China sentences woman to labor camp for twitter post

Eleven days after a Chinese woman retweeted a twitter post that mocked Chinese protesters who smashed Japanese products and suggested that they also smash the Japanese Pavillion at the Shanghi World Expo, she and her fiance were taken away by the Police. Hua Chunhui was arrested at his job but was released 5 days later. His fiance, the one responsible for the twitter post, was arrested that same day except she still has not been released and Hua has not seen her since then. The arrest was made eleven days after October 17. 46 year old Chen Jianping was sentenced to one year in Henan Province Labor Camp for "disturbing social stability." It was reported the she also supported Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Liu Xiaobo on Twitter. Her lawyers are in the process of appealing her case believing no one should be put in jail for their sarcastic words.

Find this article at cnn.com
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Egypt's Farmers Desperate for Clean Water

In Fayoum, Egypt, water is becoming increasingly scarce. Egypt falls below the UN's water poverty line of 1,000 cubic meters of water per person per year. It is now less than 800 cubic meters per person per year. It's population of 80million and "sprawling urbanization" are finally taking its toll. One of Fayoum's oasis which use to be considered a plentiful and reliable source of water is being swallowed by the surrounding desert. Farmers affected by the lack of clean water and any water for that matter can barely afford to provide for thier family let alone make a profit. Many have already given up on the land and the government. Those farmer's who are opting to stay are demanding serious efforts to fix the issue. There are huge concerns with farmers resorting to thier only option of irrigating thier crops with unsanitary sewage water. Many have joined the water-user association which placed many famers in classes where they learn how to efficiently convserve as much water as possible. This is part of the governments attempt to tackle the problem by modernizing irrigation and teaching farmers proper water conservation.
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Find this article by Shahira Amin on cnn.com

Zambia mine shootings raise tensions with China

After being charged with 13 counts of attempted murder in a mine shooting, two chinese men who are managers of a southern mine in Zambia were released on bail by a Zambian judge. The managers used shot guns to fire at the Zambia mine workers last month in which 11 miners were killed. Zambian are outraged with the treat by the Chinese. The miners were protesting poor labor conditions under the chinese management. There has been a trend of anti-chinese feelings spreading since the shooting of innocent miners. Government and other officials are very sensitive when it comes to this topic and approach it with caution. While they do want to please the people of their coutnry and protect them, they can't help but remind everyone the opportunity China brings Zambia. Currently, China is Zambia's number one source of foreign investment and has a huge influence on the nation's economy especially the mining industry. It's an issue that needs to be approached with great caution if Zambia wants to remain closely tied with the economy of China.
Cnn Article

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Women For Sale Store Highlights sex trafficking in Israel

CNN's Shira Medding reports in "Women for sale store highlights sex trafficking in Israel" reports the shocking window display in a the busy Tel Aviv mall that are causing many people to turn heads. That indeed was the intention. Women are being displayed in the front of the store window wearing tagsd that detail their age, weight, and height, as well as thier country of origin. Organizers of the event want to bring awareness to women trafficking. Along the way they hope to collect enought signatures to convince the Israeli justice ministry to support its claims of men going to prostitutes. The legistation is modeled after the one in Sweden which has greatly reduce the incidents of sex trafficking. The organization hopes to put an end to "modern slavery" which have left over 10,000 women in the past decade locked, beaten, raped, and starved.
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Turkish leader to boycott meeting if Israeli counterpart attends

CNN's report Turking Leader to Boycott Meeting if Isaeli counterpart Attends, reveals Turkish Prime Minister's, Recep Yayyip Edrogan, feelings toward his Isaeli counterpart. It was reported that Edrogan said that he will not attend a climate change conference later this week if his Israeli counterpart was there. Edrogan's resentment toward Israel grew from the Israeli policy toward Palestinian territory of Gaza and the deadly comando raid on Gaza-bound aid ship in May. Edgrogan said he does not agree with any prime minister who is proud of armed intervention. He feels that Israel should pay for "the audacity that characterizes the policy of his government." Isreal has been called out numerous time since 2009. It has been accused of war crimes by Turkey and is in a position to deliver an apology. Israel's relationship is deteriorating along with the threat of losing its relationship with Greece.
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French Unions stage open-ended Strike

In Paris, France, more that one million people went on strike against the government who plans on prolonging the retirement age from 60 to 62. Millions, some claim 1.5 while the unions claim 3.5, walked out of work that Last Tuesday to join the cause, according to CNN's French Unions stage open-ended. According to the Government, there were roughly 250 demonstrations across the country. Due to the amount of students and teachers absent that day, there was no classes held. The streets were filled with tons of rioting people protesting the increase of the retirement age. With such a controversial issue any where you go, one could wonder why a Government even considers it. Maybe they should only consider it as a last resort. This, the people of France believe is not the case. There is a concern with the prolonged strike interrupting the routine traffic of the metro and other city regulated transportation. Increasing the retirement age is part of the government's pension reform plans. The Senate is expected to vote on the issue by the end of this week. It's going to be a tough one when 70 percent of the French public supported the unions this time around.
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Child Bride Horrors Last a Life Time

In Sana'a, Yemen, CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom writes in his Child Bride Horrors Last a Life Time about a young 14 year old gilr named Reem al Numeri. She is 14 year old divorced girl. According to Numeri, her father forced her to marry at age 11 to her cousin who was more than twice her age. Though Yemen has not outlawed child marriages, there is much controvery placed on this topic especially when young girls like Reem deperately beg the courts for divorce or sometimes put themselves in harms way--anything to escape thier misery. Yemen has tried to pass a bill that would atleast set the minimum age as 17 for marriage, however, the bill was shot so the child marriage still continue. It's an issue between the political institution disrespecting Islamic law which does not state a minimum age requirement. Though interferene might be taken as violation of religious beliefs, it's national concern as well as an international concern for human rights activists. It's only a matter of time before someone says "enough is enough."
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Russia Presents Vision for Arctic Wealth

Just 3 years after the Russians unofficially stuck their flag in a seabed just below the North Pole staking their claim on that arctic region, they are once again bringing up the subject of their territorial claims. CNN' Hillary Whiteman writes in her article, Russia Presents Vision for Arctic Wealth, of the pressure Russia is placing on the United Nations Convention on the Law of Sea to recognize their claims their claims to the arctic land. Sources have found that there is more than twice the amount of natural untapped oil as well as more than 3 times the amount of undiscovered gas as oil in the region. Russia has been trying to push their argument to stake their claims by mentioning the use of such resources. However, in order for Russia to gain their desired territorial rights in the arctic for whatever reason, they must consider the other seven states that have land in the arctic( Canada, Norway, United States, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, and Finland) who will most likely oppose their claims if it interferes with their territory. From this point, it looks like another battle over resources which Charlie Kronick, senior climate advisor says, "is crazy at the moment and the first thing we need to do is to reduce demand. However big the notional oil and gas reserves are up in the Arctic, we have already got more oil and gas than we can afford to burn if we don't want to cook the climate."

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Pentagon: 2 Russian aircraft buzzed U.S. warship

Something does seem a little fishy about two Russian aircrafts buzzing dangerously close next a U.S. warship. CNN's Barbara Starr gives us the details over what occured over the days of September 10th and 11th along the arctic coast of Russia. According to her article Pentagon: 2 Russian aircraft buzzed U.S. warship, the first incident occured in the waters of Barents Sea in which a miliary official claimed to have seen a Russina ll-38 aircraft fly as close as 50 yards next to the ship at about 100ft above sea Level. Concerns may not have been at thier highest point even after the aircraft made a few rounds passing the ship, however, the Russian helix helicopter mimicking the same fishy business the following day definitely rose some eyebrows. What's thier deal and do the they have a purpose? Gary Roughead, the U.S. chief of naval operations wasted no time in finding out. A short vistit to the Russian Vladimir Vysotskiyat the Pentagon concluded with a few words and reassurance that it was not hostile.
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