• Yemen declares end to war with Shi'ite rebels
• Sudan and Darfur rebel group sign ceasefire
• Yemen Shi'ite rebels free scores of prisoners

• Military application of Transcendental Meditation gaining acceptance
• The global attention of the Prime Minister of the Global Country of World Peace
• New course facilities planned for Maharishi Global Capital of World Peace at centre of India

• Somali rebels join forces in cyberspace: UN report
• Palestinians and Israeli police clash in Jerusalem
• Russia to build up to 16 nuclear reactors in India

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Positive Trends
10 Short Summaries of Top Stories

Yemen declares end to war with Shi'ite rebels
19 March 2010 - Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh declared an end to a long-running war with northern Shi'ite rebels that drew in neighbouring Saudi Arabia last year, according to a television interview to be aired on Friday. 'We can say the war is over, not stopped or in a truce,' Saleh told Al-Arabiya in the interview, referring to the war in the north that has raged on and off since 2004. (more)

Sudan and Darfur rebel group sign ceasefire
18 March 2010 - Sudan's government and a collection of Darfur rebel groups signed a ceasefire Thursday -- the second such deal in less than a month with a key rebel faction -- opening the way for political negotiations ahead of a full peace agreement. (more)

Yemen Shi'ite rebels free scores of prisoners
17 March 2010 - Seen as a step forward, Yemeni Shi'ite rebels freed at least 170 government soldiers and tribal fighters on Wednesday after Sanaa accused them of dragging their feet on implementing a truce deal to end a northern war, both sides said. The prisoners were handed over in the northern province of Saada, the scene of most of the fighting, and would be moved to Sanaa on Thursday, Al Arabiya television reported. (more)

US President Obama, Russian President Medvedev happy on arms pact, signing seen near
14 March 2010 - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and President Barack Obama are satisfied with the 'high level of consensus' on a new pact to cut nuclear arms and it is now possible to talk of a firm date for signing a treaty, the Kremlin said on Saturday. Russia and the United States have been negotiating for nearly a year a new treaty to reduce their arsenals of nuclear weapons. The pact is a cornerstone of Washington's efforts to improve relations with Moscow. (more)

US and Russia in final push to clinch new START treaty
9 March 2010 - US and Russian arms control officials began on Tuesday what both sides hope will be a final push to clinch a treaty cutting their strategic nuclear arsenals, officials said. Dozens of negotiators from each country were taking part in the START talks which resumed in Geneva, Switzerland after a 10-day break for consultations in their capitals. The world's two largest nuclear powers are seeking a replacement to the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) which expired last December. (more)

PLO gives nod for talks, US envoy meets Prime Minister Netanyahu
7 March 2010 - The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) endorsed US-mediated talks with Israel on Sunday and Washington envoy George Mitchell met the Israeli Prime Minister to discuss getting those negotiations under way. Israel, which has welcomed the decision Abbas made last week with the endorsement of the Arab League, has said the Palestinians can raise any issue in the talks, which US Middle East envoy Mitchell will mediate. (more)

US Vice President to try to boost Middle East peace prospects
7 March 2010 - US President Barack Obama is dispatching his Vice President to the Middle East on Sunday to try to build support for reviving Israeli-Palestinian peace talks despite deep skepticism on both sides. Vice President Biden will meet Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian, and Jordanian leaders starting on 8 March, but a main component of his trip will be public diplomacy. (more)

Israeli officials meet with US Middle East envoy
6 March 2010 - Israel says its defence minister is to meet with the US Middle East envoy to discuss indirect Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations that are expected to start soon.The Defence Ministry said that Ehud Barak was meeting with US envoy George Mitchell on Saturday evening. Mitchell also is expected to meet with other Israeli and Palestinian leaders over the next few days to try and lay the groundwork for negotiations before US Vice President Joe Biden arrives in the region next week. (more)

UN to start troop withdrawals from Democratic Republic Congo in 2010
6 March 2010 - The United Nations could begin withdrawing troops from the western part of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the biggest UN peacekeeping mission in the world, as early as June, the peacekeeping chief said on 5 March. 'It was a clear request from the government of Kinshasa and from the President that the first draw-down should start around June 2010 at the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the independence of the Congo,' UN peacekeeping head Alain Le Roy said. Le Roy said the withdrawals would only involve peacekeepers in the relatively peaceful western part of the country. (more)

China wants to restart North Korea nuclear talks soon
4 March 2010 - China hopes to revive stalled negotiations on ending North Korea's nuclear weapons programme within the next few months, an official newspaper reported Friday. The comment from Beijing's envoy to the six-country talks follows a flurry of diplomatic efforts in recent weeks to prod North Korea into rejoining the negotiations. China hosts the six-nation talks, which also include the US, South Korea, Japan, and Russia. (more)

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Success of Maharishi's Programmes
10 Short Summaries of Top Stories

Military application of Transcendental Meditation gaining acceptance
19 March 2010 - A leading scientific journal in Pakistan, The Journal of Management and Social Science, recently published a paper titled 'A New Role for the Military: Preventing Enemies from Arising--Reviving an Ancient Approach to Peace,' indicating that the military application of the Transcendental Meditation Technique has merit. The paper discusses how militaries worldwide could use the Transcendental Meditation and Transcendental Meditation-Sidhi Programmme, founded by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, as a non-religious and scientifically verified way to prevent war and terrorism. When used in a military context, these meditation practices are known as Invincible Defence Technology (IDT). (more)

The global attention of the Prime Minister of the Global Country of World Peace
19 March 2010 - Concluding his presentation to the global assembly on 3 March, Dr Christopher Crowell, Minister of Religion and Culture of the Global Country of World Peace honoured the leadership and tireless focus of Dr Bevan Morris, Prime Minister of the Global Country, in bringing out the knowledge and programmes of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi to everyone in the world. (more)

New course facilities planned for Maharishi Global Capital of World Peace at centre of India
18 March 2010 - Plans are underway in India for increased offering of courses in the programmes of Maharishi Mahesh Yog; while Canada prepares for expansion of Maharishi Light Therapy with Gems programmes. (more)

Prime Minister of Global Country of World Peace lauded as example of Total Knowledge and infinite organizating power
18 March 2010 - During a global Assembly on 3 March 2010, along with other leaders of the Global Country of World Peace, Dr Christopher Crowell, Minister of Religion and Culture, expressed his appreciation for all the activities and contributions of Prime Minister Dr Bevan Morris to the progress and expansion of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's organizations and programmes around the world. (more)

Life in enlightenment: Maharishi's gift to everyone
17 March 2010 - Presenting the profound knowledge of development of consciousness brought to light by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Founder of the Global Country of World Peace, the recent Full Moon celebration of the Global Mother Divine Organization featured a historic address given by Maharishi in 1971. The leader of the celebration commented that in learning Transcendental Meditation, one is set on a royal path to enlightenment--the gift of Maharishi to everyone. (more)

The nature of enlightenment: 'Fullness of knowledge, fullness of experience' - Maharishi Mahesh Yogi
16 March 2010 - During the recent Full Moon celebration of the Global Mother Divine Organization, a video was played of a historic address given by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in 1971, entitled: 'The growth of perception from multiplicity to duality to Unity, proceeding on the path from ignorance to enlightenment, the state of Supreme Knowledge.' In this address, Maharishi defines enlightenment and the path to enlightenment. (more)

Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, 'a perfect example of total love and benevolence, wishing to the whole world everything good': Reflections of Dr Bevan Morris
15 March 2010 - During a global assembly on 3 March 2010, Dr Bevan Morris, Prime Minister of the Global Country of World Peace, reflected on the historic address of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi on 11 January 2008. Maharishi 'set the perfect example for us of how to function in the world--in that sweetness of simplicity and humility to just do our work with all the light and with all pleasure and with all knowledge, that the future of the world is bright,' Dr Morris said. (more)

Music legend Donovan and Friends to perform benefit concert for David Lynch Foundation - 19 March 2010, Los Angeles
15 March 2010 - Legendary folk-rock-pop troubador Donovan will headline a benefit concert for the David Lynch Foundation on Friday, 19 March at the El Rey Theater in Los Angeles, California, USA. The Foundation has provided more than 100,000 scholarships for students to learn the Transcendental Meditation Technique, as well as for prison inmates and guards, formerly homeless men in re-entry programs, soldiers with PTSD returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, and American Indians suffering from diabetes. (more)

Brahmanand Saraswati Trust: Ensuring permanent world peace and invincibility
14 March 2010 - During a global assembly on 3 March 2010, Dr Bevan Morris, Prime Minister of the Global Country of World Peace, reflected on Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's steps to ensure that his knowledge and programmes would always be available throughout future generations. On 11 January 2008, Maharishi established the Brahmanand Saraswati Trust to support large permanent groups of Vedic Pandits of India, and through them global peace and invincibility for all time. (more)

Global Mother Divine Organization celebrates bright year of achievements in Asia
14 March 2010 - Throughout Asia, ladies, mothers and girls are enjoying courses and programmes of the Global Mother Divine Organization, which was inaugurated in many countries across the continent during the past year. (more)

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Flops
10 Short Summaries of Top Stories

Somali rebels join forces in cyberspace: UN report
19 March 2010 - Armed rebel groups in Somalia are using the Internet for fundraising and recruitment, and they achieve better results through the Web than they do on the ground, a United Nations report said. The report by the UN Monitoring Group on Somalia also highlighted how the rebels use the Internet to spread information about making bombs and religious rulings. It cited a three-day, live fundraiser in May last year and another online forum in March 2009 attended by senior members of al Shabaab and Hizbul Islam, the two main rebel groups fighting the Western-backed government of President Sheikh Sharif Ahmed. Rashid Abdi, Somalia analyst with the International Crisis Group, described the rebels' use of the Internet as an increasingly common trend of 'cyber-jihadism', which is difficult to control. (more)

Palestinians and Israeli police clash in Jerusalem
16 March 2010 - Palestinians mounted violent protests in Jerusalem on 16 March and President Barack Obama's Middle East envoy cancelled plans to return to the region as a US-Israeli crisis over Jewish settlement plans simmered. Hundreds of Palestinian demonstrators clashed with police in several locations in East Jerusalem, captured from Jordan by Israel together with the adjacent West Bank in the 1967 Middle East war. Police responded with teargas and rubber bullets. Medical officials said at least 40 Palestinians were treated in hospitals in the most serious flare-up in the holy city in months. Police said 15 officers were hurt, one shot in the hand by an unidentified gunman. About 60 people were arrested. (more)

Russia to build up to 16 nuclear reactors in India
15 March 2010 - Russia will build up to 16 nuclear reactors for power stations in India, Russia's Deputy Premier said on Friday during a visit to India with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to reaffirm decades-old ties. Russia is competing with French and American firms for lucrative contracts to build nuclear power plants for energy-hungry India because Asia's third-largest economy needs to boost its supply to help sustain rapid economic growth. Setting the tone for his one-day visit mainly aimed at keeping one of the world's biggest arms importers interested in Russian weapons, Putin offered state financial aid for the Indian telecoms unit of Russian conglomerate Sistema. He also sought to assure Indian businessmen that Russian nuclear reactors were safe. Russia has almost completed equipment delivery for two reactors at Kudankulam nuclear power station and is in talks to build two more reactors. (more)

West condemns Georgia's divisive war spoof
15 March 2010 - Western envoys on Monday condemned a fake news report in Georgia that Russian tanks had entered the capital, wading into a row that has exposed deep divisions over opposition attempts to mend ties with Moscow. Saturday's 20-minute primetime report on pro-government Imedi TV caused panic 18 months after the ex-Soviet neighbours fought a five-day war. Shock has given way to accusation over the politics behind the broadcast. EU special envoy to the South Caucasus Peter Semneby said the stunt did not help stability in Georgia and the region. 'It seems to have created further internal political divisions. It may even have been intended to do so,' he told Reuters. (more)

Explosions across Afghanistan's Kandahar
14 March 2010 - Taliban suicide bombers struck across Afghanistan's southern city of Kandahar on Saturday, killing 30 people and wounding scores in a series of strikes the militants called a message to NATO. The city is at the centre of the Taliban's heartland and the next major target for NATO forces this year. Officials said the biggest attack was aimed at the prison on the city's outskirts, apparently an attempt to repeat a jailbreak there two years ago. (more)

At least 27 arrested in Egypt Christian-Muslim clash
13 March 2010 - At least 27 people were arrested in northern Egypt on Friday after fighting erupted between Muslims and Christians over land, security sources said on Saturday. At least 24 people were hurt in the fighting in Marsa Matrouh governorate, including women and children, security sources said. The dispute broke out after Coptic Christian villagers built a fence around land next to a church-run building, the state news agency MENA reported. Relations between Egypt's Muslims and Christians, mainly Copts, are usually calm but can become strained and sometimes erupt into violence over issues such as inter-faith relationships and land. (more)

Russia to make 1,000 stealth jets, eyes India deal
12 March 2010 - Russia will build more than 1,000 stealth fighter jets within four decades, including at least 200 for its traditional weapons buyer India, the head of plane maker Sukhoi said on Friday. Sukhoi test-flew its long-delayed fifth-generation fighter at the end of January, and Moscow said it would be able to compete with its US F-22 Raptor rival built more than a decade ago. Sukhoi said last week it hoped the fighter, codenamed T-50, would be ready for use in 2015. Analysts say Russia's plans for a joint venture with India to produce the stealth fighters will likely be watched with unease by India's uneasy neighbour Pakistan and regional rival China. (more)

Israeli group: Police improperly arresting children
10 March 2010 - Israeli police are improperly arresting Palestinian boys in nighttime raids in Jerusalem that involve assault rifle wielding security forces handcuffing minors and interrogating them without lawyers or parents, an Israeli rights group charged Tuesday. Most of the youths were accused of hurling rocks at Jewish settlers and damaging their property in the east Jerusalem neighbourhood of Silwan. 'They are using military-style night raids to extract children as young as 12,' said Sarit Michaeli of rights group B'tselem, which says the raids are an inappropriate method to detain children. They also argue the raids defy Israeli law, which demands children be accompanied by guardians while being arrested. In affidavits to B'tselem, six boys aged between 12 and 14 years old described arrest raids involving around a dozen heavily armed military police surrounding their homes, handcuffing them, and leading them to cells where they were slapped, kicked, and told by interrogators to confess if they wanted to go home. (more)

North Korea has medium-range missile division
9 March 2010 - North Korea has recently created an army division in charge of newly developed intermediate-range missiles capable of striking US forces in Japan and Guam, a South Korean news agency said Tuesday. The report came as North Korea stepped up its war rhetoric against the US and South Korea after the allies started their annual drills aimed at improving their defense capabilities. The North Korean Ministry, said the country is ready for both dialogue and war, a position that contrasts from a military statement Sunday that the North would break off dialogue with the US. About 18,000 American soldiers and an undisclosed number of South Korean troops are taking part in 11 days of drills that began Monday across South Korea. (more)

North Korea to boost nuclear weapons capability
9 March 2010 - North Korea said on Tuesday it would boost its nuclear weapons capability because US President Barack Obama was determined to ignore its calls for peace and bring it down by military force. North Korea said this week that it had put its army on full combat alert as US and South Korean forces began joint military drills involving nearly 40,000 troops, an annual event that draws anger from the North but typically results in no major incidents. The North has come under pressure to return to six-party disarmament-for-aid nuclear talks because of UN sanctions imposed after a May 2009 nuclear test and prodding by its major ally and the host of the talks, China. Sanctions have dealt a blow to its wobbly economy, and a botched currency move late last year has sparked inflation and rare civil unrest. (more)