February 28, 2007 no. 459 - Vol. 5
"It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see."
Henry David Thoreau
U.S. Downplays Attack on Base Where Cheney Slept
White House spokesman Tony Snow downplays news of an attack on a U.S. military base at Bagram, Afghanistan, where Vice President Dick Cheney had just spent the night. Estimates of the death toll have gone as high as 23; the Taliban calls the attack an attempted assassination.
MEPs discuss EU-wide piracy law
A draft law to be debated in the European parliament could result in Europe-wide criminal penalties for counterfeiting and intellectual piracy. All 27 EU countries would be obliged to consider jail terms for the violation of intellectual property rights. From fashion to software, the range and value of pirated goods within the EU is steadily on the rise. The European Commission says it is an international business increasingly linked to organized crime.
World stock slump hits second day
US, European and Asian stocks slump for a second day after a wobble in China sparks fears of a big correction.
US court rejects habeas petition of Saddam VP facing Iraqi death sentence
The US District Court for the District of Columbia ruled Tuesday that it has no jurisdiction to block the Iraqi death sentence for former Iraqi Vice President Taha Yassin Ramadan . Ramadan was convicted by the Iraqi High Tribunal (IHT) in November and originally sentenced to life in prison. The IHT Appeals Chamber later deemed the sentence too lenient and ordered the death penalty for Ramadan. Following the example of suspected Iraqi terrorist and US citizen Shawqi Omar , Ramadan brought a petition for a writ of habeas corpus before the federal court. Basing his claim on the fact that he is presently in US custody, Ramadan claimed that he would be subject to harm if turned over to Iraqi officials. Judge Paul Friedman ruled that regardless of whether Ramadan was in US custody, a US court lacks jurisdiction over an alien who is detained overseas and convicted by a foreign court. Friedman stated from the bench that granting the petition would constitute an improper collateral review of another court's decision.
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China PM warns on social justice
China's prime minister has warned of the need to make sure the country's rapid economic development does not come at the expense of social justice. Wen Jiabao said they were "interrelated and mutually beneficial tasks" that would help create a harmonious society.
Wal-Mart expands Chinese business
Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, is expanding its presence in China after agreeing to buy a 35% stake in discount store chain Trust-Mart. The terms of the deal, giving Wal-Mart an interest in 100 stores in 34 Chinese cities, were not revealed but analysts have said the business is worth $1bn.
China Pushes Toward Transparency, in Secret
A regulation mandating greater transparency in China's government is moving forward in Beijing, but its contents are a secret. Analysts say the regulation, eight years in the making, may do more to strengthen Beijing's sway over its bureaucracy than to meet growing public demands for accountability, in a country where information is closely guarded.
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Venezuela
El 1 de marzo entrará en vigencia el Decreto Supremo que reduce el IVA en Venezuela del 14 al 11%, y al 9% desde el próximo 1 de julio. La medida fue firmada y oficializada publicamente por el presidente Hugo Chávez.
Reforma Judicial
El presidente Felipe Calderón ya tiene en sus manos el Plan Integral de Seguridad Pública que contiene las principales propuestas para una eventual reforma al sistema judicial. El documento será hecho publico en próximos días.
Preparativos
El Tribunal Electoral de Ecuador apresta los trámites para llevar adelante el referéndum que viabilizará la Asamblea Constituyente en el país. El gobierno entregó más de 16 millones de dólares para la organización de la consulta.
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Al-Qaeda the 'worst threat' to US
Al-Qaeda represents the most serious threat to US interests, the new US intelligence chief has said. Michael McConnell told a congressional panel the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah also posed a grave threat. He also said Iran and North Korea were of most concern to the US because there was a risk they could spread weapons of mass destruction.
Uruguayan colonel held in Brazil
A retired Uruguayan colonel who is wanted in his own country and in Argentina for alleged human rights abuses has been arrested in Brazil. Manuel Cordero is, among other things, accused of involvement in the deaths of two Uruguayan lawmakers in Argentina.
US Congress May Put Tobacco Under FDA Control
In the late 1990s, the Food and Drug Administration tried to regulate tobacco. But the Supreme Court decided it wasn't in the agency's charter. Now, some legislators on Capitol Hill want to put it there. A bill with a chance of passing has been introduced, and today a Senate committee takes up the issue.
Airbus to announce major job cuts
Troubled planemaker Airbus is preparing to announce up to 10,000 job losses at key operating sites across Europe.
Immigration Crackdown
US Officials are targeting employers for their role in hiring undocumented workers. More cases are likely, as immigration officials take a more aggressive stance.
Vitamins 'could shorten lifespan'
Taking certain vitamin supplements may adversely affect people's lifespan, researchers have suggested. Millions worldwide use antioxidant supplements such as vitamins A and E, and beta-carotene.
Looking at dozens of previous research studies, Copenhagen University researchers suggested these appeared to raise, not lower, the risk of death.
Mexico rules on HIV in military
Mexico's highest court has ruled that the country's military cannot order HIV-positive soldiers to leave the armed forces. The Supreme Court said a law requiring soldiers with the condition to leave was unconstitutional.
International Prosecutor Names Names in Darfur Crisis
The lead prosecutor of the International Criminal Court accuses a Sudanese government official and a militia leader of working together to attack civilians in Darfur. Sudan immediately rejected the allegations. Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo singled out two men as "some of the most responsible."
Brazil to build ethanol pipeline to expand exports
Petrobras is planning to build a pipeline network linking its refineries in the countryside with a coastal port to expand the exports of its sugarcane ethanol. The company signed an agreement on Tuesday with Japan's Mitsui Group and local builder Camargo Correa to study the technical feasibility of constructing the pipeline network. The network will transport ethanol from the city of Senador Caneda, in the western state of Goias, up to a refinery in Paulinia, in the countryside of Sao Paulo state, and then to Petrobras' terminal at the port of Sao Sebastiao, also in Sao Paulo.
Germany high court finds magazine raid violated press freedom
Germany's Federal Constitutional Court ruled Tuesday that authorities violated the freedom of the press when they raided the offices of the monthly political magazine Cicero . In September 2005, investigators searched the offices of Cicero in an attempt to find the source of a leak of confidential papers from Germany's Federal Crime Office in connection to the financing of Islamic extremists. The court held in a 7-1 vote that the raid was an "unjustified intrusion on the press freedom of the plaintiff" and that there might be ways other than an intentional leak that journalists could learn about state secrets.
Hillary Clinton To Tap Cheryl Mills As Her Campaign’s Gc
Hillary Clinton is expected soon to name Cheryl Mills as general counsel of her presidential campaign. The move carries echoes of the past, as Mills was one of the lawyers who defended her husband against impeachment.
Search Engines Can Decline Ads
Internet search engines can refuse to run advertisements by choice, a federal judge ruled recently in handing Google Inc., Microsoft Corp. and Yahoo Inc. a major legal victory. U.S. District Court Judge Joseph Farnan in Wilmington, Del., said the three search engines could refuse to run ads submitted by Stephen Langdon, a Winter Park, Fla., resident who operates Web sites that purport to expose fraud by North Carolina government officials and alleged atrocities committed by the Chinese government. Judge Farnan ruled that when it comes to advertising, search engines aren't bound by the First Amendment's free-speech guarantees.
Paedophile freed for Dracula book
An American historian jailed in Romania for paedophile offences has been released more than two years early because he wrote a book about Dracula. According to the law, Kurt Treptow was entitled to early release because his writing counted as work in prison. He published a book about Vlad III Dracul, the Romanian prince who inspired the Dracula legend.
Africa
Kenyans dying young and poor, UN report
East African Standard, Liberal daily of Nairobi, Kenya
Ex-mps threaten court action over entitlements
Ghanaian Chronicle, Independent, published in Accra, Ghana
UN drug watchdog 'ignores HIV'
Mail and Guardian, Liberal daily of Johannesburg, South Africa
Construction of former presidents' houses to be completed before 2010
Times of Zambia, Government-owned daily of Lusaka, Zambia
Americas
Bishop Holder: Slow Down
Barbados Advocate, Independent daily of St Michael, Barbados
Macri's hat in ring
Buenos Aires Herald, Liberal daily of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Fury at Fiesta - Workers set vehicles ablaze in hotel protest
Jamaica Gleaner, Centrist daily of Kingston, Jamaica
US firms spend lavishly to combat insecurity in Mexico
The Guadalajara Colony Reporter, Independent weekly of Guadalajara, Mexico
Asia Pacific
Russian PM arrives for talks with Abe / Fradkov seeks investments from Japan
Daily Yomiuri, Conservative daily of Tokyo, Japan
Key issues to be discussed at upcoming 'two sessions'
People's Daily Online, Pro-government daily of Beijing, China
Thunder storms pelt Sydney
The Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily of Sydney, Australia
Two MJF Activists Killed in Clash with Maoists in Banke
The Himalayan Times, Independent daily of Kathmandu, Nepal
US offers help in slay probes
The Manila Times, Pro-government daily of Manila, Philippines
'Secret' was out 10 years ago
The Sun, Independent daily of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Europe
Airbus to Present Crisis Cuts After Five-Month Delay
Deutsche Welle, International broadcaster of Cologne, Germany
Cooperation with North Korea important - Japanese PM
Interfax, Government-owned news agency, Moscow, Russia
Paedophiles used internet chat to lure 14-year-old
Irish Examiner, Centrist daily of Cork, Ireland
Ingush Official Dies After Beating
The Moscow Times, Independent, English-language daily of Moscow, Russia
US reopens cold cases on civil rights killings
The Scotsman, Centrist daily of Edinburgh, Scotland
Turkey readying for oil search in northern Iraq
Turkish Daily News, Independent daily of Istanbul, Turkey
Middle East
Rallying for Article 5
Al-Ahram Weekly, Semi-official, English-language weekly of Cairo, Egypt
Walesa: Think Global, but Are We Up to It?
Arab News, Pro-government, English-language daily of Jidda, Saudi Arabia
US to attend meeting with Iran
Gulf News, Independent daily of Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Border Police kill 3 Jihad militants during Jenin raid
Ha`aretz, Liberal daily of Tel Aviv, Israel
Culture minister: Iran will confront enemy's 'cultural NATO'
Islamic Republic News Agency, Government-owned news agency of Tehran, Iran
Undercover Border Police kill three Jihad terrorists in Jenin
The Jerusalem Post, Conservative daily of Jerusalem, Israel
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