The News Review:

- Four French tourists were killed earlier this week
- The most challenging race on the planet? Dakar Rally is a good bet
- Dakar race to go via Mauritania despite Qaeda claims
- Former mayor of Bogotá leaves his mark on many cities
- These 25 are pretty beautiful too
- Tunisia hit by injury withdrawals

Four French tourists were killed earlier this week
Middle East nline – Dec 28, 2007
Rally officials were expected in Nouakchott late Thursday to discuss security matters with Mauritanian authorities. Threats by extremists had led to the cancellation of two rally stages early this year. Mali Mauritania and Senegal were meanwhile coordinating steps to hunt down the killers of the four French tourists. Sidi Moloud uld Brahim the governor of the southern Brakna region where the group came under attack said the killers “were last seen Tuesday night in the town of Richard Toll” in northern Senegal not far from the Mauritanian border. He said he had received the information from “very reliable sources”. Commander Daouda Diop spokesman for the Senegalese police also said that “Richard Toll was searched in the morning” Thursday and that Senegalese forces began their search in the afternoon “in the neighbouring town of Rosso”. Senegalese police were backed up by French troops stationed in Senegal the French army said… He said he had received the information from “very reliable sources”. Commander Daouda Diop spokesman for the Senegalese police also said that “Richard Toll was searched in the morning” Thursday and that Senegalese forces began their search in the afternoon “in the neighbouring town of Rosso”. Senegalese police were backed up by French troops stationed in Senegal the French army said. In Mali the defence ministry said the army “strengthened security on the border with Mauritania” which is more than 2000 kilometres (1200 miles) long.

The most challenging race on the planet? Dakar Rally is a good bet
ESPN – Dec 28, 2007
The world’s greatest motorsports challenge drops the green flag on Jan. 5 while the mainstream racing world is still sleeping. The Dakar Rally is a half-month marathon that begins in Lisbon Portugal and ends deep within the African continent in Dakar the capital of Senegal. Nearly 600 teams across three different divisions will hammer their way over pavement dirt gravel rock mud seawater head-high grass and skyscraper sand dunes. Some race to win some race to finish others simply hope to survive. The competitors are a mix of world-class racers billionaire thrill seekers and gamblers looking to earn a little cash on the dash. It’s like the movie “Hildalgo” just not as boring and with horsepower instead of horses.

Dakar race to go via Mauritania despite Qaeda claims
International Herald Tribune – Dec 28, 2007
An unauthenticated audio recording broadcast by Al Arabiya television said al Qaeda's north African wing al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb had killed four Mauritanian soldiers in the remote north of the country late on Wednesday. The attack came after gunmen shot dead four French tourists in Mauritania on Monday which officials have said may have been carried out by Islamic militants. The attacks raised fears that al Qaeda-linked militants who have carried out attacks in Algeria and Morocco may be seeking to extend operations southwards to Mauritania Mali and Senegal where the rally is due to finish on January 20. Roger Kalmanovitz the rally's head of security has been in the country meeting military police and government officials and said the January 5-20 event would go ahead as planned.

Former mayor of Bogotá leaves his mark on many cities
International Herald Tribune – Dec 28, 2007
Peñalosa who could not seek re-election because of rules barring two consecutive terms in office took a break from politics after his mayor's term ended. In 2001 he moved with his wife and children to New York where he was a visiting scholar at New York University and a fellow at the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy a nonprofit agency that promotes environmentally sustainable and equitable transportation policies and projects. During that time he provided advice on urban planning to densely populated cities like Hanoi New Delhi Jakarta Dakar Senegal Guangzhou China and Los Angeles.

These 25 are pretty beautiful too
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – Pittsburgh Post Gazette – Dec 28, 2007
She still has hope in the future. Jean-Jacques Sene teaches history and cultural studies at Chatham University. Born in Senegal educated in France and enthusiastic as a Pittsburgher he puts the “global” in global studies. Susan Shahade is executive director of Women’s Help Center in Johnstown. She snagged Lynn Redgrave for the agency’s keynote dinner in April. Gus and Stella Kalaris have been purveyors of ice balls peanuts and popcorn on the North Side “since your Dad was a lad.

Tunisia hit by injury withdrawals
BBC News – Dec 28, 2007
The Tunisia Football Federation said that Zitouni who plays for Turkish side Antalyaspor is suffering from a groin injury. While Jemmali who plays in France for Bordeaux is recovering from a torn calf muscle. The Carthage Eagles begin their 2008 Nations Cup campaign against Senegal on 23 January before Group D games against South Africa and Angola.