CONFLICT & TERROR 08/15

Italy: Anti-terror Probe Looks At Pirelli Factory PlotPosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 5:19amAn anti-terror probe has begun in Italy after police uncovered detailed architectural plans for tire-maker Pirellis plant in Turin, the Italian daily, La Stampa, reported on Wednesday. Full Story

Mauritanian Coup Leaders in Talks to Form New GovernmentPosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 5:22amMauritania's military leaders have been talking with political parties to form a new government, after overthrowing the country's first democratically elected president. Full Story

Russian international reserves up $200 mln in weekPosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 5:24amRussia's gold and foreign currency reserves increased by $200 million, to $597.5 billion, in the week of August 1 - August 8, the Central Bank of Russia said Thursday. Full Story

Despite Gaza truce, Palestinian militants still building rocketsPosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 5:25amNearly two months after Israel entered into a truce with militant groups in Gaza, at least one of them says it is building longer-range rockets that Israel says would violate the cease-fire. Full Story

Ahmadinejad in new Israel tirade before Turkey tripPosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 5:41amIranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad launched a fresh verbal attack on Israel on Wednesday on the eve of a visit to Israel's close ally Turkey, saying Western countries should not support the Jewish state. Full Story

Olmert rejects return of any Palestinian refugeesPosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 5:42amPrime Minister Ehud Olmert has told Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas that Israel will not allow the return of any Palestinian refugees as part of a future statehood deal, Olmert's office said on Thursday. Full Story

Angolan Government Denies Human Rights Abuses Ahead Of ElectionPosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 5:43amThe Angolan government is sharply denying a report by a United States based human rights group that charges that the upcoming general elections will not be free and fair. Human Rights Watch says evidence gathered shows the government has been intimidating opposition political parties and meddling in the activities of the electoral commission, which would threaten any chance of a fair vote. Full Story

India warns Pakistan against globalising KashmirPosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 5:44amTaking strong exception to Pakistan's attempt to internationalise the Kashmir issue, India Wednesday warned Islamabad to desist from such a course of action that is 'gratuitous and illegal' and has the potential to harm the peace process between the two countries. Full Story

Seven killed in suicide bombing in PakistanPosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 5:45amAt least seven people, including two policemen, were killed and more than a dozen injured Wednesday in a suicide attack that targeted the police in Pakistan's eastern city of Lahore, officials said. Full Story

Chinese company to conduct feasibility study on dams in CambodiaPosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 5:46amThe Cambodian government has given the go-ahead for a Chinese company to conduct feasibility study into building two hydropower dams on the Sre Pok River, English-Khmer language newspaper the Cambodia Daily said Thursday. Full Story

Massive jailbreak in Nepal terai, 54 inmates flee coopPosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 5:47amIn the biggest jailbreak of its kind since the Maoist guerrillas signed a peace pact two years ago, nearly five dozen prisoners, armed with daggers and other weapons, staged a jailbreak in southern Nepal Wednesday, giving rise to fears that some could have fled to India across the border. Full Story

More than 80 pct of Indonesia bird flu cases diePosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 5:48amLate diagnosis and treatment means that more than 80 percent of people infected with H5N1 avian influenza in Indonesia have died, researchers reported on Wednesday. Full Story

Israel Agrees to U.S. Request for Flak Jackets for PAPosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 5:50amIsrael has acceded to a long-standing United States request to allow Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces to wear flak jackets, but has rejected a model that would include stronger body armor that can repel fire from M-16 rifles. Full Story

Congress Details Massive Use of Private Contractors in IraqPosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 5:51amA new report says the United States has spent about $100 billion on private contractors to support operations in Iraq since the 2003 invasion to oust Saddam Hussein. Full Story

Mexico violence claims 6 more police officersPosted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 6:54amA deputy police chief and another commander in western Michoacan state were slain, authorities said Tuesday, in the latest signs of violence in which at least half a dozen officers have been reported dead across Mexico in the last two days. The victims include a senior investigator gunned down in the border state of Chihuahua and a deputy police chief in the Caribbean state of Quintana Roo, shot dead along with a bodyguard. Full Story

Lebanon Bomb Kills at Least 10 PeoplePosted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 10:13amA bomb hidden in a briefcase exploded on a bus in the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli during morning rush hour on Wednesday, killing at least 10 people and wounding 30 others, the Lebanese Army said. Lebanon has suffered a wave of bombings in recent years, including the 2005 killing of the former prime minister Rafik Hariri, which led to political upheaval in the country. However, the attack Wednesday was the first large-scale bombing in months. Full Story

Philippine villagers in fear of mines, fresh attacksPosted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 10:14amThousands of villagers who fled their homes in the war-ravaged southern Philippines are not returning for fear of landmines and new attacks by Muslims rebels, officials said Wednesday. Although Muslim guerrillas have retreated from villages they occupied last week in the province of North Cotabato, government soldiers are still meeting small pockets of resistance. Scores of houses in mainly poor rural villages have been either burned to the ground or looted and crops destroyed by the retreating rebels. Full Story

Indian Kashmir hit by fresh protestsPosted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 10:15amFresh violence hit Indian Kashmir as thousands of Muslims took to the streets to bury the victims of two days of deadly protests in the revolt-hit area, witnesses said Wednesday. The main city in the Kashmir valley, Srinagar, remained tense with Indian security forces easing a total curfew for a few hours so beleaguered residents could stock up on food and other supplies. Full Story

Looking for the brains behind terror cells: M.K. NarayananPosted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 10:16amIndian intelligence agencies have uncovered 800 terrorist cells operating with external support, and are looking for the brains behind them within the country, National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan has said. We are concerned that there is a great deal of external inspiration and support, we are also concerned and are looking at a mastermind within the country, he told The Straits Times here. He was replying to a question about investigations into the recent blasts in Bangalore and Ahmedabad. Full Story

Web Threats increase in the Middle EastPosted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 10:18amWith regional efforts to open more websites to users, the need for smart web security becomes even more imperative. The UAEs Telecommunication Regulatory Authority (TRA), under its internet access management policy, is making available a thousand websites previously deemed potentially offensive. Full Story

US Homeland Security setting up counterspy unitPosted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 10:19amThreats of foreign spying and terrorism have prompted the US Homeland Security Department to create its own counterintelligence division and require strict reporting from employees about foreign travel. That is according to an August 4 memorandum obtained Tuesday by The Associated Press. Full Story

Russian Cyber Attacks Shut Down Georgian WebsitesPosted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 10:21amFollowing just six days after the initiation of the Georgia-Russian conflict, the Georgian Internet became the target of a coordinated cyber attack, which compromised several government Websites with defacement and Denial of Service attacks, crippling the nation's ability to disseminate information. Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili's site was defaced, integrating his image with those of Hitler. The sabotage was followed by a DDoS attack that left the presidential site inaccessible. Full Story

FBI chief: Drugs fuel crimePosted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 10:24amTop U.S. law enforcement officials on Monday described drug cartels that are increasingly mobile, tech savvy, diverse and transnational, factors that are challenging efforts to curb border violence fueled by big profits. Modern organized crime organizations are "borderless," said FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III, who added that the FBI is "deeply concerned about high levels of drug trafficking, human smuggling and gang activity," as well as with the surge in violent crimes linked to the drug trade such as homicides, kidnappings and extortion. Full Story

Taliban attacks Nato by choking suppliesPosted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 12:11pmGulab Khan is constantly reminded of the danger of his job by the two round stickers he has used to cover bullet holes in the windscreen of the cab of his lorry, one of the thousands of trucks carrying diesel and jet fuel to Nato bases across Afghanistan. I believe it was the holy Koran, which I keep with me in the truck, that saved me from the bullets, says Mr Shah as he recalls being attacked by insurgents last year on the dangerous run between Kabul and Kandahar airfield, a huge coalition military base in Afghanistans insurgent-ridden southern desert. Full Story

Six members of Mexico attorney general's organized crime unit placed under house arrestPosted on Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at 11:22pmThe attorney generals office has placed under house arrest six members of its own organized crime unit, which is responsible for battling drug traffickers, kidnappers and human smugglers, the agency said. The six include the technical coordinator of the office for specialized investigation in organized crime and five members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation assigned to the agency. Full Story

Lebanon, Syria Agree to Establish Diplomatic RelationsPosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 4:45amSyria and Lebanon have agreed to establish diplomatic ties and exchange ambassadors for the first time since the two countries gained independence more than 60 years ago. Full Story
'Implement justice system review'Posted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 4:46amA reviewed criminal justice system will reward the country with swift, equitable and fair justice in criminal matters, Deputy Justice Minister Johnny de Lange said on Wednesday. Full Story

China: attacks possibly linked to terror groupsPosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 4:48amChina said Wednesday that some evidence suggests terrorist groups may have been involved in a series of attacks in the Muslim territory of Xinjiang, far from the Olympics in Beijing. Full Story

Rebels Describe New Government Attacks in DarfurPosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 4:50amThe Sudan Liberation Army rebel group says the Sudanese army has launched a new offensive in northern Darfur. Full Story

Three Aid Workers and Driver Killed in AfghanistanPosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 4:52amOfficials in Afghanistan say suspected Taliban insurgents have killed three female international workers of a U.S aid organization and their Afghan driver. Ayaz Gul gives more details from Islamabad. Full Story

Power providers worried about looming blackoutsPosted on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 4:55amFive years after the worst blackout in North American history, the country's largest power providers say the problems that turned out the lights on 50 million people have largely been resolved, but they fear that larger, systemic issues could soon lead to even bigger and more damaging outages. Full Story

Courtesy Terrorism Research Center, Inc.