Taliban denies meeting UN Afghanistan envoy (The Christian Science Monitor) The denial illustrates the difficulties the international community will face in implementing fresh plans to reconcile with segments of the Taliban. Karzai to reach ‘as high as possible’ for peace talks with Taliban (EARTHtimes.org) Kabul – Afghan President Hamid Karzai said on Sunday that he…
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Jan
31
Afghanistan – Taliban denies meeting UN Afghanistan envoy (The Christian Science Monitor)
Jan
31
China – China Warns U.S. on Plans for Arms Sales to Taiwan – FOX News
China Warns U.S. on Plans for Arms Sales to Taiwan – FOX Newsis “obstinately making the wrong decision,” China’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on its Web site A notification of the planned sale posted Friday on a Pentagon Web site said it would include 60 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, 114 Patriot China lifts…
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Jan
31
India – India mulls separate laws, specialized agency to fight cyber crime (People’s Daily)
India mulls separate laws, specialized agency to fight cyber crime (People’s Daily) India said Sunday that it’s mulling enacting separate laws and a specialized law enforcement agency to tackle the growing menace of cyber crime in the country. “We should have separate laws for each of the classification of the cyber crimes. It is a…
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Jan
31
Somalia – Somalia kidnap couple in urgent plea for help (AFP via Yahoo! Canada News)
Somalia kidnap couple in urgent plea for help (AFP via Yahoo! Canada News) AMARA, Somalia (AFP) – A British couple kidnapped by Somali pirates in October said they were not being well treated and needed urgent help, according to an AFP reporter who met them in captivity. Somalia Islamist group bans video games (Mail and…
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Jan
31
Middle East News – Gaddafi loses role as head of African Union
Gaddafi loses role as head of African UnionAfrican leaders thwarted an attempt by Muammer Gaddafi, Libya’s leader, to extend his chairmanship of the African Union for a second year, electing instead the president of Malawi An Olympic Qualifier, but Not in Israel s Eyes Under Israel s Olympic eligibility rules, figure skater Tamar Katz needed…
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Jan
31
Caucasus News Update – Armenian goods to be exposed in Syria (PanARMENIAN.Net)
Armenian goods to be exposed in Syria (PanARMENIAN.Net) Araik Vardanyan: Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Armenia will be engaged in business development in Armenian regions. Armenian-Turkish dialogue hampers Karabakh conflict resolution (PanARMENIAN.Net) Ruben Hakobyan: if the Karabakh conflict is resolved, the Armenian-Turkish border will open of its own accord. Six dead in Azerbaijan military…
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Jan
31
Iraq – Gordon Brown marginalised in Iraq war run-up, says Clare Short (Times Online)
Gordon Brown marginalised in Iraq war run-up, says Clare Short (Times Online) Gordon Brown was pre-occupied with other things during the run-up to the Iraq war and was neither for or against the conflict, a former Cabinet ally said today. Eight Iraqi pilgrims wounded in three Baghdad blasts – Update (EARTHtimes.org) Baghdad – At least…
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Jan
31
Terrorism and Insurgency – The Public Eye: Financial Terrorism (The Berkeley Daily Planet)
The Public Eye: Financial Terrorism (The Berkeley Daily Planet) The Wall Street meltdown in the fall of 2008 had striking parallels to the destruction of the twin towers on Sept. 11, 2001. In both cases there were unheeded warnings, a traumatic event, a problematic initial response, and a failure to punish the perpetrators. GOP faults…
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Jan
31
African News Update – Ghana: RTI Bill – the Rhetoric Must Yield Action
Ghana: RTI Bill – the Rhetoric Must Yield Action Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General, once said “information is liberating.” If this is so then he who has no information or he from whom information is withheld is in bondage. Nigeria: Traditional Doctor Seeks FG’s Recognition of Practitioners Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of Dr. White Ethno-Pharma…
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Jan
31
Lebanon Crisis Monitor – Haiti in relief; a reporter’s notebook (The Palm Beach Post)
Haiti in relief; a reporter’s notebook (The Palm Beach Post) Haiti in relief; a reporter’s notebook Steps to revive mortgage lending is need of the hour (Zawya) Bank of Sharjah relies heavily on investment and commercial banking to make profits and deals mainly in trade, industrial projects and project finance. In the process of finalising…
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