Category Archives: The World

Iran hosted a summit of the 120-nation Non-Aligned movement this week. But the conference did not go exactly as Iranian leaders had hoped, with several delegates openly opposing some of Iran’s most controversial policies. It was an extremely diverse group that met in Tehran, representing more than half the world’s countries. Among the 120 delegation chiefs were more than two dozen heads of state. But with such a broad-based group, it was likely to be difficult to reach agreement on anything but the most general policy pronouncements.  That would not accommodate Iran’s hope to garner support for its nuclear program, its strident stance against the West and Israel, and its … Continue reading →

Despite claims by Julian Assange that Washington is plotting to extradite and execute him, U.S. and European government sources say the United States has issued no criminal charges against the WikiLeaks founder and has launched no attempt to extradite him. Moreover, Obama administration officials remain divided over the wisdom of prosecuting Assange, the sources said, and the likelihood of U.S. criminal charges against him is probably receding rather than growing. The Obama administration has said Assange’s immediate fate is in the hands of Britain, Sweden and Ecuador. Earlier this year, British authorities obtained a court order authorizing them to extradite Assange to Sweden for questioning in a sexual molestation case. … Continue reading →

In Europe, where more than 200,000 people thronged a Berlin rally in 2008 to hear Barack Obama speak, there’s disappointment that he hasn’t kept his promise to close the military prison at Guantanamo Bay, and perceptions that he’s shunting blame for the financial crisis across the Atlantic. In Mogadishu, a former teacher wishes he had sent more economic assistance and fewer armed drones to fix Somalia’s problems. And many in the Middle East wonder what became of Obama’s vow, in a landmark 2009 speech at the University of Cairo, to forge a closer relationship with the Muslim world. In a world weary of war and economic crises, and concerned about … Continue reading →

President Barack Obama said Friday he was ploughing ahead with potential sanctions against countries that keep buying oil from Iran, including allies of the United States, in a deepening campaign to starve Iran of money for its disputed nuclear program. The world oil market is tight but deep enough to keep the squeeze on Iran, Obama ruled. The sanctions aim to further isolate Iran’s central bank, which processes nearly all of Iran’s oil purchases, from the global economy. Obama’s move clears the way for the U.S. to penalize foreign financial institutions that do oil business with Iran by barring them from having a U.S.-based affiliate or doing business here. Obama’s … Continue reading →