http://www.fourwinds10.net 2013-05-19T14:53:38+01:00 text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1368548609 text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1368131456 text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1367687705 April 3,2013 Cites wiretapped conversations between candidate, ayatollah's aide, on fraud Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad lost the 2009 presidential elections overwhelmingly, garnering only a third of the vote and sparking massive protests that led to arrests, torture and executions, WND learned Thursday. The source for this report, a member of the Revolutionary Guards’ intelligence unit, hopes to provide WND with a tape that proves Iranian officials admitted the truth about the level of fraud in the 2009 elections. The source said the taped phone conversation, a bit longer than 11 minutes, is between Ahmadinejad and Vahid Haghanian, the head of the supreme leader’s office. The two discuss the fraud in which Haghanian said election officials added millions of votes to Ahmadinejad’s tally to declare him the winner. During that phone call, the two argued as Haghanian told Ahmadinejad what the supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expected of him. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1366129024 April 15, 2013 In meetings with Chinese leaders last weekend, US Secretary of State John Kerry engaged in a barely disguised form of blackmail to pressure Beijing to use “all options” to force its ally North Korea to dismantle its nuclear programs and destroy its nuclear weapons. Impoverished North Korea is completely dependent on China for vital imports, including oil and economic aid. In recent weeks, Washington has aggressively ratcheted up tensions on the Korean Peninsula following North Korea’s third nuclear test in February. As well as flying nuclear capable B-2 and B-52 strategic bombers to South Korea, the US has bolstered anti-missile ballistic systems in Alaska and Guam, and moved two Aegis-class destroyers, equipped with anti-missile defences, closer to Korean waters. Beijing has in the past protested against the build-up of US anti-ballistic missile systems in the Asia-Pacific region, knowing that China is the primary target. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1366127549 Alpril 13, 2013 Venezuela is the top target for US media, not to mention the State Department, legendary director Oliver Stone said at a special screening of his film on Hugo Chavez. Sunday's vote is a choice between two very different futures for Venezuela, he said. American filmmaker Oliver Stone, whose 2009 film “South of the Border” attempted to help Chavez’s image in the US, bemoaned the western media’s portrayal of Chavez as a clownish thorn-in-the-side of democracy. When asked about the perception that US President Barack Obama betrayed the country, Stone reminded the audience that the people of Venezuela will ultimately be responsible for their own success on the global stage. “I think you’re on the right path,” he said. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1365783445 April 9, 2013 Wikileaks has done it again. I guess the US will really have to get tough now with Julian Assange and Bradley Manning. In a secret US cable to the State Department, dated November 9, 2006, and recently published online by WikiLeaks, former US ambassador to Venezuela, William Brownfield, outlines a comprehensive plan to destabilize the government of the late President Hugo Chávez. The cable begins with a Summary: During his 8 years in power, President Chavez has systematically dismantled the institutions of democracy and governance. The USAID/OTI program objectives in Venezuela focus on strengthening democratic institutions and spaces through non-partisan cooperation with many sectors of Venezuelan society. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1365525791 text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1365174331 April 5, 2013 Frankly, it never was much of a “League” of Arab states. And arguably it never really achieved  a whole lot but two dozen  lavish ‘summits’  offering inflated rhetoric, often calculated to assuage the Arab people about their central cause, Palestine. This, despite high hopes across Arabia when its founders promulgated a Charter on March 22, 1945 and took a solemn oath to prevent the theft of Palestine by European colonists. Yet, notions of fundamental fairness require that we all acknowledge, that to its credit, the Arab League has tried to achieve a modicum of pan-Arab cooperation on issues involving economic and financial affairs, commercial relations, customs, currency and questions of agriculture and industry, communications including, railroads, roads, aviation, navigation, postal services, cultural affairs, nationality, passports, visas, execution of judgments and extradition of criminals and  even a bit regarding social affairs and health issues. Despite years of pledges to eliminate visas requirements, along the lines of the European Schengen visa it should be noted that only one Arab country has waived visas for their Arab sisters and brothers internationally. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1364866437 text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1364486185 March 28, 2013 Italy remains without a government four weeks after the country’s parliamentary elections. Last Friday, Italian President Giorgio Napolitano gave the head of the Democratic Party (PD), Pier Luigi Bersani, a mandate to form a government. Over the last two days, however, Bersani has been bluntly rejected by both potential partners in a government—the right-wing People of Freedom (PDL) of Silvio Berlusconi and the populist 5-Star Movement (M5S) of comedian Beppe Grillo. The basic dilemma Bersani confronts is that he is seeking to assemble a government to carry forward austerity policies demanded by the bank and the European Union (EU), although the Italian electorate repudiated such policies in the February 24-25 election. Incumbent Prime Minister Mario Monti, whose technocratic government ruthlessly imposed EU austerity measures after coming to power in November 2011, won only 10 percent of the vote. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1362758696 March 7, 2013 4:17 pm TheUnhivedMind 1 Comment [You are requested to please read the comment] 7 March 2013 Last updated at 12:47 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21698802 Silvio Berlusconi convicted over Italy wiretap Italy’s former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi has been convicted and sentenced to a year in jail over an illegal wiretap. He was accused of arranging for a police wiretap concerning a political rival to be leaked and published in a newspaper run by his brother. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1362420880 Feb. 28, 2013 Exclusive: Secret war on enemy within.   The Government has secretly ramped up a controversial programme that strips people of their British citizenship on national security grounds – with two of the men subsequently killed by American drone attacks. An investigation by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism for The Independent has established that since 2010, the Home Secretary, Theresa May, has revoked the passports of 16 individuals, many of whom are alleged to have had links to militant or terrorist groups. Critics of the programme warn that it allows ministers to “wash their hands” of British nationals suspected of terrorism who could be subject to torture and illegal detention abroad. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1361810002 Feb. 22, 2013 The Russian lower house has approved in the first reading a set of amendments to the Law on Government that bans foreign bank accounts and securities for top state officials. 443 deputies voted in favor of the bill with the required minimum to change the law on the government being two thirds of all present Lower House MPs, which makes 226 votes.   The bill was submitted to the parliament by President Putin last week and also last week it was approved by the State Duma anti-corruption committee.   The bill covers all officials that assume state positions in the Russian Federation, the Prosecutor General and his deputies, the Central Bank board, top regional officials and key executives of state-owned corporations, funds and other organizations that have their managers appointed by the president, the government or the prosecutor general. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1361386730 Feb. 19, 2013 This village in northwest Myanmar has the besieged air of a refugee camp. It is clogged with people living in wooden shacks laid out on a grid of trash-strewn lanes. Its children are pot-bellied with malnutrition. (photo: The International News) everal years before President Obama signaled the "opening" of Myanmar (Burma) with his six-hour visit to Yagon (Rangoon) in November 2012, the Chinese started building oil and gas pipelines from the Myanmar coast to the Chinese interior. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1360603977 Feb. 11, 2013 (NaturalNews) A few days ago, Argentina's populist female president Cristina Kirchner ordered a price freeze on food products. This price freeze was levied against the largest food retailers in the country, and it is just the latest example of utterly insane economic policies made by populist national leaders who inevitably end up causing massive suffering and economic damage to the nations they claim to lead. In case you're not familiar with Kirchner, this woman is a mafia-style criminal, a populist political hustler who has, for years, fabricated economic data to claim Argentina has low inflation. (In truth, the inflation rate there is over 25%. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1360603147 February 11, 2013 12:17 am TheUnhivedMind Leave a Comment Ireland says sorry to the 10,000 women slaves of Catholic workhouses who were locked up and brutalised by nuns 2013 02 07 http://cultofthedeadfish.blogspot.ca/2013/02/ireland-says-sorry-to-10000-slaves-of.html Women who had their childhoods ‘stolen away’, locked up in Catholic-run workhouses received a qualified apology from the Irish government yesterday. Over a period of 70 years, an estimated 10,000 were sent to the ‘Magdalene laundries’ to carry out unpaid manual labour under the supervision of nuns. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1359476916 Jan. 28, 2013 Magnitsky Act implementation and uneasiness in US-Russia relations, NATO approving the deployment of Patriot missile interceptors to defend Turkish border with Syria, modus vivendi in which there could be a reduction of violence in Syria, chemical weapons issue, Hague tribunal and economic crisis in the EU – these issues Voice of Russia discussed with Noam Chomsky a famous American philosopher, linguist, and political activist. Chomsky also warned that US placing a missile system near Russia’s borders is a highly provocative act. S-Russia Relations My first question is supposed to be related to Magnitsky Act and uneasiness between Russia and the US. What do you think about it? Is there going to be something big related to this Act? I think the right reaction on the part of Russia would be to pass a bill which would require the Russian Foreign Office to maintain a public list of human rights abusers in the US and freeze their assets. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1359389268 Jan. 22, 2013 President Morsi created a new constitution for Egypt on December 26, 2012. Prior to this, Morsi was forced by massive street protests in Egypt to rescind an executive decree that granted him sweeping presidential powers. His opponents called it an empty gesture as Morsi’s government rolled out the tanks and brought out the Egyptian military from their barracks into the streets. Opponents of Morsi and the Egyptian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood accused him and his Freedom and Justice Party of playing a game to stupefy Egyptians by consistently making propositions, then withdrawing them, and then making them again to create confusion. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1359388368 Jan. 27, 2013 When the global financial system crumbled over four years ago, Iceland played host to one of the most dramatic economic collapses in modern history. Its three largest banks were unable to refinance debt roughly ten times the size of the country's gross domestic product (GDP), causing one of the world's wealthiest nations to limp with hat in hand to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The island became a symbol for capitalism's systemic failure. Now, Iceland is making headlines for more positive reasons: activists there are in the process of advancing some of the strongest freedom of information laws and journalist protections in the world, and the Icelandic economy, while still beset by problems, is significantly outperforming other crisis-stricken countries. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1359387229 text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1358870463 January 21, 2013 4:32 pm TheUnhivedMind 1 Comment ‘Drastic measures needed to build Italy’ Mon, 21 Jan 2013 04:16:26 GMT http://edition.presstv.ir/TextOnly/detail.aspx?id=284701 Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti has launched his re-election campaign, calling for drastic reforms to lead the eurozone country out of its economic crisis. “Italy needs radical reforms. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1357663327 text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1357148985 December 29, 2012 5:00 pm TheUnhivedMind 1 Comment Saudi monarchy betraying the Muslim world: Kevin Barret Sat Dec 29, 2012 12:18PM GMT http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/12/29/280706/saudi-arabia-betrayed-islamic-world/ Saudi Arabia props up the US dollar by buying securities and so on. Basically, they are pumping oil into the American dollar and propping up American imperialism, and that means they’re making a huge compromise with Zionism because the pro-Israeli forces are so strong here in the US that by maintaining this alliance with the US, the Saudis have potentially betrayed the Arab and Palestinian cause and they’ve betrayed the Islamic world because, of course, Palestine has been an Islamically administered holy land ever since Islam existed.” Saudi Arabia has betrayed the Islamic world, while supporting the United States and Zionists at the expense of Muslims in the Middle East, an outstanding political scholar tells Press TV. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1357145331 December 22, 2011 19:14 THEUNHIVEDMIND 3 Comments http://theunhivedmind.com/wordpress/?p=16865 THEUNHIVEDMIND on December 22, 2011 at 19:26 said:   I strongly suggest you keep your eyes on whats going on in North Korea because this scenario above may be what might just be played out shortly tied with Iran. Interesting how the U.S. were having war games based on Kim Jong II dying only one week prior to his so-called heart attack. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1356972440 Dec. 30 2012  As the South-East Asian nation of Malaysia prepares for general elections, distrust of the political opposition and accusations of foreign interference have been major talking points in the political frequencies emanating from Kuala Lumpur. The United Malays National Organization (UMNO) leads the country’s ruling coalition, Barisan Nasional, and has maintained power since Malaysian independence in 1957. One of Malaysia’s most recognizable figures is former Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, who has been credited with ushering in large-scale economic growth and overseeing the nation’s transition from an exporter of palm oil, tin, and other raw materials, into an industrialized economy that manufactures automobiles and electronic goods. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1355850154 Dec. 13, 2012 The United States African Command (AFRICOM) was created in 2007 under then Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld in the Bush Administration as a Military Command center that covers the entire continent of Africa.  They wanted to create a permanent footprint in Africa to maintain the peace and security it desires that is deemed beneficial for US interests.  In a White House Press Release on Feb 6, 2007 the Bush Administration announced that a new centralized US command will be present in the African Continent through AFRICOM: “This new command will strengthen our security cooperation with Africa and create new opportunities to bolster the capabilities of our partners in Africa. Africa Command will enhance our efforts to bring peace and security to the people of Africa and promote our common goals of development, health, education, democracy, and economic growth in Africa”. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1355362789 text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1355362435 text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1355335514 FW 12/12/12/ (Oct. 23, 2012) Enlarge Image FILE - In this May 25, 2009 file photo, Italian Industry Minister Claudio Scajola attends the closing press conference of the energy meeting of the Group of Eight (G8) industrialized countries in Rome. Claudio Scajola is under investigation for alleged corruption in connection with Finmeccanica contracts in Brazil for the supply of Naval frigates, Italian media reported Tuesday, Oct. 23, 2012. Police earlier in the day arrested the former sales manager for Finmeccancia, Paolo Pozzessere, on suspicion of international corruption related to the supply of helicopters and other technology to Panama. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1355335315 Dec. 11, 2012 Syria issued on Tuesday arrest warrants against former Prime Minister Saad Hariri, Mustaqbal MP Oqab Saqr, and Syrian opposition member Louay al-Meqdad. MTV said the arrest warrants were issued on charges of “arming and financing terrorist groups in Syria.” According to information obtained by the TV network, the Syrian judiciary sent the warrants to the Damascus-based criminal investigations office of the Arab Interior Ministers Council. The office in turn emailed the warrants to the Interpol office of Lebanon's Internal Security Forces which submitted them to Interior Minister Marwan Charbel. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1354898965 Dec. 6, 2012 December 6, 2012 3:46 pm TheUnhivedMind 1 Comment Vatican Hails UN Palestinian State Vote, Calls For Special Status For Jerusalem By By Philip Pullella Posted: 11/29/2012 9:42 pm EST Updated: 11/29/2012 9:51 pm EST http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/29/vatican-palestinian-state_n_2215307.html (Reuters) – The Vatican hailed the United Nations’ implicit recognition of a Palestinian state on Thursday and called for an internationally guaranteed special status for Jerusalem, something bound to irritate Israel. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1354898677 Dec. 7, 2012 Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and the entire government resigned today in a surprise move after controversial elections as the economy teeters on the brink of recession. Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, right, in Parliament in March Photo: GETTY The presidency said President Viktor Yanukovych had accepted Mr Azarov's request to give up his post and become an MP, a move expected to be repeated by several cabinet ministers. It remained unclear who would fill the powerful post of premier, with some analysts speculating it could go to a member of the elite close to Mr Yanukovych known as the "Family". "President Viktor Yanukovych accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, satisfying the demand of the latter," the statement added. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1354672495 text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1354387729 Nov. 30, 2012 Former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton blamed the Obama administration for failing to block the U.N.'s defacto recognition Thursday of a sovereign Palestinian state, saying the White House never took the issue "seriously."   "This is a reflection of an ongoing failure by the Obama administration to take this issue seriously," Bolton told Fox News's Greta Van Susteren Thursday night, adding that the president should have moved more forcefully in October, when the Palestinian Authority was made a member of the U. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1354386412 Dec. 1, 2 012 Iceland Trade Surplus ISK 15 Billion in October   IcelandReview-18 hours ago The value of exported goods from Iceland during the month of October totaled ISK 63.3 billion (USD 503 million, EUR 387 million) and imports ... text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1354295839 text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1354034723 Nov. 25, 2012 I wrote last week that the recent Israeli aggression against Gaza is a test for US President Barack Obama as to whether he will keep his word from 2009 and work towards a two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict now that he has been re-elected. A cease-fire was reached once more, after scores of Palestinians were killed and Gaza was once more ravaged, but there is no indication whatsoever of any intention of the Obama administration towards putting its weight behind a peaceful resolution of the conflict. What Obama did was say that Israel has the right to defend itself, send Hillary Clinton to the region after Israel had well advanced its bombing and killing, and not even bother to warn Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against a ground invasion of Gaza. He contented himself with working towards a cease-fire after Israel had done its work, through President Mohammed Morsi of Egypt who, unfortunately, needs to get along well with the US because of the financial aid he needs to keep the economy going. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1354034201 text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1353952248 November 24, 2012 1:59 pm TheUnhivedMind Egypt judges condemn ‘unprecedent attack’ by Mursi President Mursi says he is making decisions for the good of all Egyptians 24 Ноябрь 2012 Last updated at 13:32 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-20476693 Egypt’s top judges have accused President Mohammed Mursi of staging an “unprecedented attack” on the judiciary. The president passed a decree earlier this week granting himself extensive new powers. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1353779276 Nov. 23, 2012 Tara Todras-Whitehill for The New York Times Egyptians in central Cairo ran from tear gas during clashes with the police on Friday. Protesters took to the streets in several cities. More Photos » CAIRO — Protests erupted across Egypt on Friday, as opponents of President Mohamed Morsi clashed with his supporters over a presidential edict that gave him unchecked authority and polarized an already divided nation while raising a specter, the president’s critics charged, of a return to autocracy.   In an echo of the uprising 22 months ago, thousands of protesters chanted for the downfall of Mr. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1353511647 text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1353381564 text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1351181636 Oct. 24, 2012 Mitt Romney’s single mention of Latin America last night, calling it a “huge opportunity" for the United States, generated immediate glee from Latin Americanists across Twitter – but the hemisphere got no nod from President Obama, and then both went silent on the topic.   Given that the final presidential debate Monday evening was dominated by the Middle East and terrorism, most of the world was left out by President Obama and Mr. Romney. That includes the whole of Europe and its debt crisis. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1350846054 text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1349968265 text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1347729067 MALAGA, Spain, Sep 12 2012 (IPS) - “It’s possible that two children died so that you could have that mobile phone,” says Jean-Bertin, a 34-year-old Congolese activist who wants to end the “absolute silence” around the crimes committed in his country to exploit strategic raw materials like coltan. The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has at least 64 percent of worldwide reserves of coltan, the colloquial African name for a dull black ore composed of two minerals, columbite and tantalite. Tantalum, the metal extracted from this ore, is a rare, hard, blue-gray, lustrous transition metal that is highly corrosion resistant. It is used in the production of capacitors for electronic equipment such as mobile phones, computers and tablets, as well as in earphones, prosthetics, implants and turbine blades, among many other products. Mobile phones ready for recycling. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1347638539 Sept. 12, 2012 Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak lauds the achievements of his government in delivering economic growth while other countries struggle to avoid recession. That ability to deliver consistent economic development is threatened by the proposed US-backed Trans-Pacific Partnership, shaped in secret by private companies To commemorate Malaysia’s 55th Independence Day, Prime Minister Najib Razak published an article highlighting the nation’s various accomplishments, principally that while much of world’s economies are “either flat or falling,” Malaysia is steadily delivering high figures of economic growth. [1] The ruling Barisan Nasional coalition, although perceived by the middle class to be unpopular, has overseen consistent economic development and has worked to raise incomes and provide consumer affordability. Despite these achievements, the upper echelons of Malaysia’s ruling coalition have seemingly endorsed a controversial international trade agreement that will have enormous impacts on domestic consumers and will even undermine the government’s own ability to issue legislation. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1347474733 Sept. 11, 2012 BEIJING (AP) — A territorial flare-up between China and Japan intensified Tuesday as two Beijing-sent patrol ships arrived near disputed East China Sea islands in a show of anger over Tokyo’s purchase of the largely barren outcroppings from their private owners. The China Marine Surveillance has drawn up a plan to safeguard China’s sovereignty of the islands and the ships were sent to assert those claims, said the Chinese government’s official news agency, Xinhua. The marine agency is a paramilitary force whose ships are often lightly armed. The rocky islands, known as Senkaku to Japanese and Diaoyu to Chinese, have been the focus of recurring spats between the countries and also are claimed by Taiwan. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1346937512 Sept. 4, 2012 Supranational ASEAN is Super Folly for Southeast Asia. US reveals ASEAN as neo-imperial consolidation as Clinton calls on bloc to present a “united front” against China. In the literary classic “Gulliver’s Travels,” the protagonist, Lemuel Gulliver, finds himself shipwrecked on an island of tiny people called, “Lilliputians.” While he slept, the Lilliputians used their tiny rope and stakes to tie Gulliver down. text/html 1970-01-01T00:00:00+01:00 http://www.fourwinds10.net http://www.fourwinds10.net/siterun_data/government/foreign_policy_and_government/news.php?q=1345481033 Aug. 15, 2012 What is happening in Syria is a sign of things to come for the region. Regime change is not the sole goal of the US and its allies in Syria. Dividing the Syrian Arab Republic is the end goal of Washington in Syria. Britain’s Maplecroft, which specializes in consulting on strategic risk, has said that we are witnessing the balkanization of the Syrian state: “Kurds in the north, Druze in the southern hills, Alawites in the coastal northwestern mountainous region and the Sunni majority elsewhere.