POLITICS-US: Bush Zig-Zags on Cuba Policy to Latin America’s Detriment

Caught between anti-Cuba voters in Florida and his fear of further alienating European allies increasingly concerned about US unilateralism, President George W. Bush is ducking every which way in his policy toward the Caribbean nation.

POLITICS-US: Winds of Change Unsettle Asia Policy

Asia bedevils US policy makers even as it replaces Europe as the focus of their security concerns, according to a growing consensus among defence experts here.

//CORRECTED REPEAT//POLITICS: Germany’s New Role in the Middle East Peace Process

The visit to Berlin of Syrian President Bashar Assad, just a week after Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon held talks with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, has highlighted Germany's new-found pivotal role in the Middle East peace process.

POLITICS: Germany’s New Role in the Middle East Peace Process

The visit to Berlin of Syrian President Bashar Assad, just a week after Israeli prime minister Ariel Sharon held talks with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, has highlighted Germany's new-found pivotal role in the Middle East peace process.

POLITICS-US: Has America Accepted George W. Bush?

When President George W. Bush visited New York City Tuesday to pay tribute to the late Roman Catholic Archbishop, John Cardinal O'Connor, the local response was summed up by protesters' placards, which read, "Not MY President."

POLITICS-US: Bush’s Ship Losing Speed, Direction

Less than six months into George W. Bush's presidency, the ship of state appears to be losing speed and increasingly rudderless.

POLITICS-ETHIOPIA: Heading for Further Turmoil?

The steady stream of asylum-seeking soldiers and students trickling into Kenya -- where more than 120 have arrived so far -- over recent months has set alarm bells ringing.

POLITICS: Group of Islamic Nations Struggles with Weak Clout

A string of resolutions on issues facing more than one billion Muslims worldwide capped this year's meeting of foreign ministers of the 55-nation Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), which ended in Mali Wednesday.

PAKISTAN-U.S.: ‘Special’ Ties Give Way to Pragmatic Ones

The recent visit of Pakistan Foreign Minister Abdul Sattar to Washington, although marred by the assumption of the presidency by Gen Pervez Musharraf, provided an opportunity for both countries to resume their relationship on a more realistic basis and with fewer expectations.

POLITICS-EUROPE: Baltic States Welcome Active US Security Role

The Baltic States are welcoming recent statements by US President George W. Bush supporting NATO enlargement next year as indicating a counterbalance to pro-Russian and anti Baltic positions of some influential European politicians.

CENTRAL ASIA: Russia, China are Heavyweights in New Body

With this week's metamorphosis of a border deal into a new organisation covering Central Asia, the volatile region is set to be dominated by Russia and China.

ENVIRONMENT: Disappointed by Bush, Kyoto Protocol Backers Look East

President George W. Bush's opposition to the Kyoto Protocol on climate change - a major irritant on his maiden presidential visit to Europe this week - has underscored the importance of Russia and especially Japan.

POLITICS-GUYANA: Government at Odds with Core Constituency

President Bharrat Jagdeo is no stranger to political crisis, his ever-present companion after rising to office in 1999 and particularly since winning a disputed election in March. Only now, he is up against his own supporters.

POLITICS-US: Senate Switch Poses Problems for Bush Foreign Agenda

The impact of Wednesday's formal installation of a Democratic majority in the US Senate likely will be greatest in the domestic domestic sphere but President George W. Bush's hopes of steering US foreign policy in an evermore unilateralist direction also appear to have dimmed.

POLITICS-ASIA: China Nurtures Ties in its Strategic Backyard

Chinese Premier Zhu Rongzhi's just- finished visit to Pakistan, marking the 50th year of diplomatic ties between Islamabad and Beijing, comes in the context of significant developments in the regional political scene.

POLITICS: Intifada Developing Into A Low-Level-War-of Attrition

It's no coincidence that the ongoing Palestinian Intifada is gradually developing into a low-level war- of-attrition modelled on the campaign waged by Hizbullah in south Lebanon. And this could very well have serious consequences for both Syria and Lebanon.

TRADE-FINANCE: World Bank to Exploit Trade for Structural Adjustment

The World Bank will intensify its efforts to open borrowing countries to foreign investors by using trade as a lever, according to an internal document to be discussed by development and planning ministers next week.

TRADE-FINANCE: World Bank to Exploit Trade for Structural Adjustment

The World Bank will intensify its efforts to open borrowing countries to foreign investors by using trade as a lever, according to an internal document to be discussed by development and planning ministers next week.

POLITICS-US/CHINA: Spy Plane Breakthrough Marks Victory for Diplomacy

Wednesday's agreement between the United States and China on terms for releasing a US spy plane's 24-member crew marks a major victory for forces within both countries which favour continued close engagement.

TRADE-AMERICAS: FTAA – Clear Goal, Circuitous Route

The road to Jan 1, 2006, the target date for the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) to enter into force, promises to be a tortuous one, with the greatest difficulties coming from the United States, the creator of this bi- continental beast.

/CORRECTED REPEAT/POLITICS-US/CHINA: Springtime for the Blue Team

Just one week ago, the consensus here was that President George W. Bush, worried about further aggravating growing tensions with Beijing, would give Taiwan only partial satisfaction later this month when he must decide on what new weapons systems to sell to the island for its defence against Beijing's fast-growing missile arsenal.