News and Events

Aljazeera:5 July 2008

Protesters have gathered in the Japanese city of Sapporo to demonstrate against rising food prices, ahead of a summit of the Group of Eight (G8) rich nations.

Anger over Afghan air raid deaths

Aljazeera:5 July 2008

At least 15 people, including a woman and a child, have been killed in a US air raid in eastern Afghanistan, a provincial governor has said.

'Many killed' in Syrian jail riot

BBC News: 5 July 2008

Clashes between guards and prisoners at a jail in Syria have resulted in many deaths, a human-rights group says
Film of Zimbabwe 'vote-rigging

BBC News: 5 July 2008

New evidence of vote-rigging in last month's presidential election in Zimbabwe has emerged in the form of a secret film made by a prison guard.

Shortages of doctors expected in Africa until 2015
World Health Organisation News: 3 July 2008

The number of doctors required and those available globally by 2015 will be roughly in balance, but there will be huge disparities in their distribution. Most African countries will face shortages, according to a study published in the July edition of the WHO Bulletin.

Health services being restored in Sudan's Abyei town
World Health Organisation News: 3 July 2008

Nearly 60 000 people fled Abyei, a town in central-western Sudan, when fighting broke out in May. With calm restored, resuming basic health services for the returning population is the priority for WHO and partner agencies.

Second al Qaeda suspect freed from British jail

Reuters News: 3 July 2008

LONDON (Reuters) - An Algerian accused by Britain of links to Osama bin Laden and bomb plots in the United States and France has been freed on bail after more than seven years in prison, a spokeswoman for a British tribunal said on Thursday. Full Article

US 'escalates covert Iran missions'

Aljazeera: 30 June 2008

Seymour Hersh report says US congress has agreed to increase in operations against Iran.

Iran Sentences Israeli Spy to Death

Al-ManarTV News: 30 June 2008

An Iranian court on Monday sentenced to death an Iranian businessman on charges of spying for Israel after a two-day trial, media said.

Turks 'oppose' ruling party ban

Aljazeera: 30 June 2008

The majority of Turks say they would not favour banning the ruling party and think that any such decision would trigger unrest in the country, according to an opinion poll.

Bill for Warren Buffett lunch hits $2m

BBC World News: 30 June 2008

A Chinese businessman has won the right to have lunch with Warren Buffett after bidding $2.1m (£1m) for the privilege of dining with the legendary investor.

Israel agrees Lebanon prisoner swap

Aljazeera: 29 June 2008

Olmert acknowledges that Hezbollah would be returning the bodies of two soldiers

Obama and the Pesky Muslim Rumors

by Parvez Ahmed
Media Monitors Network: Saturday, June 28, 2008

"Obama needs to not only continue assuring people that he is not a Muslim but also challenge the collective conscience of this nation to not let their fears undo the progress we have been making towards racial and religious tolerance. His ultimate legacy will not only be judged by becoming the first person of color to be elected President but more importantly what he does after he is elected.

Kashmiris intensify anti-Delhi protest
Dawn: 29 June 2008

SRINAGAR: At least 60 people were injured when police and protesters clashed for a sixth consecutive day on Saturday in occupied Kashmir as resistance to the transfer of land to a Hindu pilgrim group deepened.

UN move against Zimbabwe blocked

Aljazeera: 28 June 2008

Zimbabwean polling officials have finished counting the votes from the country's one-man presidential election, dubbed a sham by the opposition and many in the international community.

Editorial: Contentious claims over Iran’s N-plans

Arab News: 27 June 2008

Any US president would think long and hard about the power of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards to undo the tenuous progress achieved in Iraq, if Israel attacks Iran, says The Guardian (UK)

Israelis hack pro-Palestinian websites

Arab News: 27 June 2008

A group of Israelis yesterday hacked into three websites linked to the Israeli-Arab and Palestinian causes, and embedded on their pages images of the Israeli flag and the symbol of an outlawed ultra-rightist movement

Cabinet Majority for Hezbollah Prisoner Exchange

Al-ManarTV News: 27 June 2008

With a cabinet vote set for Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has yet to come out in support of a deal with Hezbollah to return the two captured Israeli soldiers, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev.

Three US soldiers killed as violence in Iraq escalates

The Independent News: 26 June 2008

Three US soldiers and an interpreter have been killed by a roadside bomb in northern Iraq, bringing to 25 the number of Americans killed in Iraq this month and underlining that Iraq remains a very dangerous place for the US army, despite a drop in the number of attacks on it.

Zimbabwe opposition pulls out of election

BBC News: 22 June 2008

Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai says he is pulling out of the presidential run-off because the vote would not be fair, handing automatic victory to President Robert Mugabe.

Iran Warns of 'Limitless' Response to Any Strike

Al-ManarTV News: 22 June 2008

Iran on Sunday dismissed reports that Israel had been practicing for air strikes against its nuclear drive as "psychological operations" but warned of a limitless response to any attack.

One Dead, 20 wounded in North Lebanon Clashes

Al-ManarTV News: 22 June 2008

One person was shot dead and at least 20 were wounded in clashes between supporters of Lebanon's Loyalty and the opposition in the north of the country on Sunday.

India baby girl deaths 'increase'

BBC News: 21 June 2008

A report by the UK charity says increasing numbers of female foetuses were being aborted and baby girls deliberately neglected and left to die.

"Attack on Iran Would Turn Mideast into Fireball"

Al-ManarTV News: 21 June 2008

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Mohamed El Baradei warned that any attack on Iran over its nuclear program would turn the Middle East region into a "fireball."

Arrogance or elegance? The most expensive house in the world

The Independent News: 21 June 2008

Towering high above Mumbai and far from the teeming shanty towns, a billion-dollar home, an oasis of ultimate luxury, is being built for the world's fifth-richest man. By Andrew Buncombe

Israel Seeks to Block $400m of Arms to Leb. Army

Al-ManarTV News: 21 June 2008

As some sides in Lebanon are persistently seeking to disarm Hezbollah's resistance, "Israel is seeking to block a $400 million arms deal between the United States and Lebanon that reportedly includes hundreds of anti-tank missiles," the Israeli daily Haaretz said

Iran says attack by Israel 'impossible'

BBC News: 21 June 2008

Iran says it considers an Israeli attack on its nuclear facilities as "impossible", after reports of an Israeli military rehearsal.

Oil - paying the political price

BBC News: 18 June 2008

Economists are worried about the effect of the high oil price on the national and global economy. Well here is another oil-related issue to worry about: the effect of the high price on international politics.

Officials enforce law against overstayers

Arab News: 18 June 2008

RIYADH: Officials from the Passport Department, in cooperation with the Riyadh police, are conducting random checks at the King Khaled International Airport to arrest departing foreigners who had overstayed

Israel-Hamas truce announced

Aljazeera: 17 June 2008

Israel and Hamas have agreed to a ceasefire arrangement."Implementation of the truce will begin at 6am (0300 GMT) on Thursday," a Palestinian official said on Tuesday.

Calm returns to Lebanon after clash

Aljazeera: 17 June 2008

Calm has returned to the Bekaa valley in eastern Lebanon after clashes between pro- and anti-government supporters.

Palestinians killed in Gaza raids

Aljazeera: 17 June 2008

Five Palestinians have been killed in an Israeli air strike in the Hamas-governed Gaza Strip, Palestinian officials say.

Indonesia unveils curbs on Ahmadis