Officials in Washington praise Colombian government for commando operation that freed 15 hostages including a former Colombian presidential candidate and three US military contractors

rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rThe Palestinian Centre for Human rights published a new report entitled “Extra-judicial executions … Official, Declared Israeli Policy” covering Israeli extra-judicial executions against Palestinians during the period from 1 August 2006 till 30 June 2008. The report is the ninth of its kind in a special series.

rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rSince early January the Palestinian village of al-Khader located near Bethlehem in the West Bank has protested against Israel’s construction of the Apartheid Wall and Jewish-only settlements built on village land every week. Al-Khader is known in the region for its vineyards which produce excellent-quality grapes. Adri Nieuwhof writes from al-Khader.

rr r r r rr r rr r rr r rr rr rrr rFive days into the long awaited Gaza ceasefire, Israel allowed the entry of tissues and sanitary napkins into Gaza as a form of “good will.” Simultaneously, it carried out an early morning raid against a student hostel in Nablus, killing two Palestinians in their beds. Dr. Eyad al-Sarraj comments on what it will take for a permanent lifting of the siege and resisting of Israeli colonial designs.

Comment of foreign ministry comes day after reporters asked top US military official whether forces have authority to go after al-Qaida and taliban leaders in Pakistan's tribal areas without permission

In other developments, US military says coalition forces killed at least two suspected militants since Wednesday

Abdul Aziz Ashur, other defendants, were in court facing charges for their role in May attack on Khartoum and its suburb, Omdurman

The U.S. military touts the relative security of Anbar — once one of the most restive areas in Iraq — after working with tribal sheiks to combat al-Qaida. But the rise of the sheiks has set off a new political conflict, and tensions still simmer beneath the surface. Last week, a bomber blew himself up at a sheiks council meeting, highlighting the problems of infiltration in the ranks.

Some doubt whether additional sanctions will move the government of President Robert Mugabe, which has long thumbed its nose at such Western measures

AP - Syria has returned a marble artifact to Iraq that was stolen from one of the country's archaeological sites.