June 4, 2007 No. 498 - Vol. 5
“The less routine the more life.”
Amos Bronson Alcott
Insider's view: see how local concerns shape up the global world. Read the daily press review in Migalhas International
Investors seek clarity on climate
Investors are urging greater clarity from key industrialized nations on policies addressing climate change. "Climate change brings significant opportunities and risks for us investors," say the 17 signatories, which hold 3 trillion euros in assets. China says its first and overriding priority in tackling climate change is to maintain economic development.
'08 Race For President
The three frontrunners in the Democratic race for president - John Edwards, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama - emerged as the winners of Sunday night's debate in New Hampshire. He tweaked Clinton and Obama for not speaking more forcefully against the war. Issues like education and the environment got only passing mentions. The Republican candidates will debate on the same stage Tuesday at 6 p.m.
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China starts new bankruptcy law
China has introduced a new bankruptcy law that gives creditors precedence over workers when it comes to claiming the assets of failed companies. The law also means that, for the first time, private Chinese firms that have failed will be allowed to collapse. Previously they existed in a legal limbo - their assets could not be released and their debts could not be struck from their creditors' books. The change is seen as another step in China's move to a capitalist economy. The new law further means that failed state enterprises can also now be officially liquidated for the first time.
Stocks plunge in panic selling
Chinese stocks plunged as jittery investors dumped shares in worries about further potential governmental moves to dampen the market following a stamp tax hike.
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A Legal Debate in Guantánamo on Boy Fighters
To American military prosecutors, Mr. Khadr is a committed Al Qaeda operative, spy and killer who must be held accountable for killing a US Sergeant in 2002 and for other bloody acts he committed in Afghanistan. Legal experts describe him as the first child fighter in decades to face war-crimes charges His age is at the center of a legal battle that is to begin tomorrow with an arraignment by a military judge at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba. It is a battle with implications as large as the growing ranks of child fighters around the world. Defense lawyers argue that military prosecutors are violating international law by filing charges that date from events that occurred when Mr. Khadr was 15 or younger. Legal concepts that are still evolving, the lawyers say, require that countries treat child fighters as victims of warfare, rather than war criminals. The military prosecutors say such notions may be “well-meaning and worthy,” but are irrelevant to the American military commissions at Guantánamo. Khadr is one of only three Guantánamo detainees to face charges under the law establishing the commissions, passed by Congress last year. “International law,” the Justice Department asserted in a court filing in the case last week, “does not prohibit an individual under 18 from being prosecuted for war crimes.” Even so, prosecutors said that if they won a conviction, they would seek something less than a life term, given Khadr’s age. He is 20 now. Whatever the outcome, his case seems destined to become a landmark, though some scholars say not enough attention has been given to its importance.
US-India nuclear deal talks fail
The US and India have failed to resolve differences over a proposed landmark deal on nuclear co-operation after three days of negotiations in Delhi. Under the deal, India would get access to US civilian nuclear technology if it opens its facilities to inspection. Critics say the accord will encourage India to develop its nuclear arsenal.
Brazil indicts two US pilots, air traffic controllers for crash
In a key legal step toward assigning blame for Brazil's deadliest plane crash, two U.S. pilots and four Brazilian air traffic controllers were indicted on charges equivalent to involuntary manslaughter for a mid-air collision that killed 154 people. Judge Murilo Mendes on Friday ordered the two U.S. pilots to appear in Brazil in late August to give preliminary depositions. But a lawyer for the pilots suggested the men would not return. "From a juridical point of view and from the agreements signed by Brazil with other countries, we have no guarantee that we can indeed hear the pilots." complained House Representative Marco Maia. The Supreme Chief suggested that the congressmen appeal to the Foreign Ministry of the Brazilian embassy in Washington to convince Lepore and Paladino to travel to Brazil. Should that fail, the inquiry committee will try to fly to the US to get the American pilots testimony. Yet another option would be to question them via videoconferencing.
Does digital file sharing render copyright obsolete?
The youth craze for making and posting digitized audio and video on the Internet - their own creations and those of others, without regard to ownership or payment - is driving a wedge between the traditional "commercial" economy and the upstart "sharing" market, analysts say. Likewise, it is paralyzing and polarizing the groups that are supposed to make sure writers and composers get the royalties they are due. At summit meeting on copyrights in Brussels last week, the world's major groups representing creative authors - the collecting societies at "the bottom of the food chain," griped one executive - vented, fumed and wrung their collective hands about their future. At the end of the event, Italian authors called for a "strike" to suspend licensing any form of public performance for a week in June to call attention to illegal downloading and authors' rights.
In the absence of a wholesale update of royalty systems, billion-dollar court battles - like the Viacom lawsuit against Google, which owns the YouTube video-sharing site - will most likely be the determinant of the value of digital copyrights, analysts say. Everyone seemed to have their own new way of going forward. After the European Commission's move against the collecting societies, EMI set up Celas, a one-stop shop for pan-European licensing of online and mobile service rights. Many collecting societies in Australia, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Spain, Taiwan and the Netherlands manage authors' rights for them, so individuals cannot apply a Creative Commons license. Lawrence Lessig, whose Creative Commons alternative licenses let the author determine whether to apply commercial rights and how much, said he hoped to announce a breakthrough agreement with a collecting society.
Google Hires Lobbyist, A Former Justice Official
Google Inc. hired a former Justice Department official to lobby the federal government on its proposed $3.1 billion acquisition of DoubleClick Inc., which is being reviewed by antitrust regulators. As part of its antitrust review of Google's proposed purchase of DoubleClick, the Federal Trade Commission also is likely to consider privacy issues raised by the deal, analysts said.
4 Accused of Plot to Blow Up Facilities at Kennedy Airport
A former cargo handler and three other men were charged with plotting to blow up terminal buildings, fuel tanks and pipelines.
Gonzales outlines new DOJ efforts to counter violent crime
US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Friday announced draft legislation to combat violent crime that would increase penalties, extend the statute of limitations for prosecution, and create separate statutory prohibitions against violent crime by illegal immigrants .
Time Magazine
The Science Of Appetite: There's a lot more to feeling hungry than you think. New research into what drives us to eat may teach us how to control the urge. How the World Eats: In the face of Westernization, families across the globe are abandoning traditional diets and dining habits
Newsweek
Beyond Bush: What the world needs is an open, confident America.
Business Week
3M's Innovation Crisis: Delve into IN5, our supplement devoted to innovation. This issue's theme: Managing the yin and yang of efficiency and creativity -- a delicate balance illustrated by one of the great innovators of American business.
The Economist
Clean up. How business is starting to tackle climate change, and how governments need to help.
L'Express
Sarkozy tient-il les médias ?
Der Spiegel
Globalisierung: Gewinner-Verlierer. Die Globalisierung mehrt den Wohlstand - und vertieft zugleich die Kluft zwischen Arm und Reich in der Welt. Interview mit US-Ökonom Robert Shiller über seine Rezepte gegen die ökonomische Spaltung der Gesellschaft.
Africa
Mudavadi unveils eight-point plan for Kenya
East African Standard, Liberal daily of Nairobi, Kenya
Court ends their 'multiple suits'
Ghanaian Chronicle, Independent, published in Accra, Ghana
Health workers told to report for duty
Mail and Guardian, Liberal daily of Johannesburg, South Africa
Police disperse Chiwala pupils
Times of Zambia, Government-owned daily of Lusaka, Zambia
Americas
British sailors aid in senior citizens house repairs
Barbados Advocate, Independent daily of St Michael, Barbados
Three-horse race in first round vote
Buenos Aires Herald, Liberal daily of Buenos Aires, Argentina
Khadr murder trial may begin Monday
The Globe And Mail, Centrist daily of Toronto, Canada
Terror alarm in Caribbean - Foiled bomb plot triggers fear
Jamaica Gleaner, Centrist daily of Kingston, Jamaica
Mexico's english daily folds
The Guadalajara Colony Reporter, Independent weekly of Guadalajara, Mexico
Asia Pacific
4 N. Koreans may be harbinger / But govt ill-prepared to cope with possible exodus of defectors
Daily Yomiuri, Conservative daily of Tokyo, Japan
Strong quake hits SW Chinese county, three dead
People's Daily Online, Pro-government daily of Beijing, China
Slain man's girlfriend weeps
The Sydney Morning Herald, Centrist daily of Sydney, Australia
MPs Seek Tough Law Against Disappearances
The Himalayan Times, Independent daily of Kathmandu, Nepal
Altantuya murder hearing postponed to June 18
The Sun, Independent daily of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Europe
Putin: We Will Target Europe if US Builds Missile System
Deutsche Welle, International broadcaster of Cologne, Germany
Public goodbye to smoking in bars in Finland
Helsingin Sanomat, Centrist daily of Helsinki, Finland
Pilot dies in helicopter crash near Moscow - police
Interfax, Government-owned news agency, Moscow, Russia
Patients turned away over dialysis bottleneck
Irish Examiner, Centrist daily of Cork, Ireland
Putin Warns of Missiles Pointed at EU
The Moscow Times, Independent, English-language daily of Moscow, Russia
The man who fell asleep for 19 years
The Scotsman, Centrist daily of Edinburgh, Scotland
A museum in a university, founded to protect and promote Turkish art
Turkish Daily News, Independent daily of Istanbul, Turkey
Middle East
Blame game
Al-Ahram Weekly, Semi-official, English-language weekly of Cairo, Egypt
5 Commission Members Held in Tabuk
Arab News, Pro-government, English-language daily of Jidda, Saudi Arabia
Army forces keep up pressure on Fatah al-Islam
The Daily Star, Independent, English-language daily of Beirut, Lebanon
Putin warns of return to Cold War scenario
Gulf News, Independent daily of Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Iran and Egypt to hold talks on renewing full ties
Ha'aretz, Liberal daily of Tel Aviv, Israel
Kashmir remembers Imam Khomeini
Islamic Republic News Agency, Government-owned news agency of Tehran, Iran
Amnesty challenges Israel to end Palestinian suffering
The Jerusalem Post, Conservative daily of Jerusalem, Israel
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Copyright 2007 - Migalhas International
The messages that appear in this newsletter are for informational purposes only. They are not intended to be and should not be considered legal advice nor substitute for obtaining legal advice from competent, independent, legal counsel in the relevant jurisdiction.
Transmission of this information is not intended to create, and receipt does not constitute, an attorney-client relationship. The information contained on this list may or may not reflect the most current legal developments.