Journalist Blaine Harden chronicles the life of the only camp-born man known to escape a North Korean camp. ‘Escape From Camp 14′ A True North Korea Survival Story — CNN (CNN) — Shin Dong-hyuk is the only known person born in a North Korean prison camp that escaped and survived to tell the tale. Journalist Blaine Harden first uncovered Shin’s story in 2008 and has now turned it into the riveting new biography “Escape from Camp 14: One Man’s Remarkable Odyssey from North Korea to Freedom in the West.” North Korea has been splashed across world headlines in recent weeks over its threat to launch a long-range rocket, its suspected nuclear program and for its continued defiance of the West. If you want a singular perspective on what goes on inside the rogue regime, then you must read his story. Read more …. My Comment: Some of my father’s friends experienced the same thing in a Soviet gulag …. and listening to Shin Dong-hyuk reminds me of those stories …. especially the horrible stories of what happened to their loved ones and family members. As to what is my take …. I find all of this very disheartening. We are in the 21rst century …. and it is astounding that we do not only have a state in North Korea that treats it’s citizens like this, but we are also willing to support it with food aid (which is never given to those who need it), and political recognition.

Suspicions: Relatives believe a third party was either present when Gareth Williams died or broke into his home afterwards to destroy evidence, lawyer Anthony O’Toole said Did MI6 Agents ‘Specialising In Dark Arts’ Kill Spy In Bag? New Evidence Emerges Sparking Fresh Questions From The Victim’s Family — Daily Mail * Gareth Williams’s family believe a third party was either present when he died or broke into his home afterwards to destroy evidence * Crime scene forensic scientist’s OWN DNA was found on Mr Williams’s hand * Relatives wanted to know why the alarm was not raised when Mr Williams failed to turn up at work – by then his body was badly decomposed for analysis * It also emerged that a Mediterranean couple police wanted to speak to were irrelevant to Mr Williams’s death The MI6 spy whose body was found locked in a sports bag may have been killed by a secret agent, his family said yesterday. Their barrister suggested a sinister cover-up had left them with no way of knowing how and why Gareth Williams died. One theory is that he died at the hands of a colleague. Another is that a foreign agent killed him because of his espionage work. Read more …. My Comment : A very strange case. You would think that the murder of an important MI6 agent would result in an all out attempt to find the killer and the reasons on why he was killed. Hmmm …. apparently not in this case.

Hundreds of millions of Chinese people use social media websites, despite strict censorship. [ Reuters ] China Arrests Over Coup Rumours — BBC Chinese police have arrested six people and shut 16 websites after rumours were spread that military vehicles were on the streets of Beijing, officials say. The web posts were picked up last week by media outlets around the world, amid uncertainty caused by the ouster of top political leader Bo Xilai. The State Internet Information Office (SIIO) said the rumours had a “very bad influence on the public”. Two popular microblogs have temporarily stopped users from posting comments. Read more …. More News On China’s Crackdown On Social Media Websites China Clamps Down on Social Networking Over Online Rumors — New York Times China mounts online crackdown amid political crisis — L.A. Times China punishes popular social media and websites for coup rumors amid political scandal — Washington Post/AP China cracks down on websites allegedly spreading coup rumors — CNN China cracks down on Internet after coup rumours — AFP Websites shut amid China coup talk — Press Association China Punishes Websites Over ‘Coup Rumours’ — Al Jazeera China Arrests Six for Web Rumors; Microblogs Ban Comments — Bloomberg

Attorney For Bales Says Military Broke Promise On Witness Access — CNN (CNN) — The lawyer for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales, charged with murdering 17 Afghan villagers, said Friday the defense team has been “misled greatly” by U.S. military prosecutors, who have blocked access to information. John Henry Browne said he was “promised” that witnesses to the incident would be available for them to interview in Afghanistan, “and they were not.” “My staff on the ground is really upset with the promise they made to us,” Browne told reporters. Read more …. More News On The Legal Preparations For Afghan Massacre Suspect Sgt. Bales U.S. Soldier’s Lawyer Says Access Denied to Evidence — New York Times Afghan Suspect Attorney: US Gov ‘Hiding Evidence’ — ABC/AP Bales Lawyer Claims Military Stymieing Defense Efforts — Wall Street Journal Is Robert Bales competent to stand trial? Army prepares to ask — L.A. Times My Comment: this is the start for what i predict will be a very long trial.

Europe Warned Crisis Not Over Yet — Financial Times European finance ministers were warned on Friday that the underlying causes of the continent’s debt and banking crisis had yet to be resolved, as Spain, struggling to rein in its fiscal deficit, published its most austere budget since democracy returned after the Franco era. Two confidential analyses prepared by European Union officials and distributed to ministers meeting in Copenhagen said €1tn in cheap loans to banks provided since December by the European Central Bank had provided a reprieve, but sovereigns and financial institutions needed to use the relative calm to shore up finances and balance sheets. Read more …. My Comment: It is going to take 5-10 years of hardship and sacrifice before many of these debt ridden countries have some control over their finances. Are they willing to make that commitment and sacrifice …. I am betting that they do not have the will power to follow through. Update: Canada’s finance minister is not impressed with these European measures .