My Press Review - Sunday 1 August

UN says floods affect one million Pakistanis

The death toll continues to rise from floods which have left some 400,000 people stranded in far-flung villages and severely damaged the nation’s already-weak infrastructure.

Egypt seeks wheat as drought slashes Russian, Ukrainian crops

Egypt's main government wheat buyer issued an international wheat tender amid a severe drought in the Black Sea region, which has slashed production there and sent global prices soaring this month.

Dutch troops to leave Afghanistan

The Netherlands is to end its military involvement in Afghanistan, after four years in which its troops have won praise for their effectiveness.

Treaty enacted to ban cluster bombs

An international treaty banning the production and use of cluster bombs has come into force.

Opposition figures held in Moscow

Russian police detain two opposition leaders and dozens of others trying to hold demonstrations in Moscow and St Petersburg.

Russia mobilises as fires burn on

Almost 240,000 people have been mobilised across Russia to tackle wildfires that have killed at least 30 people, officials say.

Relatives demand execution of those responsible for killings amid Kyrgyzstan July 10-14 riots

Relatives of Osh residents who were killed or went missing amid violent riots in southern Kyrgyzstan on June 10-14 have demanded that president Roza Otunbayeva and prosecutor general Baitemir Ibrayev sanction the application of the death penalty to those responsible for the most serious crimes during the unrest.

Fury as Israel president claims English are 'anti-semitic'

Israel's president, Shimon Peres, has accused the English of being anti-semitic and claimed that MPs pander to Muslim voters.

US boosts Israeli missile funding

House committee pushes defense program money to highest level ever.

North-west Pakistan 'a massive lake'

Lyse Doucet has travelled to north-west Pakistan, where the worst monsoon floods in living memory have killed at least 800 people and affected one million more.

Twitter user sends world's 20 billionth tweet

Twitter, the social networking site which allows users to say something in up to 140 characters, sees its 20 billionth message sent.

Record harvests - Algeria boosting grain production

Algeria’s determined efforts to boost grain production are starting to reap rewards, with record harvests last year and strong yields in 2010 helping to cut import costs and provide secure employment in rural areas.

Egypt invests over $ 4 billion in Sudan, Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda

Egyptian investments in the Nile Basin countries hit $4 billion, according to estimations of Egyptian investors and experts.

Greece will be war zone, say guerillas

Security forces fear wave of terror as austerity programme provokes strikes, protests, violence – and assassination

The (Anti-)Defamation League on the Ground Zero Mosque

The journey of the (Anti-)Defamation League from beacon of tolerance to slightly potty geyser of toxic foolishness continues apace.

Arizona immigration law appeal set for November

A U.S. court denied a request for an expedited hearing on Friday and instead set a November date for Arizona's appeal to a federal court ruling that blocked key parts of a state law cracking down on illegal immigration.

Islamic Bank of Britain gets cash boost for sharia-compliant loans

A fortnight after it was revealed by The Independent on Sunday that Lloyds banking group had abandoned its landmark Islamic mortgage offer, one of its rivals has outlined plans to expand the number of home loans offered which comply with sharia law.

ADIA is on board for British rail bid

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority is a member of a consortium looking to buy the British high-speed Channel Tunnel rail link.

Julia Gillard 'heading for defeat' in Australian election

Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard is heading for a shock defeat at elections on August 21 according to a new opinion poll.

Turner Broadcasting to open in Dubai to boost Arabic content on TV

Turner Broadcasting System, which operates TV channels such as CNN and the Cartoon Network, is opening an office in Dubai and may launch a local production centre.

Qatar Completes of First Phase of 1833 Mega-Watts Ras Laffan C Power & Water Project

Ras Girtas Power Company (RGPC) has announced the completion of the first phase of the Ras Laffan C Power & Water Project.

Crew's new Atlantic rowing record

Four rowers reach the Isles of Scilly from New York, taking 12 days off the 114-year-old Atlantic record.

Sweden shows its dark underside

The Sweden of Henning Mankell and Stieg Larsson - all shadowy rightwing conspiracies and prostitution rings – might not be so far from the truth

Prince Charles called on to block modern Iranian embassy next to historic church

The Prince of Wales is being asked to help prevent Iran building a new embassy and Islamic cultural centre next to a historic church in one of Britain's most expensive neighbourhoods.

From Taxis to Textiles, Italy Chooses Tradition Over Growth

Like much of the Italian economy, the Carlo Barbera factory is struggling, for reasons that academics say reveal much about what ails Italy.

Will India Be Ready to Host the Commonwealth Games?

With only 63 days left before the biggest sporting event in the nation's history, India looks woefully unprepared

---

Notice: This email is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of our firm shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it.

Posted via email from luay's posterous

My Press Review - Thursday 29 July

Judge blocks Arizona migrant law

A judge in the US state of Arizona blocks key parts of the state's strict new immigration law a day before it is due to take effect.

 

Vatican guards enforce short skirts dress code

The Vatican has been accused of hypocrisy after Swiss Guards launched a crackdown on tourists wearing revealing clothing.

 

100m Facebook users' data published

Details of more than 100 million Facebook users have been harvested and published on the net by a security researcher.

 

US to attend Hiroshima anniversary for first time

The United States has confirmed that the ambassador to Japan will attend a ceremony marking the anniversary of the Hiroshima atom bomb drop for the first time.

 

Larsson first to 1m ebooks milestone

The late Swedish journalist Stieg Larsson has beaten Stephenie Meyer and James Patterson to become the first author to sell more than one million ebooks on Amazon.

 

Why a young Israeli woman spies on Israeli settlements in West Bank

Hagit Ofran tracks Israeli settlement growth in the West Bank with a pocket-sized camera and a deep sense of mission, often making news well beyond Israel with her findings.

 

The UK Jewish school where half the pupils are Muslim

It’s infant prize day at King David School, a state primary in Moseley, Birmingham. The children sit cross-legged on the floor, their parents fiddling with their video cameras. The head, Steve Langford, is wearing a Sesame Street tie.

 

Afghanistan's Oprah: A Singer's Talk Show Tackles Taboos

She's also the Hannah Montana of the nation -- adored by everyone and, somehow, finding ways of discussing taboo social issues

 

Russia in $30bn asset sale plan

Russia announces plans for its biggest privatisation since the 1990s - which it hopes will raise about $30bn.

 

South Africa strike: Nearly 1 million government workers set to take action

More than 900,000 South African government workers will go on strike starting on Aug. 10 to demand an 8.6 percent wage increase.

 

Study says Amish expanding westward

The search by the booming North American population of Amish for affordable, fertile farmland has produced settlements in 28 states and Ontario — and has even led parties to scout recently for suitable properties in Alaska and Mexico.

 

Settler violence flares in West Bank

Jewish settlers terrorise Palestinian village after Israeli army demolishes illegal structures, with more attacks likely if the partial freeze on construction is extended.

 

UK to give nuclear advice to India

Britain is to follow the example of the United States and allow the export of civil nuclear technology and expertise to India.

 

Oman - $ 356 million investment boost for transport

Oman - A raft of new agreements recently signed by the Ministry of Transport and Communications will see a significant round of investment in Oman’s transport infrastructure

 

US Muslims investigated over carpark prayer

Nevada police deny over-reacting after someone reported the group at a petrol station as "a bunch of guys doing weird moves".

 

World Bank offers $ 3.2 billion to finance 18 development projects in Egypt

The current portfolio of cooperation between Egypt and the World Bank comprises 18 development projects, financed through loans at a total $3.209 billion, in addition to 10 grants worth $66.200 million,

 

Everybody wants luxury, but not at any price

If you've ever walked into any of the familiar looking Western luxury brand stores around Beijing, chances are you've walked straight back out again when noticing the less familiar prices. Luxury goods are unbelievably high-priced in Beijing, due to a combination of high tax and store owners desperate to exploit the immodest egos of Beijing's new money.

 

Dutch girl Dekker allowed to sail

A 14-year-old girl has been given permission by a Dutch court to try to become the youngest person to sail around the world.

 

UN declares right to clean water

The UN declares that access to clean water and sanitation is a fundamental human right, in a non-binding resolution.

 

Julia Gillard says children can be a political liability

Julia Gillard, Australia's first female prime minister, has admitted she is a little "wistful" over her decision not to have children but has suggested that they can be a liability for women in politics.

 

Half of France's illegal Gipsy camps to be dismantled

Nicolas Sarkozy has ordered authorities to expel gipsy illegal immigrants and dismantle their camps amid accusations the government is acting in a racist manner.

 

Non-Muslim minorities inclined to say ‘yes’ in referendum

As the nation prepares to vote for a constitutional amendment package in a referendum on Sept. 12, non-Muslim minorities in Turkey are inclined to say “yes” to the reforms, which are expected to improve Turkish democracy. They generally feel that more changes are necessary, however, to more fully democratize the country.

 

High executioners

China executes more of its own citizens than any other country, and more than all others in the world combined. “Thousands” of Chinese were executed in 2009 according to Amnesty International's annual study, which states that an exact number is impossible to determine because information on the death penalty is regarded as a state secret.

 

Greek drivers told to end strike

The Greek government issues a rare emergency order to force lorry drivers back to work after a three-day strike.

 

Plan to axe fixed retirement age

The government is to announce it wants to scrap the default retirement age of 65 from October next year.

 

Democrats vs. Democrats: Is Obama Too Divisive?

It's hard to imagine two prominent Republican pollsters slagging a sitting Republican President.

 

Schoolboy hailed as 'next Picasso'

A British schoolboy has stunned the art world by producing paintings that look like Picasso's.

 

Emotional vote

Joy and tears as Spanish region of Catalonia bans bullfighting

 

Google 'in talks to build Facebook competitor'

Google has held talks with gaming companies as it looks to develop a new service to compete with social networking website Facebook, the Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

 

Doomed 1848 ship found in Arctic

Canadian archaeologists locate the wreck of HMS Investigator, a British ship abandoned in the Arctic in the 19th Century.

 

Plankton declining across oceans

The amount of plankton in the oceans has declined markedly over the last century, with warming identified as a cause.

 

Solving the 800-year mystery of Pisa's Leaning Tower

Professor John Burland has spent the last two decades striving to save - and understand - the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

 

British Petroleum's waning Britishness causes few ripples in United Kingdom

Its chairman is Swedish, a growing chunk of its revenue comes from Russia and its incoming chief executive speaks with an American accent. So goes the Britishness in the company once known as British Petroleum.

 

Atheists 'could set up free schools'

Atheist state schools could be established under the Government's education reforms, Michael Gove has said.

 

Nazi death camp guard charged with deaths of 430,000 Jews

German prosecutors say they have charged a former Nazi death camp guard with participating in the murder of 430,000 Jews and other crimes during the Third Reich.

 

Briton holds 'key to the internet'

Paul Kane, a computer expert from Bath, is one of only seven people around the world to be given responsibility for rebooting the internet in the event of a catastrophe

 

Gel for decayed teeth 'could spell end to fillings'

A gel that can help decayed teeth grow back in weeks could signal an end to fillings.

 

Mobile phones 'dirtier than toilet handles'

Mobile phones are covered with up to 18 times more living bacteria than the flush handle on a men's lavatory, research suggests.

 

Can Ghana can avoid the 'oil curse'? A few fresh concerns.

These are early days for Ghana and its off-shore oil, but recent wrangling over the ownership of exploitation rights raises fresh concern over whether the country can avoid the 'oil curse.'

 

Sperm bank peddles celebrity look-alike donors

Is it custom-designing a baby in the image of your favorite celebrity? The next logical step of the evolutionary desire for attractiveness? A silly result of sperm-donor anonymity rules? Or all that and more?

 

---

Notice: This email is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of our firm shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it.

Posted via email from luay's posterous

What's Happening Today - Thursday 29 July

Koreas: North and South Korea expected to hold Colonel-level talks at at the Panmunjom truce village that straddles the border between the two Koreas.

   

Malaysia: Opposition parties plan to hold a protest against government's effort to trim its subsidy bill by hiking petrol and sugar prices.

 

Myanmar: North Korean Foreign Minister Pak Ui-chun visits; first visit by North Korean official since Rangoon bombing 27 years ago

 

India: Last day of visit by UK’s Cameron, Hague and Osborne as well as Business Secretary Vince Cable. Cameron holds separate talks with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, President Pratibha Patil and counterpart Manmohan Singh; news conference follows

 

Pakistan: Watching developments as investigations begin into causes of yesterday’s crash

 

Russia: President Dmitriy Medvedev chairs meeting of National Projects and Demographic Policies' Council to brainstorm energy effectiveness and energy saving in 2011-2013 national projects

 

Russia: Pro-government politicized youth movement camp  Seliger-2010 concludes in Tver Region

 

Kyrgyzstan: A land dispute has occurred between Kyrgyz and Tajik residents on the border. Kyrgyz villagers of Minbulak and Tajik residents of Surkh close to the Kok-Tash border outpost were involved in the incident, which was reportedly caused by the illegal use of lands by Tajik citizens.

 

Iran: Iran will cease uranium enrichment at 20 percent if world powers agree to a nuclear fuel swap proposal, Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said, according to Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu

 

UAE: The Israeli ambassador to the United Kingdom, Ron Prosor, met with the exiled crown prince of the emirate of Ras al-Khaimah in March, who asked his help in ousting the emirate's current leadership, which consists al-Khaimeh's father, Sheikh Saqr, and half brother, Sheikh Saud, The Guardian reported. Al-Khaimeh was exiled in 2003 and currently lives in London.

 

Iraq: Retrial of Ali Lutfi al-Rawi who was sentenced to life imprisonment for 2004 kidnapping and murder of British aid worker Margaret Hassan but successfully appealed; some doubt as to whether will go ahead as prison authorities have been unable to locate him?

 

Iraq: A State of Law (SoL) coalition spokesman said the alliance between SoL and the Iraqi National Alliance (INA) is likely to collapse due to the crisis over the prime minister’s post. Izzat al-Shahbandar said that Iran would like to maintain this alliance at any cost and could accept Nouri al-Maliki as prime minister, but would never accept al-Iraqiya List leader Iyad Allawi as prime minister.

 

Syria: Saudi King Abdallah visits to meet President Bashar al-Asad ahead of Beirut Summit tomorrow

 

Israel: Thousands attend Jerusalem's controversial gay pride parade – usually involves heavy security presence and orthodox attacks.

 

Gaza: The UN is organising a kite festival at 1330 GMT to break last year’s record where around 3000 children flew kites simultaneously, this attempt will include 7500 children.

 

Egypt: Arab Foreign Ministers meet to discuss ongoing indirect peace talks between Israel and the Palestinians and the possibility of moving towards direct talks.

 

Egypt: Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas meets members of Arab League's Arab Peace Initiative Committee to discuss Middle East “peace process”

 

Egypt: Egypt will issue visas to members of an Iranian parliamentary delegation slated to visit Gaza, Iran's IRNA reported, citing comments from Ahmadi Bighash, member of the Iranian parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission.

 

Somalia: A rebel group based in Puntland said it would wage war against the semi-autonomous region's government until Shariah is enacted, according to Sheikh Mohamed Saiid Atom, speaking in the town of Galkayo

 

Sudan: Two-day conference to increase awareness of 2011 referendum on independence of South Sudan concludes in regional capital Juba

 

Greece: Workers stage a new 24-hour strike to protest against government's austerity measures.

 

Austria: Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe OSCE's press freedom representative, Dunja Mijatovic, delivers report to Council; first since took over post in March; press conference follows (1100 gmt)

 

Serbia: The Serbian government has submitted a draft resolution on the International Court of Justice's Kosovo ruling to the U.N. General Assembly. The resolution "clearly states" that unilateral secession is not an acceptable way to solve territorial disputes, and calls for a dialogue to find mutually acceptable solutions, according to the statement.

 

Italy: Chamber of Deputies, its lower house of parliament, approved a 25 billion euro ($32.4 billion) austerity package with a vote of 329-275

 

Belgium: The European Union will discuss with the P-5+1 group of mediators the possibility of including Turkey and Brazil in talks on Iran's nuclear program, a spokeswoman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said

 

US: Highly controversial illegal immigration law goes into effect in Arizona.

 

US: The United States is prepared to follow up on specifics regarding its plan to provide fuel for a research reactor in Tehran in exchange for some of Iran's low-enriched uranium. Washington hopes to soon have the same kind of meeting with Iran that it had last October and discuss the initial proposal as well as the broader issue of understanding the nature of Iran's nuclear program.

 

Mexico: State of Sonora expecting mass deportation of Mexican migrant workers from neighbouring US state of Arizona where new immigration law comes into effect today despite parts of it being blocked by US federal judge

 

Ecuador: Special summit of Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) foreign ministers held in attempt to resolve diplomatic impasse between Venezuela, Colombia; Bogota alleges that

Venezuela shelters Colombia's left-wing guerrilla group FARC

---

Notice: This email is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of our firm shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it.

Posted via email from luay's posterous

What's Happening Today - Wednesday 28 July

South Korea: Fourth and final day of large-scale South Korea-US naval, air exercises Invincible Spirit off Korean peninsula's east coast to highlight "resolve to face any threat" from North Korea; in response, Pyongyang threatened to use "powerful nuclear deterrent"

 

Philippines: Main suspect in Maguindanao massacre, Andal Ampatuan Jr, and 12 others due to enter pleas; arrest warrants have been issued for further 135 people bring number of accused to 196; prosecution alleges that Ampatuan Jr led group of more than 100 local police and militiamen in attack on convoy of rival Mangudadatu clan; 57 people including 31 journalists accompanying convoy were shot dead and buried in mass graves

 

Russia: Russian Emergency Ministry workers and fire-fighters battle fires in forests and peat fields across the western part of Russia as record temperatures persist.

 

Russia: Pro-government youth movement camp Seliger-2010 held in Tver Region; four-week event concludes tomorrow (Russian news agency Interfax)

 

India: British Prime Minister David Cameron in India for a three-day visit aimed at strengthening business and political ties, Finance Minister George Osborne to meet business leaders in India's financial capital Mumbai.

 

Iran: President Mahmud Ahmadinejad inaugurates two petrochemical facilities in South Pars Special Economic Energy Zone, south-western Iran; their construction cost about 900m dollars and some 20,000 people will be employed there

 

Iran: Iranian Minister of Energy Majid Namjou said that the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant will come on line in September 2010

 

Turkey: German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle will meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu.

 

Turkey: German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle holds talks with counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu (0500 gmt) on Turkey's EU application and Cyprus; news conference follows (0630 gmt); France's Bernard Kouchner may also visit; comes amid recent flurry of diplomatic activity in Turkey: foreign ministers of Iran and Brazil visited on 25 July, UK Prime Minister David Cameron on 26-27

 

Syria: President Bashar al Assad has expressed interest in joining the Custom Union's Free Trade Zone, which includes Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan, Telegraf reported

 

Israel: Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos meets Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman (0545gmt). Moratinos is then scheduled to meet Israeli President Shimon Peres (1300gmt).

 

Egypt: Saudi King Abdallah Bin-Abd-al-Aziz Al Sa'ud visits for talks with President Husni Mubarak in Sharm al-Shaykh; focus on situation in Lebanon, Middle East peace process; King Abdallah's tour also takes in Jordan, Syria (29), Lebanon (30)

 

Sudan: South Sudan regional capital Juba hosts conference on next year's referendum on South Sudan independence, organized by NGO My Referendum for Freedom, an Australia-based group; day one of two

 

Cyprus: President Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu meet again for talks on re-unification

 

Ukraine: International Monetary Fund (IMF) considers granting Ukraine stand-by loan of 14.9bn dollars

 

Ukraine: Ukraine will move its Ground Troops Institute back to Odessa from Lviv, where it has been since 2005. (ie out of ethnic Ukrainian region into ethnic Russian one.)

 

Somaliland: Newly-inaugurated president of breakaway territory of Somaliland, Ahmad Mahmud Silanyo, announces cabinet

 

Somalia: African Union (AU) troops in Somalia can now execute preemptive attacks against Islamist insurgents following a change in the rules of engagement, the Ugandan Foreign Ministry Permanent Secretary James Mugume said.

 

Zimbabwe: Appeal heard against acquittal of Roy Bennett, treasurer of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC); in May, Bennett was acquitted on charges of plotting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe's previous administration

 

Uganda: The African Union (AU) asked the United Nations to suspend an arrest warrant on Sudanese President Umar al-Bashir for a year. AU Chairman Bingu wa Mutharika said the AU would like to investigate the situation in Sudan and corroborate its findings with those of the International Criminal Court, which has accused al Bashir of genocide in Darfur.

 

Burundi: Regional polls to elect senators

 

Nigeria: Nigeria will hold presidential polls in January after the House of Representatives passed a constitutional amendment that moved elections forward from April, Reuters reported.

 

Slovenia: Foreign Minister Samuel Zbogar hosts Croat counterpart Goran Jandrokovic in border town ahead of 31 July talks between their prime ministers about implementation of border arbitration treaty and liabilities of defunct LB bank towards Croatian clients; press conference follows (1500 gmt)

 

Italy: Italian lower house of parliament expected to vote on the government's austerity package.

 

France: Sarkozy convenes emergency meeting (15G) at the Elysee to discuss unrest and insecurity among France's Roma. A weekend of violence in central France erupted following the shooting of a young Roma at a police roadblock in Blois. Sarkozy pledged to look into "the problems created by the behaviour of certain travellers and Roma."

 

Spain: Catalan parliament to vote on possible bullfight ban in the region (1000 GMT)

 

US: A large demonstration is planned outside the state capitol building against the new Arizona immigration law which goes into effect on the 29th.  The law gives the police broad powers to detain any individual whom they suspect may be in the United States illegally.

 

US: Congress passed a $58.8 billion spending measure which includes $37.1 billion for military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq

 

Argentina: Presidents of the Mercosur group attend a summit in the western province of San Juan. Cristina Fernandez, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Fernando Lugo and Jose Mujica are expected to attend.

---

Notice: This email is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of our firm shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it.

Posted via email from luay's posterous

My Press Review - Tuesday 27 July

Could Egypt and Sudan's 55-year feud be over?

The two countries are weighing plans to create a co-operative economic zone in Egypt’s southern Halaib Triangle, a region both governments have quietly feuded over for years.

 

Nobody Is Reading: Fifth of Gulf print titles shut last year

UAE-based newspapers and magazines worst affected as advertising revenues decline

 

Members of Ottoman dynasty to hold meeting during Republic Week

Members of the Ottoman dynasty are getting ready to hold the Ottoman Symposium on the occasion of the establishment of the Turkish Republic, with Orhan Osmanoğlu, a grandson of Ottoman Sultan Abdülhamid II, saying they will use the opportunity to show the unity of the republic and the Ottoman Empire.

 

Blix set to face Iraq questions

The man who led the UN's weapons inspectors in Iraq before the 2003 invasion will answer questions on Tuesday.

 

Iraq inquiry 'is too easygoing'

The Iraq inquiry is doing too little to ensure government openness about the lead-up to the war, a former senior diplomat says.

 

Afghans welcome release of secret war files by the WikiLeaks website

In Kabul, politicians say Nato allies must now explain to their citizens why so many lives have been lost in a war strategy that is not working.

 

A Russian Milestone: First Black Man Elected to Office

People in this town used to stare at Jean Gregoire Sagbo because they had never seen a black man. Now they say they see in him something equally rare - an honest politician.

 

BlackBerrys pose 'security risk'

The United Arab Emirates says that it is considering restrictions on BlackBerry phones, as they pose a "national security risk".

 

Rebels 'take Yemen army position'

Shia rebels in northern Yemen have taken over an army post and captured a number of soldiers, officials say.

 

Squeezing Iran

Can sanctions stop Iran from pursuing its nuclear ambitions?

 

Trial closes in New York airport bomb plot case

Two accused Islamist militants on trial for conspiracy to bomb a New York airport were egged on by a government informant, with one being all talk and the other a bystander, their lawyers said on Monday.

 

Struggle to contain fresh flooding

BEIJING - Due to fresh torrential downpours, the Three Gorges Dam is expected to endure its second flood peak on Wednesday morning, according to local authorities.

 

Israel signals new cooperation with UN over Gaza flotilla

As a fresh round of activist ships prepares to set sail from Lebanon, Israel and the UN have made conciliatory statements on the Gaza flotilla issue that could help repair the fraught relationship – although not completely.

 

Shipping firms threaten to abandon Dammam port

Slow loading and unloading has caused a 'crisis' at Saudi port; firms threaten to leave.

 

S. Korea to build Jordan's first nuclear research reactor

A South Korean consortium led by the state-run Korean Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI) will begin

 

UAE non-oil trade rises 14% to $ 16.22 billion in May 2010

The primary statistical data of the Federal Customs Authority confirmed the growth of non-oil trade volume of the UAE with a rate of 14% by the end of May

 

Memorial to Marwa Sherbini Vandalised

Vandals have attacked an art project erected in honor of Marwa El-Sherbini, a pregnant headscarved Egyptian woman who was murdered in a German court room, organizers said.

 

British Petroleum's Hayward to leave as CEO; Russia job in works

Tony Hayward, who became the face of BP's flailing efforts to contain the massive Gulf oil spill, will step down as chief executive in October and be offered a job with the company's joint venture in Russia, a person familiar with the matter said Monday.

 

Dusty desert

Worthless land becomes valuable as solar panels move in

 

Majority of Georgians favor joining NATO

Georgia's annexation to NATO is supported by 59% of the country's population, according to a poll carried out by the International National Democratic Institute.

 

Birth rates rise, but more men die younger

In the nearest years, Ukraine will preserve its total birth rate, according to a forecast by national experts aired during a video conference, entitled "Depopulation in Ukraine and Russia - Similarity and Differences". Ella Libanova, Director of the Institute for Demography and Social Studies (IDSS) at the National Academy of Sciences, said that in recent years the fertility situation has slightly improved in Ukraine - a rise started in 2002.

 

Taliban used heat-seeker missiles against Nato helicopter

Taliban insurgents used a heat-seeking missile to down a Nato transport helicopter in Helmand killing a British soldier, five Americans and a Canadian, the documents show.

 

France's richest woman questioned over Sarkozy funding scandal

Police questioning Liliane Bettencourt, France's richest woman, over ballooning tax evasion and party funding scandal.

 

Cameron to give Turkey EU backing

David Cameron is to argue strongly for Turkey's membership of the European Union, saying he is "angry" at the slow pace of negotiations.

 

Face transplant man TV appearance

A Spanish man who underwent the world's first full face transplant reveals his new look before TV cameras.

 

Vicar gives Holy Communion to dog

An Anglican church in Canada has become the focus of controversy after a vicar gave Holy Communion to a dog.

 

Poll lead narrows in Aussie election

PM Gillard finds party only four points up, down from 10 last week

 

Cerne Abbas Giant 'inspires' fertility boom

A giant chalk man carved into a west country hillside is living up to its legendary status as a figure of fertility by producing a baby boom in the surrounding area.

 

Russian Satanists jailed for 'ritual sacrifice' teen killings

Six members of a Satanic cult were jailed for up to 20 years in Russia on Monday for four murders in which they "ritually sacrificed", dismembered and then ate their teenage victims in a forest.

 

Jane Austen's Fight Club is viral web video hit

A spoof film trailer gets nearly 200,000 hits on YouTube in two days.

 

Why even prison can't stop Mexico's brutal drug lords

It was a messy business, clearing-up after the carload of masked gunmen who burst into the function room at a suburban hotel in the city of Torreon in northern Mexico last Saturday night and began randomly spraying bullets into a crowded dancefloor full of young men and women.

 

---

Notice: This email is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of our firm shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it.

Posted via email from luay's posterous

What's Happening Today - Tuesday 27 July

China: Regions in northwest, central and southern China suffer further flooding and landslides after continued heavy rain.

China: Protests took place in China's Guangdong province against a government official's suggestion that the Cantonese dialect be replaced by the country's official language, Mandarin, on Guangdong state television. Guangzhou People's Political Consultative Conference member Ji Kekuang reportedly sparked the demonstrations with his comments.

India: Military reinforcements being sent to Tibet border, including 15 new battalions, three recruit training centers, a counterinsurgency and jungle warfare school and a high-altitude medical training center

Kyrgyzstan: First international donor conference held in Bishkek to raise funds for economic recovery, infrastructure development

Armenia: The International Court of Justice's recent ruling that Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence in 2008 was legal backs people's right to self-determination over territorial integrity, the Armenian National Assembly's vice speaker, Samvel Nikoyan, said

Iran: Watching developments after European Union foreign ministers adopted tough new sanctions targeting Iran's energy sector yesterday

Iran: Turkish Deputy Interior Minister Osman Gunes visits to participate in Iran-Turkey security meeting (-28) ; holds talks with Interior Minister Mohammad Mostafa Najjar; foreign ministers of Turkey, Brazil and Iran had talks on Sunday; this follows uranium swap deal agreed by Iran, Turkey and Brazil in May

Iran: Navy gets new Iranian-made submarines

Turkey: British Prime Minister David Cameron expected to visit Turkey. Cameron will be accompanied by British Foreign Secretary William Hague, and Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne. Cameron said he would fight for Turkey's membership in the European Union

Turkey: German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle arrives in Istanbul from Slovenia in evening; dines with counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu; talks to cover bilateral and international issues

Iraq: Emergency parliament session held to discuss political deadlock following inconclusive March general election

Iraq: Following up after two car bombs in Karbala killed between 19 and 22 people and wounded between 47 to 68 people

UAE: Following up after United Arab Emirates declared BlackBerry mobile phones to be a potential national security threat because the devices operate beyond the jurisdiction of national laws, they are the only phones operating in the country that send users' information to data centers overseas run by foreign commercial organizations.

Yemen: Following up after Huthi rebels captured the Zuala army base, taking prisoner as many as 70 soldiers, in lethal clashes with troops and tribesmen

Lebanon: The Lebanese army is deploying an additional brigade to southern Lebanon, French Ambassador to Lebanon Denis Pietton said

Gaza: Iranian parliamentary delegation headed by MP Mahmud Ahmadi-Bighash visits Gaza

Israel: Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim meets Israeli counterpart Avigdor Lieberman.

Egypt: Two police officers implicated in the killing of activist Khalid Said, who was beaten to death in public, will appear in court for the first time.

Egypt: U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder will meet with his Egyptian counterpart as well as Egypt's Ministers of Justice and the Interior and a key Parliamentarian responsible for drafting Egypt's controversial Emergency Law, which has been criticised by the Obama administration.

Egypt: The Federation of Arab Journalists - that praised Tunisian president Zain al-Abideen in April for his services to protect journalism! - launches a report on Arab press freedom.

Contact Fathy Youssef +20101569204 head of the press office at the Federation for Arab Journalists.Potential guests - Makram Mohamed Ahmed, the secretary general of the Federation +20105741777 and Ibrahim Nafaa, the president of the federation, +20123222229

 

Sudan: National Congress Party (NCP), Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM) kick off talks on arrangements after January 2011 referendum on South Sudan independence; basic principles were agreed on 20 July; among topics on agenda is oil production, Nile waters, security

Morocco: Independent Moroccan Association of Human Rights holds press conference on human rights in country (0930 gmt)

Somalia: African Union (AU) leaders agreed to reinforce the AU peacekeeping mission in Somalia (AMISOM), with 2,000 more troops to reinforce the 6,000 Burundian and Ugandan soldiers already in the Somalian capital

Uganda: Three-day African Union summit concludes in Kampala; final declaration expected to include outline of strengthened AU mission in Somalia and Sudan

Mali: French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner visits Mali and Niger from Mauretania in wake of killing of French hostage Michel Germaneau by Allahu Aalim; President Nicolas Sarkozy has said his death will not go unavenged; Germaneau was kidnapped in Niger

Niger: Niger will delay the process of handing power back to civilians by one month, which means the first round of presidential polls will take place on Jan. 31, 2011

Belarus: Final day of visit by Syrian President Bashar al-Asad

Bulgaria: Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou visits; proposed Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline on agenda (0800 gmt)

Switzerland: Georgia, Russia hold 12th round of talks in Geneva following 2008 conflict over Georgian breakaway regions of South Ossetia, Abkhazia; Abkhaz delegation suspended participation in June, accusing UN, EU, OSCE mediators of bias; press conference follows (1500 gmt) (NB This is first meeting since Kosovo ruling)

Belgium: Start of formal talks on Iceland's membership bid; negotiations over some key issues such as fishing and whaling expected to be difficult

France: France upgraded its diplomatic ties with the Palestinian Territories and will consider the Palestinian diplomatic representatives in France as a “mission” headed by an “ambassador, chief of mission”

UK: Hans Blix, former head of the UN's Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission in Iraq (from 2000-2003) is set to appear before the Chilcot Inquiry on the war in Iraq. Blix is due in for the afternoon session from 1300-1600gmt.

UK: Former Bosnian president Ejup Ganic will hear whether he is to be extradited from London to Belgrade on war crimes charges. Court ruling expected at 1300gmt.

UK: BP to release second-quarter results.

UK: London2012 give media a tour of the Olympic site and demonstrations inside the new venues as part of the official 2 year countdown until the 2012 Olympics opens in London.

Spain: The local parliament in Catalonia will debate on bullfighting ban.

 

US: New Arizona immigration law goes into effect, gives the police broad powers to detain any individual whom they suspect may be in the United States illegally based on what they look like.

US: Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak arrived in Washington, meets with U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates and National Security Adviser Gen. Jim Jones, then meets with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon in New York on July 29

 

---

Notice: This email is intended only for the use of the individual or entity named above and may contain information that is confidential and privileged. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this email is strictly prohibited. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message that do not relate to the official business of our firm shall be understood as neither given nor endorsed by it.

Posted via email from luay's posterous