Recent events

28 MAY 2008

Nepal

The Constituent Assembly voted to abolish the monarchy. (CNN.com)

26 MAY 2008

Sri Lanka

A bomb attack in southern Colombo killed nine people and wounded at least 72. (CNN.com)

Diplomatic affairs

IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei, in a report to the Board of Governors, said the Agency has been able to continue to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran, but that concerns remain over the "uranium metal document" pertaining to uranium metal machining and over other indications of a possible military dimension to Iran's nuclear program. Iran has insisted that there is no such dimension and that all indications to the contrary are fabrications. The Agency is evaluating Iran's information and explanations but still believes that there is additional information and cooperation which Iran could and should provide to give assurance as to the exclusively peaceful nature of its program. (www.iaea.org, GOV/2008/15)

21 MAY 2008

Lebanon

After five days of talks in Doha, Qatar, the government of Prime Minister Fouad Siniora and Hezbollah reached agreement on a consensus government in which the Cabinet will consist of 30 posts -- 16 for the majority, 11 for Hezbollah and 3 set aside for the President to nominate. This gives Hezbollah the power to veto major decisions. Hezbollah agreed to end its sit-in protest in downtown Beirut. The deal also cleared the way for parliament to elect a new President; on the 25th it elected Gen. Michel Suleiman. (CNN.com)

20 MAY 2008

France

Four ETA members, including leader Francisco Javier Lopez Pena, were arrested outside Bordeaux by Spanish Civil Guards and French police. (CNN.com)

19 MAY 2008

Taiwan

Ma Ying-jeou was inaugurated President. Ma, unlike his predecessor, is not in favor of formal independence for Taiwan, instead seeking improved relations with mainland China and greater economic engagement. At the same time, he has recently said it was highly unlikely that unification talks with the mainland would be held "within our lifetimes." In his inaugural speech he said, "We will adopt the principle of no independence, no unification, and no use of force." (AP)