***AJC: DUPLICATION ALERT: Note Ranger death, check your metro lineup.***
***OHIO: Area interest: May want to use GM recall brief.***
***AAS: Area interest: May want to use Mexico cat brief.***
PAKISTAN
Series of attacks kills 22 people
Pakistani forces stormed a hospital taken over by gunmen Saturday in the southwestern province of Baluchistan, a region beset by a separatist movement, Taliban militants and violent sectarian groups. The forces freed hostages in the hospital, ending a five-hour standoff that capped a series of attacks that killed 22 people. Police said six attackers were also killed in the fighting. The deadliest attack Saturday took place in the provincial capital of Quetta and appeared to target minority Shiites. A blast ripped through a bus carrying female university students, killing at least 14 people, said the head of police operations, Fayaz Sumbal.
LIBYA
6 Libyan soldiers slain in Benghazi
Rooftop snipers and knife-wielding assailants killed six soldiers in Benghazi early Saturday, officials said, in the largest attack on the country’s new security forces to date. The overnight assault by hundreds of plain-clothed gunmen on security installations forced soldiers to withdraw from some of their bases. Security officials said 11 people were wounded. The figure includes assailants.
GEORGIA
Ranger in parachute accident ID’d
The U.S. Army Ranger killed in an apparent parachuting accident was a veteran from Massachusetts who recently returned from Afghanistan, officials said Saturday. Pfc. Christopher P. Dona, 21, was found dead Thursday with parachute cords and canvas straps from a harness wrapped around his neck after a routine training jump at Fort Stewart. It was not immediately clear what caused the fatality. Army authorities are investigating the incident.
HAWAII
Army officer sentenced to 10 years
A military jury convicted a Hawaii-based Army officer of unauthorized possession of classified documents and giving a document with classified assessments of Cambodia to a person not entitled to have it. A jury sentenced Maj. Seivirak Inson to 10 years confinement, along with dismissal from the Army and forfeiture of pay, the Army said. A panel of seven Army officers returned the verdict against Inson on Friday after a four-day court-martial at Wheeler Army Airfield.
EGYPT
Morsi cuts relations with Syria
Islamist President Mohammed Morsi announced Saturday that he was cutting diplomatic relations with Syria and closing Damascus’ embassy in Cairo, decisions made amid growing calls from hard-line Sunni clerics in Egypt and elsewhere to launch a “holy war” against Syria’s embattled regime. Morsi said his government was also withdrawing the Egyptian charge d’affaires from Damascus. He called on Lebanon’s Hezbollah to leave Syria, where the Iranian-backed Shiite militant group has been fighting alongside troops loyal to embattled President Bashar Assad against the mostly Sunni rebels.
MEXICO
Cat starts political campaign trend
Morris, a black-and-white kitten with orange eyes, is running for mayor of Xalapa in eastern Mexico with the campaign slogan “Tired of Voting for Rats? Vote for a Cat.” He is attracting tens of thousands of politician-weary, two-legged supporters on social media. Sergio Chamorro, who adopted the 10-month-old feline last year, and a group of friends nominated Morris, whose candidacy has resonated across Mexico. Citizens frustrated with human candidates are nominating their pets and farm animals to run in July 7 elections being held in 14 states. Also running for mayor are “Chon the Donkey” in Ciudad Juarez, “Tina the Chicken” in Tepic, “Maya the Cat” in the city of Puebla, and “Tintan the Dog” in Oaxaca City.
MICHIGAN
GM recalls SUVs for fire risk
General Motors is recalling more than 193,652 SUVs from the 2006 and 2007 model years because a circuit board in the driver’s door could short and cause a fire. The vehicles involved are the Chevrolet Trailblazer, GMC Envoy, Buick Rainier, Saab 9-7x and Isuzu Ascender from the 2006 and 2007 model years. The 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer EXT and GMC Envoy XL are also included. GM says owners should park the vehicles outside until they’re repaired. GM is notifying owners. Dealers will repair the vehicles for free.
About the Author
