The case of a pregnant 11-year-old girl -- who was raped in Chile by her mother's partner -- has set off a national debate about abortion in one of the most socially conservative countries in Latin America, the Huffington Post website reports today (July 6, 2013).
Chileans were outraged yesterday after state TV reported that the girl is 14 weeks pregnant and was raped repeatedly over the past two years. Police in the remote southern city of Puerto Montt arrested her mother's partner, who confessed to raping the fifth grader.
Doctors say the girl's life and that of the fetus are at high risk. But in Chile, ending the pregnancy is not an option.
Chile allowed abortions for medical reasons until they were outlawed in 1973 by Gen. Augusto Pinochet's dictatorship. The current government of conservative President Sebastian Pinera has opposed any loosening of the prohibition.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Coptic Orthodox Christian Priest Killed in Egypt; Due to Egypt's Pope's Blessing of Mursi's Ouster?
Gunmen shot dead a Coptic Orthodox Christian priest in Egypt's lawless Northern Sinai today (July 6, 2013), in what could be the first sectarian attack since the military overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi, according to the Reuters website.
The priest, Mina Aboud Sharween, was attacked this afternoon while walking in the Masaeed area in El Arish.
The shooting in the coastal city was one of several attacks believed to be by Islamist insurgents that included the firing at four military checkpoints in the region, security sources said.
Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood party has fiercely criticized Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros -- spiritual leader of Egypt's 8 million Christians -- for giving his blessing to the removal of President Mursi and attending the announcement by armed forces commander General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi suspending the constitution. A few weeks ago, Pope Tawadros said that Islamist President Mursi treated Christians worse than they have ever been treated in Egypt during the past 2,000 years.
The priest, Mina Aboud Sharween, was attacked this afternoon while walking in the Masaeed area in El Arish.
The shooting in the coastal city was one of several attacks believed to be by Islamist insurgents that included the firing at four military checkpoints in the region, security sources said.
Mursi's Muslim Brotherhood party has fiercely criticized Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros -- spiritual leader of Egypt's 8 million Christians -- for giving his blessing to the removal of President Mursi and attending the announcement by armed forces commander General Abdel Fattah al-Sisi suspending the constitution. A few weeks ago, Pope Tawadros said that Islamist President Mursi treated Christians worse than they have ever been treated in Egypt during the past 2,000 years.
Friday, July 5, 2013
Venezuelan Pres. Would Grant Snowden Asylum; So He Can Prevent Persecution from "the Empire"
Presidents Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua and Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela said today (July 5, 2013) they are willing to grant asylum to NSA (National Security Agency) leaker Edward Snowden, according to the USA Today website.
Snowden -- who is believed to be in Russia -- has asked for asylum in several countries, including Nicaragua and Venezuela.
"As head of state, the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela decided to offer humanitarian asylum to the young American Edward Snowden so that he can live without ... persecution from 'the empire,'" Maduro said, referring to the United States. He made the offer during a speech in Caracas marking the anniversary of Venezuela's independence.
In Nicaragua, Ortega said he was willing to make the same offer "if circumstances allow it." Ortega didn't say what "the right circumstances" would be when he spoke during a speech in Managua. "We have the sovereign right to help a person who felt remorse after finding out how the United States was using technology to spy on the whole world, and especially its European allies," Ortega said.
Snowden -- who is believed to be in Russia -- has asked for asylum in several countries, including Nicaragua and Venezuela.
"As head of state, the government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela decided to offer humanitarian asylum to the young American Edward Snowden so that he can live without ... persecution from 'the empire,'" Maduro said, referring to the United States. He made the offer during a speech in Caracas marking the anniversary of Venezuela's independence.
In Nicaragua, Ortega said he was willing to make the same offer "if circumstances allow it." Ortega didn't say what "the right circumstances" would be when he spoke during a speech in Managua. "We have the sovereign right to help a person who felt remorse after finding out how the United States was using technology to spy on the whole world, and especially its European allies," Ortega said.
Man Kept Wife Locked in Home as His Sex Slave; He Only Let Wife Eat in Return for Sex for 10 Yrs.
A brutal husband -- who kept his wife locked in their home in Poland as his sex slave for 10 years -- is facing life behind bars, the Austrian Times website reports today (July 5, 2013).
Cruel Pawel Liskewicz, 35, would only allow wife Marta Nowak, 30, to eat in return for sex, and refused to let her set foot outside the house for more than a decade.
He was seized by police when she managed to escape and asked her shocked neighbors in Chorzow to dial 999.
Police spokesman Justyna Dziedzic said: "A man has been charged with false imprisonment, torture, and rape."
Cruel Pawel Liskewicz, 35, would only allow wife Marta Nowak, 30, to eat in return for sex, and refused to let her set foot outside the house for more than a decade.
He was seized by police when she managed to escape and asked her shocked neighbors in Chorzow to dial 999.
Police spokesman Justyna Dziedzic said: "A man has been charged with false imprisonment, torture, and rape."
Egypt's Mil. Fires at Pro-Morsi Protesters in Cairo; At Least One Pro-Morsi Demonstrator Is Killed
Security forces opened fire and launched tear gas at supporters of deposed Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi in Cairo today (July 5, 2013), killing at least one person at a demonstration outside the building where Morsi is being held, the Washington Post website reports.
In the chaos, the precise number of casualties was not clear. Witnesses said several persons were injured, and some news outlets reported that multiple people were killed. The Muslim Brotherhood -- which was among the organizers of the pro-Morsi rallies -- said in a statement that five protesters were killed in Egypt today.
The violence added to concerns of an escalation between Morsi's mostly Islamist supporters and their decades-old nemesis, Egypt's powerful security forces, two days after the military forced Morsi from office.
As helicopters circled over the Republican Guard headquarters, one witness said that a man was fatally shot in the head and was carried away in a shroud by protesters.
In the chaos, the precise number of casualties was not clear. Witnesses said several persons were injured, and some news outlets reported that multiple people were killed. The Muslim Brotherhood -- which was among the organizers of the pro-Morsi rallies -- said in a statement that five protesters were killed in Egypt today.
The violence added to concerns of an escalation between Morsi's mostly Islamist supporters and their decades-old nemesis, Egypt's powerful security forces, two days after the military forced Morsi from office.
As helicopters circled over the Republican Guard headquarters, one witness said that a man was fatally shot in the head and was carried away in a shroud by protesters.
Thursday, July 4, 2013
Russia Passes Law Banning Gay Couple Adoptions; Putin Denies Russia Discriminates Against Gays
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on July 3 banning the adoption of children by same-sex couples, as part of an increasingly conservative agenda the Kremlin is pursuing since his return to power, the Reuters website reports today (July 4, 2013).
Earlier this week, Putin signed another law banning gay "propaganda," which human rights groups say has increased hate crimes against homosexuals.
Putin -- who has embraced the Russian Orthodox Church as a moral authority and harnessed its influence as a source of political support -- has championed socially conservative values since starting a new six-year term in May 2012.
The latest law aims to protect children from "dictated non-traditional sexual behavior" and rid them of "distresses of soul and stresses, which according to psychologists' research, are often experienced by children raised by same-sex parents," according to a fact sheet on the Kremlin's website. Putin, 60, denies there is discrimination in Russia against gays.
Earlier this week, Putin signed another law banning gay "propaganda," which human rights groups say has increased hate crimes against homosexuals.
Putin -- who has embraced the Russian Orthodox Church as a moral authority and harnessed its influence as a source of political support -- has championed socially conservative values since starting a new six-year term in May 2012.
The latest law aims to protect children from "dictated non-traditional sexual behavior" and rid them of "distresses of soul and stresses, which according to psychologists' research, are often experienced by children raised by same-sex parents," according to a fact sheet on the Kremlin's website. Putin, 60, denies there is discrimination in Russia against gays.
Ind. Day Has Its Roots in Ancient Greece; US Democratic Rule of Free People Began in Greece
Today (July 4, 2013) is Independence Day in the United States, and the key element to America's independence -- democracy -- has its roots in ancient Greece, the Greek Reporter website reports.
America is very thankful to Greece for its influence on our nation's democracy. President Obama has described that influence in the proclamation he issued this year commemorating Greek Independence Day (March 25):
"Two hundred and thirty-six years ago, a new American Nation was founded on an old Greek principle -- democratic rule by a free people. We trace this enduring idea to ancient Hellas, where Greeks brought forth the world's first democracy and kindled a philosophical tradition that would stand the test of time."
The proclamation continues: "As America's Founders built a Government of the people, by the people, and for the people, they drew inspiration from the democratic pioneers who shaped a small group of ancient Greek city states. In the years since, Greece and America have strengthened that connection through shared history and deep partnerships between our people."
America is very thankful to Greece for its influence on our nation's democracy. President Obama has described that influence in the proclamation he issued this year commemorating Greek Independence Day (March 25):
"Two hundred and thirty-six years ago, a new American Nation was founded on an old Greek principle -- democratic rule by a free people. We trace this enduring idea to ancient Hellas, where Greeks brought forth the world's first democracy and kindled a philosophical tradition that would stand the test of time."
The proclamation continues: "As America's Founders built a Government of the people, by the people, and for the people, they drew inspiration from the democratic pioneers who shaped a small group of ancient Greek city states. In the years since, Greece and America have strengthened that connection through shared history and deep partnerships between our people."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)