January 29, 2007 no. 448 - Vol. 5
"Maybe this world is another planet's Hell."
Aldous Huxley
Insider's view: see how local concerns shape up the global world. Read the daily press review in MigalhasInternational
Lula urges Doha progress
Lula has called on rich nations not to hold back the developing world by lack of flexibility on global trade talks. He was talking at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss resort of Davos. Developing nations have claimed aspects of the talks, including issues of trade tariffs, may hurt the world's poorest. Developing nations believe that the EU and US must cut agricultural subsidies if progress is to be made. At the same time, the EU and US want big developing nations, such as Brazil and India, to open up their fast-growing markets in industrial goods and services. Lula said Brazil was ready to make concessions if Europe and the US were prepared to move too. "We are fighting... to make rich countries aware that if there is no deal on the Doha Round, there will be no point in blaming things on Iraq, or thinking that they can resolve wars by giving out financial help every now and again," he said in Davos.
Congress urged to ban government agencies from racial profiling
Civil rights groups have been pushing Democratic lawmakers to reconsider a bill banning racial profiling by any government entity since an airline's decision to remove a group of imams from a flight in November. Rep. John Conyers (D-MI), chairman of the US House Judiciary Committee, and Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), who first championed the bill in the last Congress, are the primary advocates of the proposal. Although no bill has yet to be introduced, Feingold has made it clear that he intends to pursue the legislation in this year's Congressional session. The original bill proposed banning federal, state and local law enforcement officials from "relying to any degree on race, ethnicity, national origin, or religion" in any government based investigation unless information exists linking a person of a particular race, ethnicity, national origin or religion to a specific incident or plot. Security-oriented groups, such as 9/11 Families for a Secure America, have also begun mobilization against such a bill.
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China admits to climate failings
China is failing to make progress on improving and protecting the environment. China ranks among the world's worst nations - a position unchanged since 2004. After the US, China produces the most greenhouse gases in the world. Some 30 indicators were used to measure the level of "ecological modernization" including carbon dioxide emissions, sewage disposal rates and the safety of drinking water.
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Mass US protest against Iraq war
Tens of thousands march in Washington to demand the withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.
Head of Bolivia gas firm resigns
The head of Bolivia's state energy company has said he is resigning because of differences with the government. Juan Carlos Ortiz is the second head of the company to resign since Morales nationalized Bolivia's gas industry. Morales began nationalizing Bolivia's energy industry in May 2006 after winning an election campaign pledging to increase state control of natural resources. He wanted to increase the cost per cubic metre of natural gas from $4 to $5. Ortiz was believed to have been given the task of smoothing relations with the country's largest customer for natural gas - Brazil. Bolivia has the second-largest natural gas reserves in South America after Venezuela.
Argentina allows officials to reveal state secrets in 'Dirty War' testimony
Argentine President Nestor Kirchner Friday authorized officials to reveal state secrets concerning human rights violations that occurred during the infamous "Dirty War" crackdown on dissidents between 1976 and 1983 that resulted in an official "missing" count of 13,000 people. A previous ban on past and present military, police, and other government officials had served as a pretext for officials to not testify before courts. Government campaigns to prosecute human rights violations during the "Dirty War" have gained momentum following the overturning of amnesty laws by the Argentine Supreme Court in 2005.
Russia's party barred from polls
One of Russia's leading liberal political parties, Yabloko, has been banned from local elections in the second biggest city, St Petersburg. The city's electoral commission said too many signatures supporting the party's candidates had been invalid. Yabloko said the commission's decision was an attempt to muzzle the voice of the opposition to the pro-Kremlin municipal council. It said it would appeal. The elections are due to be held on 11 March.
Staff woes hit EU border agency
Recruitment problems are plaguing the EU's border agency Frontex and may hamper its efforts to curb illegal immigration. Some experts are unwilling to move to the agency's HQ in the Polish capital Warsaw. Frontex is the first EU agency to be based in one of the new EU accession states. On average a job position in the EU gets around 50 applicants. But Frontex has received on average just 13 candidates per post.
California regulation forbids utilities from buying 'dirty' electricity
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has unanimously approved a regulation that will prohibit utilities from buying electricity produced by power plants whose emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs) exceed the state's standards. The rule , which the four-member commission discussed and voted on Thursday, forbids California utilities from making "new long-term commitments" - including new construction, "major investments" in existing plants and contracts lasting five years or longer - to facilities that emit more than 1,100 pounds of carbon dioxide per kilowatt-hour. Most gas-fired power plants meet that standard, while most coal-burning plants do not. Coal-fired plants outside California now supply about 20 percent of the state's electricity. In a press release , PUC President Michael R. Peevey said the commission "has long anticipated capping greenhouse gas emissions in order to ensure that load-serving entities make long-term commitments to energy resources that have GHG emissions profiles that are at least as clean as California's existing portfolio."
Latin American films top Sundance
Two Latin American dramas have scooped awards at this year's Sundance independent film festival. Padre Nuestro (Our Father) tells the story of an illegal immigrant from Mexico seeking his father in New York and was given the Grand Jury Prize. Manda Bala (Send A Bullet), a film that portrays the violence of modern Brazilian society and examines corruption and crime in Brazil, was given the documentary jury's top honor.
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Africa
Raila reveals more MoU secrets
East African Standard, Liberal daily of Nairobi, Kenya
Kofi Annan's 3 pillars for Africa's renaissance
Ghanaian Chronicle, Independent, published in Accra, Ghana
SUDAN: Urgent political action needed to stem Darfur crisis - Concern Worldwide
Integrated Regional Information Networks (United Nations), Nairobi, Kenya
Report attacks SA crime and corruption
Mail and Guardian, Liberal daily of Johannesburg, South Africa
Couple faces more woes
The Sowetan, Liberal daily of Johannesburg, South Africa
State urged to reduce VAT
Times of Zambia, Government-owned daily of Lusaka, Zambia
Americas
Big Winner
Barbados Advocate, Independent daily of St Michael, Barbados
Montego Bay cops kill five - Cite major dent in gang operations
Jamaica Gleaner, Centrist daily of Kingston, Jamaica
Mexico sends drug kingpins to US
The Guadalajara Colony Reporter, Independent weekly of Guadalajara, Mexico
Asia Pacific
U.S. eyeing N. Korea talks breakthrough
Daily Yomiuri, Conservative daily of Tokyo, Japan
Chinese president stresses rejuvenation of old industrial base in NE China
People's Daily Online, Pro-government daily of Beijing, China
Iemma says no to recycled water
The Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily of Sydney, Australia
Workers Call for Investigative Audit of Jamsostek
Tempo, Independent weekly of Jakarta, Indonesia
8-Party Meet on Terai Unrest Today
The Himalayan Times, Independent daily of Kathmandu, Nepal
Don: My work in Ethnic Relations has just begun
The Sun, Independent daily of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Europe
Amid Debate, Germany's Heroin Injection Clinics Fight to Survive
Deutsche Welle, International broadcaster of Cologne, Germany
A child's suicide note weighs heavy in mother's handbag
Helsingin Sanomat, Centrist daily of Helsinki, Finland
Court hears Khodorkovsky's complaint against confinement in punishment cell
Interfax, Government-owned news agency, Moscow, Russia
Pressure on DUP after SF says 'yes' to policing
Irish Examiner, Centrist daily of Cork, Ireland
Far Right Rallies in Central Moscow
The Moscow Times, Independent, English-language daily of Moscow, Russia
7 pupils killed as schools in Iraq are targeted
The Scotsman, Centrist daily of Edinburgh, Scotland
Clinton rolls into living rooms
The Times, Conservative daily of London, England
Iraqi national oil company tells Turkish firms: contact the north
Turkish Daily News, Independent daily of Istanbul, Turkey
Middle East
Land of fire and smoke
Al-Ahram Weekly, Semi-official, English-language weekly of Cairo, Egypt
Alwaleed to Invest SR10 Billion in Stock Market, Real Estate Sector
Arab News, Pro-government, English-language daily of Jidda, Saudi Arabia
Katzav Lawyers Receive Evidence, Committee Debates Impeachment
Arutz Sheva, Pro-settler publication of Israel
250 gunmen killed in battle near Najaf
Gulf News, Independent daily of Dubai, United Arab Emirates
5 die in fresh Gaza clashes; death toll approaches 30
Ha'aretz, Liberal daily of Tel Aviv, Israel
Supreme Leader stresses importance of Iran-Russia cooperation
Islamic Republic News Agency, Government-owned news agency of Tehran, Iran
Exclusive: IAF to buy $100 million in US smart bombs
The Jerusalem Post, Conservative daily of Jerusalem, Israel
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