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• Top News

Toyota boss faces tough questions

Three congressional committees are now investigating Toyota's problems, and numerous lawsuits have been filed. In addition, federal prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation into Toyota Motor Corp.'s safety problems, and the Securities and Exchange Commission is probing what the automaker told investors, Toyota disclosed Monday. Toyota said it had received subpoenas asking it to produce documents relating to the safety problems and the company's disclosure policies. The company's president will face tough questioning from US politicians later as their probe into safety problems at the firm continues. Akio Toyoda is to be quizzed on events that led to 8.5 million vehicles being recalled worldwide and how his firm responded to the public's concerns. Toyoda has already released opening remarks which admitted that the firm's expansion "may have been too quick". The Congress committee has already been scathing of Toyota's US boss. The reputation of Toyota has been severely damaged by a string of major problems across a range of vehicles. There is widespread public suspicion here that the intense scrutiny of the company may be partly politically motivated now that the U.S. government owns more than half of General Motors Corp. after its bankruptcy filing. Toyota overtook GM in 2008 to become the world's biggest automaker. The U.S. government also has a minority share of Chrysler. Toyota can expect support from one quarter. More than a hundred dealers from around the US have travelled to Washington.

Americas bloc excluding US and Canada agreed

Latin American and Caribbean nations have agreed to set up a new regional body without the US and Canada. The new bloc would be an alternative to the Organization of American States (OAS), the main forum for regional affairs in the past 50 years. Mexico has been hosting a regional summit in the beach resort of Cancun. The OAS has been dogged by rifts between some members and the US over economic policy and trade, and criticized for promoting US interests.

Lisbon Pact failing to lift the E.U. on global stage

Three months after the European Union introduced a new rule book that was supposed to elevate its status on the global stage, an awkward question is unavoidably being asked within the bloc: Has the Lisbon Treaty actually made things worse? The agreement finally became law in December at the end of an eight-year battle to reform Europe's ramshackle structures and to invest the world's largest trading bloc with equivalent diplomatic weight for its 27 member nations. But during the treaty's brief life thus far, confusion about the bloc's leadership has deepened, President Barack Obama has decided not to attend a European summit meeting, a series of turf wars has broken out, and there has been criticism of the low profile of the Union's first full-time president, Herman Van Rompuy, and its new foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton. On Monday, the infighting worsened with news of a written complaint to Ms. Ashton from the Swedish foreign minister, Carl Bildt, about the way that the bloc's new ambassador to Washington, João Vale de Almeida, was appointed. And, while the Union may use some new powers under the Lisbon Treaty to deal with the Greek debt crisis, the treaty did not help avert it. On Monday, the Greek deputy prime minister, Theodoros Pangalos, said E.U. leaders were "not up to the scale of the task" in dealing with the crisis, The Associated Press reported. Though some see the problems as predictable - and point out that it took the new U.S. administration many months to get organized - most observers accept that the Lisbon agreement got off to a bad start. The question is whether it is suffering growing pains or symptoms of something worse.

Wall Street bonuses 'jumped 17% in 2009'

Cash bonuses for Wall Street bankers rose by 17% to $20.3bn in 2009, figures have shown. The data, from the New York state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, also said that profits at the firms could be in excess of $55bn for last year. DiNapoli added that the payouts were a "bitter pill" and "hard to comprehend" for American taxpayers who had bailed out Wall Street firms. The total does not include bonuses taken in stock options instead of cash.

Before you open the door to the boardroom, peek through the keyhole!

Michael Page specializes in the placement of candidates in permanent, contract, temporary and interim positions within client companies around the world. Have a look at the new section of the Migalhas website and discover the professional development opportunities with large corporations, in legal and business fields, presented by Michael Page International. Click here to peep through the hole!

• Crumbs!

1 - Holder praises role of civilian courts in obtaining guilty plea from terror suspect (Click here)

2 - Supreme Court rules corporation's principal place of business is its 'nerve center' (Click here)

3 - The Supreme Court should rule in favor of African-American job applicants whose discrimination suit was thrown out because of statute of limitations (Click here)

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MiMIC Journal

China communists get new ethics

The Chinese Communist Party issues a new ethics code, in an attempt to control growing corruption among officials.

China tightens internet controls

China has tightened controls on internet use, requiring anyone who wants to set up a website to meet regulators and produce ID documents. The technology ministry said the measures were designed to tackle online pornography, but internet activists see it as increased government censorship. A number of websites are now being registered overseas in an attempt to avoid controls.

Deal seen for stake in China Investment Bank

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company and TPG Capital have tentatively agreed to pay close to $1 billion to acquire Morgan Stanley's 34 percent stake in China's leading investment bank, according to people who have been briefed on the deal. The deal for a stake in the China International Capital Corporation would be one of the largest single foreign investments ever made in China's financial services industry. It is the latest sign that global private equity groups are making a huge push to enter a market that has long been restricted to outside investors.

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• Historia Verdadera

Malvinas

A pocas horas que los presidentes de América Latina y el Caribe cerrarán filas entorno a la demanda argentina, sobre las islas Malvinas y pidiera a la ONU reabrir el debate, Gran Bretaña respondió con un fuerte rechazo a las objeciones argentinas a la exploración petrolera y dijo que las perforaciones -que realiza la empresa Desire Petroleum- están dentro de la legislación internacional. (Presione aquí)

Fuera de la OEA ?

El conflicto de Honduras fue la vara con que se midió los aciertos y desaciertos de la OEA en América Latina y el Caribe. Los presidentes de la región, reunidos en México, decidieron crear una Comunidad paralela a la que tiene sede en Washington. Si bien aun no tiene nombre ni estatutos sobre las que regirá este debe comenzar a funcionar en 2011. Los mandatarios miembros del Grupo de Río festejaron la creación del organismo que representará los intereses de la región ante el hemisferio. (Presione aquí)

• Brief News

Republicans to 'crash the party' at health summit

Speaking ahead of President Obama's televised health summit, House Minority Leader John Boehner told fellow Republicans in a closed-door event Tuesday: "We need to show up and crash the party." Democratic leaders confronted the reality Tuesday that they may not be able to pass the comprehensive health care overhaul sought by President Obama, while Republican leaders prepared to do everything in their power to make sure they can't. "We shouldn't let the White House have a six-hour taxpayer-funded infomercial on ObamaCare," Boehner said, suggesting the meeting was no more than a White House publicity stunt. Both parties saw the president's revised, far-reaching proposal, released Monday, as a call for Democrats to try to pass the legislation on their own under Senate rules that would bar Republican delaying tactics.

Supreme Court: Peace activists challenge US antiterror law

The Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday on whether an antiterror law violates the Constitution. The US solicitor general calls it 'a vital weapon.' A lawyer for international peace activists argues it will send his clients to prison. He urged the US Supreme Court on Tuesday to strike down a portion of an antiterror law that he says threatens to send his clients to prison for urging terror groups to explore nonviolent solutions. Georgetown University Law Professor David Cole told the justices that a part of the USA Patriot Act barring material support to terrorist organizations was too vague to withstand constitutional scrutiny. "The government has spent a decade saying our clients cannot advocate for peace," he said.

Consumers 'confused by copyright'

Consumers are confused by copyright laws that mean it is still illegal to copy a CD onto their computer, a watchdog says. Consumer Focus said that copyright law was outdated and millions of people were unaware they were breaking laws. But a legal expert has said that there was no danger of individual consumers being prosecuted for copying music and films for their own use. Instead commercial operations are the focus of law enforcement.

US Navy moves to let women serve on submarines

The US defense department has decided to allow women to serve aboard submarines, according to officials. Defense Secretary Robert Gates has approved the recommendation and sent letters to Congress informing them of the plan. Congress now has 30 days to approve the measure. The move comes as the US Army's chief of staff said it was time to revisit rules restricting women in combat roles. Women are still barred from traditional frontline roles in the armed forces.

Sat-nav systems under growing threat from 'jammers'

Technology that depends on satellite-navigation signals (GPS) is increasingly threatened by attack from widely available equipment, experts say. While "jamming" sat-nav equipment with noise signals is on the rise, more sophisticated methods allow hackers even to program what receivers display. At risk are not only sat-nav users, but also critical national infrastructure. "GPS gives us transportation, distribution industry, 'just-in-time' manufacturing, emergency services operations - even mining, road building and farming, all these and a zillion more," David Last said. "But what few people outside this community recognize is the high-precision timing that GPS provides to keep our telephone networks, the internet, banking transactions and even our power grid online."

Google faces European competition inquiry

The European Commission is looking into complaints about Google's behavior, the company has revealed. The complaints were made by UK price comparison site Foundem, French legal search engine ejustice.fr, and Microsoft's Ciao. Google's said the it was "confident" it operated within European competition law.Plaintiffs argue that Google's algorithms demote their site in their results because they are a vertical search engine and so a direct competitor to Google. Microsoft initially took its case to the German competition authority, but Google said it had now been transferred to Brussels. It does believe it's natural for competition officials to look at online advertising given how important it is to the development of the internet and the dominance of one player. (Click here)

Google executives get suspended sentences in Milan for privacy violations

One former Google Inc. executive and two current managers at the company were found guilty of privacy violations by an Italian court today.

Brazil scandal could hurt opposition in election

The acting governor of Brazil's federal district resigned on Tuesday over a corruption scandal that has tarnished one of the main opposition parties and could affect the campaign of front-runner Jose Serra in this October's presidential race. The district's governor, Jose Roberto Arruda, was jailed this month for interference with an investigation into a suspected racketeering scheme. Arruda, Octavio and several of their aides are accused of getting kickbacks from construction firms in exchange for public works contracts. They deny the charges.

Xerox sues Yahoo, Google for patent infringement

Xerox is suing Yahoo, Google and Google's YouTube video site for alleged infringement of its patents on Internet search and e-commerce technology.

EU plans extended maternity leave

Draft legislation has been passed by a committee of the European Parliament to extend maternity leave across Europe to 20 weeks on full pay. Current European rules give pregnant women 14 weeks leave fully paid.

Anger as Apple purges adult apps

Developers have expressed anger at Apple's decision to ban some adult-themed applications from its iPhone. Thousands of apps with adult-themed content have been removed from the store since Friday although some, such as one from Playboy, remain. Apple has said that certain apps were removed following customer complaints. Developer Jon Atherton is angry that previously-approved apps have been pulled, and accuses Apple of "experimenting with our livelihoods".

Argentina rallies regional support over Falklands

Latin American and Caribbean leaders have backed Argentina's claim over the Falklands, Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner has said. At a regional summit in Cancun, Mexico, a document has reportedly been drafted giving Argentina unanimous support. It comes a day after a British oil company began drilling for oil off the islands, a move Argentina objected to. The UK's defense minister said the government would take whatever steps necessary to protect the Falklands.

Consumer confidence takes unexpectedly sharp dip

Confidence among US consumers saw a surprisingly sharp fall in February as concerns grew about the jobs market and business conditions, a survey says.

Serbia police raid Ratko Mladic house in Belgrade

Serbian police have raided a house belonging to the family of the Bosnian Serb wartime military chief, General Ratko Mladic. He is the most wanted fugitive from the Bosnian war, and has been indicted on charges of genocide. Serbia has been told by the European Union that it will not become a member of the bloc until he is caught.

• Daily Press Review

President 'returns to Nigeria'
Al Jazeera, Doha, Qatar

Top Brass Grilled over Turkey 'Coup Plot'
Asharq Al-Awsat, Pan-Arab daily, London, England

Food inspection system in Dubai is changing
Gulf News, Independent daily, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Report: Japan offers to enrich Iran's uranium
Haaretz, Liberal daily, Tel Aviv, Israel

MIDEAST: Dubai Hit Exposes Hamas's Weaknesses
IPS Middle East, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy

'Abbas campaign is hypocritical'
JPost, Conservative, Jerusalem, Israel

Hans Blix to Head UAE's Panel on Nuclear Energy
Khaleej Times, English-language daily, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Lufthansa operations from Saudi Arabia will be normal soon
Middle East North African Network, Online financial portal, Amman, Jordan

Taliban Kill 2 Alleged U.S. Spies in Northwest Pakistan
Nahamet, Online news portal, Beirut, Lebanon

Panel formed on Lebanon poll law
Saudi Gazette, English-language daily, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Khartoum, Darfur rebels sign ceasefire accord
The Daily Star, Independent daily, Beirut, Lebanon

Ahmadinejad vows to cut off hands of Iran attackers
Times of Oman, English-language daily, Muscat, Oman

PM denies 'forces of hell' attack
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England

Humble Hayes embarrassed by fuss
BreakingNews.ie, Online news portal, Cork, Ireland

Brown apologises to child migrants
Daily Express, Conservative tabloid, London, England

Business and taxpayers face GBP2bn bill under Brussels plans to give new mothers 20 weeks leave on FULL pay
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England

Telekom Austria forecasts drop in revenues, EBITDA in 2010
DMeurope, Online news portal, Amsterdam, Netherlands

DIPLOMACY: French president renews ties with third Gabon visit
France 24, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France

Portraits of second generation migrants in France are on display
Hurriyet Daily News, (Liberal, English-language), Istanbul, Turkey

The LOOK Show: Shop The Catwalk!
Look Magazine, London, England

Boy arrested as classmate hurt in school 'accident'
Manchester Online, Independent daily, Manchester, England

Man hurt as car overturns on west Cumbrian main road
News & Star, Independent daily, Carlisle, England

Afghan Provincial Official 'Assassinated' In Kandahar
Radio Free Europe, Prague, Czech Republic

PM: I Never Unleashed Hell On My Chancellor
Sky News, Independent newscaster, Middlesex, England

Picture This: A Map of Mud
Spiegel International, Liberal newsmagazine, Hamburg, Germany

Amnesia and hush money - MPs' phone-hacking verdict
The Guardian, Liberal daily, London, England

Argentina goes to UN as Falklands row escalates
The Independent, London, England

Strikes disrupt French flights
The Irish Times, Centrist daily, Dublin, Ireland

U.S. Lawyer Who Hired Magnitsky Flees to London
The Moscow Times, Independent daily, Moscow, Russia

Gordon Brown denies unleashing 'forces of hell' on Chancellor Alistair Darling
The Telegraph, Conservative daily, London, England

Cheryl and Ashley Cole in their own words
The Telegraph, London, England

Scores feared dead in Indonesian landslide
Times Online, Conservative daily, London, England

Reshuffle may disadvantage Yudhoyono's government: observer
Antara News, News agency, Jakarta, Indonesia

10th Seoul International Financial Forum Kicks Off
Chosun Ilbo, Conservative daily, Seoul, South Korea

Drone strike in North Waziristan
Dawn, English-language daily, Karachi, Pakistan

More than 700 or each 11th bank in USA on the verge of bankruptcy
Gazeta.kz, Official online newspaper, Kazakhstan

Rail Budget: No hike in fares, freight charges
India Express, News portal, Mumbai, India

Pune blast toll rises to 16
India Times, Conservative daily, New Delhi, India

Nagasaki shows DPJ fault line
Japan Times, Independent centrist, Tokyo, Japan

Death for amok man who murdered pregnant girlfriend
Malaysian Star, Online news portal, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

Full-body scanners for US airports
New Zealand Herald, Conservative daily, Auckland, New Zealand

Japanese gov't officials urge Toyota to regain U.S. consumer confidence
People's Daily Online, English-language, Beijing, China

US drone strike kills three in NW Pakistan: officials
Sify News, Chennai, India

Marshall a Tiger for life
Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily, Sydney, Australia

China hikes price
Taiwan News, Taipei, Taiwan

NSC sees science park revenue rising
Taiwan Today, Taipai, Taiwan

Lalu Yadav questions Mamata on budget facts
Thaindian News, Bangkok, Thailand

Uproar over price rise
The Hindu, Left-leaning daily, Chennai, India

BODY FOUND - Police hope to have positive ID today
Antigua Sun Online, Independent daily, St. John's, Antigua

Wharnsby: Team Canada storms into quarter-finals
Canadian Broadcasting Centre, Toronto, Ontario

Policeman's irrational action caused fire that killed seven
Caribbean360, Online news portal, St. Michael, Barbados

Contact with missing boaters dismissed as cruel rumour
Cayman Net News, Online news portal, George Town, Cayman Islands

In Bani murder of Colombians, 18 to stand criminal trial, 9 acquitted
Dominican Today, Independent daily, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

HEALTH-BRAZIL: When the City Makes You Sick
IPS Latin America, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy

Alison walks - CDA head calls it quits after six years
Jamaica Gleaner, Independent daily, Kingston, Jamaica

Former Peru's President Alberto Fujimori to attend his daughter's wedding
Living in Peru, News portal, Lima, Peru

Games reignite dream of a car-free Granville
The Globe and Mail, Centrist daily, Toronto, Canada

What happens if a 7 earthquake hits us?
Trinidad Guardian, Independent daily, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad

Got Games fever? New $40 Olympic tickets available for Men's curling tie-breaker game Feb 24th - News Releases : Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics
Vancouver 2010 Olympic News, Vancouver, British Columbia

Nigerian president 'returns home'
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England

U.S. Marines Begin Training Congo Army Battalion
CongoPlanet.com, Independent online news aggregator

NALAG should fulfil development aspirations of the people- Mr Aidoo Mensah
GhanaWeb, Online news portal, Amsterdam, Netherlands

China issues ethics code
iafrica, Online news portal, Cape Town, South Africa

How do you like your porn?
Independent Online, News portal, Cape Town, South Africa

Ethiopia: Register for Jimma University Alumni Association
Jimma Times, Online news portal, Jimma, Ethiopia

King wants portrait in public venues for World Cup
Mail & Guardian Online, Liberal, Johannesburg, South Africa

2 held over illegal abortions
News24.com, Online news portal, Cape Town, South Africa

Jang frowns at politicisation of religion
Vanguard, Independent daily, Lagos, Nigeria

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