This page features brief excerpts of stories published by the mainstream
media and, less frequently, blogs, alternative media, and even obviously
biased sources. The excerpts are taken directly from the websites cited in
each source note. Quotation marks are not used.
Source: Times (of London)
March 5, 2007
The statistics made headlines all over the world when they were published in The Lancet in October last year. More than 650,000 Iraqis –- one in 40 of the population – had died as a result of the American-led invasion in 2003. The vast majority of these “excess” deaths (deaths over and above what would have been expected in the absence of the occupation) were violent. The victims, both civilians and combatants, had fallen prey to airstrikes, car bombs and gunfire.
Body counts in con
Source: Yonhap News (Seoul, South Korea)
March 7, 2007
SEOUL -- South Korea plans to introduce history textbooks that include chapters rebutting historical claims by its neighboring countries, officials said Tuesday.
The Education Ministry officials said they will adopt textbooks that refute such historical assertions as Japan's denial of wartime sex slavery and China's claim over South Korea's ancient kingdoms.
Japan has been slammed for refusing to apologize for its exploitation of about 200,000 "comfort women"
Source: VNA (Vietnam News Agency)
March 7, 2007
International organisations have provided US $2.3 million and 400 cubic metres of iron wood for repairs and restoration of the historical relics in the former imperial city of Hue since its system of temples and palaces were recognised as World Cultural Heritage by the UNESCO in 1993...
Under a project to preserve and promote the value of Hue’s historical relics during the 1996-2010 period, more than VND 266 billion (roughly US $16.62 million) has been spent on restoring the monumen
Source: Cibola County (N.M.) Beacon
March 5, 2007
ACOMA PUEBLO, N.M. -- “The Pueblo of Acoma tribal community is honored to enter into this important partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation,” said pueblo Governor Jason Johnson on the naming of Sky City as the 28th National Trust Historic site.
The trust describes the site, “Overlooking a vast desert and mountain sweep of northern New Mexico and dating back to 1150 A.D., Acoma Sky City is a vibrant community characterized by its adobe houses, plazas, walkways a
Source: Kane County Chronicle (Geneva, Ill.)
March 6, 2007
Evidence suggests life was less stressful in the Stone Age than it is today.
Sure, there were the challenges of surviving climatic change, scrounging for shelter and putting food on -– er, over -– the fire.
However, the modern businessman could learn a lot from the life of an early hunter-gatherer, archeological anthropologist Jonathan Haas said.
“[Back then], once you gathered the food you needed for the day, you were done for the rest of the day,” Haas sa
Source: AP
March 6, 2007
BAD AROLSEN, Germany -- World War II is near its end. The Nazi empire is crumbling from its edges inward as Soviet and Allied forces advance. Millions of Jews, Gypsies and political enemies of the Third Reich have already been exterminated. Hundreds of thousands are still in death camps praying for rescue.
Then, in one final sadistic spasm, the Germans set out to empty camps and move their inmates to the German heartland on what the prisoners, and later historians, call the death ma
Source: AP
March 7, 2007
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- The U.S. heirs to a major collection of art looted by the Nazis and finally returned after years of legal wrangling have sold four paintings back to the Dutch government for $4 million and donated a fifth work.
Marei von Saher, heir to the "Goudstikker Collection," said that she wanted to show her gratitude in particular to a professor who headed an independent Dutch commission on Nazi-era claims.
Rudi Ekkart's recommendation led to t
Source: BBC News
March 7, 2007
The phrase "stone age" has been labelled offensive by anthropologists who say it should not be used to describe living peoples.
In particular, the Association of Social Anthropologists highlights the way the term has been used to describe tribal and indigenous people.
It also says that "primitive" or "savage" are no longer acceptable terms for such groups of people...
"All anthropologists would agree that the negative use
Source: CNN
March 6, 2007
Japan must confront its past of coercing women into prostitution with Japanese troops in World War Two, China's foreign minister said on Tuesday, nonetheless stressing hopes of improved ties between the two Asian powers."The forced use of so-called 'comfort women' was one of the most serious crimes committed by the Japanese imperialists in World War Two," Li Zhaoxing told a news conference on the sidelines of China's annual meeting of parliament.
"
Source: Reuters
March 6, 2007
Egypt called on Israel on Tuesday to investigate charges that Israeli troops led by Israel's current infrastructure minister may have killed Egyptian prisoners of war in 1967.Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni promised to watch an Israeli documentary which Egyptian and Israeli media reports have said contained the charges, but said she understood that those killed had died in battle, and called on the two countries to put the past behind them.
Egyptians were o
Source: South Africa Press Agency & DPA (German Press Agency)
March 5, 2007
ACCRA, Ghana -- Fifty years of independence, four republics, three successful military coups, several failed attempts, five civilian governments, three military governments and nine leaders -- that is the chequered history of Ghana, which celebrates its golden jubilee on Tuesday, March 6.
Now, however, the country believes it is on autopilot on a smooth super highway towards democracy.
When Ghana achieved independence from Britain in 1957, there were high hopes for the
Source: AP
March 6, 2007
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- The state House approved a resolution declaring "Arkansas's" the possessive form of the state's name -- a bill so weird it prompted the sponsor to offer an apology.
"I know a lot of the attention that has been given to this resolution has reflected poorly on us as a Legislature, and for that I apologize," Rep. Steve Harrelson told House members before they unanimously passed his proposal Monday by voice vote. The measure now goes to the Senat
Source: San Francisco Chronicle
March 4, 2007
GUATEMALA CITY -- Some things Maria Emilia Garcia, a 79-year-old retired schoolteacher, will never get used to.
Nearly 23 years ago, her son Fernando -- a 26-year-old union leader at a local bottling plant -- disappeared after being stopped at a police checkpoint."We canvassed the hospitals, morgues, the police stations, and never got answers," said Garcia."We were supposed to accept that he vanished into thin air."
Ten years have passed since Guatemala's peace accords ended a 36-yea
Source: AP
March 5, 2007
WASHINGTON -- The Smithsonian Institution's chief auditor was named its permanent inspector general Monday —- nine months after her predecessor quit, citing shrinking resources to detect and prevent fraud at the massive museum and research complex.
The appointment comes as auditors investigate the Smithsonian's business units and compensation for top executives...
The Smithsonian Board of Regents appointed [A. Sprightly] Ryan to the permanent post. She reports directly
Source: BBC News
March 6, 2007
People across Ghana are celebrating the 50th anniversary of its independence from Britain.
Ghana was the first sub-Saharan country to break with its colonial power, prompting many others to seek independence in the following years...
Thousands gathered in Independence Square in the capital, Accra, for a re-enactment of the declaration and fireworks were planned to mark the precise anniversary...
On 5 March 1957, Britain formally transferred power to indepen
Source: Times (of London)
March 6, 2007
LONDON -- A collection of 5,000-year-old grave relics, allegedly looted from recently discovered desert sites, was at the centre of a High Court lawsuit brought by the Iranian Government yesterday against a London gallery.
Iran is suing the Barakat Galleries, seeking to recover carved objects said to have been taken from the ancient city of Jiroft in the Halil River Valley in southeastern Iran.
The grave goods were “almost unheard-of” until 2001, said Hodge Malek, Iran’
Source: AP
March 5, 2007
CONCORD, N.H. -- Bill Gardner is a modest man with an awesome power: the ability to set the date of the nation's earliest presidential primary.
In 31 years as New Hampshire's secretary of state, Gardner has not hesitated to upset the best-laid plans of other states or national political parties by moving up the date -- and he's poised to do it again in 2008.
The Democratic National Committee wants to squeeze Nevada between Iowa's leadoff caucuses on Jan. 14 and the New
Source: Guardian
March 6, 2007
COPENHAGEN -- Hundreds of tearful and angry protesters gathered outside a youth community centre in Copenhagen yesterday to watch as a hydraulic excavator tore into the building, bringing to an end more than 100 years of political history.
The "Ungdomshuset" or Youth House which once hosted Vladimir Lenin, has been the focus of street riots in recent days following the eviction of squatters from the building which has been sold to a rightwing Christian sect...
Source: AP
December 31, 2069
PARIS -- Mongolian dragons, Persian peacocks and radiating Arabic stars are just some of the foreign motifs that embellish Armenia's sacred Christian relics — showing how the oft-invaded nation has drawn on outside influences to strengthen its own identity.
A new exhibition at the Louvre Museum in Paris showcases the resilience of Armenian culture. "Armenia Sacra," which runs through May 21, brings together more than 200 of the country's most spectacular religious objects,
Source: AP
March 5, 2007
EDGEFIELD, S.C. -- The Rev. Al Sharpton traveled Monday to Strom Thurmond's birthplace to visit the grave of a Thurmond relative who held one of Sharpton's ancestors as a slave.
Sharpton's trip to this rural town also included a visit to a cemetery where slaves are buried in graves marked only by small stones. He urged all blacks to explore their histories despite "the ugly things it might reveal."
The civil rights leader recently learned of his family's link
