US to warn Americans to be vigilant in Europe

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration will warn U.S. citizens to be vigilant as they travel in Europe, providing updated guidance prompted by al-Qaida threats, American and European officials told The Associated Press on Saturday.

Such a move could have negative implications for European tourism, business and diplomacy if travelers fear there’s a possibility of terror attacks.

The State Department will issue a “travel alert” for Europe on Sunday morning that advises Americans to stay vigilant on the continent because of threat information, senior U.S. officials told the AP. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because a final decision has not been announced.

“This travel alert is a cumulative result of information we have received over an extended period,” one senior administration official said. “We are constantly monitoring a range of threat streams

AU appoints celebrities as peace envoys

ADDIS ABABA: The African Union has appointed famous politicians, musicians, sportsmen and women as advisors and special envoys to promote its peace efforts across the continent.

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AU appoints celebrities as peace envoys

Obama warns Africans over Shebab, Al-Qaeda

WASHINGTON: President Barack Obama has warned after the Uganda bombings that groups like Shebab and Al-Qaeda saw Africa as a place where life was cheap and innocents could be killed for little political cost.

In an interview with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to be broadcast early Wednesday, the US leader, who is of African descent, took aim at the motivations of extremists who are increasingly active on the continent.

“What you’ve seen in some of the statements that have been made by these terrorist organizations is that they do not regard African life as valuable in and of itself,” Obama said.

“They see it as a potential place where you can carry out ideological battles that kill innocents without regard to long-term consequences for their short-term tactical gains.”

Obama”s interview marked the first, direct, comments by the president on the bombings in Kampala, which sowed death among crowds watching footage of the World Cup final on Sunday, killing 76 people.

A senior American official made clear Obama was making a direct political and ideological challenge to Al-Qaeda affiliates on the continent, which US intelligence agencies say are the extremist group”s most active franchises.

“The president references the fact that both US intelligence and past Al-Qaeda actions make clear that Al-Qaeda and the groups like (Shebab) that they inspire — do not value African life.

“In short, Al-Qaeda is a racist organization that treats black Africans like cannon fodder and does not value human life,” the official said, on condition of anonymity.

Obama also dwelt in the interview on the cruel timing of the attacks, after a different US official earlier gave credence to Somalia-based Shebab”s claim to have carried them out.

“It was so tragic and ironic to see an explosion like this take place when people in Africa were celebrating and watching the World Cup take place in South Africa,” he said in excerpts released by the White House.

“On the one hand, you have a vision of an Africa on the move, an Africa that is unified, an Africa that is modernizing and creating opportunities.

“On the other hand, you?ve got a vision of Al-Qaeda and (Shebab) that is about destruction and death.

“And I think it presents a pretty clear contrast in terms of the future that most Africans want for themselves and their children.

“And we need to make sure that we are doing everything we can to support those who want to build, as opposed to want to destroy.”

The blasts that ripped through a crowded bar and a restaurant in Kampala on Sunday have been claimed by Shebab insurgents in Somalia, who called them retaliation for the presence of Ugandan troops in Mogadishu.

The bombings — for which the death toll had risen to 76 overnight — were the deadliest in East Africa since Al-Qaeda attacks against the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1988.

They were the first ever attack by the Shebab outside Somalia, marking an unprecedented internationalization of Somalia”s 20-year-old civil war.

Strong earthquake shakes northern Japan

TOKYO: A strong earthquake rattled northern Japan on Sunday, and authorities said no tsunami was expected in the area.

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Strong earthquake shakes northern Japan

Ethnic rioting spreads in Kyrgyzstan, 80 dead

OSH, Kyrgyzstan: Ethnic violence is spreading across southern Kyrgyzstan, where at least 80 people have been killed and more than 1,000 wounded.

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Ethnic rioting spreads in Kyrgyzstan, 80 dead

Alaskans recruited for film about whales

ANCHORAGE, USA: A production company is looking for Alaskans to play dozens of roles for an upcoming Drew Barrymore movie being filmed in the state.

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Alaskans recruited for film about whales

Jason Mraz visits Ghana to help end slavery

NEW YORK: While Shakira, the Black Eyed Peas and other top musicians are in Africa to help kick off the World Cup, singer Jason Mraz was on the continent for another reason: to help free slaves.

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Jason Mraz visits Ghana to help end slavery

Lena Meyer

Germany’s Lena Meyer-Landrut has won the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, edging out performers from Turkey and Romania.

Meyer-Landrut, who turned 19 during the competition in Norway, sang the upbeat, dance-floor friendly Satellite, which was one of the favourites to win.

This is the second time that Germany has won in the songfest’s 55-year history. It will host next year’s contest.

This year’s competition was overshadowed by the continent’s financial woes, with four countries pulling out for lack of funds.

The contest is decided by a panel of judges and telephone voting from people in the 39 participating countries.Speaking earlier this week, Waterman admitted it was “highly unlikely” the UK would win this year’s competition.

But he added: “There is always an outside chance that something bizarre might happen.”

The contest, held at the Telenor Arena in Oslo, Norway, was watched by an estimated 150 million people.

It was filled with the usual entertainment including a range of ballads, unusual props and costumes such as dresses which turned into butterfly wings.

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Six international soldiers killed in Kabul attack: NATO

May 18, 2010 by Trend PK  
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KABUL: Six international soldiers were killed and several wounded when a suicide car bomb attacked near a NATO convoy in the Afghan capital Kabul on Tuesday, the US-led force said.

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IATA slams Europe”s handling of volcanic ash crisis

May 18, 2010 by Trend PK  
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GENEVA: Aviation association IATA criticised European governments on Tuesday over the volcanic ash crisis, saying that they were making neither effective nor consistent decisions on airspace restrictions.

“The current European-wide system to decide on airspace closures is not working,” said Giovanni Bisignani, the director-general of the International Air Transport Association.

“We have lost confidence in the ability of Europe”s governments to make effective and consistent decisions. Using the same data, different countries have come to different conclusions on opening or closing airspace,” he added.

Plumes of thick ash from Iceland”s Eyjafjoell volcano, which in April shut down much of Europe”s airspace for a week last month, drifted over the continent Monday, closing major airports again and cancelling some 1,000 flights.

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