Counting the cost Global military spending rose again in 2008, to $1.464 trillion dollars, according to the Swedish-based Institute Sipri, reports BBC. The U.S. spent $607 billion. The next nearest nation was China, which spent $84.9 billion. The arms and military aerospace industries continue to show growth, in contrast to civilian industries:
In total, the 100 leading defence manufacturers sold arms worth $347bn during 2007, the most recent year for which reliable data are available.
Almost all the companies were American or European. Some 61% of the total was accounted for by 44 US companies, with 32 West European companies accounting for a further 31%. Other companies were Russian, Japanese, Israeli and Indian.
Somali journalist killed Gunmen assassinated Moqtar Mohamed Hirabe, the director of influential Radio Shabelle in Mogadishu reports BBC. A colleague was wounded in the shooting and was hospitalized.
Pakistan A bomb blast in Islamabad killed one police officer Saturday, reports BBC.
Responding to the bombing of a mosque last week, in which 38 people died, nearly 400 tribesmen have attacked attacked five villages in thought to be Taliban strongholds, according to BBC reports.
Iraq A bomb in a minibus killed seven people and wounded 24 in a Shia enclave in a mostly Sunni neighborhood in southern Baghdad, reports BBC.
Gaza Four Palestinian gunmen were killed in a clash with Israeli troops as ten gunmen tried to enter Israel, near the Karni and Nahal Oz crossings in the north-east of the Gaza Strip, reports BBC.
 News with attitude, mostly from MN but with occasional forays abroad.News Day summarizes, links to, and comments on reports from news media around the world, with particular attention to Minnesota news. |
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