Morning Newsdome: Malaysia building the world’s largest rare metal refinery so you can have an iPhone March 08 2011

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  • Don’t you want a new iPhone?

>> As Muammar Qaddafi’s forces clashed with rebels in the eastern oil-depot city of Ras Lanuf with at least 10 dead, Sen. John Kerry is urging President Obama to take action in Libya. As chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations and one of Obama’s closest allies, Kerry warned that America needs to protect the oil there—I mean, be prepared in case of a major attack. (the Washington Post, the New York Times)

>> Malaysia is racing to finish the world’s largest refinery for rare earth metals, the materials crucial to high-tech products like iPhones and smart bombs. It’s the first processing plant of its kind to be built outside of China in nearly three decades, and China refines 95 percent of the global supply of rare metals. What’s thousands of tons of low-level radioactive waste for a new iPad? (the New York Times)

>> After the new Egyptian prime minister appointed only one female to his cabinet, Egyptian women are staging a “Million Woman March” today just in time for International Women’s Day. How can Egypt shut out females like that? I mean, Cleopatra was the original diva. (Christian Science Monitor)

>> Despite President Obama’s two-year-old order halting military charges against Guantánamo Bay detainees, the ban has been lifted and tribunals there will resume. “A” for effort? (the New York Times)

>> And finally: After gas prices had record jumps this weekend, oil prices slightly fell today on reports that the OPEC cartel would increase its supply. God, those Middle Eastern rebels are so selfish. Who needs the right to vote anyway? Don’t they understand we need to go to Walmart? (the Wall Street Journal)






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