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Australia’s Foreign Minister, Kevin Rudd in London on Tuesday backed the European Union embargo on oil imports from Iran, decided on the day before.
Talk of a crisis over the flare-up in relations with that country coincided with renewed expressions of concern by the IMF over the larger crisis over weakening in the world economy. … Read More »
When the leaders of two NATO countries engaged in the Libyan campaign went to Libya after the death of Muammar al-Gaddafi (picture), speculation arose as to whether they’d be receiving rewards.
Writer - Daniel Roche … Read More »
The Australian government announced this year (27.9.11) that women in the armed forces will be allowed to serve in any frontline combat roles by 2016.
While women are prominent in many roles already, as senior officers, crew members on warships, air force pilots, and soldiers in Afghanistan, the move excited debate over security and safety issues for all troops, with two sexes in the ranks. … Read More »
Christmas celebrations in 2011 were marked with calls for the protection of innocents, love of family, and salvaging of the Earth itself.
Pope Benedict XVI in Rome said the earth was “stained with blood”, praying for the victims of war in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, and for victims of natural disasters.
The Christian festival, as sometimes will happen, saw the creation of martyrs. More than forty people were killed in a round of bigotry and religious hysteria in Nigeria, by bombs set off while they were in church, on Christmas Day (25.12.11). Blasts were recorded in the capital, Abuja, Jos in the centre of the country, and other places, in the North-east. Friction between Christian and Islamic communities in Nigeria has got worse in recent years. … Read More »
Plusses and minuses:
Julia Gillard (picture, left) back in Canberra welcomed the passage of her government’s climate change legislation, having just got back from the G20, and seeing the soldiers in Afghanistan …
Other Prime Ministers not managing quite so well: George Papandreou, in Greece, contemplates life out of office after agreeing to step down, and Silvio Berlusconi. In Italy, continues his rear-guard action against growing numbers who want him out …
Carlos the jackal, aka Ilich Ramirez Sanchez, terrorist and said one-time beneficiary of the late Muamar al-Gaddafi, faced court on fresh charges in Paris …
… while much more innocuously, Casey Stoner, Australian motorbike rider, savoured a difficult victory in the Valencia MotoGT event, underlining his supremacy as outright champion for the series. … Read More »
At week’s end the drive continues to provide relief for thousands in the bitter cold, after the earthquake on Sunday in Eastern Turkey.
Savage flash flooding in regions throughout Italy has taken at least nine lives. … Read More »
Confirmation of the death of Muammar al Gaddafi at Sirte in Libya, 20.10.11, is accompanied by some confusion surrounding the circumstances.
The interim Prime Minister of Libya, Mahmoud Jibril, told journalists the former head of government had been found in a concrete culvert, as his opponents over-ran a position where he was making a last stand with supporters. … Read More »