Egypt Unrest, “Too Liberal”, Patriotic Patchwork
Sunday, January 26, 2014
Vol. 3, No. 26
Egypt: Nearly 50 people died in political clashes in Egypt on the third anniversary of the uprising that overthrew President Hosni Mubarek. Riot police were called to break up a disturbance between anti-government Islamists and left wing activists. About a thousand people were arrested around the country, nearly half of them in Cairo. Both the Islamists and pro-Democracy demonstrators are angry that the overthrow of Mubarek in 2011 has resulted in military rule three years later.
Ukraine: Demonstrations continued in Kiev as Ukrainian opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk turned down an offer to be appointed prime minister. Some demonstrators tried to overtake the headquarters of the riot police. President Viktor Yanukovych is trying to save himself by offering to share power. The opposition wants new elections and a chance to oust Yanukovych.
Degrees: Devil’s Lake, ND, 3, Green Bay, Wisc. 4, Chicago, 15, Washington DC, 27, New York City, 18, Boston, 17, Sugarloaf Mtn, ME, 3.
Nation: Three people died yesterday, including the gunman, in a shooting at the Columbia Mall in suburban Maryland outside Washington. The two victims were a 21-year-old woman and a 25-year-old man who worked at a skate shop. The shooter came from College Park, the same town as the woman, but police have not announced a motive for the shooting. The mall is still closed today.
Politics: The Arizona Republican Party has denounced their own Sen. John McCain for being “too liberal.” They cited his “long and terrible record of drafting, co-sponsoring and voting for legislation best associated with liberal Democrats.” Included in their complaint was McCain’s push for immigration reform, his support for funding Obamacare, and for even considering some kind of gun control.
World: China’s prominent civil rights activist Xu Zhiyong has been sentenced to four years in prison for “gathering crowds to disrupt public order.” Xu has campaigned for children’s rights and against corruption. He’s been a leader of the movement that wants to force Chinese officials to reveal their wealth.
>Thirteen illegal Moroccan migrants held in indefinite custody in Italy have sewed their mouths shut in protest. Italy doesn’t know what to do with a stream of immigrants fleeing civil war and poverty in North Africa. More than 40,000 crossed the Mediterranean last year.
C’est fini: French President Francois Hollande and his First Lady live-in Valerie Trierweiler have split. In a phone call to Agence France Presse Hollande said, “I am making it known that I have put an end to my shared life with Valerie Trierweiler.” A French magazine recently revealed that the mated, but unmarried, Hollande was having an affair with prominent actress Julie Gayet.
Red, White and Blue: Designer Ralph Lauren is still trying to get it right with Olympic uniforms. Trashed for having his 2012 USA uniforms made in China, this time he had everything made in the US. But this year he has to explain why his sweater for the opening ceremonies looks like Grandma’s Christmas sweater. It’s a patchwork of red white and blue, American flags, stars, stripes and the Polo logo prominent on the left lapel. Wait, this is unkind to Grandma. She would never wear this sweater.
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