The Week's Headlines
7th August 2006
A quick run down of the week's world events:
Testimony in a US military court has been given of how three soldiers took it in turns to hold down and try to rape an Iraqi girl aged 14 in Mahmudiya in March.
Google has launched a new warning system, advising users if they are about to visit a webpage that could harm their computer. The warning will pop up if users click on a link to a page known to host spyware or other malicious programs
Families of the victims of 11 September have criticised film director Oliver Stone for failing to give their campaigns enough support. Ten per cent of the opening weekend takings for Stone's controversial World Trade Center film will go to charity. But Monica Iken, who lost her husband Michael in the attacks, says she is "very disappointed" with the figure. "I want to ask them if the movie is well-received to give more money to the memorial," she said.
US forces have taken up positions in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, in the first visible sign that a new security plan is being implemented. At least 4,000 US troops are being deployed in an attempt to reduce sectarian killings and kidnappings.
Western powers struggled, and continued to fail, to bring about a ceasefire in Lebanon, while Israel continued to hit what it said were strongholds of the Hizbullah militia across the country. An attack on the town of Qana, one such Hizbullah stronghold, killed at least 28 people, more than half of them children, causing an international outcry that increased the pressure on Israel and its American ally to agree to an unconditional ceasefire. Israel insisted that Hizbullah should first disarm.
For the first time in his 47-year rule Cuba's Fidel Castro handed over power temporarily to his brother Raúl, the defence minister. Fidel claimed his health was stable after emergency surgery to halt intestinal bleeding. Although the news caused some anxiety in Havana, Cuban exiles celebrated in Miami. Mr Castro turns 80 on August 13th.
Fresh fighting erupted in the port city of Trincomalee in Sri Lanka's north-east as thousands of people reportedly fled the area. The conflict between the army and Tamil Tiger rebels has intensified recently and the country is sliding ever-closer to civil war.
The top diplomats of India and Pakistan met for the first time since seven bombs killed more than 180 people in Mumbai last month, and vowed that the peace process would not be disrupted.
Hundreds of soldiers from Canada and other NATO countries held a ceremony in southern Afghanistan on Monday to honour the fifth Canadian to die in a week.
The United States and France agreed on Saturday to a draft United Nations Security Council resolution that calls for an end to the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah but would allow Israel to defend itself if attacked, officials said.
Headline of the Week:
A bar in eastern China has come up with a new way of attracting clients - they are allowed to beat up the staff. The Rising Sun Anger Release Bar in Nanjing lets customers smash glasses, rant and even hit specially trained workers, state media reported.
