Six In The Morning

Mandatory evacuations outside New Orleans as Isaac nears hurricane strength

　

By Miguel Llanos, NBC News
Unprotected, low-lying areas outside New Orleans were being evacuating Monday as Tropical Storm Isaac grew closer to becoming a hurricane that could make landfall in or near Louisiana almost seven years to the day after Hurricane Katrina struck. "All preparations to protect life and property should be completed tonight," said Ed Rappaport of the National Hurricane Center in his 8 p.m. ET update. He emphasized that water from rain and storm surge would be the biggest threat -- 6 to 18 inches of rain are expected. Isaac's wind speed increased to 70 mph, just 4 mph short of a hurricane, the National Hurricane Center said in a late afternoon update. It also forecast Isaac would reach Category 2 status with 100 mph winds late Tuesday night. That's a stronger Isaac than was forecast earlier Monday.

Rachel Corrie's death was an accident, Israeli judge rules
Judge finds no fault in military investigation that cleared defence force of responsibility for protester being killed by bulldozer

Harriet Sherwood in Haifa guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 28 August 2012 08.05 BST
The death of the pro-Palestinian activist Rachel Corrie was not caused by the negligence of the Israeli state or army, a judge has ruled, dismissing a civil lawsuit brought by the family. Corrie's death was an accident for which the state of Israel was not responsible, said the judge at Haifa district court. There had been no fault in the internal Israeli military investigation clearing the driver of the bulldozer which crushed Corrie to death in March 2003 of any blame. The judge said the driver had not seen the young American activist.

Slaughter in Helmand as Taliban fighters deliver show of power
US Marines unable to prevent 17 victims having throats slit by insurgents

JULIUS CAVENDISH TUESDAY 28 AUGUST 2012
Taliban fighters cut the throats of 17 civilians in a remote corner of Helmand province this weekend in a grim reminder of how much power the insurgents still wield in large swaths of Afghanistan, despite Nato claims that they are on the run. The massacre took place on Sunday afternoon in Kajaki, a district almost entirely in the insurgents' hands despite the efforts of thousands of hard-charging US Marines to claw the province back under government control.

Coalition smolders over euro crisis remarks
Alexander Dobrindt, general secretary of the Bavarian sister party to Angela Merkel's Christian Democrats, has reaped criticism for giving voice to his view that Greece should abandon the euro.


"Parochial whining" - that's how a leading party colleague dismissed the controversial remarks by Christian Social Union General Secretary Alexander Dobrindt about Greece and the euro crisis. Dobrindt had told the Sunday edition of Germany's Bild newspaper that there was no way around Greece's exit from the eurozone. Dobrindt's remarks contradicted Chancellor Angela Merkel's statements on Friday at a meeting with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras: "I want Greece to remain part of the eurozone." She also added she knows "no one in the government factions who does not want that." Unfortunately, Dobrindt does happen to be a member of the joint parliamentary faction that includes Merkel's Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian sister the CSU.

Angola votes in second peacetime polls


By AFP Posted Tuesday, August 28 2012 at 08:58
Angola votes Friday for only the second time since its civil war ended a decade ago, with the incumbent ruling party expected to sweep the polls. The nation has transformed from one of the world's most desolate places to a fast-growing oil economy that sees itself as a regional player. As the election nears, brightly coloured party flags drape across Luanda's streets, while on the sidewalks, volunteers like university student Jaime Cuanga stand with an iPad ready to help voters.

Will the Colombian government make peace with FARC rebels?
With the aim of ending five decades of war, Colombian president Juan Manuel Santos announced exploratory talks with leftist FARC rebels on Monday. A peace agreement would conclude a conflict that has killed tens of thousands over the years.

By Helen Murphy and Luis Jaime Acosta, Reuters
Colombia's government is seeking peace with the country's biggest rebel group, the FARC, and could consider also holding talks with a second guerrilla movement to end five decades of war, President Juan Manuel Santos said on Monday. In a televised address from the presidential palace, Santos said his government would learn from the mistakes of so many previous leaders who tried but failed to clinch a lasting ceasefire with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. "Since the first day of my government I have completed my constitutional obligation to find peace. With that aim, we have had exploratory conversations with the FARC to seek an end to the conflict," he said, confirming weeks of swirling rumors that his government had started behind-the-scenes discussions.