Rights Groups Say South Ossetian Militias Burning Georgian Villages

In ethnic-Georgian villages across South Ossetia, the stories are disturbingly similar. Paramilitary irregulars roll into town, pack their cars and trucks with anything and everything of value, burn all the houses to the ground, and move on.

Nadia Terashvili, a resident of the Georgian enclave of Beloti, had heard what happened to nearby villages, and knew what to expect when South Ossetian militias showed up. After a harrowing escape from the smoldering ruins of what was once her hometown, Terashvili ended up with other internally displaced persons in the city of Gori.
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Human rights advocates who have been monitoring the situation in the pro-Moscow separatist region since the conflict ended say stories like Terashvili's, combined with satellite images, show that the destruction of Georgian villages in South Ossetia is methodical and organized.

"For a month we have observed the systematic destruction of houses in Georgian enclaves and villages in South Ossetia," says Tatyana Lokshina, a Russia researcher with Human Rights Watch (HRW).



S. Korea to import 7.5 mln tons of natural gas per year from Russia

SEOUL, Sept 30 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to import 7.5 million tons of Russian natural gas per year beginning in 2015 via a pipeline running through North Korea to ensure a steady supply of fuel for the resource-strapped country, the government said Monday.

The preliminary deal reached in Moscow on the sidelines of the South Korea-Russian summit meeting is expected to be the largest single bilateral economic cooperation project between the two countries, valued at more thanUS$100 billion, the Ministry of Knowledge Economy said.

"Under the deal signed by Korea Gas Corp. and Gazprom, 10 billion cubic meters of natural gas will be imported every year for 30 years," said Vice Energy Minister Lee Jae-hoon.



Russia Hopes To Deploy New Nuclear Missile Next Year

MOSCOW (Reuters) -- Russia hopes to deploy a new submarine-launched nuclear missile next year, underlining Moscow's determination to upgrade its nuclear strike forces, a senior defense official has been quoted as saying.



EU Says South Ossetia Likely Closed To Monitors

TBILISI (Reuters) -- The head of the European Union's monitoring mission to Georgia has said it would be unrealistic to expect Russian forces to grant the monitors access to breakaway South Ossetia in the near future.

German diplomat Hansjoerg Haber told Reuters the cease-fire monitors would try to deal with the South Ossetian police to make the de facto border more "porous" for trade and to mediate between police on either side.



Gunmen in Mexico steal suspected drug planes

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Police in Mexico say 20 heavily armed men have stolen five small planes that the army seized in anti-drug operations.

The federal Attorney General's office said in a statement Tuesday that the gunmen tied up a local police officer who was guarding the aircraft in the Pacific Coast state of Sinaloa.




David Kay: Iran 2-5 years from building bomb

Iran is two years to five years away from being able to produce a nuclear weapon, the former head of the US weapons-hunting team in Iraq said Wednesday. But David Kay said the US should not consider bombing Iranian nuclear facilities unless the weapon was about to be transferred to a terrorist group.

Kay, who led the Iraq Survey Group from 2003 until early 2004, said the US should line up international support to pressure Iran to give up on a nuclear weapon, while also preparing for the strong possibility that effort will fail. Preparations could include offering security guarantees to Iran's neighbors and shoring up Middle East stability and economic growth.




Iran Seeks to Build $4 bln Gas Pipeline to Europe

Iran is seeking to build a $4 billion natural-gas pipeline to the European Union that may rival projects backed by the EU and Russia. Iran in talks with a ""renowned European company"" that may operate the so-called Pars Pipeline, Deputy Oil Minister Akbar Torkan said in an interview in Tehran today.

""Surely, European countries are thinking about creating a lifeline in addition to Russia,"" Torkan said. ""Countries that believe buying gas from Iran is important enough and that dont want to be manipulated by others will collaborate.""



India, France sign nuclear deal

India and France have signed a nuclear cooperation agreement, which will allow the sale of civilian nuclear technology to Delhi.

The agreement marks a key step in India's bid to boost its nuclear program.

It currently has 22 reactors, but faces a critical shortage of energy to supply the economy.




US approves Indian nuclear deal

The US Senate has approved a nuclear deal with India, ending a three-decade ban on US nuclear trade with Delhi.

The 86-13 vote was the last legislative hurdle in a process that began when an agreement was reached in 2005.

The deal will give India access to US civilian nuclear technology and fuel in return for inspections of its civilian, but not military, nuclear facilities.



Blasts in Crowded India Market Kill 2, Injure at Least 100


GAUHATI, India — A series of blasts exploded in crowded markets in India's remote northeast on Wednesday, killing two people and injuring at least 100.

The first of four blasts went off at 7:30 p.m. when markets in Agartala, the state capital of Tripura, were packed with shoppers during the Muslim holiday of Eid al-Fitr and ahead of a Hindu holiday on Thursday.

Three more blasts went off at nearby markets over the next 90 minutes, said senior police official Shreyesh.




Scores killed in stampede at Indian temple

JODHPUR, India: At least 147 people died in a stampede Tuesday at a temple in Rajasthan State as Hindus gathered to begin one of the most important religious festivals of the year, the police said.

A handful of people fell while climbing a steep slope toward the Chamunda temple, which is inside a hilltop fort near Jodhpur, triggering the stampede and the crush, a Reuters photographer at the scene said.

Officials said the crowds at the temple were especially large Tuesday, as pilgrims gathered for the start of Navratri, a nine-day festival. Estimates put the size of the crowd between 12,000 and 20,000.




Spain finds biggest migrant boat

Spanish coastguards have rescued 230 Africans - in what is thought to be the largest single boatload of illegal immigrants to reach Spain.

Coastguards brought the migrants ashore after the open-top fishing vessel was spotted by a rescue plane 80km (50 miles) off the Canary Islands.

Spanish officials believe the migrants spent four days at sea, after setting out from Mauritania in West Africa.



Island wait for boat people

THE first boatload of people to be intercepted off Australia's coast by the Rudd Government arrived at Christmas Island yesterday, but the lack of detail on the detainees has drawn accusations of secrecy from the Opposition.

The navy detected a boat with 11 male passengers, one female passenger and two crewmen off Ashmore Reef on Monday. The group was transferred to Australia's detention facility in the Indian Ocean by Customs.



Israel to purchase 25 new Lockheed jets

The US Government on Tuesday said it approved the sale to Israel of 25 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft built by Lockheed Martin Corp and an option for 50 more in coming years – a deal valued at up to $15.2 billion.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), which oversees major arms sales, said the deal is vital to US national security interests to assist Israel as it develops and maintains "a strong and ready self-defense capability."

Israel needs the aircraft to enhance its air-to-air and air-to-ground defense, the agency said.




PA, Hamas mutually release prisoners

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Tuesday ordered the release of 40 Hamas members from PA prisons in the West Bank as a "goodwill gesture" to the Islamic movement on the occasion of the Muslim feast of Id al-Fitr.

The decision came two days after Hamas released 30 Fatah members who were being held in its prisons in the Gaza Strip. The Hamas government said that move was also a "goodwill gesture" for the Muslim holiday.

The release of the Hamas and Fatah prisoners is likely to pave the way for the resumption of reconciliation talks between the two parties in Cairo early next month.




Congo rebel 'to expand rebellion'

Renegade Congolese General Laurent Nkunda has told the BBC he is now fighting to "liberate" the whole of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Until now, he had always claimed to be protecting his Tutsi people against Rwandan Hutu armed groups in the east.

Gen Nkunda said he was walking out of a January peace deal. Recent fighting between his troops and the army has led more than 100,000 people to flee.



National Grid says power prices may rise sharply

National Grid has given warning that there could be further sharp rises in electricity prices this winter amid mounting fears that Britain is facing a supply squeeze.

The power grid operator said that the loss of a number of key power stations for maintenance meant that the cushion of spare generating capacity is tight, particularly next month.

In an annual report intended to help big energy users to plan for winter, National Grid insisted that there would be enough power to meet overall demand. However, it noted that wholesale electricity prices might have to rise still higher from current record levels to encourage the operators of spare plants to bring on emergency capacity during peak demand periods.




European bank rescue plan in tatters amid savings stampede

Plans for a pan-European response to the global financial crisis lay in tatters last night as Greece followed Ireland in unilaterally guaranteeing all bank deposits.

Amid reports that Greek depositors were rushing to withdraw their savings, Greece's Cabinet agreed to protect all deposits whatever their size. Previously the maximum guaranteed was €20,000 (£15,600).

A proposal by President Sarkozy of France to create a European €300 billion bailout fund also collapsed, leaving attempts on this side of the Atlantic to calm investor panic and lubricate the money markets in chaos.



U.S. Officials Say Three Somali Pirates Dead After Shoot Out During Muslim Feast


MOGADISHU, Somalia — Disagreements between Somali pirates holding a ship laden with tanks and heavy weapons escalated into a shootout and three pirates are believed dead, a U.S. defense official said Tuesday. The pirates denied the report.

The U.S. destroyer USS Howard and several other American ships have surrounded the Ukrainian cargo ship Faina, which was hijacked Thursday and is now anchored off the lawless coast of Somalia. The pirates have demanded a ransom of $20 million and the U.S. Navy cordon aims to prevent them from taking any of the weapons ashore.




EU force to fight Somali pirates

The European Union has agreed to establish an anti-piracy security operation off the coast of Somalia.

French Defence Minister Herve Morin said at least eight countries have agreed to take part.
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The French announcement was made after a meeting of EU defence ministers at Deauville, in northern France.

"There is very broad European willingness," said Mr Morin. "Many countries want to take part."
"We have (been) given a mandate to continue the planning for the launch of this operation in the month of November."

The announcement came as the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) reported a further three attempts to seize ships overnight.



Exterminate that Plague of Pirates


SOMALI pirates got a shock last week: The ship they seized carried dozens of Russian-built tanks, along with a wealth of heavy weapons and ammo. It was more than they'd bargained for.

As I write, the Faina sits at anchor off a notorious pirate port, its crew held captive by 30 or more Somalis. US Navy warships circle the vessel. Our helicopters buzz its deck.

We don't want that weaponry falling into terrorist hands. The Somalis lack the facilities to unload 40-ton tanks, but the smaller weapons aboard would delight the local al Qaeda franchise.

But we don't know what to do next. Neither do the pirates, who caught a whale by the tail. We'd like them to drop their $20-million ransom demand. They'd like us to go away. Meanwhile, the pirates may have killed a number of their own for opaque reasons.




Meat must be rationed to four portions a week, says report on climate change

People will have to be rationed to four modest portions of meat and one litre of milk a week if the world is to avoid run-away climate change, a major new report warns.

The report, by the Food Climate Research Network, based at the University of Surrey, also says total food consumption should be reduced, especially "low nutritional value" treats such as alcohol, sweets and chocolates.




Human remains found at site of Steve Fossett plane crash

Search teams scouring the rugged terrain of California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains discovered human remains last night in the wreckage of the aircraft flown by the missing adventurer Steve Fossett.

An aerial rescue team found Fossett’s Bellanca aircraft 10,000ft up a mountain after a hiker came across several of the aviator’s belongings in a bush more than a year after the disappeared.
The items included two identity cards, Fossett’s pilot’s licence, and $1,005 (£570) in cash. The hiker, Preston Morrow, 43, who works in a sports shop, said that he did not initially recognise Fossett’s name.



Wolfowitz up to more mischief?

WASHINGTON - Just 15 months after being forced to resign as president of the World Bank over a conflict of interest regarding his professional and personal relationship with his girlfriend, former deputy defense secretary Paul Wolfowitz may be involved in another, far more geostrategic conflict of interest.

It involves his dual roles as chairman of the State Department's International Security Advisory Board (ISAB) and chairman of the US-Taiwan Business Council. Among the latter's US members are military contractors who have been dying to get the George W Bush administration's approval to sell about US$11 billion worth of arms to the island to protect it against the threat of an attack by the mainland.