Miriam Makeba, the South African singer who became a world symbol of the anti-apartheid struggle, died Nov. 10 after performing at an anti-Mafia concert in southern Italy. The 76-year-old singer died after being brought to the hospital at Castelvolturno at… Read moreMiriam Makeba, “Mama Africa,” dies at anti-Mafia concert in Italy
Russia has asked the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe for an inquiry into the findings of military observers stationed in Tskhinvali on the night of August 7-8, when South Ossetia’s separatist capital was shelled by Georgian military forces…. Read moreRussia calls for OSCE probe into Georgia war
Thousands of Colombians rioted around the country Nov. 12, demanding their money back after being defrauded in a series of pyramid schemes. In some of the nine cities where the protests erupted, police used batons and tear gas. In recent… Read moreColombian investors riot over pyramid scheme
Bolivian officials Nov. 11 formally requested that the US issue extradition orders for former Bolivian president Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada to face “genocide” charges for his repression of October 2003 protests over corporate exploitation of the country’s natural gas resources… Read moreBolivia requests extradition of ex-president from US on “genocide” charge
Berlin’s ambassador to Rwanda was given 24 hours to leave the country Nov. 11 in response to the Nov. 9 arrest of a Rwandan presidential aide in Germany in connection with the 1994 assassination of then-president Juvenal Habyarima that touched… Read moreRwanda expels German ambassador after presidential aide arrested
Headlines from Iraq Nov. 12 were dominated by the re-opening of Baghdad’s Two Imams Bridge, which links the Sunni district of Adhamiya and the Shi’ite area of Kadhimiya, and had been closed due to sectarian violence since 2005. (E.g. LAT)… Read moreIraq: spate of attacks leave 23 dead as Two Imams Bridge re-opens
Colombia’s President Alvaro Uribe predicted that his Mexican counterpart Felipe Calderón’s controversial efforts to combat the drug cartels with the military will be successful. “When you live in a country like Colombia that has already faced that intense fight against… Read moreColombia good model for Mexico: Uribe
The US has halted aid to three Colombian army units after officers and soldiers were implicated in the killing of civilians, a senior US official told Reuters. “We have determined that three army units are no longer eligible to receive… Read moreUS blocks aid to tainted Colombian army units: report
From The Hill, Nov. 11: Newly designated White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel said Sunday that the incoming Obama administration opposes attaching the Colombia Free Trade Agreement to an economic stimulus package in order to get the approval of… Read moreEmanuel: Obama won’t link Colombia FTA to stimulus package
Around 30 MPs opposed to Mauritania’s ruling junta boycotted the opening of the country’s parliament Nov. 10. The boycott followed a statement from the head of the five-party Front for the Defense of Democracy (FNDD), Mohamed Ould Moloud, who called… Read moreMauritania: opposition boycotts parliament; regime claims al-Qaeda threat
Unprecedented Muslim representation was seen at the Nov. 10 “Special Event Promoting Tolerance Throughout the European Continent” at the European Parliament in Brussels. Representatives of Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Libya, Morocco, Turkey and Malaysia, among… Read moreMuslim states to join EU Kristallnacht memorial
Now they tell us. From the New York Times, Nov. 10, links and emphasis added: Secret Order Lets U.S. Raid Al Qaeda WASHINGTON — The United States military since 2004 has used broad, secret authority to carry out nearly a… Read moreNYT: secret executive order approved strikes on al-Qaeda
