Briefs from around the world
Thailand - Nine bombs exploded across Bangkok as the Thai capital celebrated the New Year, killing two people and driving thousands of revelers home after the city was forced to cancel festivities. There was no immediate claim of responsibility for the bombings, which capped a year of unrest in Thailand that included a military coup three months ago and a mounting Muslim insurgency in its southernmost provinces.
Egypt - Al-Qaida's deputy leader has criticized Palestinian and other Arab leaders, accusing them of betraying Islam and collaborating with the United States and Israel, according to an Internet statement posted in his name last week. The statement, purportedly from Ayman al-Zawahri, congratulated Islamic holy warriors around the world on the feast of Eid al-Adha and on “the defeat of the Americans and their crusader allies in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
London - Britons and other Europeans who fly to the United States could have their credit card transactions and e-mail messages inspected by US officials, a British newspaper reported last week. Under a US-European Union deal struck in October, the Daily Telegraph said passengers face having other transactions on their credit cards inspected by US authorities if they use the card to reserve flights.
Iraq - The grieving father of the 3,000th American soldier killed in Iraq has paid tribute to his son, Specialist Dustin Donica, as President George W. Bush admitted that US military deaths are the result of “my decisions” and described them as “the most painful aspect of the presidency.” Donica's was conducting counter-insurgency operations at Karmah, in Iraq's al-Anbar province, when he was fatally struck by small-arms fire from enemy forces.
Egypt - Al-Qaida's deputy leader has criticized Palestinian and other Arab leaders, accusing them of betraying Islam and collaborating with the United States and Israel, according to an Internet statement posted in his name last week. The statement, purportedly from Ayman al-Zawahri, congratulated Islamic holy warriors around the world on the feast of Eid al-Adha and on “the defeat of the Americans and their crusader allies in Afghanistan and Iraq.”
London - Britons and other Europeans who fly to the United States could have their credit card transactions and e-mail messages inspected by US officials, a British newspaper reported last week. Under a US-European Union deal struck in October, the Daily Telegraph said passengers face having other transactions on their credit cards inspected by US authorities if they use the card to reserve flights.
Iraq - The grieving father of the 3,000th American soldier killed in Iraq has paid tribute to his son, Specialist Dustin Donica, as President George W. Bush admitted that US military deaths are the result of “my decisions” and described them as “the most painful aspect of the presidency.” Donica's was conducting counter-insurgency operations at Karmah, in Iraq's al-Anbar province, when he was fatally struck by small-arms fire from enemy forces.
