The Koran and the N.Y.P.D.
February 22, 2012
When Afghan workers at the Bagram Air Base saw our troops put copies of the Koran and other Islamic religious works into a pile of burning trash in a dumpster, they didn’t hesitate. They yelled for them to stop. They ran and “reached into the fire,” according to a Times report, and pulled the burning books out. When General John Allen, the NATO commander in Afghanistan, heard what had happened, he didn’t hesitate either. He apologized, completely and unreservedly, to President Karzai, his government, “and most importantly, to the noble people of Afghanistan.” He said that it had been a mistake. (“I assure you … I promise you … this was NOT intentional in any way.”) He said that there…
Senegal’s Youssou Ndour injured during rally: spokesman
February 22, 2012
AFP – Senegalese music icon and opposition activist Youssou Ndour was injured in the leg after being hit by a projectile at the scene of a banned rally in Dakar, his entourage told AFP. “Youssou Ndour was injured in the left leg, he has been seen by a doctor, but he doesn’t want to make a big issue out of it and we won’t be giving any…
Adele Wins Big at Brit Music Awards
February 22, 2012
London. Soulful songstress Adele capped a momentous year of Grammy Awards triumph and medical woes with a double win at the U.K.’s Brit music awards Tuesday, taking prizes for album of the year and best British female solo artist before making an obscene gesture after the show’s host cut her acceptance speech short. Teen-friendly English troubadour Ed Sheeran won two trophies, including British male solo artist, at an energetic ceremony in London. It has been a dramatic year for down-to-earth north London diva Adele, who based her chart-topping songs of heartbreak on a rocky relationship. Her sophomore album “21″ won six Grammys last week and has sold more than 6 million copies in the…
Syrian forces kill 57 civilians as Red Cross demands truce
February 22, 2012
Syrian forces killed 57 civilians on Tuesday as they blitzed the city of Homs and a village in Idlib province, monitors said, as the Red Cross sought a truce to deliver aid and the United Nations demanded unimpeded access for aid groups. The escalation comes…
Greek Parliament Debates Debt Deal Amid Protests
February 22, 2012
By ALKMAN GRANITSAS And ART PATNAUDE ATHENS—The Greek government braced for further anti-austerity protests Wednesday while the country’s parliament was debating legal changes that would clear the way for a massive debt restructuring to keep Greece from defaulting on its loans next month. The legislation, which is to be put to the vote on Thursday, retrofits outstanding Greek bonds with so-called collective-action clauses, aimed at forcing losses on bond holders who may resist a voluntary debt restructuring that will see private-sector creditors who own some €200 billion ($264.7 billion) of Greek bonds take a 53.5% haircut. Enlarge ImageClose The Greek government is aiming for…
