AFP - Wire stories

Tens of thousands dead or missing in China quake
13 May 2008 at 2:02pm
DUJIANGYAN (AFP) - China's biggest earthquake for a generation left tens of thousands dead, missing or buried under the rubble of broken communities Tuesday, unleashing a desperate nationwide relief effort.
UN warns of 'second catastrophe' in Myanmar
13 May 2008 at 1:44pm
YANGON (AFP) - The United Nations warned Tuesday that Myanmar faced a "second catastrophe" after its devastating cyclone, unless the junta immediately allows massive air and sea deliveries of aid.
India tourist city blasts kill at least 60
13 May 2008 at 1:13pm
JAIPUR (AFP) - A series of bombs tore through crowded markets in the Indian tourist city of Jaipur late Tuesday, killing at least 60 people in what police said was a terror attack.
Lebanon army ready to use force to halt fighting
13 May 2008 at 1:32pm
BEIRUT (AFP) - A precarious calm returned to Lebanon on Tuesday after the army warned it was ready to use force to restore order after six days of sectarian bloodshed that have shaken the nation.
Pandas safe at famous park after China quake: report
13 May 2008 at 2:32pm
BEIJING (AFP) - More than 80 giant pandas at China's most famous panda park, the Wolong centre, were safe and well following a huge earthquake that struck the area, state press said Tuesday.
Financial conditions better, still far from normal: Bernanke
13 May 2008 at 9:35am
WASHINGTON (AFP) - Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke said Tuesday financial markets are still "far from normal" but have improved as a result of the extraordinary liquidity measures of the US and other central banks.
French bank Credit Agricole seeks six billion euros after subprime losses
13 May 2008 at 7:34am
PARIS (AFP) - French banking giant Credit Agricole said on Tuesday it was seeking 5.9 billion euros (9.2 billion dollars) in fresh cash from shareholders after taking new charges of 1.2 billion euros for problems in the US subprime market.

Raw Story Breaking News

Pentagon lobbies against Dems' GI college aid bill
13 May 2008 at 10:57am
Pentagon lobbies against Dems' GI college aid bill

Democracy Now!

EXCLUSIVE: Fmr. Military Intelligence Officer Reveals US Listed Palestine Hot...
by mail@democracynow.org (Democracy Now!)
13 May 2008 at 8:11am
Last month marked the fifth anniversary of the US military shelling of the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad. The attack killed two journalists: Reuters cameraman Taras Protsyuk and Jose Couso, a cameraman for the Spanish television network Telecinco. The Pentagon has called the killings accidental, but in this broadcast exclusive Army Sgt. Adrienne Kinne (Ret.) reveals she saw secret US military documents that listed the hotel as a possible target. Kinne also discloses that she was personally ordered to eavesdrop on Americans working for news organizations and NGOs in Iraq. [includes rush transcript]
Headlines for May 13, 2008
by mail@democracynow.org (Democracy Now!)
13 May 2008 at 8:00am
Over 12,000 Killed in Chinese Earthquake, Clinton Expected to Win in WV; Obama Looks to November, McCain Outlines Plans to Address Global Warming, Former Republican Bob Barr to Run as Libertarian, Up to 700 Arrested in Immigration Raid in Iowa, Report: 83 Immigrants Have Died in US Custody, Bush Vows to Help Arm Lebanese Army, Bush Accuses Iran of Arming Militias in Iran, US Admits Some "Iranian-Supplied" Arms Aren't from Iran, Iran to Sue US and UK for Backing Group Behind Mosque Bombing, Ban Ki-moon Presses Burmese Junta to Accept Aid, Inglewood, California Police Shoot Dead Unarmed Teenager, Rep. John Conyers Holds Forum in NYC on Sean Bell Case, South African Apartheid Suit to Proceed, Nawaz Sharif's Party Pulls Out of Coalition Government, Pentagon Drops Charges Against Alleged 20th Hijacker
81 Dead in Lebanon as Hezbollah Clashes with US-Backed Pro-Government Forces
by mail@democracynow.org (Democracy Now!)
12 May 2008 at 8:40am
"This is very much similar to what is happening in Sudan, in Palestine, in Iraq, in Afghanistan and Somalia, [where] the United States is basically instigating and funding civil wars," says professor As'ad AbuKhalil. [includes rush transcript]
World Renowned Philosopher Slavoj Zizek on the Iraq War, the Bush Presidency,...
by mail@democracynow.org (Democracy Now!)
12 May 2008 at 8:20am
Part two of our wide-ranging discussion with Slavoj Zizek, the philosopher, psychoanalyst and cultural theorist. He has been called the "Elvis of cultural theory" and is widely considered to be one of Europe's leading intellectuals. He has written more than fifty books and speaks to sold-out audiences around the world. [includes rush transcript]
Headlines for May 12, 2008
by mail@democracynow.org (Democracy Now!)
12 May 2008 at 8:00am
Oxfam: Burma on Brink of Massive Public Health Catastrophe, Junta Blocks & Delays Aid Supplies to Burma, Burma Held National Referendum Saturday on New Constitution, Climate Change Group: Cyclone Is a Sign of Things to Come, GOP Convention Coordinator Resigns Over Ties to Burma's Junta, Obama Gains Support of 21 Superdelegates, 81 Killed in Lebanon Since Wednesday, After 1,000 Killed, a Ceasefire Is Reached in Sadr City, US-Backed Iraqi Troops Launch Attack in Mosul, Report: Blackwater Won't Face Criminal Charges for Civilian Deaths, Israeli Troops Kill UN Palestinian Teacher, Sudan Cuts Off Ties with Chad Following Rebel Attack, Price of Oil Reaches New High: $126 Per Barrel, Military Judge Dismisses General Involved in War Crimes Trials, NYPD Disciplines White Officer Who Stopped Black Commander, Environmental Activist Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison
Author, Blogger Arianna Huffington on How John McCain Has Changed Since Telli...
by mail@democracynow.org (Democracy Now!)
9 May 2008 at 8:42am
Blogger, author and nationally syndicated columnist Arianna Huffington revealed this week that Senator John McCain had told her eight years ago that he did not vote for President Bush in the 2000 election. McCain has angrily denied the claim. Huffington joins us to talk about her disillusionment with McCain, whom she says has abandoned his principles in his quest for the Republican nomination. Huffington is author of the new book, Right is Wrong: How the Lunatic Fringe Hijacked America, Shredded the Constitution, and Made Us All Less Safe -- and What you Need to Know to End the Madness. [includes rush transcript]
Free from Nigerian Military Custody, "Sweet Crude" Director Sandy Cioffi on O...
by mail@democracynow.org (Democracy Now!)
9 May 2008 at 8:24am
The Nigerian government, along with foreign oil companies, have reaped enormous profits over the years from the sale of oil and gas reserves, while the residents of the Niger Delta live in abject poverty. We speak to Sandy Cioffi, director of the the upcoming documentary Sweet Crude. She was recently arrested by the Nigerian military and held for a week before being released following international pressure. [includes rush transcript]
14 Killed in Sudanese Government Bombing of Darfur Village
by mail@democracynow.org (Democracy Now!)
9 May 2008 at 8:12am
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has condemned the Sudanese government for Sunday?s air raids against three villages in North Darfur that killed fourteen civilians and injured several others. Antonov bombers targeted a marketplace, water installations and a village school that was holding classes. We speak to filmmaker, activist and writer Jen Marlowe of Darfur Diaries, an independent American project that helped raise funds to restart the school last year. [includes rush transcript]

NYT > Washington

A Liberal Wit Builds Bridges to the G.O.P.
by By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
13 May 2008 at 11:39am
Barney Frank, the rumpled, cantankerous Massachusetts Democrat, has emerged as a key deal-maker in the House.


Gates Wants Weapons Useful in Current Conflicts
by By THOM SHANKER
13 May 2008 at 1:29pm
Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the military and its industrial partners that new weapons must prove their value to current conflicts, marked by insurgency and terrorism.


Justices? Conflicts Halt Apartheid Appeal
by By LINDA GREENHOUSE
13 May 2008 at 1:55pm
The case calls attention to the occasionally uncomfortable consequences of justices? ownership of individual stocks.


Blunt Federal Letters Tell Students They?re Security Threats
by By SCOTT SHANE
13 May 2008 at 11:39am
Rejected applicants for an ID card meant to guard against acts of terrorism received a letter from a security administration official that warned: ?I have determined that you pose a security threat.?


Court Hears More Claims of Vaccine-Autism Link
by By GARDINER HARRIS
13 May 2008 at 11:39am
The United States Court of Federal Claims is considering whether the government should pay millions of dollars to the parents of some 4,800 autistic children.


McCain Differs With Bush on Climate Change
by By ELISABETH BUMILLER and JOHN M. BRODER
13 May 2008 at 11:39am
Senator John McCain called for a limit on greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.


Republicans Use Obama as Weapon in House Contest in Mississippi
by By ADAM NOSSITER
13 May 2008 at 11:39am
Hoping to hang on to a seat in a tight special election, Republicans are trying to make the vote into a referendum on Barack Obama.


National Briefing | Washington: Four Military Branches Hit Recruiting Goals
by By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
13 May 2008 at 1:52am
The Marine Corps far surpassed its recruiting goal last month, enlisting 2,233 people, which was 142 percent of its goal, the Pentagon said. The Army recruited 5,681 people, 101 percent of its goal. The Navy and Air Force also met their goals, 2,905 sailors and 2,435 airmen. A Defense Department spokesman, Bryan Whitman, said that if the Marine Corps continued its recruiting success, it could reach its goal of growing to 202,000 people by the end of 2009, more than a year early.

NYT > Opinion

Editorial: The Myth of Voter Fraud
13 May 2008 at 11:39am
Requiring voters to prove their citizenship is not based on any evidence of voter fraud, but rather on Republicans? electoral calculations.


Editorial: Not a Time for Rivalry
13 May 2008 at 11:39am
Political leaders who have Pakistan?s interests at heart should be able to find a compromise that restores its dismissed judges and promotes judicial reform.


Editorial: Saving Tejon Ranch
13 May 2008 at 11:39am
The agreement to protect this much land so close to Los Angeles is a remarkable testament to the cooperative spirit in which this conservation plan was formed.


Appreciations: Nuala O?Faolain
by By MAURA J. CASEY
13 May 2008 at 11:39am
Nuala O?Faolain, the former Irish Times columnist who died last week, will be remembered for her fearless self-examination and her unflinching insights.


Letters: Obama vs. Clinton: Toward the Finish
13 May 2008 at 11:40am
To the Editor:.


Letters: A Mother?s Love
13 May 2008 at 11:40am
To the Editor:.


Letter: A Fundamental Right
13 May 2008 at 11:40am
To the Editor:.


Letter: Help From City Council
13 May 2008 at 11:40am
To the Editor:.

NYT > U.S.

Ewing Journal: A Tax Quirk Holds Out Promise for a Hard-Pressed Town
by By ERIK ECKHOLM
13 May 2008 at 1:16pm
Leaders of Ewing, in the bluegrass country of northeast Kentucky, are facing a problem any mayor would envy.


A Liberal Wit Builds Bridges to the G.O.P.
by By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN
13 May 2008 at 11:39am
Barney Frank, the rumpled, cantankerous Massachusetts Democrat, has emerged as a key deal-maker in the House.


More Homes Threatened by Florida Fires
by By JOHN HOLUSHA
13 May 2008 at 2:31pm
Schools were closed in Palm Bay, Fla., and hundreds of homes were endangered by spreading, wind-whipped brush fires that may have been deliberately set.


Hundreds Are Arrested in U.S. Sweep of Meat Plant
by By SUSAN SAULNY
13 May 2008 at 11:39am
In the biggest workplace immigration raid this year, federal agents swept into a kosher meat plant on Monday in Postville, Iowa, and arrested more than 300 workers.


Republicans Use Obama as Weapon in House Contest in Mississippi
by By ADAM NOSSITER
13 May 2008 at 11:39am
Hoping to hang on to a seat in a tight special election, Republicans are trying to make the vote into a referendum on Barack Obama.


McCain Differs With Bush on Climate Change
by By ELISABETH BUMILLER and JOHN M. BRODER
13 May 2008 at 11:39am
Senator John McCain called for a limit on greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.


Justices? Conflicts Halt Apartheid Appeal
by By LINDA GREENHOUSE
13 May 2008 at 1:55pm
The case calls attention to the occasionally uncomfortable consequences of justices? ownership of individual stocks.


When Literary and Prosecutorial License Collide
by By ADAM LIPTAK
13 May 2008 at 11:39am
Prosecutors who draw on their professional experiences to write novels and assist screenwriters can breathe a little easier after a pair of rulings issued on Monday by the California Supreme Court.

NYT > World

Struggle to Reach Quake Survivors
by By ANDREW JACOBS
13 May 2008 at 2:34pm
Tens of thousands of people across southwest China remained buried beneath rubble after a massive earthquake that has left thousands dead.


?No Hope? for Children Buried in Earthquake
by By EDWARD WONG
13 May 2008 at 2:35pm
As dawn crept across the shattered town of Dujiangyan, the site of a school collapse became a center of mourning.


Concerns Over Myanmar Junta?s Role
by By THE NEW YORK TIMES
13 May 2008 at 1:18pm
Myanmar continued to restrict most large-scale aid deliveries Tuesday, one day after the U.N. secretary general pressed the junta to accept international assistance.


Colombia Extradites 14 Paramilitary Leaders
by By SIMON ROMERO
13 May 2008 at 1:28pm
The unprecedented move marks an effort by President Álvaro Uribe to take a hard line against the warlords and defuse a scandal that has tied them to his government and his own family.


7 Bombs Kill 45 in Indian City
by By SOMINI SENGUPTA
13 May 2008 at 2:11pm
Breaking months of calm, seven bombs went off in close succession near a Hindu temple and a crowded bazaar inside the walled enclave of the historic pink city.


Partner Leaves Pakistan?s Cabinet
by By JANE PERLEZ
13 May 2008 at 11:39am
The move, in response to an impasse over Supreme Court judges, was a sign of the fragility of the new government.


Dalai Lama Expects Talks to Resume
by By SOMINI SENGUPTA
13 May 2008 at 11:39am
In an interview, the Dalai Lama said that it was too soon to say whether China was negotiating in good faith.


Lebanese Army Says It Will Use Force to Quell Fighting
by By ROBERT F. WORTH
13 May 2008 at 11:37am
The announcement was made as violence eased across Lebanon, despite some renewed street battles in the north.

NYT > World Business

French Bank Plans to Raise $9.1 Billion
by By JAMES KANTER
13 May 2008 at 12:32pm
Crédit Agricole said the equity offering is aimed at shoring up capital after further write-downs at its Calyon investment bank. Earlier, Société Générale said quarterly net profit fell 23 percent.


Indians Bristle at U.S. Criticism on Food Prices
by By HEATHER TIMMONS
13 May 2008 at 2:07pm
Instead of blaming India and others for the rise in food prices, Americans should rethink their energy policy ? and stop eating so much, say a growing number of Indians.


Nissan Plans Electric Car in U.S. by ?10
by By BILL VLASIC
13 May 2008 at 12:53pm
The commitment, announced Tuesday, will be the first by a major automaker to bring a zero-emission vehicle to the American market.


Australian Bank Acquires Rival for $17.5 Billion
by By TIM JOHNSTON
13 May 2008 at 10:57am
Westpac Banking said that it would acquire St. George in a deal that will create one of Australia?s largest banks.


For HSBC, Asia Offsets Loan Problems in the U. S.
by By JULIA WERDIGIER
13 May 2008 at 11:41am
Europe?s biggest bank put aside $3.2 billion for bad loans in the United States in the first quarter, in line with its expectations.


Italian Aerospace Company to Buy U.S. Technology Firm
by By REUTERS
12 May 2008 at 11:26pm
The Italian aerospace company Finmeccanica reached a $5.2 billion deal to buy DRS Technologies, securing a bigger presence in the growing United States military market.


G.M. Plans to Close Canadian Transmission Plant
by By IAN AUSTEN
13 May 2008 at 11:42am
News of the closing of the Windsor, Ontario, facility, which produces four-speed transmissions, comes as General Motors is shifting to more fuel efficient six-speed gearboxes.


Court Hears More Claims of Vaccine-Autism Link
by By GARDINER HARRIS
13 May 2008 at 11:39am
The United States Court of Federal Claims is considering whether the government should pay millions of dollars to the parents of some 4,800 autistic children.

TheStar.com - From the Editorial page

The hard search for 'good' jobs
13 May 2008 at 4:30am
Former U.S. president Bill Clinton had it right when he said, "The best social policy is a good job."
Money without a vision
13 May 2008 at 4:30am
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Canada First Defence Strategy turns out to be more of a motor pool maintenance schedule than a bold new vision for the military in the 21st century. It claims to set out "a vision for future operations," but fails to deliver.
CAS had no choice
13 May 2008 at 4:30am
This is a story without villains. When an 11-year-old Hamilton boy refused treatment for his leukemia ? and was backed in that possibly fatal decision by his well-meaning family ? Children's Aid officials had no choice but to intervene.
Africentric high a premature idea
12 May 2008 at 4:30am
Bureaucrats at the Toronto public school board have barely begun the effort of launching an Africentric elementary school this coming fall. But now some trustees are calling for an Africentric high school to open just one year later.
Double-talk on Kyoto
12 May 2008 at 4:30am
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government would do Canadians a big favour if it would just level with them about its real position on international efforts to fight climate change. Instead, the government is talking out of both sides of its mouth.
Driving and aging
12 May 2008 at 4:30am
Most seniors are responsible motorists with solid driving records. But the passage of years dims vision, slows reaction time and increases the risk of dementia. That harsh reality of life means that, as time passes, an increasing number of people pose a risk behind the wheel.
Throw the book at these trustees
11 May 2008 at 4:30am
It is going to take more than a simple sorry and prompt repayments to restore public confidence in the Toronto Catholic District School Board ? although that would be a good first step in response to last week's report cataloguing trustees' dubious expense claims, questionable policies and lax controls.
'Flexible' aid for Burma
11 May 2008 at 4:30am
A week into Burma's Cyclone Nargis crisis, 2 million people remain at risk and 60,000 are missing or dead. Meanwhile, Burma's criminally inept military rulers have accepted only a trickle of aid. Rescuers now face torrential rains. Cholera and dysentery stalk the survivors. And the rice crop has been wiped out. This crisis is building. It will haunt the nation of 52 million for months to come.

TheStar.com - News Top Stories

Calgary zoo reeling from deaths of stingrays
13 May 2008 at 7:31am
The sudden and mysterious deaths of 34 prized stingrays at the Calgary Zoo's new "touch tank" had veterinarians searching the water in vain Monday for some explanation.
Quake toll in thousands
13 May 2008 at 4:30am
At least 12,000 people are dead after a massive earthquake measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale rocked China's densely populated Sichuan province yesterday.
Wrong-way traffic reflects Burma's woe
13 May 2008 at 4:30am
The Asian Highway should be jammed with a convoy of trucks carrying aid supplies from the Thai border to the devastated Burmese city of Rangoon, 400 kilometres away.
Irena Sendler, 98: Rescued thousands from Nazis
13 May 2008 at 4:30am
Irena Sendler, credited with saving some 2,500 Jewish children from the Nazi Holocaust by smuggling them out of the Warsaw Ghetto, some of them in baskets, died yesterday, her family said.
Nursing home lifts went awry twice before
13 May 2008 at 4:30am
The faulty lift equipment that caused the death of an east Toronto nursing home resident had already malfunctioned twice within the same long-term care chain.

BBC News | Business | World Edition

Airbus confirms new A380 delays
13 May 2008 at 5:20am
Plane maker Airbus warns of delays in the delivery of some of its A380 superjumbos this year and in 2009.
US retail sales dip 0.2% in April
13 May 2008 at 11:17am
US retail sales fell 0.2% in April amid high fuel costs and slowing economic growth, official figures show.
Shanghai shares fall after quake
13 May 2008 at 7:33am
China's main stock market falls - despite efforts to minimise economic disruption caused by the earthquake.
Oil hits new high on Iran fears
13 May 2008 at 12:57pm
Oil prices hit a new high of $126.98 a barrel after a report that Iran was studying a plan to cut crude output.
Write-down woe for French banks
13 May 2008 at 7:36am
Credit Agricole considers a 5.9bn-euro rights issue while Societe Generale announces a 23% fall in profits.
Wal-Mart warns on slowdown
13 May 2008 at 10:37am
The world's largest retailer, Wal-Mart, warns it may miss profit targets because of the tough economic climate.
Berlusconi vows to save Alitalia
13 May 2008 at 9:00am
Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi insists that troubled airline Alitalia will pull through its financial crisis.
UK inflation jumps to 3% in April
13 May 2008 at 6:06am
UK consumer inflation hits 3% in April, its highest level in 13 months, on food and fuel costs, official figures show.

guardian.co.uk World news

Clinton looks safe in West Virginia
by Suzanne Goldenberg, Daniel Nasaw
13 May 2008 at 10:51am
Clinton campaigned doggedly yesterday, hoping to secure an anticipated landslide
Dozens killed in Indian market blasts
by Randeep Ramesh
13 May 2008 at 1:23pm
Six bombs explode in the centre of Jaipur, one of India's most popular tourist destinations
Web users back code of conduct for bloggers
by Jemima Kiss
13 May 2008 at 1:05pm
Nearly half of all internet users would support a voluntary code of conduct for bloggers and online commentators, according to research. By Jemima Kiss
Dujiangyan's residents turn anger against Chinese officials
by Tania Branigan
13 May 2008 at 7:16am
Distress turns to anger at Chinese soldiers and officials over the response to the huge earthquake
Lebanese leader vows no surrender to violence
by Rachel Stevenson
13 May 2008 at 6:53am
Saad al-Hariri says he will not give in to what he describes as an attempt by Hizbullah and its backers to impose their will by force
More than 12,000 dead in China quake as rescuers struggle to reach injured
by Tania Branigan
13 May 2008 at 4:07am
The death toll from the earthquake in China has risen above 12,000 in one province alone as rescuers struggle to reach victims
'People do stupid things - that's what spreads HIV'
by Decca Aitkenhead
12 May 2008 at 7:04pm
Are western governments doing more harm than good in treating Aids in the developing world? Decca Aitkenhead finds out
Simon Tisdall on whether the world should intervene to help cyclone victims
by Simon Tisdall
13 May 2008 at 3:33am
Simon Tisdall discusses the options for speeding up the relief of cyclone victims by direct intervention and previous history

guardian.co.uk Politics

BBC 6Music's George Lamb warned over on-air support for Boris Johnson
by Paul McNally
13 May 2008 at 11:39am
BBC 6Music has issued a warning to presenter George Lamb, after he appeared to pledge his support on air for Boris Johnson. By Paul McNally
Mini-budget will put money in pockets of 22 million voters
by Andrew Sparrow
13 May 2008 at 12:55pm
Darling's statement today ? a budget day in all but name ? went down splendidly with Labour MPs. But the longer term verdict is less predictable
Darling's statement in full
13 May 2008 at 12:42pm
Full text of statement made by the chancellor, Alistair Darling, today on changes to the tax structure in response to 10p tax band row
Darling announces £120 tax cut to defuse 10p row
by Andrew Sparrow, Deborah Summers
13 May 2008 at 7:03am
Alistair Darling today announced a £120 tax break for low-paid workers in a £2.7bn compensation package for those hit by the scrapping of the 10p tax band
Q&A: 10p tax row compensation plan
by Hilary Osborne
23 Apr 2008 at 11:57am
The chancellor has said he will raise the personal tax allowance to offset the impact of the abolition of the 10p tax rate on poor households
Timeline: 10p tax row
by Will Woodward, Deborah Summers, Paul Owen
13 May 2008 at 12:05pm
March 21 2007: Gordon Brown uses his final budget as chancellor to announce a surprise cut in the basic rate of income tax to 20p from 22p - and the abolition of the 10p starting rate.
Field apologises to Brown for personal criticisms
by Rosalind Ryan and agencies
13 May 2008 at 11:43am
Labour rebel Frank Field apologised 'unreservedly' to Gordon Brown today for his comments suggesting that the prime minister would not survive until the next general election
Jo Revill exits Observer for government job
by Stephen Brook
13 May 2008 at 11:17am
Jo Revill is leaving the Observer after more than five years to work for health secretary Alan Johnson. By Stephen Brook

guardian.co.uk: The Guardian newspaper: Comment & debate

Polly Toynbee: Despite the baby boomers ageing, we can afford to care
by Polly Toynbee
12 May 2008 at 7:08pm
Polly Toynbee: This generation is going to be expensive. But a voluntary, late-in-life or after-death payment scheme ticks every box
David Landau: The chasm within
by David Landau
12 May 2008 at 7:17pm
David Landau: A stripped-down welfare state plus migration have opened up ominous new divisions in Israeli society
Stephen Pollard: The serial killers
by Stephen Pollard
12 May 2008 at 7:08pm
Stephen Pollard: Politicians' book attacks are all about newspaper extracts - timed to inflict the deepest wounds
Robert Harris: Who brought on this implosion? Not Gordon Brown, but his prede...
by Robert Harris
12 May 2008 at 7:08pm
Robert Harris: Tony Blair's absence from the fight over Labour's future now looks less a uniting gesture, more a selfish dereliction of duty
George Monbiot: The survivors' stories leave no doubt: Guantánamo makes us al...
by George Monbiot
12 May 2008 at 7:08pm
George Monbiot: Official accounts reveal with chilling clarity that acts carried out in the name of the war on terror have backfired dreadfully
Oliver Burkeman: New York diary
by Oliver Burkeman
12 May 2008 at 7:04pm
Oliver Burkeman: Troubling developments at Fox News, the right wing cable network that rightwingers trust to bring them the latest from the world of rightwingery
Jackie Ashley: Beware cosy deals between politicians and their pundits
by Jackie Ashley
11 May 2008 at 7:05pm
Jackie Ashley: Britain can learn lessons from the scandal of how the Bush administration used spin to sell the Iraq war to Americans
Peter Preston: Pro-union parties could deliver a Scottish referendum now
by Peter Preston
11 May 2008 at 7:05pm
Peter Preston: Instead of making it easy for the Nats, pro-union parties could deliver a Scottish referendum now

guardian.co.uk: The Guardian newspaper: Leaders & reply

Corrections and clarifications
12 May 2008 at 7:07pm
Today's corrections
Response: It should not have taken a cyclone to trigger aid to Burma
by Marc DuBois
12 May 2008 at 7:08pm
Response: Sadly, Burma is not unique. Bureaucy hampers relief efforts in many parts of the world, says Marc DuBois
Hideous images linger
by Malcolm Pithers
13 May 2008 at 3:21am
From the archive, May 13 1985: The horrific scenes of people burning alive seemed to live on in an eerie silence as daylight broke over the remains of Bradford City Football Club's ground yesterday.
Letters: Polyclinics and the threat to GPs
12 May 2008 at 7:05pm
Letters: The interests of patients seem to be the least consideration in the headlong rush towards 'super surgeries' or polyclinics for London
Leader: Returning for round two
by Leader
12 May 2008 at 7:13pm
Leader: Morgan Tsvangirai was right to decide to return to Zimbabwe to contest the second round runoff
Letters: A case of bridles revisited
12 May 2008 at 7:15pm
Letters: Penis envy comes to public art. The south had the one criterion that its erection must be twice as big as the Angel of the North
Letters: Meritocracy is not dead - sadly
by Yvonne Roberts
12 May 2008 at 7:09pm
Letters: John Harris and a number of the people he interviewed have misunderstood what meritocracy means as defined by the late Michael Young, who invented the word
Letter: Tax loopholes
12 May 2008 at 7:08pm
Letter: Multinational companies have the chancellor over a barrel - either reduce corporate tax or they'll take their operations elsewhere

ABC News: World

US market up but British remain cautious
Wall Street had a solid session overnight, with share prices closing sharply higher amid more takeover activity and encouraging results on manufacturing during June.
Israeli president's sex case delayed
Court proceedings against Israel's outgoing President Moshe Katsav for sex offences have been further delayed as the prosecution sought extra days to justify a plea bargain deemed too lenient.
Bush, Putin meet for 'lobster summit'
US President George W Bush and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin are trying to repair a damaging split between their two countries with a meeting at the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine.
Hamas TV's Mickey Mouse killed on air
A Hamas television station which killed off a Mickey Mouse lookalike character who urged children to fight against Israel says it will use other famous characters to further its Islamist agenda.
Obama's magic millions test Clinton
Barack Obama's $US32.5 million ($37.9 million) fundraising bombshell is tearing at the aura of invincibility that had gathered around Democratic front-runner Hillary Clinton's White House campaign.
Chad leader's wayward son 'murdered' in Paris
Chadian President Idriss Deby's son Brahim, touted as his possible successor, was found dead near his home outside Paris and police launched a murder investigation, French police and court officials said.
Taliban 'using civilians as human shields'
Taliban fighters are using civilians as human shields against attacks from government and international troops in Afghanistan, the US ambassador to the United Nations said in Rome.
UN offers aid as 600 die in South Asia rains
The United Nations and other agencies have offered aid and helicopters to Pakistan after floods unleashed by a cyclone and days of torrential rain which affected 1.5 million people.

Upside Down World

El Salvador: The UDW Interview with FMLN Presidential Candidate Mauricio Fune...
12 May 2008 at 8:40pm
After weeks of following him on the campaign trail, Upside Down World finally caught up with FMLN Presidential candidate,...
Chilean Protesters Unhappy With Barrick Gold Pascua Lama Project
11 May 2008 at 1:00pm
Fifty environmental activists protested Barrick Gold’s controversial Pascua Lama gold mine on Tuesday, May 8th. Several of the demonstrators...
Rising Fuel Costs Provoke Transportation Strike in Nicaragua
12 May 2008 at 11:52am
May 5th marked the beginning of an intended thirty day strike, with more than 1.5 million public transport workers and...
Polarizing Bolivia: Santa Cruz Votes for Autonomy
8 May 2008 at 7:40am
The May 4th vote for autonomy in Santa Cruz, Bolivia was part of a larger conflict in the region over...
Indymedia Journalists Targeted in Ecuador
8 May 2008 at 4:36am
Ecuadorian police detained five journalists associated with Ecuador Indymedia late Tuesday night. Four of the five were released from custody...

IPS Inter Press Service

ECONOMY: U.S. Woes, Anti-Immigrant Moves Hit Latin America
by Abid Aslam
WASHINGTON, May 13 (IPS) - Economic woes and hostility against immigrants in the United States are having a financial impact thousands of miles away, in the communities to which migrant workers send their hard-earned savings.
BURMA: Foreigners, Cameras Banned in Cyclone-Hit Areas
by Marwaan Macan-Markar
BANGKOK, May 13 (IPS) - Images of the dead keep trickling out of Burma. The most moving are those of children who died when Cyclone Nargis tore through their world in the populous Irrawaddy delta.
CUBA: ?Green? Farming Techniques to Boost Production
by Patricia Grogg
POZO REDONDO, Cuba, May 13 (IPS) - The application of agroecological techniques and the salvaging of traditional farming methods have revolutionised food production in rural areas along the southern edge of the Cuban capital.
DEVELOPMENT: Can Sorghum Solve the Biofuels Dilemma?
by Stephen Leahy
KORCULA, Croatia, May 13 (IPS) - A new crop that provides food, animal feed and fuel at the same time promises to help developing countries redirect money spent on oil imports to benefit their own farmers. Is sweet sorghum biofuel's "holy grail"?
DEATH PENALTY-US: Catch-Up Wave of Executions Feared
by Adrianne Appel
BOSTON, May 13 (IPS) - Anti-death penalty activists are bracing themselves for a wave of executions across the U.S. after the state of Georgia moved swiftly to end the life of William E. Lynd following the Supreme Court's ruling that lethal injection was not a violation of the constitution.
HEALTH-KENYA: Months After Dump Scare, Problems Persist
by Kwamboka Oyaro
NAIROBI, May 13 (IPS) - Every day, the Dandora dumpsite in the eastern part of Nairobi receives 2,000 tonnes of rubbish -- about half of the waste generated daily by the capital's 4.5 million people. The 12-hectare site is a low mountain of smouldering trash. Vultures and marabou storks circle overhead in anticipation of a meal.
EUROPE: Subsidies Fail the Poor Among the Rich
by Claudia Ciobanu
BUCHAREST, May 13 (IPS) - Romanian farmers have started receiving the first payments under the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). But the poorest farmers might have to wait years to see some benefits.
MIDEAST: Another Corruption Scandal Pursues Olmert
by Peter Hirschberg
JERUSALEM, May 13 (IPS) - Badly tarnished by his management of the Lebanon war in the summer of 2006, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert had begun, in recent months, to resurrect his public image. But a new corruption scandal in which he is being questioned by police has again undermined his credibility, and raised questions about his ability to govern effectively.

SPIEGEL ONLINE - International

West Wing: The Media's Mini-Truths
Barack Obama may be closer than ever to defeating Hillary Clinton in the race for the Democratic nomination, but the real loser of the election campaign is the American people. They have been betrayed by cynical journalists who have constantly opted for style over substance.
SPIEGEL ONLINE Interview with Lebanese Minister Nayla Moawad: 'Hezbollah Wan...
Hezbollah is trying to seize power in Lebanon and turn the country into Iran's toehold on the Mediterranean, Lebanon's Social Minister Nayla Moawad warns. In an interview with SPIEGEL ONLINE, she speaks of the threat to Europe and slams the West's failure to act.
Picture This: Praying for Enlightenment
Earthquake Aftermath: China Rushes to Rescue Trapped Survivors
Fear and desperation are the order of the day in Dujiangyan, a city in China's Sichuan province left almost completely destroyed by Monday's catastrophic earthquake. Rescuers are trying to find survivers in the rubble with their bare hands. But all too often, they are losing the race against time.
More Bad News For Cruise Film: 'Valkyrie' Release to Be Postponed
"Valkyrie," the Tom Cruise movie about the 1944 plot by German officers to kill Hitler, was beset by problems right from the start of filming in Berlin last year. Now reports say the release of the film has been put back until February 2009 to re-shoot scenes after test audiences were unimpressed.
From Death Strip to Life Line: Former 'Inner German Border' Provides Haven f...
For half a century, Germany was divided by an internal border, running between democratic West Germany and communist East Germany. Now, 18 years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the nature that found refuge in no-man's-land may finally be given official protection.
The Warrior and Her Throne: Once-Confident Clinton Camp Under Siege
The drama of Hillary Clinton's faltering campaign has America transfixed. Old friends are abandoning the candidate as her duel with Barack Obama threatens to undermine the Democratic Party itself. Meanwhile, the campaign is slowly becoming a personal tragedy for Clinton as her family's political empire falls apart.
Dollar Zone Production: VW Close to Decision on US Plant
Germany's largest carmaker says it will likely decide in July whether to build a new plant in the United States. The strong euro is forcing VW and other major European firms to shift production from Europe to the dollar zone. But the move comes amidst fears of a recession and a subprime crises that has dampened Americans' spending.

Haaretz.com - News

Polish Pres.: Israeli youth should learn Poland not to blame for the Holocaust
Polish President Lech Kaczynski met with Education Minister Yuly Tamir in Jerusalem on Tuesday. ...
Olmert says 'understandings' reached in peace talks with PA
Prime Minister Ehud Olmert said on Tuesday that he and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas have reached "understandings and points of agreement" on key issues in U.S-backed peace talks but he gave no details. ...
Fayyad: Israel shouldn't celebrate independence until peace deal signed
Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad reprimanded Israel on Tuesday for triumphantly celebrating its 60th birthday before having reached a peace deal with the Palestinians. ...
Ahmadinejad predicts Israel will be 'swept away' by Palestinians
In Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's latest verbal outburst against Israel, the Iranian President said Tuesday that it would "be soon swept away" by the Palestinians. ...
Top Lebanese politician Hariri says won't surrender to Hezbollah
A senior pro-government political leader in Lebanon, Saad al-Hariri, said on Tuesday his majority coalition would not surrender to Hezbollah, whose fighters have routed supporters of the Sunni-led government in Beirut. ...

The Daily Star > Politics

Deadly rocket attack shakes Gaza-Israel cease-fire plan
by Agence France Presse (AFP)
13 May 2008 at 12:00am
A rocket fired from the Gaza Strip killed an Israeli woman on Monday, hours after Israeli Premier Ehud Olmert set conditions for a truce with Palestinian militants in the Hamas-ruled territory. The projectile slammed into a house in a small farming community near the Gaza border, killing one woman, an Israeli military spokeswoman said.
At least 8,700 dead as major earthquake strikes China
by Agence France Presse (AFP)
13 May 2008 at 12:00am
More than 8,700 people died in a powerful earthquake that struck southwestern China on Monday, according to state media reports. The quake, with a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale, struck close to densely populated areas in Sichuan Province, including the capital Chengdu, shortly before 0630 GMT.
Israeli police step up Olmert probe as mistrust mounts
by Agence France Presse (AFP)
13 May 2008 at 12:00am
Police on Monday raided Occupied Jerusalem's municipal headquarters in search of documents in a corruption probe into Prime Minister Ehud Olmert as public mistrust mounted against the beleaguered leader. "The investigators conducted a raid at the Jerusalem city hall and took documents linked.
Sudan briefly detains Turabi over 'links to Darfuri assault'
by Agence France Presse (AFP)
13 May 2008 at 12:00am
Sudan on Monday briefly detained Islamist opposition leader Hassan al-Turabi and pressed on with its pursuit of Darfur rebels who threatened again to attack Khartoum as sporadic gunfire reverberated around the capital. Two days after an unprecedented Darfur rebel attack on Khartoum, witnesses reported gunfire around the US Embassy.
Western states, GCC nations conduct military exercise
by Agence France Presse (AFP)
13 May 2008 at 12:00am
Air forces from the United States and several Western and pro-Western Arab countries have started a joint exercise, the official Bahrain News Agency (BNA) reported on Sunday. BNA did not give its exact location or duration but said that Bahrain's armed forces chief of staff, Sheikh Duaij bin Salman al-Khalifa, attended part of the drills on Sunday.
Egypt squeezes access to dissident website
by Agence France Presse (AFP)
13 May 2008 at 12:00am
An Egyptian government-owned Internet service provider has blocked the website of a leading opposition movement, a rights group said Monday, in the latest crackdown on the country's cyber dissidents. "The website for the Egyptian Movement for Change - Kefaya has been blocked in Egypt [for] users who have access to the Internet through TE-Data ...
Israeli group seeks to oust French journalists
by Agence France Presse (AFP)
13 May 2008 at 12:00am
A right-wing legal group on Monday asked Israel's top court to revoke the accreditation of a French television team, claiming it staged footage of a child being killed by soldiers in 2000. Charles Enderlin, who did the France 2 public television report during the Palestinian uprising, emphatically denied the allegations made by the Shurat HaDin law center.
Opposition gets four slots in new Mauritanian Cabinet
by Agence France Presse (AFP)
13 May 2008 at 12:00am
Mauritanian Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmad Waghf on Sunday finalized a new cabinet which will include four members of two opposition parties, the president's office announced. The prime minister said Saturday that two traditional opposition parties, the UFP (Union for Forces of Progress) and.

Bangkokpost.com : Top Stories

Rush trip
13 May 2008 at 12:00am
Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej has scheduled his on-again, off-again trip to Burma for Wednesday, when he will personally hand over an appeal to allow more aid from the secretary general of the United Nations to the Burmese military junta.
Heroes in the smoke
13 May 2008 at 12:00am
Bordeaux, France - Thai tennis twins Sonchat and Sanchai Ratiwatana became off-court champions when they saved the wife and child of an Argentine player, Lucas Arnold, from a fire in their hotel yesterday.
Major China quake
12 May 2008 at 12:00am
Beijing - A 7.8-magnitude earthquake felt as far away as Bangkok killed more than 700 people and buried thousands in Sichuan province of southwest China. Authorities said they feared 5,000 or more were dead. and Chinese President Hu Jintao ordered "all-out" efforts to help 900 school children buried in rubble.

The Hindu - Front Page

Over 8,700 people killed as quake rocks China
13 May 2008 at 12:00am
Rescuers race against time as 900 school students are buried
Pakistan plunges into political uncertainty
13 May 2008 at 12:00am
PML(N) pulls out of Cabinet
Statue desecrators to be held under Goondas Act
13 May 2008 at 12:00am
Nandigram: Home Ministry seeks report
13 May 2008 at 12:00am
NEW DELHI: The Union Home Ministry on Monday sought a detailed report from the West Bengal government on the first phase of the panchayat polls, particularly the situation in Nandigram where the Central Reserve Police Force and police were ...
Pranab calls for deeper global engagement with Iran
13 May 2008 at 12:00am
?This can help promote peace and stability in Iraq, Palestine?
IISc. helps raise missiles range
13 May 2008 at 12:00am
Bangalore: Missiles such as the Agni that was test-fired last week could receive a bigger boost to their range thanks to a technological innovation by scientists at the Indian Institute of Science. By coating the nose of the missile ...
Kings XI leaves Challengers in ruins
13 May 2008 at 12:00am
Marsh continues his impressive run with another fluent knock
Players I wanted were ignored, says Mallya
13 May 2008 at 12:00am

Asia Times Online

A deadly miscalculation in Lebanon
13 May 2008 at 8:00am
As a test of strength, the Lebanese government and its Saudi Arabian backers received a bloody nose in the confrontation with Hezbollah in Beirut. The government woefully underestimated Hezbollah's reaction to having its communications - spy - system interfered with. And the Iranian-backed Hezbollah, with its convincing display of military superiority, made another clear statement: leave our arms alone. - Sami Moubayed (May 13, '08)
Hezbollah's shots ring in Bush's ears
13 May 2008 at 8:00am
Just about everything the George W Bush administration has tried in the Middle East over the past few years has undermined United States standing and influence in the region, even as it has enhanced Tehran's. Yet as Bush visits Saudi Arabia and Egypt this week, he might be able to turn Hezbollah's stunning show of strength in Lebanon to his advantage. - Jim Lobe (May 13, '08)
US misses Iran opportunity
13 May 2008 at 8:00am
In a busy week for Iran, key nations negotiating with it over its nuclear program will present an incentive package for the Iranians to consider. At the same time, International Atomic Energy Agency officials will thrash out the last remaining issues on the Iran-IAEA agenda. US President George W Bush will also be in the region, but he won't be dropping by, even though Tehran has indicated they might be willing to talk. - Kaveh L Afrasiabi (May 13, '08)
Why Myanmar's junta steals foreign aid
13 May 2008 at 8:00am
To the Myanmar junta's top generals in their bunkers in the secluded capital Naypyidaw, far away from the devastated Irrawaddy Delta, their much-maligned aid distribution policy is one of political survival at all costs. With rice crops destroyed, bases wiped out and soldiers running out of food, the military leadership is scrambling to preserve control by commandeering relief supplies to channel to its own members. - Brian McCartan (May 13, '08)
China counts earthquake costs
13 May 2008 at 8:00am
After initially underestimating the effects of the earthquake that has claimed the lives of more than 10,000 people, Chinese authorities have appealed for help in the stricken southwestern region. With the full scale of the tragedy yet to be known, the economic impact, too, is only slowly emerging. - John Ng (May 13, '08)
Koreas not eye-to-eye on Vision 3000
13 May 2008 at 8:00am
South Korea's no-nonsense new president, Lee Myong-bak, has released his alternative to the Sunshine policy of his predecessor towards the North. "Vision 3000, Denuclearization, Openness" is a carrot-and-stick plan that promises a windfall of assistance should North Korea surrender its nuclear weapons. But its feasibility is likely to remain academic: Vision 3000 has not the slightest chance of being accepted by Pyongyang. - Andrei Lankov (May 13, '08)
Parsis may be silenced by success
13 May 2008 at 8:00am
The population of India's small but prominent Parsi community is not only aging, it is dying out. Low birth rates and conservative taboos against outside marriages have fueled fears the ancient Zoroastrian community may not survive the century. The very success of the Parsis - exemplified by the likes of the giant industrialist Tata family and rock star Freddie Mercury - appears to be a threat to its survival. - Sudha Ramachandran (May 13, '08)
SUN WUKONG : 'Devalue' call undermines yuan true faith
13 May 2008 at 8:00am
China for two years has let its currency steadily appreciate against the US dollar, all the time berated by the US and other leading trade partners who insist the yuan should strengthen even faster. Now a leading Chinese bank argues that Beijing should throw its currency policy into reverse and devalue. What gives? - Wu Zhong

Mail & Guardian Online

Roads agency says skills shortage a 'challenge'
by Staff Reporter and Sapa
Skills and contractor shortages are major obstacles to the upgrading of road infrastructure in Johannesburg, the South African National Roads Agency said on Tuesday. Spokesperson Ismail Essa said as the upgrading projects advanced, the challenges would be greater.
DA questons halt to Travelgate probe
The Democratic Alliance has called on the Speaker of Parliament to explain why a decision has been made to stop further investigations into MPs implicated in the Travelgate scandal. This follows publication of a notice directing liquidators "not to pursue any action as against the various members of Parliament in relation to the un-invoiced tickets, levies and/or services".
Cosatu says Madisha trying to 'milk it dry'
Willy Madisha was trying to "milk dry" the Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu), it claimed in a statement on Tuesday. Cosatu had already spent R235 237 on the commission into Madisha's conduct which recommended he be axed as its president, said spokesperson Patrick Craven.
Rasool calls for 'mighty partnership against hunger'
Western Cape premier Ebrahim Rasool has proposed community food gardens on state land as one solution to rocketing food prices. "Government and society cannot close our eyes to the increasing hardship and the struggle of many families to put food on the table," he told the provincial legislature on Tuesday.
Scorpions Bill tabled in Parliament
by Jacques Keet
The Directorate of Special Operations, or the Scorpions, had another nail hammered into its coffin on Tuesday, with the tabling of the General Laws Amendment Bill in the National Assembly. The draft legislation, now headed for the committee stage, provides for the establishment of a new division in the South African Police Service.
Three arrested for cocaine smuggling
Three people were arrested for smuggling cocaine into Cape Town and OR Tambo international airports, the police reported on Tuesday. Captain Dennis Adriao said a 28-year-old man was arrested at OR Tambo airport on Saturday after 5,7kg of cocaine, worth about R5-million, was found in his possession.
Alex residents seek shelter at police station after attacks
by Natasha Marrian
"I want to go home." This is the appeal of a Zimbabwean woman who fought to prevent her little sister from being raped during xenophobic attacks on Monday night. Willet Sibanda, who also has an eight-year-old daughter, received blankets and clothes at the Alexandra police station on Tuesday afternoon.
SA shines at travel awards
South African Tourism and the Indaba Explorations won World Travel Awards in the Africa category in Durban on Monday night, SA Tourism said in a statement on Tuesday. SA Tourism was named best destination marketing organisation in Africa and Indaba Explorations was named Africa's leading travel exhibition.

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