Militants say they won't deal until foreign troops withdraw
Reuters Nov 17, 08 9:00 AM CST
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Taliban leaders have rejected Hamid Karzai's guarantee of safe passage in exchange for beginning peace talks, reports Reuters. The militants instead reiterated demands for all foreign troops to leave Afghanistan before any negotiating begins—a condition the Afghan president rejected as unacceptable. Some analysts don't see Mullah Mohammad Omar's rejection as a total loss, however.
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Will not cave to huge bounty, or US pressure to turn Omar over
Washington Post Nov 16, 08 3:50 PM CST
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Afghan President Hamid Karzai will ensure the safety of Taliban chief Mullah Mohammed Omar if he agrees to peace talks, the Washington Post reports. "If I say I want protection for Mullah Omar, the international community has two choices: remove me or leave," Karzai said, referring to US demands for Omar to be turned over.
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Sarkozy's team leaks transcript pre-summit
Times (UK) Nov 13, 08 4:29 PM CST
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Vladimir Putin would’ve had the Russian army destroy the Georgian government and hang President Mikhail Saakashvili “by the balls” if Nicolas Sarkozy hadn’t intervened, the Times of London reports. In a transcript of August’s cease-fire negotiations leaked by the French president’s office, Putin says he intends to overthrow Georgia; Sarkozy responds that the world will not accept his actions.
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Though Obama team hasn't been consulted, move could insulate Dem from criticism
Newsweek Nov 7, 08 5:13 PM CST
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The Bush administration is moving ever closer to establishing a long-rumored diplomatic office in Iran, Newsweek reports, with a decision possible by Thanksgiving on putting an “interests section” inside another embassy in Tehran, likely the Swiss. The move might signal a victory for Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and company in their final skirmish with Dick Cheney's hardliners.
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Tibetan leader should 'treasure this opportunity': Beijing
BBC Oct 29, 08 12:49 PM CDT
(Newser)
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China has offered a fresh round of negotiations with the Dalai Lama on Tibet’s political status, the BBC reports. The religious leader should “treasure this opportunity,” according to an announcement in Chinese state media, which added that Beijing was willing to overlook the violent Tibetan protests that broke out last March. The Dalai Lama said over the weekend that he doubts whether talks with China will ever result in substantive change.
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Petraeus, set to take charge of Afghanistan policy, backs at least limited negotiations
Wall Street Journal Oct 28, 08 10:51 AM CDT
(Newser)
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The US is strongly considering negotiating with at least some elements of the Taliban, the Wall Street Journal reports. The talks, which would exclude top leaders, are part of a draft White House assessment of strategy in Afghanistan, officials say. Gen. David Petraeus, who takes over Central Command this week, supports the idea, as, to some extent, do both presidential candidates.
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Activists launch growing anti-war movement
Christian Science Monitor Oct 19, 08 5:15 PM CDT
(Newser)
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More and more Afghan activists are pushing for a negotiated end to their country’s increasingly violent war, the Christian Science Monitor reports. Thousands have attended peace assemblies throughout Afghanistan, aimed at forcing the government to open public talks with the Taliban. "We need to pressure the Afghan government and the international community to find a solution without using guns,” one activist says.
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Court order says bank must only deal with Citigroup, for now
Reuters Oct 5, 08 8:00 AM CDT
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In a victory for Citigroup, a New York Supreme Court judge has halted a deal by Wells Fargo to buy Wachovia until further notice, announced Citi executives. The decision prolongs Wachovia’s earlier agreement to deal only with Citigroup as it battles with Wells Fargo to purchase the sixth-biggest US bank, Reuters reports. Wells Fargo argues that its deal is legal and best for Wachovia and taxpayers.
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Key concessions, and a desire to approve legislation, put talks back on track
Washington Post Sep 26, 08 5:01 PM CDT
(Newser)
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After a dramatic exit yesterday, House Republicans returned to talks today on the Wall Street bailout plan, the Washington Post reports. The White House expressed confidence and hoped aloud for a resolution by Monday. Yesterday’s White House meeting, with both candidates, was seen as a misstep. “The insertion of presidential politics has not been helpful,” Senate Majority leader Harry Reid said.
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Legal immunity for troops remains stumbling block in talks
Associated Press Aug 7, 08 1:40 PM CDT
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Significant progress has been made on the security agreement being negotiated between Iraq and the US, the AP reports, with two Iraqi officials saying that the deal sets October 2010 as the deadline for a near-complete withdrawal. Legal immunity for troops remains an issue, and contributed to a “very difficult” call yesterday between Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.
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Mugabe, Tsvangirai sign deal creating framework for talks
BBC Jul 21, 08 12:40 PM CDT
(Newser)
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Robert Mugabe has signed a deal with opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai establishing negotiations on the future of Zimbabwe, the BBC reports. The rivals met for the first time in 10 years to sign the agreement, which South Africa’s Thabo Mbeki witnessed. The deal does not create the power-sharing structure Mbeki proposed; it creates a framework for further negotiations.
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Democrat's stance on Iran, for instance, deemed 'unacceptable' by GOP candidate
Talking Points Memo May 15, 08 5:48 PM CDT
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John McCain today hit Barack Obama harder than ever, Talking Points Memo notes, saying the Democrat’s willingness to talk with Iran proves he “does not have the knowledge, the experience, the background to make the kind of judgments that are necessary to preserve this nation’s security.” Of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, McCain wondered, “What is it that he wants to talk about with him?”
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Increase of 'several dollars' seen
New York Times May 2, 08 3:34 PM CDT
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Microsoft and Yahoo are holding active merger talks, with Microsoft willing to increase its offer “by several dollars,” sources tell the New York Times . The negotiations come as a major breakthrough after months of stalemate; Yahoo shareholders have been fielding calls from both sides seeking to arrive at an acceptable price. Shareholders had sought $35-$37 a share; Microsoft is said to be willing to go as high as $33.
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Construction plans stymie peace talks
Reuters Dec 27, 07 2:04 PM CST
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Israel-Palestine negotiations hit a stumbling block today as Israeli PM Ehud Olmert rejected Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas' call for an end to all settlement activity, Reuters reports. The impasse has been exacerbated by Israel's announcement of new plans to construct hundreds of houses near East Jerusalem, the proposed site of Palestine's future capital.
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