Nineteen

Arafat possibly poisoned: doctors
At least he's doing well.

Nice story from the NY Times on Somali refugees seeking asylum in Italy:

For the conservative government of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, this movement from Italy to other European countries proves his government's central point: that Italy bears a disproportionate burden of migration given its closeness to Africa, and that there must be a unified European immigration policy. One such proposal is deeply dividing European governments: Italy, Britain and Germany support the establishment of so-called reception centers in North Africa so asylum cases can be processed outside Europe.

Reception centers are also known as "camps that would allow Europe to distance itself from its legal obligations to provide asylum - and to, in effect, subcontract that obligation to nations without the same laws or respect for human rights." Excellent read.