EUROPEAN SOCIAL FORUM: A Cocktail of Anger Erupts

A double anger erupted out of the European Social Forum on to the streets of Athens Saturday. Anti-globalisation protesters attacked police and multinational targets, alongside local groups protesting injustice to immigrants.

POLITICS-US: Hawks Looking for New and Bigger Enemies?

As if rallying fading public support for keeping more than 100,000 U.S. troops in a disintegrating Iraq and preparing the ground for a possible military attack on Iran were not enough, some influential hawks are now promoting a more confrontational stance against Russia and China, as well.

IRAQ/US: Bush’s Wavering Halts Insurgent Peace Talks

The United States has backed away from high-level peace negotiations with Sunni insurgent groups after meeting with them regularly over several weeks in January and February, according to an insurgent leader.

POLITICS: Chad Gets World Bank Over a Barrel

Four months ago, World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz was fuming at the African nation of Chad for diverting oil revenues from the Chad-Cameron pipeline slated for poverty alleviation and social spending to a budget allocation for arms purchases.

POLITICS: Chad Gets World Bank Over a Barrel

Four months ago, World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz was fuming at the African nation of Chad for diverting oil revenues from the Chad-Cameron pipeline slated for poverty alleviation and social spending to a budget allocation for arms purchases.

POLITICS-US: “Terror War” Begets Devil’s Bargains

U.S. Pres. George W. Bush's "global war on terror" has produced the unintended consequence of bringing the United States ever-closer to some of the world's most repressive regimes.

IRAN: Sabre-rattling Won’t Work

With Russia and China signalling opposition, the draft resolution circulated in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) by Britain, France and Germany, asking Iran to halt uranium enrichment, is unlikely to enjoy smooth passage.

HUNGARY: Socialist Continuity Bucks the Trend

In the first parliamentary elections since it joined the EU, Hungary has reconfirmed the socialist-lead governmental coalition, in a surprisingly convincing victory that leaves the right wing opposition in a very delicate situation.

FINANCE: Rich Nations Use IMF-World Bank Meet to Advance Own Agenda

Developing nations left the weekend's joint meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) with few gains, while the rich countries that dominate the boards of the two lenders managed to shape the agenda almost entirely to serve their own interests, say analysts here.

DEVELOPMENT: Southern NGOs Want Greater Say in Agreements with EU

Civil society organisations from a large group of developing countries are insisting on full participation in negotiations under way with the European Union.

POLITICS-US: Six Months to Midterm Elections, Bush’s Popularity at Record Low

Another bad week for U.S. President George W. Bush, who almost exactly three years ago was preparing to don a flight jacket for his triumphal "Mission Accomplished" tour of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to celebrate his conquest of Iraq.

POLITICS-US/CHINA: Guest Hu Coming to Lunch

When U.S. President George W. Bush breaks bread with his Chinese counterpart, Hu Jintao, for lunch at the White House Thursday, their diplomatic - if not their culinary - plates will almost certainly be full to overflowing.

CORRUPTION: Wolfowitz’s Latest War

When Paul Wolfowitz's name was first floated for the World Bank presidency in early 2005, his nomination was met with scepticism from wary Bank staff and incredulity from development campaigners, a start that threatened to put him on a rocky path during his tenure.

POLITICS-US: Iran Crisis, Deja Vu All Over Again?

The drumbeat in some Washington foreign policy circles for "regime change" in Iran has striking similarities to the run-up to the Iraq invasion, and is being led by some of the usual suspects - like the American Enterprise Institute's Michael Ledeen.

POLITICS-US: Rumsfeld’s Fall Drags Hawks in Its Wake

Despite White House efforts to put an end to the controversy, the battle over the fate of Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld shows little sign of abating.

POLITICS-US: Rumsfeld’s Fall Drags Hawks in its Wake

Despite White House efforts to put an end to the controversy, the battle over the fate of Pentagon chief Donald Rumsfeld shows little sign of abating.

NEPAL: Revolution Denied

Local news reports described a playful but determined crowd of thousands of Nepalis who sat down to occupy a road for five hours, singing, reciting poetry and, most importantly, stopping riot police and soldiers from entering their community.

NEPAL: Revolution Denied

Local news reports described a playful but determined crowd of thousands of Nepalis who sat down to occupy a road for five hours, singing, reciting poetry and, most importantly, stopping riot police and soldiers from entering their community.

POLITICS-US: Bush’s War Hawks Edged Out of the Nest

Although still united in pushing for confrontation with Iran, the coalition of hawks that propelled U.S. troops toward Baghdad three years ago appears to have finally run out of steam.

POLITICS: Is U.S. Planning More Attacks on Shiite Militias?

Last week's attack by U.S.-led Iraqi paramilitary forces on a building that Shiite leaders claim was a mosque may have marked the beginning of a new stage of U.S. policy in which Iraqi forces are used to carry out military operations against Shiite militia forces - especially those loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr.

POLITICS: Is U.S. Planning More Attacks on Shiite Militias?

Last week's attack by U.S.-led Iraqi paramilitary forces on a building that Shiite leaders claim was a mosque may have marked the beginning of a new stage of U.S. policy in which Iraqi forces are used to carry out military operations against Shiite militia forces - especially those loyal to Muqtada al-Sadr.