the hidden hand

1. Iran says foreign interference behind unrest

TEHRAN, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said on Tuesday that foreign interference were behind recent unrest and anti-government protests in Tehran and other cities in Iran.

Speaking to reporters at a weekly press conference, Mehmanparast said, "We strongly condemn such actions," adding that this kind of interference violates the values and principals of all countries. He said that the Western countries made a miscalculation again by siding with the anti-government protestors.

"They prefer backing some thousand people to supporting a whole nation of 70,000,000 people," he said, adding that Britain's ambassador in Tehran would be summoned.

read more @ chinaview



2. Africa: drug trade fund terrorist activities

In only five years, Sub-Saharan Africa has become the new hub for drug cartels from Latin America trying to gain entry into Europe. North Africa has not been spared from the drug trade as terrorist groups seek to take advantage of the growing phenomenon.

The alert confirms the fears of most African and Western countries. Terrorist organizations have resorted to the use of income from drug trafficking to finance their operations in the Sahel region of Africa; a situation that could seriously affect the Maghreb.

The announcement was made, Tuesday, by a senior UN official, Antonio Maria Costa, director of the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) based in Vienna, during an address to the Security Council in the context of a debate on drug trafficking in Africa. The debate was organized under the auspices of Burkina Faso, which chairs the Council this month.

Sahara a transit point

"We have acquired evidence that the two streams of illicit drugs — heroin into Eastern Africa and cocaine into West Africa — are now meeting in the Sahara, creating new trafficking routes across Chad, Niger and Mali," said Antonio Maria Costa.

read more @ afrik.com

3. 3 Saudi tourists killed by gunmen near Niger-Mali border

Three Saudi tourists were killed by unidentified gunmen while traveling in a car near the Mali-Niger border, according to a Niger government spokesperson.

Near the Mali-Niger border in the village of Djambala on Monday, unidentified gunmen shot three tourists who were Saudi nationals, while traveling by car, according to Khaleej Times. Three other people in the group of eight were seriously wounded in the attack and were immediately transported to a Niamey hospital. The group consisted of six Saudis and two Malians as they travelled to Mali. Niger Communication Minister Kassoum Moctar said, reports BBC News, “Niger's government deplores these barbarous acts that were unfortunately perpetrated on its territory, and offers its condolences to the Saudi government.” According to Reuters, four Westerners are believed to be held hostage by al-Qaeda in the Mali region. In December 2008, three Canadians were taken hostage by al-Qaeda but released in April.

source: digital journal



4. oh Hey! Margaret says: DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE SWINE FLU.

It is too early to declare that the swine flu pandemic has peaked worldwide and many more people could become sick with the virus this winter, the head of the World Health Organisation said in an interview published on Tuesday.

The swine flu outbreak has peaked in the United States, Canada and some other countries in the northern hemisphere, Dr. Margaret Chan, she told the Geneva daily Le Temps.

“It is too early to assert that we have passed the peak of the flu A pandemic at worldwide level,” she said. “Not all the countries are there yet. Winter is still long,” said Ms. Chan.

Africa and some poor countries in Asia have not seen a surge in the number of swine flu cases, which could be due to weak reporting or because the full outbreak there may be yet to come, she told the newspaper.

read more @ the hindu


5. bona fide pissed off people

in India: The ongoing agitation for Statehood to Andhra Pradesh’s Telangana region intensified on Tuesday as thousands of people from all walks of life came on to the streets in various districts to press for their demand.


in Pakistan: Angry mob attacked government buildings, markets, banks and torched vehicles in the south Pakistani city of Karachi after a deadly suicide attack on a religious procession.