Here are a few of the latest available details of Western military operations in Libya. The following NATO countries are participating in the alliance's operation UNIFIED PROTECTOR: Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Denmark, France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Qatar, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Britain, United States. NATO forces have total of 195 aircraft at their disposal. Since NATO assumed command of Western military operations in Libya, its aircraft have made 1,325 sorties, including 527 intended as strike missions. On April 7, it conducted 155 sorties and 54 strike missions. Not all strike sorties have led to targets being hit. A total of 19 vessels are patrolling the Mediterranean to enforce a U.N.-mandated arms embargo.
II. FINANCIALMIRROR - UNSG: No timetable in Cyprus peace talks
According to U.S. congressional sources, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has made it clear thta there is no timetable in the ongoing dialogue on the Cyprus question. During a meeting he had with members of the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee and replying to comments by Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), the UN Secretary General rejected any suggestion that there are timetables in the negotiations on the Cyprus problem. He noted at the same time that despite the fact that the desired progress has not been achieved, the effort to find a negotiated settlement is continuing. UN-led negotiations are currently underway between Cyprus President Demetris Christofias and the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community Dervis Eroglu to reunite the country, under a federal roof.
III. FOXNEWS - EU's Kosovo official urges integration of Gypsies
The top European Union representative in Kosovo has urged authorities to do more to integrate the country's minority Romas, also known as Gypsies. The Romas were a target of revenge attacks by ethnic Albanians in 2004, forcing many to flee their homes. Many of them are subject to forced returns from European countries where they escaped as illegal immigrants. Kosovo is one of Europe's poorest regions.
Darko Milicic is auctioning the 2004 NBA championship ring he won with the Detroit Pistons to raise money and awareness for children dealing with the terminal illness Batten's disease. Batten's is a neurological disorder that affects mostly children and gradually causes blindness, seizures and death. Milicic is also auctioning off the championship belt that was given to him by Rasheed Wallace. "Whatever money (I raise) is going to be good because those treatments cost a lot and those people can't afford it,'' Milicic said before his Minnesota Timberwolves played the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night. Milicic became familiar with the condition after he and his wife read a newspaper story in his native Serbia about a family confronted with it. Out of the blue, he paid for four children to travel to China for stem cell treatments. The treatments cost $35,000 each. So Milicic is trying to raise more money until doctors come up with more affordable treatments in the United States and elsewhere. He got the idea from Ron Artest, who auctioned off his Lakers championship ring to raise money for mental health programs in schools. Those interested can purchase raffle tickets for $2 to be entered in the drawing. Milicic said it will stay open for about two months before a winner is chosen. He is also giving away an all-expenses paid trip to an NBA finals game in June. To purchase, click here.
Russia said Friday that one of its border guards had been killed in Georgia's breakaway Abkhazia region in an attack it blamed on Georgian police. The incident occurred in the Moscow-backed region, which was recognised as an independent state by the Kremlin following Russia's five-day war with Georgia in the summer of 2008. The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said its border guard was killed by a member of the Georgian interior ministry's anti-terror committee. Two Georgian policemen were also killed in the gun battle, news agencies quoted a local FSB spokesman as saying. But Georgia denied this, saying that that the men who were killed were not policemen but criminals who were wanted by the authorities in Tbilisi.
VI. RIANOVOSTI - Russia will not ban Skype, gmail, hotmail despite security concerns
Russian Communications Minister Igor Shchegolev said on Friday the government had no plans on banning foreign online communications services such as Skype, gmail or hotmail, which are very popular in Russia. Shchegolev made the comment after a Federal Security Service (FSB) official told a government telecommunications commission that these internet services should be banned as using foreign encoding programs, which hampers FSB investigations.
VII. ORTHODOXWAYOFLIFE - When Passions Strike, Seek the Lord
Attacking the thoughts that lead us to actions that are not in keeping with the teachings of Christ is a simple matter. Attack with vigor! We have to see them as something we hate and forcefully take a stand and they will desist. Of course it is most helpful when we have developed a prayer practice which is with us at all times (i.e. the Jesus Prayer). Then we will know when and how to subdue the attack. The lesson is clear. When we are tempted we can escape by retreating to our inner chambers of our heart and stand before the Lord, "Lord have mercy on me a sinner." If we do this any passion will leave us undisturbed.