Gates blasts NATO, questions future of alliance
"The blunt reality is that there will be dwindling appetite and patience in the U.S. Congress - and in the American body politic writ large - to expend increasingly precious funds on behalf of nations that are apparently unwilling to devote the necessary resources or make the necessary changes to be serious and capable partners in their own defense," he said.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/ ... 0-05-30-38====
Suicide bomber kills 4 in northern Afghanistan
...outside a mosque where a remembrance ceremony was being held Friday for a top Afghan police commander, killing four police officers
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/ ... 0-03-35-00====
'Toxic chemicals in US drone strikes'
Experts revealed that those Pakistani civilians who have come under the unauthorized drone airstrike in Pakistan's troubled northwest have been afflicted with complicated skin, eye and respiratory diseases due to the deadly chemical materials used in the missiles....
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183994.html====
Russian colonel who killed Chechen girl is shot dead
...by unidentified people on Komsomolsky Prospekt, a busy avenue in the capital,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13725805====
Cost of Libya war soaring for US
A Pentagon document called the “United States Contribution to Operation Unified Protector,” indicates that Washington has spent $664 million in the Libya war by mid-May, The Financial Times reported on Thursday.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/184023.html====
Alabama passes tough immigration law
The new legislation, similar to one passed last year in Arizona, requires schools to find out if students are there illegally.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13723352====
Unsalaried Lords paid £6m in 3 months
The figure released by the parliament show a significant rise in comparison with the almost £4.25 million peers received in the last three months of 2009, despite earlier pledges by the Senior Salaries Review Board that the new system will be “cost neutral”.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183890.html====
Iraq will ask US troops to stay post-2011, says Panetta
Panetta said he had "every confidence that a request like that will be forthcoming".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-13722786====
Mexico drugs war: Corruption grows on US border
...targeting American border guards and customs agents with bribes and
sexual favours....
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13723991====
Guatemala disappearance: Former police chief arrested
Two former policemen were jailed 40 years each in 2010 for their role.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-13722568====
Libya Contact Group meets in UAE
During the meeting on Thursday, several Western countries, including the US and Australia recognized the [puppet] Transitional National Council (TNC) as "the legitimate interlocutor" of the Libyan people.
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183991.html====
NI schools to make 314 teachers redundant
In 2010, less than two thirds of that number were made redundant.
Trade unions and principals have warned this is "the tip of the iceberg" and that the situation will worsen.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13717183====
South West Trains chaos: Delayed passengers break out
Services were halted near Woking, Surrey, on Thursday night following a signalling problem caused by a possible attempted theft of cable.
FILE UNDER LIBYA
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-13723005====
Botswana civil servants suspend 8-week strike
...unions had agreed to the suspend the action in order to "restrategize" after clashes between striking workers and police this week across the country.
http://af.reuters.com/article/worldNews ... O620110610====
Hedge funds 'grabbing land' in Africa
In a report, the Oakland Institute said hedge funds and other foreign firms had acquired large swathes of African land, often without proper contracts.
It said the acquisitions had displaced millions of small farmers.
(Link to OI)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13688683====
