitude Earthquake NEAR EAST COAST OF HONSHU, JAPAN - 25th Apr 2012

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake has struck near the East Coast of Honshu, Japan at a depth of 80 km (49.6 miles), the quake hit at 20:45:25 UTC Wednesday 25th April 2012
The epicenter was 28 km (29.8 miles) Northeast of Namie, Honshu, Japan
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

5.3 Magnitude Earthquake NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA - 25th Apr 2012

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake has struck the New Britain Region, Papua New Guinea at a depth of 253 km (156.8 miles), the quake hit at 20:17:55 UTC Wednesday 25th April 2012
The epicenter was 51 km (31.6 miles) West of Rabaul, Papua New Guinea
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

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Sgt. Gary Stein: Marines discharge sergeant for Facebook posts

The Marine Corps said Wednesday it has decided to discharge a sergeant for criticizing President Barack Obama on Facebook.

The Corps said Sgt. Gary Stein will be given an other-than-honorable discharge for violating Pentagon policy limiting speech of service members.

The San Diego-area Marine has served nearly 10 years in the Marine Corps. He has said he was exercising his free-speech rights.

The discharge will mean he loses all benefits.

A federal judge previously denied a request to block military discharge proceedings against Stein, who called Obama an enemy on Facebook.

U.S. District Judge Marilyn Huff ruled then that the military has the right to respond to Stein's online comments in a case that has called into question the Pentagon's policies regarding social media and the limits regarding the speech of active duty military personnel.

Attorney J. Mark Brewer told Huff the entire process violates the First Amendment, which federal courts have the right to uphold.

Huff disagreed, calling Stein's postings "truly troubling." Service members have had their speech limited since the Civil War, especially if their comments are believed to disrupt good order and discipline. more

Mexican volcano threatens millions

Columbia nuke worker exposed to uranium

Emergency medical crews whisked a Columbia nuclear fuel plant employee to the hospital this week after the worker was exposed to a uranium-containing acid, according to the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission.

The Westinghouse Electric Co. employee, whose name was not available, was treated for pain and released from the hospital. The incident has prompted an investigation by the company.
The exposure is unusual, say company officials and veteran nuclear industry watchers.

Anti-nuclear activist Tom Clements said the incident warrants further review by the NRC, the chief oversight agency for the nuclear industry.

“I have not seen an exposure like this and I check these (NRC reports) every day,” he said. “It’s all the more reason to investigate more closely.” Read More

5.1 Magnitude Earthquake NICOBAR ISLANDS, INDIA REGION - 25th Apr 2012

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake has struck the Nicobar Islands, India Region at a depth of 6.6 km (4.1 miles), the quake hit at 16:30:57 UTC Wednesday 25th April 2012
The epicenter was 116 km (72 miles) NNE of Mohean, Nicobar Islands, India
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

4.6 Magnitude Earthquake SOUTHERN PERU - 25th Apr 2012

A magnitude 4.6 earthquake has struck Southern Peru at a depth of 109.6 km (68.1 miles), the quake hit at 16:19:36 UTC Wednesday 25th April 2012
The epicenter was 28 km (17 miles) WNW from Arequipa, Peru
No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

4.1 Magnitude Earthquake OFF THE WEST COAST OF NORTHERN SUMATRA - 25th Apr 2012

A magnitude 4.1 earthquake has struck off the West Coast of Northern Sumatra, Indonesia at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), the quake hit at 16:17:42 UTC Wednesday 25th April 2012
The epicenter was 351 km (218 miles) West of Sibolga, Sumatra, Indonesia
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

4.5 Magnitude Earthquake GALAPAGOS ISLANDS REGION - 25th Apr 2012

A magnitude 4.5 earthquake has struck the Galapagos Islands Region at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), the quake hit at 16:00:16 UTC Wednesday 25th April 2012
The epicenter was 246 km (152 miles) North of Puerto Villamil, Isabela, Galapagos
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

4.7 Magnitude Earthquake GALAPAGOS ISLANDS REGION - 25th Apr 2012

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake has struck the Galapagos Islands Region at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles), the quake hit at 15:44:21 UTC Wednesday 25th April 2012
The epicenter was 249 km (154 miles) North of Puerto Villamil, Isabela, Galapagos
No Tsunami Warning Issued - No Reports of Damage or Injuries at this time

The Syrian Revolution is it a big lie?

Syria - The REAL Story

Libya rebels go gunning for Syria to topple Assad - Jan 2012

Former Libyan rebels are now chanting for Syrians to follow their revolutionary path. Hundreds of mercenaries, some of whom are said to be former terrorists, are ready to pick up arms again to help overthrow President Assad.

Libya bans religious, tribal or ethnic parties

(Reuters) - Libya, preparing for elections in June, has banned parties based on religion, tribe or ethnicity, the government said on Wednesday, and a new Islamist party viewed as a leading contender signaled it would challenge the decision.

National Transitional Council spokesman Mohammed al-Harizy said the council passed the law governing the formation of political parties on Tuesday evening. "Parties are not allowed to be based on religion or ethnicity or tribe," he told Reuters.

He did not make clear how this would affect a political party formed in March by Libya's Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamists. The new party was expected to make a strong showing in the election, the first since last year's overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in a NATO-backed popular uprising.

The head of the Brotherhood's Freedom and Development Party said the NTC needed to make it clearer what it meant by banning religious parties. He said this would cause controversy in conservative Libya, whose population of six million is made up almost entirely of Sunni Muslims. Read More

India Swine Flu Update 2012: Death toll rises to 57

As many as 57 people have died, mostly in Maharashtra, of swine flu in the country till April 18 this year, the Rajya Sabha was informed Tuesday. Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad agreed that swine flu or H1N1 has re-surfaced in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu.

In Maharashtra, 20 people died of the virus from January to April 18 this year, he said. The state also recorded the highest number of swine flu cases with 463 people infected with the virus. In Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, 12 deaths each were reported. While in Rajasthan 107 cases were registered, 112 cases were reported in Andhra. Deaths were also reported from Karnataka (8), Gujarat (2), Tamil Nadu (2) and Madhya Pradesh (1).

The minister said they had prepared safety guidelines in 2009 in the wake of the pandemic outbreak that killed over 750 people. Apart from India, the flu outbreak was also witnessed in over 200 countries, including in the US and Britain. Azad said they have issued an advisory again to all the states, asking them to gear up their medical facilities, including critical care. Source

12 swine flu cases in Kerala, India

Thiruvananthapuram, Apr 25 (PTI) A total of 12 cases of swine flu have been reported from different parts of Kerala.

According to the state Directorate of Health Services (DHS), eight persons tested positive for swine flu in Kozhikode district, two from Alappuzha and one each from Thrissur and Kasargode. However, no casualty due to the infection has been reported, a DHS press release said.

Government hospitals across the state and District Medical Officers have been alerted to remain vigilant and steps taken to ensure supply of medicines, DHS officials said. Source

Second swine flu death in Himachal‎, Pradesh, India

Shimla, Apr 25 (PTI) A 66-year old woman, who tested positive for swine flu, died within an hour after she was brought to Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) Hospital here in a critical condition on Monday, becoming the second victim of the disease in Himachal Pradesh.

State Epidemiologist and the state Surveillance Officer, Dr Omesh Bharti said the nasopharyngeal sample of Chyanu Devi, who hailed from Mandhol village in Jubbal tehsil of Shimla and was suffering from breathlessness for past one week, tested positive for the virus. A 55-year old woman from Sarkaghat in Mandi district died of swine flu on April 7 last. However, the test report of Chyanu Devi came after her death. "Since we had preserved the sample before her death on Monday night, we put them on the swine flu test today.

It tested positive. However, two other samples put on the test were negative", said Medical Superintendent at IGMC hospital Dr K S Rana. Bharti said the Chief Medical Officer, Shimla, had been asked to immediately send a team of Mandhal village for prophylactic treatment (Tamiflu) of those who had been in close contacts of the deceased woman. "So far, we have tested 40 samples from the state at IGMC, out of which only two tested positive. In the first case, the patient died two-three days after she was put on swine flu treatment at IGMC", he said. Source