1st October 2009

Sumatra earthquakes

Death toll soars over 500 as two powerful earthquakes strike Indonesian island within twelve hours' thousands feared dead.

Links: BBC Indonesia quake deaths pass 500 : Guardian Second earthquake hits stricken Sumatra : Times Second earthquake hits Indonesia as toll rises over 400 : Independent 467 dead as second quake shakes Indonesia : W Post 2nd quake shakes Indonesia after temblor kills 529 : NYT Video of earthquake damage in Indonesia : Telegraph Asia Pacific earthquake disasters caused by separate faults, says expert :

Labour Party Conference

PM's attempt to rally party faithful in face of disastrous opinion polls overshadowed by tabloid's declaration of changed allegiance

Links: BBC We're not done yet, insists Brown : Independent Fervent Mandelson wows Labour faithful : Telegraph Ed Balls: new crackdown on bad behaviour : Guardian The Sun's political switch is no surprise : Mail PM aims to end conference on a high after TV blunders : Times Labour to freeze pay and sell assets in dash for cash :

Guinea protest massacre

African Union threatens junta with sanctions after troops open fire on pro-democracy rally in Conakry, killing 157 and wounding 1,200

Links: BBC Guinea massacre toll put at 157 : Telegraph Guinea troops 'kill 128 protesters' : Guardian Guinea's military junta bans public gatherings after 157 protesters killed : Times Guinea junta troops 'killed and raped hundreds at democracy rally' : Independent Guinea says it will investigate massacre : W Post Guinea's military leader bans demonstrations : NYT Guinea’s capital fades into a ghost town after soldiers’ rampage :

Tsunami hits Samoa

Offshore earthquake, unrelated to Sumatra, produces massive tidal wave that devastates tropical islands and kills at least 148

Links: BBC Tsunami rescue begins in Pacific : Times Samoa death toll rises to 148 as looters sift through destroyed shops : Washington Post Death toll in Samoas tsunami reaches 149 : Guardian Samoa tsunami warning system failed us, say survivors : NY Times The day of the tsunami : Telegraph Samoa tsunami devastation captured on Twitter :

China's 60th anniversary

Missile carriers and rocket launchers rumble past Beijing's Forbidden City as Communist party celebrates 60 years in power

Links: BBC China marks Communist anniversary : Guardian China shows off military might at 60th anniversary parade : Times China stages picture-perfect 60th anniversary gala : Telegraph China puts on its Party best for 60th anniversary : Washington Post China's gala show of strength : NY Times On day for China pride, little interest in ideology :

Other notable stories

UK bankers bow to pressure on bonuses
Georgia 'started unjustified war', says UN-sponsored report
Israel agrees to free Palestinian prisoners for Gilad Shalit video
Young girl is killed by RAF leaflet drop in Afghanistan
Tate hides naked 10-yr-old Brooke Shields photo after police visit

29th - 30th September 2009

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28th September 2009

Iran tests missile

Iran stokes tension in run up to talks by test-firing long range missile after it admits hiding uranium-enrichment facility under a mountain

Links: BBC Iran tests 'long-range' missile : Times Iran admits to secret second nuclear plant built inside mountain : W Post Iran pressured over new plant : NYT US is seeking a range of sanctions against Iran : Telegraph UN leaders back nuclear resolution but grow impatient with Iran : Guardian The harder they Qom : Independent Yasmin Alibhai-Brown: Don't Israel's nuclear weapons count? :

Merkel poll triumph

German chancellor's conservative CDU party will replace centre-left Social Democrats coalition-partners with pro-business FDP

Links: BBC Merkel in Germany coalition talks : Spiegel Left Party celebrates while Greens quarrel : Washington Post Germany's Merkel reelected easily, will form new coalition : NY Times Merkel’s party claims victory in Germany : Times What to expect from Berlin after Angela Merkel’s return to power : Guardian A contest devoid of interest :

Philippine floods

100 dead as tropical storm Ketsana submerges most of Manila, dropping a month's worth of rain in 12 hours on northern provinces

Links: BBC Philippine floods test rescuers : Guardian Philippines storm death toll rises : Times Hundreds feared dead as tropical storm Ketsana lashes Manila : Independent Floods kill more than 100 in Philippines : New York Times Death toll hits 100 in Philippine flooding : Telegraph Met Office: catastrophic climate change could happen with 50 years

Car bombs hit NW Pakistan

Spate of suicide attacks in Taliban stronghold as US mulls choice between increasing Afghanistan troops or targeting militants

Links: BBC Tribal elder killed in Pakistan : New York Times Car bomber kills 4 in Pakistan : Independent Two car bombs kill 16 in Pakistan : Telegraph US threatens to escalate operations inside Pakistan : Times US threatens airstrikes in Pakistan : W Post No deadline set for decision on troops :

Polanski arrested

French film director, 76, arrested at Zurich airport on US charges of sex with 13 year old girl that date back over thirty years

Links: Independent Polanski arrested as he steps off plane at Swiss airport : Mirror Director Roman Polanski arrested on child sex charge after 32 years : NYT Polanski’s arrest could lead to extradition : BBC French politician backs Polanski : W Post Arrest of director Polanski puts 31-year-old case on world stage : Guardian Roman Polanski and the 31-year-old legal headache : Telegraph Roman Polanski's 'victim' is mother who wants charges dropped :

Other notable stories

Israel ex-PM's graft trial begins
G20 leaders map out new economic order at Pittsburgh summit
Meredith Kercher trial evidence completed
BBC stuns Gordon Brown with question on pill taking
Attorney: OKC bombing tapes appear edited
London's Tattoo Convention: Forget 'tramp stamps' bold ink is back

24th - 27th September 2009

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23rd September 2009

UN General Assembly

Obama, Brown, Hu, Ahmadinejad (and Gaddafi) speak at freshly convened General Assembly of the United Nations - saying little

Links: W Post Obama appeals for global cooperation : BBC Brown move to cut UK nuclear subs : Independent Brown's attempts to meet star of the show end in the kitchen : NYT President of Iran defends his legitimacy : Guardian 100 minutes in the life of Muammar Gaddafi : Times Russia says it will join sanctions against Iran : Telegraph Hu Jintao fails to deliver on climate change at the UN :

Middle East peace deadlock

White House changes strategy after leaders' NY meeting becomes mere photo-op in face of Israeli intransigence on settlements

Links: Guardian A reluctant handshake - but no deal as Middle East plan falters : Times 'Deadlock' after Obama Middle East meeting : BBC Obama calls for Mid-East urgency : Telegraph Analysis: Palestinians see peace talks as exercise in futility : Independent US envoy fails to break stalemate on settlements : W Post Starting point for Mideast talks remains an issue, analysts say : NYT White house pivots in Mideast peace bid :

Presidents battle in Honduras

Ousted president Zelaya takes refuge in Brazilian embassy following surprise return three months after Micheletti coup

Links: NY Times Honduras’s two presidents keep their distance : Washington Post Tensions rise in Honduras over coup : Telegraph Honduras: man killed in clashes between police and Zelaya supporters : Times Micheletti offers direct talks with ousted President Zelaya : Guardian Honduran forces establish perimeter around Brazilian embassy : BBC Brazil urges action on Honduras :

Calais camp cleared

Police evict hundreds of migrants hoping to enter Britain from makeshift settlement on northern coast of France

Links: Telegraph New 'jungle' for asylum seekers springs up on outskirts of Calais : Guardian Calais immigrants move out of the 'jungle' into the wasteland : Times Police in dawn raid to clear migrants from Jungle camp in Calais : New York Times French officials move to close camp of migrants headed to Britain : Independent In hiding and dreaming of Britain: the displaced Calais migrants : BBC Q&A: Calais camp migrants' rights

Sydney dust storm

Australia's largest city blanketed by worst dust storm for 75 years as freak winds transport desert's red dirt nearly 1,000 miles

Links: BBC Huge clean-up after Sydney storm : Sydney Morning Herald Dust storm manna from heaven for car wash firms : Telegraph Largest dust storms in 70 years cover Sydney : Guardian Sydney dust storm: your pictures : Independent Q: What's black as night and red all over? A: Sydney :

Other notable stories

Three Afghans held over US 'plot'
Khamenei says production of nuclear weapons is forbidden
Scores die in south Sudan attack
UK's attorney general fined £5000 for breaking law
Casualties feared in India clash with Maoist rebels
Aids vaccine found to cut risk of infection
'Viagra cream' could prove safer

18th - 22nd September 2009

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17th September 2009

US scraps Star Wars

Decision to abandon Bush-era European missile plan in favour of partly ship-based defence against Iranian rockets pleases Russia

Links: W Post Obama shifts focus of missile shield : Telegraph Obama abandons European missile shield to delight of Russians : BBC Russia hails US missile overhaul : New York Times New missile shield strategy scales back an ’80s vision : Times Forward Defence : Guardian Obama abandons European missile defence [interactive] :

Italians killed in Kabul

Suicide bomb that kills six soldiers and 10 civilians underlines Nato's lack of an effective strategy in fight against Taliban

Links: Washington Post Car bomb in Kabul kills six Italians, ten Afghans : Indpndnt 16 killed in suicide strike on Nato convoy in Kabul : T'graph Afghans losing patience with Nato 'failure' says new British Army chief : BBC 'Time against' Afghanistan forces, says British general : Guardian 'British forces may have to retreat to cities to beat Taliban in Afghanistan' : Times General David Petraeus: Allied failure ‘would intoxicate terrorists’ : NYT Afghan vote uncertainty creates dilemma for US

Suicide bombs kill Somali peacekeepers

Islamists Al-Shabaab claim double suicide attack in Mogadishu as revenge for US helicopter strikes which killed top al-Qaeda suspect

Links: BBC Suicide blasts hit Somalia base : Telegraph Somalia suicide bombings kill peacekeepers in revenge for US raid : Independent Somali suicide bombs kill nine in 'revenge' attack : Guardian Somali insurgents kill peacekeepers in double suicide bombing : LA Times Somalia militants hit African Union base; 9 dead : NYT In Somalia, a leader is raising hopes for stability :

Yemen forces kills 85 refugees

Government planes fighting Shia rebels attack camp sheltering women and children fleeing from latest outbreak of ongoing conflict

Links: Guardian Yemen air force accused of killing scores of war refugees : New York Times Airstrike in Yemen said to kill 80 : Yemen Times UN seeks emergency aid, Yemen crisis deepens : BBC Cold War roots of Yemen conflict : LA Times Outrage over death of 12-year-old child bride aimed at government :

Other notable stories

US prisoner faces execution next week after botched lethal injection
Dastardly racism, says Jimmy Carter over 'You lie' outburst
Iranians urge IMF to investigate Turkey's £11bn 'windfall'
Silvio Berlusconi ‘could resign’ if immunity law struck down
Bali bombing mastermind dies in police shoot-out
Pause in Arctic's melting trend

16th September 2009

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15th September 2009

UN slams Gaza war crimes

Israel dismisses report by United Nations fact-finding mission investigating three-week war in Gaza as 'clearly one-sided'

Links: W Post UN panel accuses Israel, Hamas of war crimes : BBC UN condemns 'war crimes' in Gaza : Telegraph Israel committed war crimes in Gaza, UN says : Times UN accuses Israel of committing war crimes in Gaza : Independent UN says Israel should face war-crimes trial over Gaza : Guardian UN Gaza report accuses Israel and Hamas of war crimes : NYT Inquiry finds Gaza war crimes from both sides :

Bin Laden tape

US kills al-Qaeda-linked terror suspect in Somalia as new bin Laden audio message surfaces on Islamist website

Links: BBC 'Bin Laden' tape harangues Obama : Guardian Bin Laden message appears online : Times Homes raided in New York raid as bin Laden releases fresh message : W Post US says raid in Somalia killed terrorist with links to Al-Qaeda : Independent Insurgents vow to avenge US attack in Somalia : Telegraph Three men in al-Qaeda-inspired airline plot sentenced : NYT Does Bin Laden still matter? :

Turing apology

Website petition leads to apology from PM for UK's 1952 chemical castration of celebrated gay codebreaker/mathematician

Links: Guardian PM's apology to codebreaker Alan Turing: we were inhumane : Times Gordon Brown issues apology for 'inhumane' treatment of Alan Turing : NYT Posthumous apology to gay code breaker who helped defeat Nazis : S M Herald British PM says sorry for computer pioneer's castration : Telegraph Niece of Alan Turing welcomes apology from Gordon Brown : BBC Profile: Alan Turing : Indpndnt Philip Hensher: The best way to apologise to Alan Turing :

RIP: Floyd, Swayze

TV chef with robust appetites dies after heart attack aged 65; star of Dirty Dancing succumbs to pancreatic cancer at 57

Links: BBC Celebrity chef Keith Floyd dies : T'graph Keith Floyd died hours after lunch to celebrate cancer all-clear : Guardian Keith Floyd: the original rock 'n' roll television cook : New York Times Patrick Swayze, star of ‘Dirty Dancing,’ dies at 57 : Sun Tributes flood in for Swayze : Washington Post 'Dirty Dancing,' 'Ghost' highlighted Swayze's film career

'Jackass' Kanye West

Reporter tweets Obama's informal verdict on rapper's disregard of MTV-show etiquette (views on Serena Williams not recorded)

Links: NYT President's opinion of Kanye West sparks debate : Times 'Kanye West? He's a jackass,' says Obama : BBC Kanye apologises for MTV outburst : Guardian Kanye West's appearance on Leno made me think the stunt was staged : Indpndnt Kanye West stuns MTV ceremony with on-stage attack on Taylor Swift : LA Times Obama, Kanye West and the trouble with Twitter : Slate Serena Williams swears to God : W Post High-profile outburst: do we hit new lows?

Dan Brown's new novel

Hype for Da Vinci Code author's latest badly-plotted badly-written blockbuster inspires journalists to new heights of snark

Links: BBC Dan Brown's symbolic odyssey : Mail Sam Leith: Flat prose, dud characters- but what a glorious romp : Times Review: The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown : Washington Post In Washington, stalking 'the lost symbol' : Slate The Dan Brown Sequel Generator : Telegraph Dan Brown's 20 worst sentences : Guardian The Lost Symbol: live reading :

Other notable stories

Freed Iraqi shoe thrower tells of torture in jail
Two hundred feared dead after boat capsizes off Sierra Leone
Yale student's body found behind lab wall on her wedding day
US risks being sucked into Yemen civil war
Netanyahu faces storm over secret mystery-boat Moscow visit
Charlie Sheen claims US government was behind 9/11
Naked banana sex cult leader flees police

10th-14th September 2009

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9th September 2009

Obama addresses Congress

Content of president's 45 minute health care speech to US legislators overshadowed by Republican congressman's outburst

Links: Guardian Barack Obama hits back at healthcare plan critics : Independent Obama bets all on health reform address : Times President Obama in passionate plea on health reform in live broadcast : Times Liveblogging Obama's health speech : Telegraph Obama health care speech: Republican calls president a liar : W Post The Republican response, arriving a little early : NYT Making the case for leadership, not just health legislation :

Row as raid frees reporter

Soldier and interpreter die as UK special forces stage dramatic rescue of British-born New York Times journalist held by Taliban

Links: NYT The reporter’s account: Four days with the Taliban : W Post After rescue, recriminations : T'graph Anger as Para dies to rescue New York Times journalist : Guardian Questions raised over bloody raid to free British journalist in Afghanistan : Times Journalist tells of bloody battle as British troops flew to rescue : Independent British hostage is saved – but at cost of Afghan colleague's life : Mail 'Seconds from safety...then my friend walked into a hail of bullets' : BBC Freed reporter says road 'safe'

Preacher hijacks jet

Alcoholic drug addict Bolivian armed with drink can 'bomb' claims 09/09/09 date was divine message warning of upcoming eathquake

Links: W Post Preacher says god wanted him to hijack Mexican jet : New York Times Mexican police thwart plane’s hijacker : BBC Mexican police end hijack drama : Telegraph Mexico plane hijacking: Bolivian priest behind midair 9-9-9 attack : Guardian Police raid ends jetliner hijacking in Mexico : Times Priest armed with a Bible hijacks Mexican plane :

Istanbul floods

At least 23 killed as two days of torrential rain in north-west Turkey turn roads into rivers

Links: BBC Turks swept away in flash floods : Guardian At least 20 killed as sudden floods sweep Istanbul : Times At least 23 die in Istanbul flash floods : New York Times Flooding kills at least 31 in Turkey : Washington Post Flash floods slam Istanbul, kill at least 20 :

Mercury Prize surprise

Critics carp as London rapper Speech Debelle beats bookies' favourite Florence and the Machine to take prize with debut album

Links: Telegraph Mercury Prize: rapper Speech DeBelle wins : Times London rapper becomes Mercury queen with tales of homeless life : BBC Speech Debelle: I knew I would win Mercury : Guardian Speech Debelle: 'I thought it was a brilliant album' : Independent Mystery of the missing nominee for the Mercury : Mirror Glasvegas frontman James Allan not missing after all, says band :

Other notable stories

Israel 'understated' Gaza deaths
Released Liverpool fan Michael Shields tells of 'living hell' in jail
Apple boss Steve Jobs admits to liver transplant
Trapped girls updated Facebook instead of calling police
Tall people lead 'better lives'

7th September 2009

UK convicts airline terrorists

Guilty verdict for three men linked to al Qaeda who planned to blow up seven transatlantic flights with death toll to rival 9/11

Links: W Post Britain convicts three in plot to rival 9/11 : NYT British court convicts three in plot to blow up airliners : Mail How gang of fanatics planned Britain's 9/11 : BBC Airline plot: Al-Qaeda connection : Guardian Airline bomb plotters sought 'truly global impact' : T'graph Airliner bomb plot: Profiles : Times Questions remain after long pursuit and trial that had to end in success : Independent Terror trial: Counting the cost

Settlement plan snubs US

White House rebukes Israel for approving over 450 new homes in occupied West Bank despite expectations of moratorium

Links: New York Times Israel tries to placate settlers by allowing some construction before freeze : W Post Israel authorizes new settler homes in West Bank : BBC Anger at Israeli settlement plan : Telegraph Israel approves settler homes in blow to Middle East peace : Times US fury as Israel defies settlement freeze call : Independent Netanyahu to approve new West Bank homes in a snub to Obama :

Japan's 25% climate change cuts

Incoming PM Hatoyama promises to cut his country's greenhouse gases subject to deal at forthcoming Copenhagen summit

Links: BBC Japan vows big climate change cut : Telegraph New Japanese PM pledges deep greenhouse gas cuts : Guardian Japan's new prime minister promises ambitious greenhouse gas cuts : Washington Post New Japan leaders vow 25 percent cut in emissions : FT Hatoyama stands by gas curbs : Times New Government's policies 'could drive Japan into economic abyss' :

Cadbury rejects Kraft bid

Iconic British confectionery company's rejection of £10.2bn offer from US food giant marks first step in takeover battle

Links: BBC Cadbury snubs £102bn Kraft move : Telegraph Kraft's £102bn approach could start battle for Cadbury : Guardian Cadbury rejects £102bn takeover offer from US food maker Kraft : Independent Cadbury refuses to melt at £102bn Kraft Foods offer : Times US rivals aiming to swallow up Cadbury : W Post Kraft primed to sweeten $167 billion Cadbury bid : NYT Kraft to pursue Cadbury, even after rejection :

Other notable stories

Rift widens between US and Germany over Afghanistan air strike
Sudanese 'trousers woman' jailed
Alan Duncan sacked from shadow cabinet
Nicolas Sarkozy 'surrounded by short people for TV speech'
Hugo Chavez walks red carpet at Venice Film Festival

6th September 2009

No tweet...

5th September 2009

Airstrike kills Afghan civilians

As Brown defends UK's commitment, Nato commander promises investigation into fighter jet attack on hijacked fuel tankers

Links: Telegraph General McChrystal goes on Afghanistan TV to promise airstrike inquiry : BBC US general sees strike aftermath : Independent Rift with Karzai worsens as 95 perish in Nato air strike : Guardian Nato air strike in Afghanistan kills scores : NYT Brown pledges to maintain Britain’s Afghan force : Times Gordon Brown will cling to this war, no matter how unpopular : W Post After scandal, State Dept cleaning house in Kabul :

G20 meeting

London summit of finance ministers agrees to maintain stimulus packages and pledges support for new controls on bankers' pay

Links: Telegraph G20 summit: finance ministers back curb on bankers' bonuses : Times France tells G20 finance ministers it will cap bankers’ bonuses : NYT G-20 ministers back stimulus, but pay limits remain elusive : W Post G-20 to maintain economic stimulus measures : Guardian G20 agrees global fiscal stimulus must continue until recovery secured : BBC Smoke and mirrors at G20 meeting : Independent It may be time to thank the G20 for getting us out of this mess :

LA wildfire was arson

Clues found at suspected origin of Station fire lead to homicide investigation into death of two fire fighters at 150,000 acre blaze

Links: BBC Los Angeles wildfire ruled arson : Telegraph California arsonist may face death penalty for Los Angeles widlfire : New York Times Los Angeles fire was arson, officials say : Washington Post Firefighters remembered as murder case picks up : LA Times Containment rises to 49% as battle targets San Gabriel Wilderness :

N Korea's uranium boast

Envoys from South Korea and US discuss strategy following North Korea's claim to be in final stages of uranium enrichment

Links: BBC US 'concern' over N Korea uranium : W Post US, S Korea envoys discuss N Korean nuclear claim : Telegraph North Korea in 'final phase' of uranium enrichment : Guardian North Korea 'in completion phase' of uranium enrichment : Times North Korea 'enriching uranium for second arsenal of nuclear weapons' : NYT N Korea reports advances in enriching uranium : Irish Times N Korean uranium declaration reflects change in tactics :

Michael Jackson buried

Musician entombed in mausoleum at 'intimate yet star-studded' Forest Lawn funeral ten weeks after his controversial death

Links: BBC Burial film irks Jackson brother : Telegraph Michael Jackson finally laid to rest in Los Angeles : Guardian Michael Jackson laid to rest 10 weeks after his death : Times Michael Jackson is finally laid to rest : W Post Michael Jackson's resting place among greats : Mirror A dignified goodbye for the King Of Pop : Digital Spy Sharpton 'Tweets during Jackson funeral' :

Other notable stories

US soldier gets life for rape and murder of Iraqi girl
Riot police arrest 20 at right-wing protest in Birmingham
Macedonia boat sinking kills 15
Channel pirate ship carried arms for Iran
Iranian blogger does about-face
Clinic for internet addicts opens in US

4th September 2009

No tweet...

3rd September 2009

Afghanistan row

UK government aide quits in support of army as Brown prepares to defend strategy in face of public disillusionment

Links: Telegraph Gordon Brown suffers shock Government resignation over Afghanistan : Guardian Blow for Gordon Brown as defence aide quits over Afghanistan strategy : Times Former major decides on another controversial resignation : W Post Pentagon officials defend Afghanistan strategy : NYT Gates signals he’s open to more troops in Afghanistan : BBC Afghan election fraud row mounts : Independent Taliban sends suicide bomber to kill Karzai's security adviser :

Java earthquake

Indonesia says at least 57 killed by 7.1 magnitude quake in heavily populated area 60 miles south of Jakarta

Links: NY Times Indonesian quake toll reaches 57 : Washington Post Indonesia quake toll at 57, many homes damaged : BBC Indonesia quake search stepped up : Guardian Scores dead after earthquake strikes Indonesia : Telegraph Indonesian earthquake: death toll climbs : Times Death toll from Indonesian earthquake reaches 45 :

Western China protests

Syringe attacks on Han Chinese spark demonstrations in Urumqi following inter-ethnic violence in Xinjiang region two months ago

Links: BBC New protests in western China : Guardian New mass protests and violence break out in Urumqi, witnesses claim : Times Ethnic tension flares over syringe attacks in Chinese city of Urumqi : Independent New round of unrest in Xinjiang China : New York Times New protests reported in restive Chinese region : Xinhua China asks world not to assist Kadeer's separatist activities :

Fourth Iraq hostage dead

British experts have identified body handed over in Baghdad as Alec MacLachlan, one of five security guards kidnapped in 2007

Links: BBC Iraq body confirmed as UK hostage : Telegraph Iraq body confirmed to be British hostage Alec MacLachlan : Guardian Iraq hostages: Body is Alec MacLachlan, says PM : Times End the torment, says Brown as death of British hostage is confirmed : Mail Body is identified as one of five British hostages : Washington Post Body handed over in Iraq confirmed as British hostage :

Riots after Gabon poll

Security forces clash with protesters after son of Gabon's long-time ruler Omar Bongo is declared victor in presidential elections

Links: BBC Gabon locks down city amid riots : Telegraph Bongo wins disputed Gabon election : Guardian Bongo wins Gabon presidential pol : Times Riots on streets after Ali Ben Bongo is declared new President of Gabon : Voice of America Election win by son of Gabon dictator sets off riots : W Post Unrest as dictator's son declared winner in Gabon :

Other notable stories

Leader of Nigerian revolt 'trained in Afghanistan'
Pair aged 70 deny smuggling drugs disguised as frozen chicken
Hockey Mom? Sarah Palin stayed at home, says Levi Johnston
I have been abducted by aliens, says Japan's first lady
YouTube 'plans streaming movie rental service'

2nd September 2009

Not enough news to warrant a tweet...

1st September 2009

LA wildfire

Threat spreads to within 15 miles of Los Angeles as more than 120,000 acres of mountain terrain go up in smoke

Links: NYT Weather aids fight against California wildfire : W Post Wildfires spread in southern California : Independent Wildfires advance on Los Angeles as temperature soars : BBC Crews 'hopeful' over LA wildfire : Guardian Calmer winds slow California wildfires - but threat to homes remains : Times Los Angeles wildfire threat not taken seriously, say officials : Telegraph Los Angeles wildfires: exotic animals in 'Noah's Ark' evacuation :

Hurricane threatens Mexico

Residents evacuated as Hurricane Jimena brings torrential wind and rain to resort-studded Baja California peninsula

Links: LA Times Hurricane Jimena weakens slightly as it nears Baja California : NYT Mexico evacuates thousands ahead of hurricane : BBC Huge storm nears Mexican resorts : Telegraph Tourists and residents braced as storm heads to Mexico : Washington Post Mexico tries to evacuate thousands ahead of Jimena : CS Monitor Could Hurricane Jimena put out California’s wildfires? :

Japanese election

Landslide general election triumph of Yukio Hatoyama's Democratic Party sweeps Liberal Democratic Party from power after fifty years

Links: BBC Japan's Hatoyama sweeps to power : Independent An era ends as Japan's LDP is swept from power : NYT Japan’s victors set to abandon market reform : Telegraph Yukio Hatoyama does the impossible now for the difficult part : Times Yukio Hatoyama can't afford to distance Japan from the US : W Post A political blue blood on his own path : Guardian Is Japan's sun rising or setting? :

Iran wants nuclear talks

Announcement appears timed to pre-empt major powers meeting in Frankfurt to decide West's policy on Iranian enrichment of uranium

Links: W Post Iran ready for talks, says nuclear negotiator : Telegraph Iran 'ready' for nuclear talks : Guardian Iran calls for nuclear talks as further sanctions loom : Times Iran’s nuclear threat ‘hyped’, atomic watchdog Mohamed ElBaradei says : BBC Iran MPs back 1994 bomb suspect : New York Times Purge of Iranian universities is feared :

Gaddafi celebrates

UK government releases details of meetings that freed Lockerbie bomber as Libya commemorates 40 years of military regime

Links: BBC Libya marks Gaddafi anniversary : W Post Lockerbie overshadows Libyan coup anniversary : NYT Britain releases documents on Libyan’s release : Times Lockerbie paper trail leads to Gordon Brown : Independent MPs to look at effect of Megrahi release on relations with US : Guardian Playing politics with Libya and Lockerbie : Sun Libya's IRA compo [compensation] : T'graph Muammar Gaddafi 'to be banned' from pitching tent on US visit

Other notable stories

Fiji suspended from Commonwealth
Climate Camp protests in Central London [pix]
Microsoft plans to become a big player in Britain's news industry
Police to review Stones guitarist Brian Jones' death
Atheists offer to care for Christians' pets after the Rapture

30th August 2009

Not enough news to warrant a tweet...

29th August 2009

Kidnap victim found after 18 years

California police unearth hidden compound where Jaycee Dugard, kidnapped as 11-year-old in 1991, was kept with her two children

Links: NYT Kidnapped at 11, woman emerges after 18 years : BBC 'Robot girls' clue to Dugard case : Guardian Focus in Jaycee Lee Dugard kidnapping turns to wife of Garrido : Times Kidnap girl Jaycee Lee Dugard worked in abductors’ business : Telegraph Jaycee Lee Dugard : Independent Missing girl could have been found in 2006 : W Post Gone 18 years, girl found but questions remain :

Brown visits Afghanistan

PM promises more support for UK troops, Nato wants 20,000 more soldiers, border bomb kills at least 22, Karzai rows with US envoy

Links: BBC Brown pledges extra troop support : Guardian Gordon Brown in new Afghan plan: talk to the Taliban : Telegraph Royal Marine killed in Afghan explosion as Gordon Brown visits country : Independent US wants 20,000 more troops to fight Taliban : W Post On Afghanistan, political test for Obama : Times Hamid Karzai in fiery row with US official : NYT At least 22 dead in Pakistan bombing :

Kennedy funeral

77-year-old senator laid to rest in Arlington Cemetery, close to his assassinated brothers, ex-President John and Robert

Links: NYT Kennedy laid to rest after day of honor : W Post 'We loved this kind and tender hero' : BBC Obama tribute to 'mentor' Kennedy : Telegraph Obama leads America's farewells at Senator Edward Kennedy's funeral : Guardian Ted Kennedy gave us strength to achieve our dreams [by Jesse Jackson] : Independent Fixer: The rehabilitation of Edward Kennedy : Times The needy little boy behind Ted the titan :

Teenage circumnavigation

17-yr-old Mike Perham becomes youngest to sail around the globe as Dutch courts ban 13-yr-old Laura Dekker's similar attempt

Links: BBC Hero's welcome for young sailor : Guardian Hundreds cheer teenager's round-the-world record : Voice of America Court rules no solo sailing for Dutch sailor girl : Times Laura Dekker, 13, must wait before trying to sail around the world alone : Telegraph Teen sailor plans 'bigger and better' trip :

Oasis split

Noel Gallagher quits band after backstage brawl with bandmate brother: 'I simply could not go on working with Liam a day longer'

Links: BBC 'Intimidation' behind Oasis split : Telegraph Noel Gallagher quits Oasis blaming brother Liam : Times Oasis split after backstage brawl : Independent Oasis split 'a sad day' for music : Express Noel quits Oasis (defnitely [sic] maybe) : Mirror Oasis split but mum says little by little my boys will play together again : Guardian Born to feud: how years of animosity finally split Oasis boys

Other notable stories

Two peacekeepers seized in Sudan
Mystery ship suspects charged with piracy and kidnapping
Red Army Faction member arrested
Stanford hospitalized as CFO pleads guilty to fraud
File-sharers' TV tastes revealed

28th August 2009

Not enough news to warrant a tweet...

27th August 2009

Not enough news to warrant a tweet...

26th August 2009

RIP Ted Kennedy

Patriarch of US senate, notorious for Chappaquiddick, outlives his two assassinated brothers to die at 77 of brain cancer

Links: W Post Colleagues, leaders, locals mourn senate 'patriarch' : NYT Edward Kennedy, Senate stalwart, dies : Guardian Senator Ted Kennedy dies aged 77 : Times Edward Kennedy, liberal lion whose roar echoed down the decades : Telegraph Chappaquiddick was the fatal flaw that haunted Kennedy's career : BBC Obituary: Edward Kennedy : Independent Obituary: Legacy of the only Kennedy brother to grow old :

Bomb blasts Kandahar

As early election results show Karzai slightly ahead, over 40 civilians killed when truck bomb explodes in southern Afghanistan

Links: NY Times Afghan bombing strikes at foreign agencies : Telegraph Afghanistan: multiple car bombs kill at least 41 in Kandahar : Washington Post Massive car bomb as Afghan race runs tight : BBC Karzai widens lead in Afghan poll : Guardian Early Afghanistan election results give Karzai narrow lead : Times Helmand deaths cast fresh doubts on mission in Nato’s bloodiest year :

US deficit to soar

Announcement of Bernanke's re-appointment at the Fed fails to cloak news that ten-year deficit is expected to rise to $9.05 trillion

Links: Washington Post Deficit projected to soar with new programs : New York Times Estimate for 10-year deficit raised to $9 trillion : BBC US deficit to soar towards $16tn : FT US says debt outlook worsening : Telegraph Obama hails Ben Bernanke's courage as he gives him second Fed term :

Chris Brown assault sentence

US singer to serve 180 days community labour and five years probation for assaulting former girlfriend Rihanna

Links: BBC Rihanna attacker Brown sentenced : Telegraph Chris Brown sentenced to community labour in Rihanna assault case : Guardian Judge sentences singer Chris Brown to five years of probation : Times Chris Brown sentenced over Rihanna assault : Sun Brown threatened to murder Rihanna : Mail Chris Brown ordered to not to contact Rihanna for 5 years :

UK plans file-sharing curbs

Mandelson accused of caving in to corporate lobbying after tougher proposals to counter illegal file-sharing draw widespead criticism

Links: Guardian Mandelson web cutoff plan 'potentially illegal' : Telegraph Illegal downloaders to have internet connections cut under new plans : Times Families could lose broadband access as Mandelson takes on pirates : BBC Who is batting for file-sharing proposals? : Times An uncreative solution to online piracy : ZDNet UK caves to Hollywood, orders net cut-off for 'hardcore' downloaders :

Other notable stories

Israel-US settlement deal 'close'
Climate Camp hits London: live
New high-speed UK rail plan unveiled
Microsoft in web photo racism row
UK Big Brother to bow out next year

25th August 2009

Not enough news to warrant a tweet...

24th August 2009

CIA torture detailed

US Justice Department appoints prosecutor to probe interrogation abuses as declassified version of 2004 internal report is released

Links: W Post Prosecutor to probe CIA interrogations : BBC US launches probe into CIA abuses : Independent US set to investigate abuse of terror suspects by CIA : Telegraph CIA interrogator threatened to kill children of September 11 mastermind : Guardian Q&A: The report into CIA prisoner interrogation : Times Nightmare for Obama and the Democratic Party : NYT Rendition to continue, but with better oversight, US says :

Jackson death: homicide

Manslaughter charges loom for Michael Jackson's physician as LA coroner's papers confirm fatal dose of anesthetic killed singer

Links: LA Times 'Lethal levels' of anesthetic propofol killed Michael Jackson : W Post Coroner attributes Michael Jackson's death to sedative : BBC Jackson 'had lethal drug levels' : Telegraph Michael Jackson drugs death was homicide says coroner : Guardian Michael Jackson's death caused by powerful sedatives : Times LA coroner to treat Michael Jackson's death as a homicide :

Fires threaten Athens

Thousands of residents forced to leave northern suburbs as 2,000 firefighters battle 100ft flames from wildfires stoked by strong winds

Links: BBC Wind lull aids Greek firefighters : Telegraph Greek wildfires: firefighters tackle 100ft flames as anger grows : Guardian Anger at government over Greek wildfires : Times Thousands forced to flee homes as wildfires threaten Athens : Independent Dying winds bring relief to firefighters in Greece : New York Times Wildfires spread for fourth day [pix]

Ashes triumph for England

Australia's defeat at The Oval seals 2-1 series win as Andrew Flintoff ends his cricketing career on a high

Links: Guardian England's Ashes triumph: from new dawn to the end of an aura : Mirror Freddie Flintoff ends career with England Ashes triumph : BBC Flintoff wants England domination : Telegraph Stuart Broad all smiles as England aim for world No 1 spot : Sun Flintoff tells of Ashes tears : Times Different strokes: the Ashes caught through a lens : Independent South Africa will offer the true test :

Blogger sues Google

Rosemary Port to sue search firm for revealing her name to Vogue cover girl she labelled a 'psychotic, lying, whoring ... skank'

Links: Telegraph Google faces $15 million lawsuit for releasing blogger information : Guardian Outed 'skank' blogger to sue Google for $15m : Times Unmasked blogger Rosemary Port to sue Google for $15m : Mail Blogger who called Vogue model a 'skank' sues Google for $15m : NY Times European opposition mounts against Google’s selling digitized books : Washington Post Swiss official tells Google to erase street views :

Other notable stories

Reality TV star, a killing suspect, is found dead
Error in 1984 halts UK prosecutions for sale of unclassified videos
Heroin and cocaine now legal in Mexico
Policeman impersonated twin brother to have sex with his girlfriend

21st August 2009

Not enough news to warrant a tweet...

20th August 2009

Lockerbie bomber released

US president calls Scotland's release of al-Megrahi "a mistake" as convicted bomber arrives home in Libya to die with his family

Links: BBC Lockerbie bomber arrives in Libya : W Post Scotland releases Lockerbie bomber on compassionate grounds : NYT Scotland lets Lockerbie convict return to Libya : Telegraph His release is a mistake, says President Obama : Times Megrahi says he has sympathy for Lockerbie victims : Guardian Q&A: Abdelbaset al-Megrahi release : Independent MacAskill's full statement on Lockerbie bomber :

Afghanistan election

Hamid Karzai faces 30 opponents as observers say turn-out for presidential elections could be as low as 10 per cent in some areas

Links: BBC Afghan poll hailed as a 'success' : Telegraph The West is giving Karzai one last chance to redeem himself : NYT Latest updates on Afghanistan’s election : Guardian Afghanistan election interactive : W Post Afghanistan votes in second presidential election [pix] : Times Afghan police kill three gunmen after attack on Kabul bank : Independent Chinook destroyed after Afghan attack :

Siberian power plant disaster

Seventeen dead and 59 missing after water floods turbine hall at Sayano-Shushenskaya, Russia's largest hydroelectric plant

Links: Telegraph Missing workers feared dead in Siberian hydroelectric plant disaster : Guardian Russian power plant disaster death toll could reach 70 : NY Times Dozens presumed drowned at Siberian plant : BBC Russia blast prompts major review : W Post Putin orders probe of creaking infrastructure : Moscow Times Putin backs infrastructure checks after accident :

London gem raid arrests

Flying Squad officers close in on gang using DNA traces found after £40 million theft from Bond Street jewellers

Links: BBC New arrest after £40m jewel raid : Telegraph Graff jewel heist: third man arrested : Guardian Third man held over London jewellery robbery : Times Third man arrested in £40 million Graff gem heist : Mirror Gems heist: Police arrest two over £40m raid :

Other notable stories

Blasts bring more carnage to Baghdad
CIA hired Blackwater for assassin program
Iran lets in UN inspectors ahead of nuclear report
Arctic Sea suspected hijackers arrive in Moscow for questioning
South African fury over athlete gender test
Storm turns Central Park into an obstacle course of downed trees

19th August 2009

Not enough news to warrant a tweet...

18th August 2009

Not enough news to warrant a tweet...

17th August 2009

Caucasus suicide bomb

Suicide bomber rams police station in southern Russian republic of Ingushetia killing at least 20 and wounding 138

Links: NYT Suicide bomber rams truck into police station in Russia, killing 20 : W Post Blast kills at least 20 in Russia : Independent Russia sacks minister after suicide bomb kills 20 : BBC Many killed in Russia bomb attack : Telegraph Suicide bombing kills 20 in Russia's southern Ingushetia republic : Guardian Suicide truck bomb in Russia's Ingushetia republic : Times 20 dead in suicide bomb attack as carnage returns to the Caucasus :

Cargo ship found

Russian warship finds 'Arctic Sea' off the coast of west Africa three weeks after it vanished, crew flown to Moscow for questioning

Links: BBC Russia finds missing cargo ship : Telegraph Missing cargo ship Arctic Sea and crew found by Russian navy : Times Crew of Arctic Sea under interrogation in hopes of yielding answers : NYT Russia says ship and crew are safe : W Post Russia finds mystery merchant ship, crew alive : Independent Mystery of 'hijacked' cargo ship deepens : Guardian Russia finds 'piracy' cargo ship but what really happened? :

Record ID theft case

Florida man and two Russian conspirators charged with hacking network to steal over 130 million credit card numbers

Links: New York Times 3 indicted in theft of 130 million card numbers : Washington Post Three alleged hackers indicted in large identity-theft case : BBC US man 'stole 130m card numbers' : Guardian US hacker charged with stealing 130m credit card IDs : Times Man accused over America's biggest credit card identity fraud :

Zambia's ex-president cleared

Setback for hopes of an end to African corruption as six-year effort to convict Frederick Chiluba of embezzling £306,000 fails

Links: BBC Zambia clears ex-leader Chiluba : Telegraph Zambia's ex-president Frederick Chiluba cleared of theft : Guardian Former Zambian president cleared of corruption charges : Times Ex-president Frederick Chiluba walks free after Zambian corruption trial : Independent 'Shopaholic' ex-president of Zambia cleared of corruption : New York Times Former Zambia leader is acquitted

Other notable stories

Pakistan 'extremist' is shot dead
Anti-gay attacks on rise in Iraq
Ex-wife admits starting Kuwait wedding tent fire, say reports
Charity seeks end to lunchbox ham
Reader’s Digest to file for bankruptcy protection

16th August 2009

Hamas quashes Islamist coup

Palestinian security forces defeat attempted rebellion by militant splinter group after gun battle in Gaza mosque

Links: BBC Hamas says Gaza now under control : Telegraph Gaza Islamist leader killed in Rafah shootout that kills 22 : NYT Radical leader killed in Gaza clashes : Guardian Hamas destroys al-Qaida group in violent Gaza battle : Times Abdul-Latif Moussa blows himself up after Hamas mosque raid : Independent Twenty-two dead as Hamas and radical Islamists clash in Gaza : W Post For Hamas, challenges may be growing :

Bomb blasts Kabul

Suicide car bomb at NATO headquarters kills seven and injures 90 as death toll of British service personnel in Afghanistan rises to 204

Links: W Post Pre-vote blast in Kabul signals Taliban intent : New York Times Bomb kills 7 near Nato’s Afghan headquarters : BBC Karzai condemns Kabul Nato blast : Telegraph Suicide attack at Nato base in Kabul kills seven : Guardian Death toll of troops in Afghanistan reaches 204 : Times 201st British soldier dies in Afghanistan as injury rate accelerates :

Healthcare compromise

US health secretary's hint on acceptability of insurance co-operatives rather than outright privatisation may help with Senate

Links: NYT White House appears open to insurance co-ops : Washington Post Democrats signal embrace of co-op plans : BBC Obama may soften healthcare plan : Telegraph Senators reel as America conducts furious debate over health care : Guardian Familiar names among raised voices in coalition against US health reform : Independent The brutal truth about America’s healthcare :

Kuwait wedding fire

Authorities rely on DNA tests to identify remains after blaze kills 35 women and six children in just three minutes

Links: Telegraph Kuwait wedding disaster: DNA search after 40 killed in fire : Guardian Kuwait wedding tent fire kills 41 : Times Fire kills 41 women and children at wedding party in Kuwait : Al Jazeera Scores killed in Kuwait wedding blaze [video] : BBC In pictures: Kuwait wedding fire :

Missing ship ransom demand

Finnish police say 'a largish amount' is being demanded for the release of missing Russian-manned cargo vessel, the Arctic Sea

Links: Times Missing ship Arctic Sea spotted in mid-Atlantic : BBC 'Ransom demand' for missing ship : Telegraph Hijacked Arctic Sea will be found soon, says Russia : Guardian 'Ransom demand' sent to owners of missing cargo ship : Washington Post Ransom demand for ship reported : AFP Finland denies missing ship carries nuclear material :

Other notable stories

Ahmadinejad nominates women to cabinet
UK imposes direct rule on Turks and Caicos Islands
Claims of Lockerbie cover-up as only man convicted drops appeal
Final ruin looms for sex-cheat politician [John Edwards]
Manson follower known as 'Squeaky' out of prison
Skydiver in warehouse roof crash

12/13th August 2009

Lockerbie bomber row

Abdelbaset Ali al-Megrahi, dying from cancer after conviction for 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103, may be released early

Links: NYT Scotland considers freeing Lockerbie bomber early : W Post Families split over Lockerbie bomber release reports : BBC US stands against bomber release : Telegraph Lockerbie bomber: US says he should complete sentence : Guardian Transatlantic split over plans to free Libyan jailed for Lockerbie bombing : Times US and British relatives split by prospect of Lockerbie bomber release : Independent Should the Lockerbie bomber be freed, and are we nearer the truth? :

Troops clash with Filipino militants

Up to 55 dead as army attacks camp belonging to Abu Sayyaf rebels on southern island of Basilan

Links: Washington Post Scores of Filipino troops, militants die in clash : BBC Philippines clashes leave 43 dead : Guardian Philippines fighting kills soldiers and militants : C S Monitor Deadly Filipino 'slugfest' between soldiers and Islamists : New York Times Abuse charges persist in Philippines' fight against communists :

Unhealthy fight over US healthcare reform

President embarks on final effort to bolster his loudly-opposed plans for healthcare industry as UK politicians rush to defence of NHS

Links: BBC Cameron weighs in to defend NHS : Telegraph White House turns to campaign tactics as support erodes for reform : Guardian Twitter campaign to defend NHS finds friend in Gordon Brown : Times Anti-healthcare lobbyists duped us, say Katie Brickell and Kate Spall : Independent Across the Atlantic, battle rages over value of NHS : W Post Obama to take on health-care critics : NYT False 'death panel' rumor has some familiar roots :

Other notable stories

Judge bans Microsoft Word sales
UK gem expert killed in Kenya mining row
Argentine general sentenced to life for rights abuses
China scales back software filter plan

11th August 2009

Suu Kyi house arrest extended

Burmese junta detains activist Aung San Suu Kyi long enough to keep her from participation in next year's elections

Links: NYT Burmese activist receives new term of house arrest : W Post Suu Kyi verdict douses hope of reform in Burma : Times Suu Kyi’s life of solitude: 18 more months of house arrest loom : Independent 'There were gasps in court, but all she did was smile' : BBC Asian regrets at Suu Kyi verdict : Telegraph Aung San Suu Kyi verdict: lawyers to launch appeal : Guardian Aung San Suu Kyi found guilty of breaking house arrest :

Mayfair gem raid

Two armed robbers in suits escape with £40m haul after Britain's biggest ever jewellery heist

Links: Telegraph International manhunt after Britain's biggest ever jewel heist : Guardian Police hunt £40m Mayfair jewel heist gang : Independent Mayfair robbers arrive in black cab – and leave with £40m haul : Mail Raiders in suits as Mayfair store hit in biggest ever gems heist : Mirror Suited, booted, armed...the £40m jewels raiders : BBC Amateur video of £40m jewel heist :

Pirates in English Channel

International maritime hunt for missing cargo ship with £1m cargo of lumber thought to have been sailed through English Channel

Links: BBC Hunt on for 'hijacked cargo ship' : Telegraph Pirates seize cargo ship in English Channel : Guardian Ship feared seized by pirates in European waters : Times Piracy fears off UK coast after cargo ship disappears in English Channel : Independent Hijacked ship in the English Channel : Sun Shiver me timbers :

Fatah old guard ousted

Marwan Barghouti joins new generation of pragmatic local Palestinians elected to beleaguered party's central committee

Links: NYT Fatah party election brings in a new generation : BBC Young leaders dominate Fatah vote : Telegraph Fatah elects new generation to leadership : Guardian Fatah elects younger leadership group : Times Fatah takes risk by bringing in new generation of leaders : Independent Fatah's old guard ousted by election of intifada chief : W Post Vote count for Fatah parliament set to begin :

Other notable stories

Rescuers find 700 alive after Taiwan mudslide
Hunt for most wanted Indonesian terrorist resumes
Nazi war criminal jailed for life
Costa Rica's president catches swine flu
RIP Eunice Kennedy Shriver

10th August 2009

Typhoons batter Asia

Tropical storms leave 12 dead on western coast of Japan, six dead in China and bury a Taiwanese village underneath mudslide

Links: BBC 'Hundreds lost' in Taiwan typhoon : Telegraph A million flee as typhoon approaches China : Times Hundreds feared dead as Typhoon Morakot sweeps across east Asia : Guardian Mudslides bury hundreds in storm's wake : Independent Village buried by typhoon mudslide : New York Times Scores dead and hundreds feared missing from typhoons

New York air collision

Nine killed when helicopter carrying Italian tourists collides with small plane over New York's Hudson River

Links: NYT Officials demand tighter control, or even a ban, of Hudson air traffic : Washington Post Police divers find man's body in plane wreckage : BBC Hunt for NY crash bodies goes on : Telegraph Safety warning ahead of Hudson helicopter crash : Guardian Divers find body of a man who died in mid-air crash : Times Safety of sightseeing flights queried after Hudson River mid-air crash :

Slovakia mine blast

Rescue party missing and twenty feared dead after flammable gases destroy coal mine 120 miles northeast of Bratislava

Links: Slovak Spectator Coal mine blast in Handlová : Telegraph Slovakia mine explosion: 20 feared dead : W Post Twenty miners presumed dead in Slovak blast : New York Times 20 Slovak workers missing after coal mine blast : BBC Deadly explosion in Slovakia mine :

Another 50 killed in Iraq

Explosions in Mosul and Baghdad highlight ongoing ethnic tension, raising worries over Iraqi government's ability to maintain security

Links: Washington Post Blasts kill at least 53 in iraq : NYT Sectarian bombings pulverize a village in Iraq : Telegraph Iraq bomb attacks kill 41 and wound 150 in Baghdad and Mosul : Independent Shias targeted as bombs kill 40 in Iraq : BBC Bomb attacks in Iraq kill dozens : Guardian British guard appears in court over Baghdad killings :

Eta re-targets Majorca

Two women, four men on wanted posters issued by Spanish police after three small bombs explode in Mallorca in second attack

Links: Times Wanted posters for female Eta suspects issued over Majorca attacks : Telegraph Majorca urges calm after bomb blasts : Guardian Eta blamed for bombs targeting tourists in Mallorca : NYT Three small bombs explode in Mallorca, Spain : Sun Majorca: 4th blast 'is bomb' : Washington Post Mallorca moves to limit bomb damage to tourism : BBC Majorca voices: A nervous island :

Other notable stories

Teenager death sparks riot in Paris suburb
Baby P: Internet hate campaign made mockery of High Court
Barracks and Burger King: Supersized US base in Afghanistan
Facebook splashes out on social networking upstart FriendFeed
Fury at Tory plan to have Google provide medical records online

7th August 2009

Shiites bombed in Iraq

Sucide attacks that killed up to 50 people in Baghdad and Mosul apparently timed for major Shiite Muslim religious festival

Links: New York Times Attacks on Shiites kill scores in iraq : W Post Suicide bombing in northern Iraq, blasts in Baghdad kill at least 50 : BBC Iraqi bombers kill Shia Muslims : FT Shia targeted in Iraq bombings : Guardian Dozens of Shia pilgrims killed in Iraq by series of bomb attacks : Telegraph Iraq gives cash bonuses to Shia and Sunni couples : Times Blackwater accused of murder in 'crusade to eliminate Muslims' :

Hack attack blamed on Russia

Cyber-attacks on Twitter and Facebook aimed at Georgian blogger highly critical of Russia's military presence in South Ossetia

Links: BBC Web attack blogger blames Russia : Independent Russia blamed for cyber terror blitz : Times Blogger who was target of Twitter and Facebook attacks blames Russia : W Post Twitter snag tied to attack on Georgian blog : NYT Attack on Twitter came in two waves : Telegraph Twitter attack 'could have been work of teenager in his bedroom : Guardian Why your computer might have been involved :

Niger poll disputed

Mamadou Tandja claims 92 per cent of the vote in referendum lifting restrictions on his term in office after opposition boycott

Links: New York Times President claims more power in Niger’s disputed referendum : Voice of America Election officials: Niger president wins bid to extend rule : BBC Massive win for Niger president : Reuters Who is Niger's Mamadou Tandja? [Factbox] :

Fatah congress extended

Hamas holds delegates in Gaza as Palestinian rivals' vote on key leadership roles is delayed yet again

Links: BBC Fatah voting delayed by divisions : Al Jazeera Fatah to vote for new leadership : New York Times Fatah reform problems highlight Palestinian split : Xinhua Hamas holds Fatah officials in Gaza : Lebanon Star The Palestinians deserve the scolding that they got from Saudi King Abdullah : J Post 'No talks unless Israel frees prisoners' :

Vestas sit-in ends

18-day occupation of British wind-turbine factory faced with closure ends peacefully as bailiffs escort six workers off the premises

Links: Telegraph Occupation of Vestas wind turbine factory ends : Guardian Sacked Vestas workers defiant as bailiffs end wind turbine factory sit-in : Times Last Vestas workers abandon occupation peacefully : FT Vestas sit-in ends but fight for plant goes on : BBC Sit-in workers leave Vestas site : New York Times Local opposition stalls British wind power :

Other notable stories

Bali and Jakarta bomber believed captured
General Sir David Richards: Afghanistan will take 40 years
Colombia under fire from neighbours over US ‘military aggression’
US cybersecurity official resigns
Record companies to launch CMX album download format

6th August 2009

Sotomayor Supreme

Senate votes 68 to 31 to approve Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to Supreme Court where she will be first Hispanic justice in US history

Links: New York Times Sotomayor faces heavy workload of complex cases : BBC Sotomayor approved by US Senate : Telegraph Sotomayor confirmed as first Supreme Court Hispanic : Guardian US Senate confirms Sonia Sotomayor as first Latina supreme court justice : Times Sotomayor confirmed as first Hispanic Supreme Court justice : W Post Supreme Court [full coverage] :

Tongan ferry disaster

More than 60, mostly women and children, feared drowned in the Pacific after vessel overturns at midnight 90km off capital Nuku'alofa

Links: Matangi Tonga SCP releases ferry disaster survivor list : NZ Herald Tongan ferry disaster: NZ woman fears for family members : BBC Sixty lost in Tonga ferry sinking : Guardian 50 feared dead after Tongan ferry sinks : Telegraph Briton among 33 dead in Tonga ferry disaster : Times Briton among scores killed in Tonga ferry disaster :

Clinton threatens Eritrea

In Mogadishu, Secretary of State pledges US support for Somali government's fight against Eritrean-backed insurgents al-Shabaab

Links: BBC Clinton threatens Eritrea action : Telegraph Clinton pledges aid to help Somalia battle terrorism : Times Clinton pledges US support to Somali government : New York Times Clinton offers assurances to Somalis : VoA Clinton in South Africa to press for action on Zimbabwe : Guardian US may join international war crimes court, Hillary Clinton hints : W Post Hillary Clinton visits Africa [pix]

Murdoch plans site charges

News International tycoon confirms intention to charge for access to news on the net whilst remaining vague on what, where and when

Links: BBC Murdoch signals end of free news : T'graph Murdoch aims to tear up the online rule book : Guardian Sunday Times the testbed in Rupert Murdoch's online revolution : FT Murdoch vows to charge for all online content : Independent No fee, no FT: newspaper joins rush to charge for the internet : Times News Corp hit by writedowns after 'most difficult year' : W Post Murdoch on leading the charging charge : NYT Murdoch mans up :

Hackers silence sites

Conspiracy theories run wild about - and in spite of - denial of service attacks on Twitter, Facebook, Google and MySpace

Links: Guardian Google the latest victim of malicious online attacks : BBC Hackers hit Twitter and Facebook : Telegraph Hackers crash Twitter : Times Millions locked out as hackers targets Facebook and Twitter : W Post At a loss for words: the day Facebook, Twitter crashed : NYT Online attack silences Twitter for much of day : Wired Is a psychopath attacking Twitter, Facebook? :

Other notable stories

Pakistan Taliban chief may have been killed
Ian Tomlinson's family accuse police of cover-up over his death
Extra £50bn pumped into British economy
Train robber Ronnie Biggs to be freed on medical grounds
No more perks: coffee shops pull the plug on laptop users
Greek woman sets fire to drunken Briton's genitals

5th August 2009

Ahmadinejad sworn in

Thousands of riot police patrol streets of Tehran as victor in disputed Iranian election takes office for second term

Links: New York Times Ahmadinejad sworn in for 2nd term : BBC Defiant Iran president takes oath : Telegraph Ahmadinejad lambasts Western snub as violence returns to Iran : Guardian Ahmadinejad sworn in for second term amid walkouts and protests : Times White House U-turn on Ahmadinejad as president sworn in amid protests :

Journalists back in US

Tearful return for two reporters from Gore TV channel held on spy charges in N Korea and freed after 'private visit' by Bill Clinton

Links: W Post Freed journalists reunite with families : NYT Bill Clinton and journalists in emotional return to US : Telegraph US journalists return home from North Korea with Bill Clinton : BBC Profile: US reporters freed in N Korea : Independent Meeting could spell end of nuclear standoff with US : Guardian Bill Clinton v Kim Jong-il: A tale of the tape : Times A propaganda coup that could play both ways :

Philadelphia gym gunman's blog

Online diary of programmer who killed three women at health-club details frustrations over relationships with women

Links: Washington Post Gunman at Philadelphia health club was bitter over women : NYT Blog details shooter’s frustration : BBC US gym gunman's 'internet plans' : Telegraph George Sodini's blog tells of years of rejection by women : Guardian US fitness centre shooter wrote about plans for attack on website : Times Pittsburgh gym killer George Sodini 'had online diary of murder plans' :

Hillary Clinton arrives in Africa

US secretary of state begins seven-nation visit by urging Kenya to resolve tensions over bloodshed following disputed 2007 election

Links: New York Times Kenya’s past shadows start of Clinton’s trip : Washington Post Clinton urges Kenya to probe post-election killings : BBC Kenya impunity 'disappoints US' : Guardian Hillary Clinton kicks off seven-nation African tour in Kenya : Telegraph Clinton to pledge US support for Somalia again al-Shabaab terrorists :

Other notable stories

US air strike kills wife of Pakistan Taliban leader
Baghdad blast walls to come down
Pakistan to outlaw domestic violence
Iraq plans internet porn and violence crackdown
Policemen injured as shots fired outside Waterloo station

4th August 2009

N Korea frees reporters after Bill Clinton visit

North Korea says it has pardoned two detained US journalists after former president flies in for surprise meeting with Kim Jong Il

Links: NYT Clinton leaves N Korea after 2 journalists are pardoned : Washington Post N Korea says two US journalists have been pardoned : BBC North Korea pardons US reporters : Telegraph US journalists released from North Korea after Bill Clinton visit : Guardian Bill Clinton's new role : Times North Korea visit demonstrates Bill Clinton’s value to Barak Obama :

Fatah congress opens

Palestinian faction's first leadership convention in 20 years may be their last chance to regain credibility lost to bitter rivals Hamas

Links: NY Times At Fatah conference, Abbas urges 'new start' : W Post Fatah commits to Israel peace talks in party draft : BBC Fatah holds key party congress : Telegraph Fatah leader Mahmoud Abbas attacks Hamas 'coup makers' : Guardian Fatah holds first party conference for 20 years : Independent Make way, Fatah young guns tell Arafat generation :

Hezbollah arms buildup

Paramilitary supported by Iran now has up to 40,000 rockets in Lebanon and is gearing up for strikes on Tel Aviv, says IDF

Links: Times Hezbollah stockpiles 40,000 rockets near Israel border : New York Times IDF [Israel Defence Force] says northern calm in danger : Haaretz The United States and Israel remain united : LA Times Lebanon: Walid Jumblatt's exit could weaken US-backed coalition : Wall Street Journal Dancing with Damascus :

Obama's birth(er)day

As president turns 48, right-wing conspiracy-theorists continue to insist he was born outside US and is thus ineligible to serve

Links: Telegraph Celebrating 48 at the White House and beyond : Telegraph Obama sings 'Happy Birthday' to reporter on own birthday : NBC Stylish Prez, hideous birthday cake : New York Times Persistent ‘birthers’ fringe disorients strategists : BBC Q&A: Obama's birth certificate : Esquire When did Americans turn into a bunch of raving lunatics? :

Other notable stories

G20 death: police officer could face manslaughter charge
Government unveils high-speed rail plan to ground short flights
Chinese youth beaten to death at net addiction bootcamp
Lovers glued rat's manhood

3rd August 2009

Melbourne terror raids

Media leaks prompt early arrest of four Australians linked to Somalian group said to be planning attack on Sydney barracks

Links: BBC Australia detains terror suspects : Guardian Australia detains terror suspects in major security operation : Sydney Morning Herald Four arrested as 400 police mount counter terrorism raids : Australian Four arrests in terror raids : Times Police foil suicide plot to storm Australian Army base : Sky Oz anti-terror police launch mass raids :

Sudan violence

Almost 200 people, mostly women and children, killed as heavily armed Murle raiders launch dawn attack on Lou Nuer fishing camp

Links: Guardian Women and children targeted in Sudan clash leaving 185 people dead : Telegraph Hundreds dead in south Sudan violence : New York Times More than 160 killed in South Sudan tribal raid : Voice of America Satellite imagery shows South Sudan undergoing arms buildup : Times Trouser-wearing journalist prepares to test Sudan’s Islamic law in court :

Georgia claims Russian land-grab

Beleaguered Saakashvili accuses Russian troops of moving border posts on boundary of South Ossetia as war anniversary approaches

Links: BBC Georgia in Russia land-grab claim : New York Times Russia accused of altering border : AP Obama walks Russia-Georgia tightrope : Telegraph South Ossetia one year on: Georgians wait in fear for Russians to return : Boston Globe Biden’s tough love for Georgia : Guardian Saakashvili's sideshow :

UK torture enquiry call

Parliamentary committee criticises government for refusing to discuss allegations of UK complicity in torture of terrorism suspects

Links: BBC MPs, peers urge torture inquiry : Guardian MPs and peers call for inquiry into torture : Independent 'Torture' victims need independent inquiry, say MPs : Mail End the 'wall of secrecy' over torture, demand MPs : C4 News MPs call for torture inquiry : Washington Post British lawmakers seek inquiry into torture claims :

China fights plague

Authorities quarantine entire town in remote north-west China where three have died from air-bourne pneumonic plague

Links: Washington Post Town in China closed off after 3 die of pneumonic plague : NYT Chinese town sealed off after plague deaths : BBC Second plague death in west China : Telegraph China plague outbreak claims second victim : Independent China tries to contain plague after second death : Times Entire town in quarantine after two die from pneumonic plague in China :

Other notable stories

US to speed up 'bunker buster' bomb amid North Korea concern
UK pound climbs as economy improves, stock markets advance
Israel police recommend indicting foreign minister Lieberman
Miss Landmine beauty pageant banned in Cambodia
New El Niño threatens world with weather woe

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