Iraqi Prime Minister (PM) Nouri al-Maliki’s lack luster performance since his appointment in May 2006 has spurred a debate over who will be the next Prime Minster of Iraq. Although no timetable has …
DHS Backs Plan to Develop Incapacitating Flashlight
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is designating US$1 million in grant money for a California based high tech firm to develop a new incapacitating weapon for law enforcement agencies. …
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USF Students Charged in Pipe Bomb Case
On August 6, 2007, two Egyptian students from the University of South Florida in Tampa were charged with possession of an explosive device after suspicious materials were located in their car during a …
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Attack on the United Nations
On Sunday August 12, 2007 portions of the United Nations (UN) website were defaced by what appears to be a group of Turkish hackers. In particular, the section of the UN website that hosts speeches …
Yemen: Ceasefire Agreement Yields Unpromising Results
On July 29, 2007, Houthi tribe rebel leader Abdulmalik al-Houthi met with a Yemeni ceasefire committee for the first time since a disarmament agreement was passed on June 16, 2007. The five-pronged …
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Lebanon: A Split Victory
Recent elections in Beirut split, resulting in a slim majority for the incumbent party, The March 14 Coalition in Beirut’s 2nd District and a win for the opposition in the Metn District. Despite the …
Russia: The Gazprom Challenge
On August 1, 2007, Russia’s state-controlled monopoly Gazprom, announced that it will nearly halve supplies to Belarus over an unpaid $456 million bill. The Gazprom announcement sent shockwaves …
Argentina: The Possible Kirchner Dynasty
Although Argentina’s presidential elections remain two months away, current first lady and senator, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner appears poised to succeed her husband, Nestor Kirchner, as president …
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Japan: Public Support Wanes for Prime Minister Abe and LDP
Following a substantial defeat at the July 29, 2007 election polls, popular support for Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Prime Minister (PM) Shinzo Abe has fallen. Limping with a 22 …
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Sudan: UN Approves Hybrid Peacekeeping Forces for Darfur
On July 31, 2007, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution authorizing the creation of an African Union (AU) and United Nations (UN) hybrid peacekeeping force of 26,000 peacekeepers for …
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