[courtesy of Blog for America]

The Guardian (UK) reports on a film which shows supporters of Robert Mugabe rigging the recent election:  

A film that graphically shows how Robert Mugabe's supporters rigged Zimbabwe's election has been smuggled out of the country by a prison officer. It is believed to be the first footage of actual ballot-rigging and comes as Zimbabwe's president faces growing international pressure.

Shepherd Yuda, 36, fled the country this week with his wife and children. He said that he hoped the film, which was made for the Guardian, would help draw further attention to the violence and corruption in Zimbabwe.

Mugabe is saying he will not talk to the opposition unless and until they agree that he is legitimately the president.  This video is just the latest evidence that this election was anything but clean, fair, and transparent.  

What does the future hold for Zimbabwe?  It is clear that Robert Mugabe will not easily or soon relinquish his grip on power.

Danny
Communications Director

by DFA Staff [courtesy of Blog for America]

The Olympic Torch is going on its world tour and, where it goes, it is being met with protests.  The Guardian UK reports on the scene in London today:

Police have been forced to bring in reinforcements to marshal the Olympic torch relay through London after a series of protests and confrontations along the 31-mile route between the authorities and those angered at China's human rights record. So far 35 people have been arrested, all for public order offences.

...

Thousands of peaceful protestors, many of them wearing Tibetan flags, also waved banners proclaiming: "Torch of Shame", "Stop The Killing In Tibet", "No Olympic Torch In Tibet" and "China Talk To Dalai Lama". Helping to lead the chants was Buddhist monk Ngawang Khyentse, who said: "We can't just remain silent. We have no other choice than to protest because there is no other voice for Tibetans inside Tibet, so we have to speak out for human rights. We are not asking for a boycott of the games, although there are many different views, we are asking for pressure to be put on the Chinese government to help the situation in Tibet."

Danny
Communications Director

by DFA Staff [courtesy of Blog for America]

Agence France-Presse

The Independent UK

The Guardian UK 

The Australian

National Post, Canada

Danny

Communications Director 

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

(full-disclosure: I work for Courage)

There is an interesting and troubling pattern emerging.  The California media is being greatly outclassed by papers from out of the state and country on the developing story about the residents of Potrero pushing back against Blackwater's attempts to move a massive base into their town.  This seems like it could be chalked up to the major cutbacks at California newspapers over the past year, but it is a stark reminder about the impacts of those losses.  California stories are no longer being covered by California newspapers.

It was the Guardian UK who had a lengthy, detailed article on the push for a recall of the Planning Group members who had voted to approve Blackwater's plans.  They talked to Brian Bonfiglio, Blackwater's Vice-President who is deployed to San Diego County to work on the project.  The Guardian also interviewed a number of the town residents, including several people who were on the ballot this week.

This week it was the New York Times who dispatched a reporter to Potrero to preview the recall.  The reporter ended up breaking news, even though I don't believe he knew it:

(much more on the flip)