 |
 |
 |
 |
World News Once a Week |
|
 |
 |
| Published Friday, February 23, 2007 |
|
 |
|
| Reuters/Eric Thayer: Ash Wednesday Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York |
Issue 36
Not since the Cold War have nukes felt like such a hot issue. Big-bang politicking has reached the top of the global agenda
lately, as India and Pakistan — who have engaged in frighteningly real brinksmanship in the past — tuned down the rhetoric
and, despite deadly outside efforts to derail talks, made significant atomic concessions. Less cooperative was Iran. The Persian powerhouse brushed off yet another Security Council deadline to cease uranium enrichment,
adding to already fraught tensions with the UN, whose sanctions have yet to show teeth. Politics were more personal for octogenarian dictator Robert Mugabe, who used his birthday to further tighten his chokehold on dissent within Zimbabwe.
As world leaders focused on preventing man-made blowups, others looked toward the skies: scientists set out preparedness plans
for killer asteroids, while airline execs reeled from killer plane delays. Meanwhile, in the ER, everything that's bad for you is good — provided you're a surgeon nursing an addiction to Frogger.
- Catherine New |
|
|
 A Note on Our Sources |
|
|
|
 |
A dynamic collaboration between Budweiser Select and Flavorpill, Select Flavor harnesses the talents of up-and-coming artists and designers to interpret Select — a premier hand-crafted beer — and its
iconic crown through original artwork. Expect a new kind of creativity. Expect everything.
|
|
|
|
| Top Stories |
 |
Iran blows past UN uranium expiry — again
|
|
As last Wednesday's deadline expired, Iran maintained its defiance against a UN Security Council resolution calling for a
freeze on the country's nuclear program. This is the third time Iran has shrugged off the UN's call for a halt in enrichment activity, despite increasing economic sanctions handed down
by the Council. Iran's non-compliance was met with tense and tacit diplomacy as a Thursday IAEA report confirmed the breach of the UN's second ultimatum last December.
Compounding the uranium brouhaha is the US military's increasing exasperation over Iran's alleged involvement in attacks on American forces within Iraq. Meanwhile, the Security Council will discuss ever-tightening
sanctions on export guarantees and travel restrictions next week. (CN)
|
 BACK TO TOP |
Gitmo detainees lose their day in court
|
|
A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that some 200 Guantánamo detainees cannot appeal their indefinite detention, upholding provisions of the Military Commissions Act (MCA). The ruling, which likely foreshadows a third time the Supreme Court will take up the issue, is the latest in a string of reversals over the legal status of foreign nationals detained by the US at Guantánamo and elsewhere, without any formal trial, over
the past five years.
The MCA, passed by the Bush administration last October, denies foreign "enemy combatants" the writ of habeas corpus, and makes possible the use of military tribunals that the Supreme Court previously ruled contrary to the Geneva Conventions. (CF)
|
| BACK TO TOP |
|
|
Old South Asian rivals settle nuclear score
|
|
In a thawing of recently frigid relations, India and Pakistan signed a treaty on Wednesday to reduce the risk of accidents
arising from their nuclear-weapons arsenals. The agreement came after a Sunday train blast killed 68 passengers en route from Delhi to Lahore; leaders called the attack, which killed nationals of both countries,
an attempt to derail the peace process.
The treaty's success marks a departure from the finger-pointing that followed July's rail bombings in Mumbai, and could signal a new era of cooperation for the wary neighbors. Further talks have continued as planned, although the slated topic shifted from science and education to combating terrorism. (CN/ED)
|
| BACK TO TOP |
|
|
| Newswire |
|
|
|
| Politics |
|
Basra handover as Brits pull out of Iraq
Contrasting the United States' proposed troop surge in Iraq, the UK will withdraw a quarter of its 7,100 soldiers from the country by summer. Prior to last week's announcement,
British forces in Basra handed over security efforts to the Iraqis. (CN)
| Guardian | Al Jazeera |
Turkmenistan leaves iron door ajar
As Turkmenistan peeks out from its cocoon of totalitarian rule, Russia has rushed to befriend the isolated, fuel-rich nation. Following the
death of the country's longtime dictator, many hope that new president Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov will prioritize reform and diplomacy. (CN)
| EurasiaNet | Sydney Morning Herald |
Zimbabwe dictator defies opposition
Robert Mugabe banned protests in Harare, Zimbabwe, after violence broke out during an opposition rally last Sunday. He marked his 83rd birthday this week by vowing to continue his 27-year reign, despite speculation that he'll soon name a successor. (CN)
| BBC | Mail & Guardian |
|
| Business |
|
JetBlue answers critics with bill of rights
After a New York ice storm left JetBlue's planes — and irate passengers — stranded on the tarmac for 11 hours, the airline issued a passenger "bill of rights" that
promises vouchers to grossly inconvenienced customers. (JS)
| San Jose Mercury News | CBS |
Poisonous goobers cost ConAgra
Prepared-foods giant ConAgra recalled its Peter Pan brand of peanut butter after a salmonella outbreak — which has affected 300 people thus far — was traced back to its Georgia production plant. The recall could cost
the company $60 million. (JS)
| Slate | Houston Chronicle |
|
| Science & Technology |
|
Nurse, hand me that joystick
A recent study shows that doctors who play video games regularly are better skilled at laparoscopy, a remotely controlled
surgical technique. Researcher Dr. James Rosser says the findings suggest video games could prove useful in training surgeons. (AS)
| CNN | CBC |
Asteroid apocalypse 101
Scientists are drafting a UN resolution, due in 2009, that outlines international protocol in the event a killer asteroid
collides with Earth. Though a deep impact is unlikely, the detailed threat-prep could — gasp — set Hollywood's space cogs turning again. (CB)
| Wired | Financial Times |
|
|
| The Week in Pictures |
|
Click to see the full-size image and caption.
 Miro Kuzmanovic
 Luc Gnago
 Stringer, Sri Lanka
 Gus Ruelas
 Miguel Vidal
|
*Unless otherwise noted, all photos are courtesy of Reuters.
|
|
|
| |
BACK TO TOP |
|
|
| Local Stories |
|
|
Israel's first kibbutz goes private
|
|
A sign of the times? Israel's oldest kibbutz is moving toward privatization. The members of Degania have voted to receive individual salaries, marking the end of an era for the influential commune — and perhaps an example
of a growing trend. (ED)
| BBC | Ha'aretz |
Hard times for ex-camel riders
In the Persian Gulf, a 2005 ban on underage jockeys in the popular sport of camel racing has left hundreds of young immigrant boys struggling to repatriate. Meanwhile, some states have turned to
robots to replace the diminutive riders. (CN)
| Boston Globe | Christian Science Monitor |
Priest sentenced in exorcism killing
A Romanian Orthodox priest has been sentenced to prison for the manslaughter of a schizophrenic nun during an exorcism. The priest maintains his innocence, blaming medics for her death. Four nuns who participated in the ritual also received
jail time. (GM)
| The Australian | Scotsman |
|
| BACK TO TOP |
|
|
|
|
|
| Masthead |
|
Editors
Anna Balkrishna
Catherine New
Contributors
Chelsea Bauch
Eli Dvorkin
Conor Fortune
Doug Levy
Gerry Mak
Mark Mangan
Jonathan Schultz
Production
Anjuli Ayer
Morgan Croney
Andrew Steinmetz
Design
Nicholas Feldman
Jessica Bauer-Greene
|
A Note on Our Sources
A login may be required to view some of the news stories we link to. We try to keep this to a minimum, but it's impossible
to avoid entirely as we strive to link to the most authoritative sources.
It should also be noted that we don't expressly endorse the views of any of the publications or websites that we link to.
We try to provide as many varied and quality sources as we can in order to present you with the full story.
Contact Us
If you'd like to respond to our editors about a story published here, or comment on the magazine's content more generally,
please email feedback.
If you see a smart news story that you think should be included in Activate, email a link to articles, and our editors will consider them.
Every week, Activate presents one exclusive media partner. Click for more information about advertising opportunities on Activate and across all Flavorpill publications.
About Us
Activate is an independent-thinking weekly news round-up produced by Flavorpill, a digital publishing company that filters cultural stimuli of all kinds.
[more » ]
In addition to this weekly roundup of world news, Flavorpill also publishes ten other email magazines, covering ART, BOOKS, MUSIC, FASHION, and cultural events in six cities — NEW YORK, LOS ANGELES, SAN FRANCISCO, CHICAGO, MIAMI, and LONDON.
|
|
|
| BACK TO TOP |
|
| © 2007 Flavorpill Productions LLC. All rights reserved. |
 |
|
 |
