World Watch: Stranded

* Europe: Over 11,000 flights have been cancelled and clouds have blanketed several European countries due to the massive plumes of ash spewed by Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano.

* Pakistan: Was there some form of government complicity behind the 2007 assassination of Benazir Bhutto?

* China: The death toll from a massive Chinese earthquake has climbed to at least 1144 while over 400 people have been reported missing.

* World: Whaling hunting countries like Japan and Norway and opponents including Australia and Germany may soon come to an agreement over the controversial practice.

Image – New York Times (“A computer enhanced image of the volcano under the Eyjafjallajokull glacier in Iceland taken by the TerraSAR-X satellite on Thursday evening.”)
Online Sources- CNN, Reuters, AP, BBC News

Daily Headlines: July 7, 2009

* Chile: The U.N. investigation into the death of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto started last week and will be led by Chilean ambassador to the U.N. Heraldo Munoz.

* U.S.: Another reason for immigration reform – an alliance of police chiefs said that it would provide better security and improved law enforcement.

* Venezuela: Antonio Ledezma- the Metropolitan Mayor of Caracas- claimed that he will be going on an “indefinite” hunger strike against what he claimed were efforts by the federal government to undermine his authority.

* Peru: The country’s largest labor union is planning a three-day national protest starting today against President Alan Garcia.

Image- BBC News (“Benazir Bhutto was assassinated leaving a party rally in December 2007.”)
Online Sources- LAHT, The Telegraph, AFP, Forbes

Daily Headlines: June 23, 2009

* Mexico: Police have arrested seven local officials and charged them with negligent homicide in the deadly day care fire that killed 47 children.

* U.S.: Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa decided that he will not run for California governor in 2010.

* Latin America: Is President Barack Obama’s apparent change of heart over free trade pacts with Panama and Colombia a sensible move or an ugly flip-flop?

* Chile: Chilean U.N. ambassador Heraldo Muñoz will head a commission to examine the 2007 assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto.

Image- BBC News
Online Sources- UPI, Christian Science Monitor, Bloomberg, MSNBC