Bangla Polls Dubious (January 05, 2007)
After indicating their participation in the January 22 polls, the 14-party opposition led by former Prime Minister and Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina have now decided to boycott the elections alleging that it was “stage-managed.”<More>

UN Calls for Ceasefire in Lanka (January 05, 2007)
A top UN official appealed to the Sri Lankan Government (SLG) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to stop their fighting as the citizens “continue to suffer deeply” and the recent civilian death from SLG air attack is causing “deepest concern.”<More>

Russian Air Defense for Iran (January 05, 2007)
Ignoring international sanctions on Tehran for its suspected nuclear weapons program, Moscow supplied “at least half” of the contracted Tor-M1 short-range air defense systems valued at USD 1.4 billion to be deployed around strategically sensitive centers.<More>