Spain has given its fellow 'coalition of the willing' allies two weeks notice on its intentions to remove Spanish troops from Iraq, a move which Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero claims will not damage the countries ties with the US. As Deutsche Welle notes though, this will undoubtedly put even additional pressure on US troops stationed there. Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr has responded by urging his followers not to attack Spanish troops. The US-led coalition has announced measures to attempt to halt the standoff, even offering amnesty to the rebels. This comes as ten American soldiers were killed over the weekend in clashes with insurgents and the United States has asked that all its diplomats leave Saudi Arabia for fear of terrorist attack. The Christian Science Monitor reports how the US is concerned that Iran may be playing some sort of a hand in the recent uprising. Due to the unplanned use of equipment during the uprising, the United States has closed two major highways to Baghdad in an attempt to secure supply lines.
Israel has assasinated a top Hamas leader, Abd Al-Aziz al-Rantisi, with a missile strike on his car in Gaza City. Tens of thousands of Palestinians marched in protest against Israel's action, Hamas has vowed a 'volcano of revenge,' and Israel has promised further action against Hamas leaders, even those based in Syria. Much like the assassination of Hamas' spiritual leader Ahmad Yasin in March, other world countries quickly condemned the assassination, with the United Nations Security Council holding an emergency meeting today to discuss the situation. Both the Guardian and the Christian Science Monitor look into how this move could further deepen the Palestinian resistance to Israel and Ha'aretz ponders the motivation behind ordering the attack. In a related issue, Ariel Sharon has pledged to destroy the homes of settlers in the Gaza Strip after the pull out if he does not receive assurances that they will not go to the families of militants, but will invest tens of millions of dollars in the West Bank.
Also:
- After generations in captivity, released rats quickly relearn most skills that are needed to survive in the wild.
- Japanese scientists have developed a method to extract lithium from seawater.
- New 'super-antibodies' can target diseases within cells instead of just on the surface.
- Brits are concerned that an anti-hangover drug might serve to promote binge drinking.
- A new drug injection system developed by scientists at MIT avoids the pain of needles.
- Saudi Arabia is petitioning the United States to change its foreign policy in the middle east, especially with respect to the Palestinian situation.
- Vice President Cheney speaks to a meeting of the NRA, who deny access to the father of a Columbine victim looking to talk to Cheney about extending the assault weapons ban.
- Air America is alive and well despite rumors to the contrary, but the fact that I had to go to the Toronto Star for the story has to say something.
- The IMF issued a warning about future interest rate hikes.
- A landmine-awareness workshop has opened in Ethiopia.
- The New York Times features an article about consumers who refuse to switch from dialup to broadband and other piece on the rise of Christian music.
- The Dalhi Lama spoke in Vancouver over the weekend, urging people to nurture a good heart.
- Lost in Translation is fueling a debate in Japan about whether the movie's stereotypes went too far.
- FAIR goes to bat for al-Jazzera over allegations of biased reporting.
- An ABC feature on a medival music group, complete with sound clips.
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