Showing posts with label Obama. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Obama. Show all posts

Saturday, December 27, 2014

Obama is a Monkey in the Jungle - Kim Jong Un lays into Obama with a war of words - read on...

North Korea lambasts Obama over The Interview release

Billboard advertising The Interview (19 December)The Interview was released on Christmas Day, despite threats to movie-goers

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North Korea has condemned US President Barack Obama over the release of the film The Interview, about a fictional plot to kill its leader Kim Jong-un.
The country's National Defence Commission (NDC) also accused the US of shutting down the country's internet - and used a racial slur to describe the "reckless" Mr Obama.
Sony Pictures had originally pulled the title after a cyber-attack and threats.
But the company later reconsidered, releasing the comedy on Christmas Day.
A number of critics - including the US president - had warned that freedom of expression was under threat if the movie was shelved.
The controversial film was shown in some US cinemas and online, with several hundred independent theatres coming forward and offering to show the film. However, larger cinemas decided not screen it.
Kim Jong-un's potential difficulty is that The Interview - which casts the North Korean leader as a malign, vain buffoon - has been widely reviewed as funny and astute, the BBC's Stephen Evans in Seoul reports.
If activists start smuggling it into North Korea on USB sticks, as they already do with other films, it might prove quite powerful, our correspondent adds.
'Righteous deed'
In a statement on Saturday, an NDC spokesman denounced the US for screening the "dishonest and reactionary movie hurting the dignity of the supreme leadership of the DPRK [North Korea] and agitating terrorism".
Kim Jong-Un with North Korean soldiers' familiesNorth Korea says the film hurts the "dignity of its supreme leadership"
President Obama, the statement said, "is the chief culprit who forced the Sony Pictures Entertainment to indiscriminately distribute the movie", blackmailing cinemas in the US.
It added: "Obama always goes reckless in words and deeds like a monkey in a tropical forest."
The NDC also accused also Washington of "groundlessly linking the unheard of hacking at the Sony Pictures Entertainment to the DPRK".
Sony Pictures had initially pulled the film after suffering an unprecedented hacking attack at the hands of a group calling itself the Guardians of Peace.
The Interview screened at small US cinemas
The hackers also threatened to carry out a terrorist attack on cinemas showed the film on its scheduled release date of Christmas Day.
Last week, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said its analysis pointed the finger at North Korea. However, many cyber-security experts have come forward to dispute this assertion.
At the time, North Korea denied being behind the attack but described it as a "righteous deed".
The country subsequently suffered a severe internet outage.
line
The Interview saga
The Interview features James Franco and Seth Rogen as two journalists who are granted an audience with Mr Kim. The CIA then enlists the pair to assassinate him.
  • 22 November: Sony computer systems hacked, exposing embarrassing emails and personal details about stars
  • 7 December: North Korea denies accusations that it is behind the cyber-attack, but praises it as a "righteous deed"
  • 16 December: "Guardians of Peace" hacker group threatens 9/11-type attack on cinemas showing film; New York premiere cancelled
  • 17 December: Leading US cinema groups say they will not screen film; Sony cancels Christmas Day release
  • 19 December: FBI concludes North Korea orchestrated hack; President Obama calls Sony cancellation "a mistake"
  • 20 December: North Korea proposes joint inquiry with US into hacks, rejected by the US
  • 22 December: North Korea suffers a severe internet outage; US authorities decline to comment
  • 23 December: Sony bosses appear to change their minds, saying they will now give The Interview a limited Christmas Day release
  • 25 December: The Interview is shown in some US cinemas and released online
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Sunday, July 27, 2014

Game of Drones - yep, I guess that just about says it...






































Game of Drones - yep, I guess that just about says it...
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Thursday, March 27, 2014

Obama meets Pope Francis during Rome visit


Obama meets Pope Francis during Rome visit

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The BBC's Alan Johnston describes the relaxed atmosphere at the meeting

Ukraine crisis

US President Barack Obama says it was a "great honour" to meet Pope Francis for the first time during a European tour dominated by the crisis in Ukraine.
He flew into Rome after three days of talks with world leaders in the Netherlands and Brussels.
Tensions are high following Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.
On Wednesday Mr Obama said the US and the EU were considering deeper sanctions against Moscow if there were any further incursions.
Pro-Russian forces seized Crimea - which has a Russian-speaking majority - this month.

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The US president seemed to be preparing his audiences for a long struggle with Russia”
image of Gavin HewittGavin HewittEurope editor
Moscow annexed the peninsula after it declared independence following a referendum that Ukraine and its Western allies consider illegal.
In other Ukraine developments:
  • Six Ukrainian military officers detained by Russian troops in Crimea have been released, but five remain in custody. Those released include Col Yuli Mamchur, the commander of Belbek base, which fell on Saturday
  • The International Monetary Fund (IMF) says it has agreed a loan deal with Ukraine worth $14bn to $18bn
  • Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk says the price Ukraine pays for Russian gas will increase by 79% from 1 April
A 90-second look-back at the Argentine Pope's first year in charge
'Brute force'
In a newspaper interview published before their meeting, Mr Obama described the Pope as a man who "lived the Christian Gospel".
US Deputy National Security Adviser Ben Rhodes said President Obama has been inspired by Pope Francis' messages of inclusion and equality.
He said Mr Obama planned to express his appreciation for his leadership.
Pope Francis greets the crowd as he arrives for his general audience at St Peter's square on 26 March 26President Obama has praised the Pope for his compassion and his emphasis on helping the poor
The BBC's Alan Johnston in Rome says the two men have very different views on subjects such as abortion, contraception and gay marriage, but at this meeting they are likely to emphasise what they share.
After meeting the Pope, Mr Obama is due to meet both Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.
President Obama is accompanied in Italy by US Secretary of State John Kerry.
US and EU 'united' over Russia
What do Americans have to say about Pope Francis?
On Wednesday, Mr Obama held talks with EU leaders in Brussels. Washington and the EU have already imposed targeted sanctions against Russian and Ukrainian individuals over the annexation of Crimea.
Later he said Russians would "recognise that they cannot achieve security, prosperity and status... through brute force".
"That's why, throughout this crisis, we will combine our substantial pressure on Russia with an open door for diplomacy," President Obama said.
Pro-Russian forces began seizing key sites in Crimea days after Ukraine's Moscow-leaning President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted.
He left power following months of bloody protests over his decision to seek greater ties with Moscow rather than the EU.
President Obama flew to Brussels following a nuclear security summit in the Netherlands.
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Thursday, December 12, 2013

Fake Signer with Obama at Mandela memorial


S Africa investigates 'fake signer' security checks

Thamsanqa Jantjie: "I see angels come into the stadium"

Mandela's death

South Africa's deputy disability minister says the government is investigating how a man who faked sign language at the Mandela memorial was given security clearance.
Thamsanqa Jantjie, who stood alongside world leaders at the event, has denied being a fraud, and said he panicked when he began hallucinating.
He said he had schizophrenia, which had in the past made him act violently.
The agency that employed him, SA Interpreters, has reportedly vanished.

Analysis

image of Joseph WinterJoseph WinterBBC News, Johannesburg
South Africa's Deputy Disability Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu admitted that hiring an unqualified sign language interpreter was a mistake but denies suggestions that the government should be embarrassed.
However, many South Africans, deaf people around the world and no doubt the US presidential security team will disagree.
Ms Bogopane-Zulu says the agency through which Thamsanqa Jantjie was recruited has "vanished into thin air" after providing a sub-standard service for many years - previous clients are said to have included other government agencies and the ANC.
Nobody has yet admitted to recruiting SA Interpreters and Mr Jantjie, but whoever was responsible will no doubt be asked to make a similar mea culpa.
This scandal is partially overshadowing the national mourning for Nelson Mandela, who continues to lie in state. South Africa will hope the outstanding questions will be answered before his funeral on Sunday.
The African National Congress (ANC) said it had used Mr Jantjie as an interpreter several times before, and "had not been aware of any of complaints regarding the quality of services, qualifications or reported illnesses" of the interpreter.
But it said Tuesday's memorial at a stadium in Johannesburg was organised by the state, not the ANC, so the ruling party could not comment on security arrangements.
The South African Translators' Institute said earlier there had been complaints over Mr Jantjie's work before, but that the ANC had taken no action.
The ANC said it would "follow up the reported correspondence that has supposedly been sent to us in this regard and where necessary act on it".
'No embarrassment'
Mr Mandela died last week at the age of 95, and will be buried on Sunday.
His body is currently lying in state in Pretoria, with thousands queuing to pay their respects.
During the memorial, Mr Jantjie (also spelt Dyantyi) stood on the stage next to key speakers including US President Barack Obama, South African President Jacob Zuma and Mr Mandela's grandchildren, translating their eulogies.
An interpreter on South Africa's SABC TV shows the signing which should have been used
Mr Jantjie's performance was watched on television by millions of people worldwide and angered the South African deaf community. Pressure has been mounting on the government to explain why he was hired for such an important event.
Deputy Disability Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu told a news conference on Thursday: "Firstly, I don't think South Africa as a country would put at risk anybody's security, especially those of heads of state.
"Secondly, when somebody provides a service of a sign language interpreter, I don't think... somebody would say: 'Is your head ok? Do you have any mental disability?' I think the focus was on: 'Are you able to sign? Can you provide the services?'"
But she said: "In terms of security clearance that is in a process, we are requesting to check his vetting."
Ms Bogopane-Zulu apologised to the deaf community but said there was no reason for the country to be embarrassed.
Thamsanqa Jantjie signing at an ANC event (undated image)Mr Jantjie has been employed to sign at ANC events in the past
"There are as many as a hundred sign language dialects," she said, explaining that Mr Jantjie speaks Xhosa and that "the English was a bit too much for him".
She also accused Mr Jantjie's employers of being "cheats", and said the directors of SA Interpreters had since vanished.
Government minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu said the interpreting firm had been providing sub-standard services for some time
Mr Jantjie himself has blamed his flawed interpretation on a schizophrenic episode.
He told the Associated Press he had often been violent in the past, and had been due to attend a routine mental health check-up on the day of the memorial, to determine whether he needed to be admitted to hospital.
He told the BBC that during the event he had had a breakdown, and started hallucinating that angels were coming down into the crowd.
"I started knowing that I am not real, because it's not something possible. But believe me I saw them coming on stage.
"From that moment, it was not myself," he said, saying he had becoming concerned for the safety of people in the stadium and was "absolutely" aware that he was not signing correctly.
The US Secret Service said "agreed upon security measures" had been in place for President Obama's appearance at the memorial, and that US agents were "always in close proximity" to him wherever he went.
Spokesman Brian Leary said it was the responsibility of the South Africans to carry out the relevant background checks on people involved.
"Beyond that we won't comment on deliberations that took place between the Secret Service and South African authorities," he said.
Final journey
People queue for busses before heading to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, South AfricaLong queues of mourners wait to catch a bus to view the body of ex-President Nelson Mandela, a scene reminiscent of that in 1994 when voters queued in Soweto
A long line of people wait outside the polling station in Soweto to vote in South Africa's first all-race electionsA long line of people wait outside the polling station in Soweto to vote in South Africa's first all-race elections in April 1994

Lying in state

  • Nelson Mandela's body lies in state at the Union Buildings in Pretoria 11-13 December
  • Coffin taken every morning from the mortuary to the Union Buildings
  • Public encouraged to line the route
  • Mandela family and selected visitors viewed the body from 10:00 on Wednesday; open to public from midday
  • The public is then able to view the body from 08:00 to 17:30 on Thursday and Friday
Mr Mandela's body is lying in state until 13 December, when the military will fly the coffin to the Eastern Cape from Air Force Base Waterkloof in Pretoria.
A military guard of honour will welcome the arrival, and the coffin will then be placed on a gun carriage and transported to a hearse.
Mr Mandela's body will then be taken to his home village of Qunu, where the Thembu community will conduct a traditional ceremony.
A national day of reconciliation will take place on 16 December when a statue of Mr Mandela will be unveiled at the Union Buildings.
Big screens have been set up across South Africa to show the planned national events.
Mandela funeral map
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Monday, September 30, 2013

US Government begins first shutdown in 17 years



US begins government shutdown as budget deadline passes

Democrat Jim McGovern told Republicans: "You own this"

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The US government has begun a partial shutdown after the Republican-led House of Representatives refused to approve a budget for next year.
A midnight deadline passed without agreement despite a last-gasp appeal by President Barack Obama.
More than 700,000 US government workers face unpaid leave with no guarantee of back pay once the deadlock is over.
Republicans have insisted on delaying President Obama's health care reforms as a condition for passing the budget.
With less than one hour to go before midnight, the Republican-led House called for a bipartisan committee with the Senate to try to thrash out a deal, but Democrats said it was too late to avoid a shutdown.
The White House's budget office began notifying federal agencies to begin an "orderly shutdown" as midnight approached.
One of the first casualties of the shutdown was the twitter account for the US Capitol.

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Now they have gone over the cliff - not because of a massive miscalculation or even misstep, but a bravado-fuelled game of dare that was almost bound to end this way”
image of Mark MardellMark MardellNorth America editor
"Due to a lapse in government funding, this account will not be active until further notice," it posted.
Earlier it had warned that the Capitol's visitors' centre would be closed if the shutdown went ahead, and all tours would be suspended.
Shortly after midnight, President Obama tweeted: "They actually did it. A group of Republicans in the House just forced a government shutdown over Obamacare instead of passing a real budget."
The Senate is to meet again at 09:30 (13:30 GMT) on Tuesday, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said.
The BBC's Mark Mardell in Washington says the divide in US politics has grown so bitter that government itself cannot function.
It is the US government's first partial shutdown in 17 years.
Obama address
On Monday afternoon, the Democratic-led Senate voted 54-46 against a bill from House Republicans that would have funded the government only if President Obama's healthcare law - dubbed Obamacare - was delayed for a year.
The US stock market dropped amid fears of political deadlock, although analysts say serious damage to the economy is unlikely unless the shutdown lasts for more than a few days.
Early on Monday evening, President Obama went on national television to criticise Republicans for trying to refight the last election.
A shutdown would have "a very real economic impact on real people, right away," he said, adding it would "throw a wrench" into the US recovery.
President Obama told members of the military: "You and your families deserve better than the dysfunction we're seeing in Congress"
"The idea of putting the American people's hard-earned progress at risk is the height of irresponsibility, and it doesn't have to happen."
After the Senate vote, the chamber's Democratic majority leader blamed Republicans for the imminent halt to all non-essential government operations.
"It will be a Republican government shutdown, pure and simple," said Harry Reid, referring to the Republicans as "bullies".
The House then passed another bill on Monday evening to fund the government - but with a one-year delay to one of the health law's primary elements not due to begin on 1 October, the individual mandate.
"The American people don't want a shutdown and neither do I," House Speaker John Boehner said, but added that the healthcare law was "having a devastating impact... Something has to be done".
The Senate again rejected the Obamacare provisions with less than three hours before the deadline.
Major portions of the healthcare law, which passed in 2010 and has been validated by the US Supreme Court, are due to take effect on Tuesday regardless of whether there is a shutdown.
Under the shutdown, national parks and Washington's Smithsonian museums will close, pension and veterans' benefit cheques will be delayed, and visa and passport applications will go unprocessed.
Programmes deemed essential, such as air traffic control and food inspections, will continue.
Who will be affected
  • State department will be able to operate for limited time
  • Department of defence would continue military operations
  • Department of education would still distribute $22bn (£13.6bn) to public schools, but staffing would be severely hit
  • Department of energy - 12,700 staff would be sent home, 1,113 remain to oversee nuclear arsenal
  • Department of health and human services to send home more than half of staff
  • The Federal Reserve, dept of homeland security, and justice dept would see little or no disruption
  • US Postal Services would continue as normal
  • Smithsonian institutions, museums, zoos and many national parks would be closed
The defence department has advised employees that uniformed members of the military will continue on normal duty, but that large numbers of civilian workers will be told to stay home.
On Monday evening, President Obama signed legislation ensuring that military personnel would be paid.
The US government has not undergone a shutdown since 1995-96, when services were suspended for a record 21 days.
Republicans demanded then-President Bill Clinton agree to their version of a balanced budget.
After weeks of negotiation, they reached a compromise similar to what was discussed prior to the shutdown.
As lawmakers grappled with the latest shutdown, the 17 October deadline for extending the government's borrowing limit looms even larger.
On that date, the US government will reach the limit at which it can borrow money to pay its bills, the so-called debt ceiling.
House Republicans have also demanded a series of policy concessions - including on the president's health law and on financial and environmental regulations - in exchange for raising the debt ceiling.
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