US soldier killed in northern Iraq

BAGHDAD: The U.S. military says an American soldier has been killed by a roadside blast in Diyala province north of Iraq.

In a statement, the military said the death of the soldier from U.S. Division-North is under investigation.

The death raises to at least 4,394 the number of U.S. military personnel who have died in Iraq since the war began in March 2003.

Thai soldier shot in clashes with protesters

BANGKOK: A Thai soldier was shot in the head during clashes Wednesday between security forces and anti-government protesters in Bangkok, an army spokesman said.

Emergency services said 16 people were wounded in the standoff, which came as soldiers and police fired warning shots and blocked a convoy of “Red Shirt” protesters who had left their fortified rally base in Bangkok.

“One soldier was shot in his head,” said army spokesman Major General Dithapron Sasasamit, adding that the soldier”s condition was unclear.

Sarkozy slams Israel PM”s ”foot-dragging” on peace: report

JERUSALEM: French President Nicolas Sarkozy has slammed Israel”s prime minister for “foot-dragging” amid international efforts to relaunch the Middle East peace process, an Israeli newspaper said Wednesday.

Citing unnamed officials, the centre-left Haaretz said Sarkozy had voiced disappointment with the hawkish Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a “very difficult” meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres.

“I”m disappointed with him,” Sarkozy reportedly said. “With the friendship, sympathy and commitment we have toward Israel, we still can”t accept this foot-dragging. I don”t understand where Netanyahu is going or what he wants.”

The comments were made during a meeting with Peres in Paris two weeks ago in which Sarkozy criticised Netanyahu for the first 15 minutes, the paper said.

Peres reportedly said that “trust between Israel and the Palestinians has been undermined,” but that Israel had accepted a two-state solution in principle and taken steps to boost the Palestinian economy in the West Bank.

The United States has for months led international efforts to press both sides to relaunch peace negotiations last suspended after the outbreak of the Gaza war in December 2008.

Netanyahu has called for direct talks with the Palestinians but they have refused to meet with him face-to-face unless he halts all settlement construction in the occupied West Bank including annexed east Jerusalem.

The dispute over settlements boiled over into a rare public spat between Israel and its closest ally the United States last month, and Israel has faced a chorus of criticism over the settlements from Western leaders.

Billy Gillispie

Billy Gillispie, In an effort to not let Rick Pitino and John Calipari dominate the headlines, former UK coach Billy Gillispie has been arrested for a DUI early Thursday morning. Gillispie’s passenger, a male friend of his (no, not like that) was cited for alcohol intoxication. The former savior of UK basketball and the man who was supposed to dominate the landscape of college basketball (according to the message board masses) was pulled over around 2:30 am in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. When asked to take a breathalyzer test, Billy G. refused. The best part about this whole thing? When asked what he was doing, Gillispie reportedly said they were returning from playing golf.

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Billy Gillispie was first posted on August 27, 2009 at 8:36 pm.
©2009 “Pakistan News“.