Tsvangirai-Mbeki talks leave MDC with hope for Zimbabwe election outcome; Cuba lifts restrictions on buying consumer electronics, hotel stays...

11 April :: Tsvangirai "optimistic" after meeting with South Africa pres. Thabo Mbeki; opposition, some int'l observers accuse regime of intimidation tactics, including arrests, paramilitary sweeps, confiscation of property; ruling Zanu (PF) party has ceded to perception it could not have won majority, is pressing MDC to accept runoff vote... Cubans now able to buy cell phones, computers, or DVD players, or stay at hotels previously reserved for international tourists; while critics say the new rules are merely superficial changes, the gov't of Raúl Castro, which has announced no intentions of seeing through any deep political transition, says it hopes the new freedoms will allow for more pervasive economic reform over time; for most Cubans, the newly available items are stratospherically expensive, but access may be the most important change... Difference deepen within top ranks at Pentagon regarding Iraq troop reductions; Pres. Bush has committed large numbers of troops to Afghanistan, while Iraq field commander says he does not expect further cuts in troop levels or stabilization of situation in Iraq for several months... Sen. John McCain reported likely to forego private funding for his general election campaign, opt for public financing; move "severely limits the amount of money [McCain] can raise and spend", but his campaign is reportedly urging supporters to donate to the RNC, which can recieve more than ten times the donation per individual that any one candidate can; both Democrats have raised more than twice what McCain has so far, a likely motive for the decision; McCain has also reversed his position on public assistance for homeowners hit by the collapsing sub-prime mortgage market, after coming under heavy criticism for perceived "indifference" to working people's hardships...

Congress report says Iraq, Afghan wars have cost $1.5 trillion to date; Bhutto barricaded in home, calls for Musharraf ouster...

13 November :: New report by Congressional Joint Economic Committee says wars in Iraq, Afghanistan have already cost taxpayers $1.5 trillion over last 6 years, including long-term cost rises related to oil, veterans' healthcare, borrowing... Bhutto again under house arrest, calls for Musharraf to resign office, form interim "coalition of interests" to govern in run-up to elections; some 4,000 police have barricaded Bhutto's home in Lahore, using concrete, barbed wire and wet-sand barriers; reports say Musharraf forces have jailed over 7,000 opposition activists, British Commonwealth yesterday gave regime 10 days to lift martial law... Two Spanish cartoonists for El Jueves magazine face judgment for "damaging the prestige of the crown"; originally, prosecutors sought 3 years jailtime for cartoon mocking crown prince... Citing evidence Afghan authorities have been torturing detainees, Amnesty Int'l has called for suspension of all prisoner transfers from NATO-controlled ISAF operation to Afghan authorities; Afghan gov't acknowledges police continue to engage in persistent abuse, Pres. Karzai has called on police to cease use of torture as recently as last week... Food prices in China have risen by over 17% in October alone, while pork, the staple Chinese meat, rose by 55% in just one month, with 11-year high inflation across economy, creating concern of political unrest as poor Chinese run out of money to pay for basic food items; many poor Chinese already pay more than 1/3 of their income for food alone, wealth gap growing to historic records, undermining Communist party's claim to economic legitimacy... EU parliament votes to impose emissions caps on airlines, includes int'l flights; IHT reports "The measures, approved by the European Parliament, are fiercely opposed by the United States and the airline industry, which could cost companies billions of dollars and lead to sharp price rises for passengers. On the opposing side, some environmental groups criticized the proposed measure, which still must be approved by individual EU states, as far too timid"...

Gen. Sanchez says Iraq war planning "catastrophically flawed"; Gen. Clark says Pentagon planned to attack "7 countries in 5 years"...

13 October :: Fmr commander of US forces in Iraq, Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez, yesterday declared the war plan "catastrophically flawed", said the soldiers on the ground and Iraqi civilians are "living a nightmare with no end in sight", and added that "The administration, Congress and the entire interagency, especially the State Department, must shoulder the responsibility for this catastrophic failure, and the American people must hold them accountable"; criticism is significant because Sanchez is attacking the very plan he was ordered to execute while in command as the insurgency burst forth and Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal surfaced... A passage in Gen. Wesley Clark's new book says that Pentagon insiders informed him in Sept. 2001 that Defense Dept. was planning to impose "regime change" in "seven countries in five years" across the Middle East, that Iraq was only one part of the long-term strategy; Clark was Supreme Allied Commander for NATO forces in 1990s Balkan war... GAO has reported FCC has violated rules governing its regulatory enforcement powers, leaked information to corporate interests prior to publishing it, possibly harming investigatory procedure; FCC ordered to follow rules, hold violators accountable... New York Post devotes front page above-fold to covering its own story from yesterday about naked man on Manhattan streets, ignores war, famine, climate change, Russia security talks, Pakistan vote, contractors thrown out of Afghanistan; owner Murdoch still negotiating takeover of Wall Street Journal, which he promises will not be subjected to tabloid-quality distortions...

UN Security Council unanimously 'deplores' Burma crackdown; Gore wins Nobel Peace Prize; Afghanistan closes 2 security firms, probing 10 more...

12 October :: UN Security Council passes unanimous non-binding declaration that it "strongly deplores" the violence used by Burma's military gov't against peaceful demonstrators; statement also calls for release of "all political prisoner and remaining detainees", as well as urging direct talks with opposition, pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, significant action to move Burma toward a lasting democratic process; statement is first ever Council action on Burma's military junta... Fmr US VP Al Gore and the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for their efforts to raise global awareness of the climate change crisis; since spring 2007, Gore has won an Academy Award, an Emmy and now the Nobel, he said in response "We face a true planetary emergency. The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity", two advisers told the press the award does not make it more likely he will run for US presidency... CNN reported yesterday "Afghan authorities this week shut down two private security companies and said more than 10 others —some suspected of murder and robbery— would soon be closed, Afghan and Western officials said Thursday"; move comes amid growing concerns over role of private security firms in Iraq violence, UN urging US to investigate alleged crimes... Crude oil hits record high trading price of $84/barrell, just after noon New York time; cost for alternative fuels expected to drive adoption of new fuel sources, transport costs straining overall economic output... Russian Soyuz rocket launched from Kazakhstan carrying American, Russian, Malaysian to Int'l Space Station; Peggy Whitson to be first woman to command Space Station, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor 9th Muslim in space, 1st Malaysian...

Two Koreas seek formal peace; Blackwater involved in 195 shootings since 2005; Bush vetoes children's health insurance expansion...

4 October :: North and South Korean leaders to call summit to establish formal lasting peace to 1950-53 conflict; analysts say "hermit" regime in North still appears unwilling to make necessary concessions to bring about re-unification, end to dictatorship; North signed new pact to dismantle nuclear facilities one day before... Burmese military junta reported to be planning to jail for two to five years "those who clapped" during pro-democracy rallies in the capital; dissenters are being rounded up, even as military occupation of Rangoon is slowly "relaxed"... Blackwater security firm involved in at least 195 shootings since 2005, according to Congressional report, which also criticized the State Dept. for poor to non-existent oversight of contractor's activities... Of 3,200 South African gold miners trapped 1.4 miles underground, 1,950 were rescued during an all-night mission, using a small lift for safety reasons; rescue ongoing, with general manager classifying morale among those remaining below ground "fairly brittle"; workers blame "negligence" and 24-hour operation of mine... NPR reports "President Bush on Wednesday vetoed a bipartisan bill that would have dramatically expanded children's health insurance, after saying the legislation was too costly and had strayed from its original intent", some Republicans complain Bush's 4th veto in 7 years could be used against the party in 2008 elections... Editor & Publisher and Boston Globe report family of Ciara Durkin "says she had told them to push for an investigation if anything ever happened to her"; Durkin, an Irish-born US soldier was killed by a single gunshot-wound to the head while serving with finance unit in Afghanistan, family says military "dragging its feet" on releasing information from investigation, observers suspect Durkin may have been killed for uncovering financial wrongdoing or possibly because she was a lesbian... Canadian dollar pulls even with US dollar, trading at 1 to 1, amid worries of spreading fallout from US sub-prime mortgage crisis...

Bush gives $25 million fuel aid to North Korea; Gambari to meet Suu Kyi, seek compromise in Burma; Karzai wants talks with Taliban...

30 September :: US pres. George W. Bush has approved $25 million in fuel aid for North Korea, as part of a February deal to shut down nuclear facilities, dismantle weapons and allow IAEA inspections; the Yongbyon reactor was shut down in July... Six-party talks to negotiate North Korean denuclearization have been suspended for two days, to allow six nations' negotiators to contemplate discussions to date... Tutu, Mandela's 'The Elders' initiative gathers established elder humanitarians to "speak freely, be fiercely independent and respond fast and flexibly in conflict situations", will make first formal visit to Sudan, in effort to end Darfur killing; group has said chair is left open for detained Burmese opposition leader Suu Kyi... Burmese junta has reportedly allowed UN negotiator Ibrahim Gambari to meet with Aung San Suu Kyi, opposition leader under indefinite house arrest; security forces have reportedly detained more religious and lay 'activists'; EU foreign minister Solana has said the Union is examining all possible measures that could be taken if military does not cease attacking demonstrators; military reported to be assaulting anyone with camera in streets of Rangoon... Sufi muslims celebrate 800 years since birth of mystic poet Rumi, Turkey will hold great 'dance of the whirling dervishes' to observe history of the pacifist Sufi order; the poet was "born in 1207 in Balkh in Central Asia, now part of Afghanistan", reports BBC; in Afghanistan, the Taliban attempted to eliminate Sufism by banning music, imposing fundamentalist dogma... As Afghan conflict now longer than WWI, Pres. Hamid Karzai has said he wants negotiations with the Taliban, would "go to them", may offer them position in gov't... Intense flooding over western and central Africa has hit 20 nations; Togo has made an urgent appeal for food and medical aid; the EU has promised some 2 million € to help Togo, Burkina Faso and Ghana collectively... Hundreds have gathered to protest state violence in Islamabad, used to suppress bloody riots spurred by ruling allowing Musharraf to run for president while holding control of military... UK PM Brown rumored to be considering an early election to capitalize on high poll numbers just weeks after taking power from Blair; Conservative party calls national conference to prepare for possible vote... Ecuador voting today to choose delegates to new Constituent Assembly, aimed at replacing Congress, traditional power structures...