In the news

Six years after the idea was first torpedoed by Washington hawks, Nato-Iranian joint venture to curb the Afghan poppy trade would reduce mutual mistrust, argues Roger Howard. “Javier Solana, the EU’s high representative, should waste no time in trying to coax Iran towards such an operation.” Anglo-Russian relations might transcend current spats if Brown is able to assert independence from US foreign policy, argues Robert Skidelsky. However this looks most unlikely.Brown pledge of military aid to Nigeria provokes ceasefire collapse. Councils should be banned from selling personal details to direct marketing companies, says the UK Information Commissioner. UN Truth Commission: Indonesian army funded gross human rights abuses during East Timor withdrawal. Will the Indonesian Govt now take responsibilty? Not if past Western-backed abuses are anything to go by. Karzai probe raises Afghan civilian toll to 47 in US attack: Afghan officials are calling for prosecuting US military forces involved in the attack. The victims – mainly women and children – were attending a wedding party. The Red Cross says 250 Afghan civilians have been killed in military or insurgent attacks in the last six days. But as the BBC says, at least we’re not killing more civilians than the Taliban any more. Unlike this time last year. So that’s alright then