In an unusually blunt warning, the U.N. atomic agency said Monday that its monitoring of Iran's nuclear activities is being hampered because Tehran objects to giving some agency inspectors access to its program.
The complaint by the International Atomic Energy Agency was made in a restricted report on Iran made available to The Associated Press. It follows Iran's recent decision to strip two experienced inspectors of the right to monitor Tehran's nuclear activities after the two reported undeclared nuclear experiments.

A UN report says civilian casualties in Afghanistan have risen by 31 percent, because of Taliban tactics. But Taliban spokesmen reject responsibility for cases such as that of Aisha, the 18-year-old woman whose face was mutilated when she tried to leave her husband's home, and Bibi Sanubar, a pregnant widow killed yesterday after being accused of adultery.

The face on the cover of Time magazine is graceful, composed and unthinkably maimed. The heart-shaped hole where 18-year-old Aisha's nose should be is a mark of Taliban justice — a visceral illustration, the headline suggests, of "what happens if we leave Afghanistan."
The portrait has quickly become a symbol of the stakes of a nearly decade-old war.

After the hip-hop party was over, newly minted presidential candidate Wyclef Jean sat down to talk business -- promoting Haiti's and defending his own.
The potential front-runner in Haiti's Nov. 28 election told The Associated Press that he supports the U.S. and U.N. vision for rebuilding Haiti's economy after its magnitude-7 earthquake -- a plan that encourages private investment in factories, agriculture and other areas.

President Barack Obama declared Monday that the Iraq war was nearing an end "as promised and on schedule," touting what he called a success of his administration though it comes amid persistent instability and uncertainty in Iraq.

The Netherlands became the first NATO country to end its combat mission in Afghanistan, withdrawing nearly 1,900 Dutch troops Sunday. Canada has announced it will withdraw its 2,700 troops in 2011 and Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski has promised to pull out his country's 2,600 soldiers the year after. The move is politically significant because it comes at a time of rising casualties and growing doubts about the war in NATO capitals, even as allied troops are beginning what could be the decisive campaign of the war.

Relief efforts in Pakistan's flood-ravaged northwest picked up pace Monday, but survivors complained about government inaction — a worrying sign for authorities seeking public support for the fight against militants in the region.

July was the deadliest month for troops in Afghanistan, but President Obama says military action is necessary to prevent terrorist attacks.

Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe gave an emotional and angry address at the state funeral of his sister Sunday. "To hell" with Europeans and Americans opposed to his rule, he said. "We say to hell, hell, hell with them. They will not decide who is going to lead the people of Zimbabwe."
U.S. Ambassador Charles Ray left the funeral during Mugabe's address, but later refused to comment on his action.

Links to International News, National News, Regional News, Political Sites and Blogs