US to shift focus in Afghan fundingTRIESTE - The United States is to shift hundreds of millions of dollars in funding away from efforts to destroy opium poppies in Afghanistan towards policies encouraging farmers to grow other crops, G8 officials said Saturday. G8 praises Pakistan’s anti-Taliban offensiveTRIESTE - Foreign ministers of the world’s eight leading industrialised nations praised Pakistan’s domestic war against Taliban-linked militants at a summit in the Italian city of Trieste Saturday. US to shift Afghan drug eradication funds to interdiction, alternate crops; G-8 praises moveTRIESTE, Italy — The U.S. is shifting its strategy against Afghanistan’s drug trade, phasing out funding for opium eradication while boosting efforts to fight trafficking and promote alternate crops, the U.S. envoy for Afghanistan said Saturday. Holbrooke to AP: US shifts money from Afghan drug eradication to interdiction, alternate cropsTRIESTE, Italy — The U.S. has announced a new drug policy for opium-rich Afghanistan, saying it was phasing out funding for eradication efforts and using the money for drug interdiction and alternate crop programs instead. G8 foreign ministers lament corruption in Afghanistan, call for regional cooperationTRIESTE, Italy — Foreign ministers from the Group of Eight countries meeting in Italy lamented corruption and the lack of basic services such as health and water in Afghanistan, saying Friday that better cooperation among countries in the region was needed to promote stability. Foreign ministers from G8 countries condemn North Korea’s nuclear and missile testsTRIESTE, Italy — Foreign ministers from Group of Eight countries on Friday condemned North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests and urged the country to return to the negotiating table. World must help ordinary Palestinians: BlairTRIESTE - The only way to solve the Israel-Palestine conflict is to help ordinary Palestinians rebuild their economy, especially in Gaza, UN Middle East quartet’s special envoy to the region Tony Blair said Friday. G8 to Israel: end settlement construction, including natural growth, open border crossingsTRIESTE, Italy — A broad international coalition urged Israel on Friday to freeze all settlement activity in the West Bank and lift its blockade of the Gaza Strip, backing U.S. President Barack Obama’s Mideast policy. Mideast Quartet urges Israel to freeze settlement activity, including ‘natural growth’TRIESTE, Italy — The Quartet of Mideast negotiators has called on Israel to freeze all settlement activity and to lift its blockade on the Gaza Strip. G8 gives Iran until September to respond to US offerTRIESTE - The world’s eight most powerful nations have given Iran until September to respond to a US offer of direct talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme, G8 foreign ministers agreed Friday. Ahead of NAM meet, India asks Pakistan to address terror issueTRIESTE/NEW DELHI - Ten days after the crucial meeting between the leaders of India and Pakistan in Russia, Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna Friday told his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mehmood Qureshi to address the issue of terrorism centrally and fulfill Islamabad’s pledge of not allowing its territory to be used for anti-India activities. G8 ministers call for end of violence in Iran, urge Tehran to reflect will of people in voteTRIESTE, Italy — Group of Eight foreign ministers criticized Iran’s postelection violence, and urged its ruling clergy on Friday to ensure the outcome of the disputed ballot reflects the will of the Iranian people. G8 countries condemn NKorea’s missile testsTRIESTE, Italy — Foreign ministers from Group of Eight countries on Friday condemned North Korea’s nuclear and missile tests and urged the country to return to the negotiating table. G8 foreign ministers call for end of violence in Iran, urge Tehran to seek peaceful solution.TRIESTE, Italy — Foreign ministers from Group of Eight countries meeting in Italy are calling for the immediate end of violence in Iran and are calling on Tehran authorities to seek a peaceful solution. Reports: G8 foreign ministers call for “democratic dialogue” in IranTRIESTE, Italy — Italian news reports say that foreign ministers from Group of Eight countries meeting in Italy have expressed worry over Iran’s post-election situation and called for “democratic dialogue.” G8 foreign ministers meeting in Italy at work to hammer out shared document on IranTRIESTE, Italy — Foreign ministers from Group of Eight countries meeting in Italy were working to smooth over differences and hammer out a joint document Friday addressing Iran’s violent crackdown on protesters. Low-key Levi Leipheimer looking to contend for Giro title _ just don’t expect him to say soTRIESTE, Italy — Lance Armstrong’s shout across the room came in handy. Petacchi outsprints Cavendish to win 2nd stage of Giro; Armstrong gains on Basso, LeipheimerTRIESTE, Italy — Alessandro Petacchi edged Mark Cavendish to win the second stage of the Giro d’Italia in a mass sprint Sunday, while Lance Armstrong finished in the main pack and gained time on overall race favorite Ivan Basso. |