World and US News Links - September 25 and 26, 2006

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September 25 & 26, 2006
WORLD NEWS:

TOP STORIES:

THE POPE & ISLAM:

• “CAT STEVENS SLAMS POPE” - Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) - The Telugu Portal - TeluguPortal.net - Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India - 26 September 2006
• “EGYPT’S TANTAWI EXPECTED POPE BENEDICT’S XVI ‘TO DEFEND ISLAM’” - Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) - Ministry of National Guidance (Iranian Government) - Tehran, Iran - 25 September 2006
• “POPE MEETS WITH MUSLIM DIPLOMATS” - Associated Press (AP) - The International Herald Tribune (IHT) - The New York Times Company - Neuilly-sur-Seine, France - 25 September 2006
• “POPE MEETS ENVOYS FROM MUSLIM NATIONS” - by Ian Fisher, The New York Times - The International Herald Tribune (IHT) - The New York Times Company - Neuilly-sur-Seine, France - 25 September 2006
• “POPE CALLS FOR DIALOGUE WITH MUSLIMS” - by Eric J. Lyman - USA Today - Gannett Co. Inc. - McLean, Virginia, US - 25 September 2006

THE MARTYRED NUN: SISTER LEONELLA (nee Rosa Sgorbatti):

• “POPE SAYS NUN SLAIN IN SOMALIA WORKED VICTORY OF LOVE OVER HATRED” - Catholic News Service - Washington, D.C., US - 26 September 2006

THE ASSASSINATION OF SAFIA AMAJAN - AFGHANISTAN’S DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S AFFAIRS, WOMEN’S RIGHTS ADVOCATE:

• “THE WOMAN WHO DEFIED THE TALIBAN, AND PAID WITH HER LIFE - Women’s rights campaigner in Afghanistan shot dead - One in two Afghan women a victim of violence - Suicide on the rise as Taliban’s power increases” - by Kim Sengupta - The Independent - Independent News & Media Limited - London, England, UK - 26 September 2006
• “GUNMEN KILL DIRECTOR OF WOMEN’S AFFAIRS IN AFGHANISTAN” - Associated Press (AP) - FOX News - News America Group - New York, New York, US - 26 September 2006

IRAN NUCLEAR CRISIS:

• “RUSSIA SETS DATE FOR IRAN NUCLEAR PLANT” - Reuters - The International Herald Tribune (IHT) - The New York Times Company - Neuilly-sur-Seine, France - 26 September 2006
• “IRAN SAYS NUCLEAR TALKS TO RE-OPEN VERY SOON” - Xinhua News Agency - People’s Daily Online - People’s Daily - Beijing, China - 26 September 2006

NORTH KOREA NUCLEAR THREAT:

• “REPORT: N. KOREA SEEKS MORE PLUTONIUM - Scholar says Pyongyang’s nuke amibitions aimed at putting pressure on U.S.” - Reuters - MSNBC News - MSNBC on the Internet - Redmond, Washington, US - 23 September 2006

THE TRIAL OF SADDAM HUSSEIN:

• “SADDAM THROWN OUT FOR THIRD TIME - Saddam Hussein has been ejected from his trial in Baghdad for the third time this week after defying instructions from the judge to be quiet.” - BBC News - British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) - London, England, UK - 26 September 2006
• “SADDAM THROWN OUT OF COURT AGAIN - Saddam Husseing has been thrown out of court for the second time in a week, as defence lawyers boycotted the trial.” - BBC News - British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) - London, England, UK - 26 September 2006

BIN LADEN: DEAD OR ALIVE?:

• “TALIBAN SAYS BIN LADEN ALIVE - AL ARABIYA TV” - Reuters - The Star Online - Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd - Malaysia - 26 September 2006

WAR, TERRORISM, AND POLITICS AROUND THE WORLD:

AFGHANISTAN:

• “US SHOULD HAVE ENGAGED AFGHANISTAN BEFORE 9/11: KARZAI” - Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) - Telugu Portal - TeluguPortal.net - Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India - 26 September 2006
• “AFGHANISTAN HURT BY TERRORISM ‘WAY BEFORE IRAQ’ OR 9/11: KARZAI (ROUNDUP)” - Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) - Monsters & Critics News - WOTR Ltd. - Glasgow, Scotland, UK - 26 September 2006

AL-QAIDA/AL-QAEDA:

• “SHOOTING SUSPECT WARNS AUSTRALIA OVER EXTRADITION” - by Sarah Smiles, and Ed O’Loughlin - The Sydney Morning Herald - Fairfax Digital - Sydney, New South Wales, Australia - 25 September 2006

QUOTE:
     
     An Al-Qaeda supporter about to be extradited from Lebanon has warned that Australia “will suffer” if he is deported.
     
     Speaking from a jail in Beirut, Saleh Jamal, who professes admiration for Osama bin Laden, said Australia was an illegitimate state that should be ruled by Muslims…
     
- “Shooting Suspect Warns Australia Over Extradition” - The Sydney Morning Herald

BRITAIN:

• “WOMAN CHARGED WITH TERRORISM OFFENCES” - Reuters UK- Reuters Group plc - London, England, UK - 25 September 2006

CANADA:

• “LOSING A SON” - by Stewart Bell - The National Post - CanWest MediaWorks Publications Inc. - Don Mills, Ontario, Canada - 25 September 2006

QUOTE:
     
     A National Post investigation has found that the banned terrorist group Mujahedin-e-Khalq recruited teens in Canada and sent them abroad to overthrow the Iranian government by force. Today, part two of a five-part series about a Canadian family that got deeply involved with the guerrillas — and now regrets it.
     
- “Losing a Son” - The National Post

CHINA:

• “OFFICIAL: CORRUPTION PROBE OF SHANGHAI LEADER MAY IMPLICATE OTHERS” - Associated Press (AP) - The International Herald Tribune (IHT) - The New York Times Company - Neuilly-sur-Seine, France - 26 September 2006
• “CHINA GRAFT CASE SNARES A PARTY BOSS” - by Joseph Kahn, The New York Times - The International Herald Tribune (IHT) - The New York Times Company - Neuilly-sur-Seine, France - 25 September 2006

ETHIOPIA:

• “ETHIOPIA SAYS IT HAS NO SOLDIERS IN SOMALIA” - by Tsegaye Tadesse - Reuters AlertNet - Reuters Group plc - London, England, UK - 26 September 2006

INDIA:

• “AT LEAST SEVEN MILITANTS KILLED NEAR INDIA-PAKISTAN BORDERS” - Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) - Monsters & Critics News - WOTR Ltd. - Glasgow, Scotland, UK - 24 September 2006

IRAN:

• “IRAN: HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS INVITE AHMADINEJAD TO AUSCHWITZ” - ADN Kronos Interntional (AKI) - Rome, Italy - 25 September 2006
• “IRAN CRACKS DOWN ON PUBLIC EATERS DURING HOLY MONTH” - Iran Focus News - IranFocus.com - 25 September 2006

QUOTE:
     
     State Security Forces (SSF) in the western city of Hamedan have announced that they would crack down on people eating in public during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
     
     Flyers distributed across the city by the SSF and the Ministry of Justice state that anyone spotted to be eating food in public would be arrested and handed over for prosecution.
     
     Residents told Iran Focus that they had been threatened by agents of the SSF that they would be forced to dig graves as punishment for eating in public.
     
[. . .]
     
     In previous years, people caught eating in public in Iran during the holy month have been flogged in public or sentenced to jail time.
     
- “Iran Cracks Down on Public Eaters During Holy Month” - Iran Focus

IRAQ:

• “TWO BOMB EXPLOSIONS WOUND THREE POLICEMEN IN IRAQ” - Xinhua News Agency - People’s Daily Online - People’s Daily - Beijing, China - 25 September 2006

ISRAEL:

• “ROCKETS STILL HITTING SOUTHERN ISRAEL” - by Julie Stahl, Jerusalem Bureau Chief - CNS News - Cybercast News Service - Alexandria, Virginia, US - 26 September 2006
• “MAN ARRESTED FOR BLOWING SHOFAR AT WESTERN WALL - Shades of the 1920’s: A Jewish man was hauled off to the Old City police station in the middle of prayer for sounding the shofar during Rosh HaShanah services at the area known as the Kotel HaKatan.” - by Hillel Fendel - Arutz Sheva (Israel National News) - Arutz Sheva Israel Broadcasting Network - Israel - 25 September 2006
• “RESTRICTIONS ON OLD CITY JEWS DURING RAMADAN” - by Hillel Fendel - Arutz Sheva (Israel National News) - Arutz Sheva Israel Broadcasting Network - Israel - 25 September 2006

JAPAN:

• “JAPAN’S RULING PARTY APPOINTS TOP THREE POSTS” - Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) - Telugu Portal - TeluguPortal.net - Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India - 25 September 2006

LEBANON:

• “U.N. TROOPS WARY OF ATTACK IN LEBANON” - by Henry Meyer, Associated Press (AP) - The Seattle Post-Intelligencer - The Hearst Corporation - Seattle, Washington, US - 25 September 2006

NEPAL:

• “NEPAL BEGINS PROBE INTO CHOPPER CRASH” - Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) - Telugu Portal - TeluguPortal.net - Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India - 26 September 2006
• “INDIA OFFERS HELP TO FIND MISSING NEPAL CHOPPER” - Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) - Telugu Portal - TeluguPortal.net - Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India - 25 September 2006

NORTH KOREA:

• “FOR A BETTER LIFE, NORTH KOREANS TURN ‘TRAITOR’” - by Choe Sang-Hun - The International Herald Tribune (IHT) - The New York Times Company - Neuilly-sur-Seine, France - 25 September 2006

PAKISTAN:

• “AFGHAN PRESIDENT ASKS PAKISTAN TO CLOSE EXTREMIST SCHOOLS” - Staff - NJBIZ.com - Journal Publications, Inc. - New Brunswick, New Jersey, US - 26 September 2006
• “FEATURE - RAPE LAW REFORM LAYS BARE PAKISTAN’S POLITICAL MORASS” - by Simon Cameron-Moore - Reuters Today - Reuters Group plc - London, England, UK - 25 September 2006
• “CIA PAID PAKISTAN FOR CATCHING AL QAEDA: MUSHARRAF” - Reuters Today - Reuters Group plc - London, England, UK - 25 September 2006
• “PAKISTAN COURT UPHOLDS MUSHARRAF PLOT DEATH SENTENCES” - Reuters AlertNet - Reuters Group plc - London, England, UK - 25 September 2006

POLAND:

• “POLAND SPEEDS UP AFGHAN DEPLOYMENT TO HELP REINFORCE NATO” - Agence France-Presse (AFP) - Yahoo! News - Yahoo! Inc. - Sunnyvale, California, US - 26 September 2006 [Special Thanks to AllahPundit at Hot Air for pointing out this link.]

SOMALIA:

• “20 WOMEN ARRESTED AT PROTEST IN SOMALIA” - by Nasteex Dahir Farah, Associated Press - The Houston Chronicle - The Hearst Corporation - Houston, Texas, US - 26 September 2006
• “DEMONSTRATIONS TURN VIOLENT IN SOMALIA” - by Mohamed Sheikh Nor, Associated Press - The San Jose Mercury News - Media News Group (MNG) - San Jose, California, US - 25 September 2006
• “SOMALIA: ISLAMISTS THREATEN TO COMBAT ETHIOPIA AS MORE NEW TROOPS REACH BAIDOA” - by Aweys Osman Yusuf, Shabelle Media Network (Mogadishu) - AllAfrica.com - All Africa Global Media - Washington, D.C., US - 25 September 2006
• “UN ARMS EMBARGO BLAMED FOR SOMALI GOV’T'S INABILITY TO FIGHT TERRORISTS” - by Stephen Mbogo, Correspondent - CNS News - Cybercast News Service - Alexandria, Virginia, US - 25 September 2006

SRI LANKA:

• “SRI LANKAN NAVY SINKS 11 REBEL SHIPS, KILLING ABOUT 70, OFFICIALS SAY” - Associated Press (AP) - The International Herald Tribune - The New York Times Company - Neuilly-sur-Seine, France - 25 September 2006

SYRIA:

• “SYRIA FREES CRITICS OF ITS LEBANON STRATEGY” - by Khaled Yacoub Oweis, Reuters - The Washington Post - The Washington Post Company - Arlington, Virginia, US - 25 September 2006

THAILAND:

• “THAILAND’S COUP LEADERS VIOLATE HUMAN RIGHTS: UN” - Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) - Telugu Portal - TeluguPortal.net - Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India - 26 September 2006

TURKEY:

• “TURKISH POLICE FOIL BOMB ATTACK ON AEGEAN COAST” - Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) - Monsters & Critics News - WOTR Ltd. - Glasgow, Scotland, UK - 25 September 2006
• “TURKEY: ARMY WILL PROTECT COUNTRY FROM ISLAMISTS” - Associated Press (AP) - JPost.com - The Jerusalem Post - Jerusalem, Israel - 25 September 2006

AROUND THE WORLD:

AUSTRALIA:

• “LEADER ADMITS MEDIA LAWS MAY NEED TWEAK” - by Samantha Maiden, Political Correspondent - The Australian - News Limited - Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia - 25 September 2006

BRITAIN:

• “REPORT: BRITAIN SOUGHT UFO UNIT COVER-UP” - by Robert Barr, Associated Press (AP) - FOX News - News America Group - New York, New York, US - 25 September 2006

CHINA:

• “TEACHER BEATS CHILD WITH BAR AND THROWS HER FROM WINDOW” - The Scotsman Evening News - The Scotsman Publications Ltd. - Edinburgh, Scotland, UK - 25 September 2006

INDONESIA:

• “TWO MODERATE EARTHQUAKES JOLT EASTERN INDONESIA, NO DAMAGE REPORTED” - Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) - Monsters & Critics News - WOTR Ltd. - 25 September 2006

HEALTH & MEDICINE:

• “TEST MAY PREDICT GENETIC COLON CANCER” - by Miranda Hitti, Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD - WebMD News - WebMD Inc. - New York, New York, US - 26 September 2006
• “NANOTECHNOLOGY STUDY FOCUSES ON HEALTH RISKS” - by Barnaby J. Feder, The New York Times - The International Herald Tribune (IHT) - The New York Times Company - Neuilly-sur-Seine, France - 26 September 2006
• “NEW DRUG SHOWS PROMISE FOR MACULAR DEGENERATION - The “wet” form of the disease can quickly blind people” - by Pam Kelley, McClatchy Tribune News Service - The Philadelphia Inquirer (Philly.com) - Philadelphia Media Holdings L.L.C. - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, US - 25 September 2006
• “ALLERGY-FREE CAT GOES ON SALE FOR £2,500” - The Daily Mail - Associated Newspapers Ltd. - London, England, UK - 25 September 2006

NATURE, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY:

• “ASTRONOMERS FIND SUPERNOVA FIRST SPOTTED 2,000 YEARS AGO” - by Jeanna Bryner, Staff Writer - SPACE.com - Imaginova Corp. - New York, New York, US - 26 September 2006
• “MARS ROVERS KEEP ON TICKIN’ - BUILT TO LAST JUST 90 DAYS, MARS EXPLORATION ROVERS HAVE ENDURED FOR MORE THAN 900 DAYS” - by John Berman - ABC News - American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. - New York, New York, US - 26 September 2006
• “ASTRONOMERS DISCOVER TWO NEW PLANETS, BOTH AMONG THE HOTTEST EVER” - Source: SuperWASP - Science Daily - Science Daily LLC - Chevy Chase, Maryland, US - 26 September 2006
• “ASTEROID NAMED AFTER CHINESE PHYSICIST” - Xinhua News Agency - People’s Daily Online - People’s Daily - Beijing, China, US - 25 September 2006
• “PREGNANT FOSSIL FOUND TUCKED UNDER TABLE - Second Look Results in Discovery of Ancient Marine Reptile Species” - by Andrea Thompson, Live Science - MSNBC News - MSNBC on the Internet - Redmond, Washington, US - 26 September 2006

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT:

• “WEB EXCLUSIVE: IRWIN’S WIDOW TALKS ABOUT LIVING IN THE CAMERA’S EYE - Terri Irwin Says, ‘Crocodile Hunter’ Delivered Couple’s First Child, Bindi, While Cameras Rolled” - ABC News - American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. - New York, New York, US - 27 September 2006
  [Also Available: VIDEO COVERAGE - Also be sure not to miss the interview with Barbara Walters tonight during a special edition of ABC's 20/20 (10pm EST - 9pm Central), as Terri Irwin speaks for the first time about the death of her "prince" as she described him to Barbara Walters in the excerpt shown this morning (9/27) on GMA.]
       
• “DANISH WAKE-UP CALL ON ISLAM [DISCUSSING THE BOOK: "ISLAMISTS AND NAIVISTS" BY KAREN JESPERSON & RALF PITTELKOW]” - by Dan Bilefsky - The International Herald Tribune (IHT) - The New York Times Company - Neuilly-sur-Seine, France - 25 September 2006
• “EXCLUSIVE: HARRY POTTER AND THE WAVERING COSTAR” - by Sean Smith - Newsweek: Periscope via MSNBC.com - Newsweek, Inc. - New York, New York, US - 25 September 2006
  [NOTES: Emma Watson who plays Hermione Granger, is having trouble making up her mind concerning signing a contract for the next two Harry Potter films.]

UNITED STATES NEWS:

TOP STORIES:

LEAKED NIE INTELLIGENCE REPORT:

Be sure to not to miss the following .pdf file provided by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence: “DECLASSIFIED NIE KEY JUDGEMENTS OF THE NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE “TRENDS IN GLOBAL TERRORISM: IMPLICATIONS FOR THE UNITED STATES” (.pdf file - 4 pages - 68KB) - Office of the Director of National Intelligence - ODNI.gov - Washington, D.C., US - 26 September 2006 (Full NIE Report produced in April 2006) - Also see the entries under the National Blog Watch section below…

• “IRAQ A ‘CAUSE CÉLÈBRE’ FOR EXTREMISTS, INTEL REPORT SAYS” - FOX News - News America Group - New York, New York, US - 26 September 2006
• “INTELLIGENCE REPORT IS MADE PUBLIC” - Reuters - Yahoo! News - Yahoo! Inc. - Sunnyvale, California, US - 26 September 2006
• “IRAQ REPORT WILL BE RELEASED, BUSH SAYS” - by Brian Knowlton - The International Herald Tribune (IHT) - The New York Times Compan