Pirate Bay and a charge change

Half of the charges leveled at the founders of the Pirate Bay file-sharing site have been dropped. Swedish prosecutors dropped charges relating to "assisting copyright infringement" leaving the lesser charges of "assisting making available copyright material" on trial day two.

Pirate Bay co-founder Frederik Neik said it showed prosecutors had misunderstood the technology. The music industry played down the changes as "simplifying the charges". Peter Danowsky, legal counsel for the music companies in the case, said: "It's a largely technical issue that changes nothing in terms of our compensation claims and has no bearing whatsoever on the main case against The Pirate Bay.”In fact it simplifies the prosecutor's case by allowing him to focus on the main issue, which is the making available of copyrighted works."

Another bite the bust for the sharks of the music and film industry. Enough with their unbelievable profits with victims the artists who perform for pennies.

Explosives missing in Gaza

A large stockpile of unexploded weapons has disappeared in Gaza, before United Nations experts were able to dispose of it safely. The explosives, including aircraft bombs and white phosphorus shells, were fired by the Israeli military during its recent offensive in the Gaza Strip.

UN officials said they were urgently trying to establish where the arms had gone and have called for their return. Israel has accused Hamas of taking the stockpile, which was under Hamas guard.

So, what are we expecting now? A provocative act that will turn in flames Gaza once more or a series of terrorists acts? And if something happens what will be the truth, terrorism of provocation?

The Ovi magazine today!

Pillorying dignity by Thanos Kalamidas
A boy who still spends most of his time going to school and a girl still playing with dolls were sexually active; so active so the girl was taking the pill and because she forgot to take it a few days she became pregnant.

Cimino's career peak by Asa Butcher
If a film starring Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and Meryl Streep was released today expectations would be astronomical, but 30 years ago two of the names were barely known.

Hillary urged to raise Rohingya issue with Asian leaders by Rohingya Human Rights
The secretary general of the Union of Rohingya Communities in Europe(URCE), Hamdan Mg Kyaw Naing urged the secretary of state of the United States of America, Hillary Clinton to raise the Rohingya Issue with Asian leaders during her week-long trip.

Polish report by Euro Reporter
Euro Reporter heads to Poland...

US to include Afghans in review

Afghanistan will send a team to the US to take part in a major policy review of the region, Afghan President Hamid Karzai has announced. In a joint news conference with the new US envoy in the region, Richard Holbrooke, Mr. Karzai said he was "very thankful" to be involved in the talks.

In recent weeks US officials have been critical of Mr. Karzai's leadership. US President Barack Obama, who regards Afghanistan as a priority, accused his government of being "very detached".

Is always amazing when you read something like that. So they were going to talk about the future of Afghanistan without including the people of Afghanistan in this talk? That says something on how American foreign policy worked all these years and why Americans are so popular all around the world!

The Ovi magazine today!

Ms Tantalus by Gush Shalom
Tantalus is punished by the Gods for reasons that are not entirely clear. He is hungry and thirsty, but the water in which he stands recedes when he bends down to drink from it and the fruit above his head continually evades his hand.
The Eye of the Storm by Leah Sellers
Though you find yourSelf assaulted by the powerful gales of the Storm. A Storm energized by people's Fears, Doubts, Concerns, and opposing Agendas - Seek the Eye of the Storm.

For the Moment: Lil Dog Bones by Patrick McWade
Patrick McWade shares one of his cartoon series with Ovi...

How bizarre by Thanos Kalamidas
Browsing the news daily we often miss these little bits of news at the bottom of the page. They are often funny, sometimes weird, and they give us a new perspective on life, so here's the first of a new column series: How Bizarre!

13-year-old dad sparks outrage

Alfie Patten, who was only 12 when the baby was conceived with his girlfriend Chantelle Steadman, 15, was pictured on the front of Friday's tabloid Sun newspaper with his daughter, Maisie Roxanne, after her birth Monday. He told the newspaper that he thought "it would be good to have a baby." "I didn't think about how we would afford it. I don't really get pocket money. My dad sometimes gives me £10. When my mum found out I thought I was going to get in trouble. We wanted to have the baby but were worried about how people would react. I didn't know what it would be like to be a dad. I will be good, though, and care for it."

Chantelle, meanwhile, said: "I'm tired after the birth. I was nervous after going into labour but otherwise I was quite excited." Former Conservative party leader Iain Duncan Smith, who runs the Centre for Social Justice think tank, told the British Press Association the birth highlighted another case of "broken Britain" where "anything goes." "It's not being accusative; it's about pointing out the complete collapse in some parts of society of any sense of what's right and wrong.

Perhaps I sound provocative and cynic but is it the first time something like that happens or the last? Isn’t it that because of the newspaper, a UK very popular tabloid the whole issue became a big thing to drive a lot of people in UK to blame the labour party for losing morals?

Euro Parliament robber

Belgian police are hunting for a man who stole about 60,000 Euros (£54,000) from a bank in the European Parliament, after brandishing a pistol at staff.

It was not yet known if the pistol was real or fake, parliament spokesman Jaume Duch Guillot said. The man demanded money at an ING bank branch on Thursday after evading checks by the parliament's security personnel. The robbery lasted only a few minutes.
After the euro-farmers and the euro-bureaucrats, now we have the euro-thieves!!!

The Ovi magazine today

The Article Nobody Wants To Read by Alexandra Pereira
I know that I can be crucified for this article. But I don't really care. It is my opinion, I have been thinking like that (and about that) for a long time.

10 Helsinginkatu: Chapter 9 by Thanos Kalamidas
As I said, I very rarely hear my mobile and it was pure luck that I heard the sound and I felt the vibration this time, modern mobiles, along with the noise, vibrate as well, which reminded me that I had turned the sounds on...

6Lights! Action! Stickman! #6 by Clint Wayne
Welcome to "Lights! Action! Stickman!" in which scenes from classic, and not so classic, movies are depicted through stick figures for you to guess the film. Enjoy!

Latvia Report by Euro Reporter
Latvia is Euro Reporter's destination today...

Zimbabwe's oath ceremony

The title should be ‘how Africa’s caricature Hitler parodies democracy! The swearing-in of Zimbabwe's new power-sharing cabinet has been marred by the arrest of one minister and a dispute over several others.

Roy Bennett, the MDC's choice to become deputy agriculture minister, was reportedly seized near a Harare airport just before the ceremony. Several extra Zanu-PF ministers of state then turned up to be sworn in.

Zimbabwe’s dictator and known racist, Robert Mugabe works hard his way to The Hague International Court and his case for crimes against humanity with more parodies, unfortunately that’s the only truth about Zimbabwe! What remains to be seen is when he and his murderous squads will be arrested.

The Ovi magazine today

When Tsvangirai was hired as an alibi by Thanos Kalamidas
I suppose many were waiting for the celebrations following the hiring of Morgan Tsvangirai as the new prime minister of Zimbabwe...

Harry Potter & Six Pack Joe by Alexander Mikhaylov
Here's a free (unabridged) version of the Harry Potter movie (Philosopher's Stone), as described by 'Six Pack Joe' to his neighbour.

"Those Eyes" by Hunter Dasten
"Even when poetry has a meaning, as it usually has, it may be inadvisable to draw it out.... Perfect understanding will sometimes almost extinguish pleasure." - A.E. Housman

The Latest on the Nexus between Science and Religion by Emanuel L. Paparella
During the Middle Ages, philosophers and theologians argued over the extra-mental reality of universal forms or essences.

Far-right Dutch MP refused entry to UK

Immigration officials prevent Geert Wilders leaving Heathrow airport to attend showing of his film about 'fascist' Qur'an at House of Lords. Geert Wilders, the rightwing Dutch politician accused of Islamophobia, was today refused entry to the UK after arriving at Heathrow airport in London.

Wilders was due to show his 17-minute film Fitna, which criticizes the Qur'an as a "fascist book", at the House of Lords today. But on Tuesday he received a letter from the Home Office refusing him entry because his opinions "threaten community harmony and therefore public safety". He arrived at Heathrow shortly after 2pm and was questioned by immigration officials.

What about the …lords or whoever else who invited him to show the film and give a speech, are they going to be deported or at least face their act? Isn’t that a hate crime?

Ovi magazine, on this day in history

The Great Northern War (1700-1721) was a war in which the so-called Northern Alliance composed of Russia, Denmark-Norway, Poland-Lithuania and Saxony engaged Sweden to challenge them for the supremacy in the Baltic Sea.

The war ended with a defeat for Sweden in 1721, leaving Russia as the new major power in the Baltic Sea and a new important player in European politics.

The war began as a coordinated attack on Sweden by the coalition in February 12th 1700 and ended in 1721 with the Treaty of Nystad and the Stockholm treaties.

Satellites collide

US and Russian communications satellites have collided in space in what is thought to be the biggest incident of its kind to date.

The US commercial Iridium spacecraft hit a defunct Russian satellite at an altitude of about 800km (500 miles) over Siberia on Tuesday, NASA said. The risk to the International Space Station and a shuttle launch planned for later this month is said to be low. The impact produced a cloud of debris, which will be tracked into the future. Since the Soviets launched Sputnik in 1957, it is estimated about 6,000 satellites have been put in orbit.

With all this traffic up there and with the Chinese the last to start putting their space trash the only thing that remains is to create space traffic police!!!

Pakistan admits terror attack link

A senior Pakistani official has admitted for the first time that last year's attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai were partly planned in Pakistan.

Interior Ministry chief Rehman Malik said that a number of suspects from the banned Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group had been held and may be prosecuted. India's foreign ministry described it as a "positive development". Tensions were high after Delhi said 10 gunmen from Pakistan were involved in November's attacks that killed 173.

Perhaps that’s a beginning for the cure. What’s going on in Pakistan in just too many levels is unbelievable, of course more unbelievable was George W. Bush’s support to the dictator Musharraf but hopefully …things change in Pakistan!

The Ovi magazine today!

Darwinian Lincolnism by Leah Sellers
On February 12, 1809, American Abraham Lincoln and Englishman Charles Darwin took their first Breaths of Life. Who could have guessed that those two wriggling, bare bottomed babies would eventually have such impact upon the World?
Red Hand Day by Thanos Kalamidas
Once more it is up to me to write about Red Hand Day and remind you about the invisible kids behind the khaki and camouflage uniforms, the guns in hands and the blood in their souls and minds.
Intentions are Everything by Edna Nelson
One thing we can be sure about, is that Lincoln was a President who accomplish the main goal of his presidency: defeating the south in defense of the union during the civil war.
Autobiography of a Dustball by Rene Davila
I was born a few years ago into a well-to-do family under their bed, in a corner where the leg meets the spring frame. The owners were a recently married couple and for obvious reasons they kept me awake all night.

The Ovi magazine today!

Coping in the Cape by Fiona Zerbst
Rozena Maart, winner of the Journey Prize for emerging authors, offers five intriguing short stories in her debut collection Rosa's District 6.

BDM: Towards a Democratic Burma Without Rohingyas? by Rohingya Human Rights
The issue of the Burmese citizenship of Rohingyas and their ethnic status in their ancestral land Arakan has come up as one of the most talked about issues in the world media as well as in the regional political arena of the South Asia.
10 Helsinginkatu: Chapter 8 by Thanos Kalamidas
I pretended leaving so Marc wouldn't feel uncomfortable following the other two upstairs where the other members of the lonely hearts club was waiting and when I reached the bar on the ground floor turned and ordered another bourbon.

Swedish report by Euro Reporter
Euro Reporter heads to Sweden...

Ovi magazine, on this day in history

The St Scholastica Day riot of February 10, 1355, is one of the most notorious events in the history of Oxford.

Following a dispute about beer in the Swindlestock Tavern (now the site of the Abbey Bank on Carfax) between townspeople and two students of the University of Oxford, the insults that were exchanged grew into armed clashes between locals and students over the next two days which left 63 scholars and perhaps 30 locals dead. The scholars were eventually routed.

The dispute was eventually settled in favour of the university when a special charter was created. Annually thereafter, on February 10, the town mayor and councillors had to march bareheaded through the streets and pay to the university a fine of one penny for every scholar killed, a total of 5 s. 3 d.. The penance ended 470 years later, in 1825 when the mayor of the time refused to take part.

Israel in general election

Voting is taking place in Israel in an early election called by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, who is stepping down. The favourite to become prime minister is Binyamin Netanyahu, leader of the right-wing opposition party, Likud.



But his opinion-poll lead has been reduced in recent weeks by Tzipi Livni, who heads the centrist Kadima, the largest party in the government. Mr Olmert announced months ago that he was standing down in the face of corruption allegations. An attempt to form a new government without elections failed.

The choice is the hawks or the vultures?

Iran feels ready for dialogue with US

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said he would welcome talks with the US as long as they were based on "mutual respect". Speaking on the 30th anniversary of the Islamic revolution in Iran, he said Iran would welcome change from the US as long as it was "fundamental".

He said: "The Iranian nation is ready to hold talks... in a fair atmosphere." The two nations cut ties in 1979 after the revolution, when the US embassy in Tehran was occupied for 444 days.

Odd how the word dialogue works with dictators especially when they are dressed in cleric uniform!

The fire-hit Australia

Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has vowed his country would rally after the worst bushfires in its history. Mr Rudd told MPs that areas devastated by bushfires would be rebuilt "brick by brick" and "school by school". The death toll so far is 173, but it is expected to rise significantly as the operation to recover bodies continues.

Knowing or better suspecting that arsonists are behind this the only thing that needs rebuilding and that urgently is their mind. The nightmarish thing is that most of them doing it so they can build and sell which makes greed the motivation and the guilt more discussing!

The Ovi magazine today

Mass murder in Australia by Thanos Kalamidas
The pictures of dead nature, humans and life from Australia that are circulating around the world this moment are horrifying and there are no words to describe the catastrophe on so many levels.

Almost like Backstreet Boys Live by Edna Nelson
The best thing about Helsinki City Theater's "Spring Awakening" was the first song done by the male cast. Most reviews about the performance are favorable but I'm of a different mind...

"A Ballad Upon a Wedding" by The Ovi Team
Today marks the 400th anniversary of poet Sir John Suckling's birth. Suckling was an English Cavalier poet whose best known poem may be "A Ballad Upon a Wedding" and it is reproduced here for you to enjoy.

For the Moment: No Smoking by Patrick McWade
Patrick McWade shares one of his cartoon series with Ovi...