Hundreds of Darfur rebels near Sudan's capital, clashing with security forces

The Associated Press

CRAWFORD, Texas - The Bush administration said Saturday it was "very concerned" about the outbreak of violence in Sudan between Darfur rebels and government troops and urged both sides to exercise restraint.

"We are very concerned about the situation," White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said in Texas where President Bush was attending his daughter's wedding.

"We would urge that both sides cease hostilities, whether it is the rebel group or any response from the government. We want to see a calm and order restored."

The Associated Press
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
NEW YORK: Members of the Rockefeller family took a fight with Exxon Mobil Corp. public Wednesday, challenging the oil giant spawned by their namesake to split the roles of chairman and CEO and focus more on renewable energy.

The family members, who describe themselves as the company's longest continuous shareholders, said they are concerned that Irving, Texas-based Exxon Mobil is too focused on short-term gains from soaring oil prices and should do more to invest in cleaner technology for the future. Separating the leadership roles, they argue, would better position the company for challenges to come.

15 April 2008

At least 1,200 people were executed in 2007 and many more were killed by the state, in secret, in countries including China, Mongolia and Viet Nam.

The figures come from Amnesty International's yearly statistics, Death Sentences and Executions in 2007, issued on Tuesday, which say that at least 1,252 people were executed in 24 countries and at least 3,347 people were sentenced to death in 51 countries. Up to 27,500 people are estimated to be on death row across the world.

The figures also show an increase in executions in a number of countries. Iran executed at least 317 people, Saudi Arabia 143 and Pakistan 135 – in comparison to 177, 39 and 82 executions respectively in 2006.

By Paulette Cooper

This is the true story of the little blue car. I was visiting my four-year old grandson, Oscar, and was telling him the story of a little girl in an IDP (Internally Displaced Persons Camp) in Darfur, Sudan. I told him that she was so excited because she had a toy. One toy. That’s all—one toy. The toy? It was a small piece of string. She was thrilled to have it. He looked at me in utter disbelief.

“But, Nana, that’s not fair,” he said. He jumped up from the dinner table, ran over to his toy box, dug through it, and brought back the little blue car. He handed it to me and asked me to give it to someone when I went to Darfur. I promised him I would.

When I gave the little blue car to the boy in Darfur, he could not believe it was for him and tried to give it back. I placed it once more in his small hand, wrapped his fingers around the little blue car, squeezed his hand, and walked away so he would know it was his to keep. Our driver took the photograph. Oscar is happy to know that his little blue car was delievered to a child in Darfur.

One example of one little boy making a very big difference in another little boy’s life half way around the world. One person can make a difference in Darfur.

By Damien McElroy, Foreign Affairs Correspondent
Telegraph.co.uk
Last Updated: 2:43am BST07/04/2008

British officials gave warning yesterday that America’s commander in Iraq will declare that Iran is waging war against the US-backed Baghdad government.

A strong statement from General David Petraeus about Iran’s intervention in Iraq could set the stage for a US attack on Iranian military facilities, according to a Whitehall assessment. In closely watched testimony in Washington next week, Gen Petraeus will state that the Iranian threat has risen as Tehran has supplied and directed attacks by militia fighters against the Iraqi state and its US allies.