The Editor on April 21st, 2008
Gaza Conflict Plays Out Online Through Social Media
Palestinians and Israelis are telling their stories with text messages and social media tools such as Twitter and Facebook. Now the mainstream media and the Israeli government are getting into the act.
(read more)U.N.-Run School In Gaza Hit By Israeli Fire; 40 Dead
Heavy clashes on the outskirts of Gaza City between Israeli troops and Palestinian militants on Tuesday left more than a dozen people dead as the Israeli navy pounded shore positions and ground forces pushed slowly into heavily populated urban areas of the Gaza Strip.
(read more)Critics Say France's Sarkozy Not Helping Gaza
French President Nicolas Sarkozy is on a cease-fire mission to the Middle East. While his country no longer holds the European Union presidency, Sarkozy says it is France's duty to look for all paths to peace. Critics say Sarkozy is on a power trip after his six-month stint as diplomatic head of Europe. They accuse him of muddying EU efforts to broker a cease-fire.
(read more)3 Israeli Soldiers Killed In Gaza Offensive
Palestinians say Israeli attacks on Gaza intensified before dawn Tuesday. Israeli soldiers seized several buildings inside Gaza City. Late Monday, three Israeli soldiers were killed by what Israeli officials say was an errant tank round. An international diplomatic effort to bring about a cease-fire is making no progress.
(read more)French Warship Thwarts Pirate Attack
Warships from several countries are making some headway against pirates who've been attacking merchant vessels off the coast of Somalia. A French warship last week successfully captured eight pirates as they tried to board a Panamanian cargo vessel. The ship's captain, Lt. Cmdr. Alexis Beatrix, said his crew fired "an intimidating warning shot."
(read more)Lebanese Palestinians Unite On Israel-Gaza Fighting
There are splits within the Palestinian community in Lebanon between those who support the Palestinian Authority and peace talks, and those who support Hamas and its rejection of Israel. But all the major Palestinian factions in Lebanon have made a point of working together during the Gaza conflict.
(read more)Natural Gas Powers Russian-German Ties
Germany is the biggest customer of Russia's state natural gas monopoly, Gazprom. It supplies more than 40 percent of Germany's gas. Some worry that Russia is using its natural resources as a political weapon, but others say the influence goes both ways.
(read more)Egypt Sends Ambulances Into Gaza
Some Egyptian ambulances have been allowed into the embattled Gaza Strip, presumably to pick up badly wounded civilians for treatment in Egyptian hospitals. Israeli warplanes and drones remain active along the frontier, drawing fire from Hamas militants.
(read more)Fighting In Gaza Overwhelms Medical System
The heaviest fighting in the Gaza Strip since the 1967 Six Day War is taking an enormous toll on the territory's civilians. The medical system is particularly strained. Medical personnel are struggling under dangerous conditions and with limited supplies.
(read more)Shooting Crime Scenes In Juarez, Mexico
Violence plagues the city, just over the border from El Paso, Texas. We meet with a a newspaper photographer, whose days are spent shooting crime scenes.
(read more)Middle East Conflict Highlights Opposing Views On Peace
Israeli forces launched a deadly ground attack against Hamas this weekend. The move is in response to Hamas firing rockets into southern Israel. Vivian Silver, of Negev Institute for Strategies of Peace and Development in Israel, and Abu Sahmi, of the Palestinian Dialogue Center, discuss the conflict's impact and the divided argument on how peace can be achieved.
(read more)South African Heroine Remembered
Helen Suzman, a member of South Africa's parliament from 1953 to 1989, died on New Year's Day at the age 91. Professor Glenn Frankel at Stanford University for more on the powerful life and political career of Helen Suzman.
(read more)Israelis Press Gaza Offensive; Truce Efforts Begin
As Israeli forces pound Hamas fighters, civilian casualties mount. French President Nicolas Sarkozy is in the region to spearhead efforts for a cease-fire. Israeli troops have surrounded Gaza City and are in the third day of a ground offensive.
(read more)Parents Question Chinese Milk Compensation Plan
Verdicts are expected soon in the ongoing scandal over tainted milk in China. So far, the contaminated milk has killed six children and sickened nearly 300,000. The government last week announced details of a compensation plan. Some victims' families are questioning the plan, saying the amounts are too low.
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