The EU Ticks A Box
The European Union is holding a seminar on media freedom in Uzbekistan at the beginning of this month. Seems logical enough. Journalists who cross the authoritarian regime in Uzbekistan have been murdered, others have been tortured and still others are being framed by the police right now. A two-day EU seminar was just what was needed to sort that all out.
Tibet: Needs the World's Support
While the attention of the international community is drawn to the uprising in the Xinjiang region, the oppression in Tibet continues. The political pressure on the Chinese government must be maintained.
The EU considers the possibility of a small-country bailout
BRUSSELS – Could Europe's biggest economies be called upon to bail out the smaller, weaker ones?
Tibet: Obama's lacking struggle
Nobel Peace Prize winner Barack Obama did not pronounce the word «human rights» correctly in Beijing. But I'm not disappointed. That's exactly what I expected.
With budget to stake, Obama is ready to fight
WASHINGTON – The Obama administration began a vigorous new offensive this weekend to sell its economic program, countering Republicans who call the new budget plan "mind-boggling" in its numbers and ambition.
Hissène Habré – Prosecuting and Embarrassing Ally. Directed by: Magali Serre
Watch the movie Hissène Habré with the password habre2017
Climate change conference hampered by US political change
POZNAN, Poland – As ministers from 189 countries gather here to hammer out a new climate change treaty, progress is sorely hampered by the absence of one delegation: the team that will forge Barack Obama's climate policy.
USA: What Fort Hood Taught Me
The Fort Hood shooting in Texas made me re-think the usual conventions. Namely: A Norwegian social scientist understands me far more than the Muslim guys whom the government officials usually meet.
Emerging nations are seen as economic lifesavers
BARCELONA – The United States may have plunged the world into a sharp economic downturn, but it will take the combined efforts of China and other emerging nations to lead the global economy out of what is likely to be a long and painful recession.
Thai army chief advises prime minister to quit
BANGKOK – The head of Thailand's Army urged the country's prime minister Wednesday to step down and call elections as he appealed to protesters who have paralyzed the country's main international airport for two days to cease their demonstrations and leave the terminal.
EU lowers expectations for speedy agreement on new global financial architecture
BRUSSELS – European Union governments on Tuesday watered down a French call for speedy international agreement on a range of specific measures on the credit crisis, lowering expectations for a summit meeting this month that is dealing with global financial reform.
With Obama ready to talk, Iran must weigh options
DAVOS, Switzerland – President Barack Obama's willingness to talk to Iran seems to have put the Iranian leadership in an uncomfortable spot.
EU seeks truce – and a bigger role
LONDON – Spurred on by France, Europe is seeking to fill the diplomatic vacuum in the Middle East left by the outgoing US administration, sending two missions to try to broker a cease-fire in Gaza and offering more humanitarian aid.
French police treatment of journalists raises free-speech issues
PARIS – The police treatment of a journalist accused of libel, who was dragged from his home in front of his young sons, has raised questions about freedom of speech in France and the tactics employed by the police and the judicial system here.
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The Daily Killing
On January 19, 2009 lawyer Stansilav Markelov and journalist Anastasia Baburova were murdered in Moscow city center. In the Russian media this incident received little attention.
Putin's methods
In our country the fight against terrorism is called a "special operation". Most often these "operations" take place in Khasavyourt, a city in Chechnya's neighboring Republic of Dagestan.
As days dwindle, both campaigns claim an edge among voters
WASHINGTON – Top advisers to the major presidential candidates both predicted enormous voter turnout for the election Tuesday and, unsurprisingly, victory for their bosses. But Barack Obama's campaign manager, David Plouffe, did so in more confident terms and with convincing support from opinion polls, saying, "We think we have a decisive edge right now."
Russia: The killings continue
Another human rights activist and friend of my own newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, has been killed in Russia. It's worse than during the Soviet era. Read the column in Russian. If you do not have a license, please send a message.
Cast aside illusions and prepare to fight
The eighth round of Sino-Tibetan talks was, of course, a major turning point.
Villepin ordered to stand trial in French smear case
PARIS – Former Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin will stand trial on criminal charges of complicity in an alleged smear campaign that targeted Nicolas Sarkozy before he was elected president, a judicial official confirmed Wednesday.
EU tries to stay neutral as Russia reduces gas flow to Ukraine
PARIS – As Russia puts the latest tightening twist on the gas valve to Ukraine on Monday, Europe steadfastly refused to become the arbitrator in a price dispute in which both sides have weaker hands than in a similar standoff three years ago.
France aims to take its full place in NATO
MUNICH – President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and top NATO officials will begin a diplomatic effort this month to persuade lawmakers in Paris to accept Sarkozy's plans to return France to full membership in NATO military command structures in time for the alliance's summit meeting in April.
Between the 2 Koreas, a border fortified by mistrust
BAENGNYEONG ISLAND, South Korea – Just a dozen kilometers from this northernmost island of South Korea, North Korea has massed two army divisions, their artillery and rockets pointed directly at the South.
