CONFLICT & TERROR 09/25

Official: Pakistan leaders avoided hotel blastPosted on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 6:33amPakistan's top leaders were to dine at the luxury hotel that was devastated by a truck bombing over the weekend, but changed the venue at the last minute, a senior government official said Monday. Full Story

Afghan consul abducted in Pakistan ambush: consulatePosted on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 6:33amAfghanistan's consul general in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar was abducted and his driver killed in an ambush on the diplomat's car Monday, the Afghan consulate said. Full Story

Pirates hijack another Greek carrier off SomaliaPosted on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 6:34amPirates in speedboats hijacked a Greek bulk carrier with 19 crew members off eastern Somalia, a piracy watchdog official said Monday. Sunday's hijacking pushes the number of attacks this year in Somali waters close to 60, with pirates raiding ships off eastern Somalia and in the Gulf of Aden flanking the country's northern coast despite U.S.-led patrols. Full Story

Foreign tourists snatched in Egypt, taken to Sudan Group of tourists kidnapped in EgyptPosted on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 7:39amA group of 11 foreign tourists and four Egyptians have been kidnapped in a remote corner of southern Egypt and taken across the border to neighboring Sudan, the Egyptian government spokesman said Monday. Germany said they had been missing since Friday. Full Story

China's food safety watchdog boss steps downPosted on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 8:21amThe head of China's food safety watchdog resigned Monday in the wake of a scandal over tainted baby formula that sickened nearly 53,000 infants, state media reported. The official Xinhua News Agency said Li Changjiang had stepped down with the approval of China's Cabinet. Full Story

Manila raises alarm over rising piracy in SomaliaPosted on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 8:42amAlmost 100 Philippine sailors are being held hostage by pirates in Somalia, and the foreign affairs department wants a ban on the deployment of sailors on ships passing through the East African state, officials said on Monday. Full Story

EU, Russia to Resume Partnership Talks Next Month: FrancePosted on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 8:43amThe EU will resume partnership talks with Russia as early as October if Moscow withdraws its troops from the Georgian mainland completely, French Prime Minister Francois Fillon after meeting with Russia's Vladimir Putin. Full Story

Taliban kidnap more than 150 Afghan workers: army colonelPosted on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 8:44amSuspected Taliban militants have kidnapped more than 150 civilian labourers who were travelling in three buses in southwestern Afghanistan, Afghan authorities said Monday. Full Story

Security beefed up at railway stations in GoaPosted on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 8:46amSecurity has been beefed up across all the railway stations in Goa following a tip off received by the state police that an explosive laden train will be arriving here this morning, police said. The state police had received information from Kerala police about the consignment of explosives loaded on the train, which will be reaching state this morning. Full Story

'Merchant of Death' in Thai courtPosted on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 10:47amAn alleged arms smuggler's extradition hearing to the United States began Monday after a string of delays in the high-profile case because of complications with his defense team in Thailand. Viktor Bout, dubbed "The Merchant of Death," has been indicted in the U.S. on four terrorism charges. He was arrested in Thailand on March 6. Full Story

N. Korea asks UN agency to remove reactor sealsPosted on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 10:49amNorth Korea asked the U.N. nuclear watchdog to remove seals and surveillance equipment from the Yongbyon nuclear reactor, the agency chief said Monday, heightening concerns that the communist nation may be preparing to restart its nuclear program. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei told the 35-nation IAEA board that North Korea said it wanted to "carry out tests at the reprocessing plant, which they say will not involve nuclear material." Full Story

Hugo Chavez says Venezuela, China to boost energy tiesPosted on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 1:00pmPresident Hugo Chavez said Sunday that Venezuela will sign accords aimed at increasing the amount of oil it sells to China. The socialist president has sought to diversify oil sales beyond the United States, which still purchases the largest share of Venezuela's oil despite years of political tensions. Full Story

Al-Qaida North Africa chief threatens Western and regional interestsPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 3:40amThe leader of al-Qaida in North Africa has called for Muslims to unite in holy war against the region's governments and issued new threats against Western targets, including France, Spain and the United States. Full Story

Pakistani Spies Hear al Qaeda Celebrating BlastPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 4:23amIntelligence is still being gathered however its becoming clear that al Qaeda, if not directly responsible for this weekends bombing in Pakistan is involved. Full Story

Georgia says shot down Russia drone near S.OssetiaPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 5:02amGeorgia said on Tuesday it had shot down a small Russian reconnaissance drone over Georgian territory just south of the breakaway region of South Ossetia. Full Story

Pakistani guards on front line of bombing campaignPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 5:02amPakistani security guard Shabnam Jamshed seemed distracted when she left her Islamabad home for work last Saturday. Full Story

France's Edf announces British Energy buyout planPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 7:09amFrench power giant EdF said Wednesday it has agreed to acquire British Energy Group PLC in a cash offer valued at 12.5 billion pounds ($23.18 billion), creating a cross-Channel powerhouse in nuclear energy. Full Story

Chavez sees 1 million-barrel oil exports to ChinaPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 7:10amVenezuelan President Hugo Chavez says his country's oil exports to China could soar to 1 million barrels a day by 2012. Full Story

Mexico to step up vehicle searches at US borderPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 7:10amMexico's government plans to search 10 percent of all vehicles entering the country from the United States in an effort to curb arms smuggling, the attorney general said Tuesday. Full Story

North Korea kicks out nuclear inspectors from Yongbyon: watchdogPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 7:11amNorth Korea has kicked out inspectors and plans to reintroduce nuclear material at its Yongbyon plant next week, the International Atomic Energy Agency said Wednesday, adding that IAEA seals and cameras were also removed. Full Story

Pakistan finds suspected US spy drone wreckagePosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 7:11amThe Pakistani army said Wednesday it found the wreckage of a suspected U.S. spy plane near the Afghan border, but denied claims that it had been shot down. Full Story

Markets boosted as Warren Buffett invests $5bn in Goldman SachsPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 8:10amWarren Buffett today agreed to invest $5bn (#2.7bn) in Goldman Sachs, giving the bank a strong vote of confidence following the tumultuous Wall Street events of the past few weeks. Analysts hailed the move by Buffett - known as the Sage of Omaha - as a sign that some stability could be returning to the markets. UBS called it "the ultimate stamp of approval". Full Story

Pakistan suicide bomber kills schoolgirlPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 8:10amA suicide bomber killed a schoolgirl in southwest Pakistan and wounded about a dozen other people, police said on Wednesday. The attack took place in Quetta, the
capital of Balochistan province near the Afghan border. Full Story

Japan: Hundreds protest US carrier arrivalPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 9:24amHundreds of protesters gathered outside a U.S. naval base Wednesday to oppose the arrival of the USS George Washington, a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier that is to make its home port just outside of Tokyo. About 500 protesters rallied near Yokosuka Naval Base, just south of Tokyo, shouting slogans and waving banners ahead of the ship's scheduled arrival early Thursday. Full Story

Terrorism's impact grows as Indian election nearsPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 9:42amPolitics in India, as in neighboring Pakistan and the United States, is increasingly singed by terrorism. India, the world's largest democracy, is reeling from four bomb attacks in four months, the latest in the heart of the capital on Sept. 13. How to deal with that threat has moved front and center in the campaign for the national election early next year. Full Story

Anti-Israel Facebook groups infiltratedPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 9:46amOpponents of the State of Israel have been staking a place for themselves in cyberspace for some time, using the Internet to vilify the Jewish state and glorify terrorism, but a Jewish organization has joined battle with them by employing a favourite tactic of the left  direct action. Full Story

ANALYSIS-Kidnappers exploited security weak spot in EgyptPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 9:47amKidnappers who snatched European tourists in Egypt's desert last week exploited a weak spot in Cairo's security network, but the kidnapping is unlikely to herald a return to Islamist militant attacks on tourists. Full Story

An Exercise in Security at 150 Railroad StationsPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 9:48amAmtrak and the Transportation Security Administration deployed officers from about 100 local police departments to 150 train stations in 13 states and the District of Columbia during the morning rush on Tuesday in a drill to familiarize law enforcement personnel with the rail system and to practice working together. An Amtrak spokesman said some travelers were asked for identification and some were told to open their bags for inspection. Full Story

China to help Pak set up 10 nuke power plantsPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 9:55amIn an apparent bid to counter the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, Pakistan plans to seek fuel technology from China for 10 new atomic power plants it intends to set up over the next two decades. During a high-level meeting, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani approved the construction of two new nuclear plants at Chashma in Punjab province, sources said, adding that these plants are expected to be built with Chinese assistance. Full Story

The airport security scanner that can read your mindPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 10:16amIt sounds like the stuff of science-fiction nightmare. But experts say a new scanner which can read minds is the next step in fighting terrorism. Inventors also claim it will slash queuing times at airports - and bring an end to a ban on liquids. Full Story

US mom admits helping son build weapons cachePosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 10:34amA woman admitted she helped her troubled, bullied 14-year-old son build a cache of weapons by buying him a rifle and gunpowder, but investigators still don't know if she was aware her son was planning a deadly school attack. Full Story

U.S., Afghans and Pakistanis Consider Joint Military ForcePosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 10:41amAfghanistan, Pakistan and the United States are discussing the creation of a joint military force to attack insurgent sanctuaries on both sides of the rugged Afghan-Pakistani border, a senior Afghan official said yesterday. Afghan Defense Minister Rahim Wardak said he had proposed the idea and it was discussed last month at a meeting of military officers from the three countries that focused on the border problem. Full Story

One injured in Assam blastPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 11:35amAt least one person was seriously injured when a bomb allegedly planted by suspected ULFA militants exploded at a local theatre in Udalguri district of Assam on Wednesday. Full Story

Prominent Chechen gunned down in MoscowPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 2:36pmA gunman shot dead a former rebel Chechen commander in central Moscow Wednesday whose brother has emerged as a rival to the pro-Moscow leader of the troubled southern Russian region, police said. An Interior ministry spokesman said that according to preliminary information, an unidentified gunman shot dead Ruslan Yamadayev from a pistol when his car stopped at a traffic light. Full Story

Mexicos parties warned over drug moneyPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 2:37pmMexicos centre-right government on Tuesday admitted that there was a latent threat of drug money finding its way into the countrys political campaigns and warned that the countrys police forces had been infiltrated by powerful cartels. In an address to Congress, Juan Camilo Mourińo, a government minister, said: The risk of drug Money in campaigns is, of course, a latent risk. Full Story

Deutsche Bank launches its securities services in DubaiPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 8:10pmDeutsche Bank AG announced yesterday the establishment of Deutsche Securities and Services (DSS) in Dubai. Full Story

Shipping companies must tackle piracyPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 8:11pmThe international shipping industry must take on more responsibility to protect vessels against pirate attacks and kidnappings in the dangerous waters of Somalia rather than rely on the U.S. Navy, the commander of the 5th Fleet warned on Monday. Full Story

US soldiers accidentally kill Sunni leader in IraqPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 8:11pmAmerican soldiers accidentally shot and killed the leader of a local U.S.-allied Sunni group Tuesday after coming under attack in a volatile area north of Baghdad, the military said. Full Story

Middle East Jerusalem car crash 'an accident'Posted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 8:12pmThe family of a 19-year old Palestinian man shot dead after his car ploughed into pedestrians in West Jerusalem have challenged Israeli police allegations that he had carried out a deliberate attack. Full Story

Qatar least corrupt country in MideastPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 8:13pmQatar has dramatically improved its standing in the current Corruption Perception Index (CPI) compared to last year, according to world corruption watchdog Transparency International. The country is ranked first among the least corrupt nations in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Full Story

Fatah OKs plan for new govtPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 8:16pmThe ruling Palestinian faction Fatah has agreed to an Egyptian proposal to create a new government that would be acceptable to the international community, a senior Fatah official said yesterday. Full Story

Kidnapped tourists reported to be in SudanPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 8:18pmThe 19 people who have been kidnapped in Egypt are reported to have been taken to a secret location 25 kilometres across the border in Sudan, according to a Cairo media report. Full Story

Pakistan boosts airport security after threat: officialPosted on Thursday, September 25, 2008 at 3:41amPakistani authorities tightened security at Islamabad's international airport on Thursday after a telephone threat that warned of a bomb attack, a senior security official said. Full Story

Egypt official says kidnappers threaten to kill hostagesPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 5:58amThe kidnappers who seized 19 hostages including European tourists in a remote desert area of Egypt have threatened to kill them if attempts are made to find them by plane, an Egyptian official said on Tuesday. Full Story

Iraq strikes gas deal with ShellPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 6:05amIraq has agreed to set up a joint venture with oil and gas giant Royal Dutch Shell to invest in developing the country's natural gas supply. Full Story

Many killed in Finnish school shooting: fire chiefPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 6:30amA gunman has killed many people in a shooting spree at a school in the southwestern Finnish town of Kauhajoki, the local fire chief told AFP Tuesday. Full Story

Ecuador: Colombian guerrillas attack border patrolPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 8:40amThe Ecuadorean government says suspected Colombian rebels have attacked an army patrol in a remote jungle region, wounding one soldier. Deputy Defense Minister Miguel Carvajal says the troops came under fire on Sunday while patrolling the San Miguel River, which forms part of the border between the two countries. Full Story

Brazil gunmen kill 15 including alleged traffickerPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 8:41amPolice say hooded gunmen have killed 15 people on an alleged drug trafficker's ranch in southern Brazil. Federal police officer Claudio Cesar says five assailants invaded the ranch Monday in Guaira, in the state of Parana. Full Story

Police beef up patrols around JerusalemPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 9:48amIsraeli police on Tuesday beefed up patrols around Jerusalem after a Palestinian resident plowed his car into a crowd of soldiers at a busy intersection, wounding 19 people before his car crashed into a wall and an army officer shot him dead. Full Story

Europeans kidnapped in Egyptian desert near SudanPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 9:50amKidnappers have seized 11 European tourists and eight Egyptians during a Sahara desert safari to Gilf al-Kebir, a plateau famed for its prehistoric cave paintings, Egyptian officials said Monday. Full Story

South American leaders to meet on Bolivia crisisPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 9:53amLeaders from several South American nations will meet in New York this week to discuss resolving the political crisis in impoverished Bolivia, Chilean Foreign Minister Alejandro Foxley said on Monday. The leaders, who met in Chile a week ago to help ease a political deadlock that flared into deadly protests, will meet on Wednesday, Foxley said from New York, where they are attending the United Nations General Assembly. Full Story

Protesters to set sail again to Gaza from CyprusPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 9:53amProtesters who defied Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip to bring aid to Palestinians last month are making a return voyage, a trip organizer said Tuesday. Full Story

In Egypt, sexual harassment growsPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 9:55amAccording to a study released by the Egyptian Center for Women's Rights (ECWR) in July, 62 percent of Egyptian men admit to sexually harassing women, and 83 percent of Egyptian women reported being harassed. Half say it happens every day. It was the first study of its kind. Full Story

Top security official warns Iran against involving GCC in nuclear conflictPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 9:58amA top security officer warned Iran against involving the GCC in any conflict with the West, saying that the GCC will react strongly to any threat against its stability. Full Story

Syrian troop build-up concerns LebanonPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 10:02amBeirut is concerned about Syria amassing its military forces on the northern Lebanese-Syrian border, alongside increased Syrian military activity. Full Story

Sudan murder suspects used Saudi cashPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 10:03amFour Sudanese men accused of killing a U.S. aid worker funded the murder with a donation from a Saudi Arabian man and money left over from a failed bomb plot, the Sudanese police's chief investigator told a court on Monday. Full Story

Taliban bomb kills Afghan district and police chiefPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 11:55amA roadside bomb killed a district governor and his police chief as they were driving home in southern Afghanistan, police said Tuesday, in an attack claimed by Taliban insurgents. The Registan district officials were in the same vehicle driving to their homes in the southern province of Kandahar when they were struck by the bomb at about 9:00 pm Monday, provincial police chief Mutiullah Khan told AFP. "They are both killed and four of their guards were wounded," he said. Full Story

China urges "flexibility" on N.Korea nuclear movesPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 11:57amChina urged "flexibility" in the North Korean nuclear dispute Tuesday, avoiding harsh words a day after Pyongyang made fresh moves toward possibly restarting a nuclear complex at the heart of the dispute. Monday, North Korea asked the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog to remove seals and cameras from its main atomic facility, Yongbyon. The North said Friday it was working to reactivate the plutonium-making Yongbyon complex, the basis of the atomic bomb program it had been dismantling since last November under a disarmament-for-aid deal. Full Story

India troops die in Kashmir clashPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 12:02pmTwo Indian soldiers have been killed in a clash with militants in Indian-administered Kashmir, the army says. Officials say the clash happened on Monday in Poonch region, close to the Line of Control that divides Indian and Pakistani-administered Kashmir. An Indian army spokesman accused the Pakistani military of providing covering fire for the militants. There is no word from Pakistan. Full Story

Militants claim Marriott attackPosted on Tuesday, September 23, 2008 at 12:04pmA little known Pakistani militant group, Fidayeen-e-Islam, says it carried out Saturday's devastating attack on the Islamabad Marriott hotel. The group told the BBC the aim of the attack was to stop American interference in Pakistan. The group is based in Pakistan's tribal areas and connected to leading militant Baitullah Mehsud. Full Story

Attacks kill 5 police in Afghan capital KabulPosted on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 2:01amA police official says a bomb blast in the capital has wounded Kabul's chief criminal investigator. Full Story Venezuela expels U.S. human rights campaignersPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 8:42amVenezuela's government expelled senior members of U.S.-based Human Rights Watch late Thursday after the group released a report saying President Hugo Chavez's government was undercutting democracy and fundamental rights in the country. Officials in Caracas said Human Rights Watch Americas director Jose Miguel Vivanco had made unacceptable remarks against the country's institutions. Full Story

Alitalia airline cancels flightsPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 8:43amAlitalia has cancelled a number of flights from Rome's Fiumicino airport, increasing fears that the carrier may soon go into liquidation. The airline confirmed that a number of flights have been cancelled, but denied it had run out of aviation fuel. Full Story

Germany Holds 2 Men Linked to Planned Terror AttacksPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 8:46amGerman authorities arrested two men suspected of supporting a Sunni Muslim group that prosecutors say was linked to plans to attack U.S. facilities in German cities last year. The two 27-year-old men -- a German of Afghan origin identified as Omid S. and a Turkish national called Huseyin O -- were taken into custody yesterday in the Frankfurt area, the German Federal Prosecutor said today in a statement. Full Story

Bangladesh detains members of Hizb ut-TahrirPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 8:47amDhaka University teacher and chief of the Bangladesh chapter of Hizb ut-Tahrir (HuT), an international Islamist body banned in several countries, has been detained along with several of his colleagues. HuT coordinator Syed Golam Mowla Hizb and his colleagues, mostly university teachers, were detained Thursday at Rajshahi in western Bangladesh on suspicion of promoting militancy in the name of establishing 'khilafat' (an Islamic state) worldwide. Full Story

Yemen arrests 25 suspected Al Qaeda membersPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 8:48amThe authorities in Yemen have arrested at least 25 militants - all with suspected links to Al Qaeda - in connection with a deadly attack on the U.S. Embassy in the Yemeni capital, a senior security official said Thursday. The attack Wednesday in Sana killed 16 people, including six militants and a young American woman who was recently wed in an arranged marriage. Full Story

U.S. embassy staff asked to leave YemenPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 8:49amThe U.S. State Department on Thursday recommended that all non-emergency staff and their families at the U.S. Embassy in Yemen leave the country after an attack on the building that killed 11 people, including one American. Wednesday's attack by suspected al Qaeda-linked insurgents killed six Yemeni police and four civilians when the attackers, disguised as Yemeni forces, bombed the outer wall of the embassy and opened fire on first responders, said Mohammed al-Basha, a spokesman for the Yemeni Embassy in Washington. Full Story

Germans arrest 2 suspected of 2007 terror plotPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 9:05amGerman prosecutors say they have arrested a German and a Turk suspected of ties to al-Qaida and to a foiled 2007 terrorist plot to attack U.S. and other targets. Federal prosecutors say both are aged 27 and were arrested on Friday in the greater Frankfurt area. Full Story

N. Korea Dismisses Terrorism BlacklistPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 9:14am
Bomb kills 5 at Pakistani religious schoolPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 11:44amA bomb exploded Friday at a religious school that police said was affiliated with a pro-Taliban political party, killing five people and wounding 10 more. Television footage showed a gaping hole in the rough mud wall around the seminary near the southwestern city of Quetta and one partly demolished adjacent room. Police said the blast occurred in the wrecked room but didn't indicate if it was an attack or if the bomb had been kept there. One witness claimed it was caused by a suicide bomber. Full Story

Japanese minister resigns over rice scandalPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 12:07pmTOKYO, Japan (AP) -- Japan's agriculture minister resigned Friday over widespread sales of mold- and pesticide-tainted rice used to make lunches for thousands of schoolchildren and nursing home patients. Japanese consumers have been horrified in recent weeks over the discovery of rice tainted with pesticides and mold being served to thousands of people. The rice was imported for use in industry, such as the manufacture of glue, but was instead distributed inside Japan as food. Full Story

At least 19 people injured in fresh clashes in SrinagarPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 1:23pmSRINAGAR: At least 19 people, including seven security personnel, were injured in clashes at a dozen places in the Kashmir valley on Friday. Normal life came to a standstill following a 'bandh' call given by separatists. The clashes broke out shortly after Friday prayers in different downtown and uptown localities of the city and Pattan in Baramulla district when police along with the CRPF forcibly tried to stop "pro-independence" protesters from marching on main roads, official sources said. Full Story

Police foil bomb attack on school in southern PhilippinesPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 1:29pmCotabato City, Philippines - Philippine police have recovered a homemade bomb outside an elementary school in a southern province, a regional military spokesman said Friday. Major Armand Rico said police officers found the explosive device late Thursday near the gate of the school in Carmen town in North Cotabato province, 960 kilometres south of Manila. Full Story

Indian police battle Islamic militants in capitalPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 1:32pmIndian police battled suspected Islamic militants holed up in a house in the country's capital Friday, killing two and arresting one before the others escaped, police said. The gunbattle in a southern part of sprawling New Delhi put the city back on edge days after five coordinated bombings in the capital's markets killed 21 people - attacks credited to homegrown Islamic militants. A senior New Delhi police officer, Karnal Singh, told reporters at the scene of Friday's firefight in the Jamia Nagar neighborhood that there were five gunmen. Two were killed, one was arrested and two escaped, he said. Full Story

U.S. Homeland Security To Utilize Physiological Screeners To Pinpoint TerroristsPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 1:36pmThe Homeland Security Department is pilot testing at a Maryland airport a prototype of a physiological screener to spot terrorists. The model bio-scans air travelers. Full Story

Russian minister says war with the United States not possiblePosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 1:38pmRussian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Yakovenko said on Friday there was no possibility of a war with the United States and Russia wants the European Union to guarantee security in Georgia. Full Story

Cyber Attack Data-Sharing Is Lacking, Congress ToldPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 1:39pmU.S. intelligence agencies are unable to share information about foreign cyber attacks against companies for fear of jeopardizing intelligence-gathering sources and methods, cyber security expert Paul B. Kurtz told lawmakers yesterday. Full Story

Ban on ex-security chiefs sparks row in GhanaPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 1:46pmGhana's government has banned seven former military and police chiefs from the country's defence installations, touching off security jitters and a political row ahead of elections in December. Full Story

Pretoria malls among SA's most dangerousPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 1:48pmAs the festive season approaches, dozens of Pretoria shopping malls have raised security levels after having been ranked among the most risky in the country this week when it comes to potentially violent attacks. Full Story

U.S. Barred 33 TB-Infected People From Flying Over Past YearPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 1:50pmThirty-three would-be air travelers with suspected or confirmed infectious tuberculosis were placed on the U.S. government's public health "Do Not Board" list in the first year of its existence, a federal report released Thursday showed. Full Story

Deep-rooted al-Qaida hard to extract from YemenPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 2:03pmThe deadly attack on the U.S. Embassy may be a watershed moment in Yemen's on-and-off struggle with terrorism. For years, the Yemeni government has let some al-Qaida figures and other Islamic extremists go free in political deals hoping to keep them quiet. Now it finds itself having to confront a new generation of militants  younger, more radical and fresh from fighting in Iraq. Full Story

Former Israeli military and intelligence officials active in Arab countriesPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 2:07pmThe Israeli newspaper, Haaretz, reported on Thursday that dozens of former Israeli military officers and a large number of Mosad (Israeli Intelligence) and Shabak (Israeli secret service) members are active in cooperation with the Israeli Security devices in several Arab countries in the Gulf. Full Story

Family 'bombed' in terror arson attackPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 2:09pmA family and their visitors were lucky to escape with their lives after a fire bomb attack at their house. Seven people were in the house in Bernard Close, Huntingdon, when it was hit by two Molotov cocktail-type bombs containing an accelerant. Full Story

Al-Qaida threatens more attacks in new videoPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 7:53pmAl-Qaida threatened major new attacks in Afghanistan and vowed to keep fighting in Iraq even after Americans leave, in a new video to mark the anniversary of the Sep. 11 attacks. Full Story

Pentagon boss slams Russia but plays down threatPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 7:53pmU.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates accused Moscow on Friday of "mauling and menacing small democracies" but said today's Russia did not pose a threat to the world like the Soviet Union. Full Story

Banned militant Islamist sect 'is recruiting young Muslims'Posted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 7:54pmA militant Islamic sect banned by the Government as a threat to national security has launched a campaign to radicalise teenagers. Full Story

Peru rebel rejects surrender callPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 7:56pmThe leader of Peru's remaining Shining Path rebels has apparently rejected a call to surrender and demanded new negotiations with the government. Full Story

Cyber attack launched on Shiite websites: Iran reportPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 7:57pmSunni Muslim computer hackers have attacked hundreds of Shiite websites including Shia Islam's most popular site linked to the community's leader in Iraq, Iran's Fars news agency reported on Friday. Full Story

Five killed in Balochistan blastPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 7:57pmA bomb has exploded at an Islamic religious school in south-western Pakistan, killing five people and wounding at least eight. Full Story

Mexico plans anti-kidnap policePosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 11:38pmThe Mexican government has created a specialist police force to tackle the level of kidnapping in the country, among the highest in the world. The authorities say so far this year more than 650 people have been abducted in Mexico a huge rise on last year. Full Story

Indian police kill 'top Islamic militant' in Delhi shoot-outPosted on Friday, September 19, 2008 at 11:38pmIndian police shot dead two alleged Islamic militants during a fierce gun battle in a Muslim area of New Delhi Friday, including a leader of a shadowy group behind a spate of deadly bombings. Full Story

Moscow Will Boost Defense Spending to $50 BillionPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 12:01amThe Kremlin is set to boost its defense budget by more than one-quarter, taking it to a post-Soviet high of $50 billion next year as it seeks to add muscle to its foreign policy and reverse underinvestment. Full Story

Demonstrators force far-right to halt launch of anti-Islam talksPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 12:19amA far-right group was forced to abandon a press conference launching a campaign against plans for a new mosque and Muslim immigration in the German city of Cologne yesterday, when protesters targeted them with stones and paint. Full Story

Moderate quake felt in Pakistan capital, no damagePosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 12:20amA moderate earthquake rattled Pakistan's capital and some northwestern towns Saturday, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage, an official said. Full Story

Fresh clashes in Sri Lankan northPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 1:14amThere have been fresh clashes between Tamil rebels and government troops in northern Sri Lanka, as the military offensive there continue. The military also announced details of casualties from Thursday's fierce fighting, saying more than 60 Tamil Tigers were killed in multiple battles. Full Story

US intercepts drug-laden sub off Central AmericaPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 1:14amThe U.S. Coast Guard says it intercepted a submarine-like vessel carrying 7 tons of cocaine off Central America's coast. The Coast Guard says a U.S. Navy aircraft spotted the 60-foot vessel Wednesday about 400 miles south of the Mexico-Guatemala border. Full Story

Military kills 16 Al-Qaeda linked militants in Pakistan: officialPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 2:03amPakistani soldiers killed at least 16 Al-Qaeda linked militants in fierce gunbattles in a restive tribal area bordering Afghanistan, officials said Saturday. The fresh clashes erupted late Friday in the Bajaur tribal district where Pakistani troops launched a major offensive against Islamic militants last month. Full Story

Radical Hindu leader held for anti-Christian attacksPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 2:04amA radical Hindu leader has been arrested in southern India over a spate of attacks targeting Christian churches, officials said Saturday. Full Story

Malaysia to resort to nuclear energy by 2023: ministerPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 2:04amMalaysia will turn to nuclear energy to generate electricity by 2023 as supplies of fossil fuel eventually run out, a minister said according to Saturday news reports. Full Story

Officials say gunmen kill cleric in southern IraqPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 2:05amIraqi officials say gunmen have killed a cleric loyal to U.S. foe Muqtada al-Sadr in the southern city of Basra. Police say Sheik Oday Ali Abbas al-Ajrish was killed Friday evening near his home. Full Story

Arrested militants confess role in Delhi blastsPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 3:09amClaiming a major breakthrough in last week's serial blasts in the national capital, Delhi Police on Saturday said two of those arrested after Friday's encounter have confessed to their involvement in the terror act having planted explosives in two places. Full Story

Nigerian militants step up 'oil war' claiming sixth attackPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 4:02amNigeria's main armed militant group Saturday said it had destroyed a major pipeline run by Royal Dutch Shell in the sixth such attack in the past week as it vowed to paralyse the key oil sector. Full Story

Suicide attacker targeted army convoy in PakistanPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 4:03amA suicide bomber attacked an army convoy in Pakistan's militant-plagued northwest Saturday and casualties were feared, an army spokesman said. Pakistani media and two local intelligence officials reported up to 10 soldiers had died, but Maj. Murad Khan said he had no confirmation on exact casualty figures. The intelligence officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to media. Full Story

AP reporter detained, beaten by police in VietnamPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 5:33amAn Associated Press reporter in Vietnam has been detained and beaten by police while he covered a Catholic prayer vigil in the communist country. Full Story

Russia against new U.N. measures on IranPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 5:34amRussia is against the United Nations taking any extra measures on Iran over its nuclear program for now, and thinks efforts towards dialogue should continue, the Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. Full Story

Bomb outside Iraq's journalist union wounds bossPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 6:53amA bomb blast outside Iraq's national journalists' union in central Baghdad wounded the union's head and three others on Saturday, an eyewitness said. Full Story

Pakistan will not tolerate incursions - ZardariPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 6:54amPakistan will not tolerate infringement of its territory in the name of the fight against militancy while the biggest challenge facing the government is the economy, President Asif Ali Zardari said on Saturday. Full Story

Spain: Car bomb explodes in Basque capitalPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 9:58pmThe Interior Ministry says a car bomb has exploded on the outskirts of the Basque capital, Vitoria-Gasteiz, causing considerable damage but no injuries. Full Story

Police break up Bangladesh protest, 50 hurtPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 10:02pmAt least 50 people were injured on Saturday when Bangladeshi police used batons to disperse a protest by textile workers demanding to be paid early ahead of the Muslim Eid al-Fitr festival, police and witnesses said. Full Story

Street clashes erupt in GermanyPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 10:03pmThousands of left-wing demonstrators gathered to protest against an extreme right-wing rally have clashed with police in the German city of Cologne. Full Story

Al Qaeda murders Mauritanian soldiersPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 10:06pmThe bodies of 12 soldiers who were abducted in the west African country of Mauritania have been found with their throats cut. Full Story

Spanish military plane leaves for SomaliaPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 10:07pmThe Spanish military aircraft which will patrol the waters off the coast of Somalia to protect ships from pirates left on Saturday from the Moron air base in Seville, the Ministry of Defence said on Saturday. Full Story

Fire in China's Guangdong province kills 43Posted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 10:09pmA fire at a club in south China's Guangdong Province late on Saturday left at least 43 people dead and 51 injured, said state news agency Xinhua, citing local police. Full Story

Thousands march in Sweden against globalisationPosted on Saturday, September 20, 2008 at 11:26pmMore than 10,000 marched in the Swedish city of Malmoe on Saturday in a demonstration against the excesses of globalisation, organised as part of the European Social Forum being held there. Full Story

Putin defiant on Caucasus troopsPosted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 1:05amRussia will not consult Western nations or Georgia when deciding how many troops to post in the breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said the decision was down to Russia and the "states" involved. Full Story

Bomb a warning to Pakistan: End U.S. alliancePosted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 1:09amThe brazen truck-bombing of the Marriott hotel in Islamabad on Saturday is a warning from Islamic militants to Pakistan's new civilian leadership that it should end already-strained cooperation with the United States to pursue al-Qaida and the Taliban, analysts said. Full Story

Lashkar behind Delhi bombers: PolicePosted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 1:11amDelhi Police claimed on Saturday that it had unravelled the entire plot behind the September 13 blasts, which were carried out by a team of 13, nine of whom are on the run. The claims came 24 hours after the shootout at Batla House, which resulted in the death of Indian Mujahideen (IM) mastermind Bashir alias Atiq. Full Story

Thousands in France, Germany, protest Afghan deploymentPosted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 2:22amThousands of people in France and Germany took to the streets calling for soldiers deployed in Afghanistan to be brought home, police and march organisers said. Full Story

Six injured in car bomb blast in Spain's Basque country: officialPosted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 2:23amSix people were injured Sunday in a car bomb blast suspected to be the work of the Basque separatist organisation ETA in Spain's northern Basque town of Ondarroa, officials said. Full Story

Toll in Pakistan hotel blast rises to 52: officialPosted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 2:28amSearchers combing through the burnt shell of the Marriott Hotel in Pakistan's capital found more bodies the morning after a suicide bomb attack, bringing the death toll to 52, a senior government official said on Sunday. Full Story

Three more arrests over India bombsPosted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 3:12amIndian police on Sunday said they had arrested three more suspected militants over a series of bombings across the country that have left more than 140 people dead. The police said the three men belonged to the Indian Mujahideen, the group which has claimed responsibility for serial blasts in several cities including attacks in New Delhi on September 13. Full Story

Churches attacked in India amid religious tensionPosted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 4:01amSuspected Hindu radicals in India ransacked three churches near the city of Bangalore on Sunday despite a crackdown after anti-Christian attacks in the region, reports said. Full Story

South Africa's Mbeki quits after ANC withdraws supportPosted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 4:02amSouth African President Thabo Mbeki on Saturday accepted a demand from his own party to resign, effectively ending a nine-year rule marked by economic prosperity but marred by allegations of abuse of power. Full Story

Nigeria armed group declares ceasfire in 'oil war'Posted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 4:23amThe most prominent armed group in southern Nigeria, MEND, declared a ceasefire on Sunday following a week of attacks on oil industry targets after launching an "oil war". Full Story

Mauritania seeks support against terrorism threatPosted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 8:18amMauritania has asked for international support to confront what it called a serious threat of terrorism to West Africa following an attack in the north of the country claimed by al Qaeda. Full Story

One killed in suspected ETA car bombing outside Spanish barracksPosted on Sunday, September 21, 2008 at 10:16pmOne person was killed Monday when a suspected ETA car bomb exploded outside a military academy in the town of Santona in Spain's northern Cantabria region, Spanish officials said. Full Story

Gunmen fire on Afghan diplomat's car in PakistanPosted on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 5:46amUnidentified gunmen fired on an Afghan diplomat's car, killing one person, in Peshawar on Monday, the police chief in the north-western Pakistani city told Reuters. Full Story

Pakistani troops fire on intruding U.S. choppersPosted on Monday, September 22, 2008 at 5:52amPakistani troops fired on two U.S. helicopters that intruded into Pakistani airspace on Sunday night, forcing them to turn back to Afghanistan, a senior Pakistani security official said on Monday. Full Story

Courtesy Terrorism Research Center, Inc.