The US has no "grand expectations" from the summit of Israeli and Palestinian leaders which President Obama is to host on Tuesday, the White House says.

The talks in New York are to discuss the possibility of re-starting the Middle East peace process.

But both Israeli and Palestinian leaders have accused each other of blocking the initiative.

Israel has rejected US and Palestinian demands for a total freeze before a new round of talks can take place.

From the SMH

Senior Liberal Andrew Robb, one of the opposition's star performers, is to take three months' leave to undergo treatment for depression in a move his colleagues say will help others confront their own mental health problems.

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Johann Hari: We must stop the 'vulture funds' that feed on the world's poor

The energy that drove Jubilee 2000 needs to be summoned again

Friday, 18 September 2009

September 18, 2009

White House Scraps Bush’s Approach to Missile Shield

By PETER BAKER

From the Washington post

So far, so anti-Republican.

From Annabel Crabb:

...

Tony Abbott, re-entering the chamber at 2.40pm after a 24-hour suspension, blew a lavish kiss to a surprised Jenny Macklin, Minister for Families.

Wilson Tuckey continued his one-man commentary on women in the workplace, a loose series of mutterings tentatively entitled: ''They Just Want a Job on the Weekends When Dad's Home to Look After the Kids.''

To be fair on the Libs, they have been trying.

Osama bin Laden's al-Qaida is under heavy pressure in its strongholds in Pakistan's remote tribal areas and is finding it difficult to attract recruits or carry out spectacular operations in western countries, according to government and independent experts monitoring the organisation.

Speaking to the Guardian in advance of tomorrow's eighth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, western counter-terrorism officials and specialists in the Muslim world said the organisation faced a crisis that was severely affecting its ability to find, inspire and train willing fighters.

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she is not offended by Opposition frontbencher Tony Abbott's use of bad language to criticise her.

Leaving Federal Parliament on Thursday night, Mr Abbot said Ms Gillard had been sporting a "shit-eating grin" during Question Time.

Ms Gillard, who spent much of the parliamentary week defending the Government's $16 billion stimulus spend on schools amid claims of mismanagement and wasteful spending, has laughed off the comments.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has delighted his Russian hosts during a visit by announcing that Caracas was recognising the Georgian rebel regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent.

The shock decision, which Mr Chavez said was effective immediately, was a triumph for Russia, which has struggled to convince other countries to follow its lead in granting diplomatic recognition to the two territories.