Centre for federal studies launched at Iraqi conference
Academics, federalism experts, meet in Erbil to found federalism organization. Seated from the left are Dr. Idris Hadi Saleh, Minister of Higher Education of Kurdistan Regional Government; Dr. David Cameron, Forum of Federations; Dr. Hadi Husain Ali, Law professor at Babil University; Dr. Mohammad al Saraj, Director of Research at Ministry of Higher Education in Baghdad; Dr. John Kincaid, Director of Meyner Center, Pennsylvania USA.
Law professors and government officials from all parts of Iraq gathered recently in the city of Erbil, Iraq to formally launch the Iraqi Center for Federal Studies in a conference organized by the Forum of Federations.
Participating in the event were 45 professors of law and political science and 25 officials from the Government of Iraq and the Kurdistan Regional Government. The professors formed part of a core of 68 academics from 18 universities previously trained in federalism by the Forum during a series of three two-week courses held in Jordan. 
The Forum of Federations has co-launched a five-volume series addressing the theme of Unity in Diversity
 The series, co-published with the Government of India’s Inter-State Council, is drawn from papers presented at the 4th International Conference on Federalism held Nov. 5—7 2007 in New Delhi.
The theme of the conference was Unity in Diversity: Learning from Each Other.
The five volumes deal with the themes of Building on and Accommodating Diversities, Emerging Issues in Fiscal Federalism, Interaction in Federal Systems, Local Government in Federal Systems and Policy Issues in Federalism: International Perspectives.
 Dominic Cardy joins the Forum as director for Asia-Pacific Programs
Staff - Dominic Cardy [Director for Asia-Pacific Programs] worked for the National Democratic Institute (NDI) from 2001 to 2008, most recently as Director in NDI’s Nepal office.
Previously based in Cambodia, Pakistan and Bangladesh he has assisted programs in Afghanistan, Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Laos, and Pakistan.
Ethiopia signs with Forum to host 2010 International Conference on Federalism
 Ethiopia - The Government of Ethiopia and the Forum of Federations have signed a Memorandum of Understanding setting out their co-operation to organize the 5th International Conference on Federalism, scheduled to take place February 2010.
Mr. Degefe Bula, the Speaker of the House of Federation, signed the agreement in Addis Ababa on behalf of the Government f Ethiopia.
Forum's Strategic Council discussesfederal responses to crises
 Mexico - Representatives of member countries of the Forum of Federations met recently in the city of León, state of Guanajuato, Mexico.
It was the fourth meeting of the Strategic Council of the Forum of Federations.
The representatives of the Forum’s member countries met to discuss trends in federalism within their respective countries and to provide strategic guidance to the Forum for its future activities.
India renews three-year partnership with the Forum
 India - The Government of India has renewed its three-year framework arrangement with the Forum of Federations.
India became a partner of the Forum in 2005 and since then it has held a wide range of federalism-related learning events in India, in conjunction with the Forum, culminating in November 2007 with the hosting of the Fourth International Conference on Federalism.
Provinces, cantons, Länder discuss the conduct of foreign relations
 Belgium - In many federal countries, the regions (provinces, states, Länder, cantons) have the power to conduct foreign relations in certain sectors such as trade and commerce.
To share information about this and other issues of importance, the Forum recently co-organized an international dialogue between representatives and practitioners from the regions of countries as well as members of central governments in Europe and beyond.
Forum President speaks in Australia
Partnerships
 Board meeting focuses on Iraq
The Forum of Federations recently held its semi-annual board meeting.
Directors from Africa, Asia, Europe and North America discussed issues such as potential new members to expand the Forum's roster of nine partner countries, the Forum’s Fifth International Conference on Federalism, which is to be held in Ethiopia in 2010, as well as the Forum’s programs and activities.
 Networking - Australian federalism changing but constitution lags
The federal system of Australia has changed more in the past six months than it has in years.
That trend was documented by Prof. Graham Sansom of the Centre for Local Government of the University of Technology Sydney in a luncheon presentation at the Forum of Federations in Ottawa to staff from several embassies, the Canadian government and Ottawa universities.
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