TresSugar

Oh Snap! South Korea Is Ready to Kick North Korea's Butt

TresSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:00:15 -0700

With North Korea getting all the attention these days, let's turn our eyes to South Korea. The country's "special warfare" command soldiers took part in a sea-infiltration drill today. The military is preparing against possible threats from communist North Korea - the neighbors have technically been at war since the 1950s.

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Front Page: Solar Eclipse Brings Darkness at Dawn

TresSugar — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:00:24 -0700

Dawn turned to darkness in Asia today, thanks to the longest total solar eclipse of the century. - AP
Oakland, CA, has become the first US city to pass a tax on medical marijuana. - CNN
Michelle Obama has chopped her hair. The first lady is rocking a new bob. - The Daily Mail
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been accused in a civil suit of raping a hotel concierge worker. - Washington Post
Tyler Perry announced yesterday that he will treat 65 kids to a trip to Disney World, after they alleged that a suburban swim club shunned them because of their race. - Huffington Post

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North Korea Launches Rocket Against the Will of the World

CitizenSugar — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 11:24:01 -0700

Defying the world, North Korea launched a rocket Sunday, demonstrating that the country is getting closer to being able to fire a nuclear warhead. Japan, the United States, and China, among other countries, had urged North Korea to forgo the test launch. The rocket traveled over Japan into the Pacific Ocean, and was not intercepted.

In front of 20,000 people in Prague today, President Obama urged the U.N. Security Council to take action against North Korea because the rocket launched violated international rules. China and Russia are asking for a cautious response, and it is likely that the council will call for stricter application of current sanctions, instead of imposing new ones. International sanctions issued during Bush's tenure have proven to have little effect. Let's hope something changes.

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Hillary Clinton: Ohayou Japan, Oh No North Korea

LibertySugar — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 00:01:56 -0800

Hillary Clinton has kicked off her trip to Asia (and her first trip as Secretary of State) after arriving in Japan Monday. When she landed in Tokyo, Hillary wasted no time in emphasizing the importance of the US-Japanese alliance.

One Asian country not on the itinerary - North Korea - will surely be discussed during her trip. This week the isolated country hinted at its intention to launch a ballistic missile capable of hitting the US. Clinton commented on the development yesterday, saying the US expects North Korea to dismantle its weapons as it's agreed to but that the country also has a right to peaceful space development.

Clinton will also be making a stop in China. Before leaving for Asia, she asserted that the US would "not be shying away" from human rights issues, but noted that it would be one topic on a very broad agenda.

It sounds like Hillary Clinton has a lot of work ahead of her.

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First Stop For Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: Japan!

CitizenSugar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 10:30:00 -0800

Back in 1993 when first lady Hillary Clinton visited the great Buddha on the outskirts of Tokyo, hundreds of people greeted her at the train station. Now, when she returns sixteen years later on her first overseas mission as Secretary of State, we'll find out if the Japanese still have love for Hillary.

Hillary's appointment received a mixed reaction in Japan, as some voiced concerned over her statements that China was the most important bilateral relationship for the US, and the cool US-Japanese relations under Bill Clinton. While in Japan on Feb. 16-18, Secretary Clinton will hold talks with Japan's foreign minister and Prime Minister Taro Aso. On their list of things to talk about are: North Korea, Afghanistan, and the financial crisis.

After she checks those topics off the list, Clinton will head to Indonesia, South Korea, and China. Are you happy to see the US top diplomat choosing Asia as her first destination?

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Biggest Headlines of 2008: Natural Disasters Strike Asia

LibertySugar — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:00:00 -0800

On May 2, a cyclone hit Myanmar (Burma), marking the worst natural disaster in the country's recorded history. Only days later on May 12, less than three months before Beijing hosted the 2008 Olympics, a deadly earthquake shook China into the international headlines. In the same month, natural disasters hit two Asian countries wary of international intervention. With these pictures, reflect on the human stories spawned by these epic disasters that surely comprised some of the biggest stories of 2008.
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Front Page: Violent Protesters Try to Unseat Thai Government

CitizenSugar — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 08:01:10 -0800

Protesters in Bangkok, Thailand, fired guns and beat government supporters today, manifesting violent opposition to Thai prime minister Somchai Wongsawat. At least six people were injured, and the protesters forced the cancellation of a crucial session of Parliament, blocked traffic to the airport, and cut electricity from police headquarters. - New York Times
The US Commerce Department released its latest reading on the economy, determining that the economy slowed down more than expected this past summer. US consumers reduced their spending at a rate not seen in 28 years. - AP

Thousands of protesters came out in Reykjavik, Iceland, to demonstrate against the country's leaders and the recent financial collapse. The protesters demanded that the prime minister and central bank governor resign. - Reuters
Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez greeted Russian warships arriving off his county's coast today. Russia's president Dmitry Medvedev will also visit the country. Chavez wants Russia to assist Venezuela in building a nuclear reactor and also wants Russia to invest in oil and gas projects. - AP

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New Intelligence Report: US Dominance Set to Wane by 2025

LibertySugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:30:57 -0800

If you wish you could see into the future, US intelligence officials are here to hand you a crystal ball. The National Intelligence Council just released Global Trends 2025, an unclassified intelligence report put out every four years, and assesses the opportunities and problems that lie ahead in the next 15 years. One tip: Americans might need to start practicing being humble, because by 2025 the US could lose its position of global supremacy.

Other findings include:

Global warming will have a positive economic impact in Russian and Canada because it will make seasons longer, as well as increase their access to oil fields.
Russia's rise could be hindered by a lack of investment in the energy sector, crime, and corruption.
Governments in Africa and South Asia could collapse due to security problems or water and food shortages caused by a population boom of 1.5 billion and global warming.
There will be a greater potential for war in 2025, thanks to increased global competition for food, water, and energy.
The transfer of wealth from West to East will continue for the foreseeable future.
Thanks to economic growth in the Middle East, and growing unpopularity of al Qaeda, the terrorist network will collapse sooner than people think.

To see some other predictions regarding Iran, nuclear weapons, and US dominance, read more.

Iran could be a major world player if it gets rid of its theocracy.
The risk of a nuclear weapon detonation will still remain low in 2025, but it will be higher than today's risk.
A growing demand to solve domestic problems could cause the US to reduce global aid, thus reducing US influence.

Are you upset or happy that US global domination could decrease over the next 15 years?

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Front Page: Taiwan Arrests Its Former Leader

CitizenSugar — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:00:06 -0800

The ex-president of Taiwan was detained by his country's police on charges of corruption and money laundering today. The defiant Chen Shui-bian raised his handcuffed hands above his head while shouting “Long live Taiwanese independence."- New York Times
In his White House meeting with Barack Obama, President Bush indicated that he would support another economic stimulus package, which includes aid to the auto industry, if the Democrats stopped opposing the Colombian free-trade agreement. - International Herald Tribune
Somalian pirates captured a Philippines chemical tanker, carrying 23 crew members, marking the 83rd hijack in Somalian waters this year. - Associated Press

After the Mars Lander ran out of batteries last week thanks to a dust storm, NASA announced that the mission has ended. - CNN
The surrogate grandmother in Ohio that gave birth to her triplet grandchildren last month, told Good Morning America that she is feeling fine, and was happy to serve as his daughter's surrogate at the age of 56. - Associated Press

Briefing Book! Health of North Korea's Leader Still a Mystery

LibertySugar — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 12:09:43 -0800

North Korea: A picture of health? New photographs of Kim Jong-il at a football game fail to solve mystery of whether he is ill. - newsblog
Democrats: A happy ending? Obama's embrace of Clinton's domestic agenda and her respect for his political shrewdness has healed old wounds. - Politico
Voting: Would you wait that long? Waiting time in voting lines stretch to eight hours. - Huffington Post
Romney: The opposite of a sore loser? Mitt Romney has contributed energy and money to help over 80 GOP candidates win. - Townhall
Pollsters: Will "cell phone only" be the story of tomorrow? The failure of pollsters to reach voters without landlines could show in election results. -Donklephant

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