News Briefs For January 29, 2009

COLONEL'S MARK - An Iraqi Army colonel raises his right hand outside of the Zafraniyah polling site to show his purple index finger, a sign he voted during the “special” voting day of the provincial elections in Baghdad, Iraq, Jan. 28, 2009. The vote took place before the general provincial election, scheduled for Jan. 31, to accommodate Iraqi Security Forces, detainees, hospital patients and other special needs cases. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Douglas York

MIDDLE EAST

Iran sets conditions for improved ties with U.S. Iran's Ahmadinejad to seek second term.

US-protected Iran exile group in line for huge cash windfall

Assad stopped Hezbollah action over Gaza war: French envoy.

US envoy calls for durable truce as Gaza violence escalates

UN needs more than $600m for Gaza

Hamas is being accused of torture and murder. But the Turkish PM walks off stage over Gaza when he argues with the Israeli President.

Officials: Blast hits oil pipeline in east Yemen

ASIA

Obama pushes for more European troops in Afghanistan.

Afghanistan/Pakistan envoy Holbrooke going to region. But Afghanistan elections put on hold as Taleban spreads chaos.

India: attack on women raises fears of 'Hindu Taliban".

The Tamils have lost their capacity to fight a conventional war. The territory that they control is getting smaller and smaller.

EUROPE

Hundreds of thousands protest in France. More here and here.

Russian, Polish premiers meet amid missile fears.

Northern Ireland peace proposal draws outrage. More here.

Bush War on Roquefort Raises a Stink in France.

Iceland nears deal on new coalition, protests go on.

AFRICA

Tunisian court jails 22 on terrorism charges: lawyer.

Somalia: Fresh fighting erupts in central region

Somali pirates hijack German gas tanker, 13 crew.

Zimbabwe opposition to review power-sharing accord. Mugabe is in favor of the accords. Meanwhile the teachers are not working. Cholera deaths are now over 3,000 (minimum). And they have given up on their currency. But others are really suffering.

THE AMERICAS

Canadian Government survives with budget proposals.

Disenchanted with Castro's revolution

ECONOMIC/FINANCIAL CRISIS

Foreign Policy looks at five countries on the verge of following Iceland to economic ruin and political meltdown.

Global banks join clamour for bailouts.

Russia, China slam U.S. economic system, blame capitalism.

Poverty, climate change … and recession.