From stone throwing kids to online activists: the e-Palestine movementPalestinians have figured out one the most effective methods of mobilising the youth: bringing their activism online. They foster an international diaspora and avoid the traditional Hamas and Fatah tensions and talk in chat rooms. Can they mimic the success of Obama’s online campaign?
Politics / The World
Why Karadzic is not getting a fair trial
Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic’s plea to be allowed more time to prepare his defence against serious of charges, including two counts of genocide, is in fact an entirely legitimate one.
The untold story behind the words that rocked the Obama campaign
Barack Obama’s notorious campaign remark in that “bitter” Pennsylvania blue-collar voters “cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them” was almost his undoing. Mayhill Fowler provides a fascinating behind-the-scenes insight into why he said what he did.
Former UK ambassador: CIA sent people to be “raped with broken bottles” in Uzbekistan
The former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan claims the CIA sent terror suspects to the country as part of its extraordinary rendition program, where they were “raped with broken bottles” and were forced to watch their children tortured in front of them, to gather intelligence.
The Tea Party descends on DC
10,000 members of America’s right-wing Tea Party movement have swarmed DC to “scare” members of Congress from voting for health care reform. 10 have been arrested, while an All-Star line-up of GoP Reps showed up. Can they actually “kill the bill”?
Europe gets a new constitution — sort of
The big news in Europe this week is the final ratification of the Lisbon treaty, which provides a new constitutional structure for the European Union. But where’s the euroscepticism gone? Has the EU proved its ‘socialist plot’ claims wrong?
Is the UN helping Iran launder money?
Iran may be using a UN agency, intended to facilitate financial payments between Asian countries, to route billions of dollars offshore and circumvent American sanctions, a former US Treasury official alleges.
Former communist countries don’t like capitalism
Twenty years ago the Berlin Wall fell and communism in Eastern Europe crashed down with it. Except, capitalism and democracy are less popular now in Russia, Czech Republic and East Germany than they were in 1991. What, greed isn’t good?
China’s "judo diplomacy" on ore still kicking
China’s Vice-Premier Li Keqiang recent trip down under only serves as a salutary reminder of the increasingly sophisticated yet tough approach by the PRC in its dealings with weaker nation states such as Australia, writes Tony Lamond.
New Jersey turns a deep, dark shade of purple
If people still bought newspapers in America, they’d be reading about a Republican resurgence today, with the Republicans winning their first election in New Jersey since 1997, writes Jason Whittaker.
David Nutt: Governments should get real on drugs 
Hartcher: The unstoppable tropical mess of Fiji
Fiji’s military ruler Frank Bainimarama has gone rogue, officially severing diplomatic ties with Australia. We’ve responded by putting on aid sanctions. But since historically sanctions don’t bring about regime change, why bother? asks Peter Hartcher.
Republicans stage a comeback
On the one-year anniversary of Barack Obama’s landslide win, the winds of change appear to have shifted, with two Republican candidates winning seats in this year’s state elections. Is this a sign that voters are becoming increasingly disaffected with the new President and his party?
revealed 
Iran steps up uranium production
Satellite images obtained by Bloomberg show Iran has increased its production of uranium, according to nuclear analysts. The country now has enough to build two atomic bombs a year. It this further evidence of a covert nuclear weapons program?
Sheridan: Being hypocritical appears to be the Australian Solution
So, Indonesia did Australia a favour by agreeing to take boat people and house them in their detention centres and all they’ve got from it is a bunch of bad publicity? Time for the lefties to get over the fanatical hypocrisy and stop supporting people smugglers, writes Greg Sheridan.
Dowd: Rush Limbaugh is immature and narcissistic
Shock jock Rush Limbaugh is one of the key media mouths of the Republican Party and he loves to insult at Obama. Too bad he forgets the actions of his good mate Dubya, because it wasn’t Obama who stuffed the economy or brought about the war in Iraq, notes Maureen Dowd.
Iran’s opposition protests return: a live blog
Iranian opposition protesters are again taking to the streets, as officials mark the 30th anniversary of the US embassy in Tehran being taken hostage. Protesters are being reportedly beaten, injured and arrested. The Guardian live blogs the uprising.
weird 
The most bizarre CIA programs of all time
The CIA has funded some odd programs throughout its history. Like, luring men with prostitutes and then drugging them to observe the effects of acid and LSD. And implementing cats with microphones to spy on the Russians. Fun!
Karzai vs. Abdullah: a 30-year saga of alliance and betrayal
The recent electoral stand-off between Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai and Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah is just the latest — and perhaps final — chapter in a conflict that has been going on between the two men for 30 years.
Was the fall of the Berlin Wall a planned government plot?
Was the iconic fall of the Berlin Wall 20 years ago not due to the accepted story of a stuff up at a press conference and then a spontaneous protest, but rather a well orchestrated political plan between both governments?
Clinton and Bush to face-off
Billed as “The Hottest Ticket in Political History”, former US Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush will face-off in a public debate in February next year. A ringside ticket will set you back US$1250, but the slugfest promises to be worth every penny.
What would Candidate Obama think of President Obama?
It’s been a year since Barack Obama won the US election, and the man who once shouted “Yes we can!” has had to grapple with the reality that, quite often, no we can’t. How would the Obama of a year ago view himself today? muses Arianna Huffington.
leaked The lost Sarah Palin speeches
Read the concession speech the Republican Party wouldn’t let Sarah Palin make after the 2008 US Presidential election, plus the victory speech she never got to make.
