Bush in Vietnam warning over Iraq

President George W Bush has warned a US withdrawal from Iraq could trigger the kind of upheaval seen in South East Asia after US forces quit Vietnam.

"The price of America's withdrawal was paid by millions of innocent citizens," he told war veterans in Missouri. Mr Bush said the Vietnam War had taught the need for US patience over Iraq.

No pressure on Mugabe from summit

Southern African leaders are putting no public pressure on Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe to solve his country's dire political and economic crises. After a two-day conference in Zambia's capital, Lusaka, delegates said only that they welcomed "progress" in talks between Zimbabwe's rival politicians.

The US called on the region's leaders to "press vigorously" for an end to the country's "man-made crisis".

Darfur rebels seek unity in talks

Leaders from Darfur's fractured rebel movement are to hold their first main day of talks in Tanzania, aimed at finding common ground. The talks are being mediated by the United Nations and the African Union.

The UN envoy to Sudan, Jan Eliasson, said he was hopeful the talks would lead to peace negotiations with the Khartoum government in several weeks. But an influential rebel leader has boycotted the discussions, signalling the divisions within the movement.

Heavy Somali fighting amid crisis

Fierce fighting has resumed in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, following UN warnings of a humanitarian disaster.

One human rights agency put the death toll at 113. However, this figure cannot be confirmed. The main route used by people fleeing Mogadishu has been closed after an Ethiopian convoy on the road was attacked, and a blast hit a nearby military base on Thursday.

Jail for Serb video death squad

Serbia's war crimes court has jailed four Serb paramilitaries who were filmed as they shot dead six captured young Bosnian Muslims.

The Scorpions unit leader and one of his accomplices were given 20 years each - the others 13 and five years.

Iraq hosts key security meeting

Iraq's prime minister has appealed to neighbouring states to co-operate in tackling the insurgency which has left tens of thousands dead since 2003.

Addressing an international meeting in Baghdad, he did not name any particular country. But the US accuses both Iran and Syria of stoking the violence.

Chavez attacks Bush 'domination'

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has attacked US counterpart George W Bush as a "symbol of domination" as the pair continue rival Latin American tours.

Speaking at an "anti-imperialist rally" in Buenos Aires, Mr Chavez said Mr Bush was no more than a "political corpse".

US general defiant on Iraq drive

The new US commander in Iraq has said the Baghdad security crackdown has had some "tough days" but he was confident sectarian strife could be reduced. Gen David Petraeus was giving his first news conference since taking the command last month.

He said military force alone would not be a solution and that some militants would have to be engaged in talks.

Blair announces Iraq troops cut

Prime Minister Tony Blair has told MPs that 1,600 British troops will return from Iraq within the next few months.

He said the 7,100 serving troops would be cut to 5,500 soon, with hopes that 500 more will leave by late summer.

Egyptian woman dies of bird flu

A 37-seven-year-old Egyptian woman has died of bird flu, bringing the number of confirmed deaths from the virus in Egypt to 13.

The woman, Nadia Abdel Hafez, came from Fayyoum - an area well known in Egypt for poultry breeding.

Factions clash despite Gaza truce

Sporadic gun battles are continuing in Gaza between the rival Hamas and Fatah factions, despite a renewed truce.

At least eight people have been wounded in fresh clashes, although calm has returned to some areas.

'Best chance' for Somalia peace

The UN envoy to Somalia has urged the country not to waste "the best opportunity for peace for 16 years" after visiting the president.

Francois Fall urged President Abdullahi Yusuf to set up an inclusive government following the ousting of an Islamists group from the capital, Mogadishu.

Bombers rock Baghdad University

At least 70 people have been killed and scores injured in a double bombing at a university in Baghdad, sources say.

A car bomb blew up outside Mustansiriyah University, and a suicide bomber targeted students as they fled.

Ovi magazine and the prestigious Grands Prix 2006 awards

Ovi magazine, an online daily magazine based in Finland, came second in Newropeans Magazine's prestigious Grands Prix 2006 awards.

They were nominated as one of the three finalists in its 'Citizenship - Information' section, along with Sitécon and Le courrier des Balkans, the eventual winner.

Newropeans is an independent magazine developed for the exchange of views on the future of a democratic Europe. The awards have been running annually since 2003 and are designed to reward the people or organisations behind the democratisation of the EU. Previous winners include the European Space Agency, EUobserver.com, Cafe Babel, the European Court of Human Rights and Skype.

A registered jury of around 1,000 actors of the European civil society coming from 25 States voted online awarding Ovi magazine almost thirty per cent of the vote.

Read more here… www.ovimagazine.com

Ovi magazine was launched in December 2004 by Thanos Kalamidas, a Greek national, and Asa Butcher, a Brit, who both live in Helsinki with their families. Ovi is a non-profit magazine produced via voluntary contributions from its global team in a variety of different languages. Their aim is to promote positive discussion and the exchange of opinion.

Happy New Year with Ovi magazine

2006 is ...Dead!!!