The coming days: The week ahead

Image by TalkMediaNews via FlickrThe coming days: The week ahead: "
Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, visits Barack Obama in Washington
• ISRAEL'S prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, is set to travel to Washington for a meeting with Barack Obama on Tuesday July 6th. Mr Netanyahu’s previous date with America’s president at the beginning of June was postponed after Israeli forces killed nine people in a raid on a boat attempting to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza in defiance of an Israeli blockade. Mr Obama will be keen to find a way to encourage Israeli and Palestinian leaders to begin direct talks again. Face-to-face negotiations were suspended in December 2008 after Israel’s deadly offensive against Gaza intended to stop rocket attacks from the territory. In a sign of a thawing of relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, Ehud Barak, the country’s defence minister, said that he would shortly meet Salam Fayyad, the PA’s prime minister.
• THE lower house of France’s parliament begins debate on Tuesday July 6th over the controversial issue of banning women from wearing full Muslim veils in public before a vote likely to be held the following week. A burqa ban, which has the backing of President Nicolas Sarkozy, is also winning support in other parts of Europe. Belgium’s lower house has approved a similar measure and Spain Senate recently narrowly voted to impose a ban too. But the Council of Europe, an institution that oversees the human rights of Europeans, has voted unanimously to oppose any national bans on the burqa in EU countries. It also called on Switzerland to reverse its ban on the construction of minarets. ...
"

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Death in Lahore: Bombing the Light of God

Image via WikipediaDeath in Lahore: Bombing the Light of God: "
A sinister and deadly new twist in Pakistan’s dreadful saga of terrorist atrocities
On the night of July 1st, when the throng of worshippers in the shrine of Lahore's patron saint, Ali Hajvery Data Ganj Bakhsh, was at its peak, two suicide-bombers blew themselves up. The attack, at the heart of a 1,000-year-old centre of Sufi Islam in Pakistan, killed at least 42 people and injured another 175.
'The terrorists have done the unthinkable,' said a grieving woman at the site of the bombing. Not so long ago many Pakistanis believed the Taliban and al-Qaeda were just innocent Islamists battling the evil Americans. The country is paying a heavy price for their refusal to face up to their true nature. ...
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In Iraq, a new government could be around the corner - CNN.com

Image via WikipediaIn Iraq, a new government could be around the corner - CNN.com

Baghdad, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq moved a couple of steps closer Saturday to forming a government after a maddening year marked by political squabbling and paralysis.

Parliament on Saturday lifted a ban on three politicians who were barred from participating in Iraqi elections because of purported links to Saddam Hussein's banned political movement -- the Baath Party.

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The dangerous life of Kandahar's mayor – Afghanistan Crossroads - CNN.com Blogs

Image via WikipediaThe dangerous life of Kandahar's mayor – Afghanistan Crossroads - CNN.com Blogs

December 6th, 2010

08:01 AM ET

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The dangerous life of Kandahar's mayor

Kandahar, Afghanistan — For the mayor of Kandahar, public service at the helm of Afghanistan's second-largest city carries a grave risk. His last two deputies were assassinated, and Ghulam Hayder Hamidi survived a roadside bomb 15 months ago.

"There was one guy standing there, the blood was dripping from his fingers," Hamidi told NATO Television. "I walked to my office, the car was completely gone."

Two people died and six were wounded in the attack, according to NATO.

But some of the mayor's duties are like those of any other mayor. He frets about cleaning up garbage and keeping the sidewalks clear. "These shopkeepers occupy the sidewalks completely," he said. "The traffic problems will happen and who's responsible? I am."

His office is in a historic building defended by a heavy, metal fence and barbed wire. Once a reporter has made his way to the building, an armed guard standing outside must give approval before the reporter can reach the mayor's office.

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32 die in suicide bombings outside Shiite mosque in Iran - CNN.com

Image via Wikipedia32 die in suicide bombings outside Shiite mosque in Iran - CNN.com

32 die in suicide bombings outside Shiite mosque in Iran

By the CNN Wire Staff

December 15, 2010 -- Updated 1826 GMT (0226 HKT)

Mosque blast kills dozens

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• Shiite Muslims are observing a period of mourning commemorating Imam Hussein
• As many as 60 people are rushed to hospitals
• Officials say the toll could rise

RELATED TOPICS

• Iran
• Islam
• Terrorism

(CNN) -- Suicide bombings outside the Imam Hussein Mosque in Chabahar in southeastern Iran killed at least 32 people Wednesday, Iran's Fars News Agency reported, citing a provincial coroner's office.

Fariborz Ayati, the director of the Sistan-Baluchestan province's coroner's office, said 29 bodies have been identified. The three others are two men and a 13-year old girl, he said.

The violence comes as Shiite Muslims across the world are observing Ashura, a period of mourning commemorating the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Mohammed's grandson and one of Shiite Islam's holiest figures.

Iranian media reports said dozens of others were injured, and the Red Crescent relief agency told the semi-official ISNA news agency that the toll could rise.

Mohammad Yaghoub Jedgal, a deputy with the Chabahar parliament, told the IRNA news agency that about 50 to 60 victims had been rushed to medical centers for treatment.

The governor of Chabahar said a suspect has been taken into custody.

"The main perpetrator of the terrorist attack, which has killed and wounded a number of Iranians, has been arrested," Gov. Ali Bateni told IRNA.

The International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said the region -- which borders Pakistan and Afghanistan -- has been the site of fighting between a Sunni armed group called Jundullah and government security forces.

The human rights group said the Iranian government asserts that Jundullah is funded by western intelligence, but the U.S. State Department added the group to its list of terror organizations.

"We hope this grotesque act will not lead to reprisals harming other innocent civilians," said Hadi Ghaemi, a spokesman for the human rights group.

U.S. President Barack Obama issued a statement condemning the attack.

"The murder of innocent civilians in their place of worship during Ashura is a despicable offense, and those who carried it out must be held accountable. This is a disgraceful and cowardly act," he said.

"This and other similar acts of terrorism recognize no religious, political, or national boundaries. The United States condemns all acts of terrorism wherever they occur."

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon also condemned the action and is "shocked and dismayed by this abhorrent terrorist act directed at mourners commemorating the Holy Day of Ashura."

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BBC News - Mitsubishi and Nissan boost ties

Image via WikipediaBBC News - Mitsubishi and Nissan boost ties

Carmakers Nissan and Mitsubishi have said they will increase levels of co-operation between the two firms.

Under the deal, Nissan will make a small van which Mitsubishi will sell in Japan.

Meanwhile Mitsubishi will supply a sports utility vehicle (SUV) to Nissan for sale in the Middle East.

The firms already supply each other with models that they have marketed under each other's brand names in Japan.

This is done under an industry scheme known as Original Equipment Manufacturing.

The companies said that talks for Nissan to provide Mitsubishi with more top end models for the Japanese domestic market were continuing.

They are also considering plans to build the Nissan Navara at Mitsubishi's Thailand factory and contemplating setting up a joint venture "for product planning and engineering of mini cars for the Japanese domestic market".

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