A pro-Palestinian demonstration by Arab Israelis in northern Israel yesterday was ruined by violent confrontations between rightwing nationalists, the participants and the police. Our Observers sent photos and video footage. Read more...

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The Western press reacted cynically to the inauguration of Russia's new president, Dmitry Medvedev, who has been considered a puppet of outgoing president - and now Prime Minister - Vladimir Putin since being elected in March. However, a political analyst in the country and harsh critic of the ruling party, tells us why the idea is entirely speculative. Read more...

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The state of Israel was created 60 years ago this week. While Israel celebrates the anniversary of its creation, the Arab world mourns the displacement of the Palestinians - referred to as the "Nakba," or catastrophe. Our Observers, Israeli and Palestinian, tell us how they are commemorating the event. Read more...

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The world's worsening food crisis has finally made the headlines and grim forecasts for the endemic problem are causing widespread panic. We asked our Observers in Cameroon, Indonesia, Haiti and the USA to tell us how they're affected by the crunch. Read more...

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In an attempt to stop Barack Obama from getting into the White House, a rightwing radio presenter has been encouraging Republican supporters to vote for Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primaries in the hope of getting the supposedly weaker candidate nominated to face John McCain. Read more...

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Dimitri Medvedev was inaugurated as Russia's new president today. Evguenia Obitchkina, an international relations lecturer in Moscow, explains that the conflict between Russia and the West might have more to do with the hydrocarbon trade than human rights. Read more...

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The Observers publishes an unreleased eyewitness account from a survivor of the typhoon that wrecked havoc in Burma during the weekend. The authorities have so far confirmed 22,000 dead and 41,000 missing people, but NDL - the opposition party of Aung San Suu Kyi - says that the total is probably much higher. Read the account.

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A video clip released by the French electro group Justice has caused controversy in the country for its aesthetic depiction of street violence. Attacking women, beating up old ladies and glassing bar-owners is all part of the glamorous storyline. If they were looking for attention - they got it. Read more and see the video...

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While Barack Obama was in danger of being pushed out of the democratic race for the support of "anti-America" pastor Jeremiah Wright, John McCain seems to have escaped scrutiny from the endorsement of a pastor who calls the Catholic Church the "great whore" and the New Orleans catastrophe as god’s punishment for homosexuals. Read more...

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Tired of seeing people turn a blind eye on sexual assault and intimidation in India, one woman has decided to tackle the taboo subject head on. Her answer to a flasher is to snap a photo of him and post it online. And somebody has. Read her account...

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Blogger Yoani Sanchez, who's been commenting on Cuba for the Observers since its launch, has been selected by Time Magazine as one of "the world's most influential people". Fidel Castro, on the other hand, didn't quite make it. Read more...

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GTA IV Trailer © Rockstar Games

A computer game that contains blood, violence, sex, drugs and alcohol has sold more copies in its first day than any other in history. But not everybody is a fan of Grand Theft Auto IV. Available for children of any age in the US, critics warn that the game could lead to youth violence. Its fans, however, don't agree. Read more...

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Londoners decide on a mayor for the capital today in the four-yearly local elections, and leading the polls is Conservative candidate Boris Johnson. This is the man quoted as saying "Out of my way, small car driven by ordinary person on modest income. Make way for the Nissan Murano!" Read more...

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Claims that babies were being unlawfully removed from their natural mothers and sold to agencies in Vietnam have caused a ban on all Vietnamese adoptions to the US from July. A child aid worker in the country gives us his account of events. Read more…

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Iran's top prosecutor Ghorban Ali Dori Najafabadi called for a crackdown on imports of western toys Monday, in particular Barbie dolls, saying that her curvy figure, which continues to find its way into the country, is threatening the country's Islamic culture and revolutionary values. Read more...

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