The YNaija Weekly Review (20 – 25 June, 2011)

 

by Ifreke Inyang

What did you miss last week?

MONDAY

Syrian President Bashar al-Assad addressed the nation for the first time in two months, as his security forces continue to crack down on protests.

Global internet body ICANN voted to allow the creation of new website domain suffixes, the biggest change for the online world in years.

A police officer accused of killing newspaper seller Ian Tomlinson during the G20 protests in London in 2009 was sent for trial at the Old Bailey.

Seven suspected members of the Boko Haram sect, shot and killed two people in two separate attacks in the Borno state capital. This happened despite the crackdown on the sect by security agencies in Maiduguri, the sect headquarters and the arrest of 58 of its members after the bombing of Police Headquarters in Abuja.

The lawyer representing former Tunisian President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali claimed the ousted leader was “deceived into leaving for Saudi Arabia”.

About 10,000 protesters rallied in Casablanca against King Mohammed’s proposed constitutional changes, which they say do not go far enough.

FIFA confirmed that vice president Jack Warner has resigned from all his positions in international football and that an investigation into bribery allegations against him have been dropped.

 

TUESDAY

A Tupolev plane crashed on landing in northern Russia in thick fog and heavy rain killing 44 people, but eight of those on board survive.

The ash cloud from a Chilean volcano caused fresh chaos in Australia, with flights being cancelled out of Canberra and Sydney for the first time.

Japan and the US dropped a 2014 deadline to move a controversial airbase on Okinawa, saying it will be moved as soon as possible.

WEDNESDAY

The Greek government won a confidence vote in parliament as it struggles to win support for extra austerity measures and avoid a debt default.

Australian carrier Qantas agreed on a settlement with engine-maker Rolls-Royce over a mid-air explosion which led to the grounding of its superjumbo fleet.

A press photographer was shot and wounded as violence flares for a second night in the Northern Irish city of Belfast.

Mexican officials said they have arrested the alleged leader of the cult-like La Familia drugs cartel, one of the most notorious gangs in the country.

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir threatened to shut pipelines carrying South Sudan’s oil if a deal on oil is not reached before it secedes in July.

Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei returned home “in good health” having been freed on bail after reportedly admitting to tax evasion charges.

British fashion designer John Galliano told his Paris trial drugs and alcohol were to blame for his alleged anti-Semitic outburst.

US First Lady Michelle Obama paid tribute to apartheid victims on a visit to the South African township of Soweto.

 

THURSDAY

Dutch far-right politician Geert Wilders was cleared of all charges of inciting hatred against Muslims by a court in Amsterdam.

Swedish carmaker Saab said it does not have enough money to pay wages and is trying to obtain short-term funding.

Indian airline IndiGo bought the largest number of aircraft bought in a single order – 180 planes from Airbus.

Aid workers started investigating reports that at least 60 women have been raped in eastern DR Congo – the latest such incident in what has been called the world’s “rape capital”.

 

FRIDAY

A former Rwandan women’s minister was sentenced to life in prison for her role in the genocide and the rape of Tutsi women and girls.

A burglar stabbed to death while apparently trying to break into a house in Greater Manchester was already on police bail accused of burglary in the Midlands, it emerged.

Peter Falk, the American actor most famous for his role as US TV’s scruffy detective, Columbo, died at the age of 83.

 

SATURDAY

A group of Libyan football figures, including members of the national team, told the BBC they have decided to defect to the rebels.

Prince William and wife Kate handed out medals to British heroes on Armed Forces Day.  The battalion returned from a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan in April. Kate, 29, presented honours to members of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards — including Lance Corporal Scott Yarrington, 26, who lost both his legs in a bomb blast in Helmand.

At least 27 people died as a deadly car bomb hit a hospital in eastern Afghanistan, in what officials described as an unprecedented attack.

A 19-year-old man charged with hacking the website of the UK Serious Organised Crime Agency has been diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome, a court heard.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail