CONFLICT & TERROR 07/31

Indonesia: Asian militants sought al-Qaida fundsPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 6:23amTwo alleged Indonesian terror leaders were headed to Iraq to seek help from al-Qaida, according to a seized laptop that indicates regional militants are cash-strapped but determined to rebuild international links, security officials say. Full Story

China 'spying on Olympic hotel guests'Posted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 6:24amChina has installed internet-spying equipment in all the major hotel chains serving the Olympics, a US senator said overnight. "The Chinese Government has put in place a system to spy on and gather information about every guest at hotels where Olympic visitors are staying," Senator Sam Brownback said. Full Story

Mexico's Drug Cartels Take Barbarous Turn: Targeting BystandersPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 6:25amThe three teenagers started their big weekend singing "Happy Birthday" to the parish priest. The next day, they prayed for hours with their church youth group, then went on to a quinceaqera, Mexico's archetypal 15th-birthday celebration. As the party wound down, they talked their parents into letting them go for a late-night cruise down the main drag in Guamuchil, a Saturday night ritual in this sleepy market town, friends and family say. Full Story

C.I.A. Outlines Pakistan Links With MilitantsPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 6:26amA top Central Intelligence Agency official traveled secretly to Islamabad this month to confront Pakistans most senior officials with new information about ties between the countrys powerful spy service and militants operating in Pakistans tribal areas, according to American military and intelligence officials. Full Story

Karadzic in UN custody in NetherlandsPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 7:27amFormer Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic sat in a U.N. jail cell Wednesday after being flown to the Netherlands in the dead of night to face charges of genocide against Muslims and Croats during the Balkan wars of the 1990s. His arrival in a white Serbian government jet marked the end of a 13-year effort by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia to take custody of its most wanted war criminal. Karadzic is accused or orchestrating the deaths of tens of thousands of people and the sufferings of hundreds of thousands more. Full Story

Italian troops to patrol citiesPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 7:32amThousands of troops will be deployed in Italian cities from next Monday to help police fight crime, the Italian government has announced. About 2,000 troops will guard "sensitive" sites such as train stations and embassies. Another 1,000 will go on street patrols with police. Full Story

UK hacker loses appeal against US extraditionPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 7:33amBritain's top court refused Wednesday to stop the extradition to the U.S. of a British hacker accused of breaking into Pentagon and NASA computers  something he claims to have done while hunting for information on UFOs. Gary McKinnon, 42, faces charges in the United States for what officials say were a series of cyber attacks that stole passwords, attacked military networks and wrought hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of computer damage. Full Story

Car bombing in Russian republic kills 2 policePosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 7:35amA car bomb exploded outside the regional police headquarters in the troubled Russian republic of Ingushetia on Wednesday morning, killing at least two police, officials said. The blast took place in the parking lot of Ingushetia's Interior Ministry in Nazran, the republic's principal city. Ministry and emergency officials variously gave the death toll at two or three officers, with at least three others seriously wounded. Full Story

Strike-hit Lufthansa cuts flightsPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 7:37amLufthansa is cutting long-haul flights for the first time since cabin crew and ground staff went on strike on Monday. The German airline plans to cut 78 flights on Wednesday, to destinations including Calcutta, Calgary, Chicago and New York. Full Story

Labour 'in flux', says MandelsonPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 7:51amPeter Mandelson has waded in to speculation over Gordon Brown's future - after David Miliband raised the spectre of a leadership bid. Ex-cabinet minister Mr Mandelson admitted Labour was "in some flux". Full Story

Strike forces Lufthansa to cancel flightsPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 7:53amLufthansa canceled eight international flights and 70 domestic flights Wednesday, the company said, as a strike by technical and catering workers entered its third day. Lufthansa canceled flights to and from New York's Kennedy airport, Calcutta, Calgary and Chicago, a spokesman said. The total number of canceled flights represents four percent of Lufthansa's daily schedule. Full Story

UN, French troops to stay in ICoast till JanuaryPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 7:56amThe Security Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a French-drafted resolution extending for six months the mandate of UN and French peacekeepers in Ivory Coast to support the holding of a long-delayed presidential poll. Resolution 1826, which was co-sponsored by Burkina Faso and South Africa, extends until January 31 the mandate of the 8,000-strong UN force known as ONUCI and of the 1,800 French troops backing them in the west African country. Full Story

French court to try 11 Kurds over attacks in FrancePosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 7:57amFrench prosecutors have sent 11 young Kurds for trial over a series of fire bomb attacks on Turkish targets in France that injured several people, some seriously, sources close to the case said Tuesday. They are all suspected of being sympathisers of the separatist Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is classified as a terrorist group by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Full Story

German business plans investment boost in ChinaPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 7:59amGerman industry is planning to boost its investment in China's booming economy, a survey released on Tuesday said. Around 40 percent of the German companies active in China planned to increase their investment in the Asian powerhouse economy, the survey by the German Chamber of Trade and Industry (DIHK) found. Full Story

Dutch consumer confidence dropsPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 8:04amDutch consumers appear to have lost faith in the economy. The indicator used by Statistics Netherlands to measure consumer confidence dropped from -19 to -31, which means that pessimists now outnumber optimists by 31 percent. The drop is the second largest ever recorded. Full Story

New Delhi races to win nuclear deal approvalPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 8:13amIndia has gone into diplomatic overdrive to persuade the United Nations nuclear watchdog and nuclear technology exporters to lift a decades-old embargo on New Delhis access to atomic energy technology, despite its refusal to give up its weapons programme. Full Story

Web curbs for Olympic journalistsPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 8:17amJournalists covering the Beijing Olympic Games will not have completely uncensored access to the internet, Chinese and Olympic officials say. Sites related to spiritual group Falun Gong would be blocked, officials said. Journalists also found they could not see some news or human rights websites. Full Story

Militants kill woman "US spy" in NW PakistanPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 8:18amMilitants shot and killed an Afghan woman accused of being a U.S spy in Pakistan's North Waziristan region, and dumped her body in a sewer, a witness and intelligence officials said on Wednesday. Full Story
Cambodian opposition supporters rally against election resultsPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 8:33amAbout 300 supporters of Cambodia's main opposition party rallied in Phnom Penh to protest the results of the weekend election and to demand a re-run of the poll. Full Story

Pakistan says troops kill 20 Taliban militants in northwestPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 8:35amPakistani troops on Wednesday killed 20 Taliban militants and imposed a curfew in the northwestern Swat valley to prevent further deterioration of a two-month-old peace deal, officials said. Full Story

Police defuse another bomb in western IndiaPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 8:47amPolice defused another explosive device Wednesday in western India, bringing the total number of unexploded bombs found there in the last two days to 19. Full Story

Turkish police make bomb arrestsPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 1:44pmTurkish police have reportedly detained nine people over the bombings in the city of Istanbul on Sunday that killed 17 people and injured at least 150. The suspects allegedly have links to the bombers, the Anatolia news agency reports without giving details. Full Story

U.S. Headed for 'Heightened Alert' StagePosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 1:45pmGovernment officials have been quietly stepping up counterterror efforts out of a growing concern that al Qaeda or similar organizations might try to capitalize on the spate of extremely high-profile events in the coming months, sources tell ABC News. Full Story

Two Apparent Pipe Bombs Found at Separate Post Offices in OhioPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 1:46pmTwo devices that appeared to be pipe bombs were found at separate post offices Tuesday, authorities said. Both buildings were evacuated and no injuries were reported. Columbus bomb squads, the FBI, a U.S. Postal Service inspector, and local authorities were examining the devices found in Guysville and Stewart, two small towns in southeast Ohio. Full Story

UK Law Lords uphold BAE inquiry decisionPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 1:56pmThe House of Lords ruled Wednesday that Britain's anti-fraud agency acted lawfully when it halted a corruption inquiry into a major jet fighter and arms deal between BAE Systems and Saudi Arabia. The ruling was a blow to the anti-corruption lobby groups that challenged the Serious Fraud Office's decision to drop its investigation into whether the arms maker offered sweeteners to Saudi officials in return for lucrative contracts. The agency cited national security concerns when it ended the inquiry. Full Story

Spanish economic growth near zero percent in second quarter: central bankPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 3:11pmSpain's economy, the eurozone's fourth largest, expanded by just 0.1 percent in the second quarter from the previous three months, the Bank of Spain estimated Wednesday. The economy grew by 1.8 percent in the second quarter when compared to the same time last year, it added. Full Story

Berlusconi's Mediaset suing YouTube over copyrightPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 3:18pmMediaset, the media empire founded by Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi, said Wednesday it was seeking at least 500 million euros ($779 million) in damages against Google Inc.'s YouTube service for allegedly misusing video produced by Mediaset. In a lawsuit filed with Rome civil court, Mediaset said it had identified on YouTube at least 4,643 video clips of Mediaset-owned material that was available on June 10 alone after being posted "without obtaining rights." Full Story

Mexico federal police to escort migrant transfersPosted on Wednesday, July 30, 2008 at 6:01pmMexican federal police will guard all government vehicles transporting detained migrants after gunmen hijacked a bus carrying 33 Cubans, the government said Wednesday. Immigration officers previously could ask police for extra security while transporting illegal migrants to detention centers or back to their home countries. Full Story

More bombs found in Indian cityPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 7:13amAt least 12 small bombs have been found and defused in the city of Surat in the Indian state of Gujarat, police say. They say the bomb disposal squad is working to defuse two more bombs found in the city, which is the hub of India's textile and diamond trade. Full Story

Turkish PM links PKK to bombingsPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 7:36amTurkey's prime minister has implied the bombings that killed 17 people in Istanbul on Sunday were the work of the Kurdish separatist PKK group. Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the attacks were a "cost" of the military campaign against the PKK based in northern Iraq. The PKK has denied having anything to do with the bombings. Full Story

Greece rebuked over migrant carePosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 7:41amAn aid agency has accused Greece of creating a "humanitarian crisis" for hundreds of illegal migrants detained on the Mediterranean island of Lesbos. Medecins Sans Frontieres says about 800 migrants are living in overcrowded rooms in the detention centre without proper sanitation or medical care. Full Story

EU puts off Serbia bid decisionPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 7:43amEU ambassadors have put off a decision on establishing closer ties with Serbia until the former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic is extradited. Mr Karadzic is expected to be transferred imminently to the war crimes tribunal in The Hague, following his arrest a week ago. Full Story

Thousands evacuated in Budapest as WW2 bomb foundPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 7:47amHungarian police evacuated thousands of people in central Budapest on Tuesday where experts prepared to defuse a huge World War Two bomb found on a construction site. The two-tonne bomb is one of the biggest found in the Hungarian capital, which was heavily bombed by the Allies during World War Two. Earlier this month another part of Budapest was evacuated after a half-tonne bomb was discovered. Full Story

Karadzic appeal late as protesters gather to rallyPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 7:50amUltranationalists were gathering Tuesday for a rally for Radovan Karadzic amid reports that the ex-Bosnian Serb leader's appeal of his extradition to the U.N. war crimes tribunal had not arrived at a Serbian court. Karadzic's lawyer claimed he sent the appeal to the court by registered mail Friday before the midnight deadline. But the postal service said it doesn't have it and court spokeswoman Ivana Ramic said she didn't, either. Full Story

Militants in Pakistan Kill 3 Intelligence OfficersPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 7:57amPakistani officials say Taliban militants have shot and killed three army intelligence officers in the northwestern Swat Valley. They say the incident took place Monday near Mingora, the main town in Swat. Full Story

UN slams France's immigration policies, prisonsPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 7:57amThe UN Human Rights Committee has slammed France's immigration policies and expressed concern about overcrowding and poor conditions in its prisons, according to documents seen Monday by AFP. It also asked France to re-examine a new law under which people deemed a threat to society can be kept in prison - possibly for the rest of their lives - even after they have served out their full sentence. Full Story

Blank British passports stolen in raidPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 7:59amBritain's Foreign Office says thousands of blank British passports have been stolen in a raid on a delivery van. The ministry says the documents were snatched as they were being delivered from northern England to a Royal Air Force base near London. Full Story

S Korea resumes US beef importsPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 8:11amSouth Korea has received its first shipment of US beef since imports were banned after BSE - or mad cow disease - was detected in the US five years ago. South Korea's decision to end the ban in April sparked huge protests and cost three cabinet ministers their jobs. Full Story

Thailand says troop drawdown may take weeksPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 8:14amThailand said Tuesday that it may be weeks before it can withdraw troops from a disputed border zone with Cambodia, after high-level talks which officials said had eased the military standoff. The foreign ministers of Thailand and Cambodia agreed at talks Monday to ask their governments to redeploy the thousands of troops stationed around a small patch of land near the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple. Full Story

India, Pakistan Leaders To Meet As Peace Process Hits SnagPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 8:20amThe leaders of nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan are set to meet in Sri Lanka this week for their highest-level talks in 15 months, and to see if they can hold their shaky peace process together. Full Story

Indian police hunt for bombers in suburbPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 8:43amPolice investigating deadly bombings last weekend in western India focused Tuesday on a suburb of India's financial capital where four cars used in the blasts were stolen and an e-mail claiming responsibility originated. Full Story

Sri Lanka military says kills 34 rebels in fresh fightingPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 8:50amSri Lankan troops killed 34 Tamil Tiger rebels in fresh fighting in the north of the island, the military said on Tuesday, as government forces continue their push against the rebels' northern stronghold. Full Story

NATO seeks extension of Dutch mission in UruzganPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 9:18amThe issue of Dutch deployment as part of the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan is in the news once again. NATO's outgoing Senior Civilian Representative in Afghanistan, Maurits Jochems, expects the Afghan government and NATO members to ask the Netherlands to extend its mission in Afghanistan beyond 2010. He says the Afghan army will need more time before it can operate without foreign military assistance. Full Story

Dutch MPs demand crackdown on Nigerian gangsPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 9:22amThree parties in the Dutch parliament, the Christian Democrats, the conservative VVD and the populist Freedom Party have called on Justice Minister Ernst Hirsch-Ballin to create a permanent police unit to investigate Nigerian criminal gangs. Full Story

European rights watchdog criticizes Italian immigration crackdownPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 9:48amEurope's top human rights watchdog urged Italy Tuesday to end an immigration crackdown to prevent a surge in racism and xenophobia. The report was written after concerns about Italian government measures including stricter immigration controls and a campaign to fingerprint all Roma in the country. Full Story

MPs warn of energy price impactPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 10:46amRises in gas and electricity bills in the near future will have serious consequences for millions of households, an MPs' committee has said. It also warned that thousands of jobs in manufacturing would be at risk if UK prices stayed higher than those faced by industry in the rest of Europe. Full Story

Small bomb explodes on beach in SpainPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 11:08amA small bomb exploded on a southern Spanish beach early Tuesday in the resort town of Torremolinos, but officials said there were no injuries. The low-power device went off shortly after midnight close to the Hotel Sol Aloha while hundreds of people were walking along the seafront, the Interior Ministry said. Full Story

BA to merge with Spanish airlinePosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 11:10amBritish Airways ended months of speculation by announcing it was to merge with long-term Spanish partner Iberia. Although both airlines will retain their identities, the deal - still to be approved by shareholders - will effectively create a giant new European airline. Full Story

Germany to tighten rules against illegal labourPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 11:11amGermany's cabinet will approve plans this week to clamp down on illegal labour in Europe's biggest economy and save billions of euros in lost taxes, government sources told Reuters on Tuesday. Employees in sectors especially vulnerable to illegal workers will be forced to carry official registration and identity papers with them at all times from January 1, 2009, according to a draft of the new law seen by Reuters. Full Story

Greece: Police prevent bomb attack near institute connected to EUPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 11:21amPolice in Greece's capital say they've destroyed a bomb placed outside a policy research institute affiliated with the European Union. Full Story

Afghan reporter detained after criticising governmentPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 1:47pmAfghanistan's intelligence agency has detained a television journalist after he broadcast a programme critical of the government, his channel said on Tuesday. Full Story

Spain to reduce speed limit to conserve fuelPosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 2:06pmSpain will lower its speed limit outside major cities as part of a string of measures unveiled by the government Tuesday aimed at slashing its oil imports by 10 percent per year. "Every time we lift our feet off the accelerator, we are improving GDP and employment," Industry Minister Miguel Sebastian told parliament as he outlined the 31 measures. "The era of cheap energy has passed." Full Story

Italian court OKs expansion of US military basePosted on Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 2:54pmA top Italian administrative court on Tuesday approved the expansion of a U.S. military base in northeast Italy, local media reported. The expansion has caused angry protests by residents and leftist politicians. The State Council overturned a June ruling by a lower court, saying it had no jurisdiction to suspend the expansion in Vicenza because the move was a political decision taken by former Premier Romano Prodi, the ANSA news agency said. Full Story

Eta 'planned series of attacks'Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 6:34amA Spanish judge says seven alleged members of the Basque separatist group, Eta, were planning a series of bomb attacks in the province of Andalucia. The suspects were detained during police operations last week in the province of Bizkaia in northern Spain and Malaga in the south. Full Story

Militants target US teacher in IndonesiaPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 6:35amTen alleged militants arrested this month planned to assassinate an American teacher in Indonesia and avenge the upcoming executions of the Bali nightclub bombers by attacking the Supreme Court, a top anti-terrorism official said. Full Story

Nigerian militants report more sabotaged oil pipelinesPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 6:36amNigeria's main militant group sabotaged two more oil pipelines Monday during its two-year campaign of attacks on the country's oil industry, a leader of the group told the Associated Press. Full Story

Istanbul rocked by twin bombingsPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 7:47amAt least 17 people have been killed and 150 hurt by two bombs in a residential area of the Turkish city of Istanbul. The first bomb was planted in a rubbish bin in the Gungoren area. It caused crowds to gather before a second, larger device detonated. No group has claimed responsibility, but security services said the attack bore the hallmarks of Kurdish rebels. Full Story

Tourist vehicles attacked in cityPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 7:50amA car and a bus belonging to tourists have been damaged by vandals in Londonderry. Windows were smashed in both vehicles which were parked in Fahan Street in the Bogside area just before midnight on Saturday. Full Story

Brown should quit, says Labour MPPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 8:02amLabour MP Gordon Prentice has urged Gordon Brown to resign, arguing the government has "gone a bit rusty". He added that the prime minister lacked the skills needed "to communicate, persuade and enthuse". Full Story

Philippine rebel talks reach dealPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 8:09amPhilippine government negotiators say they have reached a deal with a Muslim rebel group to expand an autonomous region in the south of the country. Villagers affected by the plans will be asked to vote within 12 months on whether they want to join the new area. Full Story

Typhoon kills one in Taiwan, heads for ChinaPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 8:16amA typhoon dumped up to 700 mm (28 ins) of rain on Taiwan on Monday, killing one person, injuring five, causing widespread flooding and closing businesses and financial markets. Full Story

Suspected U.S. missile strike kills six in PakistanPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 8:18amA suspected U.S. missile strike on a Pakistani madrasa killed six people, including foreigners, on Monday in tribal lands regarded as an al Qaeda and Taliban hotbed, intelligence officials said. Full Story

Pollution leaves dark cloud hanging over Beijing OlympicsPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 8:19amBeijing and co-host Olympic city Hong Kong were on Monday blanketed in smog just 11 days before the Games, raising the stakes for organisers who were planning more emergency measures to clear the air. Full Story

Fresh clashes in the North kill 13 Tamil Tigers as SAARC summit opens in Sri Lankan capitalPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 8:27amSri Lankan military said fresh clashes across the embattled North killed 13 Tigers as the leaders of South East Asian nations gathered in the Sri Lankan capital to participate in the 15th annual SAARC conference today. Full Story

Protests against Nepal's vice presidentPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 8:38amProtesters blocked traffic and held demonstrations Monday in Nepal to protest the newly elected vice president's decision to take his oath of office in a foreign language. Full Story

Gray contests Labour leadershipPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 9:50amThe race to find a new Scottish Labour Party leader is under way after former minister Iain Gray announced he was standing in the contest. The move came after party officials met to set out the timetable. Two other former ministers, Cathy Jamieson and Andy Kerr, are thought to be the front-runners. Full Story

Lufthansa workers strike over payPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 10:48amGround crew and cabin staff at Germany's biggest airline, Lufthansa, have begun an indefinite strike. The Verdi public sector union called the strike after 90.7% of its members supported the walk-out over pay. Full Story

UK: No prosecution planned in journalist's deathPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 1:09pmProsecutors said Monday there was not enough proof to charge anyone in the 2003 death of British journalist Terry Lloyd in southern Iraq, though forensic evidence suggests he was killed by U.S. forces. The 50-year-old journalist for Britain's Independent Television News died on March 22, 2003, after his four-man team was caught in crossfire between U.S. and Iraqi forces. His Lebanese translator Hussein Osman was also killed. Belgian cameraman Daniel Demoustier survived, while the body of his French colleague Fred Nerac has never been found. Full Story

Blaze destroys historic UK pierPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 1:10pmA fierce fire destroyed a historic seaside pier in western England on Monday, quickly reducing the major tourist attraction to a smoldering wreck. There were no immediate reports of casualties. "Our understanding is that there were no general members of the public in the pier," Great Western Ambulance Service spokesman Richard Turner said. Full Story

Cruise ships collide in Greek port; nobody hurtPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 1:13pmTwo cruise ships with hundreds of people on board collided in Greece's main port of Piraeus Monday causing damage but no injuries, the Merchant Marine Ministry said. The Malta-flagged Zenith, carrying 1,819 passengers and 619 crew, was trying to tie up in port when it hit the Greek-flagged Aegean Pearl. The Aegean Pearl was carrying 504 passengers and 349 crew members, the ministry said. Full Story

Pound under pressure against dollar, euroPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 1:36pmThe pound was off lows against the dollar and euro but remained under pressure following a a series of gloomy surveys on the UK economy. Hometrack reported that house prices fell 1.2 percent between July and June, while the Land Registry reported house prices in England and Wales fell 1.0 percent between June and May. Full Story

Two blasts rock Istanbul, killing 17Posted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 1:38pmThe death toll from two weekend explosions in Turkey rose to 17 Monday after a wounded person died, the state news agency said. The blasts Sunday injured at least 154 others, the Anadolu news agency reported. Among the dead was a three-year-old child, it said. Full Story

Strikes hit Lufthansa in latest German walkoutsPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 3:47pmWorkers at German national airline Lufthansa began an indefinite strike Monday at the height of the holiday season to press for higher pay, in the latest walkout to hit Europe's biggest economy. About 5,000 maintenance, freight and catering staff stopped work from midnight (2200 GMT Sunday) after members of the Verdi service sector union voted overwhelmingly last week for a strike. Full Story

Govt condemns 'cowardly' bombings in IraqPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 3:49pmForeign Secretary David Miliband on Monday condemned the "cowardly and reprehensible" suicide attacks in Baghdad and Kirkuk. Three women bombers blew themselves up in a crowd of Shiite pilgrims in the Iraqi capital, one of a string of attacks in the Middle Eastern country that killed at least 56 people, and wounded scores of others. Full Story

Belgrade fears violence from pro-Karadzic rallyPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 3:50pmRight-wing Serbs called an anti-government rally for Tuesday night to protest the extradition of Radovan Karadzic, as authorities raced to whisk the former Bosnian Serb leader to a U.N. war crimes tribunal amid fears the demonstration could be violent. The rally organizer, the Serbian Radical Party, was busing Karadzic's supporters to the capital Monday from all over Serbia and from Bosnia, where Karadzic is revered by many as a hero who helped create a Bosnian Serb ministate after that country's 1992-95 war. Full Story

Spanish FARC suspect released on bailPosted on Monday, July 28, 2008 at 3:51pmA Spanish woman suspected of being a liaison between the leadership of Colombia's FARC rebel group and its members based in Europe was freed on conditional bail Sunday, a court said. Maria Remedios Garcia Albert, 57, had not yet posted the $18,880 bail, but she has one week to do so or she will be taken back into custody, the National Court said. She was also ordered not to leave the country and check in with the court once a week. Full Story

Courtesy the Terrorism Research Center, Inc.