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Outrage as France become first country in world to ban pro-Palestine demos

Posted on July 18, 2014 by ankakh

France’s Socialist government provoked outrage today by becoming the first in the world to ban protests against Israeli action in Palestine.

In what is viewed as an outrageous attack on democracy, Socialist Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said mass demonstrations planned for the weekend should be halted.

Mr Cazeneuve said there was a ‘threat to public order’, while opponents said he was ‘criminalising’ popular support of the Palestinian people.

Thousands were set to march against the ongoing slaughter in Gaza, calling for an immediate end to hostilities in which civilians including many children have been killed.

But Mr Cazeneuve fears there might be a repeat of the fights between ‘ultra’ Jewish vigilantes and pro-Palestinians which happened after a demonstration last Sunday.

There were false claims made last week that synagogues in Paris had been targeted by pro-Palestinian demonstrators.

In fact videos showed armed vigilantes from a group called the Jewish Defence League (LDJ) baiting demonstrators into fights.

There were no arrests among the LDJ, despite them fighting and smashing up property in full view of the police.

Six pro-Palestine protestors were arrested for a variety of public order offences, but none had been anywhere near Paris synagogues, which remained undamaged.

UN: Some 5,500 Civilians Killed in Iraq This Year

Posted on July 18, 2014 by ankakh

Violence in Iraq has killed more than 5,500 civilians over the first six months of the year, the U.N. said Friday in a new report that documents the massive humanitarian toll of an ongoing Sunni militant offensive in the country.

In its report, the U.N. mission to Iraq said at least 5,576 civilians were killed and another 11,665 wounded in Iraq from Jan. 1 through the end of June. Another 1.2 million people have been driven from their homes by the violence, it said.

The pace of civilian deaths over the first six months marked a sharp increase over the previous year. In all of 2013, the U.N. reported just over 7,800 civilians killed, which was the highest annual death toll in years.

The report also documents human rights abuses by both sides of the conflict that may constitute crimes against humanity or war crimes.

The U.N. urged all sides in the conflict to ensure the protection of civilians, and to respect international law and humanitarian law.

Inside China’s fat camp: How middle-class children are beasted into shape ‘to prepare them for life in the world’s largest economy’

Posted on July 18, 2014 by ankakh

Donning swimming caps and goggles, they stare wearily ahead as they stretch their arms by the side of an outdoor pool.

These middle-class children are among numerous overweight youngsters taking part in a gruelling fat camp at a university in Beijing, China.

They have been sent to the summer camp by their parents in a bid to get them into shape and to prepare them for the challenges of life in one of the world’s largest economies.

On a daily basis, they are forced to swim, run, lift weights and perform exercises under the supervision of strict Chinese trainers.

They are also required to undergo medical and weight checks by professional nurses at the facility.

Obesity is a growing problem among the burgeoning middle-class in China. According to recent studies, the country is now the second fattest in the world behind America.