Although Putin stressed continuity in foreign policy in his statements, Merkel's meeting later with Medvedev had a somewhat different character. The two met at his government residence, located near Putin's and bearing the German name of Mayendorf, or 'May Village.' 

It has been decades since calls for greater independence in Tibet have been so vocal. Now acts of defiance against Chinese rule in the region are springing up all over the world. 

I felt like I wanted to cry because it made me feel like I wasn't an Australian, like I wasn't wanted there. 

Lust, gluttony, greed and the rest of the seven deadly sins gathered in the 6th century will have to get used to a modern companion. A Vatican official has articulated seven new categories of sin “due to the phenomenon of globalization.” 

We were warned by billionaires who know how the global financial casino works and don't like what they see, even as they prosper. You've got to love Warren Buffet, the most successful investor of this era, when he talks about the financial speculators and manipulators operating under the polite title of 'hedge funds'. 

The federal Opposition Leader, Brendan Nelson, has staked his leadership on a radical overhaul of conservative party politics, including the merger of the Liberal and National parties and allowing party members to elect the leader. 

Nelson Stakes His Future On Lib-Nat Merger

In the first insider account of Pentagon decision-making on Iraq, one of the key architects of the war blasts former secretary of state Colin Powell, the CIA, retired Gen. Tommy R. Franks and former Iraq occupation chief L. Paul Bremer for mishandling the run-up to the invasion and the subsequent occupation of the country. 

Nationals MP Mark Vaile has broken his silence to vigorously defend his right to take on a private sector consultancy while still in Parliament. 

As he took a swipe at Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson, the former deputy prime minister said he may quit office before the next election. 

Afghanistan veteran, Leo Docherty, criticises the British military campaign in Helmand province, where the Prince served until his tour of duty was cut short after details of it were leaked on the internet.

Perhaps Prince Harry knows this.  

The Federal Government says it has scrapped the Friday parliamentary sitting day it recently introduced, because of the Opposition's disruptive behaviour. 

The Rudd Government introduced Friday sitting days for private members business but the Opposition opposed the move because neither the Prime Minister nor his front bench had to be there. 

The visit to Iraq by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad highlights the irony that Iran has been hugely strengthened by the removal of its old enemy Saddam Hussein at the hands of its current antagonist, the United States. 

Iran is one of the winners from the US-led invasion of 2003. 

Opposition treasury spokesman Malcolm Turnbull says Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson should be given a fair go in the job, despite disappointing results in recent opinion polls. 

Speaking on ABC1's The 7.30 Report, Mr Turnbull said the lack of support for the Opposition and its leader is not surprising soon after an election defeat. 

US President George Bush endorsed Republican nominee-in-waiting John McCain, two bitter rivals from the 2000 presidential race joining together now in hopes of preventing Democrats from winning the White House in November. 

from Crikey ….. 

Pollie bludgers: Should they stay or should they go? 

Canberra correspondent Bernard Keane writes: 

Former prime minister John Howard has hit out at several of the Rudd Government's policies while giving a major speech in the United States. 

Mr Howard has given an address at a gala dinner for the American Enterprise Institute in Washington.