Middle East
JERUSALEM, Israel—An Israeli naval raid of an aid flotilla headed towards Gaza resulted in nine deaths, sparking international condemnation of Israel’s actions, according to the New York Times. Many of those killed were from Turkey, Israel’s most important ally in the Muslim world, causing the already tense relationship between the two countries to escalate. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the actions, saying they were enforcing a legal blockade and that they were acting in self defense. Israel said the attack was instigated by pro-Palestinian activists who posed as humanitarians but were prepared to fight. Israel had vowed not to let the flotilla, which was carrying 10,000 pounds of aid, get to Gaza, which Hamas took over by force in 2007. The incident will likely intensify international pressure for Israel to abandon the blockade.
South America
GUATEMALA CITY, Guatemala – Agatha, the first named tropical storm of Pacific Hurricane season, hit Central America hard last weekend, leaving more than 100 dead. Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador have been reported as the countries hit the hardest by the tropical storm. Guatemalan President Alvaro Colom stated that approximately 112,000 people have been evacuated and displaced in his address to the nation late Sunday. Honduras, with 14 dead and 3,500 evacuated, has called a state of emergency. The situation in El Salvador has been clearing up since Monday, as water levels have diminished and the rain has stopped. But more rain is said to be coming and officials are monitoring the situation.
Asia
KABUL, Afghanistan – Two most senior Taliban leaders were killed by a U.S. precision air strike in the Kandahar province, as well as several other members reported the U.S. military on Monday. Taliban commander Haji Amir, along with multiple fighters had stopped at a hut in a small rural area on Sunday morning when the military ordered the air strike. Amir, who escaped from prison in June 2008, was said to have recently been in Pakistan planning Taliban attacks according to a military statement. According to cnn.com, “the U.S. military said [Amir] returned to Afghanistan in April to lead attacks against coalition and Afghan forces.”
Europe
BERLIN, Germany – German President Horst Köhler, resigned Monday after massive criticism for his remarks during his recent visit to Afghanistan. Köhler was criticized for saying on a radio interview with Deutschland Radio that German soldiers serving in Afghanistan were only deployed to protect German economic interests. This sparked such an outrage that Köhler resigned, which is the first time in four decades that a German president has resigned the post. “I regret that my comments in an important and difficult question for our nation were able to lead to misunderstandings,” said Köhler. “This criticism lacks any basis. It also is lacking in the necessary respect for the presidential office.” According to The New York Times, Köhler’s resignation will most likely lead to debate of German soldiers in Afghanistan.
