Just because I am not paying attention to the world today, does not mean the president has the same luxury...
Sometimes when I turn on the teevee machine, all I see is one story, on and on. Eventually I tune out, especially as people have nothing new to add to the prevailing narrative. I guess it costs corporate money to report more, plus we run the risk of an educated voting populace. Can't have that. Look at this shiny object over here...Ever notice how fast the flotilla story was replaced by Helen Thomas, and then dropped?
Sometimes the story is important, such as the oil tsunami in the Gulf, but even then you get the impression nothing else important is happening in the world. Other times it is Van der Sloot - I'd care, if his victims didn't seem disproportionately elevated over, say, dead mine or oil rig workers, dead migrants, dead flotilla humanitarians, toxic Chinese villages, etc - killed not by a sick young man, but a sick world paradigm.
Sometimes even signing on to kos is the same predictable experience, sadly - am thankful for diary rescues (where do I send recs?) and overnight news diaries. So, maybe you'll read this, maybe not,. but I'm just saying....
Some of today's top headlines: world news network www.wn.com/world
* Iran planning to downgrade ties to IAEA as Russia looked set to freeze the sale to Tehran of S300 air defence missiles in response to new UN sanctions on Iran. (Khaleej Times)
* China seeks more talks on Iran, , saying a diplomatic solution is still the better option. (Al Jazeera)
* Gain for anti-Islam Party in Dutch polls, campaigning for a halt to Muslim immigration and mosque-building, and to a tax on Islamic head gear (The Guardian) (and voters angry at Ho;;lland's continuing role in Afghanistan)
*Geithner says Chinese currency reform critical (Seattle Times) as US trade gap widens -(NY Times)
* Israeli Arab lawmaker on flotilla faces death threats (The Press Democrat)
* Terror syndicate in Pakistan: U.S (The Hindu)
* - Top U.S. and NATO war commander said Thursday the campaign to secure the crucial Kandahar region of Afghanistan, where the Taliban insurgency was born, will take longer than planned because local people do not yet welcome the military-run operation...(duh)
*Report on Google finds criminal intent could be found around the world for collecting private Wi-Fi data, a British privacy organisation said.
* Financial crisis could return: World Bank (Canberra Times)
Some of today's top headlines:The Guardian
* PM sets stage for Afghan pullout
* Spain seeks EU backing for plan for lifting Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip
* Illegal stop and searches under controversial counter-terrorism powers could mean compensation for thousands
*Mexico-US tensions rise as video emerges of boy just before being shot. Family says boy was killed while playing - but American agents insist shot was in self-defence
* LA Dodgers owners paid Russian scientist for psychic baseball boost
*Amnesty: NW Pakistan 'rights-free zone' Survey of tribal belt by rights group says militants torturing and killing women, aid workers and beardless men while Nato commander warns of delay in taking Kandahar; Afghan president 'has lost faith in US strategy; Cameron sets stage for UK withdrawal as he visits Kabul
Afghan wedding hit by massive suicide bomb;
* India's deals with Sri Lanka heighten stakes in 'Great Game' with Beijing
* China "cancer villages" - the dark side of economic boom
* North Korean border guards shoot dead three Chinese copper smugglers
From Democracy Now:
* Video and Photographs from the Gaza-Bound Aid Flotilla
*Peace Activist Kathy Kelly on the Secret US War in Pakistan
* Rep. Raul Grijalva: New Deployment of National Guard to US-Mexico Border Is Election-Year "Political Symbolism"
* LA to Pay $500,000 to Journalists Beaten at May 2007 Protest
* Turkey and Brazil Vote Against Iranian Sanctions (...t/u Israel)
Other:
* succession battles in N. Korea create chaos....
North Korea's dictator Kim Jong-il has provoked a dangerous international crisis, yet again. Our correspondent examines the weird and worrying mind of the Dear Leader (Telegraph UK):
In the state newspapers there is hysteria about "traitors". In Pyongyang's markets, prices have rocketed - especially for tinned meat, sugar, portable gas stoves and other goods needed to survive a war.
Last week Kim Jong-Il used an extraordinary cabinet meeting to order North Korean ministries to prepare for "all possible unforeseen circumstances, including the worst-case scenario", while the army's combat readiness was raised to the highest level.