QUETTA, PAKISTAN: Joh Solecki, a senior official of the UN High Commission for Refugees, was kidnapped today in broad daylight. While driving from his home to the office, gunmen capped his driver, and snatched Mr. Solecki from the car. As of right now, no group has claimed responsibility.

Article from The Nation (Pakistan): UN official snatched in Quetta

ATHENS, GREECE: Today, as the Agrocultural Minister is in Brussels convincing the EU of the need for a stimulis package, a boat load (literaly) of Cretan farmers will run their tractors into the city, hoping to drive home (also literally) their demands for help. The Greek government has already offered 500 million Euros worth of hand-outs to the farmers (borrowed from the EU), but the farmers don’t believe that is enough. They have been using tractors as road blocks and staging other protests all over the country.

It’s interesting that the Kathimerini article points out that the Alternate Interior Minister is Cretan. There are possibly some ethnic politics as an undercurrent to the protest.

I’m not a farmer by trade, but I doubt if tractors are very fuel efficient. Hopefully, the hand outs will be enough to reimburse them for gas.

Article from Kathimerini English: Farmers head for Athens

Photo of Mosul by Army.mil

IRAQ: Last week three families were dragged from their homes and executed. The murders happened in three provincial cities: Suwaira, Mosul, and Baladroz. All three took place at roughly the same time. The Azzaman English, in an article that reads more like a suicide note than a news story, described the attacks as “a new kind of terror”. The families were not tied to politics or militant groups. The Azzaman refused to reveal the name of the families, or he name of the group responsible, but they ended their report with a disparaging prediction for the Iraqi provinces if Obama withdraws troops.

I’ve read other articles from the sma paper advocating the end of the US Security Deal, but they were focused on more urban areas.

Article from Azzaman English: New way of organized killing sweeps the country

MOLO, KENYA: Hundreds of local citizens were gathered around a crashed oil truck, scooping up the free fuel, when the oil burst into flames. At least 82 others were critically injured. I wish people didn’t need oil so much.

Article from Al Jazeera English: Kenya oil blaze leaves 100 dead