Posts Tagged
‘bashar al-assad’

James Holmes is in court to hear charges; 300 million are left without power in India; Syrian rebels close in on Aleppo; European stocks rise; Uganda reports Ebola outbreaks; Mitt Romney describes his spiritual trip to Israel; and Bill Clinton will play a major part in the Democratic National Convention. Meanwhile, Kristen Stewart may have been cheating on Robert Pattinson for months; Olympic organizers give away tickets after complaints of empty seats; and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills‘ notoriously bickering couple separates.

Caitlin

CRUCIAL:

Colorado Theater Shooting: James Holmes in Court to Hear Charges, http://abcn.ws/Mufggu
James Holmes, the 24-year-old accused of killing 12 and injuring 58 while opening fire in an Aurora, CO movie theater, will appear in court today to hear the charges against him. “There’s probably charges that can be brought [on behalf] of anybody who was present. The state will need to decide how they approach all of those charges,” the former head of the Colorado public defender’s office has said. While in court, Holmes’ lawyers will argue that an incriminating package the suspect sent to his psychiatrist was taken illegally by officials and leaked to the media by the government.

India power outage plunges 300 million into sweltering darkness, http://cbsn.ws/NQN35g
Droughts in India have contributed to its rising temperatures, which in turn, caused a blackout for 300 million in the country’s northern grid Monday. The power outages have left people to deal with the sweltering heat and have also affected hundreds of trains, New Delhi’s metro system, and traffic lights. Sushil Kumar Sinde, India’s power minister, has said that the eight states affected have since had 60% of their power restored. This was the first time since 2001 that India’s northern grid has experienced power outages.

Syrian rebels seize military base outside Aleppo, http://bit.ly/OtSJo6
Syrian rebels fought off President Bashar al Assad’s troops to seize a military base outside of Aleppo Monday. Assad’s troops and rebels have continued to fight for control of Aleppo, Syria’s biggest city, driving close to 200,000 people out of the city and its surrounding areas. In response to the rebels’ gains, France’s foreign minister has said “As France is taking over the presidency of the U.N. Security Council on August 1, we are going to ask—before the end of the week—for a meeting of the Security Council, probably at a ministerial level … to try and stop the massacres and prepare for the political transition.”

(via The Wall Street Journal) European Stocks Rise, http://on.wsj.com/OdfcEQ
European stocks clung to solid gains Monday, buoyed by hopes for additional stimulus measures from the U.S. Federal Reserve and European Central Bank and despite a contraction in Spain’s economic growth, dire U.K. lending data and a fall in euro-zone confidence surveys. Government bond yields from Italy and Spain also remained well off recent highs after an Italian bond auction which sold close to the top end of its targeted range. Although bid-to-cover ratios were on the weak side, borrowing costs came in lower than at previous sales.

Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni warns of Ebola threat, http://bbc.in/Q5FQ2B
Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni announced in a special broadcast that fourteen people have died from an Ebola outbreak that started in the western part of the country three weeks ago. Museveni warned of physical contact as that’s how the disease is spread. He also said that friends and families of victims should call health workers before burying their loved ones. This will be the third time that Ebola, which has a mortality rate of 90%, has had a break out in Uganda in the last twelve years.

Mitt Romney, at fundraiser in Israel, describes spiritual impact of visit, http://wapo.st/Q5jEq2
At a breakfast fundraiser in Jerusalem Monday, Mitt Romney described how spiritual his 36-hour trip to Israel had been: ““I come to this place, therefore, with a sense of profound humility, as I look around here at the great people who’ve accomplished a great thing, and also a sense of spiritual connection, acknowledging the hand of providence in establishing this place and making it a holy city.” The breakfast was comprised of 40 donors, Sheldon Adelson being one of them, who paid $25,000-$50,000 in order to attend. Romney is expecting to raise $1,000,000 from the fundraiser. Earlier in his trip, the former Massachusetts governor defied U.S. policy and referred to Jerusalem as Israel’s capital instead of Tel Aviv. He also said Iran’s nuclear progress was the U.S.’s “highest national security priority.”

Bill Clinton to Have Leading Role at Party’s Convention, http://nyti.ms/OfuO8b
Bill Clinton will give the marquee speech at the Democratic National Convention on September 5th. The former president will officially place President Obama’s name for the nomination and will speak about voting the president into a second term. The Obama campaign has asked Clinton to play a major role in the convention in hopes that he will excite Democrats and Independents. “There isn’t anybody on the planet who has a greater perspective on not just the last four years, but the last two decades, than Bill Clinton,” said senior Obama strategist David Axelrod.

CULTURAL:

At London Olympics, empty seats have organizers scrambling, giving away tickets to children and soldiers, http://wapo.st/Mugvw5

French get revenge for 2008 relay loss to US, http://bit.ly/N6YxPO

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Star Adrienne Maloof and Husband Paul Nassif Separating, http://eonli.ne/PcQVuY

Kristen Stewart Cheated on Rob for 6 Months, Says Rupert Sanders’ Brother-in-Law, http://bit.ly/OCZSRM