(Image Source: HLN)

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY

ANCHOR NATHAN BYRNE

This is Newsy Now, and here are your latest headlines.
 

In world news, Greece might have missed yet another deadline to reach a deal with its international lenders today. But a spokesperson denies the government even had a deadline. The Greek debt talks are at an impasse as lawmakers could not agree on the required austerity measures. CNBC explains what’s at stake.
 

Michelle Caruso-Cabrera: “This is a country that needs to borrow every single day, in order to function.”
Becky Quick: “How much?”
Caruso-Cabrera: “Half a billion a week, they need, just to keep running...”
 

Still in world news, Syrian troops launched fresh attacks at the city of Homs on Monday. The AP says they struck a makeshift medical clinic and residential areas. This, after Russia and China vetoed a United Nations resolution that would back the removal of President Bashar al-Assad from power. Sky News reports from near the beleaguered city.
 

“There’s no idea on how many people have been hurt. We know it’s a lot — the estimates vary, but there’s currently 75 to 100 confirmed.”
 

In U.S. news, a new poll shows President Barack Obama leading GOP front runner Mitt Romney in a hypothetical general election. The ABC News/Washington Post poll sees Obama with 51 percent of the votes, and Romney trailing with 45 percent. But ABC News reports - other poll numbers show, when it comes to the economy, Romney leads.
 

“And Mitt Romney, even though he trails Obama, is trusted more to handle the economy by a narrow margin, 48 to 45. And when it comes to trusting to create jobs, same thing, 47%, 45%. Romney with a slight edge.”
 

In entertainment news, NBC is apologizing for rapper M.I.A.’s middle-finger salute at the Super Bowl halftime show Sunday night. The rapper performed alongside Madonna and Nicki Minaj.
 

The network says its delay system didn’t catch M.I.A.’s flip-off until it was too late. HLN says – you gotta feel bad for Madonna.
 

“She had been rehearsing for months leading up to this. And now, all we’re talking about, instead of an amazing performance, was M.I.A giving the middle finger to the camera and in my opinion, a terrible move for M.I.A.”

Stay with Newsy for more news analyses throughout the day.
For Newsy Now, I’m Nathan Byrne, highlighting the top headlines, making you smarter, faster.

(Image source: Granma International)

BY STEVEN SPARKMAN

ANCHOR ZACH TOOMBS

Former Cuban president Fidel Castro made a rare public appearance this weekend to promote a new book on his life. Here’s HLN.

“A Cuban newspaper says he just released a memoir that covers his life before he took power. He says he wanted to have it done before his memories fade away. Castro is 85 years old.”

The book is called A Guerrilla of Time, and follows Castro’s life from his childhood to the eve of Cuba’s revolution. Its two volumes total nearly 1,000 pages, and are written as a dialogue between Castro and a journalist.

RT writes -- this is the first time Castro has been seen in public for nearly 10 months.

“The world has not seen him since the closing session of the Communist Party Congress in April last year. Yet he was present throughout the launch of the book, which reportedly lasted over six hours.”

State media were quick to mention how lively Castro looked, and report he told jokes and conversed with the crowd. But a reporter tells the BBC it was a tightly-controlled event.

“You say this was a public appearance, but it was an appearance before an invited audience, and only in front of the state media here. The video that was released to state television was mute, there’s no sound on it.”

The memoir isn’t publicly available yet, and there’s no word on what’s inside. But a writer for The Inquisitr says, you can expect it to paint the Communist Party and Castro himself in as flattering a light as possible.

“Leave it to Cuban leader Fidel Castro to spend much of the only public time he’s had recently involved in obvious self promotion.”

Castro handed the presidency off to his brother Raul in 2008, and stepped down as head of the party in 2011.

(Image Source: NASA)

BY ANDREW CARTER

ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA

Queen Elizabeth II is nearing 60 years on the throne. The anniversary will be celebrated with a weekend of events called the Diamond Jubilee -- and planned gifts for the Queen include a £60 million yacht. The Guardian reports on Education Secretary Michael Gove’s idea.

"Michael Gove has brushed aside Britain's economic problems to propose the public donate a new royal yacht to the Queen as a mark of respect ... Gove at one point comes close to suggesting that Britain's dire economic climate means that a large-scale celebration is required to shift the country's spirits."

In a time of cutbacks and bailouts, Prime Minister Nick Clegg believes the £60 million gift -- that’s a little over $25 million -- is unrealistic. Sky News has words from Clegg.

"I suspect most people in the country would think that given that there is very little money around, that this probably isn't, wouldn't be at the top of their list of priorities of the use of scare, scarce, scarce resources."

Clegg shut down public funding of the yacht, so Gove says the gift should now be privately funded. Still the campaign may be rocky, according to the Telegraph’s Ed West.

“I have to say that in these times of financial austerity and belt-tightening, I would have imagined that a campaign to buy one of the world’s richest women a new pleasure boat would be a charity that might struggle.”

Queen Elizabeth may enjoy a new royal yacht, but Times Higher Education reports the National Union of Students proposed alternative spending for the £60 million.

“£9,000 university tuition fees for 6,500 students for one year; providing 45,000 students with the scrapped Education Maintenance Allowance for a year ... £1,000 bursary element of the National Scholarship Programme by two years for 30,000 students.”

But the BBC reports private funding for the gift may be successful. The network spoke with the business secretary for the Shadow Cabinet -- the leadership of the Labor party.

“The idea of the private sector essentially contributing to this gift for her majesty and the country I suppose, and I”m sure there would be many people in the country who may consider to donating to such a fund.”

And an interview with England’s First Secretary of State puts the Queen’s last 60 years in perspective.

“I think people will want to reflect on that as well and they will do that in many weird, wonderful, and wise ways.”

The Diamond Jubillee weekend will take place in June, before the start of the London Olympics.

(Image Source: Bikya Masr) 

BY ALYSSA CARTEE AND KYLIE MCGIVERN

43 non-government organization workers will face trial in Egypt, including 19 American workers, one of which is Sam LaHood -- the son of U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

Al-Ahran explains the investigation.

“... [they] are accused of influencing political groups in Egypt by offering funding through their NGOs and will be prosecuted as a result of the ministry of justice investigation.”

But many are saying the investigation is more about making a statement, than actual wrongdoing. Egyptian activists describe the crackdown as a step backward - to the Mubarak-era mentality -- rather than a move forward. A government minister who serves under Mubarak is spearheading the investigation.

The Telegraph has more...

“Human rights activists fear the raids are revenge for their links to secular pro-democracy movements in Egypt...They complain that the breach of the law cited – illegal foreign funding – is not used against suspected support for religious groups from wealthy Gulf countries.”

Several of the American NGO offices were raided in late December. An analyst told Fox Business Network the workers have been worried ever since.

“The American NGOs, the people who are not working for the government, but who are doing good deeds in Egypt … a lot of them have gone into the American embassy in Cairo because they’re afraid of what might happen to them.”

Some feel the actions have greater implications - and that this is about more than investigating a legal funding issue. BBC reports.

“... Cairo's action has widely been seen as an attack on free speech and an attempt by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces' (SCAF) to silence critics of its attempt to put down ongoing street protests.”

But CNN reports, Cairo’s attempts to silence has Congress members speaking out.

“Egypt's investigation of and raids on U.S. democracy support groups working in that country could mean the end of U.S. aid to Egypt, members of Congress told top Obama administration officials, as well as the head of Egypt's Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, last week.”

The two countries have been close allies for more than three decades. The Wall Street Journal quotes US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on the investigations that could rock that steady foundation.

"We are very clear that there are problems that arise from this situation that can impact all the rest of our relationship in Egypt ... We don't want that."

As the Washington Post points out, threatening to cut off Egypt’s U.S. aid - including $1.3 billion of military assistance given each year -  is a swift, strong and unusual response.

“The investigation has triggered unusually blunt warnings from Capitol Hill to a nation that has for years been seen as a stalwart ally.”

Egypt’s ruling military has remained silent on the NGO raids. There is currently no date set for the start of trial.

Image: New York Times

ALYSSA CARTEE

The United States, United Kingdom and France are not backing down when it comes to finding a way to remove Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Russia and China vetoed a vote at the UN Security Council to implement a plan designed by the Arab League that would have done just that.

Russia defended its veto, saying the plan had no consideration for armed opposition groups. But Euronews reports there may have been other motivating factors.

“Syria hosts a Russian Naval base and arms trade between Moscow and Damascus is worth 3.8 billion Euros.”

But the three remaining nations in the coalition say they will not give up on the Syrian people. The Guardian reports British Foreign Secretary …

“William Hague has described the Syrian regime as ‘doomed’ and ‘murdering’ and warned that the country is moving closer to an all-out civil war... .”

And Bloomberg says …

“The U.S. will “redouble efforts” with partners outside the United Nations to pressure Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to end violence and step down, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said.”

President Nicolas Sarkozy says France is in touch with Arab and European partners to create a “Friends of the Syrian People Group” that would marshal international support to implement the Arab League plan.  A politics professor in Beirut told the Christian Science Monitor keeping up the fight will cost the countries involved.

“... there would be an increase of diplomatic pressure on Russia and China to reverse its backing for Syria which would likely require even greater concessions from the US, Europe, and the Arab world.”

An analyst told MSNBC, in spite of the apparent setback, the proposed plan itself is a sign of progress in the region.

“And that is historic because a year ago, if you had said the Arab League is gonna call for a fellow Arab ruler to step down, people would’ve said you were hallucinating.”

But a blogger for Slate writes the real problem is not China and Russia, it’s the system’s set-up.

“This veto power – far more than the theater of the absurd that is the General Assembly – do more to undermine the institution than any other single factor.”

The violence is not limited to Syria’s borders. Seven Syrian embassies around the world were attacked.

“The protesters are upset about the brutal crack down on the uprising in Syria. Australia, London and Cairo are among the places where the embassies were trashed.”

Violence continues to escalate in Syria. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 22 people were killed Sunday including a 14-year-old child.  

(Image source: Red Dog Report)

BY NATHAN BYRNE

(Image Source: YouTube/user/deluxe621)

BY LAUREN ZIMA

Romanian model Ioana Spangenberg’s waist is only a bit bigger than a CD -- but she says she eats like any other person.

30-year-old Spangenberg is 5’ 6” and weighs 84 pounds. Her waist measures 20 inches. But she tells The Sun she eats three big meals a day and snacks on chocolate and chips. In fact -- she says her slender frame gave her low self-esteem as a teenager.

“It's a bit like having a natural gastric band — if I eat too much, I feel sick. … In Romania it is better to be overweight, because that means you are from a wealthy family. So while my friends were going out and dating, I was sitting at home with Mars bars wishing I could fatten up."

But now, Spangenberg is finally comfortable with her body. The Daily Bhaskar reports …

“She was conscious for her frame until she met her German husband Jan in 2006, and he encouraged her to become a model.”

And The Daily Mail quotes her on where her weight is headed now.

“I would still like to gain weight so I don't look so shocking. And now that I live in Germany I can't get enough pizza or kebabs.”

 

(Image Source: BBC)

BY ORLA O MUIRI

Malaria elimination receives a devastating punch to its progress. A report published by medical publication The Lancet shows that the number of deaths by the disease are double what  previous figures show. BBC reports.

“New research suggests Malaria kills twice as many people globally as previously thought. The study was funded by the Bill Gates Foundation and published by the Lancet, it found that 1.2 million people died of the disease in 2010.”

The results also seem to suggest a commonly accepted belief to be false. redOrbit.com says:

“IMHE researchers said that deaths from malaria have been missed in previous studies because of the assumption that mainly young children under the age of 5 died from the disease.”

One of the authors of the study, Professor Christopher Murray, explains how this has been overlooked.

“Quite an appreciable number of adults die from Malaria. The risk of dying from Malaria is much lower for adults but there are a lot more adults and so it adds up. Its probably the most important finding we have in terms of magnitude.”

The study remains adamant that — despite the findings — the billions of dollars donated to the Malaria cause has had an effect in malaria reduction. The director of an anti-malaria advocacy group tells NPR not everyone is buying the new numbers.

"I would be very cautious (about the new estimates)... It is a dramatic increase from what the WHO says, and it contributes to the overall discussion, but it's unclear if it will lead to significant policy change.

Meanwhile the developing countries deal with the reality of the news and the disease. NTV reports the final word;

“Doctors here admit that malaria figures are just as elusive as the parasites themselves....Countries like Kenya remain far from burying the killer disease.”
 

(Image Source: ABC.net.au)

BY BLAKE HANSON

Just hours after a massive attack on the Syrian city of Homs -- the U.N. Security Council rejected a proposal calling for Syrian President Bashar Assad to step down. The New York Times writes...

“While the casualties were impossible to confirm, and were denied by Syria, reports of the bloodshed drew widespread international condemnation, and moved the Security Council toward a vote on an Arab League peace plan, despite new objections by Russia.”


Ultimately, both Russia and China vetoed the plan. The Guardian points to Russia’s history with Syria as a possible reason for the veto...

“Syria has been a key Russian ally since Soviet times and Moscow has opposed any UN demands that could be interpreted as advocating military intervention or regime change.”

Meanwhile, The Telegraph points to another part of the resolution it suspects Russia took issue with...

“... Russia said it could not support a resolution backing an Arab League plan for a swift transition of power and elections. It was said to have demanded a last-minute change dropping a call, already agreed by Syria in November, for tanks and artillery to be withdrawn from the streets.”

So what does this mean for progress in Syria? A CNN anchor and analyst react to the failed vote...

ANCHOR: “Months of paralysis inside the U.N. Security Council, now lead essentially to a diplomatic dead-end.”
ANALYST: “I think Western ambassadors will say it might all have been a charade a stall to the last minute.”
 

Shortly after the vote, U.S. United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice tweeted...

“Disgusted that Russia and China prevented the #UN Security Council from fulfilling its sole purpose.”

 

(Image Source: BBC News)

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY ELIZABETH RINEHART

ANCHOR ZACH TOOMBS

Ever wonder what the two biggest intelligence agencies in the world talk about with each other?

"’Do you want to talk about cheese?’

‘Cheese?!’

‘What about the McDonalds in the Pentagon?’

‘I tell so many people, no one believes me!’” (Source: Youtube.com/Soundmigration)

On Friday, hackers posted a conversation between the FBI and Scotland Yard to YouTube. WCBS reports -- the talk focused on more than fast food. 

“The group, known as Anonymous somehow recorded the 15-minute call and then posted it on the Internet. They also bragged about it on Twitter. Ironically, the agents were discussing ways to catch the hackers.”

From the sublime to the serious. What’s been released includes some in-depth discussions -- that got very specific.

The Telegraph has some of that.

“The conversation covered updates to on-going court cases, the recent arrest of a 15-year-old for hacking his school website …. (and) the on-going court case against Ryan Cleary, arrested last June for his alleged role in the group LulzSec, and reveals legally sensitive information.”

The BBC reports that the FBI confirmed the validity of the call. The Guardian touts the move as a smart one for Anonymous, saying....

“For Anonymous, the posting on YouTube of the 18-minute audio from the call was a particular triumph, indicating that it can worm its way even into the most powerful organisations in the land. ‘The FBI might be curious how we're able to continuously read their internal comms for some time now,’ said one account controlled by the group on Twitter.”

You would think -- someone would find that curious. According to ABC News, Anonymous says it was able to dial into the call through an email sent to a personal account.

Cleary’s lawyer tells ZDNet...

“‘I think it's astonishing that the FBI and the e-Crime unit don't have secure email ...'”

Now, the FBI is investigating the evesdroppers as well. TechWorldNews notes, this brings up what could become a problem for firms everywhere.

“The odds are that cybersecurity at the FBI and Scotland Yard is on par with, or superior to, security at most corporations, [...]This means it's extremely difficult to trust the supply chain for defense contractors, and also that corporations are probably pretty porous to industrial cyberespionage."

(Image source: The Australian)

BY CELIA MURRAY

Ever since Julia Gillard successfully took leadership of the labor party from Kevin Rudd in 2010, Australian media have speculated when he would return the favor. Now, as the new parliamentary year starts up, pundits say it’s just a matter of time.

Here’s ABC Australia.

“Leadership rumblings are continuing to dog the Prime Minister as MPs prepare to return to Canberra for the year’s first sitting of parliament. There’s been a renewed focus on the leadership including speculation of a challenge before the end of March.

If Rudd’s challenge is successful, he will retake the Prime Minister position. The Australian outlines Rudd’s chances.

“Strategists from both camps believe the Foreign Minister can afford to lose a first leadership ballot if he were to secure a reasonable level of support, whereas they believe Ms Gillard must win a ballot comprehensively to see off the possibility of a second Rudd challenge.”

Labor’s power brokers are trying to warn Rudd off the challenge. Several MPs have announced they would step down to the backbenches with “suicide” resignations should Kevin Rudd win back his position.

Former Labor leader Simon Crean tells SBS Rudd isn’t a team player:

I think that part of the reason he lost the leadership was that he wasn’t. There’s no point having a band of prima donnas unless they operate as a team.

In a recent article on The Punch, Adelaide Advertiser’s political editor says it’s not about Rudd’s popularity within the party -- it’s about staving off the opposition.

If it were, he would have no chance now and would not have been leader the first time around. Then, as now, his potential attractiveness is about voter appeal. MPs will be asking, can we win with Kevin or at least avert annihilation? If enough conclude that the answer is yes, then it’s game-over for Ms Gillard.

Gillard hasn’t publicly acknowledged the chance of a Rudd challenge, saying he’s doing a great job as Minister of Foreign Affairs. But a writer for The New Zealand Herald believes things may be more tense behind the scenes.

This will be a long, cold autumn for Prime Minister Julia Gillard. With polling at rock bottom, an appalling run of bad press, blunders and deep rumblings among her backbenchers, the sound of knives on whetstones is growing louder.

(Image Source: ABC News Australia)

BY LUKE LEONARD

ANCHOR CHRISTIAN BRYANT

Australia’s southern Queensland has been declared a natural disaster zone. Record breaking floods are forcing residents out of their homes. 

Towns of northern New South Wales are also preparing themselves as the swollen Mehi River’s banks are close to bursting.

Australia’s ABC News has more details...

“Hundreds of people are in evacuation centers after being forced from their homes. Three quarters of the town of Mitchell is underwater ... while tonight Roma is bracing for the worst with 200 homes under threat.” 

After having barely recovered from devastating floods in March 2010 and Novermber 2011, many people in the area are unfortunately familiar with the situation. An opinion writer for the National Times Australia suggests--  a disaster fund should be in place given the recurring events. 

“...unlike standing emergency services, infrastructure and co-ordination, governments' financial responses to disasters are, almost always, ad hoc. ...throwing cash where the need is greatest...”

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said the evacuation center in Mitchell, used in previous years, worked without incident. However this year the center has been left vulnerable by more intense flooding. Despite the vulnerability of the center, residents are otherwise responding well to emergency services. Ten News spoke to New South Wales state services... 

“The good news is many have taken our advice and have left early, gone to friend’s places and relatives’ places, those sorts of things. But a lot of people are registering at the evacuation centers as well as other small townships around the Moree area.”

As reported by the The Sydney Morning Herald, forecasters are predicting the Balonne River in the town of St George will exceed 13 meters deep. This will make it the third year in a row the town has been swamped by 13 meter flood waters. 

Editor of the local Moree newspaper, Cady Andersen, suggests that although prevention and rescue efforts are better this time, nature was going to win no matter what. Sydney Morning Herald has that quote...

“At least this time we were more prepared...Having said that, after … getting off a chopper, so many residents have been inundated and would have been no matter how much preparation there was.”

Over 17,000 residents remain isolated by the floods.

(Image source: The New York Times)

BY LIAM KEEGAN

Violence in Egypt spilled over into a second day as police squared off against protesters. The catalyst for the latest unrest was Wednesday night’s deadly soccer riots. ESPN has more.

“Anger over the soccer riot that left 74 dead yesterday led to a protest outside the Interior Ministry by as many as 10,000 people who accuse police of failing to stop the assaults.”

Protesters say the match, between the teams Al-Ahly and Al-Masry, suffered from a lack of security. An analyst tells CNN police have steered clear of the stadiums for some time.

“The fans would fight the police every weekend, from 2007 really when these fan movements started coming into existence. So since then, a lot of the police have not been going to the grounds because they’re so hated, and you see a power vacuum...”

Over the last two days police have shot two protesters dead, one soldier was killed outside the interior ministry, and two more protesters died yesterday from tear gas inhalation. On PBS News Hour, Matt Bradley of the Wall Street Journal explains what’s driving the protests.

“A lot of the protesters, a lot of the activists are saying this was a deliberate effort by the military regime, or the Ministry of the Interior, to cause violence.”

The protesters say police wanted the violence to break out so they would have an excuse to reinstate Egypt’s Emergency Law, giving police broad powers. But not everyone pointed the finger at police. The National Post reports.

“The Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party blamed pro-Mubarak forces, saying it was orchestrated by Mubarak’s sons from their prison cells, and discerned the ever-popular influence of ‘foreign fingers’ as also being responsible.”

NBC News correspondent Ayman Mohyeldin put the responsibility for the violence on Egypt as a whole..

“Those responsible for the violence at Wednesday’s game were Egyptians. Period.
Now, they could have been instigated, motivated and, even more sinisterly, hired to carry out these attacks on each other. But in the end, they were all fellow countrymen...”

(Image source: Act For America) 

BY MALLORY PERRYMAN

An editorial post claims U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta believes Israel will attack Iran soon-- and the media ran with the story.

“U.S. officials now fear Israel might attack Iran’s nuclear facilities sooner than later.” (NBC)

“A report that Israel may be getting ready to launch an attack this spring.” (Fox News)

“...U.S. officials worry that Israel could actually attack Iran as early as this spring.” (KTTV)

That news came from this editorial piece by David Ignatius in The Washington Post.

“Panetta believes there is a strong likelihood that Israel will strike Iran in April, May or June...”

But Politico’s Tim Mak points out--

“Ignatius does not characterize the source behind his claim...Indeed, the writer does not indicate whether his source is Panetta himself, top aides to the secretary, or someone else.”

When asked about the article-- Panetta told the Associated Press-- he’s not commenting on the story.

But CNN’s Barbara Starr says she confirmed the timetable with a senior Pentagon official. She explains, Israeli officials believe this spring is their last chance to reach Iran’s nuclear facilities with Israel’s own weapons.

Barbara Starr: “After that, they believe Iran would have made enough progress that Israeli weapons can not get to Iran’s nuclear effort, it would only be U.S. weapons.”

If Israel goes ahead with the strike, the U.S. may have to get involved. And NBC’s David Gregory says, that’s the worst-case scenario for the American military.

David Gregory: “... depending upon the nature of the strike it will be destabilizing for the region if not lethal for parts of Israel should something like this happen and the reverberations both in terms of nuclear proliferation and U.S. interests...”

And according to The National Post’s Matt Gurney-- Israel isn’t thrilled about leaving it up to the U.S. either. So will Israel actually strike? Gurney says-- the latest reports sound like deja vu.

“Another year, another report saying that U.S. officials are concerned that Israel may be on the verge of launching a pre-emptive strike...Time will tell, of course.”

On Thursday-- Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said publicly-- time is running out to stop Iran from developing its nuclear program.




 

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)
 

BY XIAONAN WANG

ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO 

The tiff between novelist Paul Auster and Turkey’s Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan got started earlier this week. At issue: the 70 Turkish journalists that the group Set Turkish Journalists Free says are in prison there.

Auster told a Turkish newspaper that he refused to visit Turkey to publicize his new book  because they jailed journalists.  

The prime minister called Auster, who is Jewish, “an arrogant man”.  Erdogan says Paul has a double standard because he visited Israel in spite of its bombing Gaza. The prime minister also mocked the noted writer, saying he is just not interested in his visit.

“As if we need you! Who cares if you come or not? Would Turkey lose any grandeur?”

Paul picked up the fight. He defended himself Wednesday in his latest statement:

“Whatever the Prime Minister might think about the state of Israel, the fact is that free speech exists there and no writers or journalists are in jail. ”

Paul’s stand is applauded by Jewish Journal.  The Journal’s Shmuel Rosner says the author is admired for taking on this fight with Turkey’s P.M.    Rosner also speaks out against Erdogen for dragging down Israel.

“Suppose Israel is a terrible country, does it make Turkey better? Does it make Turkey’s imprisonment of journalists more justified?”

However, a blog post on Mondoweiss echoes Erdogan’s accusation against Paul. It quoted a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in January:

“the Committee to Protect Journalists expressed alarm over ongoing attacks on and detention of journalists in Occupied Palestinian Territory as well as over a recent series of developments that restrict freedom of the press in Israel.”

No matter where this ends up, a Wall Street Journal article points out that Auster will benefit by it.   

“......he certainly got some publicity for his latest book — “Winter Journal” — published in Turkey last month, ahead of the U.S. edition.”

(Image Source: euronews)

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY

ANCHOR JIM FLINK

This is Newsy Now and here are your latest headlines.

In world news, extreme cold weather in Europe has claimed more than 100 lives in the past week. The death toll in Ukraine alone is 101. euronews says the country is experiencing its coldest winter in six years, with temperatures dropping as low as 33 degree celcius below freezing.
 

“The country’s Emergencies Ministry has set up around 3,000 heated tents to provide shelter for the homeless. Some 64 of the dead were found on the streets.”

 

Still in world news, a former Khmer Rouge official has been sentenced to life in prison after appealing his previous 30-year sentence. The official, better known as Duch, oversaw the deaths of some 15,000 people during Cambodia’s Khmer Rouge regime. Al Jazeera has more details.
 

“Duch’s crimes, the court said, were an affront to all humanity and the Cambodian people in particular. He was in charge of the factory of death at the S-21 torture center, known as Tuol Sleng.”

 

In U.S. news, in a rare act of bipartisanship, the U.S. Senate has passed a bill which would ban insider trading by members of Congress. The bill would also require lawmakers and thousands of executive branch officials to promptly disclose any stock tradings. HLN has more.
 

“One sponsor though said, this means that lawmakers will be subject to the same rules when it comes to stocks, as everybody else.”
 

Still in the U.S., burglars have stolen gold nuggets from a historic collection in a Northern California courthouse. The entire collection is estimated at $3 million — authorities are still figuring out how much was actually stolen. The county has deep gold rush roots, and KTVU talks to one resident who says he’s offended by the crime.
 

“We’ve been violated. All the people. It’s not really the county or the... thing. It’s the people that were violated today.”

Stay with Newsy for more analysis of news thoughout the day.  For newsy now, I’m Jim Flink, highlighting the day’s top headlines, making you smarter, faster.

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY KEVIN DUBOUIS

ANCHOR LAUREN GORES

For the fifth time in nearly two decades, Israelis elected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu leader of the right wing Likud party.

The Telegraph reports Tuesday wasn’t just any win — he got 3/4s of the vote.

“The size of his victory will boost Mr Netanyahu, who has faced criticism from some within his traditionally hawkish party for accepting the notion of Palestinian statehood. Senior party officials were quoted as saying that he is contemplating calling an election in October, taking advantage of a strong showing in opinion polls and signs of disarray in some opposition parties.”

Israel’s general election normally wouldn’t take place until late 2013. According to the Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu denied setting an earlier date for the general elections. But euronews points out another challenge in Netanyahu’s political agenda — the upcoming American presidential election.

The Israeli leader has clashed with President Obama on Middle East peace issues, and some analysts suggest Mr. Obama will be more determined in pressuring Israel for concessions if he is re-elected for a second term.

“It is thought he wants a strengthened mandate to be better placed to deal with Barack Obama on Middle East peacemaking, should the U.S. president himself be re-elected.”

The primary comes under the backdrop of international pressure on Israel to resume peace talks with the Palestinians. The New York Times reports United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived in Jerusalem the day after Likud’s primary to call for good-will gestures toward the Palestinians from Israel.

“The secretary general said he hoped that the exploratory talks between Israeli and Palestinian officials that took place last month in Jordan, the first direct contacts in more than a year, could be sustained.”

The Israeli channel Infolive.tv has Israeli prime minister’s response.

“Netanyahu has said is willing to make such gestures, but only if he is given guarantees that the Palestinians will not walk away from the negotiating table a few weeks later.”

And Haaretz reports Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas’ pessimism about peace talks.

“ ... Abbas said that during the talks in Jordan, Israel did not present ‘any encouraging proposal that we could advance with.’ He also said ‘Israel continues to establish facts on the ground, to build settlements and take control of lands in Jerusalem and the West Bank. This is something we cannot accept, not today and not tomorrow.’ …”

Those settlements remain a sticking point in peace talks. But as the Middle East Monitor points out -- with Netanyahu staying at the helm of Likud -- that isn’t likely to change.

“Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed his commitment to his country's illegal settlement policy in the occupied Palestinian territories. ... the Israeli prime minister said that the settlements are a ‘key element’ of the state's future.”

According to the Jerusalem Post — Netanyahu told Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon he’s willing to talk to Palestinians about Israeli settlements, but that a freeze can’t be a precondition of those negotiations.

(Image Source: Herald Sun)

BY EMILY ALLEN

ANCHOR EMILY SPAIN

A ferry capsizes during rough weather off the coast of Papua New Guinea.  The vessel was carrying mostly students and teachers on it’s way to the mainland of Lae.  Here is KTRK.

“Officials say the ferry sent out a distress signal overnight, capsized in choppy waters then sank several hours later.”

Rescue crews have a problem.  The Australian Broadcasting Corporation says the shipping agency will not confirm the number of passengers on board.

“That is frustrating the local police and the search and rescue effort that, as far as they can’t tell how many more people may be out there.”

But the Sydney Morning Herald thinks there is a reason the company is staying mum about the numbers.

“Local people said there had long been concern about overcrowding on the ferry, owned by the brother of PNG's National Maritime Safety Authority chairman.”

A TV New Zealand reporter says this accident doesn’t come as a surprise following two similar disasters in recent years.

“There first two, incompetence.  And the ferry owners, the people who are running this got away with it because they could and it’s people’s lives here that are at risk.”

News of the wreck prompted the country’s Prime Minister to issue a call to action.  Here is the Guardian.

“We need to bring some safety measures back into this industry.  We cannot afford to continue to lose our people’s lives.  And sea transport is one of the most important forms of transportation in the country.”

Herald Sun reports bad light and poor weather are hampering rescue efforts.  It says this shipwreck has been described as the worst-ever shipping disaster in the country’s history.
 

Image: National Geographic

(Image Source: BBC)

BY BLAKE HANSON

NATO’s primary combat role in Afghanistan could come to an end in 2013. Top U.S. and NATO officials echoed each other Thursday -- discussing what would be an accelerated draw down in troops. NBC’s Today Show has the story...

“Defense Secretary, Leon Panetta, said the U.S. military hopes to end its formal combat mission there some time in 2013.”

“The Pentagon says the U.S. will be open to teaming up with the Afghan army in the ongoing fight against the Taliban, and will stay on the ground through 2014.”

The Associated Press reports this is the first time NATO has hinted combat operations would end before 2014. A Sky News reporter says the move gives the Taliban a timetable.

“In some areas, in particular, the Taliban have decided to sit on their hands, let NATO go so they can then fight an easier foe in the form of the Afghan government.”

A writer for the National Post explains why there’s so little trust the Afghan government will be able to handle the job.

“No one even pretends that these troops will be coming home as victors. Instead, the job will be left to the Afghan military, which is decently trained and equipped, but has low morale and … is shot through with Taliban sympathizers.”

CNN’s Pentagon correspondent says support for the war from other NATO countries is dwindling, which could explain the accelerated timeline.

“Everybody agrees this war is not going to be sustainable much longer. Every source we speak with tells us that. So this is now a question of when, not if.”

Finally, the Christian Science Monitor asks -- what does this mean for the troops?

“Are they likely to be safer? To see less fighting? In practical terms, probably not … The move away from a ‘combat role’ into … an ‘advise and assist role’ is replete with some murky military definitions.”

(Image Source: Flickr/Eddie S)

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY

ANCHOR JIM FLINK

In world news, public anger in Egypt after more than 70 people die in a soccer tragedy. Some Egyptians are blaming government security forces for failing to protect civilians.  Eyewitnesses say they saw police officers standing idly by as the violent clashes broke out. One NBC correspondent says the incident highlights one of Egypt’s biggest problems.
 

“...many people have lost confidence in the police and the security forces in being able to keep any kind of law and order. And when they try to do that, it often turns violent and angers and fuels more protests, so it is a very precarious situation.”
 

Still in world news, a ferry sinks off Papua New Guinea’s east coast with as many as 350 people on board. Rescuers have recovered more than 200 survivors. Reports say most of the passengers were students and teachers’ trainees. Here’s KING.
 

“This picture shows ships and helicopters are on the scene. So far officials say 238 people have been rescued. Right now it's unclear what caused the ferry to sink.”
 

In U.S. news, Mitt Romney’s Wednesday morning gaffe on CNN is still getting backlash. In an interview with Soledad O’Brien, the GOP presidential hopeful says he was, quote - ‘not concerned about the very poor.’ He has since clarified the remarks -- but his opponents aren’t missing the opportunity to attack. Here’s CNN, with Newt Gingrich on the campaign trail.

Gingrich: “I am running to be the president of all the American people, and I am concerned about all of the American people.”
 

Still in U.S. news, it’s Groundhog Day! Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, and according to folklore, that means there will be six more weeks of winter. Fox News has that clip - with some in the audience booing the groundhog for a prediction he can’t even help! Come on guys - it’s not Phil’s fault.
 

Punxsutawney gentleman: “...many shadows do I see -- six more weeks of winter it must be.”
Audience: [cheering and booing]


Stay with Newsy for more analysis on news throughout the day.  For Newsy Now, I’m Jim Flink, highlighting the day’s top headlines to make you smarter, faster.
 

(Image Source - CBS)
 

BY JOSHUA LANDER

ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA

Riots in Port Said, Egypt left 73 dead and hundreds more injured Wednesday morning.  It had nothing to do with politics.  It was all because of a soccer match.
 
Fans from home team Al-Masry stormed the field and began hurling stones and fireworks at fans and players of the opposing team from Cairo.  Many of the reported dead were security officers who were beaten to death while trying to bring order.

The New Zealand Herald quoted Al-Ahly player Mohamed Abo Treika as saying...

"This is not football. This is a war and people are dying in front of us. There [was] no movement and no security and no ambulances."

Another player said..

"The players' room has turned into a morgue." 

Soccer related violence has increased dramatically in Egypt since the country’s revolution last year.  One CNN expert says the riot was most likely not spontaneous. 

"There’s a small group of fanatical fans called the Ultras who often times go to these games with the specific intent of getting into fights with fans from the opposing team."

According to Voice of America, the riots have forced the hand of Egyptian officials. 

"Egypt's state prosecutor has ordered an immediate investigation into the violence and the country's football association called for an indefinite suspension of the annual championship."

While the riot does not appear to coincide with Egypt’s political unrest in the past year, it does raise the continued issue of the state police’s ability to deal with violent crowds.  CBS News recorded the incident as...

"...the deadliest incident of soccer violence since Oct. 16, 1996, when at least 78 people died and 180 others were injured in a stampede at a stadium in Guatemala City..."

(Image source: CNNMoney)

BY DAVID EARL

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

The deal that would have forged the world’s largest stock exchange is officially dead. Euronews has the headline.

“Competition regulators in Brussels have blocked a merger that would have created the world’s biggest stock exchange. Deutsche Boerse and NYSE Euronext say they will now unwind the deal.”

Leading up to Wednesday’s announcement, the head of EU’s Competition Commission told Bloomberg the deal between US-based NYSE and German exchange Deutsche Boerse was anything but done...

“My conclusion is that some problems of competition will not be solved by this merger, but will be aggravated.”

In fact, Fox Business quotes EU officials coming out with some pretty harsh antitrust descriptions for the deal. According to one of them...

“The merger between Deutsche Boerse and NYSE Euronext would have led to a near-monopoly in European financial derivatives worldwide. These markets are at the heart of the financial system and it is crucial for the whole European economy that they remain competitive.”

You can guess the head of Germany’s flagship exchange wasn’t too pleased to hear the news. A German TV station has the soundbite...

“This is a black day for Europe and its future competitiveness on world financial markets.”

And a financial reporter for the BBC seems to agree.

“Where are these stock exchanges going to go? There’s a feeling that when you’re talking about a global market you have to be globally competitive and you have to be big.”

At least one person on the US-side of the pond likes the deal’s death. The familiar name in national politics, big-city real estate, and prime-time reality TV talks to CNBC....

Donald Trump: “The New York Stock Exchange should be this country...I’m very happy to see it, Becky, I think it’s a good thing for the country.”

This is the latest merger to fall through for America’s oldest exchange. Back in April, rival NASDAQ attempted and failed at a hostile takeover of the NYSE.

(Image Source: Flickr/jam_90s)

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY

ANCHOR JIM FLINK

This is Newsy Now, and here are your latest headlines.
 

In world news, four British nationals have admitted to plotting al-Qaeda-inspired bomb attacks on the U.S. embassy and the Stock Exchange in London. The men were arrested in December 2010, after being put under surveillance. The BBC reports on one damning piece of evidence that was found in one of the men’s apartments: a handwritten list.

“On that list were the names and addresses of the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and two rabbis. As well as the words ‘American embassy’ and the initials LXC.”
 

In U.S. news, GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney won what some have called a ‘resounding victory’ in the Florida primary Tuesday night. He had 46 percent of the votes, while runner-up Newt Gingrich had just 32 percent. On CNN, Florida Governor Rick Scott offers his analysis on why Romney came out on top.
 

“What Florida voters want, is they want a president that’s going to focus on reducing taxes, reducing regulations and gear our economy back to work. And last night, Governor Romney was that candidate.”
 

In tech news, sources familiar with the topic say Facebook could file for IPO as early as this morning. The company reportedly will file plans to raise $5 billion. It has picked Morgan Stanley to lead the process. Bloomberg talks to a venture capitalist who says once the documents are released, he’ll be looking for data on Facebook’s monetization per user.
 

“Because Facebook has an immense amount of traffic. Over 10 percent of the Internet traffic now, but how quickly that continues to grow as they grow their user base. They are already at 800 million people, and there are so many people on the planet...”
 

Finally, in health news, Pfizer is recalling one million packets of birth control pills. The company says the pills might not contain enough contraceptive to prevent pregnancy. KNXV has the details.
 

“The problem affects Lo/Ovral-28, and generic Norgestrel, and also Ethinyl Estradiol. ... the affected packets have expiration dates between July 31, 2013 to March 31, 2014.”



Stay with Newsy for more news analyses throughout the day. For Newsy Now, I’m ___, highlighting the top headlines making you smarter, faster.

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY KEVIN DUBOUIS

ANCHOR LAUREN GORES

Starbucks announced plans to bring its coffee shops to India through an $80 million joint venture with Tata Global Beverages. The company expects to open 50 outlets by year’s end. Bloomberg has comments from Starbucks’ China and Asia Pacific president John Culver.

“What they provide to us is the opportunity to build up this business in the right way. They have local knowledge, they have local infrastructure, we have a grand iconic brand.”

The Seattle Times reports Starbucks has been eyeing the Indian market for several years but the economic situation there had delayed any business agreements.

“The chain first planned to launch in India in 2007, when it still bragged it would reach 40,000 stores worldwide. The recession and Starbucks' overexpansion ended that talk. An overhauled Starbucks, at 17,250 stores worldwide, also plans less robust growth.”

India’s Daily News and Analysis says Starbucks and Tata eventually agreed on a 50:50 partnership.

“For Starbucks, Tata’s retail stores will help it sell its packaged coffees and other products. There will also be a co-branded premium tea that the two companies will work together on. Under a separate agreement between Starbucks Coffee Company and TataCoffee Ltd, the latter will roast coffee at its upcoming facility in South India for the whole of Starbucks India operations and to export to the Starbucks globally.”

The Indian business newspaper The Economic Times has comments from Tata Global Beverages’ Vice-chairman who sees the partnership with Starbucks as a development ...

“…‘that fits into the specific architecture of Tata Global Beverages which is to go into more valuated, superior category of the market place...’”

The New York Times reports India’s finance minister -- Pranab Mukherjee -- said coffee is becoming more popular in India, where tea had been the traditional drink of choice.

“ ... ‘India presents opportunity at this moment that cannot be ignored,’ Mr. Mukherjee said … India, long a country of tea drinkers, has experienced an explosion in cafes and restaurants over the last decade because of its growing middle class and a large youth population.”

And The Financial Times reports on Starbucks’ challenges.

“Starbucks will face competition from a handful of incumbent coffee chains… Starbucks is seeking to reduce the dominance of the US in its operations. More than 12,000 of its 17,000-plus stores are in its home market. The Americas region – including a few hundred stores in Canada and Latin America – accounts for three-quarters of its revenue.”

(Image source: The Asian Age)

BY JING LIU

ANCHOR LAUREN GORES

Yor're watching multisource global video news analysis from Newsy.

Italian rescue officials called off the search for bodies on the Costa Concordia cruise ship Tuesday. Italy's Civil Protection agency announced Tuesday the hull is too deformed for rescuers to navigate within the ship safely.

More than two weeks have passed since the cruise ship grounded off the coast of Italy. Seventeen bodies have been recovered, with 15 people still missing.(video: The Telegraph)

What’s next for the ship? KIRO reports -- a half million gallons of fuel must be extracted.

“There it is. They were able to blast a hole on the underwater compartment. That would allow them to unload fuel once the ship is stable."

But according to MSNBC, cleanup and removal are not that easy, and could take up to 10 months.

“Inclement weather over the weekend shut down search and salvage efforts at the site of the ship wreck off the Tuscan coast. High winds and rough seas delayed plans to begin pumping 500,000 gallons of fuel off the Concordia.”

Fuel removal is expected to continue later this week. But that’s not the only difficulty the cruise’s US parent company -- Carnival -- is facing. Tuscan islanders are threatening to sue Carnival over potential environmental pollution. The Daily Mail quotes one fisherman:

“‘Let's hope we are able to solve everything without pollution … That's the main worry.’”

And another resident says…

“‘The damage to the environment is strong. If I think of just one cabin, it's like throwing a whole bar into the sea. That alone, I think, can pollute with just what it contains. Imagine a floating town!’”

According to The Wall Street Journal, Carnival Corp. estimated Monday the Costa Concordia crash will lower net income by as much as $175 million in fiscal year 2012.

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

This is Newsy Now and here are your latest headlines.
 

In U.S. news, it’s Florida primary day. The state is breaking presidential primary rules by jumping ahead of the schedule set by the national GOP. Washington Post says officials want to make sure the state remains a relevant voice in the race to the nomination. No matter who wins there -- Fox News explains --- the move is costing Florida half its delegates to the national convention.
 

“It’s being punished. 101 delegates, or, 100 cut down to 50. So the total winner-take-all today is 50 delegates.”
 

Still in the U.S., Occupy D.C. tents are still up in the city’s McPherson Square, despite passing yesterday’s deadline, which would make it illegal to camp in the city’s parks. WTTG explains the new rules.
 

“The tents may remain in place as a symbol of the protest, but they must be free of any gear that would allow folks to sleep here overnight. That is the no camping rule that they are beginning to enforce.”
 

In world news, the head of the Arab League is set to address the UN Security Council on the Syria situation. The UN hopes to draft a resolution to push President Bashar al-Assad out of the way. One problem though - Russia will most likely veto it. CNN says the violence on the ground will not cease until Russia agrees to a resolution.
 

“Because at least in that case, the Syrian government will be getting a signal that its long time international ally Russia might be beginning to change its position.”
 

Still in world news, Italian officials have permanently called off the search and rescue effort on the submerged parts of the Costa Concordia. KIRO has the details.

“They’re calling of the search due to the dangers to rescue workers. Sixteen people are still listed as missing, 17 bodies are recovered.”


Stay with Newsy for more news analyses throughout the day. For Newsy Now, I’m Megan Murphy, highlighting the top headlines making you smarter, faster.  

(Image Source: BBC)

BY LAUREN ZIMA

A British man named Steve Hornsby has blue balls -- blue balls of mysterious jelly, that is, in his yard. But what are they -- and how did they get there? The Guardian has his story:

“Hornsby, an aircraft engineer, said: ‘ … the sky went very dark and then a strange yellow colour. There was then a short, sharp hail storm that lasted for about 20 seconds. … then I spotted something on the lawn and it looked like broken glass.”

What Hornsby found covering his lawn were about 20 gelatinous, blue spheres. He says they were definitely not there before the storm. Hornsby says they have a hard exterior and a softer inside -- they don’t smell, they don’t float. He has one idea about what the balls could be.

“I think it might be some kind of atmospheric pollution that’s been caught up in the hail stones and it’s solidified. ... It’s almost impossible to pick up -- you have to scoop it up, really, and it just falls to pieces.”

But, the BBC reports the Met Office says the balls are, quote, “not meteorological.” The Sun has other speculation.

“A scientist at his local university suggested they may be eggs that were taken from the sea by a bird that dropped them over Steve's house in the hail storm. But this seems unlikely as they are transparent and there are no signs of eggs or an embryo inside.”

So, that idea might be out too. Doubtful News has one more theory -- that the balls are ‘hydrogel balls’ used for planting.

“ … these are described as ‘Crystal Soil’ – a new type of green environmental material, rich in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium … can absorb water up to 50-100times of its original weight, and after expansion it looks colorful and brilliant.”

The gel has been sent to a university for testing.

(Image Source: KIMA TV)

BY GARY GRIGSBY

ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO

Fighting continues in the streets of the Damascus suburbs.  Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s troops have moved in attempting to regain control from the Free Syrian Army.  In just the last five days, more than 190 have been killed.  The Guardian notes there is a reason for the spike in violence.

“They say the aim of the weekend forays was to demonstrate the capital was no longer an impregnable regime stronghold, but buffeted from the escalating violence rife in many of Syria’s other towns and cities.”

More amateur footage collected by The Telegraph shows dozens of Army tanks moving in to Douma, just outside the city center, later accompanied by thousands of soldiers.

Ayman Mohyeldin reports on the affects of the violence after Syrian soldiers passed through Zabadani, just outside Damascus...

“The residents in this house have been showing us the damage caused by the Syrian soldiers. They also say the Syrian Army set up here a sniper’s nest from which they were overlooking the village and attacking the residents below.”

CNN says potential solutions to the violence are being evaluated.

“The U.N. Security Council is considering a draft resolution that would call on president Bashar al-Assad to step down and transfer power.”

The Security Council is expected to take up that resolution Tuesday.

(Image source: Cosmos Magazine)

BY STACEY WELSH

ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA

Sperm zapping-- is it the new form of birth control for men?  Scientists believe zapping testicles with ultrasound waves is an effective way to kill sperm.  Researchers at the University of North Carolina tried out the treatment on rats. The BBC reports the findings…

“…showed that sound waves could be used to reduce sperm counts to levels that would cause infertility in humans.”

Scientists found two 15-minute zaps delivered two days apart produced the most effective results. Fox News explains different sessions…

“…reduced the rat's sperm count to an index of zero, or an extremely low number of motile sperm. They also looked inside and saw that the rats had fewer sperm-making cells.”

This isn’t the first time scientists have tried out the zapping technique. According to CBS, a researcher tested the idea back in the 1970s- but as CBS reports, since then--

“...doctors had tried and failed to replicate [the original researcher’s] findings, even when turning up the ultrasound so high that it caused skin burns.”

Four decades later-- new technology has allowed scientists to revisit sperm zapping. But as one researcher tells Live Science-- this method of birth control isn’t quite ready for public use.

"Further studies are required to determine how long the contraceptive effect lasts and if it is safe to use multiple times."

But if the procedure does work out-- one blogger for The Mark explains what it will mean for the average guy.

“...if the procedure is found to be safe not just on rats but also humans, then we can hope to never have to consider a vasectomy ever again.”

But how will guys react to the idea of having their sperm zapped? The anchors at WPBF may give us an idea.

PAUL: I’m gonna need a moment here. Hold on.

ANCHOR: Zap! Paul’s like, “Ow!” I’m like, “Really?”

SHELLI: He’s a little uncomfortable.

PAUL: Alright… Well, you know. We’ll see where that goes.

SHELLI: Oh, we know where it goes! We just don’t know if it works!

A grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation funded the study.

(Image Source: CBS)

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY

ANCHOR NATHAN BYRNE

This is Newsy Now and here are your latest headlines.
 

In U.S. news, one day before the Florida primary and GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney has a significant lead over rival Newt Gingrich in the polls. Fox News has the numbers - saying even though Gingrich came in with a lead after his win in South Carolina, his momentum has stalled...
 

“The polls are all showing Mitt Romney with a comfortable lead here in Florida - where it’s 7 points in the latest PPP poll, or 14 in the couple of polls that came out Saturday and Sunday.”
 

Still in U.S. news, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta tells 60 Minutes he believes the Pakistani government must have had an idea that Osama bin Laden was hiding in the country. Still - he says he has no hard evidence. CNN has Panetta’s remarks.
 

“I personally have always felt that somebody must have had some sense of what was
happening in this compound. Don’t forget, this compound had 18-foot walls around it...”
 

In world news, a 6.3-magnitude earthquake shook the Peruvian central coastline early Monday. Another quake hit the region last October, leveling buildings and leaving some homeless.
 

Reports note the scale of this quake’s damage is not yet clear - but KXAS has info about the injured.

“We’re getting some reports now, about 60 people injured there. None of the injuries from what we’re hearing appear to be very serious, though.”
 

In tech news, U.S. prosecutors are saying all data stored on Megaupload could be deleted as soon as Thursday. The company’s lawyer says about 50 million users could lose their data - including ones that were legitimately uploaded.
 

CNET quotes one of its readers, who says: “Millions of people have their work and personal files on MegaUpload and depend on MegaUpload to provide service for them to make money to feed their family.”
 

Stay with Newsy for more analysis on news throughout the day.  For Newsy Now, I’m Nathan Byrne highlighting the day’s top headlines to make you smarter, faster.

(Image Source: Montreal Gazette) 

BY KYLIE MCGIVERN 

Three people were found guilty in Canada on Sunday of first-degree murder - killing four women -- women who were members of their own family. And it was all in the name of “honour.” CTV has more ...

“Prosecutors have long argued that the young Shafia sisters had shamed the conservative Afghan family - and especially its patriarch - by wearing revealing clothing, refusing to don hijabs and having boyfriends … Teachers, child protection workers and police officers testified about reports from the girls that they were afraid of their father and brother and wanted to run away from home.”

The bodies of Mohammad Shafia’s three teenage daughters and his 53-year-old first wife were found in a submerged car near Kingston back in 2009. Shafia, his other wife and their 21-year-old son were convicted in the killings. The family had moved from Afghanistan to Canada in 2007. The Globe and Mail explains these types of cases.

“There have been other murder charges involving so-called 'honour killings' … but not on this scale, and not involving parents who were willing to wipe out half their family for the sake of their honour, and then lie about it.‬”

As part of the case, police planted bugs in the Shafia family’s car and home phone.

Referencing photos of his two daughters, the Toronto Star reports Shafia said...

“Whenever I see those pictures, I am consoled. I say to myself, ‘you did well. Would they come back to life a hundred times, for you do to the same again.’... “They betrayed kindness, they betrayed Islam, they betrayed our religion and creed, they betrayed everything...They brought about their rightful deaths.’’

In trial, the judge asked the father, mother, and 21-year-old son if they had anything to say. Here’s CBC with details on the responses.

“Mohammad Shafia said, “I did not commit any murder.’ His wife Tooba Yahya, same thing, saying, ‘We are not murderers,’ and their son Hamed got up and in English said, ‘I did not drown my sisters.’”

But The Canadian Press reports, Judge Robert Maranger had no sympathy, and quotes him.

"It is difficult to conceive of a more despicable, more heinous … more honourless crime … The apparent reason behind these cold-blooded, shameful murders was that the four completely innocent victims offended your completely twisted concept of honour … that has absolutely no place in any civilized society."

And in an interview with CNN, the UK Crown Prosecution Service spoke about the religious undertones of the case.

“At the end of the day, murder is murder. There is no faith on Earth, no community on Earth that justifies this. Abrahamic faiths say, ‘Thou shall not kill.’ So you don’t kill to support your faith.”

Shafia and Yahya have four other children, who have all been placed in foster care. Their convictions of first-degree murder carry automatic life sentences with no chance of parole for 25 years.

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY STACEY WELSH

ANCHOR BRICE SANDER

International Atomic Energy Agency officials arrived in Iran Sunday morning. Their goal: to prove if the country is developing nuclear weapons. But Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says the country’s nuclear program is for research purposes. CNN reports he was set to ...

“... discuss the problem with world powers including Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the U.S. But the U.S. and other officials have accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, and that’s why the I.A.E.A. is there right now.”

But the New York Times cites evidence against the president’s claims, reporting the I.A.E.A. has…

“…amassed ‘over a thousand pages’ of documents, presumably leaked out of Iran, showing ‘research, development and testing activities’ on a range of technologies that would only be useful in designing a nuclear weapon.”

Protesters waited for the inspectors’ arrival to speak out against the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s Iran policy. Iranian officials believe the U.S. and Israel are responsible for the killing of a nuclear scientist. Euronews shows...

“...demonstrators carried pictures of a murdered nuclear scientist who was killed by a car bomb earlier this month.”

A motorcyclist had attached an explosive to the scientist’s car. Deutsche Welle reports the six inspectors kept a low profile at Tehran’s airport.

“[They] avoided contact with reporters and left for the capital through a rear exit.”

There is speculation that officials will be allowed to visit the Fordo uranium enrichment facility, but the Vienna-based I.A.E.A. predicts the visit will not involve inspections. It will focus on resuming discussion. Haaretz.com reports Iran is expected to…

“…cooperate with the I.A.E.A. team during their three-day visit but indicated it would not give up uranium enrichment, which it considers a sovereign right.”

Iran’s foreign minister is optimistic about the visit and maintains Iran has nothing to hide.

(Image source: San Francisco Chronicle)

BY NATHAN BYRNE

This is Newsy Now and here are your latest headlines.

Inspectors from the UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency are in Iran today. CNN reports what they’re tasked with...

“The inspectors will attempt to examine Iran’s controversial nuclear program. The IAEA says it will try to clarify any military dimensions to that program.”

Police arrested more than 300 people at ‘Occupy’ protests in Oakland, California Saturday night. According to Fox and Friends, police officers used tear gas and flash grenades to stop protestors from throwing rocks and tearing down fences...

“So far, three police officers have been hurt. A group also broke into City Hall, reportedly damaging exhibits and burning an American flag.”

The search for missing toddler, Ayla Reynolds shifts to a criminal investigation. Maine State Police confirm they’ve found blood in the basement of the home where she was last seen. Boston’s WCVB reports...

“Whose blood was it? How long had it been there? Authorities say the crime lab is still working to answer those questions.”

GOP presidential hopeful, Rick Santorum has canceled his Sunday-morning campaign events. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer...

Santorum’s youngest daughter -- three-year-old Bella -- has been admitted to Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. The three-year-old suffers from a chromosomal condition and was not initially expected to survive until her first birthday.

Hope you weren’t holding out for a Colbert-Cain GOP ticket. Saturday, the man with the 9-9-9 plan said Newt Gingrich is his number one. Here’s HLN..

CAIN: “Hereby, officially and enthusiastically endorse Newt Gingrich for President of the United States.”

REPORTER: “Now, Cain said that Gingrich isn’t afraid to propose big ideas that benefit the nation, even if he’s ridiculed for it.”

Stay with Newsy for more news analyses throughout the day. For Newsy Now, I’m Nathan Byrne, highlighting the top headlines making you smarter, faster.

(Image source: ABC.net.au)

BY BLAKE HANSON

A spike is violence puts the Arab League’s observer mission in Syria on hold, Arab League leaders announced Saturday. WNBC reports...

“The league is responding to today’s reports of a massacre in the city of Homs. More than 30 people have been killed in a barrage of mortar fire and bullets reportedly fired by troops loyal to President Bashar al-Assad.”

So does the suspension come as a shock? Not according to a BBC Middle East analyst, who says...

“...it is not a big surprise that the mission has been halted, as activists and human rights groups have accused Syrian President Bashar al-Assad of using it to buy time.”

A statement from the Arab League says they won’t be pulling the monitors out of the country, but a writer for the Daily Mail says even if the observer mission continues -- it won’t go forward with much support.

“...the mission has been widely criticised for failing to stop the violence. Gulf states led by Saudi Arabia pulled out of the mission. The UN Security Council has been unable to agree on a resolution since violence began in March because of strong opposition from Russia and China.”

The Christian Science Monitor says the observers face a staunch task, writing for the regime...

“... to abandon the course of violence, at this point, would amount to giving up the hopes of keeping his family in power. That's the motivating impetus behind the regime's actions, and a handful of observers can do little to change that.”

The U.N. says more than 5,400 have been killed since protests began in March.
 

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY LUKE LEONARD
 

ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO

$15,000. That’s about how much Costa Concordia is paying out - with strings attached - to passengers on board its cruise ship the night it sailed dangerously close to shore-- and tipped over. Here’s CNN.

“Uninjured passengers aboard the italian cruiseship "costa concordia", they're being offered $14,500 each if they agree not to sue the cruise line company. It also covers reimbursement of the cost of the cruise and all transportation expenses.”

The company also says it will deal with injured passengers on a case-by-case basis. Costa Cruises agreed to the amount with 15 Italian consumer organizations. But Fox News reports, passengers aren’t required to take the cash, and many may opt for a chance at much larger settlements.

“...there are already class action lawsuits which have been filed by italian advocacy, the consumer advocacy groups, hired a law firm out of miami to sue carnival cruise lines, the parent company. They think they can get roughly million dollars per claim.”

So how much money should the passengers be entitled to? USA Today hosted a poll on its website.

As of 5 pm Friday, 65% of the 1880 poll takers thought the payout should be higher. Only 31% of readers agreed with the amount and a mere 4% thought it should be lowered.

It will probably take weeks before passengers will start to see signs of their compensation packages coming through. As an alternative, Consumer association Codacons, is urging passengers to reject the offer and receive other immediate compensation. The Financial Times writes...

“Marc Bern, senior partner at Napoli Bern Ripka Shkolnik, … one of the law firms organizing the lawsuit, called the offer “insulting”. Codacons said that it was looking for at least $160,000 per passenger. “Nobody thought they’d get on the next Titanic,” Bern said.”

While the world’s media covers the stories of the passengers, the 1,000 crew members who were aboard the ship seem to have been forgotten. The International Business Times acknowledges the crew in its report...

“What is unclear is what, if anything, the crew members of the Concordia will get from their employer. While they may not be entitled to the payments, they are still able to sue Costa for damages and injuries, according to Miami-based maritime lawyer John Hickey.”

The cruise industry will likely take a big hit in the wake of the Costa Concordia incident. However, as a modest gesture from Costa Cruises, passengers have also been offered 30% off their next cruise if they can be talked in to taking one.  
 

(Image Source: Al Jazeera)


BY GILLIAN STEDMAN AND ADNAN KHAN

ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO

Authorities in Kyrgyzstan have begun force-feeding prisoners, to counter an inmate-led hunger strike.

But euronews reports the prisoners took an extreme measure to fight back. A warning -- some might find this video disturbing.

“More than thirteen hundred prisoners are said to have sewn their lips together with nearly seven thousand on hunger strike. The shocking images come from Kyrgyzstan.”


According to the BBC, the protesters are demanding better living conditions and, they say, an end to constant beatings that plague the prison system.


But prison authorities argue the disruption is being led by imprisoned gang members who oppose tighter regulations within the prison. WAGA reports.


“The prison system say staff confiscated several banned items during routine security sweeps, but prisoners claim that special forces barged into their cells and even beat some of them for no reason.”


Those tighter regulations include the elimination of the “common room,” where prisoners could move around freely. Al Jazeera quotes the penitentiary's head, who explains why the common room was removed.


“He dismissed the protest against restrictions on movement, saying the prisoners wanted to move around the jails ‘to continue to be able to make fools of the guards’. ‘That will no longer happen … Let them all sew shut their mouths.’”


But a reporter for Voice of America notes there’s a good reason for the restrictions, quoting the director for Detention Center Number 1.


“This is not a hotel, this is not a holiday resort, they should serve their time … You have taken pictures of everything that was seized. That included plasma screen TVs, refrigerators, handmade beds, mattresses that were smuggled in.”


Voice of America further reports some 200 prisoners have removed the stitches after a visit from family members and human-right activists.



###

(Image Source: PCWorld)

BY ELIZABETH RINEHART

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

It’s a bird... It’s a plane... It’s a Lego?!

“Built a man out of legos, attached him to a helium balloon, threw a camera on there and this is the result. Lego man got 80,000 feet into the air,” (SOURCE: ABC NEWS)

At 17, when most of their peers are more concerned with beating Skyrim, Mathew Ho and Asad Muhammad spent four months’ worth of Saturdays building a contraption that would send the Canadian flag-wielding-Lego-man up into space. How, exactly, did they do it? Global Toronto has it.

Ho: “Yeah, so this is the preliminary box where the camera actually fit it...”

Voiceover: “They built a Styrofoam box to house four cameras and a GPS-enabled phone, bought a 12-foot diameter weather balloon and attached a homemade parachute.”

The pair gave themselves a budget of $500, and kept the project $100 under-budget by buying the cameras via sites like Craigslist. The media attention has been good to them, as the Toronto Star reports...

“Canon, which makes the point-and-shoot cameras Ho and Muhammad used to document the stratospheric trip, is giving the 17-year-old students top-of-the-line cameras. Lego emailed a note of congratulations. An impressed Toronto couple offered to reimburse the pair for their costs, but Ho and Muhammad said there was no need — so they’re going to see the [Toronto Maple] Leafs instead.”

So, what’s next for these two wunderkinds? Here’s CBC.

“The next big project would be... completing grade 12”

image source: BoingBoing

 

BY EVAN THOMAS

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

Twitter’s getting tweaked-- the microblog is implementing a more specific censorship policy that will block illegal content and messages on a country-by-country basis.

Twitter already globally censors certain content in response to copyright claims or obvious illegal activity, like links to pirated software. Twitter explains in a blog post that this new method will comply with national laws, and will allow what might be censored in one country to still be visible in others.

Twitter says it’s committed to disclosing its censorship activity. If content is blocked, Twitter will post a notice and link users to an explanation of what was blocked, and why.

That’s great, GigaOM says. But the fact remains:

“...no matter how Twitter phrases it, this news is going to concentrate attention on one thing: that a corporate entity, however well-meaning, controls which tweets are seen or not seen.”

It’s a double-edged sword, TechCrunch says. Twitter allows for unfiltered global discussion. But if Twitter wants to expand into other countries, it has to be ready to deal with local rules.

“This diplomatic casting of the restriction of speech, from a company that is built around the idea of free communication, is troubling. Unfortunately, it’s a logical step for a platform that wants to be accepted worldwide.”

Mark Gibbs at Forbes points out-- humans won’t be the ones be monitoring the worldwide Twitter feed.

“...given that over the course of 2011 the number of tweets per second (tps) ranged from a high of almost 9,000 tps down to just under 4,000 tps, any filtering has got to be computer-driven.”

Gibbs goes on to wonder how Twitter’s computers will make accurate calls on millions of straightforward and sarcastic tweets. Even with a microscopic failure rate, he says, the software will be incorrectly blocking -- or incorrectly permitting --  thousands of messages every day.

And the system definitely won’t be bulletproof. The Next Web explains-- there’s a workaround built right into Twitter. If content is blocked in your country...

“...all you have to do if you want to see a ‘blocked’ tweet is to change your Country setting after reading the warning.”

In the meantime, Twitter is working with legal watchdog site ChillingEffects.org to closely document its new censorship activity. Updates will appear at chillingeffects.org/twitter.
 

(Image Source: CNN)

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)


BY EMILY SPAIN


A contaminated heart drug has now killed more than 100 people in Lahore, Pakistan and officials worry the number could continue to rise. BBC has the details on the lethal meds.

“Officials have warned that the contaminated drugs made have been given to nearly 40,000 people. They say that samples are now being tested in the UK and France.”
 

“And the authorities are being criticized for having chosen to buy from cheap rather than reputable sources”

This incident isn’t the only problem Pakistan has with bad drugs.  The World Health Organization reports Pakistan as one of the most significant producers and sellers of counterfeit meds.  The blog Dawn links this problem to the nation’s growing poverty.

“… poverty is not having access to real doctors and dying of counterfeit medicines provided by the government itself. Counterfeit medicines... remain a huge problem in poor countries where most citizens do not have access to education and are willing to compromise on the quality of life on the slightest availability of ‘price discounts’.”

So who’s to blame for the bad drugs?  Pakistan Today reports the government, drug companies, doctors and even patients themselves are all being targeted.
The writer goes on to say this incident calls for change.

“Most of the regulations in the health sector are completed for formality's sake. Whether it is simply getting a pharmacist to sign up for a pharmacy or getting a drug inspector to observe a batch of drugs. And this state of affairs... extends to the whole country. Nowhere is the need for a complete overhaul felt more than in the health sector.”

The Express Tribune reports the government was slow to react to the fake and deadly medications.  It quotes a former chief saying:

“My government had made hospitals for heart patients while the current government is killing these patients by giving them fake drugs.”

So far three local drug companies have now been arrested for allegedly providing the deadly heart drugs. A doctor told the Express Tribune he thinks the contaminated meds have either arsenic, lead or mercury in them.

(Image Source: Antenna 3)


BY KEVIN DUBOUIS
ANCHOR LAUREN GORES
 

The late Romanian leader Nicolae Ceausescu would have turned 94 on Thursday. To mark the occasion, items from his private collection and family belongings are auctioned off in Bucharest. The National Web Inquirer reports, items include luxurious gifts to the late leader from other dictators.


“The auction is titled … The Golden Age, referring to how Communist party officials depicted life in Romania, despite the common citizens’ struggle with food and power shortages and the constant prospect of being arrested for unknown reasons by the secret police.”

Auctioneer Mihael Stomff explains the significance of the auction for Romanians. Euronews has his comments.

“It’s an age in Romania’s history that cannot be passed over and go unnoticed. … [W]e all lived and it’s normal to try to remember it as a stage in Romania’s development.”

Mr. Ceausescu was deposed in 1989 and executed on Dec. 25 with his wife after an expedited trial. In the past 20 years, Romania has taken the road of democracy, joining the the European Union and NATO. But the political and economic situation in Romania has become increasingly unstable because of a recent deep recession.

For two weeks, hundreds have gathered in Bucharest to protest against austerity measures. They have called on President Traian Basescu to step down. Video: BBC

The New York Times reports protesters say Basescu’s government has become increasingly authoritarian.

“They cited cuts to government salaries, frozen pensions and an increase in the value-added tax, as well as what they said was deep-seated corruption and a broader sense that the government served only its own interests and those of its richest constituents.”

On Wednesday, President Basescu delivered his first public address since the beginning of the turmoil -- hoping to calm protesters. The Associated Press reports President Basescu “acknowledged ... that some citizens lost faith in his leadership.”

The Romanian magazine Business Review explains.

“The president said he and the government will have to create the path to ‘a new country’ for Romanians, which will necessitate revising the Constitution and adopting a new election law. He also urged politicians to adopt ‘modest and decent conduct,’ and warned the parties that until they reform themselves, their claims of attempting to modernize the country will lack credibility.”

WebProNews reports on Thursday that the group Anonymous leaked Romania’s Nuclear Department database. They also posted a video to support the protests.

“We must stand united against our governments and make our voices heard, for we are the people of the world who want to put an end to the economic and monetary enslavement. Stand up Romania.”

So while Ceausescu’s belongings are up for auction, his memory is being used to attack the current president. But Basescu defends his government. The Associated Press quotes him saying “I am not a dictator.”

(Image source: The Mirror)

BY KERRY LEARY

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

Australia’s Prime Minister and Opposition Leader were in for quite a surprise after deciding to publicly celebrate Australia Day at an awards ceremony Thursday. About 200 aboriginal protesters surrounded the restaurant where the ceremony was being held.

Channel Nine News has more.

“In the middle of that wage, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott in a mad dash for the safety of a get-away car.”

Thursday was not only Australia Day, it was the fortieth anniversary of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy -- a permanent activists camp set up at the capitol to fight for Australian Aboriginal rights.

The Sun reports Opposition Leader Tony Abbott outraged protesters by suggesting the Embassy should be shut down. Here are his comments.

“I think a lot has changed for the better since then. I think the indigenous people of Australia can be very proud of the respect in which they are held by every Australian ... and I think it is probably time to move on from that.”

The protesters, set up next door to the Australia Day celebrations, decided to surround the building. Gillard and Abbott were trapped for half an hour before being escorted from the building by police.

“Racist! Racist! Racist! Shame on you! Shame on you!”

Both Gillard and Abbott were fine after the incident, but Gillard may have pulled some sort of Cinderella stunt- she lost a shoe in all of the chaos. Luckily, the protesters are happy to return it, according to an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald.

“We would like to invite and to extend an invitation to the Prime Minister of Australia to attend the new Aboriginal Parliament to kindly receive her lost shoe.”

Gillard hosted another Australia day function at her residence later in the day. And the National Post reports the Prime Minister was only upset about one thing.

“The only thing that angers me is that it distracted from such a wonderful event.”

The Tent Embassy activists push for Aboriginal control of sacred sites and mineral rights over Aboriginal lands.

(Image Source: Set You Free News) 

BY DAVID EARL

ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO


Titans of industry … captains of capital … and reigning rulers from around the globe descended on Davos, Switzerland to kick off the 2012 World Economic Forum. Fox Business has part of the triple-A list for the billionaire bash...

“Everyone from Coca-Cola’s Muhtar Kent to Bob Diamond, leader of the gigantic UK bank Barclays, Bill Gates of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and of course Microsoft...”
 

But German Chancellor Angela Merkel offered a sobering dose of reality with the backdrop of the Eurozone financial crisis. She says the world needs quote, a big rethink.
 

“What sort of lessons have we learned from the global financial crisis and is it sufficient what we’ve learned. I think the answer to that is even in this year it’s still not quite sufficient.”
 

With austerity on the mind, Bloomberg talks to an NYU economist at Davos who says optimism in Europe won’t come quick … and it’ll take work.
 

“Fiscal centralization, reform in Italy and Spain and a number of other places, fiscal stabilization, I would describe it as patience but persistence.”
 

Amid speculation on all the Eurozone fallout, the Guardian reports attendees at Davos are tackling a host of other serious topics this year.
 

“Wednesday's programme in Davos kicked off with a debate on whether 20th-century capitalism is failing 21st-century society. A report on the risks facing the world in 2012 is titled The Seeds of Dystopia. It notes that many of the indicators of economic and societal health are going in the wrong direction... So, the good news in Davos is that the right questions are starting to be asked.”
 

But it’s still not all work. The one percent take breaks to play snow polo … this year, though, Bloomberg reports a familiar movement showed up too. Yep … you guessed it … the 99 percent.
 

“The Occupy movement that started on Wall Street is setting up camp in Davos. The demonstrators say delegates are detached.”


Policy debates, protests, and play at Davos 2012. The 25th World Economic Forum runs through January 29.

(Image Source: NBC's Today Show)

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY XIAONAN WANG

It’s been a year since a popular uprising toppled the reign of long-time president Hosni Mubarak. But as Egyptians gather to commemorate the anniversary -- there are mixed feelings about what lies ahead.

A CNN reporter says, for some, it’s a day to celebrate, but for others, it’s too early to party.

WEDEMAN:  “They want to end military rule. They want the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, popularly known as SCAF, to step down and hand over the power to a civilian body.”

An angry Egyptian talked to Al Jazeera about her disappointment, saying there’s still a lot of work to do.

SALEM “Why would I celebrate when the goal of the revolution has not been realized. We came here one  year ago asking for bread, freedom and social justice. Corruption is still everywhere.”

The military has said it won’t step down until June. On euronews, political analyst Hasan Nafaa expressed his concern the generals are obstructing reform to protect their interests.

Nafaa “We’ve entered a democratic procedural phase, and it’s not clear whether it will produce people who truly speak for the revolution.”

Despite widespread pessimism, an article posted to AllAfrica.com notes, some protesters’ demands have been fulfilled.

“Like promised, parliamentary elections then did start to take place, and were described as transparent and fair by observers, who indicated that the minor violations that occurred do not shake the legitimacy of the entire process.”

But as the BBC explains, making predictions about the future of Egypt is potentially problematic -- the  situation is a lot more complicated than a year ago.

Leyne: “It’s not just the people versus the government. … Sooner or later, someone is gonna pick up the reigns and take this country forward from the deadlock it’s currently in.”

Mubarak faces charges of corruption and questions about his involvement in protesters’ deaths in the uprisings last year. He is currently on trial, but has pleaded not guilty.

(Image Source: The Washington Post)

BY EMILY ALLEN

ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA

Three months after the fall of its former leader Muammar Gaddafi and the dust still hasn’t settled in Libya.  The town of Bani Walid threw out government leaders after a seven-hour gun fight.  Now the country’s National Transition Council is trying to negotiate with the town’s elders.
 
The Guardian reports the town wants to replace the government-appointed military council with its own appointed representatives.  The town’s elders denied claims of being loyal to Gaddafi.

The head of Bani Walid’s local council told Al-Jazeera hundreds of well-equipped and highly trained remnants of Gaddafi forces raised the flag over the city’s buildings.  

Those raising the flags have a message for the National Transition Council.  

“People demanding that the interim leaders deliver on promises of transparency and compensation for those injured in the fighting.”

RT suggests this isn’t just a rally-cry for loyalists.  It’s a response to Middle East Human Rights Groups and their accusations of war crimes by allied forces.
 
“NATO really pushed the envelope and they broke the resolution.  They were there to defend civilians, that was the mandate, and they essentially became the rebels’ air force.”

The Washington Post says this is the first, major organized revolt by remaining Gaddafi supporters but says the NTC has done little in unifying the armed forces.
 

(Image Source: Evening Standard)

BY ELIZABETH RINEHART

ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA

If all goes as planned, commuters and tourists at the London Olympic Games this summer will have access to the Internet at various tube stops. According to The Telegraph...

“[Transport for London] has confirmed that Wi-Fi access will be provided at 120 stations throughout the Tube network, enabling travellers to go online when waiting at platforms.”

But those wanting to tweet or check Facebook during lengthy Tube trips will be disappointed. The Computer Business Review says that...

“This means users will not be able to stream music or read articles online while in transit, and will only have access near ticket offices, stairwells and on train platforms.”

In 2010, the new system was tested at one station. The Evening Standard reports it was well-received.

“Over half those questioned in the pilot felt that access to Wi Fi would make their experience of using the Tube better.”

And a Stuff.Tv writer raises an important question: Will it cost?

“The only downside to this wonderful tale is we may be charged for the privilege. With no official word on this, all we can do is hope for the best. A free service is the least we deserve having been teased and forced to wait for so long, right?”

According to The Verge-- In a few months, the underground might be one of the more sophisticated transit systems- but for now-- it’s still lacking one important function.

“An actual mobile network on the Tube remains elusive — a similar plan to have mobile access during the Games was discarded last year.”

The provider for the service will be announced later this spring.
 

(Image Source: Fox News)

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY

ANCHOR JIM FLINK

This is Newsy Now and here are your latest headlines.
 

In U.S. news, the Navy SEALs rescued two kidnapped aid workers in Somalia in what the media call a ‘daring raid.’ Somalian pirates took the two aid workers -- an American and a Dane -- as hostages back in October. Fox News noted an interesting interaction between President Barack Obama and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta last night.
 

“If you watched the State of the Union last night, there was a hint of what was going down!”
Obama to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta: “Leon, good job tonight. Good job tonight.”
 

In world news, Cairo’s Tahrir Square was alive with rallies once again. Wednesday marks a year after the start of the uprising that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak. Al Jazeera talks to one Egyptian who says she’s not quite celebrating the anniversary.  
 

“For Shayma, January 25 is an opportunity to demonstrate, not a reason to celebrate.
Shayma: “All my Egyptian brothers who were killed, justice has not been served for them.”
 

In business news, Apple is reporting fourth quarter earnings that blew every Wall Street expectation out of the water — thanks to record iPhone and iPad sales over the holiday season. The company sold 37 million iPhones and doubled their iPad sales. One veteran CNN reporter says...
 

“I’ve never seen a quarter like this. And this is a company that today when it opens for trading, could actually be the largest publicly traded company in the world... it would surpass ExxonMobil.”

And in... somewhat entertainment news, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange is getting his own TV show. It will begin airing in March exclusively on Russia’s RT network. One of the network’s reporter has the details on what the show will be about.
 

“Basically what he’s going to be doing is discussing the issues of the day with people who he says will shape what tomorrow looks like essentially. And he’s going to be challenging them on his ideas on how to secure a brighter future.”
 

Stay with Newsy for more news analyses throughout the day. For Newsy Now, I’m Jim Flink, highlighting the top headlines making you smarter, faster.

(Image source: European Commission)

BY JING LIU

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

You're watching multisource global video news analysis from Newsy.

Have you ever worried your private information could be leaked after shopping online?

The European Union is planning to give people the “right to be forgotten” by the Internet.

According to Bloomberg, the EU will issue tough new data-protection rules this week.

“The legislations will require companies to… delete data unless there is a ‘legitimate and legally justified interest’ to keep them on their servers…. (and) to disclose data breaches within 24 hours of their occurrences.”

According to The Financial Times, the proposed fine would be up to two percent of companies’ global turnover if they violate the new rules.  This means multinationals have to face bills worth hundreds of millions of euros.

A privacy specialist analyzed the function of the strict sanction.

“‘The aim is to elevate data protection to the level where it needs to be taken seriously by chief executives and corporate boards, as opposed to technical compliance staff.’”

A spokesman for the European Commission’s justice commissioner told BBC it has more well-meaning goals than just punishment.

“‘These rules are particularly aimed at young people as they are not always as aware as they could be about the consequence of putting photos and other information on social network websites, or about the various privacy settings available.’”

So, does the “right to be forgotten” mean people have the opportunity to change history?

As the Wall Street Journal reports, an EU commissioner told delegates at the Digital Life Design conference that there were circumstances where the right would not be effective.

“‘The archives of a newspaper are a good example. It is clear that the right to be forgotten cannot amount to a right of the total erasure of history.’”

Although the EU declares good intentions, the new privacy rules worry some businesses.

A lawyer representing technology companies that do business in Europe expressed his concerns to the New York Times.

 “Individuals are getting more rights. The balance is tilting more to the individual versus the companies… There is very little that’s good for the companies other than a reduction of administrative headaches.” 

The European Commission will submit the proposals on Wednesday. If approved, this will be the first overhaul of the 17-year-old data-protection policies.

(Image source: euronews)

BY KEVIN DUBOUIS 

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY 

The French Senate passed on Monday a bill criminalizing the denial of the Armenian genocide of 1915. The approval has sparked protests in Paris and Ankara -- but Armenians are grateful. Euronews has a speech from French Parliamentary relations minister Patrick Ollier.

“Denial is the ultimate insult to the collective memory that we share; those who encourage this oversight only feel the hatred that could and should have decreased over time ...”

France had already recognized the 1915 massacres as a genocide in 2001, but the new law -- approved by 127 senators while 86 voted against it -- penalizes its denial. Punishment can include a year in jail and a fine of 45,000 euros -- or $57,000.

Turkish newspapers’ headlines on Tuesday said the ‘Armenian Genocide’ law is an attack on democracy and restricts freedom of speech.

First, a look at a video posted by the newspaper Hurriyet -- thousands of Turks demonstrate in Paris.

BBC explains the ‘Turkish fury’.

“The Turkish foreign ministry branded the decision ‘irresponsible’ and threatened swift retaliatory measures. Armenia says that up to 1.5 million people died in 1915-16 as the Ottoman empire split. Turkey rejects the term genocide and says the number was much smaller.”

Ankara, one of France’s NATO allies, has cut ties with Paris, says the New York Times.

“Turkey has already suspended military cooperation, bilateral political agreement and economic contracts with France over the bill, and on Monday raised the possibility of withdrawing support for Euronews, an international news network based in France, in which Turkey’s national radio and television network holds a 15.5 percent stake.”

As ArmeniaNow reports, the relationship between France and Turkey might worsen even more.

“In Ankara ... the head of Turkey’s parliamentary foreign affairs committee [Volkan Bozkir]  broadcast via Twitter that ‘France opened a black page in its history’.”

But Armenians are celebrating France as a defender of universal human values. France24 has words from Armenia’s Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian.

“This day will be written in gold, not only in the history of friendship between the Armenian and French people but also in the aim of the history of the protection of human rights worldwide.”

On Tuesday morning, Armenians gathered near the French Embassy in Yerevan to acclaim the bill.

“The bill will now go to President Nicolas Sarkozy for final approval. Critics say it is an effort to win Armenian voters--this year, presidential election.” (Al Jazeera)

President Sarkozy has said he would sign the bill, but Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan calls it ‘discriminatory and racist’. Sarkozy has reached out to Erdogan to ease tensions.

(Image Source: Senior Living)

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY

ANCHOR LAUREN GORES

This is Newsy Now and here are your latest headlines.
 

In U.S. news, GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney released his tax records late Monday. The Wall Street Journal says he paid a 14 percent effective tax rate in 2010, on an income of about 21 million dollars. The average effective rate for an American taxpayer is 11 percent. CNN says the revelation won’t stop all the tax talk.
 

CNN: “I feel like in a way, this just brings another round of conversation... we haven’t even gotten the full release yet.”
David Frum, contributor: “It opens two conversations: the first conversation is one about Mitt Romney, the second is about the way the tax system works.”
 

Still in the U.S., President Barack Obama is set to deliver the annual State of the Union address at 9 p.m. Eastern Time tonight. CBS explains what’s at stake for the man developing a re-election strategy.
 

“There will probably be no other speech this year, where the president has the attention of tens of millions of Americans, where he can make his case for his vision in this election year.”
 

In world news, a group of armed pro-Muammar Gaddafi residents have captured a city near the Libyan capital of Tripoli. Reuters calls it the gravest challenge yet to the country’s new government. Fox News has more.
 

“Pro-Gaddafi forces recapturing now. The city of Bani Walid near Tripoli. Libya’s new leaders have struggled to unify the country, three months after Gaddafi was captured and killed.”
 

In entertainment news, nominations for the 84th Oscars have been announced. The ceremony will be held February 26. Nine films have been nominated for Best Picture -- NBC’s Today Show has some of the surprises.
 

“Pleasant surprise for Steven Spielberg, whose War Horse hasn’t had as much awards action as you would think it would have had. Tree of Life, which, you know, a small independent movie that did very well, but a lot of people thought it was incredibly confusing, a little bizarre, Academy loved it.”
 

List of nominations, courtesy of the AP. 

Stay with Newsy for more news analysis throughout the day. 

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

BY SAMANTHA KUBOTA

ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA

Celebrations for the Chinese New Year Monday welcomed the Year of the Dragon, the luckiest of all the zodiac signs.

So, many Asian countries are expecting a huge baby boom -- because parents want their kids born in the prosperous year. The BBC reports that in China and Hong Kong, some doctors are expecting a 10 percent jump in births.

The dragon babies have put such a strain on Hong Kong’s health care providers, this doctor says she doesn’t have appointments until after August.

“Even if I’m willing do to one more delivery, I can’t, because there are no beds.”

And some educators fear the so-called dragon babies won’t have good opportunities in school, saying more kids in the classroom means more competition. TIME magazine reports

“ … the potential increase might put pressure on parents who must adhere to the country’s one-child policy and pressure on their dragon babies to compete for spots in the most elite schools.”

Time also notes “ ... in places like Taiwan, which carries one of the world’s lowest birth rates, parents and government officials are embracing the baby craze.”

The Daily Telegraph did the math, and estimates couples have until about May 2nd to conceive if they want their babies to be dragons.

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY STEVEN SPARKMAN

ANCHOR MEGAN MURPHY

The European Union agreed Monday to impose tough new sanctions on Iran. The measures are meant to push Iran to halt its controversial nuclear program. Euronews reports.

“The measures, including an oil embargo, follow similar moves by the U.S. as the West takes a tougher line over what it believes is Tehran’s push to develop atomic weapons.”

The latest sanctions ban new oil contracts with Iran, and existing contracts will run out at the end of June. The measures also ban the trade of diamonds, gold and other precious metals with Iran to further put a squeeze on the country’s economy. The Guardian explains how these drastic measures will raise the stakes.

“Unlike previous sanctions on Iran, the oil embargo would hit almost all citizens and represent a threat to the regime. Tehran has long said such actions would represent a declaration of war ... tensions are almost certain to build again as the effective date of the oil sanctions approaches.”

The embargo is expected to hurt some EU member countries, including Greece, which gets about a third of its oil from Iran. But the effects in Iran are expected to be much more severe. An analyst tells the BBC what the current sanctions have already done.

“Unemployment is rising. Inflation, we know, has shot up over the last few months. … Factories are closing. It’s a very serious issue. It’s putting enormous pressure.”

But so far, that pressure has not been enough. Iranian news agencies today ran defiant headlines following the EU decision, like:

“Demand growing for Iranian crude,” “Oil sanctions against Iran to harm West,” and “Iran to make whole world insecure for US if attacked” from the country’s semi-official Fars News Agency, or “Iran’s economy to grow in 2012” and “Iran can shut Hormuz if threatened” from state-run PressTV.

That last threat, that Iran could close the Strait of Hormuz, has become familiar in the last few weeks. It was first issued in response to financial sanctions. An analyst on Sky News says the rhetoric has gotten even tougher after the EU’s decision.

“Iran has come out and said that it will definitely close the Strait of Hormuz if crude exports are disrupted. Well, there is no doubt that crude exports will be disrupted by this oil embargo.”

Iran has also warned the U.S. not to send any more ships into the region. But for now that warning went unheeded as a flotilla of warships from the U.S., Britain and France cruised through the Strait. CNN reports.

“It’s been smooth sailing so far for the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Persian Gulf. … The U.S. Navy says the aircraft carrier completed a regular and routine passage through the Strait of Hormuz.”

The Telegraph reports the aircraft aboard the Lincoln have more striking power than the entire Iranian air force.

(Image Source: Flickr/Motiqua)

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY

ANCHOR NATHAN BYRNE

This is Newsy Now and here are your latest headlines.
 

In world news, the European Union has officially banned all imports on Iranian oil. The move increases international pressure against the regime over its disputed nuclear program. Euronews has the details.
 

“Iran exports around 20 percent of its oil to the EU and the new embargo places an immediate ban on new contracts. Reflecting concerns, notably from Greece, all existing deals will be phased out by July 1.”
 

Still in world news, updates on the cruise liner disaster off the coast of Italy. The thirteenth body has now been found. Now, the UK’s Daily Telegraph says the ship’s owner is reportedly offering survivors - get this - a 30 percent discount on future cruises. CNN has more.
 

“One survivor tells the paper it is ridiculous, it’s insulting. So far CNN’s not been able to independently confirm that 30 percent number, but as you can expect, passengers want more than 30 percent...”
 

In U.S. news, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney is now on the offensive after losing to Newt Gingrich in the South Carolina primary. Fox News explains Romney’s line of attack as the race gets closer to its next stop - the Florida primary.
 

“It’s gonna be against Newt Gingrich as a failed leader. He’s going to talk about how he had to resign in disgrace as Speaker of the House. And he’s also going to call on him now to release his records on his time at Freddie Mac.”
 

In tech news, the co-CEOs of Research in Motion have resigned, thanks to investor pressures. They will be replaced by the company’s Chief Operating Officer, Thorsten Heins. The BlackBerry-makers’ shares recently hit an 8-year low. CNBC says the company is depicting the move as an orderly transition.

“In fact, both those co-CEOs will stay on as members of the Board of Directors. Analysts though say that they are concerned that it may be only a figurehead change.”

 

(Image source: Rue89.com)

BY BRICE SANDER

The MegaUpload melodrama continues. As more information about the business-- and the man behind it-- comes to light, the media lets the story play out like a blockbuster movie.

PC World calls it an unbelievable story filled with drama…

FastCompany dubs it a modern-day take on the wild, wild west…

And The Toronto Sun says it's a “high octane” thrill ride.

Here’s CNN.

“At a swank mansion in Auckland, New Zealand, a vintage Cadillac, other high end vehicles worth millions are hauled away. The man living there arrested, police say, after barricading himself in a safe room and being found next to a shotgun.”

The man, Kim Dotcom-- formerly Kim Schmitz-- is under arrest for alleged money laundering, racketeering and breach of copyright on the popular file-sharing site, which he founded in 2005.

The arrest came straight out of a movie. Helicopters and 76 officers swooped in on Dotcom’s $24 million mansion in the middle of his 38th birthday party. ‘The Daily Mail nicknames him ‘Dr. Evil.’ (YouTube/TCG)

“[He] made £27million from MegaUpload in 2010 … Dotcom was granted New Zealand residency despite his criminal background after investing £5million in government bonds and making a generous donation to the Christchurch earthquake fund.”

Police seized more than $9 million in cash along with Dotcom’s collection of luxury cars in the raid. As The Wall Street Journal suggests, he wasn’t a shy guy.  

“He actually wrote a blog post for a popular file-sharing blog in December where he sent along a photo of himself carrying a shotgun, or rifle I think, in front of one of his luxury cars that had the license plate on the front, ‘GUILTY.’”

A big twist here is MegaUpload’s music industry connection. Reports surfaced saying the MegaUpload named music producer Swizz Beatz- Alicia Keys’ husband- its CEO right before the government take down. As the New York Post reports- Beatz finds himself in a sticky situation.

“…Beatz believes he may be questioned by the FBI and is considering hiring a criminal defense lawyer. If convicted, the arrested executives could face up to 50 years in prison for the largest copyright case in history.”

Beatz’s team is now investigating whether the file-sharing site ever legally employed him. All this comes in the middle of the biggest battle against online piracy ever -- the SOPA act controversy and protests -- but Bloomberg says it’s just a confusing coincidence.  

“You can’t coordinate a massive raid in Auckland because, oh wait, Wikipedia’s going to do it this day, let’s do it two days later. Also, it’s not clear what it really tells us about SOPA. On the one had, wait- they happened to arrest these guys, so what do we need this new legislation for?”

Dotcom and three other executives now await trial and possible extradition to the United States. Their defense attorney? The same guy who represented Bill Clinton during the Lewinsky years.
 

(Image: Wikimedia Commons)

BY ADNAN KHAN

ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA

The head defense lawyer of former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak is claiming in court that  Mubarak is still Egypt’s president. He says Mubarak never signed a letter of resignation; instead, it was signed by the vice president. According to Bikya Masr the lawyer claims…

“… the criminal court trying Mubarak does not have the authority to do so, and that his case must be heard within a special tribunal court.”

Mubarak is on trial for allegedly ordering protesters be killed. His lawyer, Farid el-Deeb’s argument had the courtroom in an uproar. The Huffington Post reports…

“El-Deeb received a round of applause from other defense lawyers when he finished his statements. Lawyers for the victims responded with chants of, ‘Execution, execution,’ and, ‘Down, down with Mubarak.’”

Regardless of the resignation technicality, a former head of Egyptian lawyers’ organization told CNN that it didn’t matter whether or not Mubarak did sign the letter.

“The revolution revokes the constitution ... The Egyptian people said their word ... this is a nation that had a vice president at the time and this is an ousted president.”

And Al Jazeera reports the people simply want to see Mubarak punished as soon as possible.

“The people behind me here say they want Habib al-Adly, the interior minister and the former president, Hosni Mubarak, and the aides all to receive the death penalty.”

 

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY STEVEN SPARKMAN

ANCHOR ANTHONY MARTINEZ

A Dutch teenager completed a round-the-world sailing trip Saturday on the island of St. Maarten. She claims to be the youngest person to ever finish the journey. HLN has her story.

“Laura Dekker spent more than 500 days at sea and she travelled 27,000 miles. She says she had to dodge storms and dangerous reefs along the way. She even had to change her route to avoid pirates.”

The Fox and Friends crew say the feat is even more incredible because she kept hitting the books while she was at sea.

“All this while trying to keep up with school work that she brought along for the ride. Now, I’d give her a pass on the schoolwork for that year if you’re fending off pirates.”

But schoolwork actually plays a big part in the teen’s story -- authorities say she didn’t do enough of it. It’s all part of a three-year legal saga that almost prevented her from taking the trip altogether. Al Jazeera reports.

“Laura’s feat ought to be a matter of national pride for her homeland the Netherlands, but she and her family have been battling with authorities there ever since she made her plans known at the age of 13.”

Dutch child care workers said she was too young and inexperienced for the trip. They tried to stop her plans, even taking her into protective custody for two months, before they finally agreed to let her go. Keeping up with a distance learning program was part of the deal.

On her blog, Dekker recently lashed out at authorities.

“Over a period of 11 months, I was constantly afraid that Youth Care would lock me up. Also during this period, there were intimidating interviews with Youth Care workers. It was all a frightening and traumatic experience.”

Dekker has made it clear she doesn’t plan to go home to the Netherlands out of fear of legal troubles. She spent the last leg of her journey flying the flag of New Zealand, where she also has citizenship. But the BBC spoke to a youth care worker who defended the government’s actions.

“If Laura had drowned we'd be accused of not doing enough to protect her … Thank God she's OK and I think that's partly due to the safety measures we enforced … I'm sorry Laura is traumatised but I have no regrets about fulfilling our responsibility to this child.”

While she’s being celebrated as the youngest solo round-the-world sailor, her name won’t appear in any official records. Guinness World Records and the World Speed Sailing Council no longer track youngest sailors, for fear of encouraging risky journeys by minors.

Image source: Foreign Policy

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Giving in to public pressure, Beijing began posting publicly-accessible data on the city’s air pollution Saturday. But, as MSNBC reports, the numbers are already drawing skepticism.

“Steven Andrews, an environmental consultant who has studied Beijing's pollution data since 2006, said he was ‘already a bit suspicious’ of Beijing's PM2.5 data. Within the 24-hour period to noon Saturday, Beijing reported seven hourly figures ‘at the very low level’ of 0.003 milligrams per cubic meter.”

Those postings conflict with data taken by the U.S. Embassy, which says the air quality was at “moderate” levels during the same time span. The embassy has taken its own hourly readings since 2009 and posted them on Twitter as @BeijingAir.

According to the embassy, over the past week, one day has averaged in the “very unhealthy” range, while two have registered as “hazardous” -- a level at which doctors recommend staying indoors.

Beijing has been measuring some types of air pollution for years. But they weren’t measuring pollutants less than 2.5 micrometers in size -- the type that can actually penetrate deep into the lungs. Foreign Policy notes Beijing is also more lenient in its measurements, writing:

“Pollution is a sensitive subject in China, with state-run media often explaining away the smell of glue and haze so thick it obscures even nearby buildings with the term ‘fog,’ and claiming, unbelievably, that Beijing enjoyed 274 ‘blue sky days’ in 2011.”

So, numbers aside, what’s it like on the ground? The BBC shows it doesn’t seem to be blue skies.

“Well, this is what everybody in Beijing is talking about today. This gray pool of smoggy stuff that’s just hanging over the city.”

“Up high around here, you can see these skyscrapers being built, and they’re sort of vanishing up into the gray smog up there.”

Still, a columnist for Canada’s The Globe and Mail writes Beijing’s publicly-posted data marks a significant shift for the city’s often secretive government.

“This is a huge victory not just for the U.S. embassy but for the Chinese people – a victory for openness, for transparency, for access to information and, most important, for public accountability over bureaucracy, for putting the health of the people over the face of government officials.”

(IMAGES: Wikipedia)

BY BLAKE HANSON

Some say it might be calmer waters ahead for the Gaza Strip. On Saturday the leader of Islamic fundamentalist group Hamas announced he’ll step down for personal reasons. Albawaba News writes...

“The exiled leader of the Palestinian movement Hamas, Khaled Meshaal, will not stand for another term … setting the stage for a struggle for his succession. ‘Khaled Meshaal, head of political bureau, told the Advisory Board Hamas' about his desire not to run for leadership of the movement in the future,’ said Hamas, in a statement.”

Meshaal has been the head honcho since Israel killed the group’s founder in 2004. The LA Times notes the change in leadership could mean trouble for Hamas, and help chill out the heated Gaza Strip.

“The possible departure of Meshal … is the latest sign of strife inside the Islamist group, which Israel and the U.S. accuse of supporting terrorism. A shakeup might also deal a blow to Palestinian reconciliation efforts since Meshal … was seen as a chief supporter of efforts to form a unity government with rival Palestinian movement Fatah …”

The EU and US have branded Hamas as a terrorist organization -- though a correspondent for the BBC...

“ … says that in recent months tensions over future strategy have emerged between the leadership in Gaza and those in exile. As the movement's allies in the Muslim Brotherhood have gained ground … after the Arab Spring, some within Hamas say it too should renounce violence and adopt a more moderate approach.”

It appears Hamas may not be ready to let Meshaal go, CNN writes...

“According to the statement, the Hamas leadership asked Meshaal to reconsider his decision.”
 

Image source: Nigerian Television Authority (via Voice of America)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

The death toll is at 150 and climbing after a series of bombings hit Nigeria’s second largest city Saturday. As Al Jazeera reports, the attacks were carried out by Islamist militant group Boko Haram.

“It’s the first major attack by Boko Haram on the city of Kano in Nigeria’s mainly Muslim north. The authorities say at least 20 government buildings and police stations were hit.”

Among the bombings’ targets were a hospital, an immigration office and an assistant inspector general’s office. Voice of America reports on the cause behind the attacks, writing:

“A spokesman for Boko Haram told reporters the bombings were in retaliation for the arrest of several sect members in Kano, the second largest city in Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous nation.”

Saturday marks the second coordinated, large-scale attack from Boko Haram, a militant group that has targeted Nigeria’s Christians in the past -- more recently an attack on churches on Christmas Day. BBC has more on the continued violence.

“The group -- its name means ‘Western education is forbidden’ -- recently warned all Christians to leave the north. Nigeria’s president has called the escalating crisis ‘worse than a civil war.’”

The growing conflict between Nigeria’s government and Boko Haram has drawn international interest and much foreign aid for Nigeria’s defenses. Foreign Policy writes:

“The United States has reportedly begun training Nigerian troops in counterterrorism techniques and providing Nigerian defense forces with weapons and other equipment... Western governments’ interest has been piqued by links between Boko Haram and larger, international terrorist networks.”

CNN reports Nigeria moved quickly in the aftermath of Saturday’s bombings -- both to assign blame and to activate its military forces.

“The sense really in Nigeria this morning is that the government has already closed the borders with Cameroon and Niger, whom they have accused of allowing militants to move freely into Nigeria. They’ve put in place a state of emergency, and they’ve also initiated the largest peace-time deployment of troops up into the north.”

Varying accounts placed the death toll in Nigeria at anywhere from 120 to 160.

Image source: Wikimedia Commons

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Amid continued violence in Syria, President Obama’s administration is preparing to close the U.S. embassy in the embattled nation’s capitol. CNN has the report.

“The United States, we are told, is asking Syria to provide more security around the embassy. BUT the big issue now is they’re not sure the Syrians are going to follow through...”

The Washington Post broke the story Friday afternoon, citing State Department officials who say unless it sees increased security for the embassy, the Obama administration has no choice but to pull staff out of the country.

“The move follows a recent spate of car bombings. Although the administration has not ruled out Syrian government responsibility for the attacks, officials said signs point to Syrian and Iraqi militants that have been affiliated with al-Qaeda.”

And Foreign Policy magazine writes:

“Unlike newer embassy designs, the U.S. facility in Damascus sits right on the street, dangerously exposed... The embassy staff remains the administration's best eyes and ears on what's going on inside Syria, U.S. officials argue, as they maintain links with both the government and the opposition.”

As ABC News reports, the embassy closure would have an especially large impact in diplomatic ties with Syria because the U.S. ambassador there has played a very public role.

“(Ambassador Robert) Ford has been targeted by pro-government groups that have thrown rocks at his convoy and once trapped him inside the office of an opposition leader... Ambassador Ford has been one of (President Bashar al-Assad’s) most vocal critics inside Syria. He has defied government bans on travel by diplomats and has visited several restive cities.”

The situation in Syria has rapidly deteriorated over the past few months, as nationwide protests triggered a violent government crackdown from Syria’s military. Arab League monitors were supposed to have brought a watchful eye to the country where an estimated 5,000 citizens have been killed. But, as Al Jazeera reports, those monitors have had a minimal effect.

“Syrian opposition groups say the killings in the country have been on the rise, despite the presence of Arab League monitors.”

“They also say thousands of prisoners remain behind bars, despite the authorities agreeing to an Arab League peace plan that calls for their release.”
 

(Image Source: ISAF Media)

BY SAMANTHA KUBOTA

ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO

You're watching multisource global video news analysis from Newsy.

France suspends its training operations in Afghanistan and threatens to withdraw its entire force from the country. This comes after an Afghan soldier shot and killed four French troops Friday and wounded seventeen others.

Euronews reports that President Nicolas Sarkozy is sending the defense minister and the head of the armed forces to Afghanistan and until they arrive, French armies in Afghanistan will not be helping Afghan forces.

“We are friends with the Afghan people, we are the allies of the Afghan people, but I cannot accept that Afghan soldiers shoot French soldiers,” said Sarkozy.

The French foreign minister is quoted in the Telegraph as saying it a question of "responsibility to adapt our timetable for withdrawal by taking into account these new circumstances."

France has 3,600 troops in Afghanistan, and the withdrawl could hurt the NATO plan to build and train Afghan forces.  CNN reports the US Department of Defense is worried about the possible pull-out.

Congressional blog The Hill is reporting the White House is reacting “cautiously.”

“The White House press secretary said Friday he didn't want to ‘get ahead’ of a possible decision made by France.”

The Daily Telegraph and USA TODAY reports this is the second attack of its kind in two months.

The killings Friday during a training exercise followed a similar attack last month when an Afghan soldier shot and killed two members of the French Foreign Legion.

                 
France is worried these aren’t isolated incidents.  It is raising questions of infiltration into the new Afghan army.  And this could make Sarkozy even more likely to bump up the date to  pull out of Afghanistan.

(Image Source: CTV)

BY JJ BAILEY

ANCHOR CHRISTIAN BRYANT

Tragedy struck the winter sports world Thursday as famed Canadian freestyle skier Sarah Burke passed away. She was 29 and reportedly died due to injuries she sustained while training in Utah 10 days ago. ABC has more.

“Burke reportedly landed a stunt, then fell over and hit her head. Doctors performed surgery to repair a ruptured cranial artery, but imaging results showed Burke would never recover.”

Burke was put on life support after the accident but her brain damage was too extensive. A four-time gold medalist at the Winter X Games, she waged and won a campaign to get half pipe skiing included in the 2014 Winter Olympics. Fox News says her death may jeopardize that chance.

“Today already talk about Burke's death and other recent injuries in the sport will ignite debate over safety of half pipe competition. But again it was set to debut in the winter Olympics in Russia in 2014.”

Following her death, Burke’s family is left with a staggering medical bill. The family has set up a donation page with the goal of raising $550,000 to cover the cost. USA Today reports the family is asking Sarah’s legions of fans to lend a hand.

“The website notes that Burke's organs and tissues were donated in accordance with her wishes, and adds: ‘Sarah did so much for females and winter sports during her time with us; now we are asking for your help.’”

The site has reportedly raised over $125,000 as of Friday. Burke and her husband, another freestyle skiier, appeared in a Ski Channel documentary about the sport. CNN has the footage of Sarah’s passionate words about her sport, and the joy of being on the mountain.

BURKE: “That’s where we’re the happiest, that’s where we met is on the mountain ... It’s where we play, where we live...”
HUSBAND: “And hopefully where we die”
BURKE: “Where we’ll die...”

(Image source: Flickr)

BY HARUMENDAH HELMY

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

This is Newsy Now and here are your latest headlines.

In U.S. politics, after a strong debate performance, GOP presidential hopeful Newt Gingrich now has the lead in the latest poll of likely South Carolinian primary voters. CNN says the race to the nomination is closer than ever.

“A poll from American Research Group -- it shows a dead heat. Thirty three percent of likely Republican voters are backing Newt Gingrich, we’ve got 32 percent who are backing Mitt Romney.”

In world news, Thursday was the last official day of the Arab League monitor mission in Syria. The mission’s leader is set to present its observations on Sunday. Euronews reports the league is expected to extend the mission for another four weeks -- saying... 

“Some successes were reported on Thursday, with a local truce getting a tank pullout from the town of Zabadani near the Lebanese border. But overall there are no signs of a halt to the violence.”

In tech news, the U.S. Department of Justice has taken down the online file-sharing site Megaupload for hosting infringed content. Seven of the company’s employees were indicted - including enigmatic leader Kim Dotcom. The news comes a day after an Internet-wide protest of the two anti-piracy acts under consideration in the U.S. Congress. Here’s HLN. 

“There’s pictures of the FBI raiding a Washington, D.C. data center for Megaupload. Four people were arrested in New Zealand. The FBI says Megaupload helped people rip off companies by half a billion dollars.” 

And finally, in business news, Google reported a fourth quarter earnings and revenue that are significantly lower than street expectations. Its stocks immediately took a hit. CNBC says analysts had been looking for Google to report its most prosperous quarter in its history. 

“...but the big surprise the search giant collected less money per click on its online ads. You can see what that did to the earnings last night that stock down by over 8 percent.”

Stay with Newsy for your news analyses throughout the day. For Newsy Now, I’m Christina Hartman, highlighting the top headlines making you smarter, faster. 

(Image source: Wikimedia Commons/Rvongher)

BY EMILY ALLEN

ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN-ROMERO

Crews continue to search for missing passengers on Costa Concordia – and answers.  But a mysterious blonde woman might have answers.

The Huffington Post says the woman is 25-year-old Moldovian Domnica Cemortan.

“She is reported to have been on the bridge with the captain at the time of the tragedy because he was trying to impress her.”

And a passenger told Sky News that Captain Schettino and Cemortan weren’t just standing around, they were wining and dining in one of the ship’s restaurants just before the crash.

“He says he saw Captain Schettino, and a I quote, ‘Enjoying the last drops of a decanter of red wine.’”

But then the story seems to change again. Here’s Fox News.

“She says she ate dinner with the Captain of the ship, after the crash.”

Cemortan told Romanian newspaper Adevarul that the drinking accusations were nonsense.

She seems to be the only one defending her man – she still thinks he’s one of the company’s best captains and he saved thousands of lives.

But euronews and Fox News wonder how she got on the boat in the first place.

“It appears she was working  on board, although her name was absent from the official list of passengers and crew.”

“Here he is showing off, showboating with a woman half his age with a woman who is not a registered member of the crew.”

ABC News reports Italian Prosecutors want to question Cemortan.

Transcript by Newsy.

(Image Source: Times of Ummah)


BY XIAONAN WANG
ANCHOR ANA COMPAIN ROMERO

The government of Bangladesh announced that it has stopped another coup de’tat plot. That brings the total number for aborted plots to around 20 since the country’s independence in 1971. So what happened? Let’s take a closer look.  

IBN reports, the army claimed on Thursday it had foiled an attempt to topple Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government.

NewsX from India has details.

Royden: “It was a group of at least 16 hardline Islamic military officers within the Bangladesh rivals who were directly engaged in this coup plan, and there were a couple of retired officers.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has enacted a series of reforms to crack down on Islamic extremists, and some speculate that led to some friction within the military.

An IBN reporter analyzes the cause of the coup.

Chakrabarty: “Remember, Bangladesh is going through a time when for the 1st time ever, the war crimes of 1971 when Bangladesh began independence from the India, those war crimes of criminals have been tried for the first time.”

In a coup in 1975, most of Hasina’s family members were killed -- including her father Sheik Mujibur  Rahman.

He was Bangladesh’s founding leader. Since then there have been nearly 20 abortive plots, two during Hasina’s government.

But there are also doubts about whether it even happened the way the government is describing it. The LA Times quotes Golam Hossain, a professor of government in Bangladesh.

“Critics of the government say this is an attempt by the government to make a plan against its critics in the military, that it’s a government-made plot... It’s difficult to know the exact situation now.”

But the Times also spoke to a political science professor who warns...

“This may be the beginning of something. If the military can’t handle it properly, it may turn more difficult in coming days.”

Bangladesh restored its democracy in 1991, after eight years under military dictatorship. According to Reuters -- Sheikh Hasina said those behind the rebellion were trying to “disrupt democracy.”

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY BRIAN LEWIS

ANCHOR JIM FLINK

Conservative author Mark Helprin argues in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed while the U.S. may be taking a rational approach to the developing diplomatic crisis with Iran, Iran can’t be expected to reciprocate.

“To assume that Iran will not close the Strait of Hormuz is to assume that primitive religious fanatics will perform cost-benefit analyses the way they are done at Wharton. They won't, especially if the oil that is their life's blood is threatened.”

But not everyone in the media is as certain as Helprin that Iran wants war with the U.S.  Foreign Policy editor Blake Hounshell responded with a rhetorical tweet.

Blake Hounshell: “Is this the most ridiculous fear-mongering Iran op-ed yet?”

The threat to oil revenue that Helprin mentions stems from a strict U.S. embargo on Iran’s Central Bank that Congress added to this year’s controversial Defense Authorization Bill.

Under that law, the U.S. would impose tariffs on imports from countries that continue to do business with the Iranian Central Bank, including countries like China and Japan, both heavy U.S. trading partners who according to this chart from U.S. Global Investors, also buy a lot of Iranian crude. Those countries rely on the Central Bank to make their oil purchases. 

Then again, both China and Japan are under increasing pressure to reduce Iran oil imports. The Washington Post reports, China has cut its imports in half, while Reuters says Japan is considering similar moves.

Iran has thus far responded to the bank embargo by stepping up surveillance of a U.S. aircraft carrier group operating near the narrow Strait of Hormuz as well as threats to close the strait, vital to one fifth of the world’s oil transport, should the embargo continue.

Despite all of these moves that would seem to threaten the flow of oil, The Washington Post’s David Ignatius was on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. He had this to say about how the oil market could absorb the loss of Iranian crude from circulation.

“The best oil experts I've been able to talk to, I quote this morning, say there appears to be a buffer of about 3 million barrels a day, extra 2 million barrels from Saudi Arabia, extra 500,000 from more Libyan Iraqi production plus another 500,000. You have a cushion over and above, if you took out all Iranian oil, you'd still have a margin to satisfy customers.”

Reuters reports, Iran’s foreign minister on Thursday warned its neighbors that siding with the U.S. would be a “dangerous position.” Stay with Newsy for more on this developing story.

(Image Source: Telegraph)

BY EMOKE BEBIAK

ANCHOR JIM FLINK

Former president Pervez Musharraf is considering delaying his return to Pakistan to avoid jail. The former leader was planning to return to his country at the end of January, but now he fears he might be arrested once he arrives.

According to Indian Express, Musharraf made a definitive decision to change his plans.

“Sources said that the decision came apparently after the former dictator was again warned by the Pakistani government that he would be arrested from airport [sic] upon his arrival.”

But the Telegraph reports the decision is not final yet. Musharraf, who came to power as a military leader in 1999, has lived in exile since 2008 to avoid prosecution. According to the Pakistani Express Tribune, the country’s interior minister told the Senate on Wednesday...

“I assure this house that if he lands in Pakistan, he will be arrested because he is a proclaimed offender in the Benazir Bhutto murder case.”

Benazir Bhutto was Pakistan’s former prime minister, who was assassinated in 2007. While Mussaraf blamed the attack on the Taliban, prosecutors found he played a role in it. (Video: Al Jazeera)

An analyst explains to CNN why Musharraf wants to return to Pakistan in the first place.

“Musharraf, like many politicians in Pakistan, is very proud, very confident, very stubborn, and he believes in this narrative very common there that he can essentially be this man that just swoops in and rescues the country.”

But Rupee News writes Musharraf’s return would put the army in a tough spot, which might have something to do with his decision to delay his trip...

“Analysts believe that the army had said that it could not assure the security of Mr. Musharraf, and did not want to be in the uncomfortable position of having a Chief of Army Staff in jail. With Musharraf in jail, the army would be constrained to defend him–something that it did want to do.”

Musharraf was originally planning to return for Pakistan’s general elections coming up next month to help his party--the All Pakistan Muslim League.
 

(Image Source:  Wikimedia Commons)
 

BY ALYSSA CARTEE
ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

NewsCorp fesses up -- and now --- it’s paying up. Rupert Murdoch's News International is settling several lawsuits brought against the company by high-profile actors and crime victims. Plaintiffs sued the company for allegedly hacking into private voice mails for details to publish in the company’s tabloids. Sky News reports on the accusers’ reactions.

“They are now saying they are satisfied with the settlement. It isn’t just about the money. It’s also about an acknowledgement of wrongdoing. They wanted the apology. They wanted the facts to come out into the open.”

One of the most high profile accusers, actor Jude Law received over 200,000 dollars. The actor released a statement explaining why he pressed charges.

“I owed it to my friends and family as well as myself to do this. I believe in a free press but what News Group did was an abuse of its freedoms. … They were prepared to do anything to sell their newspapers and to make money, irrespective of the impact it had on people's lives.”

The editor of Newsweek tells CBS’s Early Show the News Corp case reaches much farther than the company’s reputation. It reflects on British media as a whole.

“It goes beyond News Corp. This morning, David Cameron’s in South Africa on a State visit and he’s answering questions at press conferences about this and it’s hurting his political standing. So he might be vulnerable as well.”

For the majority of civil lawsuits filed, this is the end of the road. Now, the attention turns to the criminal phase of the investigation. British Labour MP Chris Bryant, who received a settlement of over 46,000 dollars, says a trial was not his goal.

“The whole aim of bringing these cases in the first place was to try and get to the truth. The truth will now come out either in court when the criminal investigations are completed or in the Leveson inquiry.”

Several lawsuits remain unsettled and are currently scheduled for trial on February 13.  

(Image source: HrantDink.biz)

BY KEVIN DUBOUIS

ANCHOR LAUREN GORES

Thousands marched Thursday downtown Istanbul to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the assassination of a well-known Turkish-Armenian journalist. That -- Al Jazeera reports -- under the backdrop of recent court verdicts.

“Hrant Dink’s family and supporters finally have a verdict but they’ve waited five years for it and they’ve hoped for more.”

In 2007, Agos editor-in-chief Hrant Dink was gunned down outside the offices of the bilingual Turkish-Armenian newspaper by a young Turkish ultra nationalist. Last summer a juvenile court handed, Ogün Samast, who was 17 years old at the time of the assassination, a 23-year prison sentence. As TIME reports, Dink’s supporters have pushed the investigation.

“He was deliberately targeted, they say, as part of a well-orchestrated plan to provoke violence. In 2010, the European Court of Human Rights concurred. The question of a larger conspiracy became a test of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government's self-professed desire to finally purge nationalist elements within the police and bureaucracy who believe themselves beyond the reach of the law.”

On Tuesday, after five years of trial, the court sentenced Yasin Hayal to life as the only accomplice in the murder. But he and 18 other suspects were cleared of claims of conspiracy by the court, which eventually denied a wider plot.

As euronews reports, the move infuriated Dink’s supporters.

“This case is a disaster.Those who committed this organised crime were dealt with as if it was just an ordinary murder.”

Thousands have since called for justice in the Dink trial, carrying portraits of the murdered journalist and banners that read: “We are all Hrant, we are all Armenians.” (Source: Today's Zaman)

According to CNN, Dink was well-known as an outspoken advocate for peace and tried to open dialogue between Armenians and Turks.

“Before his murder Dink was on trial for ‘insulting Turkishness’ because he referred to the [1915-1916] massacre of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Armenian as genocide. He also said in multiple interviews he received death threats in the months leading to his killing.”

Todays Zaman reports -- Turkey’s president is defending the court’s verdicts, calling the case quote “in line with our laws.”

(Image Source: Flickr/Rick Santorum)

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

This is Newsy Now and here are your latest headlines.
 

In U.S. news, Texas Governor Rick Perry is dropping out of the GOP presidential nomination race. A press conference is expected at 11 a.m. U.S. eastern time. One Fox News anchor calls the announcement -- unbelievable.
 

“Because when you think about Rick Perry, governor of one of the biggest states in the country, so much promise for him to get into this race, and so much momentum, it did not go well for him, in terms of the campaign...”
 

Still in U.S. politics, the latest caucus numbers from Iowa show Republican presidential hopeful Rick Santorum had 34 more votes than front-runner Mitt Romney. The executive director of Iowa GOP is now calling the caucus result a ‘split decision.’ MSNBC explains what the revelation could mean for the ongoing presidential race.
 

“It hurts Romney and helps Newt, because Newt is closing in a lot of these polls. But secondly, maybe it keeps Santorum in the race another week or two...”
 

In world news, search and rescue efforts at the capsized Italian cruise liner have resumed. The ship’s captain, who is under house arrest, is now saying he did not mean to abandon ship. Here’s CNN, quoting an Italian newspaper.
 

“...Not yet independently verified by CNN, I should mention. The captain is claiming that he tripped and fell into a lifeboat. And this is after he handed off his own life jacket to another passenger...”
 

In business news, Eastman Kodak is filing for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. CNBC says the 131-year-old film photography pioneer has had a difficult time keeping up with digital photography technology.
 

“Eastman Kodak one of the most storied names in American industry. But a prime example of creative destruction -- if technology leaves you in the dust, you can be left in the dust...”

Stay with Newsy for news analyses throughout the day. For Newsy Now, I’m Christina Hartman, highlighting the top headlines making you smarter, faster.

Image Source: European Dialogue

BY JONATHAN KETZ

Days after President Obama warned Iran against closing the strategic Strait of Hormuz -- he’s reportedly ready to negotiate.

One-sixth of the world’s oil flows through the Strait. If Iran closes it, analysts say the price of oil is likely to spike.

An Iranian lawmaker says President Obama asked for the two sides to talk in a letter to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Khomeini. Politico’s MacKenzie Weinger looks at what the National Security Council said.

“Obama offered to engage with Iran and warned the country against closing the key shipping route in the Middle East. … the U.S. has a number of ways of communicating with the Iranian government and remains ‘committed to...this issue if Iran is willing to move in a different direction.’”

Wednesday morning, the Associated Press quoted an anonymous White House official that no letter existed. But in a press conference just a few hours later, Press Secretary Jay Carney seemed to acknowledge a letter. He would not expand on its contents though. Here’s CSPAN:

CARNEY: “If the Iranians are serious about restarting talks then they need to respond to that letter. That is the channel by which the -- the mode by which the restarting of those talks would take place.”

But direct talks with Iran could prove controversial. Fox News’ Megyn Kelly talked to former Israeli Ambassador to the UN Dan Gillerman. Kelly notes -- when President Obama was running four years ago, he got flack for saying he’d talk to Iran without preconditions.

KELLY: “At the time Hillary Clinton called him irresponsible and frankly naive.
AMB. GILLERMAN: “I think it's a dangerous and ugly world we live in. Even the perception of weakness is very dangerous.”

Gillerman told Fox News that talking to Iran could hurt the Israeli-US bond. But an opinion columnist for the Gulf News suggests the U.S. weigh its options carefully.

“One would think Obama would do anything to avoid this Israeli trap after his predecessor ... got involved in the fruitless and costly war in Iraq.”

Politico says Iran’s considering replying to the letter. The letter reportedly says closing the Strait of Hormuz would be Washington’s “red line.” For Newsy, I’m Jonathan Ketz, multiple sources, the real story.

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY VICTORIA CRAIG
 

You're watching multi-source video news analysis from Newsy.

Nations of the world should prepare for a global economic crisis worse than the one in 2008.
That’s the stern warning from the World Bank, which issued a report announcing it slashed global economic growth projections for 2012. Fox Business explains the details of the report.

“World Bank, which cut its growth projections today over a recession in Europe and a slowdown in developing countries. The bank is now projecting those countries will see a growth rate of 5.4 percent this year, down from its prior projection of 6.2 percent.”

And that’s just for developing countries.
One of the authors of the report tells the BBC a slowdown in Europe could have even more severe consequences for the world’s poorest countries.

“We are concerned they have less fiscal space available to them and they would be operating in a situation where the high income countries aren’t going to be able to offer the same kind of counter-fiscal policy, the same kind of support.”

And when you take into account the poorest countries -- growth is more in the two to three percent range.
Still, a columnist for the Wall Street Journal says, the end result will not be the kind of disaster headlines suggest.

“....given that recoveries after financial crises tend to be slow, drawn-out affairs, that's not too surprising—and 2.5% is not a disaster. The global economy still has some sources of resiliency, particularly in emerging markets. Still, growth will be very uneven and there is a higher risk of a worse outcome than a pleasant economic surprise.”

Adding to that point, one CNBC contributor says the World Bank’s report might no longer be relevant. Adding, by the time the report is out, global markets are already working past the news.   

“I follow them when they come out with these reports all the time;  they’re always lagging. I know because there’s a big internal process by which they get these reports out, that their ability to respond to incoming information is, really, they’re very lag behind.”

Late or not, Fox News reports the US economy and others around the world are already seeing signs of global slowdown. Evidence you might not want to dismiss the  World Bank’s report just yet.

“Exports to Europe fell 6 percent in November, the Commerce Department said last week. That helped push the trade deficit up 10.4 percent to $47.8 billion. Global trade has also fallen, partly because banks are cutting back on a type of lending known as trade financing.”

So, how will the bank’s revised figures affect global stock markets? A reporter for CNBC tells NBC’s Today, investors shouldn’t be too concerned -- the revised projections likely won’t affect markets much at all.

“The main reason for the economic slowdown warnings is a possible recession in Europe -- something that is not a surprise to markets. And traders already consider the regions debt crisis somewhat ‘baked in’ to stock prices.”

The World Bank’s sister organization, the International Monetary Fund, is expected to update it’s World Economic Outlook late this month as well. The IMF says it will cut it’s global projections from a those it issued in September.

(Image Source: Flickr/Gage Skidmore)

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY

ANCHOR NATHAN BYRNE

This is Newsy Now and here are your latest headlines.
 

In U.S. news, after days of criticism on his record as a private businessman, presidential hopeful Mitt Romney revealed his surprisingly low tax rate yesterday. Here’s MSNBC, reporting Romney, who’s worth an estimated $250 million...
 

“...revealed that he is paying a lower tax rate than most middle class Americans.”
Romney: “What’s the effective rate I’ve been paying? Well it’s probably closer to the 15 percent...”

 

Still in the U.S., a security scare in the White House Tuesday night forced the Secret Service to briefly put it on lockdown. The First Family wasn’t home at the time, and no one was arrested. CNN has the update.
 

“All clear at the White House this morning. After a smoke bomb was tossed over the fence. It happened during an Occupy Wall St. protest where more than 1,000 people were demonstrating.”
 

In world news, chances of finding any more survivors from the cruise ship disaster are dwindling. Rescuers have found eleven bodies, and about two dozen more remain missing. As of Wednesday, search efforts have been suspended as the ship continues to shift and may drift to deeper waters. Fox News reports.
 

“That vessel, now tilting in turbulent water and there is new concern that it may slip into the open sea and that is exactly what they do not want.”
 

In tech news, Yahoo! co-founder Jerry Yang has resigned from the company’s Board of Directors and all other positions he holds with the company. CNBC reports investors are applauding the decision, sending stock prices up.
 

“Shareholders had blasted Yang for pursuing an ineffective personal vision and getting in the way of investment deals that could have transformed the struggling company and boosted their stock prices along the way.”
 

Stay with Newsy for more news analysis throughout the day. For Newsy Now, I’m Nathan Byrne, highlighting the top headlines making you smarter, faster.

(Image Source: Globo Internacional)

BY LAUREN ZIMA

(Image Source: CNN)

BY CHRISTINA HARTMAN

Critics are calling him Captain Coward.

Investigators say newly-released audio suggests the captain of a wrecked Italian cruise ship fled before all his passengers made it off the ship.

The Telegraph has the audio. You can hear an Italian Coast Guard Commander ordering Captain Francesco Schettino to get back on the ship. 

Captain Schettino is heard resisting the order, saying he was coordinating rescue efforts from a lifeboat. And according to multiple reports Coast Guard officials don’t think he ever did go back to the ship. The ladies of CBS’ “The Talk” are none too impressed, handing down this verdict:

“Italian men are lovers, not fighters. A wimp. You spineless man. I feel like he should be tried for murder. (He should be!)”

The Associated Press reports Schettino has worked for the owner of the ship for the last 11 years. But according to Inside Edition, passengers say the behavior on board the ship was unprofessional even before the incident.

“Crewmembers dance and sing with passengers. It’s one giant party at sea.  According to reports the married captain was wining and dining a female companion when the ship hit the rocky reef. As he was sinking, he demanded drinks and dessert for his date.”

According to Bloomberg, Schettino could face manslaughter and charges for abandoning ship. On Tuesday a judge is expected to decide whether he should stay in jail. WRC reports the latest.

“His attorney says he saved hundreds if not thousands of lives. Meanwhile today, crews found five more victims on that sinking shift. 11 people are now confirmed dead.”

And The BBC has more on his defense.

“...during a court hearing on Tuesday, the captain said he could not get on board the vessel because it was lying on its side. He argued that after hitting rocks he had executed a difficult manoeuvre that had saved many people's lives.”

The chairman of Costa Cruises has apologized for the tragedy. The criminal investigation is ongoing. (SOC)

(Image Source: euronews)

BY EMOKE BEBIAK

ANCHOR LAUREN GORES

Hungary’s government is under fire from the European Union. On Tuesday, the EU launched infringement proceedings against the country. Euronews reports.

“Brussels has begun legal action against Hungary and get forcing it to undo changes to its new constitution.”

The new legislation undermines the Hungarian Central Bank’s independence in an effort to control the country’s debt problems, which have been worsened by fluctuations in exchange rates. The BBC explains,

“Critics say the new central bank law puts the bank's independence at risk. It allows [Prime Minister Viktor] Orban to install a new deputy governor.”

The European Commission has launched the infringement proceeding on three counts. Origo.hu has an explanation of those counts from President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso’s announcement. Barroso specifies the following issues:

“...the independence of the National Central Bank, the retirement age of judges and the independence of the Data Protection Authority.”

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty explains the procedure against Hungary saying...

“In a so-called infringement procedure, the European Commission formally requests changes to the national laws in question. If those requests are ignored it can take the country to the European Court of Justice and levy fines.”

Hungary is an EU member but not part of the Euro-zone. The Telegraph explains Hungary needs to act quickly to avoid getting into a financial deadlock saying...

“Failure to comply with the EU means that Hungary is also stalled in its efforts to negotiate financial assistance from international lenders as it tackles the threat of insolvency.”

In an answer to threats by the European Union, pro-government groups held rallies over the weekend. According to The Wall Street Journal, government sympathizers spoke up against foreign involvement in the country’s domestic politics and some groups even called for Hungary to leave the EU. (Video credit: YouTube/Jobbikvideok)

Hungary’s Prime Minister is scheduled to meet Barroso in Brussels next week.
 

Image source: CNN

BY JING LIU

ANCHOR LAUREN GORES

You're watching multisource global video news analysis from Newsy.

One of his sons took over the North Korean regime after Kim Jong II passed away in December.

But now, another son is critical about the leadership of his brother.

According to a book excerpt published in the South Korean daily, Chosun IIbo, Kim Jong Nam says the North Korean regime won’t last long.

“The dynastic succession is a joke to the outside world… Without reforms, North Korea will collapse, and when such changes take place, the regime will collapse.”

The quotes appear in a Japanese book titled “My Father Kim Jong-Il and Me.”

The author Yoji Gomi exchanged emails and met three times in person with Kim Jong Nam over seven years.

So, why does the half brother make such gloomy predictions? A reporter for CNN explains...

“He thinks his brother has a lack of experience. He's too young. Also, he doesn't have enough time to be groomed.”

Known as a playboy, Kim Jong Nam spends must of his time in Macau. And he has reportedly never met his younger brother.

Although Jong Nam distrusts the leadership of his brother, the author of the book thinks he isn’t jealous. The author tells the Guardian...

“’I don't feel that he has any ambition to become leader of North Korea, but he wants to contribute to improving the situation in the country.’”

But Kim Jong Nam is not the only one questioning the new North Korean regime.

Former member of the U.S. National Security Council Victor Cha expressed similar concerns in the Christian Science Monitor saying...

“‘The efforts to put Kim Jong-un front and center immediately reflects a rushed succession process...”

The paper adds...

“Mr. Cha … predicts that what he calls ‘a Potemkin leadership transition’ in Pyongyang ‘will likely run into problems.’”

The book will hit the shelves in Japan on Wednesday.

(Image Source: CNN)

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

This is Newsy Now and here are your latest headlines.
 

In U.S. politics news, GOP presidential candidates were on the offensive in the South Carolina debates last night — their target? Front-runner Mitt Romney and his record as a venture capitalist. Still, an analyst on CNN says the attacks weren’t effective.
 

“I thought the opponents of Mitt Romney, who are running out of time, two polls are out this week with him with a double digit lead in South Carolina, where if he wins on Saturday he might effectively end this race... and yet they’ve failed to make a systematic, coherent case against him...”
 

In world news, another update on the cruise ship that capsized off the west coast of Italy. Rescuers have now used controlled detonations in their quest to find survivors. euronews reports four crew members and 25 passengers are still missing.  
 

“A total of eight microcharges were used. The explosions were to allow firefighters and scuba divers to get to parts of the ship that they were previously unable to access.”

 

In tech news, online encyclopedia Wikipedia is going ahead with the 24-hour blackout of its English version today. The shutdown is in opposition of SOPA and PIPA, two anti-piracy bills under consideration in Congress. Critics say if passed, the legislation would undermine the free and open Internet. HLN has more.
 

“Here’s a tweet from its founder that says: ‘Student warning! Do your homework early! Wikipedia protesting bad law on Wednesday.’”
 

In science news, a cabinet full of fossils, including some collected by Charles Darwin, has been re-discovered in the U.K. Darwin’s collection is said to have come from his famous Voyage of the Beagle -- a trip where he first started to develop his theory of evolution. The BBC talks to the paleontologist who found the cabinet.  
 

Dr. Falcon-Lang: “And almost the first fossil I found inside, held it up to the light, and there were the words ‘C. Darwin Esq.’ That was the moment I realized that I’m caught at something rather incredible.”
BBC: “Pinch me, I’m dreaming.”

 

Stay with Newsy for more news analyses throughout the day. For Newsy Now, I’m Christina Hartman, highlighting the top headlines, making you smarter, faster.

(Image Source: Iraq-Nam) 

BY AUSTIN ALONZO

ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

In a show of sovereignty after nine years of occupation, Iraq’s government is temporarily detaining foreign contractors over things like visas and weapon permits. Some of those detained have included employees of the US Embassy. The New York Times reports …

(Image Source: Fox News)

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY

ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA

Militants linked to al-Qaeda have captured a Yemeni town 80 miles south of the capital. Reports say the militants are flying their flag over the city’s citadel after storming its prison, taking control of government offices, and killing two Yemeni soldiers. Fox News explains why the takeover is crucial.
 

“First, the proximity of this town not just to the Yemeni capital of Sana’a, but also major transit routes, as well as an indication of a spreading geographic control of parts of Yemen by the Al Qaeda...”
 

The militants captured another southern Yemeni town about seven months ago. The Telegraph says the group is taking advantage of the turmoil caused by the Arab Spring, though its efforts have been hampered by the loss of its local leader.
 

“In a year of protest and an often violent government response, al-Qaeda and a broad-based network of militants have been able to extend their presence, even though their ability to strike beyond Yemen's borders as in the past has been damaged by the killing of … their American-educated and English-speaking spiritual leader.”

 

And, according to the Yemen Post, some are blaming the town’s capture on President Ali Abdullah Saleh, who, after months of anti-government protests, has agreed to resign early this year.
 

“Critics of the outgoing Ali Abdullah Saleh accused him of turning a blind eye to the expansion of Al-Qaeda to prove to the global world that his existence is vital to face terrorism and other Jihadi groups inside the state.”
 

According to the Associated Press, the militants are not allowing residents to enter or leave the town.

(Image source: Vanguard)

BY STEVEN SPARKMAN

ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA

After more than a week of mass protests and strikes that ground the country to a halt, Nigeria’s labor unions and government have reached a tentative compromise. Euronews has the government’s move.

“Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan has performed a major u-turn by announcing that petrol prices will be reduced after five days of mass protests.”

Fuel prices more than doubled after the removal of the 38-year-old subsidy on January 1. The new price will be a more modest increase -- around 50% higher than the old price. That falls short of demands by labor unions for a full reinstatement of the subsidy.

But CNN reports, it was enough to end mass action for now.

“Labor union leaders are temporarily halting the protests that threatened to shut down Nigeria’s oil production.”

The government has argued the subsidies are wasteful, and only benefit a few fuel importers. They’ve also been under pressure from the International Monetary Fund to deregulate their oil industry.

Al Jazeera explains the government’s case.

“The government’s argument to the Nigerians is that they’re wasting a lot of money. They could save up to about $8 billion U.S. dollars a year from these subsidies, and these go to developing the economy, the infrastructure, and just basically uplifting the life of the country’s poorest.”

The problem is removing the subsidy meant a sudden shock to an already impoverished population, with food prices doubling at the rise in fuel costs. Many Nigerians also believe the money from the subsidy won’t actually go to those services, and will instead be siphoned off by a corrupt elite.

The Christian Science Monitor quotes one protester, saying...

"What Nigerians are calling for is good government … We are actually not against the idea of removing the fuel subsidy … But we have heard this story before ... We've had promises from past governments, yet we still have a poor educational system, no roads, and no electricity...”

The army and police have been deployed to try to stop any more demonstrations. The government and labor unions are expected to resume negotiations.

(Image source: Wikipedia)

BY EVAN THOMAS

ANCHOR EMILY SPAIN

It’s the latest in a digital assault on Israel -- hackers have knocked national transport and stock exchange websites offline. Fox Business has the details.

“It sounds like a cyber war.... El Al, Israel Airlines had to take its website down after an alleged Saudi Arabian hacker network, which has been behind previous attacks, warned the site would be targeted.”

The Jerusalem Post says a hacker called “0xOmar” and a hacking group called “Nightmare” have claimed credit for the attack.

“The Tel Aviv Stock Exchange confirmed it was targeted and said it was subject to a denial of service attack (DoS), in which a server is flooded with hits, making it unavailable to other users.”

Those servers are still down as of Monday morning, at least for American visitors. A visit to the English version of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange website coughs up an error message.

But it could be worse. The Next Web points out this attack only hit the companies’ websites, not their infrastructure.

“While the sites were taken down, the hack didn’t affect the actual business – neither [flights] or trading were interrupted due to the hack.”

But according to Businessweek, the cyberwarfare is still drawing praise from Hamas.

“The Palestinian Hamas movement called for an escalation of Internet hacking against Israel, saluting Arab programmers who have managed to infiltrate Israeli computer systems.”

This isn’t the first time 0xOmar has caused trouble for Israel. Last month the hacker released thousands of Israeli credit card numbers obtained in a cyberattack.

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY

ANCHOR LAUREN GORES

This is Newsy Now and here are your latest headlines.
 

In U.S. news, today marks what would have been the 83rd birthday of civil rights activist Martin Luther King, Jr. This federal holiday was first celebrated in 1986, nearly twenty years after King was assassinated. Congress designated it as a day of service in 1994. Here’s CNN.
 

“Many people are going to celebrate the day by visiting the new memorial in D.C. dedicated to him. It’s the first MLK day, by the way, since it was completed.”
 

And in U.S. politics, former Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. is dropping out of the GOP presidential nomination race. Fox News reports Huntsman will endorse another candidate he believes will have a better chance to beat President Barack Obama.
 

“He’s expected to endorse Mitt Romney. Keep in mind... I guess you could say this for most of the candidates. They have been attacking one another, here and there, and now, he’s going to support Governor Romney...”
 

In world news, the latest update on the cruise ship disaster off the coast of Italy. A sixth body has been found-- and the ship’s owner Costa Cruises is citing “human error” as the reason for the deadly disaster. MSNBC reports the ship’s captain is currently under investigation.
 

“Well just this morning, his company says he made an unauthorized deviation in the course of the ship. Brought it to close to shore then made mistakes in handling it.”
 

Still in world news, union leaders have suspended strikes in Nigeria after President Goodluck Jonathan announced the government will partially reinstate its fuel subsidies. The decision will push fuel prices down, but not as low as its initial price of about $1.70 a gallon. euronews says more negotiations are expected.
 

“The dispute has cost the country billions in lost revenue and will continue until the government and unions thrash out the details.”

 

And in entertainment, Hollywood kicked off its self-congratulatory awards season last night with the Golden Globes ceremony. Big winners included the film The Descendants, which won Best Drama, while its star George Clooney won Best Actor in a Drama.
 

And the black-and-white silent film The Artist won for Best Comedy or Musical. Meryl Streep won her 8th Golden Globe for her portrayal of Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher, while Michelle Williams won for her role as Marilyn Monroe. (Video: NBC's Today Show)
 

Stay with Newsy for more news analyses throughout the day. For Newsy Now, I’m Lauren Gores, highlighting the top headlines making you smarter, faster.

(Image Source: Hospital Map Online)

BY CHARLES MCKEAGUE

ANCHOR LAUREN GORES

A dangerous new virus strain has reportedly crept into India. Several confirmed cases of what doctors are calling “Totally Drug Resistant Tuberculosis” or TDR-TB have been identified. WXIN has more.

“While the new strain is not expected to spread rapidly it is transmitted through close personal contact. Normally TB is cured by taking antibiotics for about 6-9 months but if the disease is resistant to standard drugs it’s going to be harder and more expensive to treat.”

There’s debate in the public health community about whether the virus is totally drug resistant.  The World Health Organization hasn’t recognized the term. Either way, India’s Daily News Analysis reports one of the infected -- went missing last week -- making the situation all the more concerning.

“TDR-TB is a strain of tuberculosis which cannot be treated by any available drug. This means that a person afflicted by this strain faces 100% mortality rate -- and, until death, can infect many others.”

India’s government and health ministry have remained quiet so far. Criticism is centered on the government’s TB program -- and private doctors in India. The Daily Mail has a quote from Doctors who saw the infected patients at the Mumbai hospital.

“‘These … patients had received erratic, unsupervised second-line drugs, added individually and often in incorrect doses, from multiple private practitioners…’”

The Times of India is reporting those with the virus -- except the missing patient -- will be quarantined by the government. The paper has a statement from a state TB control officer.

“The patients will be housed in a 30-bed sanatorium … that is relatively pollution-free. ‘Eleven of the 14 patients identified with TDR-TB so far in the city will be sent to isolation…’”

(Image Source: China Daily)

(Image source: CBS)

BY STEVEN SPARKMAN

ANCHOR ANTHONY MARTINEZ

In Syria, protests against president Bashar Al-Assad’s rule have been going on for 10 months, and thousands have died in the government’s violent crackdown. Now, the Emir of Qatar has suggested troops be sent to Syria. He made the comment to CBS.

“I think for such a situation, to stop the killing, we have -- some troops should go to stop the killing.”

The Emir’s comment is the first by an Arab leader to suggest military intervention in Syria. It follows the decision by the Arab League to reevaluate its observer mission in the country, which critics say has no chance of ending the violence.

An analyst tells Al Jazeera, while he thinks the odds of troops being sent into the country are small, the Emir’s comment is meant to send a message.

“But it was a very vague statement. It wasn’t very precise. It leaves open many interpretations, but it’s a very strong message that the pressure is going to continue from within the region.”

The situation in Syria continues to decline. The AFP reports Assad troops have been seen targeting the children of dissidents.

The areas protesting the Assad regime are reportedly under siege. This CNN video shows residents throwing goods across a street, unable to cross it because of government snipers. Cutoffs of goods and electricity have forced residents to start burning tree limbs for warmth.

But while the opposition is growing and becoming more unified, high-profile defections from the regime have been scarce. The Syrian government also still has support from Russia and China, making international intervention a complicated issue.

And a New York Times report says the prospects for a peaceful resolution are getting slim.

“The opposition speaks less of prospects for the fall of President Bashar al-Assad and more about a civil war … The deepening stalemate underlines the extent to which events are slipping out of control.”

On Sunday, the Assad regime said amnesty would be granted for protesters who hand over their weapons by the end of January. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has called on Assad to stop killing his own people.

(Image Source: The New York Times)

BY ALLIE SPILLYARDS

The search continues for passengers missing after an Italian cruise ship capsized near the Tuscan coast this weekend -- and as of Sunday afternoon in the US, the death toll had climbed to five. Accounts from survivors are pouring in, and according to Australia’s News Limited…

“Many survivors have spoken of the confusion and fear as the ship began to sink, with passengers jumping from the deck to swim to safety and others pushing their way on board life boats and fighting over life jackets.”

An American couple tells CNN -- they never got guidance from the crew.

“The people manning these boats were just cooks and shopkeepers in the boat. They weren’t sailors. It wasn’t the captain or the officers. Never heard from any of those guys. Never heard their voices. Never saw any of them. They never helped us to evacuate. We were totally abandoned.”

And two other American survivors tell NBC’s Today Show -- passengers had to lean on each other.

“It was horrible. The only thing that worked for us was the passengers. You know, it’s amazing none of us spoke the same language but we all knew how to take care of each other. But the crew couldn’t figure that out.”

So who’s to blame? The captain? According to the Huffington Post...

“Authorities are holding the Italian captain for investigation of suspected manslaughter and abandoning his ship among other possible charges. According to the Italian navigation code, a captain who abandons a ship in danger can face up to 12 years in prison.”

The death toll is expected to rise to as high as 20, and the BBC’s Matthew Price notes...

“Considering that more than 4,200 people were on board, and that many survivors have complained that, as far as they were concerned, the crew was not prepared for such a disaster, that is perhaps remarkable.”

According to the Wall Street Journal, Italian officials say 15 people are still missing. Rescue crews are still searching the waters.
 

(Image Source: Wikimedia Commons)

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY
ANCHOR NATHAN BYRNE
 

Mohamed ElBaradei, perhaps the most high-profile of the Egyptian presidential hopefuls, has dropped out of the race for the office. He says it’s in protest of how Egypt’s military is running the country. euronews reports.
 

“The Nobel Peace Prize winner and former head of the UN nuclear watchdog said the country was being pushed away from the aims of the revolution. ElBaradei has strongly criticised Egypt’s military rulers since Mubarak’s overthrow.”

 

In his statement, ElBaradei says the ruling military council is governing Egypt as if, quote, “no revolution took place and no regime has fallen.”

Egypt’s Ahram Online explains what the candidate’s dropout will mean for the elections.
 

“It is clear to many that ElBaradei’s withdrawal will change the elections scene completely. … [A campaign staff of another candidate] says ElBaradei’s withdrawal will create a gap, as he symbolised the liberal camp, opening the field for a new candidate to step in.”
 

But as The Los Angeles Times reports, though long considered a frontrunner, ElBaradei’s chances of winning the presidential election have been slimming lately, especially as the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood gains more and more popularity.
 

“ElBaradei was considered an outsider and did not have the stature of entrenched Islamist parties … ElBaradei’s brand of secular, Western-style democracy resonated with the youth and intellectuals in Tahrir Square but played less well in the rural regions and provinces dominated by the Islamists.”
 

And his harshest critics say — he never had the chance to win at all. As The New York Times reports, that might be the reason ElBaradei dropped out.
 

“Polls showed that many Egyptians harbored doubts about him. The years he spent in Western capitals as an international diplomat raised questions about his authenticity as an Egyptian, and he continued to travel extensively even after his return to Egypt.”

 

CNN reports the 69-year-old politician says he will continue to work with Egypt’s youth to achieve more freedom and social justice for the country.
 

(Image source: Unicef)

BY STEVEN SPARKMAN

ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA

On January 13, 2011, an 18-month-old Indian girl contracted polio. A year later, not only has she recovered and is able to walk, but hers was the last recorded case in India. Here’s CNN’s India Broadcast Network.

“It’s a proud moment for India, with zero polio cases reported in a year now. The country has achieved a huge milestone today. In fact, it’s the closest that India has ever been to eradicating polio altogether.”

In 2009, India had almost half the reported cases of polio in the world, which makes a polio-free year all the more impressive.

Part of the success is due to a massive vaccination campaign, with millions of health care workers administering the vaccine however they could: going door to door, setting up clinics at festivals and even giving the vaccine out at train stations. (Video source: Unicef)

But it wasn’t just getting the vaccine to children that proved challenging. There was resistance to it in the country’s northern Muslim communities. Al Jazeera explains.

“About 20% of the people in Moradabad are Muslim, and 10 years ago, there was a lot of misinformation about polio. There was talk that the vaccine made women infertile. Community leaders told people not to vaccinate their children.”

The rumors painted the vaccine as part of a plot by Western countries to limit Muslim populations. NPR explains, success in Moradabad was as much about persuasion as it was about access.

“So vaccination strategists began a massive education campaign, beginning with respected scholars in Muslim universities, and reaching all the way down to trusted shopkeepers. So-called ‘influencers’ were identified alleyway by alleyway in the neighborhoods of Moradabad.”

With the aid of local leaders, resistance to the vaccine lessened. But it’s still too early to declare India completely safe from polio. A writer for Third Age explains.

“...only a tiny fraction of those infected with the polio virus ever contract the disease. So while no one in India is reported to have suffered from polio in a year, the virus ... could still be lingering. That's why the country will not be certified as completely polio-free until at least three full years pass without a case.”

The biggest threat to India’s success at the moment comes from outside the country. Neighboring Pakistan still has hundreds of cases per year, so the disease could be reintroduced if vaccination efforts slack.

(Image source: Fars News)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

Iran’s state news agency blamed the CIA and Britain’s MI6 for this week’s assassination of an Iranian nuclear scientist.

Reported Saturday in The Jerusalem Post:

“(The letter states) CIA-led operations in the Islamic Republic are known... blaming the US for supporting ‘terrorist groups against Iran.’ Tehran also sent a letter to the British Foreign Office, claiming British intelligence aided in the killing of the (scientist). Iran demanded a response from both governments.”

As France 24 reports, the targeting of this scientist -- and the way he was killed -- could be signs of espionage.

“The bomb was attached to scientist Mostafa Ahmadi-Roshan's car, killing him instantly. Roshan was a scientist and a director at Iran’s uranium enrichment facility... Three other Iranian scientists were killed in the past two years when their cars blew up.”

The letter from Iran’s state news agency represents the nation’s most direct accusation yet. And, although it points the finger at the United States and the UK, Al Jazeera reports Israel’s spy agency Mossad and even some Iranian dissidents are also suspected.

“What is interesting, I think, there is obviously a network operating in Iran, and it has internal -- whether it is Israel or not -- there are Iranians inside Iran that are helping.”

Speaking to troops at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta adamantly denied any American involvement in the killing of the Iranian nuclear scientist.

“We have some ideas as to who might be involved, but we don’t know exactly who was involved. But I can tell you one thing. The United States was not involved in that kind of effort. That’s not what the United States does.” (Video source: The Guardian)

And on CNN, a former CIA officer discredited accusations of U.S. involvement -- and said the killings were likely the work of Israel.

“I, myself, think it was some kind of dissident group, perhaps at the behest of Israel. I know it wasn’t the United States. There was no lethal finding against Iran. That kind of information would leak out, and we wouldn’t get these kind of denials that we’ve gotten out of the administration.”

Regardless of who is behind the assassination, the BBC reports the continued attacks on Iran’s scientists have had little effect on the government’s nuclear ambitions.

“Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed to punish those behind the death of Mr Ahmadi-Roshan, who worked at the Natanz uranium enrichment facility. ‘We will continue our path with strong will... and certainly we will not neglect punishing those responsible for this act...’

(Image Source: Flickr/Adam Baker) 

BY HARUMENDHAH HELMY
ANCHOR LAUREN ZIMA
 

It was a gloomy Friday the 13th in Europe. Standard and Poor’s downgraded nine countries’ credit ratings, saying European policymakers have not done enough to address the region’s debt crisis -- which could, in turn, get worse after the ratings cut. euronews has the summary.
 

“France and Austria have been stripped of their top-grade ‘AAA’ status. … Portugal, Italy, Spain and Cyprus have all gone down by two notches.”
 

And add Slovenia, Slovakia and Malta to that list. That’s nine out of 17 eurozone countries. Germany and the Netherlands are two major economies notably out of the downgraded list -- retaining their AAA status. (Graphic: The New York Times)
 

So what do these cuts mean? The New York Times explains, saying the downgrades add to the, quote “gloom pervading Europe’s economic climate.”
 

“...the downgrades may now add to the borrowing costs of the nations affected. Some commercial banks that are required to hold only the highest-rated government securities will have to replace French bonds with other assets, like bonds of Germany.”
 

It doesn’t end there. France is a major guarantor of the EFSF, an EU vehicle that provides financial help for eurozone countries in trouble. CNBC says a French downgrade could mean an EFSF downgrade... which would be bad, but not necessarily a death knell.
 

“That of course will then increase their borrowing cost, basically undermine the entire effort to stabilize the debt situation in Europe … But again, it’s only S&P, it’s only one notch...”
 

Not surprisingly, eurozone policymakers are not responding well to the S&P downgrade. One Al Jazeera reporter sums up much of their sentiment.
 

“It’s not really for a bunch of guys sitting in an office in New York, crunching numbers on screens to dictate government policies... to governments across Europe.”
 

Last August, S&P also downgraded the U.S.’s credit ratings by one notch -- from top-grade AAA to AA+. Though the stock market quickly plunged after that news, CNN notes -- it was a knee-jerk reaction, and things quickly looked up.
 

“You look at the U.S., it actually has rebounded pretty well after the downgrade, Brooke. And you look at interest rates, they’ve actually fallen since last summer.”
 

But, as the New York Times notes, the U.S. enjoys the title of the world’s largest economy, and none of the countries downgraded on Friday can say the same. Bond investors are still attracted to the U.S.’s debts, keeping the country’s interest rates low.

 

 Image source: CNN

BY ZACH TOOMBS

At least three people are dead and 70 are missing after a luxury cruise ship carrying 4,000-plus passengers struck a sandbar off the coast of Italy. Why the Costa Concordia ran aground is still unknown. Here’s CNN.

“They had just finished eating dinner on their cruise, the first night of the cruise, and the ship -- the electricity -- went off. And they describe what they felt as a shudder as this ship ran -- literally ran aground on the sandbar, which cause a huge gaping hole in the hull of the ship.”

With the ship’s damaged hull quickly taking on water, attempts to escape the cruise liner were delayed 45 minutes as the crew tried to lower lifeboats. MSNBC says the scene was pure chaos.

“Some passengers said it felt like being on the Titanic. The ship listed sharply to the right. Lifeboats started falling on passengers. Some jumped into the ice-cold sea. The shore was 200 yards away... too far for some of them.”

129 Americans were on board the ship, and all made it to shore safely. Still, the ship’s passenger records show as many as 70 people still missing as of Saturday evening in Italy. A travel columnist for the BBC says it’s unbelievable this sort of disaster could play out for such a large, modern cruise ship.

“I’ve been speaking to a lot of people within the cruise industry this morning, of course, and they are just astonished that this should happen to a 21st Century ship at a time when, clearly, everything is designed with safety in mind.”

The incident is raising concerns about the size of modern cruise liners. A representative of the Nautilus International shipping staff union told the UK’s Daily Mail:

“Many ships are now effectively small towns at sea, and the sheer number of people onboard raises serious questions about evacuation... the sheer size and scale of such ships presents massive challenges for emergency services, evacuation, rescue, and salvage - and we should not have to wait for a major disaster until these concerns are addressed.”

NBC reports the ship was at least four nautical miles off-course when it capsized. Rescue teams are continuing their search for the missing by both air and sea.
 

Image Source: Fox News

BY AUSTIN ALONZO
ANCHOR CHRISTINA HARTMAN

A Peruvian court sentenced Joran van der Sloot to 28 years in jail on Friday for killing a Peruvian national. Van der Sloot is the prime suspect in the unsolved 2005 disappearance of Natalee Holloway.

Van der Sloot pleaded guilty to murdering Stephanie Flores after meeting her at a casino in Lima in May 2010. ABC explains his lawyer’s defense.

“His lawyer argued he killed 21 year old Stephanie Flores during a fit of rage he blamed on psychological trauma from being hounded as the prime suspect in the Holloway case.”

The prosecution said van der Sloot killed Flores after she found items on his laptop linking him to the disappearance of Holloway. Van der Sloot, one of the last men to see Holloway alive, was tried for the disappearance but not convicted. Bloomberg explains.

“Van der Sloot said in a 2008 video he disposed of the body of Holloway on Aruba. He later denied he had anything to do with the disappearance of the 18-year-old. Dutch prosecutors dropped a case against him.”

Van der Sloot still faces federal wire fraud charges and extradition to the U.S. for giving false information to Holloway’s mother for $25,000. Fox News explains the charges.

“[Van der Sloot] faces federal charges accusing him of extorting $25,000 from Beth Holloway to reveal the location of her daughter’s body. Prosecutors said the money was paid, but nothing was disclosed about the missing woman’s whereabouts. Authorities said they believe the tall, garrulous Dutchman used the money to travel to Peru on May 14, 2010, where Flores was killed two weeks later.”

Barring an extradition to the US, van der Sloot will return to Lima’s maximum security Miguel Castro Castro prison where has been held since June 2010. TIME describes the prison.

“The prison houses some of the country's major drug traffickers and long-imprisoned members of the Shining Path terrorist group. The young Dutchman is imprisoned is a special section of Castro Castro with only a handful of individual cells. He has asked to be transferred to the general population of the prison where he would have much greater freedom of movement — and also greater opportunity to work and study, things he will have to do to qualify for parole.”

But the victim’s attorneys say van der Sloot is receiving “5 star treatment” at Castro Castro prision. Reports from Peru’s El Comercio says van der Sloot has access to the internet, a cell phone, and a flat-screen television in his cell. On Friday Flores’ father said in a press conference...

“Prison is something that should make you reflect, complete a sentence. Prison is not a five-star hotel. I hope the authorities understand that and exercise the same rigidity in every case, not just this one. …
“It is pointless to put a person in jail … if the jail is better than the street.”

According to the AP -- Peruvian prison officials deny allegations of excessive comforts. Still -- if the conviction stands, under Peruvian law, van der Sloot will be eligible for conditional parole after nine years. He said he reserves the right to appeal the conviction and the sentence.

 

(Image attribution: Gizmodo)

(Image source: NDTV)

BY ZACH TOOMBS

The Pakistani government will be put to a vote of confidence in the country’s parliament next week. The measure could shorten terms for Pakistan’s prime minister and president amid heightened tensions between the military and civilian government. Lawmakers proposed the vote in an effort to show support for the embattled political leadership.

Al Jazeera explains how the government’s relationship with the military has been damaged in recent months.

“After Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani fired the Defense secretary, a former general, things between the army and the civilian government got worse. Gilani said it was because of gross misconduct over ‘memogate.’”

“Memogate” centers on a message drafted by Pakistan’s civilian government that requests U.S. help in halting a military coup. When military officials submitted statements to Pakistan’s supreme court on the “memogate” scandal, Prime Minister Gilani accused them of breaching the nation’s constitution.

The exchange only became more heated from there, with the military releasing this statement:

“There can be no allegation more serious than what the honourable prime minister has levelled ... This has very serious ramification with potentially grievous consequences for the country.”

Pakistan’s Interior Minister downplayed the conflict with the military in an interview this week, saying the opposing viewpoints showed the democracy was functioning normally. The BBC has his comments.

“In democracy, we have transition, so ups and downs will be there. As I always say, yes, we do have a bumpy flight, but we land... in a very nice way.   

Speaking to the National Assembly on Friday, Gilani said if anyone wanted to make a no-confidence motion against him -- they should pass an amendment to the constitution that would allow for such an action.

Quoted in the Pakistani English-language newspaper, Dawn, Gilani said:

“‘Now we have to decide whether we should have democracy or dictatorship in this country. If we have committed any mistakes, it does not mean that democracy or parliament should be punished...’”

The Pakistani parliament will be adjourned until Monday, when the resolution of confidence will likely be put to a vote.