Reuters

Royal Ascot’s opening day: the Royal Ascot races are a highlight...

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:05:58 -0400

Royal Ascot’s opening day: the Royal Ascot races are a highlight of London’s social calendar. (reuterspictures)

The Penguin Protesters Penguins, the flightless birds who take a...

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:07:00 -0400

The Penguin Protesters

Penguins, the flightless birds who take a natural standing posture in everyday life could not have found a better climate for social relevancy than in Taksim Square.

It was only fitting for the Turkish cartoon magazine Penguen to publish a critical magazine cover this week with a look at the recent “Standing Man” (Duran Adam) phenomenon. The clever way Penguen mixed memes with real life turned into a delightful magazine cover consisting of a penguin standing next to a standing protester in Istanbul.

A preview of the magazine cover was posted by Penguen cartoonist, Selçuk Erdem on Twitter. The tweet garnered almost 11,000 retweets on Twitter:

Dergide işi gücü bıraktık duruyoruz #duranadam pic.twitter.com/MccOKkfp1g

— Selçuk Erdem (@selcukerdem)

June 17, 2013

The penguin meme first began in early June as a sarcastic response to the lack of local media coverage, specifically by CNN Turk’s “airing of a nature documentary featuring penguins while CNN International provided live footage of the brutal means used to disperse demonstrators sparked outrage that, within hours, transformed efforts to preserve a park from destruction into a countrywide protest against police violence and media silence.”

Radio Free Europe also reported on the various creative uses of penguins as a symbol of protest.

G8 Summit: a group of world leaders failed to mention the fate...

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:50:33 -0400

G8 Summit: a group of world leaders failed to mention the fate of Syrian President Assad in an official statement calling for peace. G8 leaders also called on the Syrian authorities and Syrian opposition groups to commit to cutting ties with all organizations affiliated with al Qaeda.

Top pictures from the past 24 hours

Photo: campaigners wearing giant heads resembling the G8 nations leaders, wave as they arrive on a replica Viking longboat, during a protest near the G8 Summit in Northern Ireland on June 17, 2013. The campaigners represented the Enough Food For Everyone ‘IF’ campaign, calling for action to eliminate the causes of hunger. REUTERS/Andrew Winning

Protests Continue to Grow Across BrazilThe marches began with a...

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 21:06:02 -0400

Protests Continue to Grow Across Brazil

The marches began with a protest in Sao Paulo against a small increase in bus and subway fares about two weeks ago.

At first, the demonstrations drew the scorn of many middle-class Brazilians after protesters vandalized storefronts, subway stations and buses on one of the city’s main avenues, but the movement gained support and spread to other cities as police used heavy-handed tactics to try to quell the demonstrations.

The biggest crackdown happened on Thursday in Sao Paulo, when police fired rubber bullets and tear gas in clashes that injured more than 100 people, including 15 journalists, some of whom said they were deliberately targeted.

The harsh police reaction to last week’s protests touched a nerve in Brazil.

Photo: A demonstrator with the Brazilian flag protests against the Confederation’s Cup and the government of Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff in Brasilia June 17, 2013. Protesters are using the Confederation’s Cup as a counterpoint to their concerns. REUTERS/Ueslei Marcelin

Stunning photos of Brazil's civil protests

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 20:56:34 -0400

Stunning photos of Brazil's civil protests

U.S. President Barack Obama sparred with Russia’s Vladimir...

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 17:24:00 -0400

U.S. President Barack Obama sparred with Russia’s Vladimir Putin over how to end the war in Syria during an icy encounter at a G8 summit where divisions over the conflict eclipsed the rest of the agenda.

Putin said Moscow and Washington had differing views over Syria but agreed the bloodshed must stop and that the warring parties should be brought to the negotiating table. Both leaders looked tense and uncomfortable, with Putin staring mostly at the floor.

“Our positions do not fully coincide, but we are united by the common intention to end the violence, to stop the number of victims increasing in Syria, to resolve the problems by peaceful means, including the Geneva talks,” Putin said.

“We agreed to push the process of peace talks and encourage the parties to sit down at the negotiation table, organize the talks in Geneva.”

Obama tried to lighten the mood by discussing judo but Putin, a black belt in the martial art, replied the U.S. president was simply trying to get him to relax.

Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Photo gallery: inside the G8 Summit We just take the pictures.

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:45:54 -0400

Photo gallery: inside the G8 Summit

We just take the pictures.

Jury finds no negligence in trial over man's 8-month erection

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:14:01 -0400

Jury finds no negligence in trial over man's 8-month erection:

A Delaware truck driver underwent a penile implant procedure and ended up with an erection that lasted eight months.

On Monday, a jury cleared the accused doctor of negligence claims, leaving his reputation in high standing.

Gallery: Weekend clashes in Turkey

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 12:37:03 -0400

Gallery: Weekend clashes in Turkey:

Riots erupt in Ankara and Istanbul against the forced eviction by riot police of protesters in an Istanbul Park.

Thomas Peter’s blog on Poolside floods: “At some point the...

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 11:46:35 -0400

Thomas Peter’s blog on Poolside floods: “At some point the helicopter made a right turn, dipping the side I was sitting on deep below the horizon. And there it was right below me, the epitome of the absurd flood picture: the baby-blue oval of a swimming pool evenly surrounded by muddy water. I trained my 300mm lens straight down and composed as well as I could, which was a challenge in the soaring air stream that nearly snatched my camera out of my hands. I fired off some 10 frames before the chopper leveled out. The picture was gone. No one else on board had seen it.” (reuterspictures)

Edward Snowden is doing a live Q&A at 11am ET. The...

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:33:28 -0400

Edward Snowden is doing a live Q&A at 11am ET.

The 29-year-old former NSA contractor and source of the Guardian’s NSA files coverage will – with the help of Glenn Greenwald – take your questions today on why he revealed the NSA’s top secret surveillance of US citizens, the international storm that has ensued and the uncertain future he now faces. Click on this link. Ask him anything. (guardian)

The same tear gas is being used on Turkey and Brazil protesters

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 23:49:00 -0400

The same tear gas is being used on Turkey and Brazil protesters:

The same tear gas is being used on Turkey and Brazil protesters, according to recent reports made by sources in both countries.

Last week, the Associated Press reported the tear gas used in Turkey was from Brazil. The tear gas is made by the Brazilian manufacturer Condor Non-Lethal Technologies. The company gave a statement regarding the use of its tear gas in Turkey’s recent protests:

The Rio de Janeiro-based Condor Non-Lethal Technologies SA confirmed that it sold the tear gas to Turkish security forces – adding that the gas is “specifically designed to temporarily incapacitate people without causing them permanent damage or death” – but deflected some of the furor by saying that other countries also export tear gas and other weapons to Turkey.

“Turkey is one of the countries to which exports the Condor, but the Turkish police buy such equipment from other vendors as well, including Americans and Koreans,” the company said in a statement.

Brazil’s Foreign Ministry also confirmed that a number of Brazilian companies export the so-called non-lethal weaponry to Turkey. It added that Brazil had no comment on alleged human rights violations occurring in Turkey as it does not meddle in the internal affairs of other nations.

The tear gas was also allegedly used against protesters in Bahrain in 2011 (Al Jazeera), which the United Nations described as excessive:

“The use of tear gas in particular has reportedly resulted in a number of deaths of protestors and bystanders – and that number has reportedly risen in recent months,” Rupert Colville, spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), told reporters in Geneva [in 2012]

A tear gas canister, shared on Instagram, is reported to have been used in Brazil (photo via Salad Uprising). UPDATE: the photo of the Brazilian tear gas canister appears to have been first reported here.

International Treaty Governing Tear Gas Trade Kept On Hold:

On April 2, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the landmark Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), regulating the global trade of arms and other items such as tear gas. While the treaty was signed by 72 countries, not including or Brazil, it requires 50 ratifications to go into effect. No country has yet ratified the ATT; Turkey has signed the treaty.

Amnesty International considers the ratification of the ATT to prevent weapons “flowing into countries where they are likely to be used to commit human rights atrocities - it can protect millions of people and save lives.”

However, no such claim to prevent excessive force by the league of industrialized nations, of which Turkey and Brazil are on the cusp of joining.

Thousands of Brazilians have protested in several cities over...

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 21:47:53 -0400

Thousands of Brazilians have protested in several cities over the past ten days, and organizers are planning for another march in Sao Paulo on Monday night.

Rising prices for public transportation was the original cause of the the protests, organized by Movimento Passe Livre. Since then, Brazilians have joined protests for various other reasons, including rising crime, income inequality, and corruption.

The protests are quickly becoming a sign of a weakening public confidence for Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

The protest’s nickname “Salad Uprising” was coined in response to the arrests of those who carried vinegar with them as an aide against police tear gas.

Tumblr blog Salad Uprising is reporting to collect stories and pictures from demonstrations across Brazil (Reuters cannot confirm individual posts on external blogs; please message the Reuters on Tumblr if you seek more information on any news).

When police tried to disperse the crowd on Thursday in Sao Paulo, violence erupted, injuring dozens and leading to nearly 200 arrests.

Photo: posters read, “Dilma, we are the ones who pay for your housing” and “Communities exist.” REUTERS/Alex Almeida

Flying bikes.

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 18:28:00 -0400

Flying bikes.

Tens of thousands of Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip...

Sun, 16 Jun 2013 12:26:47 -0400

Tens of thousands of Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan’s supporters joined a rally in Istanbul on Sunday. Riot police fired tear gas at anti-government protesters a few miles away.

Meanwhile, two Turkish union federations will stage a one-day nationwide strike on Monday. Three other groups representing doctors, engineers and dentists will also join the strike.

Photo: a supporter of Erdogan watches a rally organized by the ruling Justice and Development Party in Ankara on June 15, 2013. REUTERS/Stringer

Millions of Iranians turned out on Friday to vote for one of six...

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 18:12:19 -0400

Millions of Iranians turned out on Friday to vote for one of six candidates to replace Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as the next president of Iran.

Live coverage of results of Iranian presidential election

Voting is ongoing at Iranian polling stations outside of Iran, state TV reported. Without credible opinion polls, it is difficult to predict the results, however popular candidates include Hassan Rohani, the only moderate candidate, Saeed Jalili, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, and Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, the mayor of Tehran.

If no candidate wins a majority, a runoff will take place on June 21.

Photos: REUTERS/Stefan Wermuth/Mushtaq Muhammed

Yarnbombers display guerilla knitting and crocheting which they...

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 17:28:44 -0400

Yarnbombers display guerilla knitting and crocheting which they plan to use when they target next week’s G8 summit, in the Mourne Mountains, near Newcastle, County Down June 13, 2013.

Yarnbombing uses knitting or crochet work to make a statement in public, rather than graffiti or street art.

Photo by REUTERS/Cathal McNaughton

reuterspictures: Witness to Newtown’s tragedy Six months ago on...

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:44:54 -0400

reuterspictures: Witness to Newtown’s tragedy

Six months ago on December 14, 2012, a gunman opened fire on Sandy Hook Elementary School, leaving 26 dead, including 20 young children. Reuters photographers share their experience covering the story that devastated Newtown, Connecticut and the rest of the country. Photography by Lucas Jackson, Adrees Latif, Joshua Lott, Michelle McLoughlin, Mike Segar, Shannon Stapleton and Eric Thayer.

U.S. says Assad used chemical weapons in Syria: The White House...

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 18:44:05 -0400

U.S. says Assad used chemical weapons in Syria:

The White House concluded on Thursday that, based on intelligence reports, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government used chemical weapons on a “small scale” against rebel fighters.

Syria’s civil war has caused the deaths of more than 93,000 people, if not up to 120,000 people, according to many humanitarian groups monitoring the situation. 1.5 million people are considered refugees of the war.

Meanwhile, the White House estimates that 100 to 150 people have died from chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Chemical weapons were considered the “red line” that Assad would need to cross before the White House promised to considerably increase military support for rebel groups.

Reuters Interactive: Recent Developments in Syria

President Obama is expected to discuss the Syria crisis at G8 meetings next week; Syria peace talks are scheduled for July.

“Following a deliberative review, our intelligence community assesses that the Assad regime has used chemical weapons, including the nerve agent sarin, on a small scale against the opposition multiple times in the last year” — Ben Rhodes, Obama’s deputy national security adviser

The White House announced it will increase political an military support to the main Syrian rebel group:

“This is going to be different in both scope and scale in terms of what we are providing to the Supreme Military Council (SMC) than what we have provided before” — Rhodes

The Supreme Military Council is the military wing of the main civilian opposition group.

Photo: boys walk in Deir al-Zor, Syria, on May 19, 2013. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi

Statement by Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes on Syrian Chemical Weapons Use

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 17:39:39 -0400

Statement by Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes on Syrian Chemical Weapons Use

U.S. White House Office of the Press Secretary, June 13, 2013

At the President’s direction, the United States Government has been closely monitoring the potential use of chemical weapons within Syria. Following the assessment made by our intelligence community in April, the President directed the intelligence community to seek credible and corroborated information to build on that assessment and establish the facts with some degree of certainty. Today, we are providing an updated version of our assessment to Congress and to the public.

The Syrian government’s refusal to grant access to the United Nations to investigate any and all credible allegations of chemical weapons use has prevented a comprehensive investigation as called for by the international community. The Assad regime could prove that its request for an investigation was not just a diversionary tactic by granting the UN fact finding mission immediate and unfettered access to conduct on-site investigations to help reveal the truth about chemical weapons use in Syria. While pushing for a UN investigation, the United States has also been working urgently with our partners and allies as well as individuals inside Syria, including the Syrian opposition, to procure, share, and evaluate information associated with reports of chemical weapons use so that we can establish the facts and determine what took place.

Following a deliberative review, our intelligence community assesses that the Assad regime has used chemical weapons, including the nerve agent sarin, on a small scale against the opposition multiple times in the last year. Our intelligence community has high confidence in that assessment given multiple, independent streams of information. The intelligence community estimates that 100 to 150 people have died from detected chemical weapons attacks in Syria to date; however, casualty data is likely incomplete. While the lethality of these attacks make up only a small portion of the catastrophic loss of life in Syria, which now stands at more than 90,000 deaths, the use of chemical weapons violates international norms and crosses clear red lines that have existed within the international community for decades. We believe that the Assad regime maintains control of these weapons. We have no reliable, corroborated reporting to indicate that the opposition in Syria has acquired or used chemical weapons.

The body of information used to make this intelligence assessment includes reporting regarding Syrian officials planning and executing regime chemical weapons attacks; reporting that includes descriptions of the time, location, and means of attack; and descriptions of physiological symptoms that are consistent with exposure to a chemical weapons agent. Some open source reports from social media outlets from Syrian opposition groups and other media sources are consistent with the information we have obtained regarding chemical weapons use and exposure. The assessment is further supported by laboratory analysis of physiological samples obtained from a number of individuals, which revealed exposure to sarin. Each positive result indicates that an individual was exposed to sarin, but it does not tell us how or where the individuals were exposed or who was responsible for the dissemination.

We are working with allies to present a credible, evidentiary case to share with the international community and the public. Since the creation of the UN fact finding mission, we have provided two briefings to Dr. Åke Sellström, the head of the mission. We will also be providing a letter to UN Secretary General Ban, calling the UN’s attention to our updated intelligence assessment and specific incidents of alleged chemical weapons use. We request that the UN mission include these incidents in its ongoing investigation and report, as appropriate, on its findings. We will present additional information and continue to update Dr. Sellström as new developments emerge.

The President has been clear that the use of chemical weapons – or the transfer of chemical weapons to terrorist groups – is a red line for the United States, as there has long been an established norm within the international community against the use of chemical weapons. Our intelligence community now has a high confidence assessment that chemical weapons have been used on a small scale by the Assad regime in Syria. The President has said that the use of chemical weapons would change his calculus, and it has. Our decision making has already been guided by the April intelligence assessment and by the regime’s escalation of horrific violence against its citizens. Following on the credible evidence that the regime has used chemical weapons against the Syrian people, the President has augmented the provision of non-lethal assistance to the civilian opposition, and also authorized the expansion of our assistance to the Supreme Military Council (SMC), and we will be consulting with Congress on these matters in the coming weeks. This effort is aimed at strengthening the effectiveness of the SMC, and helping to coordinate the provision of assistance by the United States and other partners and allies. Put simply, the Assad regime should know that its actions have led us to increase the scope and scale of assistance that we provide to the opposition, including direct support to the SMC. These efforts will increase going forward.

The United States and the international community have a number of other legal, financial, diplomatic, and military responses available. We are prepared for all contingencies, and we will make decisions on our own timeline. Any future action we take will be consistent with our national interest, and must advance our objectives, which include achieving a negotiated political settlement to establish an authority that can provide basic stability and administer state institutions; protecting the rights of all Syrians; securing unconventional and advanced conventional weapons; and countering terrorist activity.