Chemistry news: Santorum (St) reaches melting point

Rick Santorum surprised America by dropping out of the Republican race to the presidential election in November, in which he was been losing ground to Mitt Romney. It's almost a law of physics: the more you repeat ‘no’ the closer you are to say ‘yes’. The hardness of moral principles is not enough to make a solid person, no matter how harsh and uncompromising they are, and the chance of losing at home in Pennsylvania can scare any elephant. As for multimillionaire Romney, he can finally take a deep breath and stop pretending to care about moral issues, the poor and all that humanitarian crap. He has made quite an effort to appear to have a heart; we even feared he might suffer a wallet stroke.

CBS >

Death row in Connecticut will go nowhere

The state Senate voted to abolish the death penalty, being one step away from becoming the 17th U.S. state without capital punishment. Connecticut executed only one person in the last 50 years, and also fears errors which DNA tests now allow to detect. So, from now on, those convicted in Connecticut have no other choice but to stay alive. Its things like these that make people suspicious about public services: not only they have done one single job in 50 years, but they are afraid of making mistakes as well, eventually turning these inefficiencies into the law. If the service were to be granted to a private company, they would quickly understand why the words 'executive' and 'executor' are so much alike.

AP >

Gunter Grass wants to see nuclear striptease in the Middle East

German poet Gunter Grass feels the world in danger and wrote a poem that asks both Israel and Iran to drop their pants and let themselves be inspected by nuclear urologists. The Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu didn’t like to see the two countries treated equally and pointed to the small swastika tattooed on Grass, which he showed to the world when he dropped his pants in 2006. We share the concerns of Grass, but we understand Netanyahu: When you lower your pants to show your arming, at the same time you’re exposing your back, which can be dangerous when you have a neighbor who has been taking Viagra for years  to screw you.

The Telegraph >

Hungary needs a president who knows how to lie properly

The President of Hungary, Pal Schmitt resigned after being accused of academic plagiarism. Schmitt decided to resign from office to avoid public controversy about the case, proving he's a weak man and endangering his country. What would happen if all politicians who copied in school were to resign and were replaced by honest students? It would be a tragedy of catastrophic consequences; we all know how honest people are inhibited in the face of difficult decisions that a leader has to take. If it wasn’t for the fact that the country is deeply indebted, Hungary could even cease to exist in a short time, by following in this path.

Euronews >

Rich people have two weeks to escape from France

François Hollande, the Socialist candidate at the French presidential election on April 22, proposes that those who make 1 million Euros per year should pay 75% in taxes, a proposal that has great popular support. In fact, the world is full of havens for the rich, but lacks a haven for the poor, a place where they feel that there is justice and all are equally poor. As Winston Churchill said: “The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings; the inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.” The French will once more set an example to the world – at least those with no money to live elsewhere.

AP >

Former U.S. president is missing

Nobody knows George W. Bush present whereabouts. His absence has been particularly noticed at Mitt Romney‘s campaign for Republican nomination, especially after the candidate been endorsed by Jeff Bush and George H. Bush. Apparently noticed with joy, since George W. remains unpopular and is still seen as responsible for the state of the economy, and therefore his support would eventually undermine Romney. So if you see George W. Bush, please contact your local authorities and you might get a reward, especially if you are a Democrat or a supporter of Rick Santorum. If you support Gingrich or Paul, don’t bother to call.

TPM >

With Aung San Suu Kyi in parliament, people are equally poor but happy

The victory of the National League for Democracy in a by-election to parliament of Burma (or Myanmar) is a sign that people want a political change. Not that it makes any difference to the military regime that runs the country, which in 1990 overturned the victory of Suu Kyi and placed her under house arrest. But we hope this can be a starting point in a path of a normal political evolution, advancing from repression to corruption and leaving behind fear to embrace greed. And one day, when the remains of the budget are enough to people receive some education, the Burmese will finally be able to fulfill their dream of having a decent life.

Daily Mail >

Strauss-Kahn accused of pimping – IMF speciallity

About a year ago, Dominique Strauss-Kahn was the powerful head of the International Monetary Fund and front runner at the French presidential election which takes place next month. Once already forgiven for having straussed an official of the IMF, he eventually stepped down from his post after been accused of kahning a hotel maid. Since then, every week in France some innocent girl appears saying she was straussed by the renowned economist. He already admitted that he kahned women at parties and is now also accused of pimping, something that is illegal, despite the IMF doing it to countries. One thing is certain: his political career is now completely strauss-kahned.

CNN >

For those who don't know, Germany has a president and he’s called Joachim Gauck

Nobody knew that Germany had a president until Christian Wulff was caught up in a corruption scandal. This office is so discreet in this country, due to having few powers assigned to it, that Wulff thought no one would notice. But he had bad luck and was forced to resign, and Joachim Gauck is now the man who has the task of convincing people of his own existence. His references are so positive that we ourselves are not convinced that he really exists or whether he was invented.

The Guardian >

Gingrich was yesterday’s big winner

Newt Gingrich was still hoping to revive his candidacy for the GOP nomination to the US presidential election. With this in mind, he was committed to win in the remaining southern states, where he has greater support. By losing yesterday in Alabama and Mississippi, Gingrich is definitely out of the Republican race. A great relief to the former speaker of the House of Representatives, who will have more time for visiting zoos and petting dinosaurs, and also escapes to a defeat far more difficult to swallow against Obama in November. Gingrich was so happy, he announced he will celebrate by continuing in the ballots till the end, despite no one is hearing what he says anymore.

CNN >

UN can lower the price of cocaine

Bolivia president Evo Morales argued – again – for the end of prohibition of using coca leaves, at a UN meeting. Morales wants to return to his country natives the legality of the ancient habit of chewing those leaves, which by its properties, is effective against altitude sickness and masks the sensation of hunger, allowing them to walk through the Andes carrying little food. However, because of those who chew those leaves with their nose, Morales will probably fail to achieve his purpose, despite being on the prestigious top of worse-dressed world leaders. And if so, it will be bad news for the vast half dozen Bolivians who still roam the Andes and also for the few millions of addicts who thought they could save some money.

Reuters >

Sarkozy's son throws tomato at policewoman

The Sarkozy family is making more headlines than it should over their street battles. After the father, Nicolas Sarkozy, had to escape to a bar to hide from an egg attack by a group of Basque protesters, now the son, Louis, aged 15, threw a tomato at a policewoman apparently only to have fun, forcing the French president to apologize to her. In the end, it may well be that the young Sarkozy just wanted more autonomy, like those angry Basques. What we emphasize is that the French spoil too much food to make their claims.

Sky >

Mitt Romney closest to nomination after Super Tuesday

Until June, Republicans will continue to choose the candidate who will face Barack Obama in the presidential election to be held on November. Yesterday 10 states went to vote, with six victories to Romney. The GOP (Grand Old Party) candidates struggle to convince Americans that they will not give them health care or any of kind social support, as a way of persuade them they are the right choice. Many voters seem to want to choose a kind of religious leader, these being divided between Santorum and Gingrich. But, fortunately for Romney, that leaves many who are more concerned about the economy than about knowing whether aspirin is a drug for headache or is a contraceptive that should be placed between the knees.

CNN >

Lukashenko says “it’s better to be a dictator than gay”

Guido Westewelle, the German foreign minister and openly gay, said Alexander Lukashenko is the last dictator of Europe, to which he replied: "It’s better to be dictator than gay." Being gay is normal in most countries, but we noticed that Lukashenko has openly assumed to be a dictator. The Western world is still full of prejudice about the dictators, and this forces them to hide in shame and pretending to be democrats, forging free elections and simulating freedom of speech. By pressing the Belarusian regime for offending human rights, the EU apparently hoped to restrain Lukashenko, but ended up by making him come out of the closet. What a sharp move!

BBC >

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Vladimir Putin wins presidential election in first round

The results are clear: with nearly 63% of the votes, Vladimir Putin was elected for a six years term as president of Russia, a position he held between 2000 and 2008. The winner of the election spoke emotionally in Moscow yesterday, ensuring that it was an honest and open election. His opponents, however, question this version, and show numerous irregularities. In the middle of this discussion, the essential question remains to be put: who is that man who pretends to be Putin?! We are deep suspicious, even more after seeing him crying yesterday, something the real Putin never did.

BBC >

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Sarkozy hides in bar to escape angry protesters

Nicolas Sarkozy was booed at Bayonne, by hundreds of Basque protesters calling for more autonomy, and hid himself in a bar when they started throwing eggs. The French president is campaigning by the country towards the presidential elections in April, of which polls put him behind the socialist candidate, François Hollande. We can’t understand how an experienced politician like Sarkozy did not take this chance to get himself attacked and make this campaign more emotional, which is always favorable to whom is behind in the polls. The good side of the story is that Sarkozy could then quietly take a piss, which is not always easy in the midst of these campaign walks.

BBC >

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Syrian army overwhelms main rebel stronghold
EU makes Serbia a candidate to membership
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Examining Google new privacy policy
84 year old drug dealer spared jail because of age

North Korea promises to end nuclear weapons

Two months after succeeding his father in guiding the destiny of North Korea, Kim Jong-un has ensured that his country will disarm in exchange for food. Good news, which were welcomed around the world, except for restaurant owners. They fear that their clients will now eat without pay, as they will instead compromise not to blow up the house. The young, well-fed leader demonstrates that making decisions with your stomach is not always synonymous of selfishness and may instead be a remarkable act of generosity.

BBC >

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TOP HEADLINES
Romney goes ahead before Super Tuesday
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EU summit to ensure budgetary discipline

The European Union countries, except the UK and the Czech Republic, gather in Brussels for a two-day summit. The meeting will be used to sign a new treaty establishing rules of budgetary control and uniformity of taxation. A full week for European sports, with the summit after the football matches of national teams yesterday. After all, is not healthy to always be thinking about the future, especially when you have endless debts to pay.

Euronews >

Hugo Chavez convalesces from surgery in Cuba

After the removal of a malignant tumor in July, Hugo Chavez returned to Cuba for another surgery, of which he is recovering quite well. While his country speculates on the health of the president and his participation in next October election, Chavez will spend a week to 10 days in Havana with Fidel Castro, learning to ride a tracksuit. The former Cuban leader might teach some tricks to Chavez in order to him keeping in power in Venezuela, since although he called a "pig" to Henry Capriles, he maintains strong records in the polls.

Reuters >

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TOP HEADLINES
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Hollande wants to tax the ultra-rich at 75%
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Plot to kill Vladimir Putin foiled

Two men were detained in Ukraine and confessed they had a plan to assassinate Vladimir Putin. Just a few days before the election in which Putin should again be chosen as president of Russia, we may be suspicious that this story could be an invention to benefit the current prime minister at the polls. But if it seems strange that someone wanting to kill Putin appears just a few days before the election, on the other hand, it would seem equally strange that no one appeared wanting to kill him at this time. Strangely, they still call this news.

Euronews >