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  Iran seeks to quiet critic inside ruling system

  When Iran holds state-run ceremonies this week for an important Islamic feast day, there will be one very noticeable change: former President Hashemi Rafsanjani will not be leading the prayers.

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  Israel approves 10-month settlement freeze

  Israel agreed to a 10-month halt in construction in its West Bank settlements on Wednesday, drawing an immediate rejection from Palestinians because the freeze did not include east Jerusalem.

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  Polanski wins $4.5M bail, house arrest likely

  Roman Polanski was granted $4.5 million bail Wednesday, clearing the way for the fugitive director to move within days from a Swiss jail to house arrest and electronic monitoring at his Alpine resort chalet.

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  Pakistan charges 7 suspects in Mumbai attacks

  Pakistan charged seven men in last year's Mumbai attacks on Wednesday, its first indictment in a case being monitored by India and the United States to see if Islamabad makes good on promises to bring those responsible to justice.

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  India basks in lavish White House welcome

  When Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met in Washington this week with President Barack Obama, the White House lavished attention on the unassuming, bookish Indian leader. There was a state dinner. There were movie stars. There was a chandelier-filled tent packed with powerful Americans chatting up poerful Indians.

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  UN report: Congo rebel network spans 25 countries

  One of Africa's most brutal rebel movements relies on a vast, international network of supporters in at least 25 countries including in the United States and Europe, a United Nations report said.

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  Rains soak pilgrims at Islam's hajj

  The heaviest rain to hit Islam's annual hajj pilgrimage in years soaked the faithful and flooded the road to Mecca, snarling traffic as millions of Muslims headed for the holy sites. The downpours add an extra hazard on top of intense concerns about the spread of swine flu.

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  Taliban leader rules out talks with Karzai

  The Taliban's reclusive leader ruled out talks with President Hamid Karzai and called on Afghans on Wednesday to break off relations with his "stooge" administration.

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  State-run magazine reports on black jails in China

  It read like a muckraking expose: A magazine revealed a system of secret detention centers in Beijing where Chinese citizens are forcibly held and sometimes beaten to prevent them from lodging formal complaints with the central government.

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  Philippine massacre probe focuses on Arroyo ally

  Philippine authorities, under intense public pressure to make arrests in the country's worst election massacre, said Wednesday they are investigating a member of a powerful clan allied with the government along with four police commanders.

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  Eleven more bodies found at Philippine massacre site

  Philippine security forces found 11 more bodies Wednesday at the site of an election-related massacre in the south of the country, taking the toll to 57 dead, officials said.

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  Israel announces partial settlement freeze

  Israel announced on Wednesday it was limiting settlement construction for 10 months to try to revive peace negotiations with the Palestinians, but they said the step fell short of their terms for talks.

• Iran detains scores of students, rights group says

  Iran has detained scores of students in an apparent bid to prevent new opposition protests during annual Student Day events next month, a Western-based human rights group said.

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  Pakistan court charges Mumbai attack suspects

  A Pakistani court indicted seven Pakistani suspects on terror charges on Wednesday in connection with last year's attack on the Indian city of Mumbai, a defense lawyer said.

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  Prisoner deal hits snag on Hamas demands

  Israel has rejected a demand for the release of two Hamas commanders as part of any exchange for a captured Israeli soldier, a source close to negotiations said Wednesday, signaling talks had hit a snag.

• Dozens dead in Ugandan rebel attack in CAR: sources

  Dozens of people were killed in a remote corner of Central African Republic when Ugandan rebels attacked villagers but were then ambushed by Ugandan soldiers, a witness and local media said.

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  U.S., U.N. present proposals to end Iraq vote impasse

  U.S. and U.N. officials have proposed solutions to Iraq's Sunni Arab vice president to stop him vetoing for a second time a law needed for an election to take place next year, an official said on Wednesday.

• Two journalists kidnapped in Somalia released

  Two freelance journalists from Australia and Canada kidnapped in Somalia in August 2008 were freed on Wednesday and are in a hotel in the capital Mogadishu.

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  Khmer Rouge jailer expresses "excruciating remorse"

  The Khmer Rouge's chief torturer and jailer expressed "excruciating remorse" on Wednesday for more than 14,000 people killed under his watch at a notorious prison during Cambodia's ultra-Maoist revolution of the 1970s.

• Irish child abuse survivors criticize payout offer

  The payout offer of the Roman Catholic group at the center of an inquiry into child abuse in Ireland drew harsh criticism on Wednesday from a survivors group.

• Israel Offers a Pause in Building New Settlements

  The offer had been anticipated and offered previously to the Palestinians, but had been turned down on the grounds that it did not include Jerusalem.

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  Obama to Speak From West Point Tuesday on Afghanistan

  The White House said President Obama had completed his consultations and would formally announce his decision in a national address in the next week.

• Pakistan Charges 7 in Mumbai Attacks

  On eve of the anniversary of the attacks, the indictments mark one of the first steps toward what is expected to be a complex trial.

• Israel Offers Pause in New Settlement Building

  The offer had been anticipated and offered previously to the Palestinians, but had been turned out on the grounds that it did not include Jerusalem.

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  News Analysis: Afghan Strategy Will Contain Messages to Several Audiences

  As President Obama rolls out his plan, he will be adjusting his approach for voters, allies and enemies.

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  New Belgian Prime Minister Named

  The Christian Democrat Yves Leterme was nominated on Wednesday to replace Herman Van Rompuy, who has been appointed the first president of the European Union.

• Blair Out of Running as Europe Picks Top 2 Posts

  Leaders of the European Union seemed to be pulling away from naming a widely known figure in Europe’s presidential post, as Britain made a pitch for the new foreign policy job.

• Iraq Sentences Sunni Leader to Death

  A leader of the Sunni Awakening Council was sentenced to death for the murder of a girl, sparking charges that the Shiite-dominated government was targeting Sunnis.

• Russia Angry Over Ukraine Warnings on Gas Supply

  A dispute between Russia and Ukraine over natural gas supplies escalated on Thursday, with an aide to the Russian president calling Ukraine’s warnings of a possible gas crisis “political blackmail.”

• Pirates Off Africa Adapt to Survive

  Pirate attacks on shipping lanes around the Horn of Africa show no sign of relenting as the nations policing the seas struggle to find solutions to an increasingly long-term mission.

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  Pre-war intelligence doubted chemical weapons threat, Chilcot inquiry told

  Inquiry into Iraq war hears that earlier intelligence on WMDs was 'sporadic and patchy'The government had intelligence days before the invasion of Iraq in 2003 that Saddam Hussein might not be able t use chemical weapons, the inquiry into the war was told today.

• Michelle Obama 'racist' picture that is topping Google Images removed

  Hot Girls website apologises over 'monkey' picture that had been appearing at the top of Google Images searchesA blog hosting an offensive image of Michelle Obama with monkey features has removed it nd posted an apology.

• Afghanistan: time to go | Caroline Lucas

  One thing is clear: Nato's military mission has failed. We need to focus now on a power-sharing deal to enable an early withdrawalIt is easy to forget that the nine-year war in Afghanistan began its ife as "Operation Enduring Freedom".

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  President's allies suspected of massacre

  As death toll rises to 57, suspicion falls on political dynasty that has helped deliver votes for President Gloria Macapagal-ArroyoA powerful political clan allied to the Philippine president, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, is suspected of masterminding an election massacre that left 57 people dead, poli...

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  Rocket Man brought down to earth in strait of Gibraltar

  Engine failure said to have forced Yves Rossy to ditch jet-powered wing, wrecking Africa-Europe crossing attemptAs Yves Rossy, known as Rocket Man, sailed over the North Atlantic in his jet-powered wing today, one can only imagine that he was humming along to the Elton John song which shares his ni...

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  Swiss court approves £2.7m Roman Polanski bail offer

  Film director facing extradition to US would be kept under house arrest and electronic monitoring if releasedA Swiss court today approved a £2.7m bail offer for Roman Polanski to be released from prion and kept under house arrest and electronic monitoring.

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  Swine flu test positive on boy who died

  Five-year-old who died on Sunday had swine flu but cause of death not yet established, officials sayA five-year-old boy who died at Milton Keynes hospital on Sunday had swine flu, but it was not yet lear whether the virus caused his death, health chiefs said today.

• Alan Johnson's dilemma is unbalanced | Henry Porter

  The DNA database does not balance liberty with the needs of the state, the state's unreasonable demand has eroded libertyWhen a politician talks about balance I reach for my taser. The word "balance" has become one of the primary means of distorting the political debate and eroding the stock of lib...

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  British troops face second inquiry into Iraqi murder claims

  Former high court judge to look again at allegations 20 Iraqis were murdered and others mistreated at British baseA second public inquiry into allegations that Iraqis were ill-treated and unlawfully killed by British troops is to be set up under a former high court judge, the Ministry of Defence (M...

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  Burma watchers are right to be cautious about signs of change

  Flurry of activity could prove, as so often before, to be just window dressing, writes British ambassador Andrew HeynThis is a particularly interesting time for Burma watchers. A flurry of activity, both domestically and internationally, has aroused hopes that things might be starting to move in a ...

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• US pledges carbon emissions cuts

  President Obama will vow to cut US carbon emissions by 17% by 2020, when he attends the climate summit in Copenhagen.

• US consumer spending sees rebound

  US consumer spending rose by more than expected in October, raising hopes that the economic recovery is continuing.

• Iran leader pushes Venezuela ties

  A range of accords are set to be signed as Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad visits Venezuela's Hugo Chavez.

• US pledges major emissions cuts

  President Obama will vow to cut US carbon emissions by 17% by 2020, when he attends the climate summit in Copenhagen.

• Clubs named in match-fixing probe

  Uefa names five clubs who will be subjected to further investigation into allegations of match fixing.

• In-form Soderling beats Djokovic

  Robin Soderling causes his second upset of the ATP World Tour Finals as he sees off defending champion Novak Djokovic in straight sets.

• UN-DR Congo rebel fight 'failing'

  UN-backed forces are failing to stop Rwandan-Hutu rebels in eastern DR Congo, a report seen by the BBC reveals.

• Afghanistan: An unholy madness?

  Hugh Sykes reports on the deeply complex political puzzle that poverty-stricken Afghanistan is facing.

• Pakistan charges seven for Mumbai

  A court in Pakistan charges seven people over last year's attacks in the Indian city of Mumbai which killed more than 170.

• Philippine 'poll' deaths reach 57

  The death toll from a politically motivated attack in the southern Philippines rises to 57, after 11 more bodies are recovered.

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  U.S. intelligence chief in Afghanistan wages battle for resources

  Maj. Gen. Michael Flynn encounters military resistance in his task of overhauling U.S. intelligence-gathering in Afghanistan to boost efforts to defeat the Taliban. The peaks of the Hindu Kush mountins create a stunning backdrop for the U.

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  Aiding North Korea defectors: A high-stakes spy mission

  A recent operation offers a peek inside the 'underground railroad,' a network of safe houses and secret border crossings that assists in the escape of North Korean refugees. As he cased the securityat the foreign embassies in Hanoi, the 78-year-old retiree was seized with sudden self-doubt.

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  Britain's war inquiry panel opens hearings on Iraq

  One of the first officials interviewed about the decision by Tony Blair's government to join the U.S.-led war speaks of 'drumbeats in Washington' before 9/11 to oust Hussein. The British government was aware of "drumbeats in Washington" in early 2001 calling for the toppling of Iraqi leader Saddam...

• Zhou Libo's distinctly Shanghai shtick

  The Chinese comedian's use of 'Shanghainese' gives him flexibility that most Mandarin-speaking performers don't have -- the government in Beijing can't understand him. And his fan base is growing. Zou Libo is an impeccably dressed comedian.

• Obama tells Singh that U.S. values its ties with India

  After talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the president says the nations have agreed to boost cooperation in areas including the economy, agriculture, technology, trade and security. President Obama reassured India's prime minister Tuesday that the partnership between their two countries wou...

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  IED threat shadows Marines' every move

  Marines in Afghanistan confront the problem of improvised explosive devices with skill and intuition, while making an extra effort to avoid civilian casualties. A long, dusty road under a bright blu Afghan sky.

• Wary India seeks reassurance in U.S. visit

  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's official visit to Washington will seek to reaffirm the importance of ties between the two nations. Today's summit between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India and Pesident Obama is laden with symbols.

• Israel, Hamas said to be near deal on prisoner swap

  Israeli officials are tight-lipped as negotiators hammer out details in Cairo to free Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit, being held by Hamas, in exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners. Expectations of a swap of hundreds of jailed Palestinian militants for an Israeli soldier held by Hamas soared...

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  At least 24 dead in Philippine election massacre

  The victims -- many of them beheaded -- include 13 women, who were among those accompanying an official's wife carrying papers to nominate him for governor. Reporting from Seoul and Zamboanga City, Philippines -- Twenty-four people were found dead in the southern Philippines after scores of gunmen...

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• What to Read on the Financial Crisis

  November 25, 2009 In July 2007, the U.S. economy looked fairly healthy. There had not been a recession in more than five years, and the unemployment rate was under five percent. Housing prices hadbeen rising at an unsustainably rapid rate, but this was generally seen as a containable problem.

• From the Archives: Afghanistan

  November 25, 2009 Over the past few months, the Obama administration has been grappling with questions about the nature of the enemy in Afghanistan and the best way to fight the war there. As the administration prepares to announce its revised military strategy, we are pleased to bring you a sel...

• The Root of All Fears

  Why Is Israel So Afraid of Iranian Nukes? November 24, 2009 The special relationship between Israel and the United States is about to enter perhaps its rockiest patch ever. Israel is growing exasperated with the Obama administration’s effort to use diplomacy to roll back Iran’s growing ura...

• The Tajik Solution

  A Model for Fixing Afghanistan November 22, 2009 As the Obama administration and the rest of the international community grapple with the challenge of stabilizing Afghanistan, analogies haveproliferated as fast as insurgents.

• The World Next Week Podcast: November 20, 2009

  November 19, 2009 Foreign Affairs Managing Editor Gideon Rose and CFR.org Editor Robert McMahon preview major world events in the week ahead. In this week's podcast: U.S. President Barack Obama returns from his tour through Asia; Honduras holds presidential elections; Indian Prime Minister Manm...

• Where the Wild Things Were

  How Conservation Efforts are Faltering November 19, 2009 On the eve of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg, I argued that wild nature was in deep distress and that the international institutions charged with the planet's care were managing it poorly ("The Futur...

• The L-Word in Afghanistan

  Can the United States Provide What Kabul Needs? November 15, 2009 One would be hard-pressed to find a news article or editorial on the Afghan election that did not mention the word "legitimay.

• Current Issues in International Affairs

  November 13, 2009 U85 IA 550, Current Issues in International Affairs Professor Marvin MarcusWashington University Course Description This interdisciplinary seminar is the gateway' course for te M.

• The World Next Week Podcast: November 13, 2009

  November 13, 2009 Foreign Affairs Managing Editor Gideon Rose and CFR.org Editor Robert McMahon preview major world events in the week ahead. In this week's podcast: the Obama administration make a decision on Afghanistan; U.

• Marvin Marcus

  November 11, 2009 Summary -- Associate Professor of Japanese and Comparative Literature at Washington University in St. Louis and director of the graduate program in International Affairs, dministered through University College.

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• Hamas: No Deal Likely Over Israeli Prisoner

  Hamas has said no deal is likely this week on a prisoner exchange involving Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit and hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

• Car Giants GM To Axe 9,000 Jobs In Europe

  General Motors is to cut 9,000 jobs across Europe as part of restructuring plans, it has announced.

• 'Jetman' Rescued After Ditching Into The Sea

  The pilot known as the 'Jetman' has been rescued from the sea after coming up short in his attempt to fly between two continents.

• Obama To Go To Copenhagen Summit

  President Barack Obama has revealed he will travel to Copenhagen for the UN climate change conference next month.

• 'Jetman' In Sea After Failed Record Attempt

  The pilot known as the 'Jetman' has landed in the sea after coming up short in his attempt to fly between two continents.

• 'Jetman' Leaps Into Sky To Make Aviation History

  The pilot known as 'Jetman' has jumped from a plane travelling at 6,500ft in an attempt to make aviation history by flying across the waters between Morocco and Spain.

• More Bodies Found After Philippines Slaughter

  Troops have found 11 more bodies at the site of a gruesome election-related massacre in the Philippines - taking the death toll to 57.

• Torture Camp Chief's Sorrow For 14,000 Killed

  The Khmer Rouge's chief torturer and jailer has expressed "excruciating remorse" for more than 14,000 people killed under his watch.

• 'Jetman' Attempts New Aviation Record

  The pilot known as 'Jetman' is taking off to make aviation history once again in an attempt to cross the waters between Morocco and Spain.

• HIV In Decline As Infections And Deaths Fall

  The global HIV pandemic is finally in decline, according to an official report.

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