What a World, What a World

World events that have caught my eye. Some of them big. Some of them small. Some of them, that no one in a year will remember at all.

European Union

Analysis: Europe’s austerity zeal risks killing the patient (Reuters)


So she’ll learn to write with her left hand _and_ go back to school anyway (ontd_political)

Burkina Faso

What is Victoria’s Secret? Child Labor (ontd_political)


Canadian MPs use bogus video-game industry data to defend hated DRM law they’re about to ram down the country’s throat (Boing Boing)

Czech Republic

Vaclav Havel, 1936-2011 (Slacktivist)


UPDATED: Danish human rights activist arrested in Bahrain, faces torture: will Danish foreign minister intervene?


Protesters Torch Famed Institute of Egypt: Rare Books, Manuscripts and Maps All Destroyed (Writers Write)

Egypt Youth Delusioned – We Were Better Off with Mubarak (The Moderate Voice)


‘Stubborn’ Iraqis Mistaken to Demand America Withdraw (Sotal Iraq, Iraq) (The Moderate Voice)


How Can Israel Please the American Government, Media, and “Experts”? It Can’t (Guest Voice) (The Moderate Voice)


Wild monkeys and boars enlisted to help measure Fukushima radiation in Japan (Boing Boing)

Japan’s Prime Minister Declares Fukushima Plant Stable (New York Times)

New Zealand

Baby Seal Breaks into House and Promptly Takes a Nap (ontd_Political)

North Korea

Kim Jong-Il Dies (The Moderate Voice)

North Korean diplomacy, with a side of slaw (Boing Boing)

Kim Jong Il is dead (Slacktivist)

North Koreans grieve loss of Dear Leader (Boing BOing)

(Video Animation) Kim Jong-il Dead, North Korea’s Future Uncertain (The Moderate Voice)

Kim Jong Il Dead (Political Cartoon) (The Moderate Voice)

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Woman Beheaded for ‘Witchcraft’ (ABC News)


Everyday Swedes take over management of nation’s Twitter account (Boing Boing)


Is Syria’s election a sham?(The Week)


Lese Majeste -15 Years For Insulting The King (The Moderate Voice)

United States – Native Nations

Why Are Indian Reservations So Poor? A Look At The Bottom 1% (ontd_political)

United Kingdom

Receding Inflation In Britain (New York Times)

London cops apologise to young photographer who was told that shooting Armed Forces Day parade was “anti-social,” “gay,” “stupid” and an offense under the Terrorism Act (Boing Boing)