VENEZUELA: Chavez announces campaign for unprecedented third term

This post, and those below it, are from 2006, and were the first "test" of the blog.

Norway: Support for EU membership growing, poll says 

 Estonia: Christian Democratic Party calls for ban on Saturday gay pride parade

Congo: Pres. Kabila leads Vice President in presidential election vote count 

Australia: Law requiring illegals to be held in offshore camps passed legislative hurdle 

Azerbaijan: Opposition newspaper editor imprisoned for libeling ruling party lawmaker

Japan: Frontrunner in PM race criticized for alleged visit to controversial war shrine 

Australia: Calls within ruling Liberal party to allow 'conscience' vote on stem cell research 

Belarus: European watchdog group decries jail sentences of four election observers

Scotland: Former Scottish Socialist Party leader wins defamation suit against tabloid that alleged sexual 
improprieties 

Sierra Leone: President sets 2007 election date 

Senegal: Rap artists fear backlash for speaking out politically with music 

U.S.: Bush extends year-long ban on Burma imports; cites military regime's failure to move towards democracy

Turkey: Moderate armed forces head replaced by "hardliner" expected to press U.S. to stop 
Kurd incursions from Northern Iraq 

Zimbabwe: Rival opposition leaders vow unity to unseat ruling party

Somalia: Four more ministers resign from cabinet, citing PM's failure to bring stability to nation 

Ukraine: Political archrivals seek "unity pact"

Latvia: Protests lodged after Latvian diplomat filmed having sex with male in Belarus, take shown on state-run TV  

Congo: Pres. candidate rejects election results; say "irregularities" in historic poll; results not 
known for two weeks; election hailed by African neighbors, Kofi Annan 

 Cuba: Castro relinquishes power while undergoing surgery for intestinal bleeding

Bermuda: Deputy PM will not challenge leader of Progressive Labour Party in October leadership election 

Jamaica: Nurses return to work after two-day strike following "progress" in talks with labor ministry 

India: BJP Party's minority committee charges that leftist parties "alienated" Muslims from the BJP and from Hinduism

India: Pact with Bhutan signed to assist in hydroelectric power plants and to buy fuel they create 

Philipines: 2006 national census cancelled due to lack of funds; "aging" nation's average age is 21.4; in 1970 it was 16.9, says census board

Quatar: New law requires small firms to maintain books for daily inspection

Iran: President awards Venezuela's Chavez a medal for his work against "imperialism" 

Kuwait: Law sent to parliament to give $300 million in aid for Lebanon reconstruction 

Congo: UN sets up "committee of the wise" to assist in post-election transition 

Angola: Finance Minister touts 20.6 percent growth rate; highest in the world 

Ukraine:  Pres. Yuschchenko vetoes possible coalition gov't; does not want Communists in coalition

Taiwan: Opposition makes second attempt to impeach Pres. Chen over embezzlement charges 

Peru: Pres. Garcia sworn in; plans $400 million investment program in rural areas; will counter Chavez' anti-US rhetoric 

Singapore: Police set strict rules, limited venues for IMF World Bank protests during Sept. mtg. 

Spain: PM vows an "all-out" campaign against illegal immigration from Africa 

Hungary: President signs tax increases into law; designed to cut deficit 

Lithuania: Center-left minority coalition gov't takes office after time of scandals

Zambia: President dissolves parliament, calls for new elections 

Zimbabwe: Supreme Court rules electoral court was improper, may cause repressive
constitutional  amendments to be repealed

Somalia: 17 members of cabinet resign; possible sign power sharing deal with Islamists
coming

South Africa: Trade negotiator laments Monday's breakdown of WTO trade talks, which were
suspended after five years of discussions led to impasses

Zimbabwe: Dep. Information Minister first to be arrested in corruption crackdown 

Cuba: Castro celebrates 1953 attack on army barracks that sparked his revolution

India: U.S. House approves nuclear cooperation deal with India; exemption from the U.S. Atomic Energy Act approved

Somalia: U.S. urges neighbors not to "meddle" in Somalia

Germany: Foreign Ministry to sign protocol to make Nazi-era documents available to researchers

Russia: Presidents of Commonwealth of Independent States meet to seek reform of the group 

Italy: Border restrictions on workers from Eastern European nations to be eased

Poland: New PM to call for better foreign relations, better roads in first speech Wednesday 

Ukraine: Parliament restores PM Yuri Yekhanurov to office, saying January dismissal was unconstitutional

Nigeria: Vice President denies wrongdoing in bribery probe 

Congo: Rioting as opposition seeks delay in historic national elections 

Russia: Chavez of Venezuela in Russia to seal deal for 30 fighter jets and 30 helicopters; 
supplements deal for 100,000 Kalishnikov rifles, first delivery was in June

Kosovo: Serb and Kosovar leaders meet for the first time  in Vienna to discuss future of the region; 
no handshakes, no pleasantries exchanged in closed-door meeting 

Burma: Association of Southeast Asian Nation criticizes Burma for lack of democratic reforms

South Africa: Human Rights Commission slams lack of planning, poor implementation in anti-poverty programs by gov't 

Zambia: Media banned from making "speculative analysis" in lead-up to national election 

 Philippines: Pres. Arroyo stresses economy in annual address

UK: Troubled Child Support Agency to be axed; replaced with more efficient body 

UK: Tory leader Cameron in Afghanistan for secret visit to troops 

Australia: PM Howard may override capital territory's counter-terrorism laws 

UK: Tory Shadow International Development Secretary proposes Africa-wide free trade zone 

 Somalia: Talks between Islamists and Gov't break down after continued rumors of Ethiopian troops entering country to support gov't

Cameroon: Poorly negotiated unity agreements plague both Cameroon and Germany, says former East German Foreign Minister

Turkey: Opposition parties criticize advisor to PM for secret meetings with foreign ambassadors 

Kenya: Pres. Kibaki back on top of 2007 election polls; Lib. Dem. opponent edges closer 

 UK: Foreign minister condemns Israeli bombardment of Lebanon

New Zealand: US Sec. of State Rice says US can "move on" from past nuclear row with NZ

New Zealand: US Sen. McCain brushes off incident with Foreign Minister Peters; Peters cut off McCain and shut down news conference during Washington visit

Australia: New South Wales Premier accused by his party of acting like a "choirboy" and caving in to the Catholic Church after opposing stem cell research

Turkey: PM warns of incursions by Iraqi Kurds into Turkey; 15 Turkish soldiers killed; cross-border attacks "beyond the limits of tolerance" PM Erdogan warns Pres. Bush

 Congo: Catholic Church, UN warn of unfairness of election campaign

Argentina: Venezuela joins MERCOSUR economic trading bloc Friday during Argentinian conference; Chavez and Cuba's Castro attend

Oman: House gives approval to US-Oman free trade agreement; allows Oman companies to to oversee and run U.S. ports

Turkey: Failure of EU to solve Cyprus problem is "poisoning" Turkey/EU relationship, says foreign minister; Turkey hopes to gain entry into EU, but public opinion turning against EU

Venezuela: U.S. press freedom group accuses Chavez of using courts to curb freedom of the press 

Zimbabwe: Mugabe moves to shut down discussion over succession 

Kenya: Law may protect MP from treason charges 

Afghanistan: Gov't stages first public mass alcohol destruction; drink banned by constitution

Ivory Coast: Youth riot as voter ID plan fails 

Yemen: 23 acquitted of trying to make war against the U.S.; accused were said to be planning trip to Iraq;
21 sent to jail on forged documents charge

Australia: Howard expects dive in the polls next week after party infighting over his possible retirement; accusations that he may not retire as planned

Thailand: PM may call for Oct 15 election, despite threat of dissolution of parties due to corrpution 

EU: President condemns Israeli blockade against Lebanon; says it "contravenes international law"

Vietnam: Military officials cautious over U.S. offer of joint military cooperation, including exercises 

EU: Foreign ministers to discuss thorny Kosovo issues at Monday meeting

Zimbabwe: Pres. Mugabe blames the West for economic problems, promises turnaround 

 Romania: Pres. Traian Bãsescu highlights Black Sea regional cooperation

Georgia: Gas pact reached with Azerbaijan

Estonia: Gov't approves bill merging public TV, radio services 

Mexico: Defeated pres. candidate Lopez Obrador accuses businesses of financing campaign against him

Russia: Defense Minister decries Hezbollah's "Terrorists" methods and Israel's response "unacceptable" 

Six-member Gulf Cooperation Council take steps towards monetary union in 2010

Link: (GCC Website)

Somalia: Warlords surrender weapons to Islamist militias 

Philippines: Gov't considers moratorium on 'nonessential' development loans 

South Africa: President Mbeki to 'talk tough' to G8 over Africa committments not met 

UK: Former army commander expresses "horror" at  Deputy PM Prescott running gov't during Blair break this summer; Prescott facing probe

UK: Leftwing challenge to PM heir apparent Gordon Brown could bring other challengers 

Ivory Coast: Voter ID documentation process slow to start ahead of October elections 

Belarus: Court sentences former presidential candidate Alexander Kozulin to 5 1/2 years in prison; planned opposition rallies claiming fraud in election; charged with "hooliganism"

Guatemala: Former dictator Efrain Rios Montt denies genocide charges 

Commonwealth of Northern Marianas Islands: Gov. seeks help obtaining more funds from U.S. Feds 

Fiji: Gov't ministers take Air Fiji to task over service

Jordan: Prosecutor suspends board running opposition party's main charity ahead of taking control of party's financial arm

Kuwait: Cabinet approves electoral reform; number of constituencies would shrink from 25 to 5

Latvia: Party to run former Olympic gold medalist for parliamentary seat 

Serbia: PM says no to Kosovo independence 

Georgia: Top lawmaker accuses Russia of arming separatists 

Zimbabwe: Opposition politician faces charges of organizing intra-party violence 

Somalia: Riots leave 97 dead; warlord turns in weapon in surrender 

Angola: Gov't must improve sanitation and water to avoid cholera outbreaks, warns warns Doctors Without Borders 

Iran: Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati says privatization of state companies will "help secure social justice and uproot poverty and discrimination"

Russia: Duma passes "anti-extremism" bill critics say will help silence gov't opponents 

Hungary: PM says growth will slow to 2% in 2007, 3% in 2008, lower than earlier estimates 

Russia: U.S. considering nuclear assistance deal; pegged to cooperation on non-proliferation 

Spain: Judge orders arrest of two former Guatemalan military dictators; to face genocide trials

Philippines: Gov't spokesman says it's "slaying the corruption dragon" despite negative ratings

Nepal: Health of 84-year-old PM is improving, say doctors 

U.S.: Senate committee backs nuclear deal with India 

U.K.: Costly child support agency reforms "aren't working" say audit office 

East Timor: Ramos Horta named new PM ending weeks of unrest 

Analysis: "Leftist tide" in Central  and South America "may be ebbing" following Calderon victory in Mexico, results elsewhere

Nigeria: New foreign minister alleges foreign ministry "enmeshed in financial scandals"

Philippines: Pres. Arroyo unveils massive reforestation effort

Latvia: Three members of popular New Era Party expelled over corruption suspicions 

Japan: Hot economy prompts first interest rate hike in six years 

Poland: Identical twin of president is set to be nominated for post of prime minister 

Congo: Journalist shot dead ahead of election 

India: Ruling Congress Party faces mounting criticisms of reform plans 

U.K.- Deputy PM Prescott will run gov't during Blair vacation in Aug. despite allegations 

Uganda: President promises rebel leader sought for war crimes amnesty 

Thailand: 15 new parties formed in July as two major parties face dissolution threat

Thailand: Secretary to PM warns that violence to oust gov't would not be accepted by int'l community 

Cyprus: New UN-hosted talks to begin today between rival Greek/Turkish factions; seen as a breakthrough

EU: U.S. is "winning the race" for skilled migrants, say EU officials 

Venezuela: Carribean Community (CARICOM) to support Venezuela's bid for non-permanent seat on UN Security Council; U.S. opposed

Taiwan: President Chen vows to "do a better job" after surviving recall attempt by opposition

Mexico: Calderon wins presidential race after vote recount

Ivory Coast: President and rebel leaders agree to break deadlock in peace talks

Venezuela: Nation joins MERCOSUR regional free trade group; worries expressed
over Chavez "politicizing" group 

Kenya: Electoral commission unveils new election rules;  parties must reveal procedure for nominations, candidates must follow them

Australia: PM Howard rules out  taking other nations' nuclear waste 

Pakistan: No-confidence motion petition signed by 74 members of national assembly against PM Aziz

Bulgaria: Savoy Affair involving former royals in Bulgaria and Italy continues

Macedonia: PM concedes defeat in parliamentary vote to nationalist party 

Romania: PM calls president's comments on Iraq pullout proposal "totally iinappropriate" for a head of state 

Ecuador: Peruvian President elect calls on U.S. to resume free trade deal  talks with Ecuador;
talks ended in May when Ecuador nationalized oil industry 

India: PM Singh puts mining privatization plans on hold; further study needed

Europe: Socialist Euro parliament group to throw out Slovak colleagues over far-right alliance 

Japan: Defense minister calls for missle defense shield "as soon as possible"

Macedonia: Polls close on parliamentary elections; seeking EU and NATO entry; minor election violence reported among ethnic Albanians

France: 38 convicted on political corruption charges 

Lithuania: Gediminas Kirkilas confirmed by parliament as PM, ending deadlock

Kazakhstan: Two largest parties - run by president and his daughter - merge 

UK: Baroness Hayman elected first Lord Speaker in House of Lords; new position replaces Lord Chancellor as presiding officer

Turkey: EU official  plays down veto by Turkey's president of ombudsman bill; says won't effect EU enlargement bid by Turkey

Israel: Law proposed to limit immunity of Knesset members who express support for terror groups 

UK: Deputy PM Prescott faces investigation for undeclared visit at home of casino operator

UK: PM Blair admits he decided on replacing nuclear power facilities with new ones before starting review

Yemen: President files for new term in office; calls for nuclear energy for Yemenis 

Thailand: PM's comments may have been an offense to the king, says legal expert; constitution calls for "revered worship" of the king; PM said "charismatic figure" is causing political problems

Zimbabwe: Gov't accused of jamming Voice of America radio signals 

Sri Lanka: Rebels demand EU peacekeepers leave by 1 Sept after EU labels Tamil Tigers a terror group 

India: Foreign secretary meets Sri Lankan president over devolution package 

Greece: EU warns gov't that deficits could rise above mandated ceilings next year 

Hungary: PM Reggel admits "viscous cycle of false promises" made by political parties to electorate over weak economy 

Estonia: Special summer session to be called to elect president 

U.S.: Sen. Lieberman to seek election on general election ballot even if he loses Democratic Primary in CT 

Europe: Brussels official calls for no more referenda on EU Constitution; but some nations likely to demand a vote when next round of discussions begin next year

Russia: Free trade, energy talks to begin next year with European Union 

Mexico: Presidential election "up in the air" after Sunday's vote 

Ghana: Parliament Moves to Save Cash-Strapped Food And Drugs Board 

UK: Commons debates ending "need for a father" rule for invitro fertilization; seen as "discriminatory" 
towards lesbians, single women 

Jamaica: Five constituencies in breach of upper, lower limits for number of voters, commission 
sought to fix problem 

Rwanda: Senate to summon Health Minister Ntawukuriryayo to answer questions about hospital's funding

Chad: African Union panel calls for former president to face human rights abuse trial within Africa 

Japan: 600 troops pulled from Iraq; but gov't pledges heavy spending on rebuilding efforts

Vietnam: More southern "capitalists" enter top leadership of Communist Party, marking shift

Thailand: Illegal workers documented by new ID program; eligible for welfare, labour benefits

Kuwait: Opposition MPs call for no reappointment of "controversial" cabinet ministers 

India: Four left-leaning parties say Congress Party is "shedding crododile tears" over price rises 

India: Parties urge adoption of quotas for "Other Backward Classes" (OBCs) for higher educational institutions in upcoming legislative session 

Fiji: Union leader slams MP over calls for a retirement age of 55

Barbados: PM Owen Arthur says "xenophobia" hampers free movement of  labor in Carribean region; single market and economy planned for 2008

Afghanistan: Native reporters protest new press restrictions imposed by Karzai government

EU: European Commission set to fine Microsoft $2.5 million per day; says it's not complying 
with 2004 antitrust ruling

Kuwait: Reformists make gains in national elections; vow to reduce corruption 

Spain: PM to open peace talks with ETA Basque separatist group 

Netherlands: Government resigns following pull-out of D66 Party from coalition; party protesting actions of immigration minister towards Somali immigrant's citizenship.

(See link in previous post)

China: Thousands march in Hong Kong demanding universal sufferage; celebrations mark 9 years after British hand-over

Mexico: Nation votes tomorrow; leftist Obrador leads in polls 

UK: Labour, Tories both suffer in by-elections 

Russia: Ruble becomes fully convertable currency as of today 

France: PM Dominique de Villepin will not compete in 2007 presidential race

Cameroon: MPs call for investigation of frmr. Agriculture minister; say gov't funds
ended up in private hands in 2004 

Czech Rep.: President Vaclav Klaus refuses to accept PM Jiri Paroubek's offer to resign during nation's political deadlock

Europe: EU media commissioner calls for EU-regulated radio spectrum to ensure access and improve competition 

Analysis: Islamist parties making gains in Middle Eastern elections

Zimbabwe: Ruling party Politiburo urges Mugabe to rebuff calls for a transition out of power 

Germany: Bundestag passes wide-ranging constitutional reforms aimed at clarifying parliamentary powers

 Switzerland: Cabinet seeks agriculture free trade deal from EU

Kuwait: Women fail to win any parliamentary seats in first-ever female voting; 27 out of 249 candidates were female

Bangladesh: Parties close to agreement on electoral reform, but continue feuding on other issues 

Sri Lanka: Talks begin in Oslo, Norway to save ceasefire

Sudan: President rules out deployment of UN troops to Dafur region 

Syria: Neighbors Iraq, Jordan, Beirut delay diplomatic exchanges with Syrian gov't 

Jordan: Recent prosecutions suggest gov't "getting tough" on corruption, says gov't official

 Romania: President 'slams' plan for full pull-out of troops from Iraq

France: Senate, National Assembly pass "iTunes Law" that may require Apple to ensure compatability with other download services

France: Former Socialist PM Jospin could stand in presidential elections next year 

Turkey: PM tells EU Parliament Muslim cartoons show need for "curbs" on free speech

Estonia: Border guards on eastern frontier fall "below critical" despite EU aid 

Thailand: Court rules voters may not be required to use rubber stamps to mark ballots

Libya: Some in gov't oppose final payments to Lockerbee survivor families 

Tanzania: "Bureaucrats and experts" to blame for not warning government of oncoming famine

Papua New Guinea: "Network within gov't departments" defrauded the state of millions, says police commissioner

New Zealand: Immigration minister "wary" of accepting more workers from poor Pacific nations 

U.S.A.: Senate endorses U.S.-Oman free trade deal 

Dem. Rep. of Congo: First free election in 40 years kicks off with 200 parties, 10,000 candidates

 Nepal: New parliament sworn in, king's powers stripped after months of direct rule

Bahrain: Shiite opposition vows to contest this year's legislative elections, drop four-year boycott

China: Internal political reforms will turn China into democracy, says party official

Pakistan: Concerns renewed over U.S.-India nuclear deal

Russia: Duma calls for thorough investigation of diplomats' murder in Baghdad 

Lithuania: Social Democratic Party member Gediminas Kirkilas nominated as PM; first choice was rejected by parliament

Latvia: President returns labor law failing to offer sexual orientation protections; provision required by EU 

Serbia: Nation will not accept 'imposed solution' over Kosovo's fate, says PM Kostunica 

 Mauritania: Voters approve new constititution limiting presidential terms; had broad, multi-party support

Peru: Lame duck Peruvian Congress approves U.S.-Peru trade deal

Ukraine: Tens of thousands protest in Kiev over doubling of gas, electicity prices 

Thailand: Prosecutors recommend disbanding ruling political party and main opposition party 

Netherlands: Somali-born ex-MP allowed to keep citizenship despite asylum app. lie exposure

Vietnam: 44% of National Assembly defy PM over cabinet minister accused of corruption; rare defiance in Communist gov't

Haiti: EU links increased development aid to continuance of democractic reforms

Havana: 'Latin American Parliament' conference calls for regional civil defense system against natural disasters 

Venezuela: Chavez to speak at July 1 African Union Summit 

Canada: Parliamentary committee calls for halt to deporting illegals while policy debated

Spain: PM Zapatero defends planned talks with outlawed leftist party 

Hungary: Planned austerity package won't be as severe as 1990s version, says PM 

Vietnam: Nguyen Tan Dung elected PM by National Assembly, vows to fight corruption, bureaucracy

 Mexico: Presidential campaign wraps up

Montenegro: Nation becomes 192nd UN Member State 

New Zealand: PM Clark unveils $30 million boost for early childhood education 

Portugal: PM Jose Socrates, on Korean visit, pledges to boost trade with S. Korea "five-fold" in next few years

Japan: Cabinet Sect'y Abe tops poll to succeed Koizumi as head of Liberal Democratic Party in September vote 

Israel: PM Olmert discusses problems of evacuees from Gaza and Samaria in special Knesset session 

 Yemen: President vows to seek re-election amdist "pressure" from the public

USA: Bush calls on Senate to approve line-item veto; has passed the House 

Venezuela: U.S. close to anti-drug accord with Venezuela after calls to restrict U.S. agents' powers

Bolivia: President "caves in" to Catholic Church on religious education ban proposal

Ukraine: coalition nominates Yulia Tymoshenko - "Orange Princess" - for PM 

China: Deals signed with Angola, South Africa on trade, political relations 

Kyrgyzstan: Parliament rejects 2003 treaty with Kazakhstan

Italy: Italians reject constitutional amendments 

Philippines: Pres. Arroyo signs death penalty ban into law

Finland: Left Alliance in turmoil after leader resigns 

Venezuela: Election officials invite EU to witness Dec. presidential election

South Korea: Gov't to compensate families of Communists who fought Japanese occupation

UK: Blair chides G8 over world trade deal 

South Africa: Opposition party to question Arts & Culture minister over German trip during World Cup

Europe: EU trading partners say new chemicals regulations could have "grave consequenses"

Italy: Constitutional overhaul would give PM more powers; two-day referrendum ends today

Iraq: Leading Sunni politician backs PM's reconciliation plan

India: Gov't acts to stem rising prices in commodities of wheat, sugar

Sierra Leone: VP drafts act to harmonise laws nationwide