Entries by Topic
All topics
«
* stephen hawking's univers
* tiger woods * jim fur
Barack Obama, China, Hu Jintao,
Melinda Hackett, manhattan
Moshe Katsav, bbc news
new zealand miners, louise heal
Vikram Pandit, bbc news, ft
Wilma Mankiller,
9/11, september 11, emily strato
Abdel Kareem Nabil Soliman, bbc
afghanistan, bbc news, the econo
Ahmed Khalfan Ghailani, bbc news
Ai Weiwei, bbc news
aids virus, aids, * hiv
Airbus A330, suzanne gould, bbc
airline security, bbc news
airport security, bbc news, biod
al-qaeda, natalie duval, yemen,
al-qaeda, new york city, suzanne
algeria, bbc news
amanda knox, bbc news, italy mur
american airlines, natalie de va
ancient rome, bbc news
arab spring, bbc news
arizona immigration law, bbc new
arms control, bbc news
arms flow to terrorists, bbc new
Arnold Schwarzenegger, bbc news
aung song suu kyi, myanmar, bbc
australia floods, bbc news
australia, cookbooks
australian shipwreck, bbc news
baltimore shooting, bbc news
ban aid, bob geldof, bbc world s
bangladesh clashes, bbc news
bat global markets, bbc news
bbc 2, biodun iginla
bbc news
bbc news, biodun iginla, david c
bbc news, biodun iginla, south k
bbc news, biodun iginla, the eco
bbc news, google
bbc strike, biodun iginla
bbc world service, biodun iginla
bcva, bbc news
belarus, bbc news, maria ogryzlo
Ben Bernanke, federal reserve
Benazir Bhutto, sunita kureishi,
benin, tokun lawal, bbc
Benjamin Netanyahu, bbc news
berlusconi, bbc news, italy
bill clinton ,emanuel, bbc news
bill clinton, Earth day, biodun
black friday, bbc news
black-listed nations, bbc news
blackwater, Gary Jackson, suzann
blogging in china, bbc news
bradley manning, bbc news
brazil floods, bbc news
brazil, biodun iginla, bbc news,
british elections, bbc news, bio
broadband, bbc news, the economi
Bruce Beresford-Redman. Monica
BSkyB bid, bbc news
budget deficit, bbc news,
bulgaria, natalie de vallieres,
business travel, bbc news
camilla parker-bowles, bbc news
canada, bbc news, biodun iginla
carleton college, bbc news, biod
casey anthony, bbc news
catholic church sex scandal, suz
cdc, e coli, suzanne gould, bbc
charlie rangel, bbc news
chicago mayorial race, bbc news,
chile miners, bbc news
chile prison fire, bbc news
chile, enrique krause, bbc news,
china, judith stein, bbc news, u
china, xian wan, bbc news, biodu
chinese dipolomat, houston polic
chinese media, bbc news
chirac, france, bbc news
cholera in haiti, biodun iginla
christina green, bbc news
Christine Lagarde, bbc news
Christine O'Donnell, tea party
chronical of higher education, b
citibank, bbc news
climate change, un, bbc news, bi
coal mines, west virginia, bbc n
common dreams
common dreams, bbc news, biodun
commonwealth games, bbc news
condi rice, obama
condoms, suzanne gould
congo, bbc news
congress, taxes, bbc news
contagion, islam, bbc news
continental airlines, bbc news
Continental Express flight, suza
corrupt nations, bbc news
Countrywide Financial Corporatio
cross-dressing, bbc news, emily
ctheory, bbc news, annalee newit
cuba, enrique krause, bbc news,
Cuba, Raúl Castro, Michael Voss
dealbook, bbc news, nytimes
digital life, bbc news
dorit cypis, bbc news, community
dow jones, judith stein, bbc new
egypt, nasra ismail, bbc news, M
elizabeth edwards, bbc news
elizabeth smart, bbc news
embassy bombs in rome, bbc news
emily's list, bbc news
entertainment, movies, biodun ig
equador, biodun iginla, bbc news
eu summit, bbc news, russia
eu, arab democracy, bbc news
europe travel delays, bbc news
europe travel, biodun iginla, bb
europe travel, france24, bbc new
eurozone crisis, bbc news
eurozone, ireland, bbc news
fair, media, bbc news
fake deaths, bbc news
FASHION - PARIS - PHOTOGRAPHY
fbi, bbc news
fcc, neutral internel, liz rose,
Federal Reserve, interest rates,
federal workers pay freeze, bbc
fedex, racism, bbc news
feedblitz, bbc news, biodun igin
ferraro, bbc news
fifa, soccer, bbc news
financial times, bbc news
firedoglake, jane hamsher, biodu
flashing, sex crimes, bbc news
fox, cable, new york, bbc
france, labor, biodun iginla
france24, bbc news, biodun iginl
french hostages, bbc news
french muslims, natalie de valli
FT briefing, bbc news, biodun ig
g20, obama, bbc news
gabrielle giffords, bbc news
gambia, iran, bbcnews
gay-lesbian issues, emily strato
george bush, blair, bbc news
germans held in Nigeria, tokun l
germany, natalie de vallieres, b
global economy, bbc news
goldman sachs, judith stein, bbc
google news, bbc news, biodun ig
google, gianni maestro, bbc news
google, groupon, bbc news
gop, bbc news
Gov. Jan Brewer, bbc news, immig
greece bailout, bbc news, biodun
guantanamo, bbc news
gulf oil spill, suzanne gould, b
Hackers, MasterCard, Security, W
haiti aid, enrique krause, bbc n
haiti, michelle obama, bbc news
heart disease, bbc news
Heather Locklear, suzanne gould,
Henry Kissinger, emily straton,
Henry Okah, nigeria, tokun lawal
hillary clinton, bbc news
hillary clinton, cuba, enrique k
hugo chavez, bbc news
hungary, maria ogryzlo
hurricane katrina, bbc news
Ibrahim Babangida, nigeria, toku
india, susan kumar
indonesia, bbc news, obama admin
inside edition, bbc news, biodun
insider weekly, bbc news
insider-trading, bbc news
International Space Station , na
iran, latin america, bbc news
iran, lebanon, Ahmadinejad ,
iran, nuclear weapons, bbc news
iran, wikileaks, bbc news
iraq, al-qaeda, sunita kureishi,
iraq, nasras ismail, bbc news, b
ireland, bbc news, eu
islam, bbc news, biodun iginla
israeli-palestinian conflict, na
italy, eurozone crisis
ivory coast, bbc news
James MacArthur, hawaii five-O
Jamie Paulin-Ramirez, biodun igi
jane hansher, biodun iginla
japan, bbc news, the economist
jerry brown, bbc news
Jerry Brown, suzanne gould, bbc
jill clayburgh, bbc news
Jody Weis, chicago police, bbc n
John Paul Stevens, scotus,
juan williams, npr, biodun iginl
judith stein, bbc news
Justice John Paul Stevens, patri
K.P. Bath, bbc news, suzanne gou
keith olbermann, msnbc, bbc news
kelly clarkson, indonesia, smoki
kenya, bbc news, police
Khodorkovsky, bbc news
Kyrgyz, maria ogryzlo, bbc news,
le monde, bbc nerws
le monde, bbc news, biodun iginl
lebanon, nasra ismail, biodun ig
Lech Kaczynski
libya, gaddafi, bbc news,
london ftse, bbc news
los alamos fire, bbc news
los angeles, bbc news, suzanne g
los angeles, suzanne gould, bbc
LulzSec, tech news, bbc news
madoff, bbc news, suicide
marijuana, weed, bbc news, suzan
Martin Dempsey, bbc news
maryland, bbc news
media, FAIR, bbc news
media, free press, fcc, net neut
media, media matters for america
media, mediabistro, bbc news
melissa gruz, bbc news, obama ad
mexican drug cartels, enrique kr
mexican gas explosion, bbc news
mexican's execution, bbc news
Michael Skakel, emily straton, b
Michelle Obama, bbc news
michigan militia, suzanne gould,
middle-class jobs, bbc news
midwest snowstorm, bbc news
Mikhail Khodorkovsky, bbc news
minnesota public radio
moveon, bbc news, biodun iginla
msnbc, david shuster, bbc news
mumbai attacks, bbc news
myanmar, burma, bbc news
nancy pelosi, us congress, bbc n
nasra ismail, israeli-palestinia
Natalia Lavrova, olympic games,
Nathaniel Fons, child abandonmen
nato, afghanistan, bbc news
nato, pakistan, sunita kureishi,
nelson mandela, bbc news
nestor kirchner, bbc news
net neutrality, bbc news
new life-forms, bbc news
new year, 2011, bbc news
new york city, homelessness, chi
new york snowstorm, bbc news
new zealand miners, bbc news
News Corporation, bbc news
news of the world, bbc news
nick clegg, uk politics, tories
nicolas sarkozy, islam, natalie
nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan, toku
nobel peace prize
nobel peace prize, bbc news, bio
noreiga, panama, biodun iginla,
north korea, bbc news, nuclear p
npr, bbc news, gop
npr, media, bbc news
ntenyahu, obama, bbc news
nuclear proliferation, melissa g
Nuri al-Maliki, iraq, biodun igi
nytimes dealbook, bbc news
obama, bill clinton, bbc news
obama, biodun iginla, bbc news
oil spills, bbc news, the econom
olbermann, msnbc, bbc news
Omar Khadr, bbc news
Online Media, bbc news, the econ
pakistan, sunita kureishi, bbc n
paris airport, bbc news
Pedro Espada, suzanne gould, bbc
phone-hack scandal, bbc news
poland, maria ogryzlo, lech Kac
police brutality, john mckenna,
police fatalities, bbc news
Pope Benedict XVI, natalie de va
pope benedict, natalie de vallie
popular culture, us politics
portugal, bbc news
Potash Corporation, bbc news
prince charles, bbc news
prince william, katemiddleton, b
pulitzer prizes, bbc news, biodu
qantas, airline security, bbc ne
racism, religious profiling, isl
randy quaid, asylum, canada
Ratko Mladic, bbc news
Rebekah Brooks, bbc news, the ec
republicans, bbc news
richard holbrooke, bbc news
Rick Santorum , biodun iginla, b
robert gates, lapd, suzanne goul
rod Blagojevich, suzanne gould,
roger clemens, bbc news
russia, imf, bbc news, the econo
russia, maria ogrylo, Lech Kaczy
san francisco crime lab, Deborah
sandra bullock, jess james, holl
SARAH EL DEEB, bbc news, biodun
sarah palin, biodun iginla, bbc
sarkosy, bbc news
saudi arabia, indonesian maid, b
saudi arabia, nasra ismail, bbc
Schwarzenegger, bbc news, biodun
science and technology, bbc news
scott brown, tufts university, e
scotus, gays in the military
scotus, iraq war, bbc news, biod
sec, judith stein, us banks, bbc
Senate Democrats, bbc news, biod
senegal, chad, bbc news
seward deli, biodun iginla
shanghai fire, bbc news
Sidney Thomas, melissa gruz, bbc
silvio berlusconi, bbc news
single currency, bbc news, the e
snowstorm, bbc news
social security, bbc news, biodu
somali pirates, bbc news
somalia, al-shabab, biodun iginl
south korea, north korea, bbc ne
south sudan, bbc news
spain air strikes, bbc news
spain, standard and poor, bbc ne
state of the union, bbc news
steve jobs, bbc news
steven ratner, andrew cuomo, bbc
Strauss-Kahn, bbc news, biodun i
sudan, nasra ismail, bbc news, b
suicide websites, bbc news
supreme court, obama, melissa gr
sweden bomb attack, bbc news
syria, bbc news
taliban, bbc news, biodun iginla
Taoufik Ben Brik, bbc news, biod
tariq aziz, natalie de vallieres
tariq azziz, jalal talbani, bbc
tea party, us politics
tech news, bbc, biodun iginla
technology, internet, economics
thailand, xian wan, bbc news, bi
the economist, biodun iginla, bb
the economsit, bbc news, biodun
the insider, bbc news
tiger woods. augusta
timothy dolan, bbc news
Timothy Geithner, greece, eu, bi
tornadoes, mississippi, suzanne
travel, bbc news
tsa (travel security administrat
tsumami in Indonesia, bbc news,
tunisia, bbc news, biodun iginla
turkey, israel, gaza strip. biod
Turkey, the eu, natalie de valli
twincities daily planet, bbc new
twincities.com, twin cities dail
twitter, media, death threats, b
Tyler Clementi, hate crimes, bio
uk elections, gordon brown, raci
uk phone-hack, Milly Dowler
uk tuition increase, bbc news
un wire, un, bbc news, biodun ig
un, united nations, biodun iginl
unwed mothers, blacks, bbc news
upi, bbc news, iginla
us billionaires, bbc news
us economic downturn, melissa gr
us economy, us senate, us congre
us empire, bbc news, biodun igin
us housing market, bbc news
us jobs, labor, bbc news
us media, bbc news, biodun iginl
us media, media matters for amer
us midterm elections, bbc news
us midterm elections, melissa gr
us military, gay/lesbian issues
us politics, bbc news, the econo
us recession, judith stein, bbc
us stimulus, bbc news
us taxes, bbc news, the economis
us, third-world, bbc news
vatican, natalie de vallieres
venezuela, bbc news
verizon, biodun iginla, bbc news
volcanic ash, iceland, natalie d
volcanis ash, bbc news, biodun i
wal-mat, sexism, bbc news
wall street reform, obama, chris
wall street regulations, banking
warren buffett, us economic down
weather in minneapolis, bbc news
white supremacist, Richard Barre
wikileaks, bbc news, biodun igin
wvirginia coal mine, biodun igin
wvirginia mines, biodun iginal,
xian wan, china , nobel prize
xian wan, japan
yahoo News, biodun iginla, bbc n
yahoo, online media, new media,
yemen, al-qaeda, nasra ismail, b
zimbabwe, mugabe, biodun iginla
|
Biodun@bbcnews.com
Wednesday, 27 October 2010
Google News Compiled by Biodun Iginla, BBC News, London, UK
Topic: google news, bbc news, biodun ig
GlaxoSmithKline Plc agreed to pay $750 million to settle a US government false-claims lawsuit over the sale of defective drugs. Glaxo, the UK's largest drugmaker, and the US Justice Department announced the accord today, resolving a lawsuit first filed ... AFP - CNNMoney - AOL News - UPI.commsnbc.com - 1 hour ago JavaScript is required to view our full story experience. Please enable JavaScript in your browser preferences. From NBC's Athena Jones: As part of an ongoing effort to energize his Democratic base ahead of the mid-term election on Nov. USA Today - Reuters - Voice of America - AFPFord Motor Company's plan to add more than 1000 jobs at seven Michigan plants is proof that the Motor City, so hammered by this economy, is finally seeing early glimmers of a comeback. A supporter of Republican US Senate nominee Rand Paul is apologizing after he was seen on video stepping on a liberal activist's head. It is not hard to detect a whiff of revenge in the Iraqi Supreme Court's decision to sentence Tariq Aziz, one of President Saddam Hussein's most loyal supporters, to death. DETROIT -- The most problem-free cars and trucks are made by Honda and Toyota, but US automakers Ford and General Motors are closing the gap in quality, according to an annual survey by Consumer Reports magazine. BP PLC will likely have to shut down a natural gas field in the North Sea that it jointly owns with Iran, a sign that tough new European sanctions are beginning to affect the Islamic Republic's oil and gas sector. AFP - 2 hours ago WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama on Tuesday cast an absentee ballot for races in his adopted home state of Illinois, a week before key midterm elections, his spokesman said. Voice of America - 5 hours ago Photo: AP Transparency International's annual survey of the least and most corrupt countries in the world, 26 Oct. 2010 An anti-corruption group says Africa is the most corrupt region in the world, with Somalia being the most corrupt country. President Obama has added a surprise stop to his campaign schedule, heading to Central Virginia on Friday in a last-minute bid to help a freshman Democrat in the House who has been an unapologetic backer of the president's agenda. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. fell the most in two months after the hiring of an investment manager raised concerns that Chairman Warren Buffett's results would be difficult for his successors to duplicate. Former President Bill Clinton assembled the state's top Democrats Tuesday morning and told them they could all win on Election Day if they just convince the right people to come out and vote. By the CNN Wire Staff Ballistics tests are under way after a shooting at a Marine Corps recruiting station in Chantilly, Virginia. Christian Science Monitor - Peter Grier - 2 hours ago Sharron Angle, the Republican Senate candidate from Nevada, has released a hard-hitting new ad on illegal immigration. But Hispanic groups say the ad is racist and accuse Sharron Angle of running 'one of the ugliest anti-illegal immigrants ad campaigns ... Reuters - 3 hours ago WASHINGTON Oct 26 (Reuters) - After trailing Democratic rival US Sen. Barbara Boxer for months in fund-raising and spending, California Republican Senate hopeful Carly Fiorina is closing the money gap, both parties said on Tuesday. Sipa; AP Swift, 20, has just released a new album, Speak Now, and isn't in a position to get entangled in a romance, according to a source close to the singer. The Guardian - 1 hour ago California's campaign to legalise marijuana received a major boost today with a $1m donation from billionaire financier and philanthropist George Soros. In a valedictory memo, Microsoft's departing chief software architect highlights his company's successes and its challenges as cloud services become more important. To Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra, tonight's season opener against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden can't get here soon enough. Grand Forks Herald - 55 minutes ago Rescue workers help villagers upon arrival at a temporary shelter after they were evacuated from their homes on the slope of Mount Merapi following its eruption in Pakem, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Oct. 26, 2010. By MICHELLE R. SMITH AP © 2010 The Associated Press PROVIDENCE, RI - President Barack Obama on Tuesday said it's "not a big deal" that Democratic candidate for governor Frank Caprio declared he could "shove it" for not endorsing him. France's Senate finalized a bill raising the retirement age from 60 to 62 today as oil workers and students begin to back away from protests over pension reforms. | | Google Fast FlipMost popularThe Star-Ledger - NJ.com - 1 hour ago - TODAYonline - 2 hours ago - New York Daily News - Michael Mcauliff - 1 hour ago - MarketWatch - 2 hours ago - Huffington Post - 58 minutes ago - MarketWatch (blog) - 3 hours ago - Vancouver Sun - 2 hours ago - U.S. News & World Report - Kurtis Hiatt - 1 hour ago - The Citizen Daily - 1 hour ago - Sky News - Alison Chung - 49 minutes ago - |
Posted by biginla
at 12:00 AM BST
Tuesday, 26 October 2010
Yahoo News Compiled by Biodun Iginla, BBC News, London, UK
Topic: bbc news, biodun iginla, the eco
- Tue Oct 19, 4:10 pm ET
- Tue Oct 19, 4:00 pm ET
PreviousNext Local Content Headlines for Minneapolistoggle module AP/Carrie AntlfingerAP – 18 mins agoCHICAGO – A massive storm with wind gusts up to 81 mph howled across the nation's midsection Tuesday, snapping trees and power lines, ripping off roofs, delaying flights and soaking commuters hunched under crumpled umbrellas. Full Story » The Upshot – 2 hrs 59 mins ago
Posted by biginla
at 11:47 PM BST
UN Wire---presented by Biodun Iginla, BBC News
Topic: un, united nations, biodun iginl
- Militants attack UN base in DR Congo
Peacekeepers on Saturday fended off an attack by several dozen armed assailants on a UN base in an eastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. UN troops killed eight, and injured two, of the attackers, believed to be members of the tribal Mai-Mai militia. Google/Agence France-Presse (10/25)      
 - Haiti's cholera woes continue
The number of deaths resulting from a cholera outbreak in Haiti is dropping, but local and international health officials warn a countrywide outbreak affecting tens of thousands remains a substantive threat. Haiti has been scrambling to contain the outbreak, which has seen more than 3,300 confirmed cases and at least 259 deaths.Reuters (10/25)
- Delegates inch toward biodiversity pact
Ongoing talks in Japan are inching closer to securing $4 billion to help developing countries preserve their biodiversity even as rich countries increase trade in their genetic resources. The funds, part of a plan for new targets for the protection of plant and animal species by 2020, would go primarily toward the preservation of tropical forests. AlertNet.org/Reuters (10/26)
- Discovery and destruction vie in Amazon
Over the past decade, more than 1,200 new species of animals have been discovered in the rain forests of the Amazon at the same time their very existence is under serious threat from human activities such as logging, ranching and farming. Some 17% of the rain forest has been lost over the past several decades, according to the World Wildlife Fund. The Guardian (London) (10/26)
- China pushes against Myanmar war crimes probe
U.S. efforts to spur an international investigation of possible war crimes in Myanmar are reportedly being thwarted by China, which for two months has been lobbying against the plan with top UN officials, as well as Asian and European governments. U.S. officials are calling for a probe, in part, to leverage the military junta into staging free elections and releasing political prisoners. The Washington Post (10/25) , Reuters (10/26)
- Trafficking of Haitian children rises in earthquake aftermath
Thousands of young survivors of Haiti's devastating January earthquake have fallen prey to human smugglers, trafficked to neighboring Dominican Republic where they are put to work as beggars, peddlers and prostitutes. Traffickers are able to use lax border enforcement and corruption to their advantage, and Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive readily admits there exists little political will to tighten border security. The Miami Herald (free registration) (10/23)
- Russia, Somalia fare poorly on corruption
Countries devastated by war again top the list of the most corrupt places in the world, while Russia, a global power, was ranked as the most corrupt by far of G-20 countries. Somalia, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Iraq ranked at the top of the Corruption Perceptions Index, released today by Transparency International. The Washington Post(10/26) , BBC (10/26)
- Iran's nuclear power plans progress
Iranian officials said today that the first of 163 fuel rods for the country's first nuclear reactor have been loaded into the core and the Bushehr facility will be operational next year. Authorities predict the plant's output will begin feeding into the country's power grids in three months. The New York Times (free registration) (10/26)
- Mubarak reconsiders strategy as elections loom
Egypt's aging president, Hosni Mubarak, may seek another term in elections scheduled for next year as his chosen successor, his son Gamal, may not be positioned to fight off electoral challenges from opposition parties. Gamal has won support for his promotion of democratic reforms, but many Egyptians question his commitment and favoritism toward the country's wealthy elite. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (10/26)
- This week, the United Nations celebrates its 65th birthday. What has been the UN's greatest accomplishment?
 | Negotiating more than 172 peace settlements, preventing war | | Helping more than 30 million refugees fleeing war, persecution or famine | | Helping eliminate smallpox and enriching the lives of the world's children through immunization programs | | Promoting international cooperation on monetary issues and encouraging stable exchange rates among nations | | Something else |
 |
- Register now for the mHealth Summit in Washington, D.C.
The 2010 mHealth Summit brings together leaders in government, private sector/industry, academia and not-for-profit organizations to share information and experiences related to the intersection of mobile technology, health research and policy.Featured speakers include Bill Gates, Co-chair and Trustee of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; Aneesh Chopra, U.S. Chief Technology Officer; Dr. Julio Frenk Dean of Faculty, Harvard School of Public Health; and Ted Turner, Chairman, UN Foundation. The mHealth Summit takes place Nov. 8 to 10 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Click here for more information and to register.
|
 | Key Sites
| | |
This SmartBrief was created for biginla@yahoo.com
| | | About UN WIRE | | UN Wire is a free service sponsored by the United Nations Foundation which is dedicated to supporting the United Nations' efforts to address the most pressing humanitarian, socioeconomic and environmental challenges facing the world today. |
| | | | | | | Recent UN Wire Issues:- Monday, October 25, 2010
- Friday, October 22, 2010
- Thursday, October 21, 2010
- Wednesday, October 20, 2010
- Tuesday, October 19, 2010
| | | Lead Editor: Adam Mazmanian
Contributing Editor: Juliette Terzieff
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005 | | | |
| | © 1999-2010 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information |
|
Posted by biginla
at 11:11 PM BST
Business-travel news by Biodun Iginla, BBC News and The Economist
Topic: bbc news, biodun iginla, the eco
| | Highlights of the past week's postings on our business-travel blog
 Tuesday October 26th 2010
Korea break
Our correspondent reports on his recent travels into and around North Korea. He wanders without a minder, enjoys kimchi and beer for €3, surfs the uncensored internet and sees how a missing iPhone can keep a plane waiting on the airport tarmac for 20 minutes read more»
Ils ne passeront pas
The French take umbrage at the first passage of a German train through the Channel Tunnel read more»
Looking into the future of travel
Airlines must find ways to offer customers a broader travel experience read more»
Secrets of the skies
A few things your pilot won't tell you read more»
Three wheels good
All hail the modern, metered auto-rickshawread more»
And also...
We've written about spruced-up hotels, hotel revenues rising and the curious incident of the croc on the plane | | |
Posted by biginla
at 9:09 PM BST
Google News Compiled by the BBC's Biodun Iginla
Topic: google news, bbc news, biodun ig
One week to go, and it's getting crazy out there… Laying out Democrats' tricky path to holding on to the House… How Dems are hoping third-party candidates end up taking away votes from GOP nominees… McCain -- after helping Fiorina and Rossi -- stumps ... U.S. News & World Report - NPR - Washington Post - EnerPubOne week to go, and it's getting crazy out there… Laying out Democrats' tricky path to holding on to the House… How Dems are hoping third-party candidates end up taking away votes from GOP nominees… McCain -- after helping Fiorina and Rossi -- stumps ... The start of the weeks-long process brings the controversial Bushehr plant another step closer to operation. Iran says the facility will generate 1000 megawatts of electricity, but Western nations fear it is to be used to produce atomic weapons. Chicago Sun-Times - 19 minutes ago The area is under a tornado watch until 11 am Tuesday morning as a strong storm moves through the area carrying heavy winds, downpours and wind gusts. Las Vegas showed the biggest 12-month drop in home prices at 4.5 percent. Photographer: Jacob Kepler/Bloomberg Oct. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Home prices in 20 US cities rose at a slower pace than forecast in August ... JAKARTA (Reuters) - A tsunami that pounded remote islands in western Indonesia following an earthquake off the coast of Sumatra killed more than 100 people, officials said on Tuesday, and hundreds more were missing. The company's earnings, from cost cutting as well as successful new products, provide a sign that the auto industry continues to build muscle. The Louisville Courier-Journal reports that a female MoveOn.org supporter was attacked by backers of Kentucky GOP Senate candidate Rand Paul on Monday when she attempted to approach Paul outside his final debate with Democrat Jack Conway ... Iraq's Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz salutes during the national anthem in Baghdad in this November 24, 1999 file photo. By Ahmed Rasheed BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq's high tribunal on Tuesday passed a death sentence on Tareq Aziz, ... msnbc.com - 1 hour ago >> frank caprio is with us exclusively. i don't know many people who would take on the president and tell him to shove it. NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Americans got slightly more optimistic about the economy in October, but still have an overwhelmingly gloomy outlook, according to the latest reading on consumer ... USA Today - 34 minutes ago The Dallas Cowboys' season reached what could be considered a worst-case scenario when Tony Romo was lost for several weeks in a loss Monday night that dropped the team to 1-5. NEW YORK, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Billionaire investor Warren Buffett may have just made one of his boldest market bets: hiring 39-year-old Todd Combs to manage a major part of Berkshire Hathaway's (BRKa. PARIS, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- French Economy Minister Christine Lagarde said Tuesday major strikes over pension reforms would not change the country's economic growth outlook. Computerworld - Departing Microsoft executive Ray Ozzie's just-published memo is a "doomsday-ish" missive that calls on the company to push further into the cloud or perish, an industry analyst said today. Baltimore Sun - 5 hours ago If the Ravens and Redskins met in the Superbowl, more than half of Maryland's likely voters would cheer for the team in purple, a Baltimore Sun poll has found. Wall Street Journal - 2 hours ago AP BERLIN—Somalia is the most corrupt country in the world, followed by Afghanistan, Myanmar and Iraq, an international watchdog said Tuesday. SI.com - 29 minutes ago Bengie Molina can help the Rangers in the World Series with his bat, his defense and his in-depth knowledge of the Giants' pitching staff. On Jon Stewart's first night in the nation's capital, he had to tackle last week's firing of the NPR analyst Juan Williams. With just seven days until Election Day, Democrats are picking up support on their home turf, as Republicans look to hang on to deliver upset wins. Alex Sink, the Democratic candidate for Florida governor, participates in a debate against Republican challenger Rick Scott at Nova University in Davie, Fla. | | Entertainment Weekly - Mandi Bierly - 16 hours agoNew York Times - David Brooks - 10 hours agoHuffington Post - Oct 22, 2010CNN - Shira Medding - Oct 24, 2010Huffington Post - Oct 22, 2010Wall Street Journal - Nathan Becker - Oct 22, 2010CNN - Logan Burruss - 12 hours agoLos Angeles Times - Robert D. Kaplan - Oct 24, 2010New York Times - Michael Powell - Oct 24, 2010FOXSports.com - Oct 22, 2010Chicago Breaking News - Tribune (blog) - Oct 21, 2010Google Fast FlipMost popularThe Guardian - 31 minutes ago - The Associated Press - 2 hours ago - Toronto Sun - 48 minutes ago - Politico - Andy Barr - 1 hour ago - Computerworld - Gregg Keizer - 3 hours ago - Sydney Morning Herald - 13 minutes ago - ABC News - David Crossland - 45 minutes ago - |
Posted by biginla
at 3:36 PM BST
War-hit countries 'most corrupt'
Topic: corrupt nations, bbc news
26 October 2010 Last updated at 04:46 ET  War-torn Somalia is perceived as the most corrupt country in the world War-torn states are still seen as being the most corrupt in the world, according to a new report from Transparency International. The Berlin-based watchdog monitors perceived corruption and has published its annual report, based on a poll of businesses and people in 178 nations. The worst country is Somalia, followed by Burma, Afghanistan and Iraq. Denmark, New Zealand and Singapore tie for top place as the world's least corrupt countries, with the UK 20th. 'Good governance needed' Transparency International was founded in 1993 and is a non-governmental organisation that monitors corporate and political corruption. In its latest report, Russia is rated as among the worst for corruption, in 154th place. And Italy, down in 67th spot, now comes below Rwanda. Meanwhile, emerging economic powerhouse China is in 78th place. Global corruption: Biggest changes | | Improving* | 2009 rank | 2010 rank | Rise | | * Countries where source data remained the same. Source: Transparency International | | 1. Haiti | 168 | 146 | 22 | | 2. Ecuador | 146 | 127 | 19 | | 3. Gambia | 106 | 91 | 15 | | 4. Bhutan | 49 | 36 | 13 | Getting worse* | 2009 rank | 2010 rank | Fall | | 1. Madagascar | 99 | 123 | 24 | | 2. Niger | 106 | 123 | 17 | | 3. Greece | 71 | 78 | 7 | | = 4. Hungary | 46 | 50 | 4 | | = 4. Italy | 63 | 67 | 4 | It is the poor and vulnerable who suffer the consequences of corruption, Transparency International found. Hence, more should be done to enforce existing rules and laws, according to Huguette Labelle, chair of Transparency International. "These results signal that significantly greater efforts must go into strengthening governance across the globe," she said.  Transparency International's Ms Labelle says the poor suffer most from corruption "With the livelihoods of so many at stake, governments' commitments to anti-corruption, transparency and accountability must speak through their actions. "Good governance is an essential part of the solution to the global policy challenges governments face today." Chile and Uruguay are rated the least-corrupt countries in Latin America. In the Middle East, the best placed is Qatar. Top-rated African nation is Botswana, in 33rd place. Transparency International concludes that some countries have become more corrupt in the past year, particularly the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy and the US. Despite falling down the list, perhaps because of corruption revealed by the financial crash, the US still comes near the top at number 22. More on This Story The BBC
Posted by biginla
at 2:48 PM BST
TODAY'S TOP HEADLINES | Tuesday, October 26, 2010 by Biodun Iginla, BBC News and The Economist
Topic: bbc news, biodun iginla, the eco
TOP STORY Few topics grab investors' attention than the question of who might succeed Warren E. Buffett as the maestro of Berkshire Hathaway. But on Monday, the Oracle of Omaha himself weighed in on the matter. After the company announced that it had hired 39-year-old Todd Combs to oversee a big chunk of its investment portfolio, Mr. Buffett told The New York Times that the newcomer could be Berkshire's next chief investment officer. "He's got the best chance of being the successor, but if we find the right guy or gal, we'd take that person, too," he said, adding that the matter hasn't been decided. Go to Article from The New York Times»Go to Article from DealBook»Go to Previous Article from DealBook»President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela said late Monday that he was ordering a government takeover of the local unit of U.S.- owned glass manufacturer Owens-Illinois. Go to Article from Bloomberg News»Deutsche Bank's plan to build a German consumer-banking powerhouse with the $8.9 billion purchase of Deutsche Postbank, its biggest takeover in a decade, may end up weighing on profitability, Bloomberg News reported. Go to Article from Bloomberg News» Ultimate Escapes, the bankrupt luxury travel company, won approval from a federal judge to sell its membership list and a handful of properties to a rival, Demeure, which has also agreed to lease several resorts as well. Go to Article from DealBook» Samuel D. Waksal, the biotech executive whose insider trading landed him and Martha Stewart in prison, is trying to make a comeback. His new company, Kadmon Pharmaceuticals, said it had acquired Three Rivers Pharmaceuticals, a privately held company that mainly sells drugs to treat hepatitis C. Go to Article from The New York Times»INVESTMENT BANKINGUBS, the European bank that was hit hardest by the financial crisis, took another step in its turnaround Tuesday as it reported a third-quarter profit that beat expectations and said the two-year flow of cash out of its private bank had finally stopped. Go to Article from The New York Times»PRIVATE EQUITYStar American lawyer David Boies, pictured, faced off against top British banker David Wormsley of Citigroup in a Manhattan federal courtroom late on Monday, in testimony that could determine the fate of the struggling EMI Group. Go to Article from DealBook»Foster's, the Australian brewer, said it has held no further talks with the private equity suitor that made a $2.5 billion offer for its wine business in September, Reuters reported. Go to Article from Reuters» Alan Greenspan's niece was recently let go from Kingdon Capital, but she apparently isn't going gently into that dark night, telling the hedge fund's clients that Kingdon is undergoing "considerable management turmoil and uncertainty," Dealbreaker reports. Go to Article from DealBreaker»Southridge Capital Management, and its chief executive Stephen M. Hicks, 52, were sued by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Connecticut Banking Commissioner on charges of inflating the value of its holdings, which allowed it to fraudulently collect millions of dollars of undeserved fees. Go to Article from Reuters via The New York Times» I.P.O. / OFFERINGBankUnited, owned by some of the world's most powerful private equity firms, plans to file for a public offering this week, looking to raise roughly $500 million, two sources familiar with the matter said on Monday, Reuters reported. Go to Article from Reuters via The New York Times» Sheila C. Bair may have sold BankUnited, with its $13 billion of assets, to a group of private equity heavy-hitters in May 2009 for a song, but, Reuters BreakingViews argues, the F.D.I.C. chairwoman need not feel embarrassed. Go to Article from Reuters Breakingviews via The New York Times»Petronas Chemicals Group , the petrochemicals unit of Malaysia's state oil company, aims to raise between $3.7 billion and $4.2 billion in the Southeast Asian nation's biggest initial public offering, Bloomberg News reported. Go to Article from Bloomberg News» Computer-generated algorithmic trades have run amok in markets more than once this year, and U.S. regulators should look for ways to hold traders accountable, a top official on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission said on Monday, Reuters reported. Go to Article from Reuters via The New York Times»LEGALThe S.E.C. is no longer just making sure a small circle of employees are not abusing their positions; it is focused on making sure the markets "feel" fair, Andrew Ross Sorkin writes in his DealBook column. Go to Article from DealBook»The American International Group said on Monday that its chief executive, Robert H. Benmosche, has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing "aggressive" treatment. Go to Article from DealBook»The Treasury concealed $40 billion in likely taxpayer losses on the bailout of the A.I.G. earlier this month, when it abandoned its usual method for valuing investments, according to a report by the special inspector general for the Troubled Asset Relief
Posted by biginla
at 2:02 PM BST
Iran loads fuel into the Bushehr nuclear reactor
Topic: iran, lebanon, Ahmadinejad ,
26 October 2010 Last updated at 05:39 ET  Iran says the launch of its first reactor is a victory over its enemies Iran has begun loading fuel into the core of its first nuclear power plant, state television has reported. It marks a key stage in the firing-up of the Bushehr plant, which is set to produce electricity from 2011. Russia will operate the facility in southern Iran, supplying its nuclear fuel and taking away the nuclear waste. Iran's separate uranium enrichment programme has alarmed Western nations, who distrust Iran's claims it is solely for peaceful purposes. Iran has been subject to four rounds of UN sanctions because of its nuclear programme. Experts say that as long as the Bushehr plant is Russian-operated and supervised by the UN nuclear watchdog the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), there is little chance of proliferation. German engineers began work on the Bushehr nuclear facility in the 1970s. The project has been plagued by delays, but was completed with help from Russia. Iranian and Russian engineers initially began to move nuclear fuel into the reactor in August, amid great media fanfare, but the work was again delayed - Iran says due to a leak in the central pool of the reactor building. 'Progressing well' "Fuel injection into the core of the reactor has begun," state TV announced on Tuesday. Continue reading the main story  Jon Leyne Tehran correspondent, BBC News, Cairo
After 35 years under construction, Bushehr is finally moving from being a very expensive construction site to a working nuclear reactor. Introducing fuel rods into the core is the beginning of the process of activating the plant as a nuclear reactor. It appears that the Russian engineers building and operating the plant are confident that it is safe to proceed. Iran has once again trumpeted the achievement as a triumph in the face of its enemies. The West seems to have lifted its objection to seeing the plant completed, possibly as part of deal under which Russia agreed to vote for new sanctions. Nuclear experts believe that Russia's involvement in the project means it would be very difficult to use Bushehr to make a nuclear bomb. But the West continues to be concerned that the separate uranium enrichment programme could have a military use. Mohammad Ahmadian of Iran's Atomic Energy Organisation said some 160 fuel rods would be placed in the core of the reactor - a process Iranian media report will take about 20 days. "The reactor will [then] hopefully be ready to become operational," Mr Ahmadian said - though it will then take a month or two to begin producing electricity at full capacity. Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said Iran's nuclear programme was "progressing well according to the fixed timetable despite all political pressures and sanctions", reported official Iranian news agency Irna. The uranium fuel Bushehr will use is well below the enrichment level needed for a nuclear weapon. Weapons-grade uranium must be enriched by more than 90%. In contrast, the uranium at Bushehr is enriched by 3.5%. In fact, there are strong suspicions that the West has given a green light to the 1,000-megawatt reactor being fired up in a behind-the-scenes deal with Russia, says the BBC's Tehran correspondent Jon Leyne. Danger 'elsewhere' Under this deal, it is believed that Washington agreed to the opening of the reactor in return for Russian support for new sanctions on Iran. Continue reading the main story Bushehr safeguards - Plant is Russian built and operated
- Russia to supply fuel and remove waste
- International monitors to check that fuel and waste are not diverted
The real danger perceived by the West and Israel is elsewhere, our correspondent says - the production by Iran of its own uranium enriched to fuel grade. It has begun a pilot programme to enrich uranium to 20% - which it says is needed for a medical research reactor. Some governments fear Tehran wants to build a nuclear weapon, but Iran insists its plans are for peaceful energy production. The "P5+1" powers - UN Security Council permanent members Russia, the US, China, France and Britain, plus Germany - have invited Iran for talks in Vienna from 15-17 November. Iran has indicated it would be willing to attend negotiations, but says it needs to have a say in what will be on the agenda. It has not yet given a formal response.
Posted by biginla
at 12:55 PM BST
France 24 Newsletter by Biodun Iginla, BBC News, The Economist, France 24
Topic: france24, bbc news, biodun iginl
 | 
Tuesday October 26, 2010 08:25 (Paris time) |
Share this email with your social network |
| | WORLDBoth houses of parliament will vote this week on a harmonized version of pension reform legislation as the bill moves its way towards adoption. The government expects the bill, which will raise the retirement age to 62, to become law by Nov. 15. The UN has warned that Haiti's cholera outbreak could fester for years, despite health authorities announcing on Monday that they had stemmed the spread of the disease. More than 250 people have died sine the first cases emerged last week. Ahead of midterm elections next week, US President Barack Obama has been upbeat about the country's economic recovery, promoting his administration’s job creation efforts in an effort to rally support for Democrats to maintain a majority in Congress. Canadian national Omar Khadr, who was arrested by US forces in Afghanistan at age 15 and held at the US detention centre in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, pleaded guilty on Monday to all the war crimes charges against him. Afghan President Hamid Karzai acknowledged on Monday that his chief of staff had received money from Iran but said such payments were "transparent" aid from a friendly country. Pentagon files leaked in July suggested that Iran helps fund the Taliban. BUSINESSIn a deal worth 8.2 billion dollars, Singapore's stock exchange (SGX) is to take over its Australia's ASX in a merger that will create one of the world's largest and most diversified financial trading hubs. As G20 finance ministers meet for talks in South Korea, US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner urged G20 nations with trade surpluses to review their currency regimes and those with deficits to boost savings and exports for the sake of global growth. Japanese automaker Honda Motor Co. said it would recall more than 500,000 vehicles worldwide Friday due to a faulty brake fluid cylinder. The move comes just a day after Toyota announced a safety recall of 1.5 million vehicles for a similar fault. The whistleblower website WikiLeaks has announced on its Twitter page that a "major announcement" is to be expected on Saturday. Rumour has is that the site will release something concerning the war in Iraq. Germany raised its forecast for the economic growth of Europe's biggest economy for this year and next on Thursday, predicting an expansion of 3.4 percent for 2010 and slightly lower growth in 2011. SPORTSParis Saint-Germain squandered a chance to move up the table in France's Ligue 1 as they slumped to a 3-2 home defeat against Auxerre on Sunday. Whilst Marseille moved into second place with a 3-1 win over Lille. So after a week that began with Wayne Rooney revealing that he wanted to leave Manchester United, the English striker has ended up doubling his money and committing his long-term future to the club. Sports Insight speaks to The Guardian's Daniel Taylor and United We Stand fanzine editor Andy Mitten to find out what really went on at Old Trafford. Switzerland's Roger Federer beat Florian Mayer of Germany in straight sets on Sunday to win the Stockholm Open and level with Pete Sampras on 64 career titles. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso moved to the top of the driver's championship on Sunday after winning a chaotic South Korean Grand Prix in which both Red Bull drivers failed to cross the finish line. Citroen's Sébastien Loeb picked up a sixth consecutive win at the Rally of Catalunya on Sunday, having already wrapped up a seventh straight drivers' championship. CULTURETop art dealer Larry Gagosian opened a gallery in Paris this week, calling it a sign the French capital is "reclaiming" its role on the world art scene. The opening came just ahead of the launch of the FIAC contemporary art fair (photo) on Thursday. At British artist David Hockney’s new exhibit in Paris, iPads and iPhones take the place of canvas. Using the "Brushes" application, which allows users to paint with their fingers, Hockney created a series of colourful landscapes and still lifes. The US non-profit group TED has awarded 100,000 dollars to the French photography artist known as "JR" for putting a "human face on some of the most critical social issues while redefining how we view, make and display art." A new exhibit that opened in Berlin on Friday features Nazi memorabilia -- from propaganda posters to Christmas tree ornaments -- to explore the personality cult surrounding Adolf Hitler that enabled him to keep a tight grip on the German nation. Nelson Mandela never wanted to become South Africa's president and would have preferred a younger person to become the country's first black ruler, according to his memoirs released on Thursday. SCIENCEA network of suspected Armenian gangsters used means such as setting up fake medical clinics to try and cheat the government's medical insurance programme out of $163 million, the largest fraud by a criminal enterprise in the programme’s history. The sixth edition of the French capital’s international science film festival served up a tribute to biodiversity in its various forms – and a warning about the difficulty of preserving it. The 2010 Global Hunger Index released Monday says that nearly one in six people go hungry, with child malnutrition causing lifelong harm to health and productivity. South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa fared the worst. (Photo: Philip Flämig/IFPRI). FRANCEBoth houses of parliament will vote this week on a harmonized version of pension reform legislation as the bill moves its way towards adoption. The government expects the bill, which will raise the retirement age to 62, to become law by Nov. 15. French journalists Herve Ghesquiere and Stephane Taponier’s abduction in Afghanistan was initially greeted by a media blackout – for security reasons. Their plight has since moved into the spotlight. But will it help secure their release? All of France's fuel depots have been cleared of blockades set up in recent days by strikers protesting pension reform, the national oil association said on Monday. Up to a quarter of France's fuel stations had run dry in the wake of the protests. French President Nicolas Sarkozy outlined his agenda for France's forthcoming presidencies of the G20 and G8 on Saturday at the opening of a summit of French-speaking nations in the Swiss town of Montreux. L'Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt (pictured), France's richest woman, lodged a suit against her daughter Wednesday alleging psychological abuse. Her daughter's lawyer, Olivier Metzner, has called the suit a public relations stunt. EUROPEEU foreign ministers have given the bloc's top diplomat, Catherine Ashton (pictured), a mandate "to explore ways to try and progress" relations with Cuba in the wake of Havana's decision to release several political prisoners after talks with Spain. The EU moved Serbia one step closer to bloc membership on Monday after agreeing to examine Belgrade's bid to join the union, a prerequisite to becoming an official candidate, despite the country's failure to round up former Yugoslavia war criminals. Authorities in Naples arrested three men on Monday for assaulting police during a protest against landfills in the area. Thousands of people had gathered to call for the Cava Sari dump to be closed and plans for a second one dropped. French President Nicolas Sarkozy outlined his agenda for France's forthcoming presidencies of the G20 and G8 on Saturday at the opening of a summit of French-speaking nations in the Swiss town of Montreux. The skipper of a small passenger ferry was feared missing on Friday after his vessel capsized when a German cargo ship collided with it on a canal near Amsterdam, police sources said. Traffic on the canal has been halted. MIDDLE-EASTIraq's highest court ordered the country's parliament to get back to work on Sunday, since sessions stalled after politicians failed to agree on a new government seven months after an inconclusive election. WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange told a press conference in London on Saturday that the publishing of 400,000 classified military documents on the Iraq war was an attempt to reveal the extent of human suffering caused by the conflict. Bahrain's Shiite opposition picked up 18 out of 40 parliament seats in Saturday's legislative elections, one more than in the previous polls, with nine seats still up for grabs in a second round of voting next week. Jewish settlers have begun building at least 600 homes since the end of a West Bank building ban on September 26, the NGO Peace Now said on Thursday. The group said new construction was taking place four times faster than before the freeze. A UN tribunal carried out a controlled explosion at a French military base Wednesday as part of its investigation into the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri. AFRICATwice excluded from past presidential races, former PM Alassane Dramane Ouattara (pictured) is now gunning for Ivory Coast's top office. France24.com takes a closer look at a candidate who has often been on the outside looking in. Guinean leaders appealed for calm Saturday amid reports of further clashes between supporters of the two rival candidates in the country's presidential runoff vote, which has been delayed twice due to simmering ethnic tensions. Mahamadou Danda, Niger's prime minister, told RFI radio on Sunday that all seven hostages, including five French nationals, taken by an al Qaeda affiliate in September are alive and attempts are underway to secure their release. In an interview with France24.com, a top official of the government of South Sudan insisted that an independent South would protect citizens of all faiths, as it has done since gaining autonomy in 2005. United Nations officials have called for urgent aid for the west African nation of Benin, where devastating floods have triggered a deadly cholera outbreak and left some 680,000 people homeless. AMERICASAhead of midterm elections next week, US President Barack Obama has been upbeat about the country's economic recovery, promoting his administration’s job creation efforts in an effort to rally support for Democrats to maintain a majority in Congress. The UN has warned that Haiti's cholera outbreak could fester for years, despite health authorities announcing on Monday that they had stemmed the spread of the disease. More than 250 people have died sine the first cases emerged last week. Canadian national Omar Khadr, who was arrested by US forces in Afghanistan at age 15 and held at the US detention centre in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, pleaded guilty on Monday to all the war crimes charges against him. With President Obama’s approval ratings sliding and Republicans looking to capitalise on his weaknesses, polls and pundits are saying the Black vote - so crucial to Obama's victory in 2008 - may not turn out to support Democrats. Over the weekend, whistleblower website WikiLeaks released some 400,000 classified documents relating to the Iraq war. But this trove, drawn from US soldiers on the ground, seems to have failed to create serious controversy. FRANCE 24 finds out why. ASIA-PACIFICArmed men kidnapped a Dutch aid worker and his Afghan driver on Monday in the northern Khan Abad district, local officials have reported. Afghan President Hamid Karzai acknowledged on Monday that his chief of staff had received money from Iran but said such payments were "transparent" aid from a friendly country. Pentagon files leaked in July suggested that Iran helps fund the Taliban. Japan protested to Beijing on Monday after identifying two Chinese vessels near a disputed island chain in what is the most recent escalation of a territory dispute between the two countries that started in September. US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner (pictured) arrived in China Sunday to discuss bilateral economic issues, including the value of China’s currency, the yuan, a topic that has recently strained relations between the two countries. Thai authorities say the death toll from nearly two weeks of devastating floods has climbed to 38, with rising waters now threatening to overrun the capital, Bangkok.
|
| |  |
|
Posted by biginla
at 12:49 PM BST
Newer | Latest | Older
|
Ask America
Ask America blog
Map snapshot
Video: Fast Fix
Y! exclusives
Key battles guide
WCCO Minneapolis
