Thursday, April 15, 2010

FP morning post 4/15


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bombings target Burmese New Year celebrations

Top news: The bombs ripped through New Year's celebrations in Burma's largest city, Yangon today. Estimated casualties run as high as 20 dead and 70 wounded. The bombings occurred around 3 p.m. local time near pavilions set up for the four-day festival marking the new year, at which revelers traditionally douse each other in water and white powder.

Burma's military government has blamed the attacks on "terrorists" but has not specified who might be behind them. It is the worst attack on Yangon since a supermarket bombing in 2005, which killed 11 people. That attack was blamed on rebels representing the country's Karen ethnic group as well as the political opposition. Tension between the government and rebel groups has been growing in recent weeks as the military has been attempting to forcibly recruit rebel fighters into a new border-patrol force.

Burma is expected to hold a general election later this year, though a specific date has not been specified. Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been under intermittent house arrest for the last 21 years, will not be permitted to participate.

Sports: World Cup tickets went on sale in South Africa today.

 
Asia
  • Gunfire broke out as supporters of ousted Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev clashed with opponents at a rally.
  • Thailand's Prime Minister says he will not step down as protests continue in Bangkok.
  • Rescuers battled the elements as they worked to bring aid to earthquake-hit Qinhai province, where the death toll has risen above 600.
Europe
  • Ash from Iceland's recently erupted Eyjafjallajokull volcano has forced Britain, Ireland, and Sweden to close their airspace.
  • Russia has suspended all adoptions to the United States after a boy was "returned" from Tennessee to Moscow last week.
  • Britain will hold its first ever televised election debates today.
Middle East
  • Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is reportedly the prime suspect in a major bribery investigation.
  • The U.S. is pressing the U.N. security council for a comprehensive arms embargo on Iran.
  • Syria says that Israeli accusations that it provided Scud missiles to Hezbollah are a pretext for a military strike.
Africa
  • Sudan's ruling party has accused the South Sudanese military of killing nine of its officials.
  • Human Rights Watch has condemned what it says is widespread abuse at Islamic schools in Senegal.
  • The U.S. and South Africa signed a deal to promote more international exchanges.
Americas
 
-By Joshua Keating
http://link.email.foreignpolicy.com/r/RNNFRWP/85UV/Z2P3/XIDE/M9SS9/MQ/h

AFP/AFP/Getty Images
http://link.email.foreignpolicy.com/r/RNNFRWP/85UV/Z2P3/XIDE/M9SS1/MQ/h

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