The world at a glance . . . International

Malabo, Equatorial Guinea

Mercenary gets hard time: British mercenary Simon Mann was sentenced this week to 34 years in prison for leading a failed 2004 plot to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea. During his trial, Mann, a former British special-forces officer, admitted to leading a team of mercenaries on a mission to topple the leaders of the Central African nation. But he claimed the plot was sanctioned by the governments of both South Africa and Spain, with the tacit approval of the U.S., as a way to gain control of the country’s oil reserves. Mann also claimed that Sir Mark Thatcher, son of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, was “part of the management team.” After his sentencing, Mann was unbowed. “Lots of love, chin up, and all that,” he said to his family as he was led to prison. “I will appeal, if such a thing can be done here.”

Gaza

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Sewage flows to sea: The sewage treatment system in Gaza has collapsed, and human waste is flushing directly into the Mediterranean Sea. Because of an Israeli blockade, imposed last year after the Palestinian militant group Hamas took over the Gaza Strip, the territory does not have enough fuel to power its treatment plants. Now that summer has arrived, the stench is stifling, and health officials say the sea is unsafe for swimming. “If the amount of sewage dumped into the sea remains at this rate, we’ll be facing a dark future for sea water in Gaza,” said Mahmoud Daher of the World Health Organization. Hamas and Israel agreed to a truce last month, but it’s unclear when fuel shipments to Gaza might resume.

Mosul, Iraq

Al Qaida in Iraq is nearly vanquished: U.S. and Iraqi forces have driven al Qaida in Iraq out of Mosul, its last major stronghold, officials said last week. In a joint operation that began last month, the two armies set up checkpoints across the city, blocking insurgents’ movements and systematically searching each district. Troops killed the group’s Mosul leader, Abu Khalaf, a close associate of the late al Qaida leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, and insurgent attacks there have dropped to a fraction of their previous levels. “Thanks to the will of the tribes, security forces, army, and all Iraqis,” said Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, “we defeated them.”

Kabul, Afghanistan

Blast at Indian Embassy: More than 40 people were killed this week and scores injured in a suicide car bombing at the Indian Embassy in Afghanistan. Afghan officials blamed Pakistan, a longtime enemy of India, rather than the Taliban, saying the sophistication of the attack bore “the hallmarks of Pakistani intelligence.” The suicide attacker hit a crowded street outside the embassy, where people were lined up to apply for visas. The attack came amid worsening conditions on the ground in Afghanistan. Twenty-eight American soldiers died there in June, the highest monthly casualty total since the U.S. ousted the Taliban, in late 2001.

Beijing

A promise of press freedom: China said this week it will allow journalists complete freedom, including unfettered access to the Internet, during the Beijing Olympics. That vow came as the government opened two huge press centers, the largest ever built for any Olympics, to serve the estimated 21,000 foreign and domestic reporters who will cover the Games. But foreign reporters say they have heard such assurances before. Last year, Chinese officials announced new rules that they said would assure that reporters could do their jobs without harassment. But in the 18 months since the rules were put into effect, the Foreign Correspondents Club has recorded 259 cases of interference.