Y’all lead busy lives so there’s no WAY you can follow everything happening in the world. But never fear, our new feature, “The Week In Review” is here to sort out your news and current affairs gaps from the last week. Pub convo’s will never be the same again.
KristenGate Latest: Saunders Wife Forgives and Pattinson Wants Saunders Chat
Kristen Stewart's in a world of trouble after being caught kissing Rupert Saunders
Rupert Saunder’s wife, Liberty Ross, has reportedly forgiven her husband for his “indiscretion” with Kristen Stewart, according to DigitalSpy.
After photos emerged on Wednesday showing Twilight star, Kristen Stewart, kissing and cuddling with her Snow White and The Huntsman director, Rupert Saunders, the story of double-cheating was everywhere. Stewart and Saunders both issued statements saying how sorry they were for what they had done.
While it has been reported that Stewart’s boyfriend, fellow Twilight star Robert Pattinson has moved out of their LA home, The Daily Telegraph claimed that one of Ross’ friends had spoken to them and she was prepared to give her husband a second chance.
The source claims that Saunders wife is brushing the incident off as “one of those silly flirtations”. Pattinson has reportedly requested a “man-to-man” chat to find out what went on between him and Stewart. To be a fly in the wall for THAT conversation…
Girl Band, “Pussy Riot”, await trial in Russia: with possible 7 year jail sentence
The feminist punk rock band are being prosecuted by Russian authorities after singing an anti-Putin song in a Moscow cathedral. The girl band said that they will not be intimidated by the governments “brutality and cruelness” and that they have “done nothing wrong”.
Three of the bands six members - Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, Maria Alekhina, 24, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, – will face trial tomorrow morning and will be live streamed on the internet. The three other members of the band, who have been in hiding since the arrests, appeared in the media for the first time yesterday; dressed in balaclavas.
Tolokonnikova, Alekhina and Samutsevich were arrested singing a “Punk Prayer” in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour and face up to 7 years in jail if found guilty.
Mass protests against President Putin have been occurring in Russia since the Spring; and it is expected that there will be more this Autumn after the Russians return from holiday. The outcome of the Pussy Riot trial could have a major affect on the extent and tone of these demonstrations.
Greece’s Search For €11.5 Billion
Greece remains on shaky economic ground
After agreeing on the austerity measures demanded by creditors, Greek politicians now have to find €11.5 billion euro for 2013/2014 to bring back some economic stability to the country. It is reported that pension and wage cuts are being considered in order to make the savings; a difficult move in a country where it’s citizens have reacted violently to austerity measures previously.
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ government drew up plans last week to make the savings, but the the three-party-led coalition government have failed to agree on them; talks are due to resume tomorrow. The country is not due to receive any more aid instalments until September, which Deputy Finance Minister Christos Staikouras said “has put pressure on our cash reserves. Until then, we are taking extra care in managing our cash”.
The Troika will finish their Greek visit this week and will return to the country in September to decide whether Greece shall receive more financial assistance. In the meantime, Greek media has reported that the contractors in the public sector could be made redundant; along with a cap on pensions, cut in welfare, a lowering in salaries for public employees and a rise of one year for the age of retirement in a bid to find the funds desperately needed.
Syria’s Revolution Rages On
Syria remains in the grips of revolution
Government forces and rebel fighters have continued to clash across Syria as the uprising continues to attempt to end President Bashar al-Assad’s forceful regime. Syrian government forces are now closing in on rebel-held areas in Aleppo with fears that a potential massacre is on the cards.
Overnight, army tanks moved into the city while government jets increased their attacks on rebel-held areas. Both sides have said that this latest showdown is the most pivotal moment in the 18 month struggle, which has now turned into a civil war. It has been reported that Assad’s agents are on the brink of collapse due to a lack of petrol, food and other supplies; but this doesn’t mean that the rebels will win their battle in the near future. President Assad has threatened to use chemical weapons against “external enemies” while numerous world leaders have called on international intervention this week; but the UN is limited in what it can do, as long as Russia remains blocking intervention with its veto power.
Over the weekend, it was reported that a 6-year-old boy was killed by Syrian troops as he and his family tried to flee from the country into Jordan. Emerging, unconfirmed reports – due to the media blackout on the county – stated that 40 people had been killed by 11:46am Syrian time this morning alone. Footage is appearing on social networking sites, which appear to show some of the violence occurring in the country.
Oxford Changes Dress Code To Cater For Transgender Students
Oxford University Gets With The Times
After a rewrite of the laws on the strict academic dress code at the university, students taking exams or attending formal occasions will no longer have to wear gender specific clothing. The rewrite was brought about by fears that the previous dress code was unfair towards transgender students.
Students will now have the option of either wearing skirts and stockings or suits and bow ties; irrelevant of gender. The laws will come into force next week after the LGBT Society’s motion was passed by the Student Union.
Jess Pumphrey, LGBTQ Soc’s executive officer, said the change would make a number of students’ exam experience significantly less stressful.
Baring It All In Cork: World Record Broken
Cork claims new naked body world record
316 people in Cork had their naked bodies painted in a City Centre Arts Venue in an attempt to break the world record.
The organiser has said that the group were successful in their attempt and that two independent witness were at the event and the paperwork will be sent to the Guinness World Records for approval.
The current record holder is New York when a group of 264 people had their naked bodies painted. The participants in Cork filled four rooms of the Camden Palace Hotel.
Lana Del Rey Covers Nirvana Song
Lana Del Rey sang "Heart Shaped Box" at a concert this week.
At a concert in Sydney, Australia, on Thursday night, Del Rey reportedly covered the Nirvana song, “Heart Shaped Box”.
The surprise addition can be seen here. Del Rey recently announced plans to re-release her Born To Die album with seven new tracks.
Which do you prefer; Del Rey’s version or the original?
All images: Wikimediacommons
No comments yet.