Politics

Setting aside their bitter rivalry for the Democratic nomination for President, New York senator Hillary Clinton and Illinois senator Barack Obama, the presumptive Democratic presidential candidate went up on stage together to with a theme of "unity". The joint meeting was a presentation to party supporters in a small town called Unity in New Hampshire. Thousands of supporters from both camps gathered together, cheering both candidates as the two complimented each other and acted like team mates. Clinton described their rivalry as standing "t

Thailand's Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej and his cabinet survived a bitter no-confidence vote called by fellow members of parliament. The opposition called for a no confidence vote over allegations of economic mismanagement, and Samaks's alleged disregard for Thai sovereignty. The final vote saw 280 votes against the motion, and 162 cast as no-confidence. Sharply criticism was levelled at the Minister of Commerce due to the sharp increase in prices of rice in the country; this despite the fact Thailand is a leading exporter of rice. Prices o

The presumptive Democratic Presidential nominee and Illinois state senator Barack Obama conveyed his sympathies and condolonces to the people of the Philippines through President Gloria Arroyo, after the country was struck over the weekend by Typhoon Fengshen. Obama also extended his regrets for not being able to meet Mrs. Arroyo who is on a 10-day official visit in the United States and met up with President George W. Bush at the White House. The senator from Illinois stressed the strong bond between the Philippines and the United States, ta

The Philippines and other members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are becoming alarmed over the rapid increase of global oil prices and are seriously looking into prospects of building nuclear powered plants to energize the electric needs of the 10 member nations of ASEAN. The heads of Asean Power Utilities/Authorities (Hapua) Council got together in Manila this week and are forming an ASEAN Power Grid. Energy ministers and delegates from ASEAN member countries, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Singa

The president of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Chakib Khelil predicts that prices of world crude oil could reach the US$150 to $170 range per barrel before this year's summer ends. In an interview on the French news channel France24, Khelil who is also Algeria's energy minister, also stated that prices won't reach $200 per barrel when asked as to how far would prices would go up. During the interview, Khelil said that prices would depend on how far the United States puts pressure on oil producer Iran, over its nucle

Fulfilling a pledge of fairness, United States president George W. Bush announced Thursday that the United States will soon remove North Korea from a list of countries seen as 'sponsoring terrorism' in the world. The announcement was made as a 'reward' to North Korea for turning over all documents related to its controversial nuclear program. Pyongyang turned over to China documents related to its plutonium core and waste activities. Pyongyang finally turned over documents and plans of its nuclear enrichment facilities in Yongbyong. North K

The day before Zimbabwe's presidential runoff is to be held, President Robert Mugabe says he is open to discussion with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the opposition party that has decided to boycott what they and other African leaders have called a "sham election". On Wednesday, MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai had called for pre-election talks on forming a transitional authority. Mugabe, who had previously shown little interest in talks with the opposition, said at a campaign rally, "Should we emerge victorious ... we will be magnanim

Robert Mugabe, the current head of state in Zimbabwe has said that the scheduled elections will take place in Zimbabwe, despite the fact that there have been calls from many influential organisations, including the United Nations, to cancel the elections due to the fact that the opposition candidate has pulled out. "The election will take place on Friday in accordance with our laws and constitution," said a spokesperson for the Mugabe regime, talking to AFP. Ban Ki-moon, secretary general of the United Nations yesterday called for the electio

In the 2007 Australian Federal election, the Australian Democrats party lost the last of its Senate seats, and as of June 30 will no longer be represented in parliament. However, its leader, Lyn Allison, has confirmed talks with other small political parties such as the Climate Change Coalition with the aim of forming a new political entity. The Democrats have held seats in the Senate for 31 years, and operated under the mission statement "to keep the bastards honest" as coined by former leader Don Chipp in 1980. Its loss of three Senate seats

Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations, has said that the elections in Zimbabwe should be postponed due to the fact that Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Zimbabwe's main opposition party, has said that he will pull out of the race to become the president of Zimbabwe. Ban released a statement highlighting his concerns. "The Secretary-General deeply regrets that, despite the repeated appeals of the international community, the Government of Zimbabwe has failed to put in place the condi

Morgan Tsvangirai, the leader of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), Zimbabwe's main opposition party, has said that he will pull out of the race to become the president of Zimbabwe. He said that he is doing this because "the outcome [of the elections] is determined by... Mugabe himself," and is therefore not fair. "We in the MDC have resolved that we will no longer participate in this violent, illegitimate sham of an election process," said Tsvangirai in a press conference made today. "The courageous people of this country and the peopl

According to party officials, Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) will announce Monday, June 23, whether they will pull out of the 2008 presidential election, due to election violence, or stay in the race. This week alone, at least five MDC activists or their family members have been killed in election violence. The MDC's secretary general, Tendai Biti, was charged with subversion and treason. The case has been delayed until July 7, more than a week after the run-off election on June 27. The charges carry a possible death sentence,