World News Wednesday, 08 Mar. 2006

Hamas is warned that should it go back to its violent past, Israel will see any Hamas leader as a valid military target. A Hamas leader urges other Palestinian groups to get behind the Hamas-led government as an excercise in national unity, but some of Hamas’ actions have only served to anger them. On the financial front, the World Bank agrees to a $42 million grant to aid the Palestinian Authorotiy in meeting its immediate needs and New Zealand puts $500,000 of its own money forward. The US’ aid stance is seen as hypocritical.

It is argued that bringing democracy to the world wont bring about world peace. The US and Israel’s opinions of Hamas’ democratic victory is used as an example.

Australia’s new Defence Minister Brendan Nelson visits troops in Iraq while it is announced that Australian troops will remain in Iraq into next year. England, meanwhile, says it well start withdrawing its troops from Iraq in the next few weeks and plans to be completely out of the country by summer 2008. Depending on which US official you beleive, Iraq is either going great or the US have opened a ‘Pandora’s Box’.

There is further criticism of US President George W. Bush’s deal with India and ex-Pakinstan PM Benazir Bhutto believes that the US is ‘selectively applying‘ its foreign policy. It is argued that India’s refusal to sign the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty should not deter Australia from selling them uranium.

THE IAEA contiunes to debate over the nuclear Iran issue with Russia and the US wanting to do things quite differently while the UN looks at streamlining its bureaucracy.

The Japan-China negotiations regarding territorial boundries and gas deposits in the East China Sea ends without any real outcome, but they have agreed to meet again.

With the recent drowning of more that 40 African migrants heading to Europe, it is revealed that more than 1000 Africans have met a similar fate in the past four months.

World News Tuesday, 07 Mar. 2006

French President Jaques Chirac agrees with Hamas that sanctions against Palestine would only hurt the average citizen. Hamas says that its recent talks with Russia show that it is coming out of isolation and into the global community. Israel launches airstikes in the Gaza Strip killing three including an eight-year-old.

In Iraq, snipers have killed a military commander and car bombs kill five as the new parliament prepares to meet. The question of national leadership looms large and the Shiite bloc asks for the meeting to be delayed ‘a few days’.

Australian PM John Howard discusses India’s proposal to buy uranium from Australia during their recent meeting. Howard doesn’t rule out the possiblity, but says Australia’s formal position remains ‘no’.

The US urges the international community to prevent Iran from becoming nuclear-capable and says that no level of uranium enrichment is acceptable. A senior US official, Nicholas Burns, scoffs at India-Iran nuclear comparisons stating that India is “the responsible one“. Some argue that the deal must be stopped by US Congress to prevent fanning the flames in the already volatile region. India states that it will form its own stance on Iran, away from the opinions of other nations.

As protests against the Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra continue, yet bigger ones are planned. Shinawatra remains unmoved, again saying that he will not step down. All the leadership problems may have dire effects on the nation’s economy.

Maoist rebels in Nepal raid a town, bombing government buildings and releasing prisoners from jail. Seven are killed.

More than 40 African immigrants headed for the Canary Islands die when their boat sinks off the west coast of Africa.

World News Monday, 06 Mar. 2006

A tape of al-Qaeda big man Ayman al-Zawahri surfaces in which he urges Muslims to attack the West. His comments seem to be motivated by the recent ‘Prophet Muhammad cartoon’ uproar. On the tape, al-Zawahri also tells Hamas to ignore Israeli peace deals. Hamas disagree, sighting a difference in ideologies between the two groups and calling al-Qaeda too radical. 

The US approve of the recent Hamas-Russian talks, calling them ‘useful’. Hamas come away from the talks saying that they’ll have to ‘change their manners‘ now that they’re playing in the big league.

The Interim Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert is planning on withdrawing some West Bank settlements if he wins the upcoming election. Doubts are raised over Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas’ ‘al-Qaeda in Palestine’ claims.

As calls for the Iraqi PM to quit grow, the Iraqi President has joined in the chorus, saying that a resignation would help the attempt at national unity. Amnesty International say that prisoner abuse in Iraq is still going on.

Part of the India-US nuclear deal guarantees India uninterrupted nuclear fuel from the US, Russia, France and the UK.

Pakistan may not have gotten a similar deal, but Pres. Musharraf is keeping his ‘strategic options open‘ by negotiating with China. Bush agrees to an Iranian pipeline supplying natural gas to India and Pakistan.

The US and Iran threaten eachother at a recent IAEA meeting. Iran warns that it may stop exporting oil if referred to the UN Security Council and the US promise ‘painful consequences’ if Iran resumes large-scale enrichment. The IAEA, meanwhile, are beginning to doubt Iran’s claims of peaceful intent for the nuclaer program.

World News Sunday, 05 Mar. 2006

The recent US-India deal looks to have come mainly from the fear of a powerful China. China recenlty increased its already sizable military budget by a further 14.7%. While George Bush is wanting to develop a closer nuclear relationship with India, the Pentagon wants greater military co-operation across the board.

In Pakistan, George Bush says that a nuclear agreement with Pakistan similar to the one established with India will not happen sighting differences between the two nations. He did state that Pakistan are a crucial ally in the fight for ‘world peace’ but says they could do a lot more. Critics say Pakistan is playing for two sides.

Talks between Iran and the EU concerning Iran’s nuclear plans end with no change in position from Iran but the French want to have another sit-down. China urges further diplomacy. Iran, meanwhile, threatens to leave the IAEA if referred to the UN Security Council.

Tony Blair says that God will be his judge over his decision to go to war in Iraq and says that much of his policymaking is determined by his Christian faith. His ideas are criticised by many.

A Roman Catholic bishop says that Israel should do more to protect holy Christian sites after the recent attack on Basilica the of the Annunciation.

Russia is criticised for meeting with Hamas.

World News Saturday, 04 Mar. 2006

Wow. Slow news day today. 

Contradictory to previous reports that Iran wont be nuke-capable for another 10 years, it is now reported that Iran will be ready in five years. Iran suggests that it may commit to a ‘selective suspension‘ of its enrichment program. It is also reported that the US gave Iran misleading nuke blueprints back in 2000 to put them on the wrong track.

George Bush arrives in Pakistan amid large protests and Pakistan re-states that it is committed to fighting the ‘War on Terror’.

Three Israelis set off firecrackers in a church in the holy city of Nazareth sparking panic and a brawl which lead to a riot. 

An attack by gunmen in Iraq kills 19. The attack is thought to have been conducted by a Shiite group against a Sunni group.

In talks with Russia, Hamas hold firm on their stance on Israel but say they favour renewed peace talks. 

In the USA, the Pentagon releases the names of most of the Guantanamo Bay detainees.

Talks between the two Koreas end with nothing to show.

World News Friday, 03 Mar. 2006

The EU has backed the UN proposal to create a Human Rights Council, effectively isolating the US with its firm stance against the idea. The US argue that the Council does not deserve US support and think that the UN will delay the consideration of the creation of the Council for months. Cuba is sceptic and Kofi Annan isn’t pleased.

Hamas arrive in Moscow for talks but it looks as though they wont be meeting President Vladimir Putin. Hamas state that recognising Israel is out of the question. Saeb Erekat of the PLO sees hope in the Hamas election victory, writing that “lasting peace may now be closer than many of us could have imagined just weeks ago”. Hamas claim that Fatah officials have been involved in Palestinian land theft and the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas believes that al-Qaeda are operating in the Gaza Strip and West bank. Abbas also doubts that Iranian aid to the Palestinians will ever be received. The US state that it is in their best interests to continue supplying humanitarian aid to Palestine and reiterates that it will not be giving financial help as Palestine return $30 million in aid as requested by the US.

The Iraqi media are blaming pretty much everyone for the wave of violence engulfing the country. Political parties in Iraq aren’t happy about the Shia bloc putting Ibrahim Jaafari forward as a PM candidate and request that he is withdrawn. Jaafari has responded by cancelling a planned meeting with the party leaders and his supporters have dismissed opposition remarks.

As Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is greeted with a 21-gun salute in Malaysia, Malaysia is urging calm over Iran’s nuclear program. President Ahmadinejad also accused the US of trying to control the world’s oil resources and creating a climate of fear. Iran announces plans to discuss the nuclear issue with the EU and claims that the US is ruining the Iran-Russia deal. Meanwhile, China are the latest country to urge Iran to suspend its nuclear program. Iran think that the IAEA’s position with regards to Iran is politcally motivated and news comes that the US State Department have opened an office dedicated soley to US-Iran foreign policy and trying to change the Iranian form of government.

George Bush and the Indian PM Manmohan Singh meet and discuss a nuclear deal and things go swimmingly. The benefits to both sides are examined and many Indians are ambivalent about realtions between the two nations. Bush pledges to lobby US Congress for the right to sell nuclear technologies to India to finalise the deal.

Fresh from good dealings in India, Bush is heading to Pakistan to meet with Pervez Musharraf. Interesting discussions are expected.

The fallout from Hurricane Katrina contiues to spread with a secret video surfacing which shows President George Bush being briefed on the situation. The video contradicts Bush’s claim that no one expected those ever so crucial levees to break.

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo ends the nations week-long state of emergency. 

In Thailand, PM Thaksin Shinawatra confirms that he will not resign and has asked the public to send in letters of support, apparently in defiance of opposition calls for him to step down. 

Peace talks between N. and S. Korea begin in the hope of easing military tension between the two countries.

Bangladesh authorities capture an Islamist military leader, accused of being a bombing mastermind. His ‘career’ is examined.

World News Thursday, 02 Mar. 2006

Just a brief update for now. A larger one will follow. 

A senior commander of the group Islamic Jihad is killed by an Israeli airstike as the Acting Israeli Prime Minister states that not all Palestinians should be regarded as a threat. The UN warns against holding back aid to Palestine saying that it could create a humanitarian disaster. Jordan urges the international community to give Hamas some time to settle down before deciding their position on the party. 

Philippine President Gloria Arroyo may lift the nation’s imposed state-of-emergency on Sunday.

Huge protests by Muslims and communists take place in India before the arrival of George Bush.

Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad goes to Malaysia seeking support for his nation’s nuclear program.

The Primie Minister of Kosova resigns as it looks as though the government may lose its majority.

Violence between Maoist rebels and government soldiers in Nepal leaves 34 dead.