This blog has been converted into an archive of past news headlines and summaries dating from February 2006 to the beginning of July 2008.
For the latest news headlines and summaries on geopolitical topics visit Global News Blog Headlines. To read full text analysis visit the Global Geopolitics Net website.
Austria’s ruling coalition collapses
Austria’s governing coalition has collapsed and a snap election looked set for September after conservatives declared they could no longer work with the Social Democrats of Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer
Austrian govt calls it quits, early elections planned (AFP via Yahoo! News)
Austria’s troubled grand coalition of conservatives and Social Democrats called it quits Monday, as the vice-chancellor pushed for early elections after months of bitter wrangling.
Synod vote in women bishop row
The Church of England’s ruling body is to vote on conditions under which women could become bishops.
Sarkozy’s EU options seen as limited
The French presidency of the European Union will be an exercise in ‘crisis management’, says Peer Steinbrück, German finance minister, particularly with soaring oil prices
Austrian Government Collapses on Health Care, EU Vote Disputes (Bloomberg.com)
July 7 (Bloomberg) — Austria’s 18-month-old government collapsed after the People’s Party pulled out and demanded elections as early as September, seeking to exploit disarray in its Social Democratic coalition partner.
Warsaw brands US missile deal ‘unsatisfactory’
The Polish prime minister yesterday put a dent in US hopes that a deal had been reached on locating a missile defence base in Poland, saying Washington’s latest offer…
Hopes rise for Tehran talks progress
Iran’s top security negotiator will this month meet the EU’s foreign policy chief, amid continuing hopes that Tehran will soon begin formal talks on its nuclear programme
Austrian Chancellor Says Won’t Stand In New Elections (Nasdaq)
VIENNA (AFP)–Austrian Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer announced Monday he wouldn’t stand again for re-election as his Social Democratic party prepares for early elections in autumn.
Austria ruling coalition crumbles (BBC News)
The leader of Austria’s conservative party pulls out of the governing coalition, prompting a fresh poll within months.
Truckers protest high gas prices, taxes in Austria (AP via Yahoo! Finance)
At least 1,400 truckers are clogging up the main highways around the Austrian capital to protest skyrocketing gas prices and high taxes and tolls.
German industrial output falls sharply
The eurozone economy has shown fresh signs of spluttering, with German industrial production dropping unexpectedly sharply in May - the strongest monthly fall since August 1997.
Celtic tiger’s high-tech run tails off
Silicon Bog is feeling the effects of Ireland’s slowdown. The high-tech hub in county Kildare was one of the main drivers of the country’s economic success
Polish heirs pose fiscal threat
Claims involving property confiscated during the communist rule come to as much as 80bn zlotys, about a quarter of the central government’s annual spending
Sarkozy the heckler
Whatever the validity of his arguments – and they are questionable – it is not the job of the European Council president to berate other EU institutions
Police to open Madeleine files
Leicestershire Police have agreed to release 81 pieces of information about the Madeleine McCann investigation.
Austria Austrian government set to collapse 07/07 13:55 CET (Euronews)
The leader of Austria’s co-governing People’s Party has called for a snap election, claiming it is no longer possible to work with Chancellor Alfred Gusenbauer’s Social Democrats.
Bosnia faces call for talks on cash crisis
International overseers want federation parties to discuss ways to rein in spending after one of the Balkan state’s two entities ended May with just €221 in its treasury
Azerbaijan >> - Kommersant
A Russian hearing about Azerbaijan immediately thinks of someone in a Caucasian-style cap [the large round hat worn in the Caucasus] who gets rich by selling carnations and tangerines in the market. Someone else might think nostalgically about wines
ISLAMIST ANGST - Der Spiegel
Germany has so far been spared a bloody Islamist terror attack. But it only took two planned attacks in Germany to persuade a majority of the population to support a massive dismantling of civil rights. Jihad and Fritz. It would be hard to imagine
Sentenced to Silence - US News and World Report
MOSCOW Human-rights activists are seeking the release of Andrey Novikov, a 41-year-old journalist who has been held in a Russian mental hospital since February. Prosecutors say Novikov was confined for writing articles inciting terrorism. But
Russia rated UK’s biggest threat after al-Qaeda and Iran - Times Online
Britain s security services have identified Russia as the third most serious threat facing the country, it has emerged before Gordon Brown s first meeting with President Medvedev. Security officials say that only al-Qaeda terrorism and Iranian
Chechen war could have been avoided - general - Interfax Information Agency
MOSCOW. July 7 (Interfax-AVN) - The counter-terrorist operation in Northern Caucasus is unlikely to end in the near future, head of the Armed Forces department for combat training Lt. Gen. Vladimir Shamanov said. “The operation can be considered as
December 2005 - Weekly Standard
As the noose tightens around Assad over the Hariri assassination, we shouldn’t forget his active support of our enemies in Iraq. From a September 2005 Time piece: The Baathists, on the other hand, were more active in courting the tribes. Starting in
After London Terror Bombing Attack, Defining Terrorism In Israel - Israel News Agency
Jerusalem—-July 8 ..The people of London suffered their worst terror attack yesterday since being bombed by the Nazis in World War Two. At least six powerful explosions ripped through buses and subway cars murdering over 50 innocent civilians
November 2007 - Weekly Standard
MS. PERINO: Because he is the commander on the ground, Helen. He’s the one who is making sure that the situation is moving — Q You mean how many more people we kill? MS. PERINO: Helen, I find it really unfortunate that you use your front row
Education News Stories and Articles - Atlanta Journal Constitution
Business-school test maker seeks Web cheaters RICHMOND, Va. Prospective and current graduate business students who used a Web site to cheat on entrance examinations over the last five years could have their scores thrown out Mass. pregnancy
China: Fire on the streets of Lhasa, Tibet - Global Voices Online.org
World Regions Americas Central Asia & Caucasus East Asia Eastern & Central Europe Middle East & North Africa Oceania South Asia Sub-Saharan Africa Western Europe Topics Agriculture Arts & Culture
Administration uses remaining months to focus on Iran - Atlanta Journal Constitution
WASHINGTON — With a recent breakthrough nuclear agreement with North Korea and possible gains in the war in Iraq, the Bush administration in its remaining months in office is focusing on its options in dealing with Iran, the third member of its …
Oil slips below $143, eyes dollar, Iran - Reuters
LONDON (Reuters) - Oil retreated to below $143 a barrel on Monday, taking a pause from a record-breaking rally that has lifted prices by almost 50 percent to prices this year. Investors were eyeing mixed signals from Iran, the world’s fourth-largest …
Oil Slips to $141 as Dollar Strengthens - CNBC
Oil retreated over $4 to near $140 a barrel on Monday, taking a pause from a record-breaking rally that has lifted prices by almost 50 percent this year. Investors were eyeing mixed signals from Iran, the world’s fourth-largest oil exporter, in its …
Iran’s flag to be hoisted at North Pole (Payvand Iran News)
Iranian Hamid Jodeiri Khodashenas will be hoisting Iran’s three-colored flag at the North Pole for the first time. -MNA
Iran says demand to halt enrichment “illegitimate” (Reuters.co.uk)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday Iran would not abandon its right to enrich uranium and rejected a major powers’ demand to do so as “illegitimate”, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Iran says demand to halt enrichment “illegitimate” (Reuters.co.uk)
TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday Iran would not abandon its right to enrich uranium and rejected a major powers’ demand to do so as “illegitimate”, the official IRNA news agency reported.
Iran takes off on a goodwill mission (Asia Times)
Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad is in Malaysia this week to attend the 6th summit of the Group of Eight Islamic developing countries (D-8), hoping to deepen Iran’s own version of multilateral diplomacy.
Ahmadinejad dismisses ‘repetitive’ nuclear demands (TurkishPress.com)
TEHRAN - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Monday bluntly rejected as “repetitive” calls for Iran to suspend uranium enrichment, as world powers reviewed its response to an offer to end the five-year nuclear crisis.
Oil drops below $141 a barrel - International Herald Tribune
LONDON : Oil retreated to below $141 a barrel on Monday, taking a pause from a record-breaking rally that has lifted prices by almost 50 percent this year. Investors were eyeing mixed signals from Iran, the world’s fourth-largest oil exporter, in its …
Ahmadinejad: US, Israel not dare attack Iran (TurkishPress.com)
Kuala Lumpur - The US and Israel would not dare attack Iran, said President Ahmadinejad of Iran in an interview to Malaysian media on Monday.
Ahmadinejad: Situation turning in Iran’s favor on nuclear talks (Islamic Republic News Agency)
Iran - Turkey - Nuclear President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Monday that the situation has turned into Iran’s favor on nuclear talks. Ahmadinejad made the remark in a meeting with Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan.
Iran kills insurgent, captures another - media (AlertNet)
Source: Reuters TEHRAN, July 7 (Reuters) - Iranian forces have killed a suspected Kurdish insurgent and captured another in a clash in the country’s northwest, media reported on Monday. Iran’s Press TV quoted …
UN’s Ban encouraged by EU dialogue with Iran (Middle East Times)
File photo shows Iranian women passing in front of an atomic symbol in Tehran. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has told AFP in an interview that he is encouraged by recent dialogue between Iran and the European Union over Tehran’s nuclear programme (AFP Behrouz Mehri)
Ahmadinejad: Iran not to accept nuclear suspension (EARTHtimes.org)
Tehran - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reiterated once again that Iran would not accept nuclear suspension and termed the latest demand by world powers in this regard as a repetitive scenario, the official news agency IRNA reported Monday. …
52 Iranian athletes to participate in Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (Islamic Republic News Agency)
Iran - China - Olympics Some 52 Iranian athletes in 12 fields will participate in 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Ahmadinejad: US, Israel will not attack Iran (Al Bawaba)
The US and Israel would not dare attack Iran, said Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in an interview to Malaysian media on Monday. According to IRNA , the Iranian president arrived in Kuala Lumpur earlier in the day to attend the sixth Summit of the Eight Islamic Developing Countries (D8) where he is expected to deliver a speech on Tuesday.
Hu Jintao - Time
Hu Jintao is the first Chinese leader who grew up in the aftermath of the revolution that established communism in 1949. He inherits its tradition, but he has gone far beyond it. In a marked evolution from Mao Zedong, Hu, 65, has proclaimed the goal
G8 urged to raise Tibet issue with Chinese president - Top News India
Toyako, Japan - Leaders of the world’s major economies linked in the Group of Eight were urged Sunday to raise the issue of Tibet with Chinese state and party leader Hu Jintao at their summit in Japan. The latest dialogue between Chinese officials
Climate change strategy isolates US at summit of industrialized - International Herald Tribune
RUSUTSU, Japan : A rift over climate change widened Monday as the head of the European Commission urged leaders of the world’s wealthy nations to act first in setting targets for reducing greenhouse gases putting U.S. President George W. Bush in
APNewsBreak: Agency could approve nuclear rules for India within weeks - International Herald Tribune
VIENNA, Austria : The International Atomic Energy Agency’s 37 board nations could approve nuclear rules for India within weeks, diplomats said Monday, in an important step for attempts by New Delhi and Washington to breathe life into their landmark
Hu, Fukuda Warm China-Japan Ties, Shifting Strategic Balance - Bloomberg
July 7 (Bloomberg) — When Hu Jintao arrives on Hokkaido island today as a guest of the Group of Eight leaders, it will be his second time on Japanese soil in two months — after a decade in which China’s top leader stayed away. Since Hu’s May
China’s Hu leaves for Japan to attend G8 climate change session - Forbes
BEIJING (XFN-ASIA) - President Hu Jintao left for Japan today to attend the annual summit of the Group of Eight industrial powers, official media reported. Xinhua news agency said Hu will attend the ‘outreach’ session of the summit that will focus on
Chinese president leaves for G8 summit outreach session - Xinhua News Agency
BEIJING, July 7 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Hu Jintao left here Monday afternoon for Japan to attend the Outreach Session of the Group of Eight (G8) Summit, at the invitation of Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda. Hu’s entourage included Ling
Chinese president arrives in Japan for G8 outreach session - Xinhua News Agency
SAPPORO, Japan, July 7 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Sapporo, capital of Hokkaido, Monday for the Outreach Session of the Group of Eight (G8) Summit, slated for Wednesday in the northern Japanese resort of Toyako. In Sapporo
Diplomats: UN nuclear agency sets India meeting - Forbes
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s board nations are expected to approve nuclear rules for India on July 28 in an important step for U.S. and Indian attempts to sign a landmark nuclear deal, diplomats told The Associated Press. Without so
Dalai Lama’s envoys cite little progress in talks with China - Boston Globe
BEIJING - Envoys for the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan spiritual leader, said over the weekend that their meetings with Chinese officials in the last week were so disappointing that they could not even get the Chinese to agree to issue a joint statement
Africa: Kikwete Leads African Team to Talks With G8 (AllAfrica.com)
Food and oil crises, climate change and attainment of Millennium Development Goals top the agenda as African and G8 leaders meet Monday.
Equatorial Guinea government resigns (Mail and Guardian)
The map will replace this text. If any users do not have Flash Player 8 (or above), they’ll see this message. Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema has accepted the resignation of the country’s government, calling it “one of the worst ever,” national television reported Saturday.
G-8 summit opens with spotlight on aid for Africa (AP via Yahoo! News)
Aid for Africa — and whether enough was coming from the world’s major economic powers — was in the spotlight Monday as the Group of Eight nations met with seven African leaders at its annual summit.
Interrogations, Arrests Mount in Ivory Coast Cocoa Probe (Voice of America)
More interrogations and arrests are being carried out in Ivory Coast as part of a massive anti-corruption effort for the country’s lucrative cocoa sector. Prosecutors opened their investigation into fraud last month after a series of scandals in which massive amounts of money went unaccounted for.
African Union diplomat hospitalised -Japan official (AlertNet)
Source: Reuters TOYAKO, Japan, July 7 (Reuters) - The African Union’s top diplomat, who is in Japan to join discussions on Africa at a summit of the Group of Eight rich nations, was hospitalised on Monday, a Japanese …
Africa: AU Summit Endorses African Union Government (AllAfrica.com)
All 53 member states of the African Union endorsed the idea to form a Union Government, though views on how to achieve it remain divergent.
Ivory Coast seeks donor funds to keep polls on track (AlertNet)
Source: Reuters By Loucoumane Coulibaly ABIDJAN, July 2 (Reuters) - Ivory Coast urgently needs nearly $100 million from donors to finance preparations for elections in November and pay disgruntled rebels who staged …
G-8 Summit Opens With Spotlight on African Aid (The New York Sun)
RUSUTSU, Japan (AP) - Aid for Africa — and whether enough was coming from the world’s major economic powers — was in the spotlight today as the Group of Eight nations met with seven African leaders at its annual summit. Activists have accused some G-8 countries, particularly France, Canada, and Italy, of skimping on aid to Africa, and urged them to ramp up their contributions. America, Japan, …
G-8 summit opens with spotlight on aid for Africa, food crisis and Zimbabwe election (AP via Yahoo! Singapore News)
Aid for Africa _ and whether enough is coming from the world’s major economic powers _ was in the spotlight Monday as the Group of Eight nations prepared to meet with seven African leaders at their annual summit.
Africa: What’s in a Name? (AllAfrica.com)
Early this week African Heads of State gathered in Sharm el-Sheik in Egypt for the African Union summit. This is something that has become a ritual of sorts for Africa’s top decision makers.
G-8 Summit Spotlights Aid for Africa (Time Magazine)
Aid for Africa - and whether enough was coming from the world’s major economic powers - was in the spotlight Monday as the Group of Eight nations planned to meet with seven African leaders at its annual summit
Ivory Coast hands out grain to youths to combat food crisis (AFP via Yahoo! News)
A group of allies of Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo on Tuesday launched a programme to combat the food crisis by handing out grain and fertilizer to 2,000 young people.
Nigeria: 16 Students on Excursion Perish in Benin-Asaba Road Mishap (AllAfrica.com)
SIXTEEN students of the Christ the King Secondary School, Agbor, Delta State, who were on their way to Benin on excursion, lost their lives weekend in a ghastly motor accident along the Benin-Asaba express road.
G-8 summit opens with spotlight on aid for Africa (USA Today)
Aid for Africa and whether enough was coming from the world’s major economic powers was in the spotlight Monday as the Group of Eight nations planned to meet with seven African leaders at its annual summit.
Africa: Obama African Support Group Set for Launch in African Countries (AllAfrica.com)
Obama African Support Group [OASG], an outfit dedicated to the actualisation of the Barrack Obama presidency in the United States, is set for launch, in all major cities of the African continent.
Monday (Bernama)
KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) — Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed confidence members of the Malaysia-Indonesia Eminent Persons Group (EPG) will provide valuable inputs to enhance bilateral ties.
(AFX UK Focus) 2008-07-07 05:15 Asian stocks mixed as commodities weigh on Australia; Hong Kong gains (Interactive Investor)
HONG KONG (Thomson Financial) - Stock markets across Asia were mixed on Monday with Australia declining after weaker commodity prices weighed down resource firms, while Hong Kong was propped up by gains in the banking sector due to strong first-half earnings forecasts by Chinese lenders.
(AFX UK Focus) 2008-07-07 07:23 Taipei shares end up on bargain-hunting, tracking firmer Asian trend - UPDATE (Interactive Investor)
TAIPEI (XFN-ASIA) - Share prices closed higher on bargain-hunting, buoyed by late morning strength in other Asian markets, dealers said.
Total Indonesia plans to spend $1.9 bln in 2009 (Reuters via Yahoo! Malaysia News)
(Changes the lead, adds quotes, details)
East Timor police fire tear gas to break up protest against lawmakers’ plan to buy new cars (AP via Yahoo! Singapore News)
Police in East Timor’s capital fired tear gas Monday to disperse students protesting a plan by lawmakers to buy themselves new cars with state funds, authorities said.
Total Indonesia plans to spend $1.9 bln in 2009 (Reuters via Yahoo! Philippines News)
JAKARTA, July 7 (Reuters) - The Indonesian unit of French oil major Total plans $1.9 billion of capital expenditure in the Southeast Asian country next year, the head of Total E&P Indonesia Philippe Armand said on Monday.
Australia’s Newcastle Coal Price Climbs to Record (Update1) (Bloomberg.com)
July 7 (Bloomberg) — Thermal coal prices at Australia’s Newcastle port, a benchmark for Asia, rose 13 percent to a record for a sixth week amid reduced supplies of the fuel.
Taipei shares outlook - Lower on margin call pressure, oil price concerns (Sharewatch)
TAIPEI (XFN-ASIA) - Share prices are expected to open lower in the wake of margin call pressure arising from the market’s recent declines, dealers said.
SUSILO HOPES EPG MEMBERS WILL PROVIDE VALUABLE INPUTS TO ENHANCE BILATERAL TIES (Bernama via Yahoo! Malaysia News)
KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) — Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has expressed confidence members of the Malaysia-Indonesia Eminent Persons Group (EPG) will provide valuable inputs to enhance bilateral ties. He said hiccups surfaced from time to time though there was multi-level cooperation between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. As such, a firm commitment was …
Indonesia says five guards killed, two diplomats wounded in Kabul blast (TurkishPress.com)
JAKARTA - Five Afghan security guards at the Indonesian embassy were killed and two Indonesian diplomats were wounded in a suicide car bombing which targeted the Indian embassy in Kabul on Monday, officials said.
Philippines tries to edge out India for U.S. outsourcing jobs (The Christian Science Monitor via Yahoo! News)
For investors in the US, the economic wobbles of recent months could spell the onslaught of a recession. But from his skyscraper office in downtown Manila, Danilo Sebastian Reyes, the president of Sitel, a business process outsourcing (BPO) firm that employs some 2,000 people in the Philippines, sees the beginning of boom time.
Militant groups have gone on the defensive after arrests, says Indonesia (The Star)
KUALA LUMPUR: Terror groups in Indonesia are on the run following the recent arrest of 10 suspected militants in Palembang, said Indonesian Foreign Minister Dr Nur Hassan Wirajuda.
UPDATE 1-Total Indonesia plans to spend $1.9 bln in 2009 (Sharewatch)
JAKARTA, July 7 (Reuters) - The Indonesian unit of French oil major Total (TOTF.PA) plans to invest $1.9 billion in the Southeast nation’s oil and gas sector, the head of the firm said on Monday.
Marshall Islands email paralysed by ‘zombie’ attack (TODAYonline)
Email communication in the Marshall Islands was paralysed after hackers launched a “zombie” computer attack on the western Pacific nation’s only Internet service provider, officials said.
SUSILO WANTS INDONESIAN WORKERS TO RESPECT MALAYSIAN LAWS (Bernama via Yahoo! Malaysia News)
KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) — Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono wants Indonesian workers in Malaysia to respect the law of the land whilst promising them governmental assistance should they face any problem.
Indonesia decree on sect fans risk of unrest - report (AlertNet)
Source: Reuters By Ed Davies JAKARTA, July 7 (Reuters) - Indonesian government policy has been hijacked by radical Islamic groups, as shown by a decree last month to restrict the Ahmadiyya sect, the International …
Marshall Islands email paralysed by ‘zombie’ attack (Yehey!)
Email communication in the Marshall Islands was paralysed Tuesday after hackers launched a “zombie” computer attack on the western Pacific nation’s only Internet service provider, officials said.
GPT, Property Trusts Lead Australia Bond Risk to 14-Week High (Bloomberg.com)
July 7 (Bloomberg) — GPT Group led a rise in the risk of Australian companies defaulting on their bonds to a 14-week high, as credit and property market deterioration prompted the real estate owner to cut profit and dividend estimates.
June 2006 - Weekly Standard
Egypt imports over two billion dollars in US aid annually but apparently has exported the bulk of the foreign jihadists in Iraq. Syria s the number two exporter and, despite repeated US warnings going back to 2003, remains the main passageway
Behind Islamic Terror - New American
Free PDF of NAU Issue Al-Qaeda Stronger than Ever. U.S. Concern at Al-Qaeda Strength. These and similar titles accompanied news stories that began breaking during the second week of July, announcing leaks of a disturbing new classified
ISLAMIST ANGST - Der Spiegel
Germany has so far been spared a bloody Islamist terror attack. But it only took two planned attacks in Germany to persuade a majority of the population to support a massive dismantling of civil rights. Jihad and Fritz. It would be hard to imagine
After London Terror Bombing Attack, Defining Terrorism In Israel - Israel News Agency
Jerusalem—-July 8 ..The people of London suffered their worst terror attack yesterday since being bombed by the Nazis in World War Two. At least six powerful explosions ripped through buses and subway cars murdering over 50 innocent civilians
January 2008 - Weekly Standard
This debate was unbelievably boring and anyone who says different don’t believe them. The two were intolerably civil to each other, and neither said anything that struck me as remotely controversial. In fact, with each debate the orthodoxy of Obama’s
Quote of the day - Open Democracy
Power is a tremendous stigma. It’s the wrong kind of pride that needs to control other people, the sign of a sick society If the debate about Russia on openDemocracy continues in the same vein, the stock of Lewis Carroll terminology will soon be
Blessed Reassurance - Slate
Under Dick Cheney, the office of the vice president has been transformed from a tiny acorn into an unprecedented giant oak. In grasping and exercising presidential powers, Cheney has dulled political accountability and concocted theories for evading
Inside the AFP - Augusta Free Press
Story by Jim Bishop Brenda C. Fairweather wanted to respond in some way to a hostage crisis in Russia in which more than 300 civilians eventually lost their lives. On Sept. 1, 2004, terrorists linked to the Chechen independence struggle took more
Post-Soviet Nationalism and Russia’s Future - Global Politician
The roots of Russia s currently rising nationalism are threefold: pre-Soviet, Soviet and post-Soviet. The idea of Moscow as the Third Rome, i.e. of a special Russian mission in world history, goes back several centuries. Russian nationalism
Iran Says Its Nuclear Policy Has Not Changed
Iran?s nuclear policy has not been changed by incentives, an Iranian government spokesman said, confirming that Iran would not comply with Security Council resolutions.
U.S. Helps Remove Uranium From Iraq
The removal of hundreds of tons of natural uranium from the country?s main nuclear site represents one of the final chapter in the dismantling of Saddam Hussein?s nuclear program.
RAND Releases Delayed Iraq History
The study chronicles a wide range of factors that hampered the American effort to stabilize Iraq after the fall of Saddam Hussein.
After Deaths, U.S. Inspects Electric Work Done in Iraq
Gen. David H. Petraeus told Congress of the new inspections while also disclosing that at least 13 American personnel had been electrocuted in Iraq since the war began.
Iraq to Open Oil Fields for 35 Foreign Companies; Initial No-Bid Contracts Delayed
The contracts are aimed at helping the country to double its production, to 4.5 million barrels of oil a day over the next five years from the current 2.5 million barrels.
Police Kill 9 Inmates During Prison Riot in Syria
Syrian military police officers fired on Islamist inmates during a riot at a prison outside Damascus.
Ancestral Journeys
In tracing his family?s history in Lebanon and beyond, Amin Maalouf also traces the changing nature of Arab identity.
POLITICS-US: Vets Mull Wins and Losses in Benefits Fight
SAN FRANCISCO, Jul 4 (IPS) - You could hear the joy in Patrick Campbell’s voice as he reflected on U.S. President George W. Bush’s signing Monday of a new GI Bill of Rights for veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan.
U.S. Agrees to Lift Immunity for Contractors in Iraq
The concession could make private security companies, like Blackwater USA, subject to prosecution under Iraqi law.
MIDEAST: Sewage in Water Threatens Gazans
GAZA CITY, Jul 2 (IPS) - Gaza is being forced to pump 77 tonnes of untreated or partially treated sewage out to sea daily due to the Israeli blockade of the coastal territory. The fear is that some of this is creeping back into drinking water.
POLITICS: Official Says Iran Accepts P5+1 Talks Proposal
WASHINGTON, Jul 2 (IPS) - A senior Iranian official reportedly told members of the Iranian parliament Monday that Iran has agreed to freeze its enrichment programme for six weeks and begin negotiations with the P5+1 group of states as early as next week, according to reports of that decision by the Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA) and by a Farsi-language website in Iran.
Iran Responds Obliquely to Nuclear Plan
Iran failed to address the central issue of whether it would halt its uranium enrichment activities, officials said.
Iraq Sues Companies Over Oil-for-Food Program
The Iraqi government sued dozens of companies that it said paid kickbacks to Saddam Hussein?s government under the United Nations oil-for-food program.
Iraq City Has Brittle Calm and War Scars
Calm has only begun to return to Diyala Province and its capital, Baquba, once known as the garden of Iraq.
Fear over Israel’s threat to strike Iran
As Tehran has accelerated its uranium enrichment programme instead of suspending it, speculation has mounted that Israel is considering a military attack
Five blasts in Georgia near conflict zone (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
Georgian officials said there were five explosions near the de-facto border between Georgia and its breakaway region of Abkhazia on Sunday, in the latest sign of growing tensions between Tbilisi and separatists.
Pro-Opposition TV Station Tries for Comeback
].The Committee to Protect Journalists, an international advocacy group based in New York, welcomed the court ruling and called on the Armenian government to allow the station to resume broadcasting. …
Blasts shake Georgia conflict zone (TVNZ)
Georgian officials said five explosions went off on both sides of the de-facto border between Georgia and its breakaway region of Abkhazia, in the latest sign of growing tensions between Tbilisi and separatists.
Central Asian city marks 10th anniversary as Kazakhstan’s capital (Arizona Daily Star)
ASTANA, Kazakhstan — Kazakhs flocked to gleaming, grandiose — and isolated — Astana to celebrate the 10th anniversary Sunday of the city’s designation as the capital of the vast Central Asian nation.
Calm returns to Mongolia after protest against election results
Troops pulled back from the streets of the Mongolian capital yesterday and political leaders called for calm as authorities lifted emergency rule declared this week after rioting over alleged election…
Mongolia - President Declares State Of Emergency Amid Vote Protest
PRESIDENT DECLARES STATE OF EMERGENCY AMID VOTE PROTEST The president of Mongolia has introduced a four-day state of emergency in the capital Ulan Bator in response to violent protests over Sunday's a…
Explosions rock conflict zone in Georgia (Gulf Times)
TBILISI: Georgian officials said five explosions yesterday struck both sides of the de-facto border between Georgia and its breakaway region of Abkhazia, in the latest sign of growing tensions between Tbilisi and separatists.
Arrests, Court Case Reveal that Turkey is Dangerously Polarized
Email this article Simmering tension between Turkey’s secular establishment and popular religious-minded government is reaching the boiling point. Some experts are expressing concern that Turkis…
Election violence in Mongolia leaves five dead
BEIJING — The capital of Mongolia remained under a state of emergency today after five people were killed in post-election violence amid allegations of voter fraud. The crisis erupted late Tuesday…
Ivanhoe shares fall after election fraud allegations in Mongolia spark riots
The Canadian Press July 2, 2008 - 3:28 p.m. VANCOUVER - Deadly riots sparked by allegations of election fraud in Mongolia erased market gains for Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (TSX:IVN), the Vancouver-based com…
Blasts shake Georgia conflict zone, one killed (Reuters)
TBILISI (Reuters) - Georgian officials said six explosions struck on both sides of a de facto border between Georgia and its breakaway Abkhazia region on Sunday, killing one person.
Five blasts shake Georgia conflict zone (Nine O’Clock)
TBILISI - Georgian officials said five explosions went off on both sides of the de-facto border between Georgia and its breakaway region of Abkhazia yesterday, in the latest sign of growing tensions between Tbilisi and separatists.
Kazakhstan to fight back against Borat with its own film festival (EARTHtimes.org)
Astana/Moscow - The central Asian republic of Kazakhstan plans to fight back against the damage done to its reputation by the box-office smash Borat by holding an international film festival. The capital Astana will host the Eurasia film festival o…
Heavy security in Mongolia after riots over vote
ULAN BATOR, Mongolia (AP) — Rifle-toting soldiers and armored vehicles guarded Mongolia's capital Wednesday, one day after at least five people died in rioting sparked by allegations of fraud …
