September 1, 2010 Nº 952 - Vol. 8
"You can bend it and twist it... You can misuse and abuse it... But even God cannot change the Truth."
Michael Levy
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Read Migalhas LatinoAmérica in Spanish every Tuesday and Thursday. Visit the website at www.migalhas.com/latinoamerica
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India high court to reconsider Bhopal convictions
The Indian Supreme Court announced Tuesday that it will reconsider a 1996 ruling allowing former employees of US chemical producer Union Carbide accused in relation to the 1984 Bhopal chemical spill disaster to be charged with negligence instead of culpable homicide. Seven men were convicted in June on charges of "death by negligence" and sentenced to two years in prison and ordered to pay USD $2,100. The convictions were the first related to the Bhopal disaster in which nearly 3,800 people were killed when toxic gas was accidentally released in the middle of the night by a chemical plant owned by a Union Carbide subsidiary company. Upwards of 15,000 others later died from exposure to the gas, and 50,000 were left permanently disabled. The sentences of the men have been criticized as being too lenient and the Indian government has faced increasing pressure to bring charges against former executives of Union Carbide. If the convictions were to be overturned and the men were to be tried on charges of culpable homicide, they could face sentences of up to 10 years in prison.
Obama hails end to US combat operations in Iraq
Obama has hailed the end of US combat operations in Iraq, saying the US has paid a "a huge price" to "put Iraq's future in its peoples' hands". In a speech delivered in a rare Oval Office address, he said he was "awed" by the sacrifice of the US military. But he said America's "most urgent task" was now to "restore the economy". He said the US would continue to support Iraq's government and people. Neither Afghanistan nor Iraq were wars without end. Not only was combat in Iraq over, all US troops would leave at the end of next year. Iraq's prime minister has said the country is now "independent" as the US formally ends combat operations and the country's security forces would now deal with all threats, domestic or otherwise. In Afghanistan the "transition" would begin next July. The pace would be determined by conditions on the ground but it would happen because "open-ended war serves neither our interests nor the Afghan people". The US intends to sustain and strengthen its leadership of the world. But this could not only be through military action alone. It was through economic strength, example and hopes. That was as close as Obama came to articulating some sort of foreign policy doctrine, but for most of the world it is more like platitude than philosophy.
Administrative law judges facing increase in violent threats
Federal judges responsible for handling Social Security disability claims and immigration hearings are petitioning for increased security measures after data released Monday shows they have been the targets of numerous threats. According to the report released by the Association of Administrative Law Judges (AALJ) and the National Association of Immigration Judges (NAIJ), security risks for federal employees handling these "emotional" cases have increased over the past five years. Citing a backlog in the number of hearings that "cause anger and anxiety," the data cites 28 violent threats on Social Security offices and nine threats on disability claims judges between March and August 2009. (Click here)
Female genital mutilation
Female circumcision, the partial or total cutting away of the external female genitalia, has been practiced for centuries in Africa. It can cause death or permanent health problems as well as severe pain. The available data provide little evidence that the practice of female circumcision will decline substantially in the near future. Substantial change is likely to occur only with improvements in the status of women in society. "This one violation of women's rights cannot without placing it firmly within the context of efforts to address the social and economic injustice women face the world over." Law graduated and expert in International Politics, Claudia Sinibaldi writes to Migalhas to address this issue: 'maybe we can unite our voices, making them next to echo many others, then to liberate these victims?"
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!
1 - Brazil's Rousseff says defending cuts in government spending is a 'crime' (Click here)
2 - BlackBerry ban in India delayed (Click here)
3 - Brazil's slums now a tourist attraction (Click here)
4 - Iranian media warned after paper calls Carla Bruni-Sarkozy a 'prostitute' (Click here)
5 - Ex-Congo VP tells war crimes court he has no funds for defense because his assets are frozen (Click here)
6 - NH student shocked in shop class sues school (Click here)
7 - Aging divorce lawyer sues former partners for $26 million (Click here)
8 - US hedge funds sue Porsche (Click here)
9 - Good times continue at MoFo with $943 million cogent deal (Click here)
10 - High-street law revolution must focus on customer satisfaction (Click here)
11 - Amnesty criticises Rwandan genocide law (Click here)
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Chinese court to tackle HIV case
A Chinese court for the first time accepts a case from a man alleging employment discrimination because he has HIV. (Click here)
US decide against China currency investigation
The US government has decided to drop a general investigation of China's currency policy, avoiding a major trade dispute. However the department ruled that more than $500m of aluminum goods used in car production and construction had been unfairly subsidized. The US will retaliate with duties of up to 137% on the relevant products. The main point at issue was whether China unfairly subsidized its exports by manipulating its currency.
Citigroup to increase China workforce to 12,000 in three years
Citigroup Inc. plans to almost triple its workforce in China to as many as 12,000 people in the next three years, intensifying its rivalry with HSBC Holdings Plc in the world's fastest-growing major economy. The New York-based bank will hire more in China than in any other Asia-Pacific country. The expansion may make China Citigroup's third-largest market by staff, after the U.S. and Mexico.
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Chery
La Catalaña, el estado autonómico más prospero de España, esta en la recta final de un acuerdo de inversión con la empresa China fabricante de los automóviles Chery, que superaría los 250 millones de euros. (Presione aquí)
Royalty
El presidente de Chile, Sebastián Piñera, firmó un proyecto de royalty (regalía) minero y espera recaudar unos US$ 1.000 mlls., durante los próximos tres años.
Licitación
El gobierno de Costa Rica convoca a compañías extranjeras a participar de la licitación para otorgar servicios de telefonía celular, las ofertas deben ser presentadas hasta el 5 de noviembre.
(Presione aquí)
Japón - Perú
Japón y Perú finalizaron la sexta ronda de negociaciones sobre un Acuerdo de Asociación Económica (EPA) donde trataron temas relacionados con el comercio de bienes, normas de origen, propiedad intelectual, reglas fitosanitarias y propiedad intelectual, entre otros asuntos. Hay consenso para la firma de un TLC.
Panamá - Singapur
Panamá cerró negociaciones para firmar un tratado que evite la doble tributación con Singapur, confirmó el gobierno.
German Catholic Church rewrites sex abuse guidelines
The Catholic Church in Germany has issued tougher guidelines on the handling of reports of sex abuse. The revised rules insist all allegations must be reported to prosecutors in an attempt to prevent cases being covered up. But critics say the new advice does not go far enough to tackle the issue. The Catholic Church in Germany and other European countries has been hit by repeated accusations of abuse.
Death row inmate commits suicide after sentence lifted
A 70-year-old death row inmate at California's San Quentin State Prison has killed himself a week after his death sentence was lifted. A judge ruled last week that Smithey was mentally retarded and therefore ineligible for the death penalty. It is unclear if Smithey - sentenced to death in 1989 for murder - knew the judge had lifted the sentence. The state Supreme Court ordered the sentence be reconsidered in 2008 because of the US Supreme Court's 2002 ruling that executing the mentally retarded violated a constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment.
Banks in Europe would face fines for failing to report derivatives trading
Banks and companies that fail to report trading in over-the-counter derivatives face fines under rules being considered by the European Union. The draft law would force traders to "report the details of any OTC derivative contract" they have entered into "no later than the working day following the execution" of the trade,
Court rules gay couples can't get divorced in Texas
A Texas appeals court said Tuesday that gay couples legally married in other states cannot get a divorce in Texas, where same-sex marriage is banned. The 5th Texas Court of Appeals ruled that a Dallas district court judge didn't have the authority to hear a divorce case involving two Dallas men who married in Massachusetts in 2006. The state had appealed after Judge Tena Callahan said she did have jurisdiction and dismissed its attempt to intervene. Callahan also ruled that the state couldn't limit marriage to a man and a woman, and the appeals court overturned that ruling as well, saying Texas' ban on same-sex marriage was constitutional.
New York bed bug law passed
In the past few months, New York has seen a huge increase in the amount of bed bugs in the city. The new law that was passed in the state on Monday will ensure that all landlords have to supply information to their tenants about the previous bed bug infestations that the premise might have had. This information, while not limited to the life of the property, will include the past year's worth of records regarding bed bugs. This law is an aim to stop landlords being able to rent out apartments or premises that have a history of bed bug infestation or that currently have a bed bug infestation. New York is the second state in the United States to have this law as it was previous passed by the state of Maine. A spokesperson said that tenants have a "right to know" about any past infestations in order to make a better judgment of the property. The bed bug law is set to be a great idea for tenants.
RIM's agreement with India is likely to foreshadow wider government access
Research In Motion Ltd.'s concession in giving Indian authorities access to BlackBerry e-mail and instant-messenger correspondence means it's likely to do the same for other governments. The agreement sets a precedent that will make it difficult for RIM to refuse countries seeking similar conditions. India accounts for about 2 percent of RIM's 46 million customers worldwide.
SEC says Dodd-Frank law lets agency chase overseas ratings fraud
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said it plans to use new financial laws to pursue credit-rating fraud initiated overseas after dropping a case against Moody's Corp. amid uncertainty over its authority.
Are law makers tax law breakers?
Members of the US Congress, who have spent some 5,200 days visiting 130 foreign countries over the past two years, are given as much as $250 a day to handle their travel costs while overseas. However, the lodging, transportation and meals that these "per diem" allowances are aimed to defray are often picked up by local hosts. When lawmakers don't need to spend the per diem allowances, they're supposed to return the cash. But often they don't. In a March story called 'Lawmakers Keep the Change’, the Wall Street Journal found that lawmakers almost universally pocketed unspent per diem allowances or used them to pay personal expenses, such as the cost of a spouse's travel. The Journal was told that if legislators had to return the per diem cash, they wouldn't travel as much. The WSJ estimates that House lawmakers have received between $375,000 and $625,000 over the past two years in per diem payments, but no one keeps records of how the money was spent and whether unspent allowances were returned to the Treasury as is required. In fact, the Journal investigation found only four lawmakers who gave unspent money back. Now the Office of Congressional Ethics is looking into the matter. But an ethics investigation may be the least of these lawmakers worries. Is this money of such a nature that the budget is being busted if they didn't pay tax on it? No.
Tasmania approves law recognizing all foreign and national same-sex marriages
The lower house of the Tasmanian Parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved an amendment to the Relationships Act of 2003, recognizing same-sex marriages and civil unions registered in foreign countries and other Australian states. The amendment was aimed at ending discrimination against same-sex couples and was supported by all but three representatives of the 25-member house. Tasmanian Attorney-General Lara Giddings praised the amendment's passage, calling it a small but important step for same-sex couples who want to transfer their foreign marriage license to Tasmania.
Sri Lanka cabinet approves constitutional changes to remove presidential term limits
The Sri Lankan cabinet on Monday approved proposed constitutional reforms that would permit current President Mahinda Rajapaksa to seek an unlimited number of terms in office. The current number of terms for the executive, codified within Chapter VII of the Sri Lankan Constitution, is limited to two. The proposed amendment now moves to the legislature, where two-thirds of Parliament will have to approve the change. The amendment is scheduled to be presented in Parliament on September 8, and it is widely believed that Rajapaksa enjoys enough support in that body to allow the amendment to easily pass. Critics of the president say he is abusing his power and attempting to "create a family dynasty". The Sri Lankan Supreme Court must also review the amendment to make sure it is not inconsistent with any other portion of the constitution.
Annan questions Kenya's ICC commitment after al-Bashir visit
Former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan on Sunday urged Kenya to reaffirm its commitment to the International Criminal Court (ICC) after it welcomed Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to a celebration for the country's adoption of a new constitution last week. In his statement, Annan expressed his "surprise" at the presence of al-Bashir and called on Kenya to reaffirm its cooperation with the ICC. In a statement released by Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the country defended its decision to extend the invitation to al-Bashir and expressed its willingness to cooperate with the ICC.
Iraq: Consensus over Power-Sharing Agreement Reached
Asharq Al-Awsat, Pan-Arab daily, London, England
School year to open as planned, as labor court revokes looming school strike
Haaretz, Liberal daily, Tel Aviv, Israel
'We were very peaceful activists, but the IDF came to kill'
JPost, Conservative, Jerusalem, Israel
UAE economy likely to grow 2.25% this year
Middle East North African Network, Online financial portal, Amman, Jordan
Panel formed on Lebanon poll law
Saudi Gazette, English-language daily, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Hamas claims West Bank killings as direct peace talks set to resume
The Daily Star, Independent daily, Beirut, Lebanon
South Arabia preparing charges against activist
Times of Oman, English-language daily, Muscat, Oman
SCER mandates education to review voters tables for 2010
Yemen Observer, Sana'a, Republic of Yemen
A covert assault on terror widens in Asia and Africa
Yemen Times, (Independent weekly), Sana'a, Republic of Yemen
Brown was 'difficult', says Blair
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
Blair: I lied to protect peace process in North
BreakingNews.ie, Online news portal, Cork, Ireland
'Drunken' man loses 1.3m-dollar art
Daily Express, Conservative tabloid, London, England
USA: 'Time to turn the page' says Obama, marking end of combat mission in Iraq
France 24, Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
Abbas seeks active US mediation in Mideast talks
Hurriyet Daily News, (Liberal, English-language), Istanbul, Turkey
Police appeal over missing Cumbrian girl
News & Star, Independent daily, Carlisle, England
The Mood On Board The Prime Minister's Plane
Sky News, Independent newscaster, Middlesex, England
Blair: I knew Brown would be a disaster
The Guardian, Liberal daily, London, England
A makeover for a more subdued Oval Office, courtesy of the Obamas
The Independent, London, England
Evil Bulger killer is dating single mum
The Sun, London, England
Tony Blair: Gordon Brown tried to blackmail me
The Telegraph, Conservative daily, London, England
RI has at least 53,000 tons of uranium reserves
Antara News, News agency, Jakarta, Indonesia
New US sanctions on North Korea target arms, drugs
China Post, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan
10th Seoul International Financial Forum Kicks Off
Chosun Ilbo, Conservative daily, Seoul, South Korea
A hungry start to life for Pakistan's newest flood victim
Dawn, English-language daily, Karachi, Pakistan
German bishops expand sex abuse guidelines
Hindustan Times, New Delhi, India
Father, son duo held in dowry rap
India Times, Conservative daily, New Delhi, India
Second half of the Lee presidency
Japan Times, Independent centrist, Tokyo, Japan
Council applies to strike out non-Muslim's case to be Syarie lawyer
Malaysian Star, Online news portal, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
Golfer's swing sparks fire
New Zealand Herald, Conservative daily, Auckland, New Zealand
Farmer-turned-hunger striker dies in Venezuela
Sify News, Chennai, India
Taking taxpayers for a ride
Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily, Sydney, Australia
China's Great Wall Motor steps up overseas expansion: report
Taiwan News, English-language daily, Taipei, Taiwan
Woodworkers seek way forward amid tough challenges
Taiwan Today, Government Information Office, Taipei, Taiwan
Barbados PM back on the job
Caribbean360, Online news portal, St. Michael, Barbados
Another major Government fraud case rattles Dominicans
Dominican Today, Independent daily, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
VENEZUELA: Hunger Striker Dies in Land Dispute
IPS Latin America, International cooperative of journalists, Rome, Italy
Obama: Time to turn the page in Iraq
Toronto Star, Toronto, Ontario
Police cyclist warded after stunt goes wrong
Trinidad Guardian, Independent daily, Port-of-Spain, Trinidad
Tribal figures defended in Kenya
BBC News, Centrist newscaster, London, England
Esperance beat Mazembe to inch closer
CongoPlanet.com, Independent online news aggregator
More spillage expected from Bagre dam
GhanaWeb, Online news portal, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Driver flees after reversing into children
Independent Online, News portal, Cape Town, South Africa
Civil society takes up fight against info Bill
Mail & Guardian Online, Liberal, Johannesburg, South Africa
SA awaits strike vote results
News24.com, Online news portal, Cape Town, South Africa
Environmental agency shuts 4 telecoms offices in
Vanguard, Independent daily, Lagos, Nigeria
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