Baghdad –
The Iraq election has shored up the country’s fragile democracy, but the months ahead are fraught with potential dangers far more worrying than the bombs that echoed through Baghdad as voters went to the polls over the weekend.
was toppled behind them, Iraqi politicians' attention has turned to what sort of alliances are likely [...]

Baghdad –
Expectations of good news have rarely been higher in the poor Iraqi household of Karima Selman Methboub, whose son Ali is due in coming weeks to be released from prison after more than 1-1/2 years.
The widowed mother of eight children – whose Baghdad family dramas the Monitor has followed since 2002, when
was [...]

Johnannesburg, South Africa –
After running wild through the world's
, the financial crisis now stalks the South African savanna and one of the world's most beloved predators (
) could become its prey.
to euthanize 16 lions as their funds for lion food run out.
and Sanctuary, in the rural northern state of
, has [...]

Baghdad, Iraq –
Throughout
, fear gave way to defiance Sunday as voters, even in the most volatile areas, cast ballots in landmark parliamentary elections that militants tried their best to disrupt with dozens of explosions that shook Baghdad even before the polls opened.
By the end of the day, at least 38 people were dead [...]

Ramadi, Iraq –
Iraqis across large parts of the country defied
and the threat of more attacks to vote in the Iraq election, in what appeared to be a sweeping desire for change after four years of sectarian division and a lack of basic services.
In Baghdad, what some security officials described as the first of [...]

, and the talk-radio presenter is gauging public opinion on how people feel about the British press' rather unfriendly reception of
, who is wrapping up a three-day trip to
. Apparently they have called him a “buffoon.”
The callers’ opinions are mixed. Many say they are offended, even if they didn’t vote for Mr. [...]

’s financial crisis, as tensions rise over whether
will provide crucial support to an EU bailout for the heavily indebted Mediterranean country.
Speaking with Mr. Papandreou by her side, Merkel said the two leaders have a “very good understanding of each other” and added: “Greece and Germany will work together toward a further modernization of [...]

Istanbul, Turkey –
Turkey has recalled its ambassador to Washington after the
.”
“We condemn this resolution accusing Turkey of a crime that it had not committed,â€
.
“Turkish-US relations are experiencing their most successful period in history,”
had said Tuesday. “I hope that they will not be damaged by such initiatives.”
, which passed with [...]

Mount Isa, Australia –
Daphne Hare moved to a small
mining community, Mount Isa, in 2002, hoping for a share of the town’s prosperity. She found a job in a busy hotel, made friends, and settled down. But her infant daughter, Stella, frequently fell ill.
In 2008, after concerns were raised about the nearby lead mine, [...]

Dubai, United Arab Emirates –
The Dubai police chief plans to seek the arrest of
for the murder of Hamas leader here Mahmoud al-Mabhouh,
reported on Wednesday.
The warning adds to the series of threats that Lt. Gen. Dahi Khalfan Tamim has lodged in recent days against
, whom he said “insulted” the
(UAE) by allegedly [...]