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Front Page: Rice Signs Missile Deal, Taliban Assaults US Base, Sudan's President Denies Genocide

CitizenSugar — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 06:57:25 -0700

Rice Signs Missile Deal:
Against strong opposition from Russia, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice signed an agreement with Poland to locate a missile defense base on Polish territory. The Kremlin called the act "hostile" though US officials say the defense system is aimed at threats from countries like Iran and will not target Russia. Rice says, “Missile defense, of course, is aimed at no one. It is in our defense that we do this.”

Taliban Assaults US Base:
Taliban insurgents, in the most serious attack in six years, perpetrated a coordinated assault on one of the largest US military bases in Afghanistan. At least 10 suicide bombers and another 100 insurgents killed 10 elite French paratroopers. It was the single deadliest loss for foreign troops since the Taliban was removed from power in 2001.

Sudan's President Denies Genocide:
Sudan's president denied that his regime is responsible for carrying out genocide in the Darfur region. The Hague indicted Omar al-Bashir last month on genocide charges, but he says the numbers are exaggerated, "genocide like the International Criminal Court claims is nonexistent." The prosecution said the militia directed by al-Bashir's government killed 300,000 ethnic Africans and displaced 2.5 million.

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Front Page: Assault at Chinese Border, Rescue on K2, Pakistan Army Kills 94 Militants

CitizenSugar — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 06:57:52 -0700

Assault at Chinese Border:
An attack on a border post has left 16 policemen dead in China. The border with the Muslim region of Xinjiang (near Tajikistan) was breached by two attackers who drove up in a garbage truck, threw two grenades, and then moved in to attack with knives. The area is home to Uighur separatists, who human rights groups say are oppressed by Beijing.

Rescue on K2:
Pakistani helicopters have rescued two members of a K2 climbing group that lost 11 members over the weekend after an avalanche swept away their fixed rope, leaving the climbers to freeze to death. Bad weather has prevented efforts to rescue one Italian climber still stranded. K2 is thought to be the most dangerous mountain to climb.

Pakistan Army Kills 94 Militants:
During fighting in northwestern Pakistan, the army has killed 94 Taliban militants and lost 14 soldiers in fighting. It's thought that 25 civilians and eight policemen have also been killed in a flare up of violence burst in the past week. The former tourist area has a fragile peace deal between the government and militants, and the violence has led the military to say, "the operation will continue till the objective of clearing the area of militants is achieved."

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Londoners Mark July 7 Bombings Anniversary

CitizenSugar — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 09:55:12 -0700

Londoners Mark July 7 Bombings Anniversary Londoners on Monday marked the third anniversary of the July 7 suicide bombings that killed 52 commuters during a rush-hour attack. Hundreds of commuters and survivors stood silently as Mayor Boris Johnson and others laid flowers outside King's Cross train and subway station at 8:50 a.m. three years after the attacks in 2005. Johnson laid a memorial card that said: "We honor the memory of those who died on 7/7 2005. We salute the courage of those who were injured and our thoughts and prayers are with all victims and their families."

Front Page: Election Riot in Mongolia, Bulldozer Attack, India's Truck Drivers Strike

CitizenSugar — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 06:56:28 -0700

Election Riot in Mongolia:
In Mongolia's capital, protesters rioted over alleged election fraud destroying the ruling party's headquarters, dampening hopes for a stable government, and resulting in five deaths. President Nambariin Enkhbayar declared a four-day state of emergency late last night after the fire was set at the headquarters. The emergency announcement is the first in Mongolia's history, and allows security forces to use tear gas and rubber bullets to break up demonstrations. About 220 civilians and 108 servicemen have been injured in the clashes, with another 700 protesters detained.

Bulldozer Attack:
A Palestinian smashed a bulldozer into a bus and several cars this morning in Jerusalem, killing three people before being killed himself. The rampage left dozens injured in the city center before a police officer engaged the driver, struggling with him in the cab of the vehicle, and shooting him dead. One witness said of the attack, "I saw [the bulldozer driver] crashing cars and going into the bus... He wanted to kill as many as he could."
India's Truck Drivers Strike:
India's truck drivers are striking, keeping nearly four million trucks off the roads to protest against rising fuel costs. The Indian government has cut subsidies due to rising global prices of crude oil and passed the increase on to drivers. Oil prices have risen by 40 percent since the beginning of the year. The strike is likely to push up the prices of food and other necessities. One trucker said, "we are already running under huge losses. The cost of diesel is so high that we have nothing left to live on."

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Militia in Zimbabwe Attacks, Turns Election Violence Into Terror

CitizenSugar — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:00:22 -0700

The pending presidential run-off in Zimbabwe has made the terrible journey from suspiciously unfair to savage. People are being mutilated and burned alive. Current president Robert Mugabe's militia forces arrived at the house of opposition (MDC) leader Patson Chipiro last Friday. Finding his wife home, the men brutalized her body, locked her in her hut, and threw a fire-bomb through the window.

When Chipiro arrived home, he found his three brick huts engulfed in flames and couldn't find his wife of 29 years anywhere. He said, “I was trying to put the fire out. I thought my wife was hiding in the bushes.” The his four-year-old nephew broke the news. “He ran to me. He said, ‘Auntie has been beaten and they threw her in the fire’.”

Yesterday, Chipiro's wife died, her charred limbs frozen outstretched so the coffin wouldn't close. When Chipiro tried to report the crime, he was first given a form that purposely left our the cause of death — had an officer not intervened, he would have been left voiceless. His wife's attackers came from a nearby ruling party (Zanu-PF) militia camp. Chipiro says, “these youths are taught cruelty. They get used to murdering. They enjoy murdering. They are doing it for money.”

He's scared the attackers will come back for him. Seventy local MDC supporters are camped out in front of his home for protection, and he remains resolute despite these crushing odds. “I am very frightened,” he said. “They want to kill me. But I have no alternative. My presence here as a leader is very important. If I leave, everyone else will leave. I intend to fight the battle, from here.”

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