Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Daily Round Up

World:

There was fresh protests in China.

Several hundred people staged a new protest in Urumqi on Tuesday, demanding the release of relatives detained in connection with weekend demonstrations by ethnic Uyghur residents in China's far western Xinjiang region.

The crowd of 200 to 300 -- mostly women and elderly -- quickly formed as local authorities were taking members of the media on a tour of a neighborhood that was heavily damaged during riots over the weekend, witnesses said.

Riot police quickly moved in to defuse the standoff as the demonstrators shouted the names of family members they wanted released.

The protest is the latest sign that tensions are still simmering in the Xinjiang capital, where violent demonstrations have left 156 people dead and more than 1,000 injured, according to the regional public security department.


In Honduras, there may be a break through.

Honduras’ interim government gave hints Tuesday of a possible solution to a crisis caused by a coup, expressing the first signs of flexibility about the possible return of ousted leader Manuel Zelaya.

Roberto Micheletti, who took over following the June 28 coup, applauded the announcement that Costa Rican President Oscar Arias has agreed to mediate efforts to end the standoff.

Arias “is a man with a lot of credibility in the world,” Micheletti told HRN radio. “We are open to dialogue. We want to be heard.”

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced that Arias would take part after met privately in Washington with Zelaya.

In Russia, Vladimir Putin lectured President Obama on Cold War history.

He normally does not do breakfast meetings, it's not his style,” said an Obama adviser, who hastened to add that the president “definitely was ready for this one and was definitely enjoying the interaction.

”The meeting was long –- dominated for the first hour by Putin's harangue on the Cold War, the very subject Obama said he did not come to Russia to talk about -– and intense, if not tense, aides said.“I found him to be tough, smart, shrewd, very unsentimental, very pragmatic,”

Obama said in an interview with Fox News afterward. “And on areas where we disagree, like Georgia, I don't anticipate a meeting of the minds anytime soon.

”At the beginning of the meeting, Putin and Obama made short statements. Obama saluted Putin for “extraordinary work ... on behalf of the Russian people.”

United States:

Most of the coverage revolved around Michael Jackson's funeral however there was some other news. There's a bit of disagreement in the Democratic Party. The President's advisor, Laura Tyson, suggested that another stimulus may be necessary. The president wouldn't take the idea off the table. Then, later in the evening, Harry Reid put some cold water on that idea.

The noose is tightening around Congressman Murtha. An "associate" of his has just been indicted on charges related to corruption. Meanwhile, disgraced former professor, Ward Churchill, lost his suit and still has no job. Al Franken was officially sworn in as the Senator from Minnesota.

Sports:

Lance Armstrong is now within seconds of taking the lead in the Tour De France. There was conflicting reports regarding Lebron James' future in Cleveland. In the morning, a report surfaced that James told free agent Trevor Ariza that he planned on staying in Cleveland past his contract end at the end of next year. Then, later in the day, it was reported that James and Ariza didn't discuss James future in Cleveland. Manny Ramirez was thrown out of the game against the New York Mets for arguing balls and strikes. (on a ball that looked several inches outside) Joe Sakic retired after what should be a hall of fame career of 20 years. Finally, the Detroit Pistons named current Cavalier assistant coach, John Kuester, their new head coach. (a curious move since they fired Michael Curry supposedly because he wasn't experienced enough)

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