Government, law and world affairs explained — how policy and institutions actually work, and the history behind the headlines, minus the shouting.
Iceland yesterday urged Nato to persuade US to scrap controversial plans to withdraw air defences that have protected alliance’s smallest member for more than half a century. Lord Robertson, Nato secretary-general, was meeting leaders in Reykjavik over a belated footnote to the... Iceland Wants Us Planes to Stay .
Andrew Meldrum, The Observer’s correspondent in Harare, tells of his fear and revulsion after he was arrested for being a journalist. Andrew Meldrum: My Night in Mugabe’s Stinking Jail.
China is starting to move away from its one-child policy and compulsory birth quotas, just when Washington has denounced it for carrying out coercive abortion, international experts say. China moves away from one-child policy.
Sandra Jordan reports from Rafah on death of American activist Rachel Corrie, crushed by an Israeli bulldozer as she battled to prevent destruction at a refugee camp. Making of a Martyr.
The problem of ticking bomb - rediscovered after September 11 by Alan Dershowitz, a renowned criminal defense lawyer in United States - is old hat. Should physical torture be applied - where psychological strain has failed - in order to discover whereabouts of a ticking bomb and thus prevent a mass slaughter of innocent? This apparent ethical dilemma has been confronted by ethicists and jurists
Yasser Arafat reached out directly to Israeli people last night in a rare Israeli television interview in which he claimed to be complying with Ariel Sharon’s demand that he should arrest Hamas and Islamic Jihad militants. Following Palestinian police’s roundup this week after... Arafat appeals to Israelis in TV interview.
More than 12 years after she lured six men to their death in woodlands of central Florida, America’s most notorious female serial killer was executed by lethal injection yesterday, having said she looked forward to meeting God so that she could punish those who had mistreated her. Florida executes woman serial killer.
Sudanese official denies accusations and says au pair was always free to leave. Foreign Office Investigates Claim That Woman Was Kept As Slave By Diplomat .
Harvest-time killing fuels hatred between Palestinians and Jewish settlers. Harvest-time Killing Fuels Hatred Between Palestinians and Jewish Settlers .
The state department head of intelligence said yesterday that US had substantial information that Cuba was developing biological weapons and exporting dual-use technology, which could be used for germ warfare, to Iran. US Claims Proof of Cuba’s Germ War Project.
Actor Tawny Kitaen, best known for her role in 1984 Tom Hanks film Bachelor Party , was arrested last Monday for spousal abuse. Tawny Kitaen Arrested.
The west’s condemnation of Zimbabwe’s election process is a breathtaking case of double standards. The chasm that opened up between various teams of observers at Zimbabwean elections shows urgency of reformulating one of oldest questions of political philosophy: who observes observers? John Laughland: Who observes observers?.
Senior Afghan military officials said yesterday that they believed deputy leader of Taliban regime was hiding in eastern Afghan mountains during intensive US attacks there last week. Taliban No 2 ‘was Caught in Us Attack’ .
Security for world’s most powerful politicians is difficult enough these days. There are constant threat of al-Qaeda fanatics and hordes of anti-globalisation protesters hammering at barricades. Grizzly bears targeted to protect G8.
Princess Buniah al Saud, socialite and niece of King Fahd of Saudi Arabia, no longer wants to show her face. She has gone to ground in Washington, under protection of Saudi embassy. Her live-in maid, Ismiyati Soryono, has accused her of abuse, which has highlighted concerns about... US Rich Accused of Servant Abuse As Saudi Princess Goes Into Hiding .
