• Nepal's ex-rebel fighters begin leaving camps
• Pakistan Prime Minister to visit Qatar to talk Afghan peace
• US: New York and Boston mayors push for gun control

• Nepal: Conferences present Maharishi's technologies of consciousness for cultural integrity and peace
• Invincible Africa Golden Jubilee Tour: Celebrating 50 years of Maharishi's programmes in Africa
• Self development: Consciousness-based programmes for women and girls

• Civilian deaths in Afghan war up for fifth straight year - UN
• Sudan's Bashir says tensions with South could spark war
• Taliban 'poised to retake Afghanistan' after NATO pullout

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Positive Trends
10 Short Summaries of Top Stories

Nepal's ex-rebel fighters begin leaving camps
4 February 2012 - Nepal's former communist rebel fighters began leaving the camps they have called home for five years on Friday after receiving government checks as part of a plan to integrate them into society. Government monitors started handing the checks to the former fighters Friday and will take a few more days to complete the process, said Balananda Sharma, the chief monitor. (more)

Pakistan Prime Minister to visit Qatar to talk Afghan peace
4 February 2012 - Pakistan's Prime Minister will travel to Qatar next week to talk with leaders there about the prospect of a peace deal to end the war in Afghanistan, a government official said Saturday, a trip that suggests some progress in a process long stymied by mistrust. Pakistan is an important player in moves to end the war because many of the leaders of the insurgency are said to be sheltering on its territory. (more)

US: New York and Boston mayors push for gun control
4 February 2012 - This Sunday, Super Bowl viewers in New York and Boston will see an advertisement for Mayors Against Illegal Guns (MAIG), the organization New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Boston Mayor Thomas Menino co-founded in 2006. MAIG has 600 members nationwide. Although it has a handful of private donors, the bulk of MAIG's $4 million budget comes out of the Mayor Bloomberg's own pocket. (more)

Group urges end to tactical nukes in Europe
3 February 2012 - The United States and Russia should start preparatory talks immediately on removing tactical nuclear weapons from combat bases in Europe as a step towards comprehensive nuclear disarmament, a group of former Western and Russian security officials said on Friday. The Global Zero campaigning group seeks a comprehensive global elimination of nuclear weapons. (more)

Nepal Maoists leave camps, first step to reintegration
3 February 2012 - Nepal's Maoist former rebels shed their camouflage uniforms on Friday and began leaving their camps to join their families in a first step to their reintegration five years after the end of a civil war. The rehabilitation of more than 19,000 former rebels is seen as crucial for the stability of the nascent Himalayan republic wedged between India and China. (more)

US combat in Afghanistan to end next year - US Defence Secretary
3 February 2012 - US and other international forces in Afghanistan aim to end their combat role next year and switch to training and advising Afghan forces through 2014, Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said Wednesday. Panetta noted that NATO and the Afghan government intend to begin a final phase of transitioning sections of the country to Afghan security control in mid-2013. (more)

Former foes aid each other in Bosnia
2 February 2012 - They were bitter enemies on opposite sides of the front line during the 1992-1995 Bosnian War. Now, one side is bailing out the other in an act of once-unimaginable generosity. Anger over how politicians are treating veterans has generated a wave of solidarity among former foes in Bosnia-Herzegovina. People from one side have reached into their pockets to help the others. (more)

Myanmar agrees to ceasefire with Mon separatists
2 February 2012 - Myanmar agreed to a ceasefire with ethnic Mon separatists on Wednesday, a peace mediator said. The ceasefire between the army and the New Mon State Party (NMSP) was the seventh such agreement between the government and ethnic rebel groups since former military junta leader and now President Thein Sein made a public call for peace talks with separatists late last year. (more)

US plans to halt Afghan combat role early
2 February 2012 - The United States took Kabul by surprise by laying out plans to end its Afghan combat role earlier than expected. US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said late on Wednesday the United States would stop taking the lead role in combat operations before the end of 2013 and step into a supporting role as it winds down its longest war. (more)

US plans to halt Afghan combat role in 2013
2 February 2012 - The United States intends to end combat operations in Afghanistan before the end of 2013, US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta said on Wednesday, laying down a new marker for winding down America's longest war. The timetable described by Panetta appeared to be the first time the United States has said it would shift into a supporting role, training and advising Afghan troops, by next year. (more)

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

Nepal: Conferences present Maharishi's technologies of consciousness for cultural integrity and peace
4 February 2012 - Two international conferences of great significance for Nepal were held in the capital city, Kathmandu, near the end of last year--one on national security and world peace, the other on fulfilling the goals of religion and culture. The conferences presented scientifically validated Vedic technologies of consciousness to promote integrated national consciousness, strengthen cultural integrity, and create an ideal society living in peace, harmony, and prosperity. (more)

Invincible Africa Golden Jubilee Tour: Celebrating 50 years of Maharishi's programmes in Africa
3 February 2012 - Dr Bevan Morris, Prime Minister of the Global Country of World Peace, has embarked on a 14-country tour of Africa. The tour, which began last week in Ghana, comes during the Golden Jubilee anniversary of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's first visit to Africa in 1961, and will highlight the rising success of Maharishi's programmes in many areas of life--the blossoming of seeds Maharishi planted over 50 years ago, to promote enlightenment for every individual and invincible peace and progress for every nation and the whole continent. (more)

Self development: Consciousness-based programmes for women and girls
2 February 2012 - Personal growth, inner fulfilment, and success in every area of life through the development of consciousness are at the heart of the mission and vision of the Global Women's Organization for Total Knowledge. The organization offers programmes for women and girls around the world. (more)

Global Women's Organization for Total Knowledge - Programmes for women and girls
1 February 2012 - The natural, effective, scientifically proven programmes offered by the Global Women's Organization for Total Knowledge enable women and girls of all ages to develop their full potential and bring fulfilment to every area of their lives. (more)

Celebrating Total Knowledge, wisdom, and enlightenment, for a 'healthy, wealthy, and wise national life in every country' - Maharishi
28 January 2012 - On 28 January 2012, the Global Country of World Peace celebrated the enlivenment of Total Knowledge, wisdom, and enlightenment for every individual and nation. 'We want our world to be free from suffering,' Maharishi Mahesh Yogi said on this occasion in 2007, laying out a programme to create coherence and peace in every nation as soon as possible, through large groups practising advanced Transcendental Meditation techniques, and groups of Maharishi Vedic Pandits conducting special peace-creating Vedic performances -- 'exploring all possibilities for leaving no stone unturned for permanent peace in our family of nations'. (more)

What does quantum physics have to do with TM? Russell Brand interviews Dr John Hagelin
21 January 2012 - The third annual 'Change Begins Within' benefit gala in Los Angeles last month celebrated the success of the David Lynch Foundation's national and global initiatives aimed at helping children and adults overcome the crippling influence of traumatic stress and transform their lives from within. On a night full of brilliant presentations, one especially interesting and delightful exchange occurred when British comedian and actor Russell Brand interviewed renowned quantum physicist Dr John Hagelin, president of the David Lynch Foundation. (more)

Maharishi speaks on living unbounded awareness in daily life
19 January 2012 - The Excellence in Action page of Global Good News is currently featuring this address by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, from the historic lecture series -- A Promise for the Family of Man: Maharishi's Lecture at Jones Hall, Houston, Texas, USA, in 1972. (more)

12 January celebrations held worldwide
12 January 2012 - For over 50 years, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi marked 12 January as a day of celebration for organizations teaching his Transcendental Meditation Programme around the world--reviewing the past year's achievements and unfolding plans to advance his meditation-based, consciousness-based programmes to bring enlightenment to every individual and peace to the whole world family. This year, the tradition continued with celebrations in Transcendental Meditation centres worldwide. (more)

Any government worthy of the name should have the ability to prevent problems - Maharishi
12 January 2012 - The complete knowledge and experience of Veda in human physiology, presented through Vedic Universities around the world, will promote life in accord with Natural Law, said Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in a historic address from 1994 that was played during new year celebrations on 12 January 2012. Natural Law, the inner administrator of life, is always orderly, Maharishi said, and this is the ideal administration we want to create for the benefit of every country. This has brought a new definition of government: any government worthy of the name should have the ability to prevent problems, and create integrated national consciousness. (more)

Celebrating 12 January 2012: 'A wide open gate of perfection for life on earth' - Maharishi
12 January 2012 - On 12 January 2012, the Global Country of World Peace inaugurated the new year--celebrating the rising success of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's programmes around the world, with resolutions for fully realizing their goals of perfect health, happiness, prosperity, and permanent peace for the people of every nation. The day's programme also honoured Maharishi's celebration on 12 January 1994 of the discovery of Veda, the structuring dynamics of total Natural Law, in human physiology, which he said is 'a wide open gate of perfection for life on earth'. (more)

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Flops
10 Short Summaries of Top Stories

Civilian deaths in Afghan war up for fifth straight year - UN
4 February 2012 - More than 3,000 civilians were killed in the war in Afghanistan in 2011, the fifth year in a row the number has risen, the United Nations said on Saturday in a report likely to revive tension between the Afghan government and its Western backers. Civilian deaths undermine support both in Afghanistan and the United States for the US-led war, and are one of the biggest causes of friction between President Hamid Karzai and the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). Bombs planted on roads, and increasingly deadly suicide attacks that targeted civilians, killed more people than any other type of attack, according to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). Forces fighting Karzai's government and its ISAF allies killed 2,332 civilians in 2011, 14 per cent more than in 2010, while security forces battling the militants killed 410 civilians, down four per cent from the previous year, UNAMA said. (more)

Sudan's Bashir says tensions with South could spark war
3 February 2012 - Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir said on Friday tensions with South Sudan over oil transit payments could lead to war, stepping up the rhetoric in a row over crude reserves between the two countries. Asked in an interview with state television whether war could break out with South Sudan, Bashir said: 'There is a possibility.' Bashir said the economic situation was difficult for Sudan this year but the country would boost current oil production of 115,000 bpd by 75,000 bpd. Sudan's current output serves only domestic consumption. Sudan would also export gold worth $2.5 billion this year and expand the agricultural sector to compensate for the loss of oil, he said. Experts have expressed doubts rising gold exports and other measures to diversify the economy will offset the loss of oil revenues of $5 billion booked in 2010. They say economic diversification has been hampered for years by corruption, misplanning, and a US trade embargo. (more)

Taliban 'poised to retake Afghanistan' after NATO pullout
1 February 2012 - The US military said in a secret report that the Taliban, backed by Pakistan, are set to retake control of Afghanistan after NATO-led forces withdraw, raising the prospect of a major failure of Western policy after a costly war. The report made public by Britain's Times newspaper and the BBC could be interpreted as a damning assessment of the war, dragging into its 11th year and aimed at blocking a Taliban return to power. It could also be seen as an admission of defeat and could reinforce the view of Taliban hardliners that they should not negotiate with the United States and President Hamid Karzai's unpopular government while in a position of strength. Hours after the Times report, the Afghan Taliban said that no peace negotiation process had been agreed with the international community, 'particularly the Americans.' (more)

Iranian arms smugglers using European ship firms - study
30 January 2012 - Iranian traffickers, trying to dodge an embargo imposed by Western nations over Iran's nuclear programme, are smuggling weapons on container ships owned by firms from the countries that imposed the sanctions, a think-tank said on Monday. The owners of the vessels appear to have been unaware of the nature of the illicit cargo, said SIPRI, which conducts independent research on international security, armaments, and disarmament. 'What has been seized and is in our report is just the tip of the iceberg,' said Hugh Griffiths, a researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. 'Like the Colombian cocaine cartels, they have in recent years come under increased pressure from a legal framework that allows their cargoes to be seized. So they have started to use ships which have no suspect profile,' said Griffiths. (more)

Afghan peace council member kidnapped by Taliban
29 January 2012 - The Taliban have kidnapped a member of Afghanistan's peace council during a bid to promote talks in the volatile east, underscoring the difficulty negotiators face in winning support for nascent negotiations from the Taliban front line. Mavlawi Shafihullah Shafih, a low level member of the High Peace Council set up by President Hamid Karzai to liaise with insurgents, disappeared on Friday in the Asmar district of the eastern province of Kunar, authorities said on Sunday. Shafih, a former education department head in neighbouring Nuristan province, had travelled from Kabul to meet insurgents and encourage them to join the peace process after Taliban leaders proposed opening a representative office in Qatar. Shafih's abduction comes four months after the head of the High Peace Council, former president Burhanuddin Rabbani, was assassinated by an insurgent carrying a bomb hidden in his turban. The attack wounded four people, including Masoom Stanekzai, head of the council's secretariat. (more)

Gunmen attack Yemen election committee office
29 January 2012 - Gunmen attacked an office of Yemen's electoral committee in a southern province, a local official said on Sunday, in the latest sign of opposition to a presidential election next month. The official told Reuters the gunmen, armed with machine guns and rocket propelled grenades, wounded two soldiers who were guarding the building in Dalea before fleeing the scene. The government, weakened by a year of protests against outgoing President Ali Abdallah Saleh, faces challenges from al Qaeda-linked militants who have seized territory in the south and separatists who want to revive a southern socialist state that existed before Saleh united it with the north in 1990. Thousands protested against the election on Friday, some burning their voting cards and raising the flag of the old South Yemen. (more)

Israel, Palestinians exchange blame over talks
29 January 2012 - The Israeli and Palestinian leaders on Sunday blamed each other for the impasse in newly launched peace efforts, raising doubts about whether the dialogue would continue just weeks after it began. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas accused Israel of spoiling the low-level talks, saying it failed to present detailed proposals for borders and security requested by international mediators. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Palestinians 'refused to even discuss' Israeli security needs. For the past month, the sides have held Jordanian-mediated exploratory talks at the urging of the Quartet of international Mideast mediators -- the US, UN, EU, and Russia. The goal of the talks has been to find a formula to resume formal peace negotiations, with the aim of forging an agreement this year. (more)

Twenty-nine Chinese missing after militant attack in Sudan
29 January 2012 - Militants apparently captured 29 Chinese workers after attacking a remote worksite in a volatile region of Sudan, and Sudanese forces were increasing security for Chinese projects and personnel there, China said Sunday. China has close political and economic relations with Sudan, especially in the energy sector. In Khartoum, a Chinese embassy spokesman said the northern branch of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement announced that 29 Chinese workers had been captured in the attack. The spokesman, who asked not be identified, gave no other details and it wasn't clear if the militants had demanded conditions for their return. The Sudan People's Liberation Movement are a guerrilla force that has fought against Sudan's regime. Its members hail from a minority ethnic group now in control of much of South Sudan, which became the world's newest country only six months ago in a breakaway from Sudan. Sudan has accused South Sudan of arming pro-South Sudan groups in South Kordofan. The government of South Sudan has called such accusations a smoke screen intended to justify a future invasion of the South. (more)

Arms from Libya could reach Boko Haram, al Qaeda - UN
26 January 2012 - The Libyan civil war may have given militant groups in Africa's Sahel region like Boko Haram and al Qaeda access to large weapons caches, according to a UN report released on Thursday. The report on the impact of the Libyan civil war on countries of the Sahel region that straddle the Sahara -- including Nigeria, Niger, and Chad -- also says some national authorities believe the Islamist sect Boko Haram has increasing links to al Qaeda's North African wing. Boko Haram killed more than 500 people last year and more than 250 this year in Nigeria. Russia, which has criticized the toppling of Gaddafi and accused NATO of using a UN mandate to protect civilians in Libya as a springboard for regime change, said the UN report highlighted problems unleashed by NATO's intervention in Libya. (more)

Security Council meets on Syria; revolt nears Damascus
26 January 2012 - The UN Security Council meets on Friday to discuss the next move on Syria and council envoys said members will be given a new Western-Arab draft resolution, as fighting between troops and rebels edged closer to Syria's capital Damascus. Clashes between rebels and security forces in the Damascus suburb of Douma, a hotbed of protests and armed rebellion against Assad, raged throughout the day on Thursday, and gunfire was heard from central Damascus during the night. Activists said army deployment and clashes in townships around Damascus were a response to insurgents' growing strength. Tit-for-tat sectarian killings began in Homs, 140 km (88 miles north of Damascus), four months ago, following armoured military assaults on Sunni areas of the city by forces led by members of Assad's minority Alawite sect. The killings have raised the prospect of the pro-democracy protest movement against Assad turning into a civil war, as his opponents take up arms and fight back against loyalist forces. (more)