Khmer Rouge - Cambodian tribunal set to try Khmer Rouge leaders

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Now old and infirm, four of the top surviving members of the Khmer Rouge's ruling elite are about to face justice, decades after their plans for a Communist utopia in Cambodia left an estimated 1.7 million people dead by execution, medical neglect, overwork and starvation.

On Monday a U.N.-backed tribunal, comprising Cambodian and foreign jurists, will begin trying them on charges including crimes against humanity, war crimes, genocide, religious persecution, homicide and torture. With Khmer Rouge leader Pol Pot long dead, this may be the nation's best chance to hold architects of the “Killing Fields” and the enslavement of millions of Cambodians accountable, though all four say they are innocent.

Nuon Chea, 84, was Pol Pot's No. 2 and the group's chief ideologist. Khieu Samphan, 79, was its former head of state. Ieng Sary, 85, was its foreign minister, and his 79-year-old wife, Ieng Thirith, was minister for social affairs. Read More

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Khmer Rouge (Pol Pot, Flotilla, Khmer, Rouge, Gaza Flotilla)

Tribunal Opens Trial of Top Khmer Rouge Leaders

The top surviving leaders of the Khmer Rouge appeared in a Cambodian courtroom Monday at the beginning of their long-awaited trial for crimes against humanity. The trial is the showcase event for the United Nations-backed war crimes tribunal, which was created to demonstrate impartial justice and foster healing in a country long divided by the Khmer Rouge atrocities in the late 1970s.

About 500 people, many of them Khmer Rouge victims, filled the courtroom for the start of the trial. The four elderly defendants sat together without handcuffs behind a curtain to hear the charges read against them. On trial are Khieu Samphan, 79, the nominal head of state; Nuon Chea, 84, described as the Khmer Rouge's chief ideologue; Ieng Sary, 85, the foreign minister; and his wife, Ieng Thirith, 79, who was minister of social affairs. All have denied the charges, which include war crimes, genocide, religious persecution and torture.

Pol Pot, the Khmer Rouge leader, died in 1998.

Proceedings over the next four days will be devoted to procedural issues, with the presentation of evidence and testimony not expected to begin for several weeks. The trial is expected to involve hundreds of witnesses and last for years, raising concerns about whether all of the elderly defendants will live to see it end. In its only previous case, the court last year convicted Kaing Guek Eav, better known as Duch, who ran the main prison and torture house of the Khmer Rouge. He was sentenced to 35 years in prison, which was reduced to 19 years. As many as 2 million people are believed to have been executed or died from starvation and overwork under the Khmer Rouge regime. Read More

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Dr Tony Tan Keng Yam Tan announcing his Presidency bid (陈庆炎博士, Chén Qìngyán, Tân Khèng-iām)

Dr Tony Tan's presidency bid may deter others from running: analyst

SINGAPORE : With Dr Tony Tan announcing his Presidency bid, political watchers said it's unlikely more candidates will step forward. Earlier, Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Mr Tan Kin Lian had stepped forward as potential candidates. With less than two months before the Presidential Election has to be called, all eyes are trained on the three men.

"I saw we have probably reached the maximum number (of candidates) simply because I think Dr Tan, to many people, would be the candidate with the most impressive credentials. And I think that would effectively foreclose any other person from throwing his hat into the ring," said Associate Professor Eugene Tan, Law lecturer at Singapore Management University (SMU). Meanwhile, Dr Tan Cheng Bock and Mr Tan Kin Lian said they are not surprised and are undeterred by Dr Tony Tan's decision to contest the Presidential Election. 71-year-old Tan Cheng Bock expects a good contest and he feels the new wave of political awareness after the recent General Election will play a big part.

As for Mr Tan Kin Lian, he said all three candidates will be good for Singapore.

"This will be the contest - whether you want someone to continue the policies of the establishment, or if you want someone who brings to the office of the President, a new view reflecting the aspirations of large numbers of Singaporeans. And I hope that people of Singapore will make that decision when they cast their vote," said former NTUC Income chief Tan Kin Lian.

The three candidates had been associated with the ruling party PAP, whether as MPs or as grassroots leaders. But following the May General Election - which saw some voters voicing their unhappiness with the government - all three candidates have made efforts to declare their independence. "Singaporeans will vote for somebody who they think has unquestionable independence. This is very important because judging from my observation of the General Election - you know I went to attend a lot of rallies - and I find that Singaporeans want fairness," said former MP Dr Tan Cheng Bock. "Some Singaporeans may take the view that given that we have a PAP government, that the PAP dominates parliament, that it'd be good for Singapore to have the elected President to be someone who is not closely associated with the government," said Associate Professor Eugene Tan.

Political watchers expect the upcoming Presidential Election to be one of the most closely followed.

"There is a general feeling that people are becoming very aware of the importance of their vote and their vote matters. And including the elected presidency, they want to exercise their vote," said Zulkifli Baharuddin, a former Nominated MP.

Singapore last saw a contested Presidential Election in 1993.

A lot has changed since - including the channels for engagement. Political watchers expect the presidential candidates to have an online presence, and reach out to voters via forums and dialogues. Mr Tan Cheng Bock said he would prefer a straight fight with Dr Tony Tan but would not be deterred by a three-cornered fight. But for Mr Tan Kin Lian, he said he prefers a three-cornered fight as it will give Singaporeans a wider choice. Read More

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Temasek Review - Temasek Review Emeritus - SOC Singapore

The Temasek Review Emeritus (formerly Temasek Review) is a socio-political blog and is one of the most visited source of the alternative media that emerged in Singapore. Though it declares itself to be neither "pro-Opposition" or "pro-Government", the Malaysian newspaper The Star recognises it to have Opposition sympathies. According to SPH-owned The New Paper, "News website Temasek Review has earned a reputation for its sharply critical views of the Government." According to the Jakarta Globe, the Temasek Review is "one of Singapore’s few independent web sites".

It was founded in 2004 as Wayang Party and renamed Temasek Review in 2009. In late 2010, it was involved in a dispute with government-linked corporation Temasek Holdings over its name. Temasek Holdings argued Temasek Review had been used as the name of the company's annual report since 2004 and that the Javanese word Temasek was "indisputably associated with Temasek" and that the website "was just trying to capitalise on the goodwill and reputation" linked to it.

Facing restrictions in both income and contributors, and unable to upgrade hardware to cope with increasing demand, the site's editor Amanda Tan announced on 7 April 2011 that it would close in July. She acknowledged the existence of pressure from the Government, but said that its effects were minimal and there had been no direct official request to close. Ang Peng Hwa, professor of journalism at Nanyang Technological University, described the closure as "definitely a loss for the blogsphere and also for critical discourse in Singapore".

In late April 2011, Temasek Review survived a distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack during the height of the 2011 general elections campaign coverage. The Temasek Review had previously suffered other DDOS attacks, as part of a pattern of attacks against "two of Singapore’s most popular and outspoken websites" (the other being the The Online Citizen). These attacks were, according to The Star, suspected by some to be "possibly by the ruling party's youth wing". Nevertheless, Temasek Review was recorded by Experian Hitwise as receiving a significant proportion of internet traffic from search engines during the campaign. Read More

Temasek Review Emeritus to accept US$10,000 sponsorship offer

The Temasek Review is a self-appellated online newspaper and is one of the most visited members  of the alternative media that emerged in Singapore as a reaction to censorship in the state press. Though it declares itself to be neither “pro-Opposition” or “pro-Government”, the Malaysian newspaper The Star recognises it to have Opposition sympathies. According to SPH-owned The New Paper, “News website Temasek Review has earned a reputation for its sharply critical views of the Government.” According to the Jakarta Globe, the Temasek Review is “one of Singapore’s few independent web sites”.

It was founded in 2004 as Wayang Party and renamed Temasek Review in 2009. In late 2010, it was involved in a dispute with government-linked corporation Temasek Holdings (TH) over its name, arguing that the Javanese word Temasek was “indisputably associated with Temasek” and that the website “was just trying to capitalise on the goodwill and reputation” linked to it. Facing restrictions in both income and contributors, and unable to upgrade hardware to cope with increasing demand, the site’s editor Amanda Tan announced on 7 April 2011 that it would close in July. She acknowledged the existence of pressure from the Government, but said that its effects were minimal and there had been no direct official request to close.

Ang Peng Hwa, professor of journalism at Nanyang Technological University, described the closure as “definitely a loss for the blogsphere and also for critical discourse in Singapore”. Read More

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Michele Bachmann and Ron Paul are BFFs US

Every so often a bunch of Congressional Republicans gather at the feet of their most politically radical peer to discuss policy. Our two favorite Representatives are involved!

Yes, Ron Paul, the simple country doctor Libertarian congressman who thinks we should use 1812-era letters of marque to fight the pirate menace, is the new new new new new face of the Republican party, and he is tutoring its even newer, crazier face, Michele Bachmann.

Which explains why Michele asked Tim Geithner that insane question about where exactly in the Constitution it says the Federal Reserve is allowed to exist. Read More

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Flag Day - Flag Day 2011 Activities - Celebrated every June 14th in the USA

Celebrated every June 14th in the USA, millions of Americans observe Flag Day by waving Old Glory outside their homes and businesses. Veteran's groups and sometimes whole communities also arrange civic functions and special ceremonies in honor of Flag Day.

As the legend goes, it was George Washington and two other members of the Continental Congress who asked Betsy Ross to sew the first American flag sometime in the late spring of 1776. The young widow was only in her early 20's when she completed the first flag with thirteen stars arranged in a circle.

A year later, the Continental Congress officially adopted the design for the national flag, and henceforward the Stars and Stripes symbolized the U.S. around the world.

The first "official" Flag Day was celebrated in 1877 - the flag's centennial. In 1916, a grass roots movement resulted in President Woodrow Wilson issuing a proclamation that called for a nationwide observance of Flag Day on June 14. Although still not an official holiday, Flag Day was made a permanent observance in America in 1949 by Congress who resolved "That the 14th day of June of each year is hereby designated as Flag Day." Read More

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puerto rico, mona lisa, monalisa

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is a self-governing commonwealth in association with the United States. The chief of state is the President of the United States of America. The head of government is an elected Governor. There are two legislative chambers: the House of Representatives, 51 seats, and the Senate, 27 seats.

Puerto Rico has authority over its internal affairs. United States controls: interstate trade, foreign relations and commerce, customs administration, control of air, land and sea, immigration and emigration, nationality and citizenship, currency, maritime laws, military service, military bases, army, navy and air force, declaration of war, constitutionality of laws, jurisdictions and legal procedures, treaties, radio and television--communications, agriculture, mining and minerals, highways, postal system; Social Security, and other areas generally controlled by the federal government in the United States. Puerto Rican institutions control internal affairs unless U.S. law is involved, as in matters of public health and pollution. The major differences between Puerto Rico and the 50 states are exemption from some aspects of the Internal Revenue Code, its lack of voting representation in either house of the U.S. Congress (Senate and House of Representatives), the ineligibility of Puerto Ricans to vote in presidential elections, and its lack of assignation of some revenues reserved for the states. Read More

Mona Lisa

Mona Lisa (also known as La Gioconda or La Joconde) is a 16th-century portrait painted in oil on a poplar panel by Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci during the Renaissance in Florence, Italy. The work is currently owned by the Government of France and is on display at the Musée du Louvre in Paris under the title Portrait of Lisa Gherardini, wife of Francesco del Giocondo.

The painting is a half-length portrait and depicts a seated woman (it is almost unanimous that she is Lisa del Giocondo) whose facial expression is frequently described as enigmatic. The ambiguity of the subject's expression, the monumentality of the composition, and the subtle modeling of forms and atmospheric illusionism were novel qualities that have contributed to the continuing fascination and study of the work.[1] The image is so widely recognised, caricatured, and sought out by visitors to the Louvre that it is considered the most famous painting in the world. Read More

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elezioni amministrative 2011 risultati ministero interno

Risultati Elezioni Amministrative 2011

Svolte le elezioni amministrative il 15 e il 16 maggio 2011 l'elezione di sindaci e presidenti di provincia di numerosi amministrazioni locali. Il 29 e 30 maggio 2011 saranno previsti i ballottaggi per tutti coloro che sono non riusciti a essere eletti al primo turno.

Sono 1.310 i Comuni italiani che sono stati coinvolti al voto e tra questi, 11 i capolluoghi di provincia che contano piu' di 100.00 abitanti: Milano, Napoli, Torino, Bologna, Trieste, Ravenna, Cagliari, Rimini, Salerno, Latina e Novara.

Siena, Arezzo, Barletta e Catanzaro, Grosseto, Benevento, appena sotto i 100.000.

Sono 7, invece, i Comuni con meno di 100.000 abitanti.

Nei Comuni con meno di 15mila abitanti in cui si voterà con il sistema maggioritario a turno unico.

Mentre nei 140 Comuni con più di 15mila abitanti si e' votato con il sistema maggioritario a doppio turno.

26 i Comuni capoluoghi di provincia in cui si e' votato, tra cui sei capoluoghi di regione (Milano, Napoli, Torino, Bologna, Trieste e Cagliari).

L’unica regione in cui non sono state indette elezioni amministrative e' il Trentino Alto Adige, mentre in Valle d’Aosta si e' votato nel solo Comune di Ayas.

Si e' votato anche per il rinnovo degli organi elettivi della regione Molise e di undici amministrazioni provinciali: Reggio Calabria, Ravenna, Trieste, Gorizia, Mantova, Pavia, Macerata, Campobasso, Vercelli, Lucca, Treviso.

Le regioni con più comuni al voto sono state: Lombardia (232), Campania (144), Piemonte (143), Lazio (107), Sardegna (96), Calabria (94), Abruzzo (75) e Veneto (70 comuni). --- Per saperne di più

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Dominique Gaston André Strauss-Kahn Profile

IMF's Chief Dominique Gaston André Strauss-Kahn's issue

Dominique Gaston André Strauss-Kahn (French pronunciation: [dɔminik stʁos kan]; born April 25th 1949 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France's wealthiest suburb. He is the son of Gilbert Strauss-Kahn, a legal and tax advisor and member of the Grand Orient de France, and Russian/Tunisian journalist Jacqueline Fellus.

He is a French economist, lawyer, and politician, and a member of the Socialist Party of France (PS). In 1995, he was elected mayor of Sarcelles, a poor suburb of Paris, then masterminded the economic policy that helped the Socialists win legislative elections in 1997, when he became finance minister. 

Strauss-Kahn became the 10th Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on 28 September 2007, with the backing of Nicolas Sarkozy.

Political Career

Minister for Industry (1991–1993)

Minister for Economics, Finances and Industry (1997–1999)

IMF Managing Director (2007–present)

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Guinea Government (CBK)

Guinea profile

Ruled by strong-arm leaders since independence, Guinea has been seen as a bulwark against instability in neighbouring Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast. However it has also been implicated in the conflicts that have ravaged the region. After independence in 1958 Guinea severed ties with France and turned to the Soviet Union. The first president, Ahmed Sekou Toure, pursued a revolutionary socialist agenda and crushed political opposition. Tens of thousands of people disappeared, or were tortured and executed, during his 26-year regime. --- READ MORE

Magnitude 4.5 - NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Magnitude	4.5
Date-Time	Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 04:05:52 UTC Wednesday, May 18, 2011 at 02:05:52 PM at epicenter Time of Earthquake in other Time Zones
Location	4.975°S, 151.498°E
Depth	136.3 km (84.7 miles)
Region	NEW BRITAIN REGION, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Distances	114 km (70 miles) SW of Rabaul, New Britain, PNG 162 km (100 miles) ENE of Kimbe, New Britain, PNG 687 km (426 miles) NE of PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea 2498 km (1552 miles) N of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia
Location Uncertainty	horizontal +/- 24.2 km (15.0 miles); depth +/- 8.9 km (5.5 miles)
Parameters	NST= 34, Nph= 36, Dmin=113.5 km, Rmss=0.99 sec, Gp=101°, M-type=body wave magnitude (Mb), Version=5
Source	USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event ID	usc0003hvh

After fleeing Guinea, Dominique Strauss-Kahn maid now finds life upended

The hotel maid who accused the chief of the International Monetary Fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, of sexually assaulting her has had her life upended by the incident and subsequent worldwide attention, her lawyer told reporters in New York. Her lawyer, Jeffrey Shapiro, told the Associated Press that the woman is an honest woman with no agenda, and she had no idea who the man she was accusing was until a day or two after the incident. --- READ MORE

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MM Lee on stepping down: It's the right thing to do - News

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew says his decision to step down from Cabinet is the "right thing to do" and sends a clear message that there is a "break from the past." In an email to The Sunday Times, the 87-year-old founding father of Singapore said, "SM Goh and I believe this is the right thing to do, to give PM and his team the room to break from the past, and we want to make it clear that the PAP has never been averse to change."

Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew

In what could be an oblique acknowledgment he and SM Goh may have cost the ruling People's Action Party some votes during the recent General Elections, MM Lee added, "It is vital to avoid a situation where people vote to have more opposition for opposition's sake."

MM Lee attracted widespread criticism for his remarks that Aljunied GRC constituents would "repent" if they voted for the opposition, while SM Goh was involved in an ugly war of words with his previous staff member and Singapore Democratic Party member, Tan Jee Say. SM Goh also raised eyebrows when he appeared to defend then-Foreign Minister George Yeo, only to inadvertently put down some other Cabinet Ministers.

MM Lee's email came hours after he and Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong issued a surprise 168-word statement on Saturday evening announcing that both senior politicians were leaving the Cabinet. In a joint-email statement to the media, the two leaders and former Prime Minister said they have considered the "new political situation" and it's time for a new generation to take the country forward. --- READ MORE

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wtf means, rotfl ; wtf, vid, strauss kahn, rotfl, wtf meaning

The Congressional Staffer Behind "WTF 44"

WTF, we surmised, stands for—well, you know. And 44 is a likely reference to President Barack Obama, the 44th president of the United States. Put them together and you've got a mobile middle finger to the commander-in-chief. Clever, right? It's possible that the plates—one of which had a Texas Tech sticker on it, indicating that the driver might be an alum—could stand for "Win the Future," Obama's State of the Union catchphrase. Then again, probably not.

Based on where the SUV was spotted, in the parking lot of the Longworth House Office Building, it seemed likely that the vehicle belonged to a congressional staffer, or perhaps a House member. So who was sending Obama this not-very-bipartisan message? Members of Mother Jones' Washington bureau sent out tweets asking if anyone could ID this angry Texan. The Houston Chronicle made a similar request via its web site, even offering a prize to the first person who could unmask the Navigator's owner. Nada. But there were additional sightings of the car. --- READ MORE

Gingrich's Campaign Branding Is, Literally, WTF

Life-long presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich launched his latest candidacy with the slogan: "Win the Future." If that sounds familiar, you probably watched Obama's State of the Union address, where he debuted it to the world--or you saw the recent White House Correspondents Association dinner where Obama relegated it to joke status (start at 2:54 of Obama's own parody video). --- READ MORE

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Mr Zaid Hamid, Dr Khalid Zaheer and Dr. Farooq Khan share their analyses on the current Pakistan situation, bomb blast, suicide attacks, and discusses how government is spreading disinformation in state!!

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