Category Archives: World News

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British Air force to use Bunker Busting Bombs against Gaddafi

The Royal Air Force is to use bunker busting bombs against Moamar Gadhafi in Libya. The 2,000 lb bomb is to destroy Gadhafi command centers. The bomb which is about 14ft long has the capability of punching through reinforced concrete. It is expected to be deployed within days by the Royal air force which is part of the NATO military campaign against the government of Col. Moamar Gadhafi in Libya.

The bombs were used during the invasion of Iraq in 2003. The arrival of the bomb will strengthen the ability of NATO to ground the operations of Gadhafi forces. It will target military installations in the country and will reduce civilian casualties.

It will be recalled that the prime minister of Britain David Cameron has said that the British government will send apache helicopters to destroy key installations under the command of Col Gadhafi. Last Friday the RAF and other jets destroyed guard towers located at the Bab Al- Aziziyah complex of Col Gadhafi. It was reported that Gadhafi is hiding in different hospitals in Tripoli to escape being killed by the NATO bombs.

Meanwhile Russia a strong ally of Col Gadhafi has called on him to step down and safe the country further destruction.

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White House asks Pakistan to target militants

The US government has handed the names of specific militant leaders which she wants Pakistani authorities to help track down. The names include 4 extreme Islamic leaders.

The first name on that list is the man acknowledged to be the deputy for Osama Bin Laden Ayman al-Zawahiri. Other names on that list are the operational commander of an Islamic network known Haqqani. His name is Siraj Haqqani. He is the head of the group that is most deadly among the Taliban fighters in Afghanistan. He is described as the next Osama Bin Laden. The other name in the list includes Atiya Abdel Rahman. He is a Libyan and he is the operational chief of al Qaeda.

This information was revealed by Pakistani intelligent. It was part of the discussions going on between the two intelligent groups. The names according to the Pakistani officials should be a target for joint operations between the American intelligent and Pakistani intelligent.

However US secretary of State Mrs. Clinton said that they did not give specific names but said that the death of Osama Bin Laden has caused a turning point in relationships between America and Pakistan and said that Pakistan must do much to tackle terrorism or America will cut the $2 billion aid program.

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Serbian military officer Mladic likely to face extradition

A judge in Belgrade Serbia has ruled Friday that the former Serbian military officer can be extradited to the world court sitting in Hague to face charges on the atrocities he committed. Ratko Mladic was arraigned before the court. However he has three days to appeal against the ruling.

The arrest and subsequent arraignment of Mladic a former Serbian army general who was accused of being the mastermind of the worst atrocities committed against mankind in Europe since the end of the Second World War was a major breakthtough. He was accused of supervising the massacre of over 8000 Muslims during the Bosnia war that lasted between 1992 and 1995.

His capture is a major breakthrough towards allowing the 2 neighboring countries from joining the European Union. It is expected that his arrest and subsequent prosecution will begin the process of healing the old wound and animosities between the two countries.

It was surprised to the world how the former army general was able to evade for more than 15 years after the massacre. The 60 year old general has developed ill health and his son said that his health is failing and called for international medical experts to examine him. With the decision of the judge it is now clear that he would be transferred to The Hague unless he appealed against the decision.

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WHO changes deadline for destructing live smallpox

The World Health Organization WHO has finally shifted the date for the complete destruction of live smallpox which is known to be persisting. The organization disclosed this after its annual general meeting on Tuesday. It said that the final date has been moved to three years. The debate for this has been on for than ten years.

This issue was hotly contested at the annual general meeting that was held in Geneva. It has polarized the members over those who support the postponement of the date and those that are opposed to it. Iran one of the countries that demanded that the date should not be shifted was against US delegation which has insisted that the date must be shifted.

The United States of America and Russia had supported the shift of the day by some years forward. Iran was the country that was strongly opposed to it. They insisted the two countries must destroy their stock now.

The argument made by Iran is that it is the security to the world should a wrong hand on the product. They argued that are lots of machines and technology that can be used to produce vaccines in the shortest notice.

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U.S. govt. invites Libyan rebel council

There was a morale boost for the Libyan rebels fighting to oust the government of Col Moamar Gadhafi on Tuesday when a US special envoy announced that the rebel council has been invited to open an office in the United States of America. This is a clear indication that the government of the United States is recognizing the rebel council as the legitimate government in Libya.

This development came just hours after NATO launched the heaviest offensive against Gadhafi with explosions rocking many areas of Tripoli especially the stronghold of Col Gadhafi. NATO had announced that one of the attacks was targeted at a storage vehicle within the compound and the target was caught.

This development has been confirmed by the government which announced that NATO had targeted the military reserve in the country and that about three people or more had been killed on the attack and that several people were wounded. The spokesman said that  Col Gadhafi is still alive. Journalists were taken round a hospital where the government showed people they said were injured during the attack. The people shown were in their 20s and 30s and they appear in civilian uniform.

The action of the US government is a further move to isolate Gadhafi from the rest of the international community. It has clearly indicated that the US government is comfortable working with the rebels.

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Pakistani military retook Karachi Naval Station

The Pakistani military has redeemed its image by retaking the naval base it lost to Taliban after fierce battle. The military cut shorts the 18 hours occupation of the naval base after heavy gun battle with the Taliban.

It was surprising that the Taliban forces which were not more than 6 insurgents were able to deal that deadly blow to the Pakistani military including the destruction of their surveillance planes that were donated by Americans. About 12 Pakistani soldiers were killed in the attack. At the end of the counter attack 4 of the insurgents were killed.

The Taliban in Pakistan has already claimed responsibility for the attack. They said that it is part of the program to avenge the death of Osama Bin Laden by the Americans. They said that were under order to fight to death. They said that they embarked on the mission with the aim of not coming out alive saying that they have already embraced martyrdom.

It would be recalled that insurgents that were numbered about 4 to 6 stormed the naval base in the night using ladders to have access to the naval facilities causing enormous damages to some of the military equipment. They took possession of the facilities for about 18 hours before the commandos organized for a counter attack through which they were able to deal with the insurgents.

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Gadhafi Soldiers accused of raping Libyan girl in Misrata

Soldiers’ royal to Libyan leader Moamar Gadhafi were reported to have raped Misrata girls. This was revealed by two of the soldiers who were detained in the city. The two soldiers confirmed they were involved in the rape.

They confessed that they participated in the rape of four women in Misrata. The two soldiers were captured by the rebels in a battle with the Gadhafi forces two weeks ago. The soldiers confirmed that at least twenty officers of the army raped group of girls.

Getting the interview from the soldiers was not easy as the officials in the city were reluctant in allowing press men interview the soldiers over the rape issue but they later agreed after they reached agreement that the identity of the soldiers would not be revealed.

It appears that the reported rape that was carried out by pro Gadhafi forces was systematic attempt by the soldiers to humiliate the people of Misrata. However it could not be confirmed whether the soldiers were coerced into saying what they said. It is possible that they may not be saying the truth. There was widespread allegation that soldier’s royal to Col Moamar Gadhafi committed heinous crimes against the people of Misrata and worst among the crimes that were committed include rapping of girls.

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Devastating tornado causes havoc in Missouri

The authorities in the American state of Missouri said that the last tornado witnessed in the state has taken more than 89 lives and many others injured. It is likely that the death toll may be more than the announced figures as search for more casualties are continuing.

The search which is coordinated by the search and rescue mission is hampered by the damaged power system as well as the transportation problem which was severely affected by the storm. The worst is still to come as the residents were being prepared for more storms which are likely to hit Joplin. The search and rescue team had very difficult task going through the wreckages that were caused by the storm.

Apart from the 89 lives which were lost to the tornado, it was estimated that more than 2000 buildings were destroyed by the storm. The neighborhood was a ghost of its former self as the tornado ripped different structures in the area.

It is believed that lot of people may still be trapped at the debris that followed the tornado. The search and rescue team has the most difficult times of going through this debris in search of more survivors. Their efforts were hampered by the downed power line which has caused fire outbreaks. Both President Obama and the Missouri governor have expressed concern over the incident.

Devastating Tornado Cause Havoc Missouri State, Rescue Search Continues as More Storm is Likely

The authorities in the American state of Missouri said that the last tornado witnessed in the state has taken more than 89 lives and many others injured. It is likely that the death toll may be more than the announced figures as search for more casualties are continuing. The search which is coordinated by the search and rescue mission is hampered by the damaged power system as well as the transportation problem which was severely affected by the storm. The worst is still to come as the residents were being prepared for more storms which are likely to hit Joplin. The search and rescue team had very difficult task going through the wreckages that were caused by the storm.

Apart from the 89 lives which were lost to the tornado, it was estimated that more than 2000 buildings were destroyed by the storm. The neighborhood was a ghost of its former self as the tornado ripped different structures in the area.

It is believed that lot of people may still be trapped at the debris that followed the tornado. The search and rescue team has the most difficult times of going through this debris in search of more survivors. Their efforts were hampered by the downed power line which has caused fire outbreaks. Both President Obama and the Missouri governor have expressed concern over the incident.

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Flooded Atchatalaya River threatens Louisiana

Residents of Louisiana towns are put into panic as the water from the swollen Atchatalaya River is making way to bounce their homes. The evidence of the frustrations and fears which the water has inflicted into the residents can be felt from the signs they wrote outside their homes.

Some of the signs indicated that many of the residents have already started removing their valuable belongings out of their homes. The swollen water has made the officials to issue an evacuation order to the residents some days back but the warning was later withdrawn when the authorities had thought that they could put the situation under control.

Some of the residents had heeded the earlier warning and had removed their personal belongings out their homes. However when the authorities backed down on the evacuation orders some of the residents tried to provide some remedies by filling bags with sand to provide some resistance to the water when it starts rushing to their homes.

It would be recalled that on the 14th of May the army corps of engineers opened the Mississippi river at Morganza floodway for the flowing of the water from Mississippi which was then threatening the Baton Rouge and New Orleans with imminent flooding. The water was diverted from the Mississippi to the Atchafalaya basin. It appears that the diversion is now causing problems for the residents of Louisiana towns.

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Quattara takes over as Ivorian President

The new president of Ivory Coast Alassame Quattara has finally being inaugurated as the president as the country. The occasion was attended by some prominent personalities include the president of France Mr. Nicholas Sarkozy as well as other prominent leaders in many parts of the world.

Mr. Quattara was inaugurated after about six months or more of his election which foreign observers said was free and fair and credible but was prevented from forming government by the ousted president Gbagbo. Already the president was sworn in about few weeks ago but the present ceremony was only a mere ceremony. The inauguration was done in the capital of the country Yamoussoukro. It was more like a rally in support of the president.

The inauguration was possible because of the ousting of Gbagbo whom the supporters of the new president pushed out of office after a battle that lasted for about five months. The new president in his speech said that Ivory Coast is facing the world with their destiny in their own hands adding that it is the time for the people to celebrate adding that they should all embrace peace.

There is no doubt that there are enormous challenges that are facing the new president, he has already reopened the banks and started paying civil servants.