BCCI to allow foreign players in Ranji

"The BCCI Technical Committee led by Sunil Gavaskar on Saturday allowed state associations to add a foreigner in their squads. Four ‘guest’ players, from outside the state, are allowed in the side from this season onwards."

Protesters dispersed by police in Korea

South Korea has seen protests in response to a government decision to start allowing US beef imports again."Just a day ahead of South Korea's formal resumption of U.S. beef imports, some 20,000 protesters scuffled with riot squads early Monday and hauled police vehicles away...

For the US in Iraq, time is running out on 'two clocks'

"Nearly four months after President Bush announced his “surge” plan for Iraq, the final American reinforcements supposed to retake control of Baghdad and set the country on a new course are nearly in place. But even as the troops deploy in some of Baghdad’s most...

Baghdad Burning: The Great Wall of Segregation by Riverbend (Iraqi Blogger)

...I'll meet you 'roung the bend my friend, where hearts can heal and souls can mend ..."…Which is the wall the current Iraqi government is building (with the support and guidance of the Americans). It's a wall that is intended to separate and isolate what is now considered...

Iraq blocks US plan to wall off danger zones

"In a fresh clash with his American allies, the Prime Minister of Iraq ordered the US military to halt the construction of concrete walls being built around some of the most violent neighbourhoods in Baghdad. Nouri al-Maliki, the Shia leader, stepped in as Sunni communities...

Civilian compensation claims: a glimpse into US crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan

"Hundreds of legal claims filed by civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan against the US military, which were released by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) on Wednesday, provide a small glimpse into the tragedies inflicted by US occupying forces in these two...

The Baghdad gulag by Pepe Escobar

"DAMASCUS - There are three overlapping wars in Iraq: the Sunni Arab guerrilla struggle against the US; strands of Sunni Arab guerrillas against assorted Shi'ite militias/death squads; and al-Qaeda in Iraq against the puppet, US-backed Iraqi government in the Green Zone. Make...

Open letter to the anti-war movement

" March 18, 2007 The national popular resistance in Iraq, in defending the whole of humanity against a culture of force, deserves our recognition and support, writes Hana Abdul Ilah Al-Bayaty The illegal invasion and destruction of Iraq is not only the biggest crime of recent...

Zimbabwe Oppositon Leader Beaten

Cris Chinaka reports today that the weekend detention of Morgan Tsvangirai(bio) was not merely an infraction against what remains of a democratic process in Zimbabwe. The head of Zimbabwe's main opposition party received head injuries and his face, according to his lawyers,...

Colombian Minister Resigns Amidst Scandal Over Ties With Militias

"Colombia's president quickly named a new foreign minister Monday, hours after Maria Consuelo Araujo resigned amid a growing scandal linking the political establishment and far-right paramilitaries. "

Iran's Secret Plan For Mayhem

"The news that American forces had captured Iranians in Iraq was widely reported last month, but less well known is that the Iranians were carrying documents that offered Americans insight into Iranian activities in Iraq. An American intelligence official said the new...

Israel Decides to Target Gaza Rocket Launching Squads

"Jerusalem (CNSNews.com) - Israel decided on Wednesday to resume targeted strikes on Palestinian squads launching rockets at southern Israeli communities from the Gaza Strip but will maintain the Israeli-Palestinian ceasefire. The decision followed a rocket strike on the...

If we wanted, we could burn down Gaza

This is interesting.  Ibrahim Daher of Aqsa Radio spreads the love as the Palestinian civil war of words reflects the internecine fighting in the streets.  Which side will prevail?  Hamas, who wants to destroy Israel immediately and says so in both Arabic and...