Iraq to end contractor 'immunity'

The Iraqi interior minister has said that it set new regulations for private security companies working in Iraq. This has to do with the killing of 11 Iraqi citizens by a security firm called Blackwater. Witnesses said that they randomly shot people. The new code demands that private contractors obey the Iraqi law and that they are being monitored by the Iraqi government. This means that the private contractors lost their immunity and could be now prosecuted for crimes committed in Iraq. The investigation of the death of 11 Iraqi citizens is still going on.

My opinion

I don’t even know why private contractors are allowed to fight in wars. According to the New York Times, private contractors tend to you use more violence, carry excessive weaponry and do not have top training and that you can tell due to the incident that happened with the 11 Iraqi casualties. Private contractors should not in any circumstance be involved in any wars and make profit of it. War is not a business. The Iraqi government should immediately deport these kind of soldiers.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7012853.stm

Inflation mars Ramadan in Egypt

Heavy inflation in Egypt is having an impact on the blessed month of Ramadan. Although the Egyptian economy has increased by 7% this year, the people haven’t yet seen the benefits of it. In fact the opposite happened, prices of essential items like: rice, oil, nuts and sugar have increased by 30% and some even by 50%. The Egyptians are furious, instead of enjoying the Ramadan they are having to make due, because they just can’t afford to buy what they need.

My opinion

It’s is truly sad that these people have to endure this. They looked forward to this joyful month. Due to this, people can’t afford the essential items to make the delicious dishes that they mainly make in this month. I don’t even understand how the inflation there could take place while the economy has increased. The government should inform the Egyptian citizens with what is taking place in their nation.

http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl?tab=av&q=inflation%20egypt&recipe=all&scope=all&edition=

Youth detention facility adds to Iraqis misery

As if it not was enough that the Iraqis lost their family members, homes, jobs, human rights and basically their lives. There is a new misery adding to the daily lives of the Iraqis. Iraqi youths are being detained without knowing for what crime they are charged with. According to an ABC report there was an enormous increase of detainees in the prisons since the US surge began early this year. Numbers increased from 250 in May to 800 till now. Most of the detainees are Sunnis. The ages of the children that are detained are between 11 and 17 years old. Allegations range from theft to murder.

My opinion

I think that the suffering of the Iraqi citizens is already terrible. An innocent child detained for months or maybe years is in my point of view very shameful. These children in this situation don’t even now why they are here as well as what their actions were for being in this horrible situation. They do not even know when their trial is, that is if they have committed a crime let alone the question is if they even get a trial. I think that these children are victims of the new Iraq order. It is a bit suspicious that mainly Sunni Arabs are held in captivity. The U.N should take actions to solve this ongoing problem.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/newsfull.php?newid=43574

Did Prince Harry Hunt Rare Birds?

Prince Harry was questioned by police about the death of two rear birds last week at the royal family’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk . There is still an investigation going on about the killing of the two rare hen harries. The prince and an unidentified friend were nearby the scene where the birds been shot. Press reports say that the two were the only hunters at that time. Because Prince Harry and his friend were both there in that area and time, police asked them if they had any information. The official said that they didn’t know anything about the incident. Perpetrators convicted of killing highly endangered birds could face up to six months incarceration or a £5000 fine. Investigation is still going on.

My opinion

It’s not the first time that Prince Harry got involved in embarrassing incidents. He has been photographed wearing a Nazi Africa Corps uniform complete with swastika armband at a costume party. British press claim that they saw Prince Harry smoking marijuana and drinking under his age. He should finally get punished for his stupid actions. Every individual most face the consequences of his actions, even if he is royal blood.

http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1678421,00.html

China wants role in space station

China looks forward to become a member of the international space station project that already persists of leading space powers such as the United States and Russia. China is proud in its growing space program and wants the world to see that it belongs to one of the leading scientific nations. Chinese newspapers stated that China will launch its first lunar probe at the end of this month. China does not take part in the international space station, due to America’s discomfort with communistic Countries. China shocked the international community in January when it blew up an old satellite with a land-based anti-satellite missile. It was the first test ever carried out by any nation. That test was highly criticized for its military purpose. That same missile could be used to shoot military satellites and can cause dangerous debris in space. But Beijing said it is loyal to the peaceful use of space.


My opinion

China is a hard working nation and deserves to take part in the international space station. America’s sees great danger in China, because every country that has the same abilities as the United States is a potential danger to them. I think that China will use its space programme for a peaceful purpose in the future and I believe that super powers like Russia and the United States posses anti-missile or anti-satellite rockets as well.



http://www.cnn.com/2007/TECH/space/10/16/china.space.ap/index.html