The BBC's James Coomarasamy travels to Texas to meet one of the most colourful candidates standing in the US mid-term elections.
He has a political slogan for just about everything; from his unlikely candidacy for governor of Texas ("why the hell not?") to his ever-present Cuban cigar ("I'm not helping the Cuban economy, I'm burning their fields").
These are slogans which are immortalised in his talking Kinky Friedman action doll.
You may get the impression that the Jewish country singer turned detective novelist - whose main protagonist also goes by the name of "Kinky Friedman" - is causing a bit of a political stir in the lone star state.
"Musicians can run this state better than politicians," he told me. "Hell - so could beauticians."
'Begging for truth'
His independent run for the job once held by President Bush is certainly unconventional - and, increasingly, controversial.
  I've written songs like 'They ain't making Jews like Jesus any more', so I bring a little entertainment value into politics
Kinky Friedman
Mid-terms map: Texas 
He has faced recent criticism for referring to Hurricane Katrina evacuees as "crack heads and thugs", but his message of cracking down on the crime wave, which ...   more »

By ALI AKBAR DAREINI Associated Press Writer
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran's hardline president on Sunday said his country was determined to expand its uranium enrichment program, announcing a plan to produce more nuclear fuel and calling allegations that Tehran was seeking nuclear weapons a "big lie."
Speaking to professors at Tehran University, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad reinforced his rejection of demands by the U.S. and its allies to stop enrichment, saying his country was committed to generating nuclear fuel for electricity. 
"Allegations or charges by the United States than Iran is seeking nuclear weapons is a big lie," Ahmadinejad said during his speech, which was broadcast on state-run television.
The process of uranium enrichment can be used to produce electricity or build nuclear weapons depending on the level of enrichment. The U.S. alleges Iran is seeking to build nuclear weapons, but Iran contends that its program is for peaceful purposes.
Ahmadinejad said in his speech that Iran will hopefully install up to 100,000 centrifuges, which spin uranium gas into enriched material in order to produce nuclear fuel. He did not provide any more details or set a timeline, but installing so many centrifuges could take several years.
In February, Iran announced ...   more »

Sunday , October 01, 2006 
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is renewing efforts to revive stalled Mideast peace talks, visiting the region this week for the first time since a U.N.-brokered cease-fire halted Israel's war with Hezbollah terrorists.
Rice planned stops in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Israel and the West Bank to consult with leaders. On Tuesday, she meets with Egypt's president and eight Arab foreign ministers in Cairo with the Israel-Palestinian dispute at the top of the agenda.
During her last visit to the region in August, Rice took heavy criticism for U.S. unwillingness to move for a quicker end to fighting in Lebanon.• Visit FOXNews.com's Mideast Center for more in-depth coverage.
This time, Rice's goal will be to move the U.S. democracy agenda forward with a discussion of threats to stability and moderation in the region such as Iran, Hamas and Hezbollah, her spokesman said last week.
Rice's visit comes amid some progress in the U.N.-brokered cease-fire, which took effect Aug. 14. On Sunday, the Israeli army abandoned almost all of its positions in Lebanon, a key step in fulfilling a major condition of the truce.
Still, Israel said it was "now waiting for Lebanon to do ...   more »

BP and Shell face bids, says energy expert
· New UN body may be needed to police markets

The Guardian
A former government adviser has warned it is "only a matter of time" before BP or Shell faces a bid from a Russian state-owned group such as Gazprom which could threaten western oil supplies.
Professor Peter Odell, an energy economist, says ExxonMobil is also vulnerable to a Chinese takeover as the large UK and American stock-listed oil groups lose their influence in global markets.
"A Chinese bid for Exxon and/or Chevron and/or a Russian bid for Shell and/or BP, backed by funds provided by the wealthy member countries of Opec seem likely to be only a matter of time.
Russian oil grab 'puts western supplies at risk'
· BP and Shell face bids, says energy expert
· New UN body may be needed to police markets
Terry Macalister
Monday October 2, 2006
The Guardian
A former government adviser has warned it is "only a matter of time" before BP or Shell faces a bid from a Russian state-owned group such as Gazprom which could threaten western oil supplies.
Professor Peter Odell, an energy economist, says ExxonMobil is also vulnerable to ...   more »