Protests and violence continue to mark the fallout over the removal of Egypt's President Morsi last week. Fifty one people killed yesterday in clashes between Morsi's party and others. Some in the US want to criticise the president of the united states (POTUS) for not wanting to call it a military coup because this would require all USAID to Egypt to be cut . But even the POTUS Press Secretary says this could wipe out much of any bargaining 'leverage' the USGOV has with the country. Or at least, the ruling military. So, cynics gotta wag. On the other hand, multiple Al Jazeera staffers in Cairo are resigning in protest to the bureau's coverage, saying it is biased in favor of Morsi's party.
Syrian President Assad announces shake-up of his cabinet. Air strikes on Homs last week show a return of government forces to that city after the opposition took it over a year ago.
The massive and far-reaching scoop for the guardian continues to take up real estate and spread across the globe. Of course it is the story that has spread because the listeners are already virtually there. In addition to France, Germany and the UK (our closest EU allies), also Brasil, the rest of the EU and Latin America all seem up in arms over the surveillance revelations in their respective countries and casting about for ways to make known their displeasure. It is at times like these that US reps always like to remind these allies how much $$ the country gives them in aid and trade. After weeks of airport limbo, Snowden may get to go to Cuba from Moscow and then on to some, as yet undisclosed Latin American country. Are we talking about Surveillance Planet, yet? Ah yes. The FISA court has been working on expanding what they can oversee and granting themselves all sorts of unconstitutional powers in secret. In secret, because nobody would let them do it if they knew what they were doing, except a few in Congress who, conveniently, see less of a need for debate at this late date. But this expansion of definitions, for 'special needs' of the FISA court breaks all kinds of prior precedents in all sorts of ways. Literally non-rational displacement of precedents into entirely different fields for justifications in current activities. What the heck does this mean? This article begins the descent into the rabbit hole. Some are even showing comparisons to the Tudor/Stuart Star Chamber of renaissance Britain with this FISA court. That was a private court held in secret with no witnesses, juries or rights of appeal. Under Henry VIII and Cardinal Wollesley it became a powerful means to destroy political enemies.
The trials of 'Whitey' Bulger and George Zimmerman are interesting in how a state does or does not support the actions of vigilantes. Here is more on the history of Bulger in metro Boston from Fresh Air, 39 min audio.
The media blew their chance at accurately reporting the IRS 'scandal'. So more people are up in arms for the wrong things again.
Catholic bishops say Congress should act quickly on reasserting aspects of 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Pope Francis comes out strongly against wealth disparity, and bourgeois accumulation of goods - like cell phones and flashy cars - saying this kind of culture shows a lack of love amongst clergy.
The Yarnell Hill fire in Arizona that claimed 19 expert firefighters, all volunteers, continues to resound.
The Asiana 777 airliner that crashed into SF airport miraculously had few casualties. Every day, 50,000 flights pass through US airspace.
The train carrying crude oil in Quebec that derailed and crashed into a small town has killed at least 40 and destroyed thirty buildings. Investigations continue.
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