Saturday, May 10, 2008

Domine, exaudi nos - 5/10/2008

I got home yesterday evening. Kathy picked me up at the airport and we went to dinner, then she brought me to my place. Home, sweet home! Where the humidity was 16% last night and the outdoor temperature 66.

The back yard is green, the grapevines flourishing and two of the rose bushes covered with roses. Alas, I left the camera in NOLA.

I am celebrating being somewhere other than work this morning by doing one of my favorite things, my "world watch" feature. There has been no time for it. I glance at headlines in passing but they can't sink in. I can barely get through e-mail and quick stops at my friends' blogs each night and the evening is gone and I am up too late, again. I am starved for world news at the moment.

Iraq
Cease-fire reached in Baghdad's Sadr City, militants say
CNN International - 1 hour ago
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- An agreement has been reached with the Iraqi government to end fighting in Baghdad's Sadr City district, a spokesman for radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr said Saturday.
Cleric spokesman: Cease-fire in Baghdad's Sadr City The Associated Press
Cease-fire deal reported in Sadr City International Herald Tribune

US says captured man is not al Qaeda in Iraq leader
San Francisco Chronicle - 5 hours ago
A US military spokesman said a man detained Thursday in northern Iraq is not wanted terrorist Abu Ayyub al-Masri, the leader of the Sunni insurgent group al Qaeda in Iraq. Iraqi police announced early Friday that al-Masri, also known as Abu Hamza ...
US: Iraq Al Qaeda chief not captured Chicago Tribune
Leader of al-Qaida in Iraq wasn’t captured, US military says Kansas City Star

(Reuters) - Following are security developments in Iraq at 3:30 am ...
Reuters - 3 hours ago
BAGHDAD - US and Iraqi security forces killed eight gunmen on Friday in clashes in different districts of Baghdad, the US military said.
Sadr aide criticises Iraq's Sistani Aljazeera.net
Cease-Fire Reported In Sadr City CBS News

Iraq Contractor in Shooting Case Makes Comeback
New York Times - 8 hours ago
The State Department has just renewed its contract to provide security for American diplomats in Iraq for at least another year.
Blackwater unlikely to face charges in Iraq shooting International Herald Tribune
State Dept. renews Blackwater contract Seattle Times

Cessez-le-feu entre gouvernement et miliciens de Sadr en Irak
La Tribune.fr - Il y a 3 heures
BAGDAD (Reuters) - Le gouvernement irakien s'est entendu sur l'instauration d'un cessez-le-feu avec les miliciens chiites de l'Armée du Mahdi, de l'imam Moktada Sadr, afin de mettre un terme à plusieurs semaines de violents combats dans Bagdad, ...
Bagdad: cessez-le-feu à Sadr City à partir de dimanche; au moins ... nouvelobs.com
Irak: treize morts dans des combats à Sadr City depuis vendredi L'Express

Lebanon
At least two dead in shooting at funeral in Lebanon
Reuters - 46 minutes ago
BEIRUT, May 10 (Reuters) - At least two mourners were killed on Saturday when a gunman fired on a funeral procession for a pro-government supporter in Beirut who had died in clashes with Lebanon's Hezbollah fighters, security sources said.
New Beirut violence hits funeral BBC News
Deaths in Beirut funeral shooting Aljazeera.net

Hezbollah tightens grip of Beirut
Reuters UK - 50 minutes ago
By Khaled Yacoub Oweis BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's Iranian-backed Shi'ite movement Hezbollah tightened its control of the capital Beirut on Saturday in a show of force after it routed gunmen loyal to the Western-backed government.
Police: 2 killed in Beirut shooting after Hezbollah takeover The Associated Press

Liban: Fouad Siniora demande à l'armée de rétablir la sécurité
Romandie.com - Il y a 52 minutes
Le premier ministre libanais, Fouad Siniora, a demandé à l'armée de rétablir la sécurité au Liban, de faire évacuer "immédiatement" les hommes armés des rues et de mettre fin au sit-in dans le centre de Beyrouth. Il a affirmé que "l'Etat libanais ne ...
«L'Etat libanais ne tombera pas» Libération
Liban : Siniora fait appel à l'armée Le Figaro

Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe's MDC to contest run-off against Mugabe
Reuters - 2 hours ago
By Phumza Macanda PRETORIA, May 10 (Reuters) - The leader of Zimbabwe's main opposition group said on Saturday he would contest a run-off against Robert Mugabe after disputed elections on March 29 in hopes of unseating the veteran president.
Southern Africa: SADC Divided Over Zimbabwe AllAfrica.com
Zimbabwe opposition leader to participate in runoff Los Angeles Times

Morgan Tsvangirai promises to return to Zimbabwe
Times Online - 2 hours ago
Zimbabwe’s opposition leader said today that he will take part in a presidential runoff and will soon return despite a violent crackdown on his supporters.
Mugabe party hopes for runoff 'as soon as possible': minister Africasia

La police, l'armée et les milices harcèlent l'opposition zimbabwéenne
Le Monde - Il y a 48 minutes
Comme à chaque fois qu'il sent le pouvoir lui échapper, le président du Zimbabwe, Robert Mugabe, s'est lancé dans une campagne de terreur. En attendant un éventuel second tour de l'élection présidentielle, la police, l'armée et surtout les milices ...
Le gouvernement zimbabwéen rejette les conditions du MDC L'Express
Le chef de l'opposition annonce son retour au Zimbabwe "dans les deux Romandie.com

Zimbabwe minister says no pre-conditions for run-off
Reuters India - 2 hours ago
HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe's justice minister on Saturday ruled out accepting any pre-conditions for a presidential run-off after the opposition leader said he would only participate if international monitors had full access.
Zimbabwe: Rice Calls African Leaders to Seek Zim Solution AllAfrica.com

Myanmar (Burma)
Myanmar town struggles to feed cyclone refugees
Reuters - 2 hours ago
MYAUNG MYA, Myanmar, May 10 (Reuters) - Ten thousand cyclone refugees have turned up in this bustling town from the devastated Irrawaddy delta, and their numbers swell by the day despite a lack of food and shelter, an aid volunteer said on Saturday.
UN aid flights resume to cyclone-hit Myanmar (Roundup) Monsters and Critics.com
Million cyclone survivors still without aid: UN AFP

Burma goes to polls as aid trickles in
Telegraph.co.uk - 5 hours ago
By Graeme Jenkins in Rangoon and Sebastien Berger Voting has begun in Burma in a referendum on a proposed constitution, despite hundreds of thousands left homeless and starving in the aftermath of Saturday's cyclone.
The powerful men blocking vital Burma aid Mirror.co.uk
Burmese junta goes ahead with ballot despite disaster Scotsman

La junte birmane force l'aide internationale à marchander
Tribune de Genève - Il y a 14 heures
DILEMME | 00h00 Les organisations suisses sont confrontées, comme l'ONU, aux refus criminels de la junte. «Oui, le Programme alimentaire mondial suspend ses vols.» L'annonce faite par Chris Kaye, directeur pour la Birmanie de l'agence des Nations Unies ...
La Birmanie acceptera l'aide d'où qu'elle vienne (ambassadeur à l'ONU) France Info
L'Onu réclame 187 millions de dollars pour la Birmanie La Tribune.fr

Burma aid curbs driving up death toll: Oppn
ABC Online - 49 minutes ago
Burma's pro-democracy Opposition said that the cyclone death toll is rising daily because of the junta's aid restrictions and called on the United Nations to send help "by any means.
Burma shuns foreign aid workers BBC News

Russia
Russia rolls military hardware in parade
United Press International - 1 hour ago
MOSCOW, May 10 (UPI) -- For the first time since the demise of the Soviet Union, military hardware rumbled through Red Square in celebration of Russia's victory over Nazi Germany.
Video: Victory Day lights up Russia RussiaToday
Russia Parades Military Might New York Times

Russie - Démonstration de force sur la place Rouge
TF1 - 9 mai 2008
Dmitri Medvedev a assisté vendredi à sa première parade célébrant la victoire de 1945 en tant que président de Russie. 8000 hommes ont défilé devant le Kremlin. La Russie fête la victoire dans la Seconde guerre mondiale le 9 mai. Cela faisait 18 ans, ...
Medvedev s'inquiète des "ambitions irresponsables" nouvelobs.com
Le stylo de Poutine Le Monde

Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka holds crucial vote in war-torn east
Reuters UK - 1 hour ago
By Anuruddha Lokuhapuarachchi BATTICALOA, Sri Lanka, May 10 (Reuters) - Residents in Sri Lanka's war-ravaged east voted for the first time in two decades on Saturday in an election the government hopes will endorse its war to defeat Tamil Tiger rebels.
Voting for Sri Lanka's provincial poll in east closes (Roundup) Monsters and Critics.com
Voters in eastern Sri Lanka worry about future The Associated Press

China - Japan
On Visit to Japan, China's Hu Has No Time for Old Grudges
Washington Post - 11 hours ago
By Blaine Harden TOKYO, May 9 -- The two economic giants of Asia courted each other this week during a five-day visit to Japan by Chinese President Hu Jintao that played down wartime grudges and played up pragmatic cooperation.
At Tokyo meeting, China and Japan lay groundwork for better ties Christian Science Monitor
Mr. Hu’s Peaceable Visit to Tokyo New York Times

Washington DC
Housing Bailout Bill Seems to Be on Shaky Ground
New York Times - 8 hours ago
By STEPHEN LABATON and STEVEN R. WEISMAN WASHINGTON - Even as the housing foreclosure crisis deepens, legislation to rescue homeowners and their lenders appears to be in significant political jeopardy.
White House leaves door open on housing rescue Reuters
HUD Chief Open to Compromise on Anti-Foreclosure Plan (Update1) Bloomberg

Pakistan
What to do with Pakistan's judges
BBC News - 18 hours ago
Pakistan's parliament is set to call for the reinstatement of sacked senior judges. But, as the BBC's Barbara Plett in Islamabad explains, furious arguments are going on about how much power they should have.
Pakistani leaders to meet in London over judges Reuters UK
Pakistan's Sharif says only 'political will' required to restore ... International Herald Tribune

Serbia
Le radical serbe Vojislav Seselj mène campagne depuis sa prison de ...
Le Monde - Il y a 54 minutes
Depuis sa cellule du Tribunal pénal international pour l'ex-Yougoslavie (TPIY), le chef du Parti radical serbe (SRS), Vojislav Seselj, conduit sa campagne pour les élections législatives du 11 mai en Serbie. Accusé de crimes contre l'humanité et crimes ...
Serbie: suspense électoral à la veille de législatives cruciales AFP
L'Europe, enjeu central des législatives serbes 20minutes.fr

Belgium
Union sacrée des élus flamands contre la minorité francophone
Libération - Il y a 9 heures
Pour la première fois dans l’histoire de la Belgique, la majorité flamande, tous partis confondus, a imposé sa loi à la minorité francophone du pays (40 % des habitants). Dans la nuit de jeudi à vendredi, les 80 députés flamands, de l’extrême droite du ...
BHV: on continue comme si de rien n'était... 7sur7
Dans BHV, la majorité des flamands ne fait plus confiance à Leterme Le Vif/L'Express

Malawi
Malawi AIDS deaths drop 10 percent, local free drugs study shows
AFP - 13 hours ago
PARIS (AFP) - Distributing free anti-HIV drugs in a district of AIDS-ravaged Malawi helped cut the death toll by 10 percent within eight months, according to a study published on Saturday by The Lancet.
Antiretroviral therapy cuts AIDS deaths in Malawi Xinhua
Malawi Aids success The Mercury (subscription)

War and Abuse
Inquiries into abuse claims by Taliban
Sydney Morning Herald - 23 hours ago
THREE separate investigations are under way into allegations that Australian troops maltreated Afghan civilians who were captured during a raid on a bomb-making operation on April 30.
Houston believes Taliban 'mistreatment' claims are false ABC Online
Diggers will be investigated The Australian

US denies Khadr probe was halted prematurely
Toronto Star - 5 hours ago
GUANTANAMO BAY–The Pentagon disputes claims that political pressure prematurely halted an investigation into the alleged abuse of Omar Khadr when he was detained in Afghanistan.
US derailed probe that could have scuttled Khadr case: lawyer Canada.com
Dysfunctional family tragedy StarPhoenix


The tasting of the tree became a source of anguish unto Adam in Eden of old, when the serpent poured forth his venom. For by him death entered in, devouring the whole race of humanity. But when the Master came, He destroyed the dragon and granted resurrection unto us. Therefore, let us cry unto Him: O Saviour, spare those whom Thou hast taken unto Thyself and grant them rest with Thine elect, since Thou art the Friend of mankind.
--Saturday of Souls, Pentecostarion

--the BB

2 comments:

Jane R said...

Paul, are you just home for the weekend? I thought your gig was for a month. Do they fly you home every so often?

Say hi to the dry air for me...

Paul said...

A two-month gig but we can fly home every 2nd or 3rd weekend. Back to NOLA tomorrow. Out to errands this afternoon.