SOUTH ASIA TSUNAMI 12.26.04

US DEBT & ECONOMICS

(continued)

12.16.04 President Bush looking at deficit as cause of weak dollar
12.16.04 Bush urges Social Security reform
12.14.04 US Trade Deficit hits new record
12.12.04 Feds are expected to hike rates up for the fifth time this year; won't be enough though
12.10.04 Japan ends decades-old ban on military exports
12.07.04 Interest for 2004 exceeded outlays for essential Bush administration departments
12.09.04 President Bush rules out hike in payroll tax to fund Social Security
12.09.04 Asian markets down – consumer confidence reaches four-year low in South Korea
12.09.04 China to move to flexible currency (yuan, aka RMB)
12.08.04 Iraq War troops give up jobs at home to serve Bush – become homeless after service
12.07.04 Heavy sell-off of US dollar in Shanghai
12.06.04 President Bush plans to borrow $1 trillion more to fund Social Security
12.06.04 Collapse of US dollar may give China's yuan the edge as world currency
12.03.04 US National Debt reduction a priority for Senator Feinstein
12.04.04 Tokyo Finance Minister loses sleep over dollars but still buying
12.03.04 Empty promises – Social Security benefits not sustainable
12.02.04 US moves bases; Bush leaves Koizumi holding the bag for East Asian Security; Franks shrugged
12.04.04 Japanese government studying proposal for offensive "first strike" weapons
12.01.04 Dollar drops, oil prices rise
12.01.04 Morgan Stanley's chief Asian economist warns against devaluing China's currency
11.30.04 "The dollar is depreciating and it is not managed," complains Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao
11.30.04 Economic growth in 2005 will be sluggish due to oil prices
11.28.04 Asia complains about falling dollar and US has no savings
11.27.04 Bush administration has new idea on funding American kids' retirement: borrow the money!
11.26.04 US dollar climbed above $1.32 to the euro and fell again against the yen
11.25.04 Russian Central bank concerned over US dollar demise
11.14.04 US September Bond sales a flop
11.14.04 China hogging the oil not fair to America
11.26.04 Anti-dumping law may cut exports of American hogs
11.19.04 "US must cut record budget deficit or face painful consequences," said Greenspan to Bankers
10.30.04 Central Asia and Caucasus conference held October 12-13, 2004 – US "me-only" approach; New Great Game
11.18.04 US unilateralist position may leave it out in the cold
11.01.04 (Trend Story) Central Asian Common Market and the critical role of Afghanistan

BUSH & WAR CRIMES

(continued)

1.22.05 US in danger of losing the war
1.21.05 Arab world unimpressed by Bush defence of freedom
1.21.05 Rumsfeld cancels trip after accusations
1.19.05 Much of world thinks Bush is dangerous
1.19.05 Support for war in Iraq hits new low
1.18.05 High court sidesteps Guantanamo Bay case
1.16.05 George W. Bush hides behind reelection to excuse any past or future wrongdoing
1.16.05 Abu Ghraib abuse leader gets 10-year sentence
1.16.05 Polish military deny damaging Babylon
1.15.05 US-led troops trash Ancient site of Babylon
1.14.05 Bush confesses that words can have consequences
1.13.05 US 'erodes' global human rights
1.13.05 White House fought new curbs on interrogations, officials say
1.13.05 A wide variety of protests planned for inauguration
1.12.05 US wraps up search for banned weapons in Iraq
1.12.05 Fallujah residents may never return
12.25.04 Army historian says invasion of Iraq had mediocre planning
12.23.04 US is losing war of ideas
12.08.04 Rumsfeld says, "You go to war with what you have."
12.22.04 Iraqi children freezing; hospitals raising fees, have broken windows, no heat, no water, lots of corruption
12.20.04 2001 "Yoo memo" justifies war on Iraq & unlimited presidential power
12.17.04 Conscientious Objector Witnessed Abuse, Killing of Iraqi Detainees at Abu Ghraib
12.16.04 British judge says holding detainees without trial violates human rights laws
12.16.04 Rumsfeld under attack from right
12.10.04 Ex-CIA agent says sacked for not faking Iraq WMD reports
12.05.04 US accused of eliminating witnesses to Iraqi attacks
12.08.04 US Democratic Transformation of the Middle East coming under attack
12.06.04 President Musharraf of Pakistan says world less safe after Iraq invasion
12.05.04 Bush arrested for War Crimes on November 29 trip to Canada
12.01.04 Fallujah the 21st century Guernica?
11.30.04 Rumsfeld sued for alleged war crimes
11.30.04 Rumsfeld facing war crimes case in Germany & petition for victims filed with OAS
11.28.04 Protesters to attend Bush Inaugural Jan. 20; War Crimes complaint against Bush
11.27.04 Human Rights group accuses Bush administration of genocide in Iraq
9.16.04 President Bush launches illegal war
11.01.04 Washington has opened a Pandora's box, intensifying ethnic and religious conflicts

PALESTINE AND KASHMIR SOLUTION

(continued)

1.18.05 Rice: I will personally oversee Israel-Palestinian contacts
1.14.05 Sharon suspends contacts with Palestinian Authority
1.13.05 Israeli High Court freezes building of separation fence near Jerusalem
1.12.05 Musharraf seek US help in resolving Kashmir
1.11.05 Prime Minister Ariel Sharon calls Abbas, both leaders agree to meet in coming weeks
1.07.05 Barghouti expelled from Jerusalem for campaigning on Temple Mount
1.04.05 U.S. preparing post-election boost in Palestinian aid
12.23.04 Palestinians vote for first time in 30 years
12.21.04 World Bank offers carrot to Palestinians
12.12.04 Latest talks on Kashmir hold promise
12.06.04 Prime Minister Blair refuses to mediate Kashmir dispute
12.04.04 Musharraf says talks with India on Kashmir "moving well"
12.01.04 Musharraf repeats position: Kashmir and Palestine disputes ripe for solution
11.26.04 President Musharraf sees common solutions in the disputes in Kashmir and Palestine
12.04.04 Indian Prime Minister Singh's response to Musharraf

IRAN & SYRIA

(continued)

1.24.05 Germany says force should not be used to resolve nuclear issue with Iran
1.24.05 Israel says Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia have nuclear programs
1.24.05 Iran rules out possibility of talks with US
1.23.05 British Foreign Minister Straw snubs US hawks on Iran
1.22.05 GC spokesman denies report women can run for presidential post in Iran
1.21.05 Russia slams US for accusing Syria of terror ties
1.21.05 NATO stresses need for unity on Iran
1.20.05 Khatami: US not in a position to attack, but Iran is ready to defend
1.20.05 Cheney expresses concern that Israel may attack Iran
1.19.05 Iran ready for security cooperation with Europe
1.19.05 Iran's supreme leader labels Rushdie an apostate who can be killed
1.18.05 Bush doesn't rule out war on Iran
1.18.05 Pentagon attacks New Yorker's Iran report
1.18.05 "No country can attack us," Iran says
1.18.05 Pakistan not helping US against Iran
1.18.05 US imposes sanctins on 9 firms over trade with Iran
1.18.05 UN to revisit Iranian military site
1.14.05 Ancient seal corroborates Bisitun Inscription text
1.14.05 Ruins of 9th - 12th century city found in Iran
1.14.05 New plan under study for rest of oil fields in southern Iran
1.13.05 Vietnam's FM hails Iran's nuclear stance
1.11.05 Halliburton wins Iran gas contract despite sanctions
1.11.05 India and Iran close oil deal
1.07.05 UN watchdog, IAEA, to inspect Parchin military site in Iran
1.07.05 Reporters Without Borders condemns mistreatment of cyberjournalists and webloggers in Iran
1.02.05 US says Syria has made progress on Iraq but must do more
2.25.04 Rafsanjani lashes out at Iran's critics in Iraq
12.21.04 Bush renews threats against Syria
12.21.04 UN General Assembly criticizes Iran's human rights violations
12.18.04 Afghan warlord assets frozen
12.17.04 Neoconservatives on the way to Damascus
12.17.04 Syria & Iran rebut Iraqi minister's charge
12.16.04 Iraq accuses Syria and Iran of backing terror
12.16.04 US man involved in smuggling arms to Israel and possibly Iran
12.14.04 US War games to invade Iran
12.13.04 UN atomic watchdog, Mohamed ElBaradei says Iran's nuclear program not a threat
12.12.04 Iran looking to Russia to build nuclear power-plants
12.10.04 Singapore and Iran looking to closer ties
12.09.04 Pakistani scientist's link to nuclear technology sales to Iran
12.07.04 Yawar warns Iran against meddling in Iraqi election
12.07.04 Al-Quaeda members tried and convicted in Iran
12.03.04 US continues to rattle sabres at Iran
12.02.04 Defense Secretary Rumsfeld's office & the "Iran's secrets to Israel" papers
11.30.04 Iran's freezing of uranium enrichment activites verified by IAEA
11.29.04 Bush administration rattling sabers over Iran nuclear agreement
11.28.04 Suicide mission recruiters more active in Iran – 30, 000 recruits
11.24.04 Syria wants to have "unconditional" negotiations with Israel
11.14.04 Iran agrees to suspend uranium enrichment.
10.31.04 Iran signs $70 Billion energy contract with China

RUSSIA

(continued)

1.21.05 Russia's Atomic Energy Ministry recognizes problem of nuclear waste storage in Murmansk
1.21.05 Russian spy satellite missing
1.21.05 Gazprom's CEO discussed oil and gas cooperation with North Korea
1.19.05 Russia and Europe sign space agreement
1.18.05 Russia, US meet on chemical weapons
1.14.05 Japan wants to help finance Russian Siberian-Pacific Pipeline
1.14.05 Russia denies sales of missiles to Syria
1.13.05 Russia's Putin and Turkey's Erdogan celebrate booming trade relations
1.12.05 Russian deputy FM explains to Israel Russia's planned sales of missiles to Syria
1.11.05 Turkey supports Russia becoming a member of the World Trade Organization
1.02.05 Terrorist base discovered in Daghestan
12.31.04 East Siberia-Pacific oil pipeline will be laid
12.30.04 China may aquire one-fifth stake in Russian oil company Yukos
12.30.04 East Siberia oil pipeline endorsed
12.25.04 Iraq invites Russian help
12.23.04 YUKOS deal ruined Russia's reputation says Richard Boucher
12.23.04 Russian state oil firm Rosneft bought YUKOS's core unit Yuganskneftegaz
12.23.04 Russian president accuses US of attempting to isolate Russia
12.21.04 Yukos auctioned to 2-day-old company; owners unknown
12.18.04 Yukos affair a test of Bush imperialism
12.17.04 Yukos sale proceeding despite court ruling
12.12.04 Cold War being revisited by Bush administration?
12.12.04 Russian-Chinese strategic partnership
12.10.04 Russia and Spain partnership prospects
12.08.04 US Colin Powell and Russian Sergey Lavrov verbally duke it out over Ukraine – conference scuttled
12.08.04 Elections in Iraq unimaginable under occupation by foreign troops, says Putin
12.08.04 Turkey economically strategic to Russia
12.06.04 Russian President Putin accuses US of dictatorial foreign policy
12.04.04 Russia and India sign strategic partnership
12.04.04 Russian & American bases in Kyrgyzstan growing
12.01.04 New oil deal between India and Russia in the making
12.01.04 Russia announces ambitious space program
12.01.04 Russia rolls out new naval ships
11.29.04 Russia tests anti-missile system in Kazakhstan

CHINA

(continued)

1.27.05 Explosive situation in Xinjiang – Muslim separatists?
1.27.05 China questions death penalty
1.27.05 Coal shortage rises to be China's top concern in economy
1.26.05 China now Japan's top trade partner
1.25.05 Korea investments in China rise sharply
1.25.05 China and Mexico sign cooperation accords
1.25.05 China's economy soars
1.24.05 China, India complete strategic talks
1.21.05 China now ranks equal to US in importance as trade partner with Japan
1.20.05 Death toll in Xinjian blast rises to 12
1.21.05 India, China to hold first-ever strategic dialogue next week
1.16.05 End of China arms embargo worries US
1.16.05 China's population hits 1.3 billion
1.16.05 Japan oil firms eye natural gas development in East China Sea
1.14.05 China, US optimistic about future trade relations
1.14.05 China decides to resume issuance of IPO's
1.14.05 India lags China in manufacturing: Tata
1.13.05 China floats idea of highway to Taiwan
1.13.05 Canada and China to boost ties
1.12.05 EU arms ban on China may be lifted soon: Britain
1.11.05 China becomes No 3 trading nation
1.08.05 China turned down by Ishihara on conducting marine research off Japan
1.01.05 China's gas fields penetrate Japanese territory; Japan is upset
1.02.05 China mine explosion kills 10
12.24.04 Iraqi Prime Minister Hoshiar al-Zibari visits China
12.19.04 China to build nuclear power plant in Pakistan; stronger economic ties
12.17.04 China, Pakistan to strengthen defense ties
12.14.04 China arresting internet news reporters
12.12.04 China miffed over Japan's new military focus; 32 years of Sino-Japanese relations at stake
12.12.04 Japan cutting capital cooperation projects in China
12.09.04 EU looking to lift arms ban to China
12.09.04 Good news for San Francisco: Chinese tourists may be on the way – but some bad news
12.08.04 Chinese Prime Minister arrives in the Hague for summit with EU
12.08.04 EU and China sign strategic partnership
12.05.04 German Chancellor on three-Day trip to China to deepen "strategic partnership"
11.26.04 Japan still miffed over Chinese oil wells off coast
11.01.04 China's reliance on imported oil grows

IRAQ

(continued)

1.30.05 British military plane crashes in Iraq
1.28.05 5 US soldiers, 5 Iraqis killed in attacks in Baghdad
1.28.05 Iraq sets dusk-to-dawn curfew before vote
1.28.05 How to assess Iraqi election results
1.28.05 Kurds to demand key government post
1.28.05 Excited over Iraqi election
1.28.05 Iraq catches 3 Zarqawi lieutenants; winning war on rebels
1.27.05 US military too eager to help Iraqis vote
1.27.05 Over 30 die in Iraq as bloody campaign rages ahead of polls
1.27.05 US will pay the bill if Kirkuk plunges into turmoil, Turkish PM warns
1.27.05 Kirkuk tensions could spark Iraq civil war, Turkish intervention: report
1.27.05 Turkey warns Kurds about Kirkuk control
1.26.05 31 US troops killed in Helicopter crash in Iraq
1.26.05 Paris detains 4 more Islamist suspects bound for Iraq
1.25.05 Militants show video of US hostage; judge killed
1.25.05 Kirkuk under curfew as poll centers hit
1.24.05 Muslim organization advocates electoral process to end violence in Iraq
1.24.05 Iraqi voters in Iran lead the pack
1.24.05 Saudi clerics point militants toward Iraq
1.24.05 Arab candidates pull out of Iraq vote in multi-ethnic Kirkuk
1.24.05 Top Zarqawi lieutenants netted in Iraq
1.24.05 Car bomb explodes near Iraqi Party Headquarters
1.23.05 Iraqi exiles shun election; with 1 million worldwide, perhaps 10% will vote
1.23.05 Zarqawi tape declares all-out war on Iraq
1.22.05 Iraq refuses to say if Zarqawi detained
1.22.05 China says eight hostages held by Iraqi insurgents freed
1.21.05 15 people killed in Shiite mosque
1.20.05 Britian urges US to set Iraq withdrawal timetable
1.18.05 UK soldiers deny Iraq abuse charges
1.18.05 US man charged in Oil-for-Food probe
1.16.05 Iraq voting day security plan unveiled; 18 bodies discovered
1.16.05 Saudi scholars condemn violence
1.16.05 Mass grave found in Iraq
1.13.05 European press reduce Iraqi coverage
1.13.05 Baghdad election center director killed
1.13.05 Iraq poll fears deepen as 2 Sistani aides killed
1.13.05 US confirms it was informed of Iraqi oil trafficking
1.08.05 Jordanian terrorist Abu Musab Al-Zarkawi believed captured
12.25.04 Zarqawi-linked insurgents arrested in Iraq
12.22.04 Saddam bids to challenge case in US
12.12.04 Saddam's illegal oil trade to Syria, Jordan and Turkey
12.10.04 Fatwas – edicts issued by Islamic clerics – getting out of hand
12.09.04 Moqtada al-Sadr left off Sistani's electoral list
12.06.04 Eight soldiers plan to sue over Army's Stop-Loss policy
12.07.04 Situation deteriorating in Iraq says CIA
12.04.04 Confusion makes aid workers in Iraq sitting ducks
11.17.04 Forty-seven Iraqi groups protest forthcoming January election in Iraq
11.16.04 Kurdistan leaning heavily towards independence from Iraq
11.15.04 US troops round up prominent imams of the Association of Muslim Scholars (AMS)
11.11.04 Bush II adopts Hama Rules One thing leads to another. An interesting article by Charles Glass [11.09.04 article in belfasttelegraph.co.uk ; also carried by kurdistanobserver.com/] compares the US assault on Fallujah to the Syrian assault on a rebel stronghold of Hama, Syria in the spring of 1982.

OTHER

(continued)

1.30.05 Artic zone to melt by 2060: study
1.30.05 Lybia auctions off oil fields
1.30.05 80% of Japanese regional banks consider IC cards
1.30.05 Glowing corals may be lifesavers
1.28.05 Washington lobbies United Nations for new Darfur court
1.27.05 Sudan Air Force bombs village in Darfur
1.27.05 World remembers Holocaust at snow-swept Auschwitz
1.27.05 North Korea has bought N-bomb from Pakistan: report
1.27.05 UN Security Council's Counter-Terrorist Committe meets in Khazakhstan
1.27.05 UN troops pull out as Cyprus peacekeeping mission downsizes
1.27.05 Nepal closes Dalai Lama's office in Kathmandu
1.27.05 US women at greatest risk of sexual disease
1.26.05 ISS Crew wraps up successful spacewalk – next walk prepares for ATV
1.26.05 The European Space Agency (ESA) plans to launch 8 Automated Transfer Vehicles (ATV)
1.26.05 China to build world's first wave power station
1.26.05 Study finds earth temperature skyrocketing
1.26.05 Thailand heads into the space age
1.26.05 Bush says Japan is good example of democracy-spreading policy
1.26.05 Pakistan says not seeking arms race with India
1.26.05 UN envoy warns Maoists of being brought to trial
1.25.05 Pakistan gives US 'key militant'
1.25.05 German regulators seek criminal investigation into Citigroup bond case
1.24.05 Central Sulawesi quakes: 1 killed 4 injured
1.24.05 North Korea cuts food rations
1.24.05 Software identifies cancer-causing genes; facilitates stem-cell research
1.23.05 Johnny Carson dies
1.23.05 Islamic cleric urges all Muslims to reject terrorism
1.23.05 Germany detains two al-Quaida members
1.22.05 US citizens kidnapped in Mexico
1.22.05 Politician wants Schwarzenegger to lose citizenship
1.22.05 Georgians take 12 Ossetians hostage in South Ossetia
1.21.05 FBI addes 10 names to Boston alert
1.21.05 'Flammable' Titan covered in liquid gas
1.21.05 Top UN human rights official to visit Nepal next week
1.20.05 North Korea says it wants to denuclearize
1.20.05 Bush takes oath of office (Speech causes world concern)
1.20.05 US to be nuclear dumping ground
1.19.05 US tries to remove climate change references in UN disaster talks
1.19.05 Romans hail discovery of their 'new Pompeii'
1.18.05 The primordial, Titanic splat
1.18.05 British police study internet sermon by radical Muslim cleric
1.18.05 India invites bids for oil exploration off its shores and on land
1.18.05 Nepal's rebels planning to set up bases in India
1.14.05 North Korea ready to rejoin six-way talks
1.15.05 Possible shoreline shown in Huygen's first picture
1.14.05 Japan developing translating service accessed by cell phones
1.14.05 Congressman Frank Pallone: F-16 sales to Pakistan to be used against India
1.13.05 Harry rules out Auschwitz visit
1.13.05 Turkish PM wants to meet UN chief over Cyprus 'at first opportunity'
1.13.05 'Defense minister of Korea stresses Japan's transparent role in region
1.13.05 'Nuke talks may resume after lineup of US team'
1.11.05 Accused Australian terrorist Mamdouh Habib to be released
1.11.05 Who owns your e-mails?
1.11.05 Disaster relief only lasts as long as media coverage
1.11.05 Wearable PC's may be new trend
1.07.05 US advertises reward in Pakistan daily, Jang
1.01.05 DoD image for Army Year in Review slide show
1.01.05 North Korea experiencing creeping capitalism
12.31.04 Super 3G Cell Phone standards being set by 26 nations
12.30.04 Space travel makes one kinder
12.30.04 First snow ever in desert emirate of Dubai
12.30.04 Kyoto University team develops stem cells without using embryos
12.25.04 New York art collector looting Pakistan
12.25.04 Huygens successfully separates from Cassini spacecraft
12.21.04 India joins the US and Russia in supersonic missile technology
12.18.04 US spent $65 million to fund Ukrainian opposition groups
2.14.04 Crown Prince of Dubai says "change or lose power"
12.06.04 Kurds in southeastern Turkey want their requests met before EU admits Turkey
12.13.04 Convention on Climate Change starts in Buenos Aires
12.13.04 FBI in disorder
12.12.04 Korea uneasy over Japan's new military focus; fears of arms race
12.09.04 North East Asian countries uneasy with Bush administration direction – fear another Iraq
12.09.04 President Karzai of Afghanistan declares Holy War on drug trade
12.08.04 Israeli soldiers admit having killed 15-year-old Palestinian for sport
12.08.04 Oil producing governments in Mideast getting rich while their people starve
12.08.04 Eritrea in fourth year of drought, Somalia suffering from drought; both ignored
12.07.04 US CDC forcasts on global warming grim
12.06.04 US Environmental Protection Agency may become more lenient to polluters
12.05.04 Saudi unified front breaking up
12.02.04 Austrailia refuses to sign non-aggression pact
12.02.04 Solving the problem in Cyprus is a key to peace in the EU
12.01.04 European heatwaves increasing
12.01.04 Japanese minister wants Security Council over-hauled
11.30.04 United Nations to be restructured
11.26.04 India plagued by separatist groups
11.26.04 South Korea's nuclear developments a concern to IAEA and China
11.22.04 Saudis expanding Islamic schools in South Asia
11.15.04 US wants to redefine security treaty with Japan
11.01.04 US soldiers pull out of the demilitarized zone (DMZ)