Thousands of people returned to the historic southern city of Thatta in Pakistan today after levees built from clay and stone held back the floodwaters that have ravaged large areas of the country.Thousands who fled as the floods inundated nearby towns complained about a shortage of food and water as they camped in a graveyard on a hill near the city.People ran after vehicles distributing food and water near the graveyard - a chaotic distribution system that left many flood survivors, especially the old and infirm, with nothing. Some were forced to drink rainwater from the ground.
Thousands of people returned to the historic southern city of Thatta in Pakistan today after levees built from clay and stone held back the floodwaters that have ravaged large areas of the country.
Thousands who fled as the floods inundated nearby towns complained about a shortage of food and water as they camped in a graveyard on a hill near the city.
People ran after vehicles distributing food and water near the graveyard - a chaotic distribution system that left many flood survivors, especially the old and infirm, with nothing. Some were forced to drink rainwater from the ground.
The presidents of France and Egypt met on Monday in Paris to discuss how a planned November summit of the Mediterranean Union could contribute to a Middle East peace accord after the resumption of direct Israeli - Palestinian talks. French President Nicolas Sarkozy says "new hope presents itself" with the resumption of direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders later this week in Washington.... Sarkozy also said the group of 27 European Union nations and 16 southern Mediterranean and Middle East countries could encourage talks toward Mideast peace.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy says "new hope presents itself" with the resumption of direct talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders later this week in Washington.... Sarkozy also said the group of 27 European Union nations and 16 southern Mediterranean and Middle East countries could encourage talks toward Mideast peace.
Four Ugandan soldiers with the African Union forces in Somalia were killed Monday when hardline insurgents fired a mortar shell at one of their bases, the force's spokesman said. The AU troops, protecting Somalia's embattled government which the Islamist Shebab rebels are fighting to overthrow, have been locked in heavy clashes since last week with the radical group who have intensified their attacks.
The AU troops, protecting Somalia's embattled government which the Islamist Shebab rebels are fighting to overthrow, have been locked in heavy clashes since last week with the radical group who have intensified their attacks.
An Iranian former prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi and two judges have been suspended over the prison deaths of three anti-government protesters, Iranian newspapers reported on Monday. Mortazavi and two unnamed judges have been suspended over the deaths of Mohammad Kamrani, Amir Javadifar and Mohsen Ruholamini in Kahrizak jail, Iranian MPs said in a statement. "The suspension of the former prosecutor and two judges accused in the case is comforting," 216 lawmakers said in a joint statement published in the Shargh newspaper.
Mortazavi and two unnamed judges have been suspended over the deaths of Mohammad Kamrani, Amir Javadifar and Mohsen Ruholamini in Kahrizak jail, Iranian MPs said in a statement.
"The suspension of the former prosecutor and two judges accused in the case is comforting," 216 lawmakers said in a joint statement published in the Shargh newspaper.
Three weeks ago, I wrote about a lawsuit filed by the ACLU and the Center for Constitutional Rights, based on the Treasury Department's failure to grant a "license" to those groups to represent U.S. citizen Anwar Awlaki in a lawsuit seeking to bar the U.S. Government from assassinating him without due process. In response, Treasury officials issued the license (those groups are nonetheless proceeding with that lawsuit in an attempt to have the entire licensing scheme declared unconstitutional on the ground that the Federal Government has no authority to require government permission before American lawyers can represent American citizens, even if the citizen in question has been accused of being a Terrorist).
In the end, might makes right. Nothing has changed since the caveman.
WASHINGTON, Aug 30, 2010 (IPS) - In an effort to introduce a story of "progress" into media coverage, Gen. David Petraeus's command claimed last week that the Taliban is suffering from reduced morale in Marjah and elsewhere, despite evidence that the population of Marjah still believes the Taliban controls that district.But the news media ignored the command's handout on the story, which did not quote Petraeus. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) Aug. 25 news release quoted German Brig. Gen. Josef Blotz, the ISAF spokesman, as citing intelligence reports of "low insurgent morale, which is affecting their capability across the country." The release claimed that the Taliban commander in Marjah district, Mullah Niamat, "openly acknowledged to his fellow insurgents that the Taliban is losing Marjah and their chances of winning are poor." The release cited "intelligence reports" as saying the Taliban leader's assessment was "based on battle losses" and "increased resentment of the insurgent methods by average Afghans".
New York Rebounds From Slump, Unevenly
This CIA "Red Cell" report from February 2, 2010, looks at what will happen if it is internationally understood that the United States is an exporter of terrorism; 'Contrary to common belief, the American export of terrorism or terrorists is not a recent phenomenon, nor has it been associated only with Islamic radicals or people of Middle Eastern, African or South Asian ethnic origin. This dynamic belies the American belief that our free, open and integrated multicultural society lessens the allure of radicalism and terrorism for US citizens.' The report looks at a number cases of US exported terrorism, including attacks by US based or financed Jewish, Muslim and Irish-nationalism terrorists. It concludes that foreign perceptions of the US as an "Exporter of Terrorism" together with US double standards in international law, may lead to noncooperation in renditions (including the arrest of CIA officers) and the decision to not share terrorism related intelligence with the United States.
At least 10 policemen were killed and several injured in a fierce firefight with Maoists on Sunday in the Kajra hill jungles, which stretches for about 40 km till Jamui, the state police confirmed on Monday. Among those killed was Kawaiya outpost in-charge Phulan Yadav, who was leading the anti-Naxalite operation. There are unconfirmed reports of over a dozen policemen still missing in the jungles, about 30 km from Lakhisarai district headquarters.
Among those killed was Kawaiya outpost in-charge Phulan Yadav, who was leading the anti-Naxalite operation. There are unconfirmed reports of over a dozen policemen still missing in the jungles, about 30 km from Lakhisarai district headquarters.
