Shahan Mufti of the Christian Science Monitor reports from Islamabad.

A suicide bomber in Pakistan killed at least 30 and wounded 100 when he drove into a gathering of tribesmen who were in the midst of plans to combat insurgents in the country.

Since the beginning of the year, 28 bombings have killed over 471 people in Pakistan by suicide bombers — more deaths than either Iraq or Afghanistan.

Shahan Mufti of the Christian Science Monitor speaks with Martin Savidge from Islamabad about the escalating violence in Pakistan, President Asif Ali Zardari’s ability to handle the insurgency and the challenges of dealing with various opposition forces.

AUDIO: Freelance journalist Wafaa Jamil speaks from Ramallah, West Bank about the lack of Palestinian interest in the U.S. elections. Peter Ford of The Christian Science Monitor speaks from Beijing about the China’s similar lack of interest and the absence of China as an issue in the U.S. elections.

Argentinians watch the Oct. 2 debate between vice presidential contenders Sarah Palin and Joe Biden in Buenos Aires.

At the second U.S. presidential debate on Oct. 7, candidates John McCain and Barack Obama discussed a range of foreign policy issues including their thoughts on Iraq, Afghanistan, Russia and Iran. Bloggers around the world watched and responded.

From Canada, the “Mapleleafweb” blog argues that the focus on the economy in this debate will spill over into the upcoming Canadian election on Oct. 14.

From Latin America, the “VivirLatino” blog writes that Obama won’t acknowledge immigration in the debates despite doing so frequently in Spanish-language ads.

From Iraq, the “Iraq Pundit” blog points to changes in Obama’s position in Iraq based on his discussion of moral obligation during the debate.

“Sean’s Russia Blog” assesses the candidates’ discussion of Russia, calling it “Cold War rhetoric without the Cold War.”

From Palestine, the “Body on the Line” blog writes that the debate ignored Palestine.

And blogger “Jonolan” writes about which candidate would be better for Pakistan, concluding that McCain’s plan for a cooperative effort with the Pakistani government would help the country mitigate violence.

Since the world has a stake in the outcome of the U.S. election, The Economist has created a global electoral college that allows people from all over the world to vote for one of the two main candidates. Currently, Barack Obama has received the majority of the over 25,000 votes that have been cast.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user blmurch under a Creative Commons license.

Marcus Mabry, international business editor of The New York Times, speaks with Martin Savidge about the global market meltdown that started in Asia and rolled over to Europe. He says European ministers will try to come up with plan for the EU to take the crisis on together despite disagreement. Some countries favor a bailout like that recently approved by U.S. President Bush, while others dislike the idea of a pan-European plan.

Already, Germany has responded by taking steps to prop up its banks and reassure depositors. Their move to guarantee deposits in personal savings and checking accounts has put pressure on other EU nations to follow suit in order to prevent money from fleeing their banks for German banks.

Jeffrey White of The Christian Science Monitor speaks to Martin Savidge from Berlin, where consumers are uneasy about the safety of their money. He says that Germany responded to changes implemented by Ireland, and that other countries have made similar guarantees to depositors.

Marcus Mabry of The New York Times and Jeffrey White of The Christian Science Monitor discuss the attempt by European countries to coordinate efforts in responding to the financial crisis. /files/2008/10/th_1006_mabry.jpg /files/2008/10/th_1006_mabry.jpg ]]> http://worldfocus.org/blog/2008/10/06/eu-struggles-to-unite-against-bank-crisis/1656/feed/ http://worldfocus.org/blog/2008/10/02/timeline-power-shifts-in-iraq-over-the-past-five-years/1554/ http://worldfocus.org/blog/2008/10/02/timeline-power-shifts-in-iraq-over-the-past-five-years/1554/#comments Fri, 03 Oct 2008 00:31:08 +0000 Worldfocus http://worldfocus.org/?p=1554

AUDIO: Scott Peterson, a correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor, reports from Baghdad on uncertain future for the Sons of Iraq.

Today in Iraq, two suicide bombings killed at least 24 people in Baghdad mosques, marking the end of the Ramadan holy month.

Yesterday, the U.S. military transferred responsibility for the “Sons of Iraq” or the “Awakening Councils” to the Shia-led Iraqi government. The U.S.-backed paramilitary force is a group of 100,000 Sunnis credited with taming violence in Iraq.

The question remains whether the Awakening Councils will be able to integrate into the Shia-led Iraqi government.

Over the last five years, the Iraqi government has endured significant governmental changes. Below is a timeline of the major power transfers within Iraq.

2003

March 19 – U.S. President Bush declares war against Iraq. Days later, the U.S. gains control of Baghdad.

May 24 – U.S. administrator Paul Bremer abolishes the Baath Party and other institutions of Saddam Hussein’s former regime.

2004

March 8 – The government council signs an interim constitution.

June 28 – After the government council is dissolved on June 1, the U.S. transfers power to an interim government led by Iyad Allawi.

2005

January 30 – About 8 million Iraqis vote for the National Assembly (the interim parliament). The Shia United Iraqi Alliance wins a majority and many Sunnis boycott the election.

April 6 – Iraq’s parliament names Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani the president of the transitional government and Shia politician Ibrahim Jaafari is later named prime minister.

October 25 – Iraqis approve a new constitution.

December 15 – Iraqis hold the first full-term parliamentary election since the invasion.

2006

March 16 – The new parliament convenes.

April 22 – After Jalal Talabani is reelected president by the parliament, he asks Nouri al-Maliki to form a government as Iraq’s permanent prime minister, following outgoing transitional leader Ibrahim Jaafari.

December 30 – Saddam Hussein is executed by hanging.

2007

August 12 – Sunni members of the main Iraqi Accordance Front bloc withdraw from the cabinet due to disagreements with Prime Minister Maliki’s power arrangement. Kurdish and Shia leaders ally to support his government.

December 17 – Britain hands over its remaining controlled territory, the southern Basra province, to the Iraqi government.

2008

January 12 – Parliament passes legislation to allow former Baath party members to return to government jobs and public life.

July 19 – The main Sunni Arab bloc rejoins the Shia-led government.

September 1 – U.S. forces hand control of the Sunni province of Anbar to the Shia-led Iraqi government.

September 24 – Iraq passes laws that enable provincial elections next year.

October 1 – The U.S. turns over control of the Awakening Councils to the Iraqi government.

Source: BBC, The New York Times, Reuters

North Korea had agreed to halt its nuclear program in return for aid from the U.S., South Korea, Japan, Russia and China, but it restarted its main nuclear facility last week.

Richard Wood, President of the Japan Society, speaks with Martin Savidge about the tense history of Japan-North Korea relations and Japan’s fear of a nuclear North Korea. North Korea has fired test missiles over Japan in the past.

Donald Kirk of The Christian Science Monitor discusses the forthcoming talks between South Korea and North Korea and South Koreans’ optimism surrounding U.S. negotiator Christopher Hill’s arrival in North Korea.

Richard Wood of the Japan Society and Donald Kirk of The Christian Science Monitor discuss relations with North Korea in the region. /files/2008/10/th_intvkorea_wood.jpg /files/2008/10/th_intvkorea_wood.jpg ]]> http://worldfocus.org/blog/2008/10/01/north-koreas-neighbors-hope-to-salvage-talks/1550/feed/ http://worldfocus.org/blog/2008/09/29/syrians-speculate-on-weekend-bombing/1458/ http://worldfocus.org/blog/2008/09/29/syrians-speculate-on-weekend-bombing/1458/#comments Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:04:32 +0000 Worldfocus http://worldfocus.org/?p=1458

Syria had experienced fewer bombings compared to neighboring countries. Photo: CIA World Factbook

AUDIO: Nicholas Blanford of The Christian Science Monitor discusses the relationship between Syria and Lebanon and possible motivations for the attacks.

A car bombing left 17 civilians dead in the Syrian capital of Damascus over the weekend — the deadliest attack in Syria in over two decades.

Global Voices Online provides a translation from an eyewitness in Damascus.

Blogger “Qunfuz” discusses the Syrian government’s failure to protect its citizens and the media’s treatment of the attack.

Blogger “Sasa” from Damascus derides rumors about the perpetrators and their motivation, urging people to think of the victims rather than politics.

The “Counterterrorism Blog” reviews possible suspects and theorizes that the Syrian Mukhabarat (an intelligence service) was behind the bombing as a “prelude to attack Sunni strongholds inside Lebanon.”

Andrew Lee Butters of Time’s “Middle East” blog talks about what the bombing will mean for Syria.

Today, an attack on the Lebanese military left at least five dead. Experts have said the attacks in Syria and Lebanon are connected, pointing to an influx of insurgents from Iraq as one source of violence. Syria and Lebanon have recently attempted to establish diplomatic ties.

Donald Kirk of The Christian Science Monitor speaks with Martin Savidge about North Korea’s motivations given the upcoming U.S. elections. Kirk discusses South Korea’s response to its neighbor’s nuclear invigoration and relations between the two countries.

Worldfocus’s previous interview with Kirk on the matter can be found here.

Leon Sigal, an expert on North Korea and nuclear disarmament issues, estimates that North Korea has about half a dozen nuclear weapons that might pose a threat to nearby countries and could effectively begin producing nuclear weapons within three months.

Worldfocus’s previous interview with Sigal on the matter can be found here.

Niger River Delta, Nigeria

AUDIO: Sarah Simpson of The Christian Science Monitor provides an update on the crisis.

Rebel militants threatened an “oil war” in Nigeria after attacks on Shell and Chevron flow stations earlier this week.  Oil companies claim that the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) has killed 100 people and still holds 27 oil workers hostage.

Pipeline bombings and other attacks began on September 13 when the rebel militia said they reacted to an unprovoked attack by the Nigerian military.  MEND has ordered oil companies in the oil-rich region to evacuate or risk attack with the objective of gaining control of the oil-rich resources of this poverty-stricken East African nation.

Here is a Reuters video about Nigeria’s oil industry, the oil pollution in the region and the impetus for Nigerians to join militant groups.

The blog “Reginald’s Weblog” writes about Nigeria’s relationship with oil companies and questions whether these attacks will lead to a civil war.

Blogger “Nigerian Curiosity” says that war is not an option, and some worry that the battle between militants and the government could throw Nigeria into violent anarchy.

The blog “Armchair Enlightened Despot” highlights the corrupt relationship between the government and rebel militias and asserts that the Nigerian people continue to suffer.

The violence has halted oil production by 20 percent in Nigeria. The Niger Delta is currently the U.S.’s fifth largest supplier of crude imports.