After languishing for two years in the Irish legislature, the Nuclear Test Ban Bill of 2006 has recently been rethought and refurbished, according to a June report in the Irish Independent. Originally, the bill codified the UN Test Ban Treaty, adding some provisions specific to Ireland.

While Iran's leaders saber-rattle and quote the Quran, the country's multitudes of young adults are embracing New Age self-help, as exemplified by the best-selling books and sold-out seminars of motivational guru Alireza Azmandian, according to a June Wall Street Journal dispatch from Tehran.

We’ve endured a lot under George Bush. First it was the stolen election of 2000. Then came the illegal invasion of Iraq. Next was denial of global warming and obstructing development of alternate sources of energy. That was followed by leaving thousands of poor people stranded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, and the outing of a CIA operative.

While some art invites imagination, Bombadil’s music isn’t so polite. Without waiting for an RSVP from the audience, members of the Durham-based band simply kidnap the attention of anyone who happens to be within hearing distance the moment they start to play.

Among President Sarkozy’s recent moves to trim the size of the French government was the layoff of half of the 165 physiotherapists at the taxpayer-funded National Baths of Aix-les-Bains.

I and residents of the Meadow Oaks community thank you for a doing a great article on our issues with developer, Scott Wallace [“Greensboro council overturns apartment decision”; July 23, 2008; by Jordan Green]. We knew he had given campaign contributions to some of the city council members, but not all the ones that you listed.

Hundreds of dead fish have turned up in a lakebed on Koger Boule vard in southwest Greensboro. The lake has been draining for about a week, said Dan Essary, a field supervi sor with Guilford County Animal Control, who added that someone evidently opened the drain to release the water.