Dreaming of Simplicity

Top story today, of course, is the news that Russia has said it will end its operations in Georgia. In a pathetically over-orchestrated conference shown live on Russian television, Vladimir Putin's puppet Dmitry Medvedev announced the suspension of hostilities not that the "aggressor has been punished". However, the Guardian is reporting that the fighting is still on going despite the words of the Russian President. Meanwhile the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) believes that 100,000 people have been displaced by the South Ossetia conflict. The New York Times has a haunting set of pictures of the conflict that show its human cost.


In China, three security personell have been killed in attack in Xinjiang region. Putin's not the only tyrant in the news today, Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said that Iran will never give up its nuclear program despite the threat of sanctions. Outgoing Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has said that Israel will leave the West Bank if-and-when the Palestinian Authority retakes Gazza. Twelve people have been killed in the Indian Kashmir region. G.W. has taken aim at polar bears, panthers and other species who get in the way of oil exploration. Bush is planning to weaken the Endangered Species Act, in a move that does not need to be approved by Congress.

In Canada, a new study has found that half of all overweight people may be healthy. The Sidney Morning Herald has spotted a trademark Microsoft glitch during the Beijing opening ceremony. Also during the opening ceremony, the sweet little girl who sang did not. Apparently she mimmed the song because the girl who was really singing was not sweet enough. Finally, odd news for the day: a thief who tried to rob a store in a Winnie-the-Pooh costume has been arressted!

The Olympic current rankings:
1. USA - 7 Gold, 21 total

2. China - 13 Gold, 20 total
3. Korea (South) - 5 Gold, 12 total
4. *JOINT* with 9 total: Italy (3 Gold), Australia (3 Gold), Russia (2 Gold), France (0 Gold)
8. DPR Korea (North) - 1 Gold, 7 total
9. Japan - 3 Gold, 6 total
10. *JOINT* with 4 total: Great Britain (2 Gold), Germany (2 Gold), the Netherlands (1 Gold)