What's Happening Today - Thursday 10 February

New Zealand: 

Defence Minister Wayne Mapp hosts talks with Australian counterpart Stephen Smith in Wellington; Smith's first visit to New Zealand since taking office 

Australia:

Government introduces to Parliament a bill that would create a new tax to raise $1.8 billion to pay for flood damage in northeast Australia.

Japan: 

Third and final day of Uzbek President Islam Karimov's visit

Koreas: 

Watching for further reports after military talks aimed at easing high tensions between North and South Korea collapsed

China: 

South Korea's main nuclear envoy Wi Song-rak visits to meet counterpart Wu Dawei for talks on North's nuclear programme

Indonesia: 

Abu Bakar Ba'asyir goes on trial on terrorism charges carrying possible death penalty, related to paramilitary training camp in Indonesia's Aceh province

India: 

Bengaluru (Bangalore) hosts annual Aero India show (-13)

India:

Research finds half a million girls per year aborted in India as ultrasound access improves

Russia: 

Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara begins three-day visit; holds talks with counterpart Sergey Lavrov tomorrow; comes amid heightened tensions after Prime Minister Naoto Kan on 7 February demanded return of Kuril Islands to Japan

Russia: 

US Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs William Burns visits for talks with top officials

Kyrgyzstan: 

Armed forces hold command-and-staff anti-terror exercises (-12) 

Tajikistan: 

Iranian Vice-President Hamid Baqa'i visits, meets President Emomali Rahmon; expected to hand over invitation to attend Nowruz celebrations in Iran (20-21 March)

Azerbaijan:

French Transport Minister Dominique Bussereau is expected to visit Azerbaijan.

Georgia:

IMF mission visits Georgia to monitor economic situation in the country.

Qatar: 

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague concludes three-day tour of five nations; he was in Yemen and UAE on 9th after visiting Tunisia and Jordan on 8th

Qatar: 

Iranian parliament speaker Ali Larijani visits, meets Emir Shaykh Hamad Bin-Khalifah Al Thani, counterpart Muhammad Bin-Mubarak al-Khulayfi, other officials (-10) 

Turkey:

EU enlargement commissioner Stefan Füle visits Turkey

Turkey:

Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman Bin Hadmad al-Khalifa visits, meets President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan; third and final day

Israel:

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds news conference to announce new economic measures.

Egypt: 

Watching developments as protests in Egypt continue for 17th day; in interview on US television Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmad Abu-al-Ghayt publicly rejected what he called American attempts to impose its will on government in Cairo

Algeria: 

March organised by NGOs and trade unions

Algeria: 

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi visits; he met counterpart Mourad Medelci yesterday

Zimbabwe: 

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi visits, meets President Robert Mugabe (-11)

South Africa: 

President Jacob Zuma delivers annual State of the Nation Address to joint sitting of parliament in Cape Town (1700 gmt)

Chad:

Amnesty reports on increase in use of child soldiers in Chad

Ivory Coast: 

African Union high-level panel concludes five-day visit aimed at finding ways to resolve post-election crisis

Senegal: 

World Social Forum continues in Dakar; attendees include Bolivian President Evo Morales, former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, former French presidential candidate Segolene Royal 

Greece:

Public sector union ADEDY holds a three-hour work stoppage from 0930 GMT until the end of the working hours against the government's austerity policies.

Lithuania: 

Latvian President Valdis Zatlers visits 

Germany:

Chancellor Angela Merkel to testify before parliamentary committee investigating the German-ordered air strike in Kundus, Afghanistan in late 2009 against the Taliban in which Afghan civilians were also killed.

Germany:

Former Wikileaks spokesman Daniel Domscheit-Berg presents his new book on the group at a press conference.

EU: 

Moldovan Prime Minister Vlad Filat visits Brussels to meet European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek, EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy Stefan Fuele; agenda includes easing of visa regulations; second and final day

France: 

President Nicolas Sarkozy gives prime time TV interview (1930gmt) as his prime minister and foreign minister are engulfed in scandals over vacations spent in Egypt and Tunisia 

France:

Teachers in France stage strike over job cuts

France:

Foreign minister of Kosovo, Vlora Citaku, visits France

France:

Judicial organisation in France stage strike over murder and Sarkozy comments

US: 

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Baraq visits for talks with Defence Secretary Robert Gates, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

US:

Conservative Political Action Conference. 

US:

House Intelligence Committee hearing on global threats. Witnesses include James Clapper, director of national intelligence; CIA Director Leon Panetta; and FBI Director Robert Mueller.

Mexico:

Court to rule on appeal of 60-year sentence given French citizen Florence Cassez for conviction on involvement in Mexican kidnapping ring.

Mexico:

Anti-crime groups organize premier showing of film "Presunto Culpable," about failures of Mexico's justice system.

Venezuela:

Turkish Energy Ministry delegation meets Venezuelan officials to discuss Turkish development of oil fields (to Feb. 11).

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My Press Review - Thursday 10 February

News

 

S. Sudan minister shot dead in Juba

A minister in the government of South Sudan was shot dead inside his ministry on Wednesday, days after referendum results confirmed the region will become Africa’s newest independent state, the region’s army said.

 

 

Egypt's army 'tortures detained protesters'

The Egyptian military has secretly detained hundreds and possibly thousands of suspected government opponents since mass protests against President Hosni Mubarak began, and at least some of these detainees have been tortured, according to testimony gathered by the Guardian.

 

 

WikiLeaks: Egyptian 'torturers' trained by FBI

The US provided officers from the Egyptian secret police with training at the FBI, despite allegations that they routinely tortured detainees and suppressed political opposition.

 

 

Wired and Shrewd, Young Egyptians Guide Revolt

As the government has sought to splinter a protest movement led by young professionals, its leaders have stepped forward for the first time to describe their hidden role.

 

 

Strikes in Egypt add to pressure of protests

Thousands of state workers and impoverished Egyptians went on strike Wednesday after weeks of anti-government protests cast a spotlight on corruption and the wealth amassed by those in power in a country where almost half the people live near the poverty line.

 

 

White House raises Egypt pressure

The US administration steps up its criticism of Egypt's leadership after a 16th consecutive day of protests against the rule of President Mubarak.

 

 

US state department tweets in Arabic

Twitter account USAbilArasby, which posted first entry today, will be used to spread American foreign policy message

 

 

ElBaradei fears more 'bloody' protests

Egyptian opposition leader Mohamed ElBaradei tells the BBC's Jeremy Paxman he fears Egypt's protests could get more violent.

 

 

Five ways Egypt's Constitution stifles opposition

Among the demands of Egyptian protesters in Cairo's Tahrir Square, one of the most central is co

 

 

Tunisia leader gets wide powers

Tunisia's senate passes legislation giving the interim president powers to rule by decree and sidestep the parliament dominated by the ousted leader's associates.

 

Tehran vows to crush rally supporting Tunis, Cairo

After praising the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, Iranian authorities Wednesday threatened to crush a domestic rally proposed to show support for the demonstrators who took to the streets in Tunis and Cairo in massive anti-government protests.

 

 

Jean-Bertrand Aristide to return to Haiti 'in the coming days'

Former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide is hoping to return to Haiti in the coming days ending some seven years in exile, his lawyer said on Wednesday.

 

 

Chile leader sued over tsunami

Former Chilean president Michelle Bachelet is sued over failings in Chile's tsunami warning system during the February 2010 earthquake.

 

 

Berlusconi threatens to sue state

Silvio Berlusconi has raised the spectre of a full-scale constitutional showdown in Italy after prosecutors in Milan asked for him to be put on trial immediately, charged with sex-related offences. Italy's prime minister accused them of breaking the law and going against parliament. Soon afterwards his chief ally, Umberto Bossi of the Northern League, said the indictment request marked the start of a "total war" between Italy's judiciary and its legislature.

 

 

Wikileaks: no proof that Julian Assange encouraged leak

Investigators in the United States are believed to have failed to find evidence to support a prosecution of Julian Assange, the head of WikiLeaks, for encouraging the leak of secret government documents.

 

 

Le Pen praises Cameron's speech

Leader of France's National Front has congratulated David Cameron on his controversial speech

 

Colombia hostage released by Farc

A Colombian hostage released by the Farc rebel group after 19 months in captivity is reunited with his family

 

Dmitry Medvedev orders extra Russian deployment on Kuril Islands

President Dmitry Medvedev on Wednesday ordered the deployment of extra weaponry on the Kuril Islands claimed by Japan, escalating tensions in a dispute that has festered since World War II.

 

Baroness Ashton bottom of class as she 'fails' first year in office

Baroness Ashton has come bottom of the class in a survey rating the performance of European Commissioners, the only EU executive regarded as having "failed" after their first year in office.

 

Basque leftists' foray into politics meets deep skepticism in Spain

A political party with ties to the Basque separatist group ETA is seeking official recognition in order to field political candidates in upcoming elections.

 

 

Business

Abu Dhabi Defence Exhibition welcomes 151 military equipment producers

The UAE will highlight its defence capabilities to the world with 151 companies from across the Emirates taking

 

 

Toyota shares surge on favorable US report

Toyota shares jumped 4.6 percent to a nine-month high in Wednesday morning trading in Tokyo following a US government report that ruled out electronic flaws in runaway Toyota vehicles.

 

 

Yuan may hit 17-year high

Currency may rise as stocks advance and bonds decline

 

 

$1 b to help battle drought

2.6 million people suffer shortages of drinking water

 

 

Six Reasons Americans Can't Save Money

What's to blame for the falling national savings rate?

 

 

First domestically produced warship to be exhibited at defense fair

Turkey’s first domestically produced warship, the Heybeliada, will be exhibited at Turkey’s 10th biennial International Defense Industry Fair (IDEF 2011), which will be held on May 10-13.

 

 

D-day for Scots council budgets

Two-thirds of Scotland's 32 councils are setting their budget for the coming year, against a backdrop of cuts.

 

Features

Syria slaps fines on satellite dishes

Faced with a sea of satellite dishes on rooftops, Syria is making Damascenes remove personal dishes in hopes of boosting rooftop restaurants and cafes.

 

Iranian 'checkmates' Israeli to win back record

An Iranian grandmaster said he ousted the Israeli title holder on Wednesday to regain the Guinness record for simultaneous chess games after facing more than 600 players in over 25 hours.

 

 

India's billion-plus census head count begins

Millions of census workers fanned out across the country yesterday as they began a mammoth effort to document every person in the world's second most populous country over the next three weeks.

 

 

How India feeds 120 million kids a day

India is home to the world's largest free-lunch program giving many school­children across the country what may be their only hot meal for the day.

 

Zimbabwe sees huge fall in HIV rate

Fear of infection and mass social change have driven a huge decline in HIV rates in Zimbabwe, offering important lessons on how to fight the AIDS epidemic in the rest of Africa, scientists said

 

 

Defying climate change, this Argentine glacier grows

Perito Moreno, a glacier off the Argentine coast, is one of three glaciers in the world that is growing instead of shrinking.

 

 

South's mud-hut Juba soon to be world capital

The mud-hut town of Juba has earned a promotion to world capital, a title it will gain later this year. Only southern Sudan needs far more than its own currency and a national anthem: Most of the roads here are dirt, and even aid workers live in shipping 

 

 

Kazakh presidential hopefuls need to pass spelling test

Kazakhstan's presidential hopefuls will have to pass a gruelling 90 minute spelling and grammar test, in a move that may dissuade challengers from running against the country's long-serving ruler.

 

 

'I can't'

Why it's got tougher for Danes to marry foreigners

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What's Happening Today - Wednesday 9 February

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My Press Review - Wednesday 9 February

Allies Press U.S. to Go Slow on Egypt

Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have pressed the United States not to cut Egypt’s president loose too hastily.

 

 

Egyptians show no signs of weariness

After more than two weeks of 24-hour-a-day demonstrations, many thought Egypt's young protesters would be tired by now. They were wrong.

 

 

Egypt: TV Anchors Quit to Join Protest

Shahira Amin and Soha Ennakkash were recognizable faces on Egyptian state TV, but they chose to walk out and join the protests out of conscience

 

 

William Hague calls on Israel to drop its negative stance on Egypt

William Hague, the Foreign Secretary, has called on Israel to move forward on Middle East peace negotiations and drop the negative posture it has adopted in response to the turmoil in Egypt.

 

 

Egypt appreciates Turkish concern but wants no interference

The Egyptian government, facing protests that seek the resignation of President Hosni Mubarak, has sent a veiled warning against interference in its internal affairs to Turkey, whose leaders have repeatedly called on Mubarak to heed protesters' calls for change

 

 

U.S. demands immediate end to Egypt's emergency law

The United States on Tuesday set out four steps Cairo must take to end Egypt's crisis, telling its ally to stop harassing protesters and immediately repeal an emergency law allowing detention without charge.

 

 

Emotions of a Reluctant Hero Galvanize Protesters

An interview with the Google executive and activist Wael Ghonim injected vigor into Egypt’s protests.

 

 

Israel hopes to attain a new African ally in S. Sudan

With world's newest country poised to gain independence, oil-rich region has signaled it would forge ties with Jerusalem.

 

Sudan's terror-list removal untied from Darfur

The Obama administration intends to remove Sudan from a U.S. terrorist blacklist regardless of progress in the conflict-riddled province of Darfur. The move is likely to anger some members of Congress and human rights activists.

 

 

Palestinians likely to go to polls in July

The Palestinian cabinet will meet later on Tuesday and is expected to name a date for the first elections since 2006, government officials told AFP.

 

Jordan tribes critical of queen

Leaders of Jordan's tribes criticise Queen Rania and urge King Abdullah to end what they say is her interference in politics.

 

 

Syria may be lifting Facebook, YouTube ban

Internet users in Syria said Tuesday that Facebook and YouTube were available for the first time in three years amid signs Damascus may be lifting its ban on the popular social networking websites.

 

 

Afghanistan aid teams 'must go'

Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai criticises foreign reconstruction teams for undermining his government's authority.

 

 

Queen's trip to Ireland 'overdue'

A historic first visit to Ireland by the Queen moves a step closer, with the man likely to become the country's next prime minister giving his full support to the idea.

 

 

Obama seeks $53B for high-speed rail

President Obama is calling for a six-year, $53 billion plan for high-speed rail as he seeks to use infrastructure projects to create jobs.

 

Italy prosecutors to seek immediate trial for PM Berlusconi

Milan prosecutors today will formally ask that Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stand trial immediately in connection with an investigation of his relations with an underage girl, a judicial official said.

 

Lockerbie ministers 'must testify in the US'

Gordon Brown and other Labour ministers should be forced to testify before an inquiry into the release of the Lockerbie bomber, a senior American senator said last night.

 

 

Sarkozy Confronts Strike by French Judges

Accusing the government of trying to manipulate the judicial system, French judges and other court employees are staging an unprecedented protest

 

 

Charles Taylor’s lawyer walks out of court in protest

The defense lawyer for former Liberian President Charles Taylor walked out of a war crimes court on Tuesday protesting that his client’s rights to a fair trial were being abused.

 

 

Tribes protest against Brazil dam

Leaders of indigenous Amazon tribes hand a petition to Brazil's government opposing construction of a massive hydro-electric dam.

 

Icelandic volcano 'set to erupt'

Scientists in Iceland are warning that another volcano looks set to erupt and threatening to spew-out a pall of dust that would dwarf last year's event.

 

 

Egypt injects millions of US dollars to support pound

The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) was forced on Tuesday to wade into the currency market to stop the Egyptian

 

 

Algeria renews calls on France to compensate victims of nuclear experiments

France should compensate the victims of the French nuclear experiments that were conducted in Algerian sahara,

 

 

Building bridges

Pictures of how Chinese money is reshaping Africa

 

Morocco invests $ 3 billion in 79 wastewater treatment plants

 A total of 79 wastewater treatment plants will be carried out by 2012, worth over 15 billion dirhams ($ 3 bln), announced on

 

Fire and brimstone

Is sulphur mining in a volcano the world's most dangerous job

 

  

US fears Saudi oil may have been overstated by 40%

US diplomat convinced by Saudi expert that reserves of world's biggest oil exporter have been overstated by nearly 40%

 

 

China has no yen for Japanese bonds

China sold a net 177.3 billion yen ($2.15 billion) of Japanese bonds in December, capping the biggest yearly decrease since at least 2005, after the yen and benchmark government debt fell in November

 

U.S. doesn't find electronic flaws in Toyota's cars

The Obama administration's investigation into Toyota safety problems found no electronic flaws to account for reports of sudden, unintentional acceleration and other safety problems. Government investigators said Tuesday the only known cause of the problems are mechanical defects that were fixed in previous recalls.

 

Teenage fighters on frontline of Afghan war

Childhood innocence is soon lost in a country like Afghanistan. However, children have not only been the victims of the war but also its perpetrators - on both sides.

 

Gaza photo exhibition in London

An award-winning German photographer has been documenting the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for more than two decades. The new images form part of an exhibition which is on in London.

 

 

Romania may toughen its laws

Legislation being debated in Romania would require witches to get a permit and make it possible to fine or even imprison one whose prediction turns out to be false.

 

 

Istanbul trembles at pace of change

New developments and renovation in the ancient city have displaced traditional communities

 

 

Genetic tests prove the 'fairer sex' is kinder too

Women have a stronger genetic predisposition to help other people compared with men, according to a study that has found a significant link between genes and the tendency to be "nice".

 

Belgian senator calls on 'sex strike' until political deadlock is broken

A female Belgian senator has called on the wives of all politicians to ban sexual intercourse until deadlock that has left Belgium without a government for 241 days, has been broken.

 

Armed Rooster Kills Owner at Cockfight

A California man is dead after being stabbed in the leg by his knife-wielding rooster, but the press reaction isn't sympathetic.

 

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What's Happening Today - Tuesday 8 February

Japan: 

Uzbek President Islom Karimov visits to meet Prime Minister Naoto Kan (9), Emperor Akihito (- 10) 

Koreas: 

Working-level inter-Korean defence talks to be held in border truce village of Panmunjom; first such meeting since North deadly bombed South's Yeonpyeong Island in November; brought forward from 11 February

Thailand: 

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa visits to mediate in Thailand's border dispute with Cambodia after at least five people were killed in clashes over weekend and thousands of civilians fled; Natalegawa was in Phnom Penh yesterday

Myanmar: 

New government named at session of parliament 

Bhutan:

Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna and Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi expected to meet on the sidelines of the SAARC regional meeting to carry forward their stalled peace process.

India:

German defence minister visits India and Pakistan

Kyrgyzstan: 

Command-and-staff anti-terror exercise continues throughout country (- 12) 

Afghanistan: 

Another attempt by lower house of parliament, Wolasi Jerga, to elect its Speaker; follows inconclusive votes on 29 January, 2 and 5 February

India: 

US trade mission led by Commerce Secretary Gary Locke continues visit to explore export opportunities (-11) 

Russia:

Senegalese foreign minister meets Russian counterpart in Moscow

Iran: 

Ten Days of Dawn celebrations continue, marking victory of Iranian revolution (11); new military hardware expected to be showcased

Iran: 

Air Force Day

Iran: 

Ashura and Az-Zahra battalions of local Basij militia holds military exercises in Dashti County, Bushehr Province (-10) 

Turkey: 

Bahrain's Crown Prince Salman Bin Hamad al-Khalifa visit to meet President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan 

Kuwait: 

Opposition rally held to demand cabinet's dismissal

Qatar:

Qatar Projects 2011 to be held in Doha, examines developments in the Qatari energy and non-energy sectors and brings together regional and international decision-makers and stakeholders to discuss new projects, issues and trends. 

Egypt: 

Watching developments; two weeks after major anti-government protests began, thousands of demonstrators are still occupying Tahrir Square in central Cairo, insisting on immediate departure of President Mubarak

Sudan: 

President Umar al-Bashir attends ceremonies marking opening of road, broadcasting complex in central North Kordofan state; addresses public rally in state's capital Al-Ubayyid

Seychelles: 

UN-backed conference on piracy; various navies, judges, legal experts from Kenya, Tanzania, Mauritius, Maldives in attendance (-9)

Botswana: 

British Foreign Secretary William Hague visits to meet counterpart Phandu Skelemani, President Ian Khama (-9) 

Senegal: 

World Social Forum continues in Dakar; attendees include Bolivian President Evo Morales, former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, former French presidential candidate Segolene Royal (-11)

Moldova: 

OSCE chairman-in-office, Lithuanian Foreign Minister Audronius Azubalis visits for meetings with officials in Moldova, breakaway Dniester region ahead of informal settlement talks in Vienna on 14-15 February

Moldova: 

Parliamentary Assembly of Council of Europe President Mevlut Cavusoglu visits, meets acting President Marian Lupu, Prime Minister Vlad Filat to discuss election of new head of state

Holland:

Closing prosecution arguments delivered in trial of Liberian ex-president Charles Taylor

Holland:

Trial of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic continues at the Hague

Holland:

Trial of Jovica Stanisic and Franko Simatovic resumes at the Hague; both charged with four counts of crimes against humanity and one count of violation of the laws or customs of war – specifically ‘ethnic cleansing’.

UK: 

Extradition hearings for WikiLeaks website founder Julian Assange held at Belmarsh Magistrates' Court in London; second and last day 

US: 

French Defence Minister Alain Juppe continues visit to meet counterpart Robert Gates; he met UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon yesterday

US:

Tea party town hall meeting takes place in Washington; speakers are due to include Senators Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), along with Representatives Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) and Steve King (R-Iowa). The event begins at 19:00.

US:

Former defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld publishes memoirs entitled:'Known and Unknown'

US:

EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy give press briefing at UN Security Council in New York;; event begins at 11:30.

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My Press Review - Tuesday 8 February

Israel's secret hotline to the man tipped to replace Mubarak

Egypt's vice-president Omar Suleiman allegedly spoke daily to Tel Aviv government via secret "hotline" to Cairo.

 

 

Amid Egypt Turmoil, More Clashes in Sinai

Attacks in recent days suggest that provocateurs are trying to take advantage of the political turmoil in Cairo to spread unrest in Sinai.

 

 

Makeshift clinics treat ill and injured in Cairo

Outside the shuttered door of the KFC restaurant in Tahrir Square on Monday, a doctor and about five volunteer aides dressed a protester's old gunshot wound with iodine before springing into action: An unconscious teenage girl was rushed through the crowd and onto a blanket at the makeshift ...

 

 

Egypt protesters call for push to eject Mubarak

Protesters called for a push on Tuesday to eject President Hosni Mubarak from power after the government conceded little ground in talks with the opposition and sought to squeeze demonstrators out of central Cairo.

 

 

Hamas chief escapes in Egypt chaos

Ayman Nofel, a senior commander, is given hero's welcome in Gaza refugee camp after prison breakout amid Egypt's chaos

 

 

Hosni Mubarak loses control of state media

Country's largest newspaper declares its support for the uprising.

 

 

Islamist rebel says he ordered Russian bombing

Islamist rebel leader Doku Umarov said on Monday he had ordered a suicide bombing that killed 36 people at Russia's busiest airport last month.

 

 

Tribesmen in Jordan Issue Urgent Call for Political Reform

A statement signed by 36 members of tribes, mostly Bedouins, said that without change, Jordan was heading down the same path as Tunisia and Egypt

 

 

Sudan under pressure after south secedes

A decision by an overwhelming majority of southerners to secede from Sudan likely will put new pressure on President Omar al-Bashir's fragile regime in a region rocked by anti-government protests.

 

 

Southern Sudan makes preparations for next world capital

A new currency must be established. Diplomatic missions need to be opened. And a country name must be chosen.

 

Hundreds of Afghan fighters to lay down arms

As many as 900 Afghan fighters have agreed to lay down their arms, a senior NATO official said on Monday, but it is too soon to say if a drive to bring in low-level fighters can be decisive in curbing bloodshed.

 

 

Flotilla to try to break Gaza blockade in May

Pro-Palestinian activists announced Monday that they would send a second flotilla aimed at breaking Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip during the last two weeks of May, roughly a year after an Israeli raid on the first "Freedom Flotilla" resulted in the deaths of nine passengers.

 

 

First Korean talks since shelling

Officials from North and South Korea hold their first meeting since the North shelled a Southern island last November, killing four people.

 

 

U.S. starts war games near Thai-Cambodian clash

Thousands of U.S. troops began military exercises with Bangkok's military on Monday, while a bloody, four-day artillery duel between Thailand and Cambodia flared on their border and a decades-long Muslim insurgency smoldered out of control in the south.

 

 

Haiti 'gives Aristide passport'

Haiti says it has issued former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide with a passport, paving the way for his return to the country after seven years in exile.

 

 

Protesters call for Préval's removal

Protesters demanding that Haiti's outgoing President René Préval leave office immediately set up burning barricades yesterday and threw stones at police and UN peacekeepers

 

 

Labour wrong on Megrahi, says PM

The prime minister attacks the last Labour government for doing 'all it could' to secure Abdelbaset al-Megrahi's release

 

 

Forces clash in Ouattara district

Ivorian security forces loyal to President Laurent Gbagbo clash with supporters of his rival, Alassane Ouattara, in Abidjan, witnesses and officials say.

 

 

New Eta group rejects violence

Basque separatists linked to the armed group Eta have launched a new political party which has renounced violence.

 

 

Mikhail Khodorkovsky documentary film 'stolen'

A documentary about the jailed Russian oligarch, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, has been stolen from the director's studio in Berlin, days before its premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival.

 

 

Border dispute with Nicaragua has Costa Rica rethinking its lack of army

The International Court of Justice is expected to rule any day on a Costa Rica-Nicaragua border dispute. The case has caused the 'Switzerland of Central America' to reexamine its commitment to disarmament.

 

Nato Brussels headquarters to cost €1billion

Nato's new headquarters in Brussels will cost its members €1billion (£841 million) at a time of deep cuts to British defence budgets and despite promises by the Alliance to cut its costs.

 

 

Young Tunisians Are Still Looking for Work

The cause of the uprising was, to a large extent, joblessness. Now, despite the euphoria, political uncertainty and confusion continue to dampen the economy

 

 

Planning ahead – Syria targeting $ 95 billion investment

The beginning of the new year saw the entry into force of Syria’s latest five-year plan, the 11th in the country’s history.

 

 

South Africa's truckers threaten 'devastating' strike

Inflation could spike from repeated wage hikes, economist warn, although ignoring union demands threatens to create instability in South Africa.

 

 

Turkmen president orders horse beauty contest

Turkmenistan's president issues a decree ordering annual beauty contests for the ancient Akhal-Teke breed of horses.

 

 

My big fat Afghan wedding: lavish receptions to be curbed due to financial constraints

Afghan wedding receptions would be limited to 300 guests and £2.80-a-head catering under a proposed law to curb a fashion for increasingly extravagant parties in lavish wedding halls.

Cremator to heat pool plan passed

Plans to use energy from a crematorium to heat a council swimming pool are approved.

 

Teacher 'urged pupils to skip class'

A teacher has been suspended after an allegation that she encouraged her pupils to skip school to take part in protests against education cuts and rising tuition fees.

 

Romance for rent

City singles hire fake lovers to guarantee happy holiday homecoming. Lin Qi reports.

 

PM Erdoğan wins TL 13,000 judgment against Kılıçdaroğlu

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has won TL 13,000 in damages for mental anguish in a recent lawsuit against opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu

 

Fastest car 'to inspire engineers'

Construction work formally begins this week on what is expected to be the world's fastest car.

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What's Happening Today - Monday 7 February

Tonga: 

Trial opens in Nuku'alofa of four individuals plus Shipping Corporation of Polynesia corporately, accused of manslaughter over sinking of ferry Princess Ashika in August 2009 with loss of 74 lives 

Japan:

Snow festival takes place in Sapporo

Japan:

PM speaks on return of disputed 'Northern Territories' from Russia (11:20) [Presently the islands are home to over 17,000 people, nearly all Russian, and are surrounded by prime fishing waters]

Cambodia: 

Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa visit Cambodia (7), Thailand (8) to try to mediate in border dispute

India: 

Mumbai High Court announces verdict on appeal against death sentence filed by Ajmal Kasab, sole surviving gunman in Mumbai 2008 attack case

India: 

US Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke leads trade delegation to explore export opportunities (-11)

Kyrgyzstan: 

Armed forces hold command-and-staff anti-terror exercises (-12) 

Bhutan:

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Council of Ministers concludes meetings in Thimphu; watching developments after foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan, Nirupama Rao and Salman Bashir, at meeting on sidelines on Sunday agreed to discuss resumption of peace dialogue that has been stalled since 2008 Mumbai attacks that India blames on Pakistan-based insurgents

Pakistan: 

Pakistan-based militant group Al-Badr Mojahedin observes Kashmir Solidarity Week by organizing seminars and rallies in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province

Iran:

Watching for possible continuation of trial of three US hikers arrested in July 2009 and charged with espionage; opening session held behind closed door on Sunday, no timetable set for further sessions

Iran: 

Ten Days of Dawn events continue (-10) leading up to 32nd anniversary of victory of Islamic Revolution (11); according to Defence Minister Ahmad Vahidi, four satellites, including Fajr and Rasad will be unveiled today; President Ahmadinejad due to attend ceremony 

Turkey:

Further hearing in Sledgehammer case takes place in Turkey

Turkey:

Trial in murder of Hrant Dink resumes in Istanbul. Dink was a prominent member of the Armenian minority in Turkey. He was best known for advocating Turkish-Armenian reconciliation and human and minority rights in Turkey. Hrant Dink was assassinated in Istanbul in January 2007.

UAE: 

South Korean Foreign Minister Kim So'ng-hwan visits; on to Algeria 

Lebanon: 

Hezbollah leader Sayyid Hasan Nasrallah due to address rally in Beirut in support of "Egyptian people's revolution against Camp David regime"; starts at 1300g

Egypt: 

Monitoring developments following initial round of talks between Vice President Omar Suleyman and opposition leaders, including banned Muslim Brotherhood 

Nigeria: 

Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General, Mmasekgoa Masire-Mwamba, continues visit to discus s forthcoming April elections (-9)

Ivory Coast: 

Five African heads of states members of AU high-level panel starts meeting with Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara camps in an attempt to resolve post-electoral crisis (-10) 

Poland: 

French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel visit to attend summit of Weimar Triangle. The French/German/Polish group was established in 1991 aimed at assisting Poland's emergence from Communist rule and promoting co-operation between the three countries, especially in the area of EU topics.

Romania: 

Finnish European Affairs and Integration Minister Astrid Thors visits for talks with Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi and Administration and Interior Minister Traian Igas on Schengen space enlargement

Hungary:

Prime Minister Viktor Orban to hold annual state-of-nation speech (1400).

Serbia: 

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini visits for talks with President Boris Tadic, Deputy PM Bozidar Djelic and Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic on Serbia's EU integration process, regional cooperation, Kosovo 

Bosnia:

Sarajevo Winter 2011 Festival is held

Switzerland:

WTO dispute settlement body meets in Geneva from 15:00; discussion includes considering the US/Chinese request to delay the deadline for appeal in the Chinese case over US measures on Chinese tyres

Holland:

Trial of Bosnian Serb military commander Zdravko Tolimir continues at Hague war crimes court

UK: 

Extradition hearing starts for WikiLeaks website founder Julian Assange (-8) 

UK:

Church of England General Synod (to Feb 9).

US: 

French Defence Minister Alain Juppe starts visit (-9); today meets UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon (7), due to meet US counterpart Robert Gates

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