Japan gets a seat on the U.N. Security Council

October 17th 2008 – Japan will have a seat on the United Nations Security Council for the next two years. It will be joined by Turkey, Austria, Mexico and Uganda. Iran tried for a seat, but it is out of favour because it is suspected of secretly building an atom bomb. Iceland also tried for a seat but failed.

So the present members are:

• Western Europe: Britain*, France*, Belgium, Italy, Austria
• Eastern Europe: Russia*, Croatia
• North America: United States*
• Latin America: Costa Rica, Panama, Mexico
• Africa/Arab: Burkina Faso, Libya, South Africa, Uganda
• Asia: China*, Indonesia, Vietnam, Japan, Turkey

* permanent members with veto power.

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Kurdish leaders lose patience

December 24th 2007 – As Turkey continues to strike the Kurdish region in northern Iraq, Kurdish leaders are losing patience. But there is little they can do but stand and watch their towns get blown up.

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Turkish troops cross into Iraq

December 18th 2007 – About 300 Turkish soldiers have crossed the border into the Kurdish part of Iraq. They were pursuing the Kurdish PKK, which is fighting a guerrilla war inside Turkey.

Meanwhile American Secretary of State Rice was in Kirkuk where Kurdish leaders refused to meet with her.

Turkey bombed the Kurdish part of Iraq on December 16th, something the Americans allowed them to do.

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