Stalinist Youth Movement

Russian Youth Encouraged..
Obediently, couples move to a special section of dormitory tents arranged in a heart-shape and called the Love Oasis, where they can start procreating for the motherland. With its relentlessly upbeat tone, bizarre ideas and tight control, it sounds like a weird indoctrination session for a phoney religious cult. But this organisation - known as "Nashi", meaning "Ours" - is youth movement run by Vladimir Putin's Kremlin that has become a central part of Russian political life...Under Mr Putin, Russia is sliding into fascism, with state control of the economy, media, politics and society becoming increasingly heavy-handed. And Nashi, along with other similar youth movements, such as 'Young Guard', and 'Young Russia', is in the forefront of the charge.

US In Major Arms Deals

US 'Plans Huge Saudi Arms Deal'
The United States is reported to be preparing a major arms deal with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states worth $20bn (£9.8bn) over the next decade.

Israel Hails US Military Aid Rise
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert has confirmed that the United States is planning a significant increase in military and defence aid to Israel.

War Made Easy

Will The US Leave Iraq?

Media Spin on Iraq: We’re Leaving
Urging a course of action that’s now supported by “the best strategic minds in both parties,” the Time story calls for “an orderly withdrawal of about half the 160,000 troops currently in Iraq by the middle of 2008.” And: “A force of 50,000 to 100,000 troops would dig in for a longer stay to protect America’s most vital interests…”

We blocked US plans

'We blocked US plans' - Hezbollah
The leader of Hezbollah, Sheikh Hassan Nasrallah, has said its conflict with Israel last year thwarted the United States' vision for a "new Middle East".

Top 100 Brands

Top 100 Global Brands Scoreboard

Oil Up - Markets Fall

Oil Near All-Time High Over $77
NEW YORK (AP) - Oil prices closed over $77 a barrel, near an all-time high on Friday on technical buying and news of faster-than-expected economic growth.

Dow, S&P Have Worst Week in 5 Years
NEW YORK (AP) -- Wall Street extended its steep decline Friday, propelling the Dow Jones industrials down more than 500 points over two days after investors gave in to mounting concerns that borrowing costs would climb for both companies and homeowners. It was the worst week for the Dow and the Standard & Poor's 500 index in five years

TSX Ends Week Down Nearly 6%
The Toronto stock market ended the session sharply lower Friday, with investors relieved to see the end of a trading week where almost 6 per cent was carved from the TSX over concerns about tightening credit conditions.

Friends Can Make You Fat

With Friends Like These

The list of reasons a person might pack on too many pounds is already plenty long: genes, hormone disorders, a couch-potato lifestyle, love of cheeseburgers. Thanks to a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine, you can add another culprit to the list: friends

Putin To Strengthen Military

Putin Orders Boost in Military, Spying

MOSCOW (AP) - President Vladimir Putin vowed Wednesday to strengthen Russia's military capability and step up spying abroad in response to U.S. plans to build missile defense sites and deploy troops in Eastern Europe.

Iran Will Not Stop

Iran Says It Will Never Stop Nuclear Activities

TEHRAN (Reuters) - Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said on Wednesday Iran would never yield to international pressure to suspend its uranium enrichment work. "Iran will never abandon its peaceful (nuclear) work," Ahmadinejad told state television. "Our nuclear work is legal and why should we stop it?"