August 23, 2010 Nº 948 - Vol. 8
"Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something."
Plato
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China may drop death penalty for economic crimes
China is considering dropping the use of the death penalty to punish several economic crimes. A draft amendment to the country's criminal code suggests that 13 "economy-related, non-violent offences" be dropped from the death penalty list. China currently sentences to death people found guilty of 68 specified crimes. China executes more people every year than any other country, and has drawn criticism for its record.
China mulls law to better protect intangible cultural heritage
The State Council, China's cabinet, submitted a law on safeguarding China's intangible cultural heritage (ICH) for its first reading at the nation's top legislature, the National People's Congress. The draft law proposes the creation of representative lists of national and local intangible cultural heritage to safeguard heritage that is of historic, literary, artistic or scientific value. The State Council and provincial governments must create ICH lists separately while county governments should make regular surveys of ICH, the draft law said. Foreign organizations can only make such surveys in China after obtaining Chinese government approval and in cooperation with Chinese academic research institutions, according to the law.
Inside the knockoff-tennis-shoe factory
In southern China, making fake shoes has become a very big business. Chinese authorities are slow to enforce the law, and it's becoming harder and harder to tell which shoes are real. Efforts to have intellectual-property rights honored in China are not new. But China's counterfeiting dynamic is more complicated than foreign goods being copied. Chinese sneaker brands, for instance, are also counterfeited. And the domestic debate about ensuring intellectual-property rights dates to at least the middle of the 19th century.
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Obama states what the law says on mosque
Obama undoubtedly meant well by reiterating a provision in the US constitution. Instead, he invited a genie called "selective reception." At issue is a proposed Muslim community centre, including a mosque, 180 metres from Ground Zero. There, in Lower Manhattan, the twin-tower World Trade Centre once stood. Al-Qaeda destroyed it with hijacked jetliners as missiles 10 years ago. More than 2,700 people died. Obama said the US constitution guarantees freedom of worship, including building places to do so. The buildings though should be "in accordance with local laws and ordinances.
Obama administration urges return to prison for Lockerbie bomber
The Obama administration on Friday urged Libyan authorities to return convicted Pan Am Flight 103 bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed Al Megrahi to a Scottish prison to serve the remainder of his sentence. US Secretary of State Hilary Clinton released a statement explaining the US position on al Megrahi's situation: "The United States continues to categorically disagree with the decision made by the Scottish Executive to release al-Megrahi and return him to Libya last year. As we have expressed repeatedly to Scottish authorities, we maintain that al-Megrahi should serve out the entirety of his sentence in prison in Scotland. We have and will continue to reiterate this position to the Scottish and Libyan authorities."
Wikileaks controversy highlights debate over shield law
Wikileaks apparently obtained the documents, describing the U.S. military's conduct of the war in Afghanistan, from a military source and posted them on the Internet. The release sparked praise and criticism, the latter from government officials who said the revelations could endanger U.S.-led forces and their Afghan allies. At the same time, Wikileaks made the documents available to the New York Times and two other news organizations, which published stories based on them. Wikileaks founder Julian Assange says that his group plans to release an additional 15,000 documents this month. The shield legislation would protect journalists from having to reveal anonymous sources when challenged by prosecutors in federal court. The protection wouldn't apply in all cases, however. In matters involving terrorism and national security, government lawyers could ask a judge to remove the shield. The bill passed the House and a Senate panel last fall, and it may come up for Senate debate after the August recess. Supporters of the bill point out that such a law wouldn't affect Wikileaks. As a "virtual" organization, with no fixed address or country of origin, Wikileaks isn't subject to U.S. law, meaning it couldn't be protected or subjected to disclosure by an American court.
Protests over anti-joking law in Brazil
Thousands of demonstrators marched in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday to protest against a law forbidding Brazilian TV and radio broadcasters from making fun of candidates ahead of the nation's elections. The first wave of on-air political ads starts on Tuesday. The "anti-joking law" prohibits ridiculing candidates in the three months before the election on October 3, with a possible second-round runoff on October 31. The protesters say it is a "draconian relic" of Brazil's dictatorship that threatens free speech and a blight on the reputation of Latin America's largest nation.
Jump in corporate deals helps lift European markets
European equity markets rose modestly Monday as the pickup in corporate dealmaking helped offset the gloom from disappointing economic data in the United States. Merger and acquisition talk is also at the heart of the new trading week, helping to sustain interest in the markets in what is usually a quiet time of year.
Growing concern about tainted eggs after recall
A national outbreak of salmonella was linked on Friday to another major egg producer, Hillandale Farms, prompting the recall of an additional 170 million eggs in 14 states. The latest action — the third recall announcement in two weeks for eggs — is bound to shake the confidence of consumers rattled by a succession of food safety scares in recent years, most prominently for foods like beef and lettuce. The idea that half a billion suspect eggs have been circulating in the food supply comes as an embarrassment for the egg industry and federal regulators. New egg safety rules went into effect in July that the Food and Drug Administration had said would prevent tens of thousands of salmonella illnesses a year.
Bangladesh court rules against mandatory religious clothing
The Bangladeshi Supreme Court ruled Sunday that workplaces and schools cannot force individuals to wear religious clothing such as veils and skull caps. The court found that wearing religious clothing is an individual choice and cannot be made mandatory, and requiring individuals to wear religious clothing is a human rights violation in contravention of the Bangladeshi Constitution. The ruling comes after an incident in Northern Bangladesh where a college principal was forcing female students to wear veils. In April, the high court ruled that educational institutions could not force female employees to wear veils. The ruling came after an incident where a government official chastised a female headmistress for not wearing a scarf or veil during a staff meeting. Bangladeshi human rights groups applauded this most recent decision, while others argued it is an attack on Islamic values.
Spitzer's lawsuits: a contested legacy
Eliot Spitzer, former governor of New York and before that the state's attorney general, has taken issue with a recent Op/Ed in The Wall Street Journal over several suits he brought while in office. His legacy is at stake. The Journal is calling those suits failures, and see Andrew Cuomo, present attorney general and candidate for governor himself, as Mr. Spitzer's last fan standing.
Time
Is America islamophobic? Does America Have A Muslim Problem? It's part of the fabric of life, but protests reveal a growing hostility to the religion of Muslims.
Newsweek
'A Likeable Guy' If you're President Obama, here is a galling fact: most Democrats would rather have Bill Clinton campaign for them this fall than you.
Business Week
The Popularity Issue. A guide to America's favorite stuff: the food we eat, the sneakers we wear, the churches we visit, the colors of the cars we drive. Not the coolest or best—just the ubiquitous, omnipresent No. 1s
The Economist
Contest of the century. As China and India rise in tandem, their relationship will shape world politics. Shame they do not get on better.
Le Point
Immobilier. Ca repart.
Der Spiegel
Die Rivalen - China gegen Deutschland - Kampf um die Weltmärkte.
'Manila bus hostages killed'
Al Jazeera, Doha, Qatar
Palestinian President Furious with Clinton Statement
Asharq Al-Awsat, Pan-Arab daily, London, England
Former Sudanese president voted Islamic Personality of the Year
Gulf News, Independent daily, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Police recommend indicting ex-PM Olmert over Holyland corruption
Haaretz, Liberal daily, Tel Aviv, Israel
MIDEAST: Darkness Dawns at Ramadan
IPS Middle East, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy
Talks, talks, talks
JPost, Conservative, Jerusalem, Israel
Khalifa telephoned by Saudi King, Egyptian President
Khaleej Times, English-language daily, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Minimum taxi fare in Sharjah will be Dh10
Middle East North African Network, Online financial portal, Amman, Jordan
20 Killed in Bus Crash in Flood-hit Pakistan
Nahamet, Online news portal, Beirut, Lebanon
Panel formed on Lebanon poll law
Saudi Gazette, English-language daily, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Ahmadinejad unveils bomber drone with range of 1,000 kms
The Daily Star, Independent daily, Beirut, Lebanon
Iran unveils drone aircraft to counter 'aggressors'
Times of Oman, English-language daily, Muscat, Oman
Two arrested for assassination attempt on director of CID
Yemen Observer, Sana'a, Republic of Yemen
UK 'leading on aid for Pakistan'
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
Harrison set for Haye showdown
BreakingNews.ie, Online news portal, Cork, Ireland
Murder probe after bodies found
Daily Express, Conservative tabloid, London, England
Earth's helium reserves 'will run out within 25 years'
Daily Mail, Conservative daily, London, England
Google to restart Street View imaging in France
DMeurope, Online news portal, Amsterdam, Netherlands
PHILIPPINES: Police surround hijacked bus
France 24, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
V Festival 2010: All The Gossip!
Look Magazine, London, England
Student satisfaction rating drops at Cumbria university
News & Star, Independent daily, Carlisle, England
Belarus Considers New Baltic Oil Route
Radio Free Europe, Prague, Czech Republic
Exclusive: Edwards Owners To Explore ?1.5bn Sale
Sky News, Independent newscaster, Middlesex, England
British public praised for Pakistan floods response
The Guardian, Liberal daily, London, England
Britons donate GBP 29 million to Pakistan flood appeal
The Independent, London, England
Police surround Manila hostages bus
The Irish Times, Centrist daily, Dublin, Ireland
3,000 Praise Forest, Assail Putin at Rally
The Moscow Times, Independent daily, Moscow, Russia
5mph 999 crawl to save bride's spine
The Sun, London, England
John Lennon's toilet to be auctioned with Beatles memorabilia
The Telegraph, London, England
Motoring organisations angry at plans to charge people GBP 250 a year to park cars at work
The Telegraph, Conservative daily, London, England
Two foreign ministers discuss Peninsula situation
Antara News, News agency, Jakarta, Indonesia
Pakistan braced for more floods as aid tops US$800 million
China Post, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan
10th Seoul International Financial Forum Kicks Off
Chosun Ilbo, Conservative daily, Seoul, South Korea
Authorities struggle to save Shahdadkot from flooding
Dawn, English-language daily, Karachi, Pakistan
Turkey to present roadmap to maintain Kyrgyzstan's stability
Gazeta.kz, Official online newspaper, Kazakhstan
PM election fails for the fifth time
Hindustan Times, New Delhi, India
Armed ex-policeman takes tourists hostage on bus
India Express, News portal, Mumbai, India
Nitish, Lalu rakhis a hit in Bihar
India Times, Conservative daily, New Delhi, India
Shameful road to the Commonwealth Games
Japan Times, Independent centrist, Tokyo, Japan
Indonesian demonstrators defile Malaysian flag, throw faeces at embassy
Malaysian Star, Online news portal, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Gillard faces mining stumbling block
New Zealand Herald, Conservative daily, Auckland, New Zealand
Commander surrenders
Pajhwok Afghan News, (Independent news agency), Kabul, Afghanistan
Iran launches production lines of two high-speed assault boats: report
People's Daily Online, English-language, Beijing, China
24 killed in suicide blasts in Pakistan
Sify News, Chennai, India
Newton's lover gets AVO
Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily, Sydney, Australia
Chinese Premier Wen calls for political reform
Taiwan News, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan
Taiwan wins Junior League World Series
Taiwan Today, Government Information Office, Taipei, Taiwan
Leno Raises $100,000 For The Gulf Coast Community Affected By Oil Spill
Thaindian News, Bangkok, Thailand
BJP, Left to push for nuclear bill changes in House
The Hindu, Left-leaning daily, Chennai, India
PotashCorp board rejects BHP's offer
Canadian Broadcasting Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Wyclef's bid for Haiti's presidency ends
Caribbean360, Online news portal, St. Michael, Barbados
Farming to be third leg of economy
Cayman Net News, Online news portal, George Town, Cayman Islands
Financial problems affect Dominican opposition party
Dominican Today, Independent daily, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
ENERGY: Brazilian Biofuels Run into EU Obstacles
IPS Latin America, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy
Betrayed! Simpson Miller says Golding, caught in web of lies, must quit
Jamaica Gleaner, Independent daily, Kingston, Jamaica
HP trumps Dell’s bid for 3PAR
The Globe and Mail, Centrist daily, Toronto, Canada
Philippine police poised to storm hostage bus
Toronto Star, Toronto, Ontario
No budget hints from PM
Trinidad Guardian, Independent daily, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
Military keeps SA hospitals open
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
Two Suspects Arrested in Attack on MONUSCO Base
CongoPlanet.com, Independent online news aggregator
Mills: I have absolute faith in Ghanaian doctors
GhanaWeb, Online news portal, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Sentenced to paralysis?
iafrica, Online news portal, Cape Town, South Africa
'We are behind strikers until the bitter end'
Independent Online, News portal, Cape Town, South Africa
Ethiopia: Jimma University awarded for good performance
Jimma Times, Online news portal, Jimma, Ethiopia
Press Council to review its constitution
Mail & Guardian Online, Liberal, Johannesburg, South Africa
Filipino cops: All hostages dead
News24.com, Online news portal, Cape Town, South Africa
NURTW chair lauds Delta govt
Vanguard, Independent daily, Lagos, Nigeria
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