Most important news story of the week (ending July 10, 2009)

[ColbertWatcher]

Most important news story of the week ending July 10, 2009

A: 2 'nuculer incidents' in Germany^{The Spiegel}

B: US and Russia sign a nuclear arms reduction deal^{Mercury News}

C: India gays win landmark ruling decriminalizing homosexual sex^{LA Times}

D: protests continue in Iran (http://news.google.com/news?pz=1&ned=us&hl=en&q=protests+in+iran">Google search)

E: more than 670,000 people are evacuated in Eastern China due to torrential rains;^{http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gk10YviB71NGV5uHk5kCs6-MmW3A?index=0&ned=us">AFP via Google} soldiers are sent to Western China to quell violence between the Han and ethnic Uighers^{LA Times}

F: Members of the House Judiciary Committee asks Karl Rove some questions^{http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/07/rove-is-interviewed-in-judiciary-panel-inquiry/">NY Times}

G: U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals rules pharmacists can't refuse Plan B pill^{LA Times}

H: one of the things we already knew, but is just now being confirmed: UNESCO reports that U.S. damaged Babylon,^ABC.net.au House Intel Committee has obtained evidence that shows that the CIA “affirmatively lied" to Congress^{CQ Politics} or Al Franken is sworn in as Senator for Minnesota^{http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/morning-fix/070709-morning-fix-senator-al.html?wprss=thefix">Washington Post}

I: One of the last-minute "incidents" that are a part of the Friday document dump (please see which in my reply)

J: Other (please see my pick for most important new story in reply)

[meegbear]

1. What about Michael Jackson?

I know the whole thing was supersaturated in the news, but it was a news event.

NOTE: I don't think it's the story, I personally think it's H, but I think it should be a selection.

[ColbertWatcher]

2. For my weekly "most important news story" thread I try to avoid all "celebrity news". n/t

[meegbear]

4. Fair enough!

:hi:

[ThomWV]

3. I'm interested in why people chose block B (nuclear reduction)?

I think that the elimination of nuclear weapons is essential to our survival, I guess I should start by saying that, but I don't think the reductions that are being negotiated are meaningful. By that I mean that while its nice that we are dismanteling some more bombs, and that the ex Soviet states might do the same, but I doubt that the destructive capability of either country is diminished by it.

Comment?

[ColbertWatcher]

5. From what I understand about the actual agreement ...

... is that it wasn't really so much about reduction in the number of arms, but Obama giving Medvedev cover either for arms that are/went missing or to take pressure off Russia so they won't feel like they have to be the biggest asshole on the block.

In other words, the agreement totally undermined Putin.