China executes two Uighurs, jails 15

BEIJING (Reuters) – China has executed two Uighurs and sentenced another 15 to jail for alleged terrorist links, the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Asia said in a report just days after Beijing warned of attacks aimed at the Olympics.

The Kashgar Intermediate People’s Court sentenced two men — Mukhtar Setiwaldi and Abduweli Imin — to death and immediately executed them after a July 9 public trial in Yengi Sheher county, said RFA, citing local Xinjiang, Uighur and official sources.

The report could not be independently confirmed. Government officials could not be reached immediately on Saturday.

Chinese authorities were using the terrorist allegations as a pretext to persecute Uighurs, said the Uighur American Association (UAA), which strongly condemned the executions.

The wireless fight begins

Canadian telecom giants are feeling the heat like never before.

A titanic struggle to divvy the spoils of the nation’s wireless riches has begun, pitting an increasingly savvy and demanding customer against finely tuned telecom incumbents.

Customers, showing an almost insatiable appetite for all things wireless, are adopting the technology in all its forms. They’re also quickly taking for granted that instantaneous voice and data communications should be the norm.

At the same time, phone giants are working with device manufacturers and software developers to raise wireless communications to a new level with smart phones and speedier networks.

Army Wives Reenlisted

Army Wives has been tapped for another tour of duty.

Flush with record-setting ratings, Lifetime has already renewed the hit drama for an 18-episode third season to begin in 2009, five weeks after season two got off to a tearjerking start.

“Since premiering last year, Army Wives has become a game-changer for Lifetime,” Andrea Wong, president and CEO of Lifetime Networks, said Friday during the cabler’s panel at the Television Critics Association press tour.

“Announcing this early renewal is a testament to the enormous faith and confidence we have in this show and its incredibly talented cast and production team.”

The contemporary drama about the members of military families who remain on the homefront is the top show on all of ad-supported basic cable with women ages 18-49 and 25-54, according to Lifetime.

“The show’s strong cast and storylines relevant to current culture resonate with viewers,” ABC Studios President Mark Pedowitz said. “We expect the momentum to continue, and look forward to working with our partners at Lifetime on another exciting season.”