Beijing
Oasis dropped: A Chinese concert promoter this week canceled two scheduled concerts by British pop band Oasis, which has been associated with the Free Tibet movement. According to the band, the April concerts were canceled after Chinese authorities became aware that frontman Noel Gallagher had appeared at a Tibetan Freedom Concert in New York in 1997. Chinese officials denied that account, saying the promoter had simply canceled the gigs for financial reasons. The government has been especially leery of Western musicians since Icelandic singer Björk shouted, “Free Tibet!” at a concert in Shanghai last year.
Tokyo
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Challenge to North Korea: Japan this week threatened to shoot down any North Korean missile that flies over its territory. North Korea has been saying for weeks that it is set to “launch a communications satellite”—a term that analysts say is code for testing a long-range Taepodong-2 missile, which is capable of carrying a nuclear payload as far as Alaska. Japan’s Kyodo News Agency reported that Japan is sending two destroyers equipped with the Aegis ballistic missile defense system into the Sea of Japan in anticipation of the launch. In 1998, North Korea tested its first long-range missile, which zoomed directly over Japan’s main island—a trajectory that some experts believe may have been unintentional.
Dhaka, Bangladesh
Mutiny against army: At least 70 army officers were killed last week when border guards under their command mutinied, demanding more pay. The guards were members of the Bangladesh Rifles border security force, whose members are paid less than regular army soldiers. After fleeing the scene, more than 1,000 of the guards remained at large. The uprising ended after two days, when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina promised amnesty to the mutineers—although it is unclear whether the amnesty will be honored. Army officers are reportedly furious with the prime minister for negotiating with the guards instead of crushing the mutiny by force. But Hasina herself has long distrusted the army. A 1975 military rebellion killed most of her family, including her father, former Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Lahore, Pakistan
Sri Lankan cricketers attacked: Masked gunmen attacked a convoy of cricket players in Pakistan this week, killing eight people, including six police officers who were part of the convoy’s security detail. Eight members of Sri Lanka’s national cricket team were injured in the gun battle. The team was traveling by bus to a match against Pakistan when it was attacked; the gunmen escaped. “It is so sad all this carnage and terror,” said former Pakistan team captain Javed Miandad. “All the fears expressed by foreign teams about coming to Pakistan have been proved correct. Pakistan cricket will take a long time to recover now.”
Tehran
American arrested: An American journalist has been held in Iran’s notorious Evin prison for the past month, Iranian officials confirmed this week. Roxana Saberi, a former Miss North Dakota, was born in the U.S. and has both American and Iranian passports. She has been living in Iran since 2002, working on a master’s degree and reporting for the BBC and NPR. Iran, which does not recognize dual citizenship, has refused to reveal the charges against Saberi. In 2003, Iranian-Canadian photographer Zahra Kazemi died after being raped and beaten in Evin prison.
Bissau, Guinea-Bissau
President assassinated: Guinea-Bissau President João Bernardo Vieira was shot to death by members of his own armed forces this week. Military leaders insisted they had not staged a coup, blaming rogue soldiers for the murder at the presidential residence. A political rival of Vieira was killed in a bomb attack last week, leading to speculation that the assassination may have been a revenge killing. The former Portuguese colony, which has experienced frequent coups and coup attempts, is a transit point for South American cocaine destined for Europe. The head of the Economic Community of West African States, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, said a group of regional foreign ministers would investigate to determine whether drug cartels were involved in Vieira’s death. Meantime, the parliament speaker has taken over as interim president, and new elections are set to be called within two months.
