Wikileaks' Leader Not Guilty

Fact: Sweden has canceled an arrest warrant for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on accusations of molestation. Last month, WikiLeaks published more than 75,000 secret US military documents on the war in Afghanistan. Mr Assange has said that Wikileaks is intending to release a further 15,000 documents in the coming weeks.

VW (View from Wirtland): WikiLeaks! Surely a freedom-loving internet project. Wirtland's attitude can only be friendly, and we see a potential ally in it. The Swedes have demonstrated they are unbiased and independent.

Israel and the Palestinians resume direct talks

Fact: Israel and the Palestinians have agreed to resume direct negotiations for the first time in 20 months. Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas have been invited to Washington on 2 September to start the talks.

VW (View from Wirtland):  Wirtland's solution to Israeli-Palestinian conflict is subnational Anti-War Party (GAP), which will be out of government's control - both in Israel and Palestine. Anti-War Party would consolidate citizens of both countries within a single body, which would effectively influence the decision-makers on both sides.

Arms-dealing suspect Bout to be extradited to US

Suspected international arms dealer in cheerful mood

Fact: A Thai appeals court ruled Friday that suspected international arms dealer Viktor Bout, a Russia national, can be extradited to the United States. Bout has been indicted by U.S. federal authorities on a series of charges, including counts of illegally purchasing U.S. cargo planes to ferry weapons to warring parties and regimes in Africa and the Middle East. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov described the Thai appeals court's ruling as an "unlawful, political decision".

VW (View from Wirtland): Cheerful as he appears on the photo, Mr. Bout presents a good case of a person who is not eligible for Wirtland citizenship, despite the fact that his guilt is not proved. Bout is alleged to have brokered weapons deals in Afghanistan, Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone and Sudan, and to have armed the forces of the Liberian dictator Charles Taylor and Libya's Muammar Qaddafi. The 2005 movie Lord of War, starring Nicolas Cage, is loosely based on the Russian's life. Good luck, Mr. Lavrov, in defending your citizen!

Roma people (gypsies) to leave France for Romania

Fact: Second chartered flight carrying Roma, often referred as Gypsies, is scheduled to leave France on Friday, a spokesman for the nation's minister of immigration said. The flight will have about 100 Roma aboard. France began the controversial deportation of Roma on Thursday, putting 79 of them on a plane heading out of the country. The Roma who left France on Thursday were heading to Bucharest, Romania, according to the Romanian Foreign Ministry. The deportation is part of what the government says is a crackdown on illegal immigration.

VW (View from Wirtland): The gypsies are now persona non grata in France. They are equally unwanted in their home counties, such as Romania. Perhaps a gypsies' own state (Roma State) is a solution? As a virtual country, Wirtland would propose virtual statehood for the gypsies, as the first step towards full-fledged autonomy. Gypsies are welcome to apply for Wirtland citizenship, which is open and free of charge.