Saturday, June 20, 2009

06/20/09

* Iran police disperse protests Iranian police have used water cannon, batons, tear gas and live rounds to break up protests over the presidential election.

* Navy Positions Destroyer For Possible Intercept of North Korean Ship Suspected of Proliferating Missiles, Nukes The U.S. military is preparing for a possible intercept of a North Korean flagged ship suspected of proliferating weapons material in violation of a U.N. Security Council resolution passed last Friday.

* World hunger 'hits one billion' One billion people throughout the world suffer from hunger, a figure which has increased by 100 million because of the global financial crisis, says the UN.

* Minister Ya'alon: There will be revolution in Iran Minister for Strategic Affairs Moshe Ya'alon said Iranian reformist presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi has brought about a new spirit of openness.

* Sarkozy calls for 'strong' EU president European institutions, especially the European Commission, should be given more power, French President Nicolas Sarkozy said.

* Lieberman: Settlements no obstacle to peace Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman said on Friday he saw good prospects for reviving peace talks with the Palestinians.

* Irish PM hails 'successful' EU summit result Irish Prime Minister Brian Cowen has hailed as "entirely successful" the outcome of an EU summit.

* Mubarak says time is right for Arab-Israeli peace President Barack Obama's "reassertion" of US leadership in the Middle East offers a rare opportunity to get peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

* EU leaders urge Iran to halt violence EU leaders on Friday (19 June) asked Iranian authorities to show restraint against protesters contesting the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

* Taliban gains money, al-Qaida finances recovering He moved his finger slowly across his throat, to show that the Taliban kills truckers who don't pay for safe passage through large swaths of territory near Afghanistan.