Obama draws down US troops; Syrian President's speech gives
mixed messages; Greek riots continue
Afghanistan troop drawndown, In a speech from the White
House, US President Barack Obama announced that the United
States will withdraw 33,000 troops from Afghanistan by the summer of 2012.
The announcement comes amid reports of Pentagon insistence that the 2009 “surge” of 30,000 US troops has
been effective.
Though US leaders continue to debate Obama’s announcement, the US President’s allies like Australia, Britain, and Germany saw the announcement as a sign of progress in the on-going fight with the Taliban.
On the Afghan side, President Hamid Karzai confirmed earlier this week that the United States has been included in negotiations with the Taliban.
Addressing the ongoing protests in his country, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad offered a 75-minute speech at Damascus University on Monday.
The speech, Assad’s third speech since the start of protests in March, garnered mixed reactions in Syria as some defended al-Assad as a capable leader while others rallied in major cities including Homs, Hama, Latakia.
Following the speech, Walid al-Muallem, Syria’s foreign minister, accused European Union leaders of reacting in a manner which will “plant strife and chaos” in the country.
Having survived a vote of confidence, the government of Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou approved a 2012-2015 austerity plan in an effort to attain funds from a German and French-backed bailout package.
Ahead of the vote, thousands of people, unhappy with the planned cuts blockaded the entrance to the Parliament in a display of their disapproval with the cuts.
Though US leaders continue to debate Obama’s announcement, the US President’s allies like Australia, Britain, and Germany saw the announcement as a sign of progress in the on-going fight with the Taliban.
On the Afghan side, President Hamid Karzai confirmed earlier this week that the United States has been included in negotiations with the Taliban.
Addressing the ongoing protests in his country, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad offered a 75-minute speech at Damascus University on Monday.
The speech, Assad’s third speech since the start of protests in March, garnered mixed reactions in Syria as some defended al-Assad as a capable leader while others rallied in major cities including Homs, Hama, Latakia.
Following the speech, Walid al-Muallem, Syria’s foreign minister, accused European Union leaders of reacting in a manner which will “plant strife and chaos” in the country.
Having survived a vote of confidence, the government of Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou approved a 2012-2015 austerity plan in an effort to attain funds from a German and French-backed bailout package.
Ahead of the vote, thousands of people, unhappy with the planned cuts blockaded the entrance to the Parliament in a display of their disapproval with the cuts.
Africa
Ousted Tunisian President, Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali and his
wife were sentenced in absentia to 35 years in prison for
misappropriating public funds.
King Mohammed VI of Morocco called for constitutional reforms that would strip him of some of his
powers in response to protests in the country.
Americas
Mexican police captured Jesus Mendez, head of the La Familia drug
cartel, which has been described as cult-like.
A US
judge has approved a $3.4bn reparation settlement for stolen native resources.
Asia-Pacific
In response to the beheading of an Indonesian maid convicted of killing her
Saudi employer, Jakarta has recalled its
ambassador to Riyadh.
Dissident Chinese artist, Ai Wei Wei has been released after three months detention for tax evasion.
Central & South Asia
Police in India
were unable to break up the violence when cameras caught a woman violently beating her husband in a
north Indian town.
An Afghan court ruling could disqualify up to one-fourth of the
nation's parliamentarians.
Europe
Dutch MP Geert Wilders was acquitted in a trial accusing him of inciting hatred and
discrimination against the nation’s Muslims.
At least 44 people died in a Russian plane crash when pilot error was suspected of
missing a runway in Northwestern Russia.
Middle East
In an open act of defiance, several Saudi women drove around the Gulf kingdom in protest
against a law prohibiting them from doing so.
Eight shi’a activists in Bahrain
were given life sentences after being accused of plotting to overthrow
the government of the Persian Gulf sheikhdom.
Residents of a small Canadian town are engaged in a David
and Goliath-style battle over the dirtiest oil project ever known.
Josh Rushing finds out how campesino communities caught in
the narco-economy are resisting repression and dispossession.
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