HOMELAND SECURITY NSA reportedly collects 5 billion cell phone location records a day

"The NSA collects nearly 5 billion records a day on the locations of cell phones overseas to create a huge database that stores information from hundreds of millions of devices, including those belonging to some Americans abroad, the Washington Post reported Wednesday."

Read more here: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/12/04/nsa-reportedly-collects-5-billion-cell-phone-location-records-day/


It's definitely happening, so watch out who you're contacting and what you're texting others about.

Also:

"The database and projects designed to analyze it have created a mass surveillance tool for the NSA, allowing it to monitor individuals in a way never seen before.

NSA analysts can look at the data and track an individual’s movements throughout the world. They can then map out the person's relationships with others and expose previously unknown correspondence."

That's creepy...they know where you are! They know all about you!

Somali Parliament Votes to Remove Prime Minister

December 2, 2013:

"MOGADISHU, Somalia — Somalia’s Parliament voted the prime minister out of office on Monday in a no-confidence motion, with 184 of 249 lawmakers in favor, after what was termed a “constitutional dispute” between the president and the prime minister, Somali officials said.

More than 100 members of Parliament filed the motion on Saturday against the prime minister, Abdi Farah Shirdon, accusing him of “ineffectiveness.” Debate on the motion started on Sunday as security in and around Parliament was tightened."

Read more here: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/03/world/africa/somali-parliament-votes-to-remove-prime-minister.html


My first thought: how often does this happen?

Also:

"The dispute between the president and the prime minister had largely been kept secret until the prime minister’s office issued a statement on Nov. 12 saying “that a dispute between me and the president arose and that dispute is not based on politics but on the Constitution.” The statement added, “I request from the Somali people to be confident with their leadership and the Somali Parliament in finding a solution for the problem.” The statement did not mention the nature of the dispute.

The prime minister took office in October 2012, and his administration has been repeatedly accused of corruption and unauthorized transactions, with many analysts saying they believed that this might have seriously affected the international community’s willingness to support the Somali government."

Ohio superintendent, coaches charged in teen rape case

November 25, 2013:

"Four Ohio school officials were indicted Monday morning for obstructing an investigation of student athletes in the rape of a 16-year-old girl last year.

"'What you have here is an attempt to protect an institution or protect someone when what should have happened is the person doing that should have been worrying about the actual victim," he said. "People were not worried about the victim.'"

Read more here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/11/25/ohio-ag-plans-announcement-about-rape-case-inquiry/3697199/

So sad. Lesson here - always report abuse. Always always always. Especially abuse of a minor. 

White House petition to opt in for porn follows UK's lead

November 14, 2013:

"WASHINGTON, D.C. — A movement to require Internet subscribers to opt in to be able to view porn is gaining some traction with a petition on whitehouse.gov.
The petition aims to make porn something people have to choose to unblock instead of being a "standard feature." The move follows the United Kingdom's recent decision to block porn unless people opt in with their Internet providers."

Read more here: http://m.ksl.com/index/story/sid/27631200?mobile_direct=y

I'm really hoping this is actually happening and not some fake scam, because this is fantastic! This is probably the best article I've come across in a long time. The effects of porn in America is astonishing. The number of innocent people who stumble across porn while innocently surfing the internet is outrageous as well. I'm mostly concerned and interested in protecting young children, which this article is aimed at. If this has already taken place in the U.K., what's stopping us from making this happen here in the U.S.? Let's sign that petition so we can make this a reality!

Update 11/25/13:

Of course as soon as I get all excited about this and post it for the world to see, I read more on the subject and realize this idea is crap and will never work. It's just too complicated. This just shows - do your research before you jump into something.

Preah Vihear temple grounds belong to Cambodia, U.N. court rules

Monday, November 11, 2013:

"Border land around the cherished Preah Vihear temple belongs to Cambodia and Thailand's police and security forces must leave the territory, the United Nation's highest court ruled Monday in a decades-old dispute between the Southeast Asian neighbors."

Read more here: 
http://www.latimes.com/world/worldnow/la-fg-wn-cambodia-thailand-preah-vihear-dispute-icj-20131111,0,5261897.story#axzz2kO37W97n


Wow...super interesting article.  Learning about International Law is becoming increasingly interesting to me as well as important.  It's keeping me somewhat up to date with world news and helping me learn and understand the business that takes place daily in other countries. I live such a sheltered life; it's good to learn about what's taking place around the world.

COURT CONSIDERS WHAT'S 'ON THE CLOCK'

Monday, November 4th 2013:

"A group of steel workers want to be paid for for the time they spend putting on and taking off protective clothing each day. But the Fair Labor Standards Act doesn't require employers to pay employees for time spent 'changing clothes.' Justices are now being asked define exactly what 'changing clothes' means."

Read More at: http://news4sanantonio.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/court-considers-whats-clock-5395.shtml#.Ungw3LK9KK0


I know these posts are supposed to require some effort, but I'm really not feeling it today, so this is as good as it's gonna get here on this blog today. I do find this article interesting and a bit funny. Why hasn't this been brought up before? If the court sides with the steel workers in this case, it could bring up all sorts of issues, which makes me think the court won't side in favor of the steel workers at all. What do you think?

3 members of Chinese advocacy group stand trial

October 28, 2013:

"XINYU, China (AP) — China on Monday put on trial three activists from a group that used protest banners and dinner parties to urge citizens to embrace their constitutional rights, underscoring the Communist Party's intolerance of any semblance of organized political challenge."

More here: http://m.thegardenisland.com/news/world/members-of-chinese-advocacy-group-stand-trial/article_4d0bf044-9339-57fc-8333-18daba4b1d3a.html?mode=jqm

I found this paragraph particularly interesting - I feel it and this article relates to a lot of what we're learning in class this semester: 

"'The United States urges the Chinese government to respect internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedoms of expression and assembly,' said Daniel Delk, the U.S. Embassy's political officer."

REFILE-Oil kingdom Brunei to introduce sharia criminal law

Tuesday, October 22nd:

"Oil-rich Brunei will enforce sharia criminal law next year, the Islamic kingdom's sultan announced on Tuesday, with possible punishments including stoning to death for adultery and flogging for drinking alcohol.

The law would be enforced from April, said the 67-year-old sovereign, Hassanal Bolkiah, one of the world's wealthiest people, who has presided over a shift to more conservative Islam and anti-sedition laws in recent years."

More here: http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/10/22/brunei-sharia-idINL1N0IC07U20131022

I find this article super interesting. Earlier this year I learned that if you are charged with a crime in another country - one in which you're not a citizen of or live in, you become subject to punishments enforced in that country. I'm not exactly sure if that's true, because I heard it from word of mouth while having a conversation with a friend, but it relates to this article, so that leads me to believe it is true. 

Libyan Al Qaeda suspect expected in US court on terrorism charges

October 15, 2013:

"A suspected terrorist who was being held aboard a U.S. warship after being caught in Libya is now in New York and will appear in court on Tuesday.

The Al Qaeda suspect, known as Abu Anas al-Libi, has been under federal indictment in New York for more than a decade."

More here: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/10/14/libyan-al-qaeda-suspect-brought-to-us-soil/

I'm questioning jurisdiction in this case. Possibly venue as well. Why is he being tried here in the US? I understand he is being charged for crimes committed over a decade ago, but those crimes occurred in Africa - although they were US embassies. Interesting...

UK armed man pleads guilty after trying to enter Buckingham Palace;wanted to see queen

October 15, 2013:

"LONDON — Prosecutors say a man armed with a 6-inch kitchen knife was hoping to see Queen Elizabeth II when he tried to rush through a Buckingham Palace gate.

David Belmar pleaded guilty on Tuesday to trespassing and possession of a bladed article for the incident a day earlier, when the 44-year-old was tackled after jumping over a vehicle barrier outside Buckingham Palace."

More here: http://m.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/uk-armed-man-pleads-guilty-after-trying-to-enter-buckingham-palace-wanted-to-see-queen/2013/10/15/d860ae64-35a8-11e3-89db-8002ba99b894_story.html

Yet another story about a "crazy". I guess I should put it nicely and say mentally disabled. This poor individual. To me, it's just sad. It's not really entirely his fault that he acted in this manner, but I guess that's partially why we have law enforcement. I hope he can get the care and treatment he needs.

Beijing bomber Ji Zhongxing jailed for six years

October 16, 2013:

"A Chinese court yesterday found wheelchair-bound Ji Zhongxing guilty of detonating the small explosive device in the arrivals hall of the international airport in July.

Ji - who has been in hospital under police arrest since the incident - has spent 10 years demanding compensation for an attack that left him disabled."

More here: http://m.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/beijing-bomber-ji-zhongxing-jailed-for-six-years/story-e6frg6so-1226740515896

I personally question whether this man is disabled in more ways than one...if you know what I mean... Although he may have supposably been wronged, his behavior in setting off the bomb is no excuse for how he was treated in the past. If his family claims he didn't mean to set off the explosive/didn't set off the explosive, then who did and why?

Bo Xilai Found Guilty, Sentenced to Life in Prison

"BEIJING—A Chinese court sentenced Bo Xilai to life in prison on Sunday after finding the once powerful Communist Party insider guilty of bribery, embezzlement and abuse of power.

The outcome of China's most politically charged trial in more than three decades was announced by the Intermediate People's Court in the eastern city of Jinan on its official microblog account after a brief hearing on Sunday morning.

Party insiders said the harsh sentence is certain to have been decided by China's leadership in an attempt to bring an end to the scandal surrounding Mr. Bo, whose wife was convicted last year in the 2011 murder of a British businessman."

Read more here: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303730704579090080547591654.html

Turkish warplane shoots down Syrian helicopter after airspace violation

"A Turkish fighter jet shot down a Syrian military helicopter on Monday after it entered Turkish airspace and ignored repeated warnings to leave, an official said.

The helicopter strayed two kilometres into Turkish airspace, but crashed inside Syria after being hit by missiles fired from the jet, Turkey’s deputy prime minister, Bulent Arinc, told reporters in Ankara."

Read more here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/warplanes-shoot-down-syrian-helicopter-after-it-violated-turkish-airspace/article14338333/

Obama says Russian Syria proposal could be a breakthrough

"President Obama said on Monday he would "run to ground" a proposal outlined by the Russians that would wrest control of chemical weapons from Syria and would potentially head off a U.S. military strike against the Bashar Assad regime."

Read more here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/09/09/russia-syria/2785703/

France accuses Syria of 'massive use of chemical agents'

"PARIS — On Feb.14, 2003, French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin told members of the United Nations Security Council that taking part in the war in Iraq without absolute proof of weapons of mass destruction and without a UN endorsement was not an option for France.

But now, a decade later, France is the only major European U.S. ally likely to support military strikes against Syria, and French President Francois Hollande seems even more eager to go to war than President Obama."

Read more here: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/09/02/france-syria-strikes/2754931/