World Watch: From Yellow to black

* China: An emergency cleanup operation has been launched in order to contain over 11,000 barrels of crude oil that has spilled into the Yellow Sea.

* U.K.: BP’s alleged role in release of convicted Lockerbie bomber Abdel Baset al-Megrahi will reportedly be one of the main topics to be discussed during British Prime Minister David Cameron’s visit to the White House.

* South Africa: A three-year study conducted in South Africa found that an experimental vaginal gel cuts the HIV infection rates in 889 women by 50%.

* India: At least 61 people died and nearly 100 were injured after a pair of express trains collided in the eastern part of the country.

Image – MSNBC (“Oil covers the Yellow Sea coast near Dalian, China, on Monday.”)
Online Sources- MSNBC, Xinhua, Reuters, BBC News

World Watch: Hot Hot Heat

* Greece: Firefighters claim that a series of rampant wildfires on the Greek islands including near Athens are starring to be under control.

* Middle East: Will Israeli and Palestinian representatives soon return to the negotiating table? State Department spokesman Ian Kelly said that it’s moving in that direction.

* Scotland: Despite vociferous opposition, Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill defended the move to free Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi due to health reasons.

* U.S.: Lt. William Calley- who was convicted for the infamous 1968 My Lai massacre- reportedly gave his first public apology last week.

Image- AFP (“A firefighter works amid a thick smoke in Pikermi, an eastern Athens residential area on August 24, 2009”).
Online Sources- Xinhua, AFP, BBC News, Voice of America