politics

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Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders have shaken up the US presidential race with decisive victories in the New Hampshire primary
Billionaire Mr Trump is likely to get more than twice the number of votes of the next Republican candidate.
Senator Bernie Sanders, who beat Democratic rival Hillary Clinton by a huge margin, said his victory showed people wanted "real change".

Both candidates are riding on a wave of discontent with mainstream politics.
The aim of the primary race is to choose which candidates will represent the Republican and Democratic parties in November's presidential election.

Senator Bernie Sanders, running for the first time as a Democrat, won overwhelmingly; The amazing thing is that Trump has barely touched his wallet or run a real campaign yet he has managed to crush all comers. Edward Rollins (a member of the Political Consultants Hall of Fame): "Sanders, Trump and more. Fasten your seatbelt, America, this is gonna be one helluva ride".

There was no surprise at the top of the polls with the results, it was only the size of their landslide victories. The liberal winner Senator Bernie Sanders, running for the first time as a Democrat, won overwhelmingly and crushed the alleged inevitable nominee Mrs. Clinton by more than 20 points. Sanders cannot be dismissed and now is a real contender.  read more »

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The spending bill presents Mr. Ryan with his most important test so far as speaker and will be a measure of how long members will remain enchanted with him. He can only hope their newfound ardor will match that for his new beard.
The short exchange had many signets of Mr. Ryan’s nascent leadership style, which contrasts sharply with that of his predecessor, John A. Boehner. Mr. Ryan has for the most part pushed the privilege of crafting legislation — and with it, the responsibilities — out of the leadership offices and back into the hands of members, replacing Mr. Boehner’s smoke-filled rooms, at least for now, with energy bar-lined committee conference rooms. When he wants to chat, he texts. In a grooming contrast to Mr. Boehner that seems almost willful, Mr. Ryan now also shuns shaving.

Proud of his furry face, Mr. Ryan wondered on social media whether he was, in fact, the first bearded House speaker in a century. While it was has not quite been 100 years, Mr. Ryan was close. According to the House historian, the last speaker with a beard was the appropriately named Frederick H. Gillett, who presided over the chamber until 1925.  read more »

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The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization to promote international co-operation, established on 24 October 1945 after World War II in order to prevent another such conflict. At its founding, the UN had 51 member states; there are now 193.
The headquarters of the United Nations is in Manhattan, New York City, and experiences extraterritoriality. Further main offices are situated in Geneva, Nairobi and Vienna.
- UN Charter signed 26 June 1945
- Charter entered into force 24 October 1945
There are six official languages of the UN.
These are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish.

1942 "Declaration of United Nations" by the Allies of World War II  read more »

US Ambassador to Japan Caroline Kennedy calls Japan's dolphin slaughter “inhumane”

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"A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of."

"I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles."

"Man's goodness is a flame that can be hidden but never extinguished."

- Nelson Mandela

(CNN) -- Nelson Mandela spent almost three decades in jail, but he wasn't alone -- he had two Indian goddesses and a 17th century playwright for company.

Locked in solitary confinement on Robben Island, newspapers were banned and letters from loved ones a rare treat. Where did he find the inspiration to continue his long struggle for freedom?

A tattered book covered in luminous Hindu deities might have seemed like a strange choice for the South African leader. But the beatifically smiling women on the cover knew something the prison wardens didn't. Inside was the "Complete Works of Shakespeare," and the historic text became a source of strength for Mandela and his fellow inmates during their darkest days.  read more »

Radioactive Seawater Impact Map (update: March 2012)

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Taipei, Dec. 3 (CNA) - Taiwan will express its deep concerns to Japan if Japanese authorities interfere with Taiwanese civilian aircraft flying through an area where the two countries' airspace zones overlap, an official said Tuesday. "If our Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) notifies us of such a case, we will immediately hold serious consultations with Japan" and ask it to refrain from such actions, said Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman Anna Kao at a news conference Tuesday.  read more »

"Literature Nobel to Alice Munro, 82"

"elephants get the point of pointing"

"surprisingly simple robots"

"let's share"

"longest talkathlon"

“how do I look?”

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Alice Munro, Canadian short story writer, 82, wins Nobel Prize in literature
"When I began writing there was a very small community of Canadian writers and little attention was paid by the world. Now Canadian writers are read, admired and respected around the globe. I'm so thrilled to be chosen as this year's Nobel Prize for Literature recipient. I hope it fosters further interest in all Canadian writers. I also hope that this brings further recognition to the short story form."  read more »