CONFLICT & TERROR 06/23 WEEK IN REVIEW

EU agrees to lift 5-year-old sanctions on CubaPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 8:05amThe European Union on Thursday agreed to lift its diplomatic sanctions against Cuba, but imposed tough conditions on the communist island to maintain sanction-free relations, officials said. The U.S., which has maintained a decades-long trade embargo against Cuba, criticized the move, saying there were no significant signs the communist island was easing a dictatorship. An independent analyst predicted it would have no affect on U.S. policy toward the Caribbean island. Full Story

Bird flu mistaken as dengue, typhoid in IndonesiaPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 8:34amSome cases of human bird flu in Indonesia have been variously misdiagnosed as dengue fever and typhoid, resulting in the late administration of drugs, a leading doctor in the country said on Friday. Indonesia has had the highest number of human H5N1 cases in the world and while mortality rates are around 60 percent in other places, the figure is highest, or at 81 percent, in Indonesia. Full Story

Afghans count Taliban dead in valley near KandaharPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 8:39amNATO and Afghan forces held mopping up operations, hunting Taliban fighters and burying the dead on Friday, after an air and ground offensive routed hundreds of insurgents from a valley near Kandahar city. The allies mounted the offensive on Wednesday after the Taliban took control of the Arghandab valley, 20 kms (12 miles) northwest of Kandahar. Full Story

Protesters march in Thai capitalPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 8:47amSeveral thousand protesters have converged on government offices in the Thai capital Bangkok to demand that the government step down. Police lined the streets as crowds led by the People's Alliance for Democracy (PAD) marched in Bangkok. Full Story

Army: Sri Lanka fighting kills 29Posted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 9:01amFighting between the government forces and Tamil Tiger rebels along the northern front lines killed 26 rebels and three government soldiers, the military said Friday. The newly reported fighting took place in Vavuniya, Mannar, Welioya and Jaffna regions bordering the rebels' de facto state in the north Thursday, said a defense ministry official, speaking on condition of anonymity due to government regulation. Full Story

Philippines braces for powerful tropical stormPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 9:04amA powerful tropical storm is sweeping across the Philippine Sea and is expected to lash the eastern edge of the country over the weekend, the government weather station said. At 4:00am Friday (local time), the storm, called Fengshen, was 180 kilometres east of the central island of Samar, moving north-west at 15 kilometres per hour, the weather bureau said. Full Story

Kidnapped Frenchman released in AfghanistanPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 9:06amA French businessman who was abducted in southern Afghanistan last month has been released safely along with two Afghan colleagues, the French Foreign Ministry announced Friday. Johan Freckhaus, 37, was released on Thursday, nearly a month after he was abducted on his way from Kandahar to Kabul along with the two Afghan colleagues. Full Story

Nepal parties fail to break post-monarchy deadlockPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 9:08amNepal's Maoists and the country's biggest mainstream party said Friday they were still at odds over who should lead a new government following the abolition of the monarchy. The Maoists and the centrist Nepali Congress -- Nepal's most powerful political groups -- have been unable to progress on naming the Himalayan nation's first president since the monarchy was abolished over three weeks ago. Full Story

Czech threat looms for EU treatyPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 9:18amEU leaders have admitted that the Czech Republic may not be able to ratify the Lisbon Treaty, which has already been rejected by the Irish. The declaration, to be agreed at an EU summit in Brussels, will note that the Czechs cannot complete ratification for the moment, officials said. Full Story

Hezbollah may attack Canadian JewsPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 9:19amDisturbing "chatter" picked up by intelligence agencies about attacks against Jewish targets by Canadian-linked supporters of Hezbollah has prompted an alert to Canada's Jewish community urging added caution. Full Story

China 'arrests' fake terroristsPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 9:22amThree men who reportedly posed as terrorists to try to extort more than $300,000 (#150,000) have been arrested in the Chinese Olympic city of Qingdao. A company in the city is said to have received a phone call last week from a man who claimed he was a member of an "East Turkestan independence group". Full Story

US targets Hezbollah links in VenezuelaPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 9:28amA Lebanese-born businessman living in Venezuela denied U.S. government accusations that he has helped financed Hezbollah, saying he doesn't know anyone in the group. Full Story

Bahrain Shiites protest articles on their clericPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 9:34amMore than 10,000 Shiites marched Thursday in this tiny Sunni-ruled Gulf country to protest newspaper articles deemed insulting to their top cleric. The protesters were mostly supporters of the Shiite opposition Al-Wefaq parliamentary bloc, which holds 17 seats in the 40-member assembly. They marched along the highway just outside the capital of Manama, chanting slogans in support of Bahrain's top Shiite cleric, Sheik Isa Qassim. No violence was reported. Full Story

Abu Hamza loses extradition fightPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 9:48amJailed Muslim cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri has lost his High Court bid against extradition to the US where he faces terror-related charges. The Egyptian-born preacher is currently serving a seven-year jail term in the UK for inciting murder and race hate. Full Story

Israel held military drill as prep for attack on IranPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 9:49amU.S. officials say Israel carried out a large military exercise this month that appeared to be a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, The New York Times reported on Friday. Full Story

Iran president claims US assassination plotPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 9:54amIranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Thursday accused the United States of plotting to kidnap and assassinate him during a visit to Iraq, state media reported. Full Story

Iran warns of strong blow' if Israel attacksPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 9:58amTeheran Friday warned its arch-enemy Israel of a strong blow if it takes forceful measures, after the US media reported military exercises by the Jewish state were a possible practice for a strike against Iran. Full Story

Treaty on hold until court rulesPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 10:28amGordon Brown has said Britain will not ratify the EU Treaty until the High Court has ruled on a separate bid to force a British referendum. It followed a High Court judge's letter expressing surprise ministers appeared to be pressing ahead with ratification. Full Story

Hizbullah 'needs its arms' beyond ShebaaPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 10:35amHizbullah on Thursday said Lebanon would still need its armed presence even if Israel finally quit the disputed Shebaa Farms region in the South. Full Story

More weapons caches turning up in IraqPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 10:47amWeapons caches are turning up with increasing frequency in public places in Iraq  from a bakery to a fish farm  as recent security gains embolden more civilians to come forward with tips, U.S. and Iraqi military officials say. Full Story

Muslim convert 'recruits' inmatesPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 11:02amA former British National Party activist who converted to Islam in prison is trying to radicalise young prisoners, the BBC can reveal. Inmate Stephen Jones is being held in a segregation unit at Whitemoor Prison, Cambridgeshire, the BBC has been told. Full Story

British mercenary 'was to head E.Guinea's presidential guard'Posted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 12:21pmBritish mercenary Simon Mann had been tapped to head Equatorial Guinea's presidential guard after a 2004 plot to topple the west African nation's leader, the court trying his case learned Friday. Documents shown at the trial of Mann and his co-accused indicate that he would also have been in charge of recruiting guard members and given exclusive rights in a number of economic sectors. Full Story

China 'frees Tibetan protesters'Posted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 12:33pmChina has released more than 1,000 people involved in unrest in Tibet earlier this year, Chinese media say. The official Xinhua news agency quoted a senior official saying those freed had been held for minor offences connected with the unrest in March. Full Story

Japan apologises over Taiwan boat incidentPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 12:39pmA Japanese envoy on Friday apologised to the captain of a Taiwanese fishing boat which sank after colliding with a Japanese patrol ship near disputed islets in the East China Sea. "I am here today to express our sincere apology to the captain," Hitoshi Funamachi, Japan's deputy de facto ambassador to Taiwan, told reporters through an interpreter. Full Story

Mayors clash over Olympic costsPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 1:56pmLondon Mayor Boris Johnson has clashed with his predecessor Ken Livingstone over the funding of the 2012 Olympics. Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4 a deal signed by Mr Livingstone on cost over-runs was "far from clear" and he doubted its existence. Full Story

Irish premier sorry for treaty 'no' votePosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 2:19pmIreland's prime minister said Friday he regretted that Irish voters rejected the European Union's reform treaty, a result that has plunged the EU into political crisis. An EU survey released Friday found that the main reason the Irish voted "no" was that they did not understand the treaty. Full Story

Bias charges won't stop Berlusconi trial: judgePosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 2:24pmA corruption trial against Silvio Berlusconi and British lawyer David Mills will go ahead in July despite the Italian premier's attempts to have it stopped by accusing the court of bias, the judge said on Friday. The 71-year-old prime minister is charged with paying Mills $600,000 in 1997, from alleged "secret funds" held by his media empire Mediaset, to withhold incriminating details of his business dealings. Both of them deny any wrongdoing. Full Story

Spain's conservative opposition moves to end internal crisisPosted on Friday, June 20, 2008 at 2:40pmSpain's conservative opposition Popular Party sought to heal its internal divisions at a national convention that opened Friday, three months after it suffered its second successive election defeat. "We have not come here to fight one another," the mayor of the Mediterranean city of Valencia, Rita Berbera, said in an inaugural speech to the three-day gathering. "We are here to fight socialism and return to government." Full Story

Partygoers And Cops Killed In StampedePosted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 5:16amAt least nine young people and three police officer have been trampled to death during a raid on a packed nightclub in Mexico City. Full Story

'Ball of fire' if Iran attacked: IAEA chiefPosted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 5:17amUN atomic watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei warned that any attack on Iran would transform the region into a "ball of fire," in an interview with Al-Arabiya television broadcast on Saturday. His comments come after US media reported that Israeli jet pilots trained for a possible strike on Iranian nuclear sites. Full Story

Afghan Bomb Kills 4 Troops From U.S.-Led ForcePosted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 5:18amA bomb killed four troops from the U.S.-led coalition in southern Afghanistan on Saturday, one of the deadliest attacks on foreign forces this year. The explosion seriously wounded two other troops as they were conducting operations in Kandahar province, a coalition statement said. It didn't release the nationalities of the victims or other details. Full Story

Iran dismisses any halt of nuclear workPosted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 5:18amIran appeared to dismiss on Saturday any suggestion of freezing its nuclear enrichment activities, which the West suspects are aimed at making bombs. Diplomats said on Friday six major powers had offered Tehran preliminary talks on its nuclear work, on condition it limits uranium enrichment to current levels for six weeks in exchange for a freeze on moves towards harsher sanctions. Full Story

Sikhs in Mumbai hold anti-Dera protests, halt trainsPosted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 5:19amA large number of Sikhs blocked railway tracks in Mumbai and a shutdown was observed in areas dominated by the community on Saturday, a day after clashes between Sikh protesters and bodyguards of Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief left one person dead and two injured. Members of the community squatted on railway tracks near Mulund station and stopped suburban and long distance train services from 11:30 am, causing hardship to thousands of office-goers and college students. Full Story

Musharraf says Pak parliament free to impeach himPosted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 5:20amPakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that the country's parliament was free to bring forth and debate an impeachment motion against him. Talking to PML-Q President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain and opposition leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, he said he would continue supporting the democratic process and accept the supremacy of parliament. Full Story

Bosnian Serb war crimes suspect transfered to The Hague: reportPosted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 5:21amBosnian Serb Stojan Zupljanin, one of the most wanted war crimes suspects, was transferred on Saturday to The Hague where the UN war crimes tribunal sits, independent B92 radio reported. Zupljanin, arrested last week near Belgrade, was brought to Belgrade airport shortly after 4:00 am (0200 GMT), the report said. Full Story

Chavez refutes US Hezbollah chargesPosted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 5:22amPresident Hugo Chavez says the United States is trying to bring him before an international court.Chavez says the United States is using accusations that the Venezuelan government is supporting the Lebanese group Hezbollah to "see if the world will make a move" against him. The U.S. has charged a Venezuelan official and others with helping Hezbollah. Washington considers the armed group and political party in Lebanon a terrorist organization. Full Story

UN nuke chief urges Syria to cooperatePosted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 5:23amThe U.N. nuclear watchdog chief urged Syria on Friday to show "transparency" and cooperate with inspectors from the world agency visiting the Mideast country this weekend. It marks the start of an international fact check of U.S. and Israeli assertions that Damascus had tried to build a plutonium-producing facility under the radar of the international community. Full Story

Maoists quit Nepal government, demand PM's resignationPosted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 5:24amNepal was thrown into political limbo on Saturday after the Maoists quit the interim government of the newly republican nation and demanded the prime minister's resignation.Nepal's former Maoist rebels stormed out of the government late on Friday, accusing a rival party of clinging to power despite being defeated in landmark elections in the Himalayan country two months ago. Full Story

China vows to 'smash' Dalai LamaPosted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 5:25amThe Olympic torch relay has finished in Tibet with Government officials vowing to smash the Dalai Lama. Amid tight security, the torch arrived in front of Potala Palace, the Dalai Lama's former chief residence, carried by Caidan Zhuoma, a famous Tibetan singer. Full Story

SLAF MI-24 helicopters raid LTTE gathering - MannarPosted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 5:26amSri Lanka Air Force MI-24 helicopter gun ships raided a gathering place of the LTTE terrorists located in general area north of Andankulam this afternoon, June 21. Full Story

Russian strategic bombers patrol Arctic, Atlantic OceansPosted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 5:27amFour Russian strategic bombers are conducting an aerial patrol of the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, the Itar-Tass news agency reported on Friday. Full Story

Thai PM Will Not Resign in Face of ProtestsPosted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 5:01pmThai officials say Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej will not resign despite massive street protests calling for his ouster. Full Story

Bahrain arrests Qaeda suspects: policePosted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 5:06pmPolice in Bahrain said on Saturday one man was arrested and another freed on bail after they were accused of cooperating with and funding a foreign terrorist group, a reference to Al-Qaeda. Full Story

Navy's newest submarine christenedPosted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 5:33pmThe Navy's newest attack submarine, the New Hampshire, was christened Saturday, delivered eight months ahead of schedule and $54 million under budget. Full Story

Mumbai Sikhs hold protests, demand action against chiefPosted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 7:16pmThousands of Sikhs blocked railway tracks, damaged a station and observed a shutdown in parts of Mumbai Saturday to protest the killing of a member of the community by the Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief's bodyguards. Full Story

Shells from Pakistan hit Afghan basesPosted on Saturday, June 21, 2008 at 7:20pmArtillery shells fired from Pakistan landed in an Afghan army compound and close to an international military base in Afghanistan on Saturday and NATO forces returned fire, the alliance said. Full Story

700 missing after ferry capsizesPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 3:16amOnly three survivors have been found after a ferry with more than 700 people onboard capsized near the central Philippine island of Sibuyan, according to a Philippines Coast Guard official. Homes in the city of Iloilo have been flooded after the arrival of Typhoon Fengshen. Full Story

Heavy clashes between rival clans in northern LebanonPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 3:17amHeavy clashes erupted on Sunday between rival factions in the northern city of Tripoli forcing the withdrawal of the Lebanese army from the area. Full Story

Rights group accuses Israel of abusing Palestinian prisonersPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 3:20amAn Israeli rights group claimed on Sunday the military regularly abuses Palestinian prisoners, including children, after their arrest. In its annual report, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel mentions 90 cases of detainees claiming to have been mistreated by soldiers. Full Story

Iraq official says U.K. captives alivePosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 3:22amFive Britons who were kidnapped in Baghdad more than a year ago are still alive, Iraq's most senior security official said. Mowaffak al-Rubaie, Iraq's national security adviser, said authorities had "very good, strong intelligence telling us they are alive." Full Story

60 dead in floods from typhoon in PhilippinesPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 3:22amAt least 60 people are confirmed dead and 60 others are missing after Typhoon Fengshen struck islands in the central Philippines, a local official said Sunday. Full Story

Iraqi forces start second stage of security crackdown in S IraqPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 3:24amIraqi security forces started Saturday its second stage of ongoing security operation in Maysan province, security sources said. Full Story

Next terror threats to come from PakistanPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 3:25amThe most urgent foreign policy problem that the next U.S. president will face wont be Iraq. Nor will it be Iran.The next terrorist attack on America is likely to originate, according to the top U.S. military commander, Adm. Mike Mullen, in a place youve probably never heard of: the FATA. Thats the acronym for the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of northern Pakistan. Full Story

LTTE claymore mine explosion kills two policemenPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 3:26amLTTE terrorists have exploded a claymore mine targeting a police route clearing patrol at Kaludaveli in Batticaloa around 7.25 this morning (June 22). According to the defence sources, one officer of Police Special Task Force and another police constable have been killed. Full Story

Colombian hostage calls for rebel-government talksPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 3:28amA former Colombian lawmaker captured by FARC rebels a year ago accused the guerrillas and the government of "cruelty and barbarism" for refusing to negotiate a prisoner swap deal, in a video clip made public Saturday. Full Story

NATO returns fire following attack from PakistanPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 3:31amNATO says its forces have launched artillery across the Afghan border at attackers who fired at them from Pakistan. A military statement said three rounds of "indirect fire" landed near a NATO base in Afghanistan's Paktika province Saturday. Three more landed in an Afghan army compound. No casualties were reported. Full Story

16 rebels among 18 killed in Sri Lanka: ArmyPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 2:30pmIn clashes across embattled northern Sri Lanka, at least 16 LTTE rebels and two soldiers were killed, officials said here on Sunday. Full Story

Niger Tuareg rebels seize 4 French uranium workersPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 2:31pmTuareg-led rebels in Niger seized four French employees of a French-run uranium mine on Sunday in an abduction they said showed the country's government could not guarantee the safety of foreign mining operations. Full Story

Saudi will increase oil output to cut pricesPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 3:37pmSaudi Arabia will increase its daily oil production from 9 million barrels to 9.7 million in the near future to counter the sharp rise in international oil prices, Saudi King Abdullah said Sunday. Full Story

Billions more needed to secure US embassiesPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 3:39pmDespite an intensive $4 billion drive to protect U.S. embassies, at least 150 American missions abroad fall short of security standards put in place after deadly bombings, The Associated Press has learned. Full Story

Area terror cell numbered 8, agent saysPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 3:39pmAlthough they were known as the Lackawanna Six, the group of Buffalo- area men who trained at Osama bin Ladens terrorist camp in Afghanistan actually numbered eight  and could have grown to 12, according to the former FBI agent who headed the investigation. Full Story

Bush fails to appoint a nuclear terror czarPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 3:40pmTen months after Congress passed a law establishing a White House coordinator for preventing nuclear terrorism, President Bush has no plans to create the high-level post any time soon, according to the National Security Council. Full Story

Explosion in Kirkuk kills three Iraqis, two injuresPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 3:41pmhree Iraqi people were killed and two others were injured on Sunday due to an explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED) that rocked northen city of Kirkuk. Full Story

Qaeda urges Somali insurgents to fight on-Web videoPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 4:25pmAn al Qaeda leader said a U.N.- brokered peace deal between the Somali government and some opposition figures was worthless and called on Islamist insurgents in the Horn of Africa nation to fight on. Full Story

Nigerian armed group declares ceasefirePosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 4:28pmThe most high-profile armed group in the Niger Delta on Sunday declared a unilateral ceasefire starting "12 midnight on Tuesday, June 24, 2008". Full Story

Pakistani rebels kill four Afghans in rocket attacksPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 6:19pmFour civilians including two children were killed Sunday when militants from inside Pakistan fired rockets at NATO bases in eastern Afghanistan, the alliance force and police said. Full Story

Kidnapped Christians freedPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 6:54pmSixteen members of the Christian community kidnapped from the Academy Town returned home on Sunday morning but the government still transferred the city police chief and his deputy after holding them responsible for the incident. Full Story

Australia to boost sanctions against ZimbabwePosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 7:42pmAustralia's government said on Monday it was looking to lift the level of sanctions against Zimbabwe and called on African nations to do more against the "brutal" regime of President Robert Mugabe. Full Story

4th Bolivian state moves toward autonomyPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 8:20pmNatural gas-rich Tarija became the fourth Bolivian state to declare autonomy from the central government of leftist President Evo Morales on Sunday when voters backed greater independence in a referendum, according a private quick-count of votes. Full Story

Colombian oil pipeline closed by attacks - sourcePosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 9:41pmColombia's Cano Limon-Covenas oil pipeline has been closed by rebel bomb attacks carried out on Saturday and Sunday, a source at state petroleum company Ecopetrol told Reuters. Full Story

One security officer wounded in militant attack in ChechnyaPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 9:51pmA security officer was wounded after unidentified assailants opened fire on a car near the capital of the Republic of Chechnya in Russia's restive North Caucasus region, a local police source said Sunday. Full Story

Top member of Islamist group wounded in Lebanon blastPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 9:52pmA top Islamist militant was critically wounded on Sunday in a blast near the Palestinian refugee camp of Ain el-Helweh in south Lebanon which injured four others, a security official told AFP. Full Story

LTTE has links with global terror groups: Lanka PMPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 9:54pmSri Lankan Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayaka has alleged that the Tamil Tigers maintain links with international terror groups such as PKK and certain affiliates of Al-Qaida. Full Story

Shin Bet: Terror activity, arms smuggling stepped up in GazaPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 9:55pmDiskin addressed the Egypt-brokered cease fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, which went into effect Thursday morning, saying that Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his Fatah movement supported the deal, but "felt that they had received the short end of the deal and exchanged hushed messages about it." Full Story

National terror warning system 'useless'Posted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 9:56pmThousands of large ships entering Australian waters and ports each year have been fitted with anti-terror warning systems that are useless in preventing acts of terrorism. Full Story

Terrorism help for PakistanPosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 9:58pmAustralian counter-terrorism experts could be sent to Pakistan under a far-reaching plan by the Federal Government to help that country promote stability, slow the spread of Islamic extremism and stem the flow of insurgents into Afghanistan. Full Story

Secrecy, open courts collide in terrorism suspect's casePosted on Sunday, June 22, 2008 at 9:59pmThe trial of terror suspect Momin Khawaja will renew what has, since 9-11, become an epic clash of national interests. Full Story

Irish 'No' on EU leaders' agendaPosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 7:20amEuropean Union leaders are due to attend a summit in Brussels which is likely to be dominated by Ireland's rejection of the EU treaty last week. They are expected to agree ratification must continue, but refrain from proposing an early way out of the crisis, the BBC's Oana Lungescu says. Full Story

Gaza truce takes hold, skepticism aboundsPosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:05amGuns went quiet as a six-month truce between Israel and Gaza Strip militants took effect early Thursday, but there was widespread skepticism about its ability to hold. Full Story

China earthquake region braces for rainstormsPosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:10amEarthquake-ravaged sections of China's devastated Sichuan province braced Thursday for heavy rainstorms that could trigger new landslides, one day after officials reportedly finished evacuating 110,000 people from the area. Full Story

Militants ambush Pakistani food convoy; 6 deadPosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:11amMilitants in Pakistan attacked a convoy carrying food into a violence-plagued region on Thursday and murdering a driver, but five of them were killed when security forces retaliated, an official said. Sunni Muslim militants have been attacking vehicles going into the Shi'ite-majority Kurram ethnic Pashtun tribal region on the Afghan border for months. Full Story

Taliban raise a storm in KandaharPosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:21amThe battle for Kandahar, the city in the southern province of the same name where the Taliban rose to power in the 1990s before taking control of the rest of Afghanistan, has begun. And while Afghan and North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces are massed in the area around Arghandab, 20 kilometers north of Kandahar, the Taliban have their sights firmly set on the provincial capital. Full Story

Suu Kyi birthday marked in BurmaPosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:22amIn Burma supporters of Aung San Suu Kyi gave alms to monks as they marked the detained pro-democracy leader's 63rd birthday. Security personnel watched as dozens of people handed out food at the National League for Democracy headquarters. Full Story

U.S. helicopter engines stolen en route to Pakistan portPosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:25amFour U.S. helicopter engines worth more than $13 million have been stolen while they were being trucked from Afghanistan to a port in Pakistan to be shipped home, the U.S. military said. Most supplies for the U.S. military in landlocked Afghanistan, including fuel, are transported through Pakistan, and militants in both Pakistan and Afghanistan have been stepping up attacks on shipments. Full Story

Nepal parties agree on integration of former rebel fightersPosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:27amNepal's three largest political parties reached a deal Thursday to integrate Maoist former rebels fighters into the national Army and other security bodies, ending months of differences that have prevented the formation of a new government. The deal was struck during a meeting of senior leaders of the Nepali Congress, the Maoists and the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninists (CPN-UML). Full Story

Iraqi government says Amarah operation under wayPosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:30amIraqi troops fanned out across the Shiite militia stronghold of Amarah Thursday and gunmen tossed their weapons onto the streets or into canals as the government officially launched a military crackdown on the area. Full Story

Four communist rebels killed in eastern PhilippinesPosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:30amFour communist rebels were killed Thursday in a clash with government troops in a remote eastern Philippine town, a military spokesman said. Lieutenant Colonel Ernesto Torres said the fighting erupted when patrolling troops encountered heavily armed guerrillas is Tinambac town in Camarines Sur province, 285 kilometres south-east of Manila. Full Story

US envoy's convoy stoned in S. LebanonPosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:31amHezbollah's Shiite supporters attacked a top U.S. diplomat's motorcade with stones in southern Lebanon on Wednesday, protesting her first visit to the militant group's stronghold, witnesses said. Full Story

3,600 Thai police to handle protestPosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:32amAbout 3,600 Thai police will be deployed to watch over protesters planning to march Friday to Government House, a police spokesman said, warning that violence might break out. "The national police chief has ordered the police forces to be tripled to guard Government House and the surrounding areas," Major General Surapol Tuanthong told reporters on Thursday. Full Story

Call for Hindu suicide squads sparks anger in IndiaPosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:40amA powerful Hindu-nationalist political party in western India has called for Hindu suicide squads to counter Islamic terrorism, causing outrage and embarrassing the national opposition with which it is allied. Full Story

S Koreas Lee apologises over US beef rowPosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:48amPresident Lee Myung-bak on Thursday apologised to all South Koreans for his governments decision to resume imports of US beef, an issue that has marred his first 100 days in office. Mr Lee said he would replace most of his top advisors on Friday, the precursor to a wide-ranging cabinet reshuffle that is expected next week. The agriculture and health ministers, among others, will be replaced. Full Story

US targets Hezbollah links in VenezuelaPosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:57amThe Bush administration took action Wednesday against a Venezuelan official and others accused of providing financial support to the Hezbollah terror group. The Treasury Department's action covers Ghazi Nasr al Din, whom the United States identified as a Venezuelan diplomat. The order also targets Fawzi Kan'an and two Venezuelan-based travel agencies -- Biblos and Hilal -- that he allegedly owns or controls. Full Story

France renews contact with FARC leaders on hostagePosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 10:04amFrance has renewed contact with the leaders of Colombian guerrillas holding Franco-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt to try and secure her release after their main guerrilla contact was killed in March, presidency sources said on Thursday. The left-wing Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) has turned to kidnapping, extortion and the cocaine trade to finance operations against the military and outlawed paramilitary groups. Full Story

German court jails man for promoting Qaeda onlinePosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 10:15amA German court on Thursday sentenced an Iraqi man to three years in jail for distributing messages by al Qaeda leaders on the Internet. The court in the northern town of Celle said there was enough evidence that 37-year old chatroom administrator Ibrahim R. had placed several texts by Osama bin Laden and his deputy Ayman al-Zawahri online since 2005. Full Story

Tajiks jailed for 'Taleban links'Posted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 12:43pmA Tajik court has jailed three men for between 18 and 22 years for membership of a militant Islamic group said to have fought for the Afghan Taleban. The Supreme Court in Dushanbe was told the three Tajik nationals were active members of the Islamic Jihad Union. Full Story

Hezbollah agents discuss strikes outside Middle East: reportPosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 7:19pmCanadian spies have overheard agents of Lebanese-based Hezbollah talking about a possible strike against the Israeli embassy in Ottawa, according to a report from a U.S. news agency. Full Story

Chavez threatens to block oil over EU rulesPosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:46pmVenezuelan President Hugo Chavez threatened on Thursday to punish European countries that apply controversial new rules for deporting illegal immigrants by denying them oil and blocking their investments. Full Story

China shocks with 18 percent fuel price risePosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:47pmChina unexpectedly raised retail gasoline and diesel prices by up to 18 percent on Thursday, sending oil prices tumbling as Beijing moved to temper demand at the risk of stoking domestic angst over decade-high inflation. Full Story

EU agrees to lift 5-year-old sanctions on CubaPosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:48pmThe European Union on Thursday agreed to lift its diplomatic sanctions against Cuba, but imposed tough conditions on the communist island to maintain sanction-free relations, officials said. Full Story

Colombian admiral arrested in drug probePosted on Thursday, June 19, 2008 at 9:49pmColombia's chief prosecutor ordered the arrest Thursday of a cashiered navy rear admiral on charges he helped drug traffickers. Full Story

New EU plan for illegal migrantsPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 7:54amThe European Parliament is preparing to vote on a set of common EU rules that would allow the detention of illegal immigrants for up to 18 months. The "return directive" was agreed by EU interior ministers on 5 June and it is backed by conservative and liberal MEPs. The vote is set for Wednesday. Full Story

2 earthquakes strike Greece; no injuriesPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 7:56amA strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.7 struck near the Greek capital before dawn Wednesday, followed hours later by a much weaker quake off the Aegean island of Karpathos, the Athens Geodynamic Institute said. No injuries or damage were reported from either quake. Full Story

Afghans start anti-Taliban offensive in southPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 7:58amHelicopter gunships and troops with small and heavy arms blasted a valley in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday as local and NATO forces launched a huge offensive against hundreds of Taliban insurgents, many of whom broke out of jail last week. The defence ministry in Kabul said 20 Taliban guerrillas were killed in a NATO air strike and two Afghan army officers also died in the operation, in Arghandab district. Full Story

Radical preacher Abu Qatada freed on bailPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 7:58amRadical preacher Abu Qatada, once called Osama bin Laden's "spiritual ambassador in Europe," was released on bail Tuesday in a court decision that dealt an embarrassing blow to the British government's anti-terror campaign. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith reacted by saying the government will protect national security and public safety, despite the unwanted release of Abu Qatada. Full Story

BoE voted 8-1 to hold interest rate: minutesPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 8:00amBank of England policymakers voted 8-1 to leave interest rates at 5.00 percent earlier this month, according to minutes of their meeting that were published on Wednesday. The central bank's nine-member Monetary Policy Committee left its key lending rate on hold after a two-day meeting on June 4-5, in a move which analysts said was aimed at dampening high inflation despite slowing growth. Full Story

China and Japan strike gas dealPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 8:03amJapan and China have struck a deal for the joint development of a gas field in the East China Sea, resolving a protracted bilateral dispute. Japanese private sector firms will take part in China's project to develop the Chunxiao gas field, which is known as Shirakaba in Japan. Full Story

Militants release kidnapped journalists in PhilippinesPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 8:07amAl-Qaeda-linked militants have freed a popular TV news anchor, her cameraman and a university professor more than a week after snatching them in the volatile southern Philippines, police said. The kidnappers, identified by police as Abu Sayyaf militants, released ABS-CBN anchor Ces Drilon and the two other captives on Jolo Island around 11 pm yesterday following talks with negotiators, said Director Avelino Razon, the national police chief. Full Story

Pakistani anger over U.S. airstrike remainsPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 8:14amThe Pakistani military is so angry over the U.S. airstrikes here last week that it is threatening to postpone or cancel an American program to train a paramilitary force in counterinsurgency for combating Islamic militants, two Pakistani government officials said. Full Story

Thousands of Indonesians rally against Ahmadiyah sectPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 8:17amThousands of Indonesians wearing white to show their religious piety rallied at the presidential palace here on Wednesday to demand the banning of a minority Islamic sect deemed "deviant" by top clerics. More than 4,000 people from an array of mainstream Muslim political parties and fringe Islamist groups chanted slogans, shouted Allahu akbar (God is great) and waved banners condemning the Ahmadiyah sect. Full Story

Four British soldiers killed in AfghanistanPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 8:21amFour British soldiers were killed in the restive southern Afghan province of Helmand, officials said Wednesday, including reportedly the first female British military fatality. The soldiers serving with NATO died Tuesday when their vehicle was caught in a blast during what the British defence ministry called "a deliberate operation" east of the provincial capital Lashkar Gah. Full Story

India warns Kashmir violence may risePosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 8:23amIndia's defence minister said Wednesday he feared an upsurge of rebel attacks in disputed Kashmir in the run-up to state elections. The warning came days after militants killed five people, including four soldiers, and hurt 15 civilians in three separate attacks. Full Story

Mounting devastation as rains swamp southern ChinaPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 8:27amTorrential rains that have caused some of the worst flooding in 50 years and killed scores of people continued to batter a huge swath of southern China on Tuesday near one of the biggest manufacturing zones in the country. The government said the storms and floods had killed at least 63 people over the past week, left 13 missing and affected more than 17 million people in nine southern provinces. Full Story

Philippines seeks resumption of peace talks with Muslim rebelsPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 8:29amPhilippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on Wednesday called for the resumption of stalled peace talks with the country's largest Muslim separatist rebel group. Arroyo said the government has drafted a new proposed agreement with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) on the contentious issue of ancestral domain, which covers the establishment of a Muslim homeland in the southern region of Mindanao. Full Story

Bali bomber warns more al-Qaida attacks 'very likely' if he is executedPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 9:04amAn Islamic militant awaiting execution in Indonesia for carrying out the 2002 Bali bombings has warned that al-Qaida would be "very likely" to launch revenge attacks if authorities kill him, a magazine reported. Imam Samudra and two other Indonesian militants were sentenced to death in 2003 for their roles in the suicide attacks that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists, at two nightclubs on the resort island of Bali. Full Story

U.S. blames Shi'ite group for Baghdad bombPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 9:10amU.S. forces blamed a rogue Shi'ite militia group seeking to stir up sectarian violence on Wednesday for a devastating truck bombing that killed 63 people in Baghdad. Full Story

Israel agrees to truce with HamasPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 9:20amIsrael has agreed to a six-month truce with Palestinian armed groups including Hamas, the government's chief spokesman has confirmed. Full Story

Eight arrested for spying on behalf of IranPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 9:23amSaudi sources say that eight Bahraini citizens have been arrested on claims that they were spying for Iran. Full Story

Iraq bans dealings with Iran opposition groupPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 9:25amThe Iraqi government Tuesday banned any dealings with an Iranian opposition group based in Iraq. In an official statement, Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's Cabinet accused the Mujahedeen Khalq organization of interfering in Iraq's internal affairs. Full Story

Argentine congress to debate tax hikePosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 9:44amFacing the biggest crisis since filling the seat vacated by her husband, President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner announced Tuesday that a grain export tax increase that has unleashed months of protests by farmers will be debated by Congress. Fernandez, whose party dominates both chambers, said she will send the proposal to legislators to give it ''more democratic support.'' Full Story

Peru protesters release 47 police hostagesPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 10:13amProtesters blockading Peru's southern Pan-American Highway on Tuesday released 47 police hostages they were holding, clearing the way for talks with the government on their demand of a greater share of the region's mine revenues. The decision by residents of Moquegua province to release the hostages, including a police general, came after Cabinet Chief Jorge del Castillo said the government would end talks if the demonstrators didn't release the officers. Full Story

Chavez and ailing Castro meetPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 10:38amVenezuelan President Hugo Chavez had an "animated and warm" meeting with former Cuban leader Fidel Castro during a visit to Havana, state-run media said on Tuesday, but no photos or videos of the left-wing allies were made public. Full Story

New Venezuela finance minister says no major policy changePosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 10:39amVenezuela's new Finance Minister Ali Rodriguez said on Tuesday he will make no big changes to the economic policies of his predecessor, who tightened monetary supply but could not slow inflation. Rodriguez said Venezuela's oil-based economy presented special challenges but was still healthy. Full Story

Bomb injures two in St ThomasPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 10:46amA mysterious bomb blast in the commercial district of Morant Bay, St Thomas, yesterday afternoon has left two women injured and members of the business fraternity horrified. Reports are that the loud explosion, which left a plume of thick black smoke in the air, sent scores of persons running for cover. Full Story

Fuel protesters target BrusselsPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 10:51amHundreds of truck, tractor and taxi drivers are converging on the centre of Brussels on the eve of a crucial European summit. The farmers and transport workers are protesting at the crippling effect of soaring fuel prices. Global oil prices have quadrupled in the past seven years, nearing $140 (90 euros) a barrel in Monday's trading. Full Story

Italy holds 'Tamil Tiger' membersPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 10:53amMore than 30 suspected members of Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger rebel group have been arrested in Italy in a series of raids across the country, police say. They say all of them are Sri Lankan citizens suspected of extorting funds for the Tigers, who are banned as a terrorist group by the European Union. Full Story

Argentine President Seeks to Quell CriticismPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 10:54amArgentinas president, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, sought on Tuesday to cool mounting criticism over her economic policies, saying she would ask the Argentine Congress to legitimize the export taxes that have prompted three months of revolt by farmers. Members of her Peronist party control both houses of Congress, but her call for legislators to weigh in on the taxes was seen as a concession. Full Story

Brown denies French navy mergerPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 10:55amGordon Brown has rejected suggestions that the French and British navies could merge as "totally untrue". Speaking at prime minister's questions, he dismissed reports that HMS Ark Royal or HMS Illustrious could be controlled from Brussels. Full Story

Ex-journalist leads Salvador polls for rebel partyPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 10:59amA former CNN journalist could lead a leftist party of former Cold War Marxist guerrillas to power for the first time in El Salvador's presidential election next year, opinion polls show. Recent surveys by the University of Central America and CID-Gallup give ex-TV reporter and Salvadoran talk show host Mauricio Funes a lead of up to 20 points over ruling party candidate Rodrigo Avila, El Salvador's former police chief. Full Story

U.N.: 'Shock' rise in Colombia coca growthPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 11:46amColombia's coca crop  the basis for cocaine  grew by 27 percent last year, the United Nations reported Wednesday, calling the increase "a surprise and a shock" given major U.S.-funded eradication efforts. Eradication of the crop in Colombia, the world's No. 1 cocaine-producing nation, has been the cornerstone of a multibillion-dollar U.S. aid package. Full Story

Man released over bomb attackPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 12:08pmA 57-year-old man arrested as part of the investigation into the attempted murder of two police officers has been released without charge. Two officers were slightly injured on Saturday when a landmine partially exploded as their car was crossing a bridge in Rosslea. Full Story

Turkish singer tried over dissentPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 1:32pmOne of Turkey's best known singers, Bulent Ersoy, has gone on trial charged with attempting to turn the public against military service. The charges were brought after she suggested it was not worth sacrificing soldiers' lives in Turkey's conflict with the Kurdish separatist PKK group. Full Story

Politkovskaya murder charges laidPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 1:35pmThree men have been charged over the murder of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya, investigators have said. Politkovskaya, a prominent Kremlin critic, was shot dead outside her home in the capital on 7 October 2006. Russia's Investigative Committee said a fourth man, an officer with the country's security service, had also been charged with abuse of office. Full Story

Srebrenica survivors seek damages from UNPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 1:40pmRelatives of the victims of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre asked a Dutch court Wednesday to waive the immunity of the United Nations and allow them to seek damages for their loss. Bosnian Serb forces commanded by Ratko Mladic massacred 8,000 Muslim men and boys from Srebrenica, a town declared a safe area and guarded by a Dutch Army unit serving as part of a larger UN force. Full Story

NATO tests Ukraine's readiness to joinPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 1:45pmNATO's secretary general, accompanied by top envoys from all 26 countries in the alliance, is trying to get a sense of whether Ukraine, the largest former Soviet republic so far to seek membership in the organization, is making progress with preparations to join and in resolving its disputes with Russia. The secretary general, Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, and NATO ambassadors are holding talks in Kiev this week with the Ukrainian Defense Ministry and with top members of Ukraine's three main political factions to try to evaluate the extent of change in the Ukrainian military. They are also trying to measure the gravity of a fresh warning from Russia, which says that it will never allow Ukraine to join the Atlantic alliance. Full Story

New constitution on agenda againPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 1:51pmThe ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party), which had to shelve plans for a new and democratic constitution for Turkey after a closure case was filed against the party on March 14, has decided to reintroduce the package after the country's top court overturned a constitutional amendment a couple of weeks ago intended to end a ban on the Muslim headscarf at universities. Full Story
Turkey widens EU talks, expects French fairnessPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 1:55pmTurkish officials said Tuesday they expect France, long an opponent of the Turkish European Union membership bid, to approach membership negotiations fairly and openly during the six-month French EU presidency beginning next month. At a Luxembourg accession conference, Turkey and the EU opened two new chapters in negotiations, covering company law and intellectual property rights, bringing the total issues under discussion to 8 of 35. Turkey, if successful in the slow-moving negotiations, is not expected to join the bloc until 2015 at the earliest. Full Story

Pressure Increases On Belarusian PressPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 2:27pmIndependent journalists could soon find their work in Belarus even more difficult as a result of a new media law that is taking shape. The legislation seeks to impose curbs on the Internet -- the last outpost of uncensored information and free exchange of ideas in one of the world's most authoritarian countries. The bill, which was submitted by the government on June 10, was endorsed in its first reading by the Chamber of Representatives within a week. The speed with which it was rushed through the lower house reportedly surprised even some legislators well accustomed to rubber-stamping documents coming from the presidential administration or government. Full Story

Protests as govt bids to ratify EU treatyPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 2:31pmThe government battled to push a new European Union treaty over its last parliamentary hurdle Wednesday, defying protests against ratifying it before a summit clouded by Ireland's "no" vote. The upper House of Lords saw sometimes stormy scenes as members debated the Lisbon Treaty bill, days after an Irish referendum which dealt a stunning blow to the 27-nation bloc's plans. Full Story

EU lawmakers pass new rules for expelling illegalsPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 2:33pmEurope's hardening attitudes toward immigration found a voice in the EU Parliament Wednesday, as legislators passed controversial new rules for expelling illegals amid a widening crackdown in the United States. As the global economy slows, governments in rich countries are coming under increased pressure to act tough on immigration. While the European rules do not lay the groundwork for workplace raids like in America, they do contain contentious measures such as providing for long detention periods. Full Story

Srebrenica survivors seek damages from UN, DutchPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 2:35pmA Dutch court began hearings Wednesday about whether survivors of a 1995 massacre of Muslims in Bosnia  Europe's worst mass killing since World War II  can sue the United Nations for failing to prevent the slaughter. Serb forces killed more than 8,000 Muslims in one week in July 1995, overrunning the Srebrenica enclave declared a U.N. safe zone. Dutch peacekeepers overwhelmed by the Serbs' superior force watched helplessly as the male victims were led away from their custody for execution. Full Story

Congress panel votes to loosen Cuba travel rulesPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 3:13pmPeople living in the United States could travel to Cuba more often and visit a broader list of family members under legislation approved by a congressional panel on Tuesday. A House of Representatives appropriations panel embraced the liberalized travel initiative, which faces several more legislative steps over the next few months and likely would be opposed by the Bush administration. Full Story

Norway arrests woman for carrying cocaine in wigPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 3:31pmA British woman's bulging wig did not fool customs agents in Norway who realized she wasn't just having a bad hair day. The wig was concealing 2.2 pounds of cocaine glued to her head and customs agents detained her on suspicion of cocaine smuggling, authorities said Wednesday. The 32-year-old suspect, whose name was withheld, arrived late Sunday at Vaernes airport near the city of Trondheim on a flight from Copenhagen, Denmark, the customs service said. Full Story

Mark Thatcher member of coup plot, mercenary tells courtPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 3:41pmMark Thatcher, son of former prime minister Margaret Thatcher, was a key member of the plot to topple Equatorial Guinea's president, British mercenary Simon Mann told a court Wednesday. South Africa and Spain approved of the operation, he added, as did the United States after several oil companies reported that the country was not stable and that a change of government would be welcome. Full Story

Gunmen kill public official in Mexican border cityPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 5:45pmGunmen have killed the police administrative director in the violent Mexican border city of Ciudad Juarez, the latest high-profile killing in Mexico's drug war, police said on Wednesday. Full Story

Afghans start anti-Taliban offensive in southPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 6:03pmHelicopter gunships and troops blasted a valley in southern Afghanistan on Wednesday in a huge offensive by NATO and local forces against Taliban insurgents, many of whom broke out of jail last week. Full Story

Sweden adopts law allowing official eavesdroppingPosted on Wednesday, June 18, 2008 at 8:38pmSweden's Parliament narrowly approved a law Wednesday that gives authorities sweeping powers to eavesdrop on all e-mail and telephone traffic that crosses the Nordic nation's borders. Full Story

Courtesy Terrorism Research Center, Inc