Newest Posts in International News Atom Feed from Searchles Wed Jul 23 17:58:30 -0400 2008 en-us Alex Pasternack: Beijing Says It Will Allow Protests in Certain Areas During Olympics 747btrfly FTP: "Unspecified forms of protest would be allowed under Beijing's overall security plan, which includes stringent efforts to maintain public order, Liu Shaowu, director of security for the Beijing organizing committee, told reporters. It was unclear exactly how or when protesters would need to register with the local government." Grayjing = Smoggy Beijing danglingwrangler Grayjing is the nickname given to Beijing for it’s serious air pollution problems. Most of us have heard about by now the unusually smoggy conditions polluting Beijing’s (population 11 million), air - but seeing the conditions makes you wonder if the Chinese are going to be able to pull off their so called "blue sky days" during the 2008 Summer Olympics scheduled to start August 8th. Government claims have previously stated that the number of "blue sky days", when smog levels are lower than normal -less than 100 on a scale of 500 API (Air Pollution Index), has increased to around 240 days annually. Searchles Connects Washington Post Readers Based on Similar Comments - Mashable Kimberley McKee Searchles has landed a big new publisher to implement its social discovery technology: The Washington Post and its MyPost social network. BBC NEWS | Have Your Say | Coping with Iran's rising prices BAHRAMERAD Four young Iranians have written to BBCPersian.com about the rising cost of living - and food prices - in Tehran. Iran: New Arrests Target Student Activists BAHRAMERAD Source: International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran - (23 July 2008) Security and intelligence agents are engaged in an extensive campaign of arbitrary detentions targeting student activists around the country, the International Campaign for Human Rights in Iran said today. During the past two weeks, the authorities have detained more than twenty students, seventeen of whom remain in detention. These detentions coincided with the anniversary of massive student protests on 8 July 1999. OBama in Iraq - looking for OSama to talk to... BAHRAMERAD Senator Barack Obama visits American and Iraqi officials in Iraq, discussing Iraqi sovereignty and the withdrawal of American troops. 30,000 Iraqi troops poised for assault on Qaeda bastion - BAHRAMERAD BAQUBA, Iraq (AFP) - Some 30,000 Iraqi soldiers and police are to launch a military assault against Al-Qaeda fighters and insurgents in Diyala province from August 1, army and police officers said Wednesday. "The operation is aimed at cleansing the region of insurgents, Al-Qaeda and militias who are still there," a senior Iraqi military officer told AFP on condition of anonymity. He said some 30,000 soldiers and policemen from across Iraq would take part in the crackdown in the central province starting August 1. Inside Sadr City: The Wall - Baghdad Bureau - Iraq From the Inside - BAHRAMERAD This blog post is the first in a series examining the people and places in Sadr City, the poor Baghdad neighborhood that is the center of the support for the radical Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr. Today’s post focuses on the role of U.S. soldiers. Commodities slump after crude, corn turn lower Sarge Commodities fell broadly Tuesday as oil skidded lower and corn dropped below $6 a bushel, suggesting the commodities boom may be losing momentum as the slowing world economy saps demand for raw material Foreign Policy In Focus | Iran Isolation Attempts Backfire BAHRAMERAD Iran’s provocative missile tests ten days ago again fueled the debate on the likelihood of aerial strikes against Iran. Since last week’s thaw, however, an attack on Iran by the end of President Bush’s tenure no longer appears in the offing. Moreover, the narrow, exclusively military focus of the debate misses the broader picture. The overall U.S. strategy of containing Iran has failed in principle. And the attempt to impose a sanctions regime on Iran has led to an erosion of U.S. strategic influence in Asia and the Middle East. Over the long term, Washington’s shortsighted containment policy will only hurt Western business in the region. It will also play into the hands of China, drive crucial allies away, and render Iran untouchable. 16 injured in Jerusalem after digger driver goes on rampage BAHRAMERAD Driver shot dead after rampaging tractor crashes into bus in apparent repeat of attack three weeks ago... Iran offers 2 pages and no ground in nuclear talks Maxx PARIS: The Iranians called their proposal a "None paper." Indeed, for officials of the six countries sitting on the other side of the table, the paper addressed none of their ideas for resolving the crisis over Iran's nuclear program.Instead, the informal two-page document that Iran distributed at nuclear talks in Geneva on Saturday ignored the main six-power demand on curbing Iran's enrichment of uranium and called for concessions from the other side. US, UK, France launch sea exercise for naval blockade on Iran Maxx The White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said it expected Iran to “miss an opportunity to accept” the incentives package. DEBKAfile’s military sources report that Operational Brimstone, starting Monday, July 21, aimed at giving military teeth to the two-week ultimatum the six world powers gave Iran in Geneva Saturday to accept the suspension of uranium enrichment or face harsh sanctions and isolation. Hundreds of Dead Baby Penguins Wash Up on Rios Beaches g8rrrry It is difficult to imagine what must have been going through the heads of Rio de Janeiro beachgoers in recent months as they have seen hundreds of baby penguins wash up onshore dead. At last count, more than 400 penguins, swept from the shores of Patagonia and Antarctica, have been found dead on Rio de Janeiros beaches, reports the AP. Foreign Policy: The List: The World’s Worst Advisors the_wako_kid Some say a leader is only as good as his advisors. Here’s a look at a few would-be sages who should have never been listened to, much less given a job. Brown warns Iran to end 'totally abhorrent' threat to destroy Israel | The Guardian Ellieanna Brown issues Iran nuclear warning phassan Britain is determined to prevent Iran developing nuclear arms, Gordon Brown has warned in an address to the Israeli parliament, the Knesset. Talks on Iran's nuclear plans end in deadlock harp Misunderstanding leaves 9 dead in Afghan airstrike paulh A misunderstanding between local police and coalition forces led to an airstrike in southwestern Afghanistan Sunday that left nine police officers dead, a defense ministry official said. Obama meets with Afghan president paulh