Politics

<noinclude> The Ivory Coast's pro-Government Great West Liberation Front (GWLF) militia destroyed their weapons in Guiglo on May 19, as part of an on-going disarmament policy trailing the Ivorian Civil War. President Laurent Gbagbo, who attended Saturday's ceremonial bonfire of weapons, thanked the militia members. Denis Maho Glofiei, leader of the militia, stated that "We've realised that since the signing of [the Peace Deal], we have no more reason to exist," while handing Gbagbo two rifles. The GWLF is one of four pro-government militias

<noinclude> The Western Australian Government has announced that after September 1, 2007 all construction approvals for new homes must comply with new Environmental regulations. The new regulations known as Five Star Plus will be implemented in two stages. Michelle Roberts, minister for Housing and Works, announced that the first stage would increase the cost of a new house by approximately AU$1000 with a second stage to commence next year, at a further cost to homeowners of $1000. “People building new houses should remember these costs would

United States President George W. Bush received an unwelcome gift from an overhead-flying sparrow, which deposited a fresh batch of its feces on the left sleeve of Bush's suit. Bush was addressing the American press on Thursday in a nationally televised broadcast outside the White House in the Rose Garden. The incident occurred just as Bush said, "I've got confidence in Al Gonzales doin' the job," referring to a question asked by a reporter about the controversial dismissal of several U.S. attorneys. Bush then tried to remove the offending ma

<noinclude> Wikinewsie Gabriel Pollard interviewed Lewis Holden, the chair of the Republican Movement and a noted blogger who writes about New Zealand's constitution from a republican's perspective. [He is not to be confused with New Zealand economist Lewis Holden.] In New Zealand, Queen Elizabeth II is the de jure head-of-state, holding the title Queen of New Zealand, despite having very little actual political influence. Surveys sometimes conducted shows that one in three New Zealanders generally support a republic in New Zealand. Holden,

<noinclude> Protesters in the Central Western New South Wales city of Bathurst gave Australian Prime Minister John Howard a cold reception as he arrived for a Liberal Party luncheon in the city. Around 200 unionists and university students gathered to protest the Howard government's new industrial relations regime called Workchoices, the lack of funding for higher education and the introduction of Voluntary Student Unionism. Protesters claimed that the Howard government had ignored rural and regional Australia. Daniel Walton, the community c

<noinclude> Yesterday, United States President George W. Bush nominated James W. Holsinger as the next Surgeon General of the United States. Since August 1, 2006, Kenneth P. Moritsugu has been the acting surgeon general. Richard Carmona was the last surgeon general. He left when his four year term expired at the end of July, 2006.

<noinclude> Mary Cheney, the openly lesbian daughter of United States Vice President Dick Cheney, has a given birth to a son, named Samuel David Cheney. The baby was born weighing 8 lbs and 6 ounces (3.9 kg). Cheney intends to raise the child with her partner, Heather Poe. Samuel David is the sixth grandchild of the Vice President. The grandparents, Dick and wife, Lynne, posed for pictures with the newborn within hours of Samuel David's arrival. In February, while pregnant, Mary said: "This is a baby. This is a blessing from God. It is not

<noinclude> On the occasion of President Bush's commencement speech at the United States Coast Guard Academy on Wednesday, hundreds of protesters gathered in New London, Connecticut. The peaceful demonstration lasted from approximately 7:00 a.m. to noon. Most protesters, such as the large contingent from the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition, were there to push for an immediate end to the Iraq War. Others, including a number of robed professors from nearby universities, carried signs focused on the Bush Administration's surveillance programs and scien

<noinclude> Days after Palestinian refugees fled the Nahr al-Bared refugee camp in Tripoli, northern Lebanon, fighting resumed between the Lebanese Army and the terrorist group, Fatah al-Islam. The fighting, ongoing since Sunday, has so far claimed 69 lives. Elias Murr, the Lebanese defense minister, told Al Arabiyya as quoted: Earlier today in Beirut, the Lebanese Prime Minister, Fouad Siniora, addressed the nation over the current battle in Nahr al-Bared; televised at the Grand Serail. Fouad Siniora issued an ultimatum against Fatah al-Isla

<noinclude> New Zealand Defence Force personnel now have a new honour; the New Zealand Distinguished Service Decoration (DSD) has been approved by the Queen Elizabeth II of New Zealand, Prime Minister Helen Clark has said. The Distinguished Service Decoration is designed to recognise distinguished military service by regular, territorial and reserve members of the Defence Force, including command, leadership and service in an operational environment, or in support of operations, both at home and abroad, says Clark Defence Minister Phil Goff

United States President, George W. Bush, was caught by members of the press this past weekend, not wearing his seat belt while "driving slowly" in a truck on his ranch in Crawford, Texas. After the incident, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow answered questions based on Bush's not wearing one. One question asked was "does he [Bush] wear a seat belt in the limo?" "I don't know. Let me just back up, I have seen him wear it in the limo. I'm not going to give you a report card because my ventures in the limo are relatively rare. Well, it's alw

<noinclude> Grand Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said, "The Islamic system (of Iran) detonated a powerful bomb in the world of politics, which was thousands-fold stronger than the bomb detonated by the U.S. in Hiroshima." He was speaking to Iran's paramilitary forces, the membership of which ranges from an estimate of 400,000 members to the force's commander's claim of eleven million members. This paramilitary group is called the Basij, a volunteer force. Most of its younger members are students, making it "connected to the university and th