My Vegan Space

By Donald C. Stewart

There was a time when people ran in fear of Rupert Murdoch. And they were Prime Ministers and Presidents. In the UK some high ranking politicians were accused of being in thrall or in bed with the media mogul. Policy was created to appease the readers of one of his newspapers and we all knew the devil was in the room.

Since the revelations that his News of the World newspaper was involved in hacking into the phone messages of celebrities things became hard for his Empire. When they were found to have been involved in the hacking into of politicians and the Royal Family we became outraged. When it was revealed that the newspaper may have been involved in paying police officers for stories we became incredulous. When we heard that people who had been engaged by the News of the World had hacked into the phone messages of an abducted child and DELETED messages making the family believe that the child WAS STILL ALIVE when she had been sickeningly murdered we became sickened ourselves.

Murdoch has dropped his attempt to buy BSkyB in the UK and closed down the News of the World after over 100 years of the paper supplying news on a Sunday. The people responsible seem to be soldiering on for Murdoch. The ordinary workers – about 4/500 ordinary workers who did not know what was being done “in their name” – will become unemployed and pay for a policy that many have denied and few have stood up to explain. The Evil Empire will march on but the next time you buy from the Murdoch Empire have a thought. Make it Milly Dowler and her family. Milly is the schoolgirl who was brutally murdered and wonder how the news report you are reading managed to get itself there

Popularity: 1%

CBS Evening News Chris Dinan is leaving CBS News and heading to ABC News, it was announced Tuesday.

Dinan will serve as a senior producer for ABC World News with Diane Sawyer, beginning after the 4th of July holiday.

Dinan had been senior broadcast producer of the CBS Evening News since 2007. This move follows the departure of anchor Katie Couric and EP Rick Kaplan, who have both inked deals with ABC News.

[Chris] creativity, passion for the news and exceptional storytelling will be a terrific asset to our program as we continue to surge forward covering the most important, inspiring stories and connecting them to our viewers, said John Banner, EP, ABC World News in a memo to the World News staff.

TV Newser first reported the move.

BURMESE pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has revealed the source of an unlikely lifeline when she was under house arrest – Hairy Cornflake Dave Lee Travis.

The Nobel Peace Prize winner, who has spent 15 years under house arrest since 1989, said the DJs request show on the World Service helped make her world much more complete.

Asked about the cuts to the World Service, she told the Radio Times: I feel very sorry about that. But I think the World Service has changed since my first bout of house arrest, which was from 1989 to 1995.

Then I remember there were so many more different programmes on the service. But now, perhaps Im not getting on to the right programme or perhaps I dont listen at the correct times but the programmes dont seem so varied. Am I wrong? Or have I been listening at the wrong times?

Ms Suu Kyi, who is going to give two of the BBCs Reith Lectures, which she secretly recorded, said: The first six years (under house arrest) the BBC … I could be in touch with everything. With culture, with art, with books, with music.

I havent heard any music on the BBC World Service in a long time. Maybe Im listening at the wrong times. But not one single piece of music.

Asked what kind of music she used to tune into on the World Service, she said: I used to listen to all sorts of different programmes, not just classical music. I cant remember what the name of that programme … Dave Travis? Was it?

GREECES embattled prime minister is facing a vital confidence vote today amid escalating protests over the countrys austerity measures.

If Prime Minister George Papandreous new government fails to get the necessary Parliamentary support in a midnight vote tonight, it would throw into question whether it can pass a new austerity bill by the end of the month as demanded by international creditors.

Expectations that Papandreou would win lifted world markets. His Socialist party holds a five-seat majority in the 300-member legislature, and a simple majority is needed to pass.

Meanwhile the nation was hit by a wave of power cuts as employees at Greeces main power utility began 48-hour rolling strikes to protest at the companys privatisation, part of the austerity plans needed to avoid a national debt default.

The sale of state assets in the power company is a major step in a s43.8 billion privatisation drive that must be completed by 2015.

The highly unpopular austerity plans, include more tax increases and spending cuts that must be passed by parliament by the end of the month if Greece is to get the next 12 billion euro (s10.6bn) instalment of its 110 billion euro (s97.2bn) bailout next month.

The troubled Socialist government is also struggling to make up for continuing budget shortfalls.

Without the funds, Greece will be unable to pay its debts as of the middle of July, triggering a default that would rock financial markets in Europe and abroad.

1 Back home: Arnold Schwarzenegger is rediscovering the simple, gentler pleasures of Austria, the country of his birth. In Vienna for an environment conference, Schwarzenegger focused not on green themes but on the familiar things he misses in California – the music of Mozart, or a juicy wiener schnitzel. The ex-Terminator said Ill be back – in the fall, to open a Schwarzenegger museum in his hometown of Thal, near Graz.

2 Northern Ireland riots: Hundreds of rioters threw gasoline bombs and attacked police vans in east Belfast Tuesday as sectarian violence flared up for a second night in Northern Ireland. Violence broke out Monday night in a small Catholic community in a predominantly Protestant area when a paramilitary Protestant group attacked homes with bricks, fireworks and smoke bombs, police said.

3 American captured: An American on the US Marshals list of most-wanted sex offenders was captured in Rio de Janeiro Tuesday. Andrew Craig, 42, was wanted for charges of sexual assault against two boys in Florida in 1998 and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Craig was featured twice recently on the Americas Most Wanted TV show.

4 Hurricane weakens: Hurricane Beatriz weakened into a tropical storm and headed out to sea Tuesday after pounding Mexicos resort-studded Pacific coast with heavy rains and winds. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Mexicos government had canceled a hurricane warning for a stretch of coastline from La Fortuna to Cabo Corrientes.

5 Clinton defends Saudi women: Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton spoke out Tuesday in support of the right of Saudi women to drive at a Washington news conference. What these women are doing is brave and what they are seeking is right, Clinton said when asked about her stance on the driving ban. The effort belongs to them. I am moved by it and I support them.

6 Drug lord arrested: Mexican federal police caught one of Mexicos most-wanted drug lords, the alleged leader of the La Familia cartel, authorities said Tuesday. Federal security spokesman Alejandro Poire said police arrested Jose de Jesus Mendez Vargas, alias El Chango, or The Monkey, in the central state of Aguascalientes without firing a shot.

7 Holocaust compensation: Lithuanian lawmakers have voted to pay $53 million in compensation for the seizure of Jewish property by Nazis during World War II. The compensation will be paid from 2013 to 2023 into a fund managed by local organizations for social, cultural, educational and other projects for Lithuanias 5,000-strong Jewish community. About 95 percent of Lithuanias prewar Jewish population of 220,000 people were killed by the Nazis and their collaborators during World War II.

8 Gaza housing: Israel has authorized construction of 1,200 homes for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, in what would be one of the largest housing projects in the troubled seaside territory in years, military authorities said Tuesday. Israel, which controls the cargo crossings into Gaza, has largely banned the entry of construction materials into the coastal strip since Hamas militants seized control of the area in 2007. Israel fears items like cement, metal and glass could be used for military purposes by Gazas Hamas rulers.

This article appeared on page A – 2 of the San#xA0;Francisco#xA0;Chronicle

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Year-to-Year, “ABC World News with Diane Sawyer” Grows Total Viewing Audience for the 17th Consecutive Week

June 21, 2011 12:57 PM

ABC Narrows Total Viewing Gap with “NBC Nightly News” to the Smallest Margin Since April

“ABC World News” Outperforms “CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley” by 1.48 Million Total Viewers and 274,000 Adults 25-54

For the week of June 13, 2011, “ABC World News with Diane Sawyer” averaged 6.93 million Total Viewers and a 1.49 rating/1.85 million among Adults 25-54, according to Nielsen Media Research. “World News” improved on the same week last year by 143,000 Total Viewers, building on the year-ago week for 17 consecutive weeks.

“ABC World News” cut the weekly Total Viewing gap (735,000) with “NBC Nightly News” to the smallest margin since April.

Week-to-week, “ABC World News” increased its Total Viewing lead over “CBS Evening News” to 1.48 million viewers. The ABC newscast also outperformed CBS by 274,000 Adults 25-54.

Note: ABC amp; CBS ratings were based on 5-day averages. NBC Nightly News’ weekly average was based on 1 day only (Tuesday). Due to NHL Stanley Cup Finals Game 6 on Monday 6/13/11 amp; Game 7 on Wednesday 6/15/11, Nightly News was recoded “NBC-Nitely-News” amp; was excluded from the average. NBC Nightly News was also recoded “NBC-Nitely-News” on Thursday amp; Friday 6/16 amp; 6/17/11 amp; was excluded from the average (both days had 98% full coverage).

For a full recap, watch the “World News: Week in Review.

EVENING NEWS (Week of June 13, 2011)

Greek premier wins vote

The Greek prime minister survived a crucial confidence vote
early today, keeping alive a government dedicated to averting a
debt default that could spark a financial maelstrom around the
world. Lawmakers voted 155 to 143 along party lines to back George
Papandreou, who now faces a critical vote next week on a massive
austerity package that Greeces international creditors have said
must pass by the end of June.

Argentinas president seeking re-election — Argentine President
Cristina Fernandez said she will seek re-election in October.

Bombers kill 27 in Iraq — Suicide bombers detonated two car
bombs Tuesday in southern Iraq, killing at least 27 people, many of
them police officers, and wounding dozens of others, local
officials said.

Pakistan detains general — A brigadier general in the Pakistani
army, Ali Khan, has been detained on suspicion of links to an
extremist group, Pakistan said Tuesday. Authorities did not say
when he was arrested. Pakistan has been criticized by US
lawmakers that its military and intelligence community refuses to
break off links with terrorist organizations.

More independence for Japans nuclear regulators — Responding to
criticism that lax oversight played a role in the Fukushima nuclear
accident, Japans government could give its nuclear regulatory
agency more independence as early as next year, the countrys
minister of trade and industry said. The minister, Banri Kaieda,
said the government wanted to separate the agency from his
ministry, which is in charge of promoting Japans nuclear
industry.

UN re-elects leader — The UN General Assembly voted
unanimously Tuesday to give Ban Ki-moon a second term as
secretary-general. The 192-member world body elected the
67-year-old South Korean diplomat as UN chief for another five
years starting Jan. 1.

Zetas gun-shopping in El Salvador — El Salvadoran President
Mauricio Funes said Tuesday that members of Mexicos Zetas drug
gang have been attempting to obtain weapons from corrupt police
officers and soldiers in his country.

– Read the latest national news at
stltoday.com/news/national.

TOP STORIES

———–

ATHENS – Greeces prime minister said he would form a new
government and seek a vote of confidence from his parliamentary
group after violent protests against austerity on Wednesday,
with Athens teetering on the brink of default.

– - – -

AMMAN – Thousands of Syrians have fled the historic town of
Maarat al-Numaan to escape troops and tanks pushing into the
north in a widening military campaign to crush protests against
President Bashar al-Assad.

– - – -

GHARYAN, Libya – Libyan rebels pushed deeper into
government-held territory south of the capital on Wednesday, but
their advance came as strains began to emerge in the Western
alliance trying to topple Muammar Gaddafi.

– - – -

ADEN/SANAA – Members of Yemens political opposition
dismissed an offer from Gulf Arab neighbours on Wednesday to
resume mediation in the political crisis, which has brought the
country to the brink of civil war.

– - – -

WASHINGTON – A group of top US lawmakers on Wednesday set
an ambitious July 1 goal to reach a broad debt-reduction deal,
even though Republicans and Democrats are still far apart on
taxes and healthcare.

– - – -

BARCELONA, Spain – Politicians in the Catalonia region of
northeastern Spain were forced to enter parliament by helicopter
or under police escort on Wednesday as protests mounted against
heavy cuts needed to slash its deficit.

– - – -

LISBON – Portugals president appointed Social Democrat
(PSD) leader Pedro Passos Coelho prime minister on Wednesday,
with a new government expected to take office next week and
start implementing a bailout programme.

– - – -

ASTANA/LONDON – Russia won the backing of China and other
members of a regional security body in criticising US plans
for a missile shield, saying on Wednesday it could undermine
global security.

– - – -

KABUL – Afghanistans booming car sales industry has been
thrown into chaos by a growing aversion to the number 39,
which almost overnight has become an unlikely synonym for pimp
and a mark of shame in this deeply conservative country.

– - – -

KHARTOUM/JUBA – South Sudans army said it clashed with
northern troops in the disputed Abyei border region on
Wednesday, in the latest sign of deteriorating relations in the
build-up to the secession of the south in July.

– - – -

TOKYO – Japans ruling party will extend a session of
parliament to approve extra spending needed to rebuild areas
ravaged by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, a party official
said on Wednesday, although it is unclear if the bills will win
support from a combative opposition.

– - – -

BANGKOK – Thailand holds a general election on July 3 that
might be a step on the road to stability after five years of
political turbulence. But it could just as easily prolong the
crisis, especially if there is no clear-cut winner.

– - – -

BEIJING – Chinese children suffering lead poisoning from
polluting smelters and factories have been denied testing,
effective treatment and even basic information by officials who
downplayed health threats, a human rights advocacy group said on
Wednesday.

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Click For Restrictions. http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

Footballer Ryan Giggs has become the latest celebrity to launch legal action against the News of the World over alleged phone hacking by the newspaper, his lawyers confirmed last night.

The development came as News International, parent company of the tabloid and its daily sister paper The Sun, acknowledged former Sun and NOTW editor Rebekah Brooks had been shown documents by police which proved her voicemail had been illegally intercepted.

Kissinger donates his papers to Yale

FORMER US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who helped steer Vietnam war policy, will donate his collection of some one million documents and objects covering his life as a diplomat, teacher and private citizen to Yale University.

Kissinger was national security adviser and secretary of state under President Richard Nixon and chief diplomat under President Gerald Ford. He received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 for his role in negotiations with the North Vietnamese, which led to a peace accord.

Boy joy for Oscar actress Portman

NATALIE PORTMAN has a baby boy to show off alongside her Oscar. The actress gave birth to her first child with fiance Benjamin Millepied.

The 30-year-old actress and Millepied, a ballet dancer and choreographer, met during the making of Black Swan, Darren Aronofskys psychological thriller that stars Portman as a ballet dancer. Portman won the best actress Academy Award for her performance.

Torture centre becomes museum

SOUTH KOREA is trying to make peace with its painful past by turning a building once used as a torture centre into a modern art museum.

The structure built by the Japanese and then taken over by the South Korean military is a reminder for many of the countrys brutal history. Rather than bulldozing the Defence Security Command building, Seoul is transforming it into a branch of the National Museum of Contemporary Art.

Ocean passenger lists go online

SHIPS passenger lists, including details of sea journeys made by stars including Elizabeth Taylor, Alfred Hitchcock and Audrey Hepburn, have gone online.

The details, covering 24 million long-distance passengers from British ports in the period 1890 to 1960, are available on the family history site www.genesreunited.co.uk.

Irish Independent

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With Diane Sawyer Reporting From Afghanistan on Monday, “World News with Diane Sawyer” Grows Total Viewing Audience for the 16th Consecutive Week

June 13, 2011 4:11 PM

“ABC World News” Outperforms “CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley” by 1.36 Million Total Viewers and 273,000 Adults 25-54

Week-to-Week, ABC’s Sawyer-Led Newscast Increases Demo Advantage Over CBS by Double Digits

For the week of June 6, 2011, “ABC World News with Diane Sawyer” averaged 7.07 million Total Viewers and a 1.54 rating/1.92 million among Adults 25-54, according to Nielsen Media Research. “World News” improved on the same week last year by 2% among Total Viewers, building on the year-ago week for 16 consecutive weeks.

For the 3rd time in the last 4 weeks, “World News” posted week-to-week increases in both Total Viewers (+2%) and Adults 25-54 (+7%).

“World News” outperformed “CBS Evening News,” featuring Scott Pelley’s first week as anchor, by 1.36 million viewers and by 273,000 Adults 25-54. In fact, compared to the previous week, “World News” increased its advantage over CBS in the key Adults 25-54 demo by double digits — by 11% (273,000 vs. 247,000).

On Monday Diane Sawyer anchored “ABC World News” from Afghanistan where she travelled with outgoingSecretary of Defense Robert Gatesduring his final trip to the warzone. In addition,General David Petraeus,the outgoing commander of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (ISAF), joined Secretary Gates for their first joint interview. In addition, “World News” launched “Made in America Summer,” a continuation of the broadcast’s popular series. The “Made in America” team of David Muir and Sharyn Alfonsi uncovered which car and car company creates the most American jobs. For a full recap, watch the “World News: Week in Review.

Note:Due to the NBA Finals Game 4 on Tues (6/7) amp; Game 5 on Thurs (6/9), “World News” was retitled Wrld News Tonite amp; was excluded from the weekly average. ABC’s weekly average was based on three days only (Mon, Wed amp; Fri). In addition, due to the NHL Stanley Cup Finals Game 5 on Fri (6/10), Nightly News was excluded from the average. NBC’s weekly average was based on 4 days only (Mon- Thurs).

EVENING NEWS (Week of June 6, 2011)