WASHINGTON (AFX), August 21 – Automakers will be required to tell owners if their vehicle has an event data recorder, commonly called a "black box," and collect uniform data from the devices, the government said Monday.
Eurotunnel evacuates Channel Tunnel because of smoke
LONDON (AFX), August 21 – Eurotunnel said it evacuated the Channel Tunnel and suspended services at around 1.00 pm (1400 GMT) after smoke was seen coming from a freight shuttle train.
Zimbabwe in Chaos As Currency Deadline Dawns
Zimbabwe Standard, August 21 – CHAOS was the order of the day throughout the country yesterday as Zimbabweans changed over from the old bearer cheques to the new ones.
Even before the expiry of the deadline for use of the old bearer cheques, shop owners, supermarkets and transport operators were refusing to accept them, leaving many people stranded.
Iran stages massive military war games
TEHRAN, Aug 19, 2006 (AFP) – Iranian armed forces held a massive military maneuver Saturday to test new weapons and tactics against a potential enemy, state television reported.
The first stage of "Zolfaghar Blow" commenced in the restive southeastern province of Sistan-Baluchestan. The maneuvers will continue in 15 other provinces in northeastern, northwestern, western and southern Iran.
Kurdish rebels accuse Iran of shelling villages inside Iraq
SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq, Aug 18, 2006 (AFP) – Kurdish rebels on Friday accused Iranian forces of shelling several villages inside northern Iraq, killing two civilians and forcing many to flee the region after two days of strikes.
Hezbollah distributes cash in devastated south Beirut
BEIRUT, Aug 18, 2006 (AFP) – Hezbollah on Friday began distributing tens of thousands of dollars to residents in battered southern Beirut whose homes were hit during Israel’s month-long offensive targeting the Shiite militia.
Israel confirms commando raid in Lebanon
JERUSALEM, Aug 19, 2006 (AFP) – The Israeli army on Saturday confirmed it carried out a commando operation in Lebanon, saying the raid was to prevent arms being delivered to Hezbollah by Iran and Syria.
"Israeli army special forces operated deep inside Lebanon last night to foil terrorist operations against Israel," an army spokesman told AFP.
Reckless young jet skiers dominate beaches at Abu Dhabi
Gulf News, August 18 – Abu Dhabi police have intensified efforts to make the city’s beaches safe for swimmers and visitors with a crackdown on reckless young jet skiers.
Iran Rafsanjani warns US not to seek confrontation
TEHRAN, Aug 18, 2006 (AFP) – Top Iranian cleric Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani warned the United States Friday not to seek confrontation with Tehran over its nuclear program and to learn from the war in Lebanon.
"We expect America to have learned enough (from the Israel-Hezbollah war) not to enter another game and upset the security of the region," Rafsanjani said in his Friday prayer sermon carried live on state radio.
Annan to visit Lebanon next week
BEIRUT, Aug 18, 2006 (AFP) – UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is to visit Lebanon next week for talks on the implementation of the truce resolution that ended a month of conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, a UN source said.
A Lebanese government source confirmed the visit, saying that Annan would also visit Israel, Syria and Iran for talks on the truce.
Tehran and Damascus, the main foreign backers of Hezbollah, were left out in the cold by Washington in the talks that led to the Security Council resolution.
