The Daily Star: Internet Edition Sun. May 27, 2007

Vol. 5 Num 1061

Sun. May 27, 2007


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International

Five killed as Israel hits Hamas targets in Gaza
Israeli aircraft again pounded targets in the Gaza Strip yesterday, as the main armed factions discussed a truce call from Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas to end "futile" rocket barrages.

Bush celebrates victory after signing Iraq war bill
US President George W Bush celebrated victory yesterday after he signed into law a long-sought bill committing 100 billion dollars to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Lebanon gives last chance for talks
Sniper fire stops refugee exodus
The Lebanese government offered a final chance for a peaceful end to the army's siege of Islamists in a refugee camp as sniper fire stopped all but a few dozen of the thousands of civilians trapped inside

US needs to change on Iraq for talks to bear fruit: Iran
Iran said yesterday that upcoming talks with the United States on Iraq could succeed only if Washington changed its policies in Iraq.

Myanmar criticised for extension of Suu Kyi detention
The United States, Britain, United Nations and the European Union have led international condemnation of Myanmar's decision to extend the detention of opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, calling for her

Ban cluster bombs, say 68 nations
Activists touted as successful a 68-nation agreement Friday to ban cluster bombs, despite manufacturing countries' desire for exceptions in coming talks.

Turks rally against pro-Islamic leaders
Thousands of flag-waving protesters filled streets in yet another city in Turkey on Saturday, accusing the government of trying to impose Islamic values on the country's Western way of life.

Violence plagues Philippine polls
Unidentified gunmen opened fire on soldiers guarding polling precincts during special elections yesterday in 13 Philippine towns where voting was postponed last week over fears of violence.

Warming threatens Arctic glaciers
Warming in Canada's far north is melting glaciers that threaten to split into massive chunks and float away, a Canadian researcher told AFP Friday, after tagging an iceberg as big as Manhattan.

Troops head to Kiev as Ukraine crisis talks restart
Troops loyal to Ukraine's President Viktor Yushchenko tried to enter the capital Kiev yesterday, the interior ministry said, as the feuding president and prime minister restarted crisis talks.

Japan under pressure over Lanka aid
An international human rights group is lobbying Sri Lanka's top donor Japan to exert greater pressure on the island nation to address spiralling violence.

Asylum-seekers will be allowed to stay in Netherlands
Some 25,000 asylum-seekers whose applications for refuge were rejected will be allowed to stay, the newly installed Dutch government said yesterday, reversing the previous administration's hardline immigration

China, Russia embolden Myanmar to snub pressure: Analysts
Economic and diplomatic support from China and Russia is allowing military-run Myanmar to rebuff international calls for the release of democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, experts said yesterday.

Pak rape victim resigns from aid centre
Pakistan's internationally known gang-rape victim Mukhtar Mai said yesterday she has resigned as head of a government centre for women in distress.

Heavy rains leave 43 dead in China
Heavy rains in southwest China have left at least 43 people dead in the past week, state media reported yesterday.

Two Indian soldiers killed in Kashmir
Two Indian soldiers were killed and one wounded yesterday in separate attacks in Indian-held Kashmir along the heavily militarised border with Pakistan, security officials said.

Akihito starts Lithuania visit
Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko arrived in Lithuania yesterday, on the penultimate stop of a European tour, which has taken the Japanese royals into former Soviet territory for the firsttime.

First lung transplant on HIV-positive patient in Italy
An Italian hospital has carried out the first ever transplant of two lungs into a patient with HIV, who is doing well after the operation, a spokeswoman said.

US to reject climate deal: Activists
The United States is preparing to reject new targets on climate change at a Group of Eight summit next month, dashing German and British hopes for a new global pact on carbon emissions, according to a

Chinese military equipment for Philippines
China is to give 1.2 million dollars in military engineering equipment to the Philippines in its third such donation since 2006, a defence official said yesterday.