For every Chechen male, the building of a house is part of his task in life, on a par with having a large family and raising children, so that he need not be ashamed of them in front of others. For many it is at the very least a lifetime’s work.

Immediately after yesterday’s announcement of the rulings by the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in two Chechnya-related cases, press conferences were held in the Russian and Chechen capitals by representatives of the Memorial Human Rights Centre, who gave their assessment of the event.

KABUL, Afghanistan – Political and religious leaders invoked Afghan and Islamic traditions of chivalry and hospitality Sunday in attempts to shame the Taliban into releasing 18 female South Korean captives.

GHAZNI, Afghanistan (AFP) – Taliban militants threatened to start killing Monday their 22 South Korean hostages if the government did not accept by noon their demand for the release of jailed rebels.

 GHAZNI, Afghanistan (Reuters) – A female hostage among the remaining 22 Koreans held by Taliban fighters appealed on Saturday for a speedy end to their ordeal, as a senior Afghan official said force may be used to free them if talks fail.

 KABUL, Afghanistan – Two lawmakers — one of them a former Taliban member — and several influential elders have joined negotiations with the hardline militia to step up pressure for the release of 22 South Korean hostages, an official said Saturday.

Legenda spune ca relatiile dintre Carpati si Nil au fost stabilite acum mai bine 4000 de ani cand Zalmoxis a invatat de la egipteni tainele nemuririi.

Povestea unui nepot de presedinte la “tronul paunilor”    Printr-un abil joc secret, in 1953, CIA a reusit sa puna petrolul iranian la dispozitia companiilor din SUA, in detrimentul aliatilor britanici ai Washingtonului.

Preşedintele Traian Băsescu cere din nou Guvernului să precizeze sursele pentru finanţarea, până în 2013, a majorării pensiilor. Prezent la primul Congres al Federaţiei Asociaţiilor de Pensionari din România, şeful statului le-a dat şi un terem limită guvernanţilor pentru aceste precizări: sfârşitul anului 2007.

Reprezentanţii PSD nu sunt de acord cu propunerea PC de suspendare din funcţie a primarului general al Capitalei. Marian Vanghlie vrea ca Adriean Videanu să îşi termine mandatul, astfel încât bucureştenii să îi vadă adevărata faţă.