This morning’s key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com.

Another horrific day of slaughter in Hama, Syria

People duck to avoid gunfire from snipers in Hama (Reuters)

It’s been another horrific day of slaughter by the regime of president Bashar al-Assad, targeting ordinary civilians in the city of Hama. According to various news reports, army tanks and snipers have totally locked down the city. Army tanks fire indiscriminately into residential neighborhoods. People are without electricity or food. If someone leaves home to try to get food, there’s a good chance that a sniper will kill him. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Thursday that U.S. officials believe more than 2,000 people have been killed in the Syrian government’s months-long crackdown on dissent. VOA

N. Korea demands food, cement in response to S. Korea’s flood aid offer

A day after S. Korea Seoul offered $4.7 million in emergency relief aid to the flood-stricken North Koreans, they asked South Korea to provide rice, flour, cement and heavy construction equipment instead. The South Koreans immediately turned down the request, saying that they would only send medical supplies and other necessities, including blankets and packs of instant noodles. North Korea has been hit hard by floods in recent years, mainly because of its lack of investment in disaster control and severe deforestation. However, South Korea stopped sending rice and cement to the North after North Koreas two military attacks last year, on a South Korea ship and island, respectively. Yonhap

Mubarak trial inflames supporters and detractors in Egypt

Deposed leader Hosni Mubarak on trial

Hundreds of riot police in Cairo, Egypt, struggled to separate the supporters of deposed Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak from those who despised him, as Mubarak’s trial began. No one even knew for sure whether the ill Mubarak would even show up. So the picture of a humiliated Mubarak appearing in court in bed inside a steel cage served to infuriate his supporters and cheer his detractors. Mubarak is being charged with ordering security forces to shoot hundreds of demonstrators when the demonstrations began at the beginning of the year. He’s also charged with corruption and abuse of power. LA Times and Associated Press

Peace in Our Time Dept.: China criticizes Japan

China has blasted Japan’s annual defense report, which warned that China was stepping up belligerent activities in the East China Sea and the South China Sea, risking conflict. The report also criticizes China’s rapid military buildup. However, China’s foreign ministry issued a statement calling the report “China-bashing” and “nitpicking.” “China has always conducted maritime exploration, training and other activities involving the protection of its national interests in its territorial waters. That’s in line with China’s legitimate demands for peaceful development,” says the state-run news service. BBC and Xinhua

China continues to blame Pakistan for Uighur terrorism

China is pointing the finger of blame for a weekend terrorist attack by Uighurs at Pakistan, its close ally. China said that an “initial probe” had shown that leaders of Sunday’s attack on a restaurant, in which 11 people died, had received explosives and firearms training in Pakistan-based camps of the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, also known as ETIM. The allegation is striking because of China’s close relationship with Pakistan, and because China is echoing similar complaints by the U.S., India and Afghanistan that Pakistan isn’t doing enough to stop terrorism. The News (Pakistan)