Daily Briefing Aug 14, 2008
But Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, told reporters at a dinner Tuesday night that there will be a lag time before the company can start making profits on the small cars U.S. drivers are now craving. And although sales of pickup trucks, Ford's old profit center, are starting to improve, Fields said the company isn't banking on that ... Asked whether Ford has the money to cover losses until it starts making money, Fields said, "That is our intent, but also I don't want to walk away... (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Business)
Films seek 'cover' against protests Aug 10, 2008
Most recently, there have been reports that a group of Sikh activists in the north was readying to agitate against Vipul Shahs Singh Is Kingg because they were unhappy with the way the community had been depicted ... An industry source says the producer of Ram Gopal Varma Ki Aag had a cover of Rs 10 lakh under a general insurance policy, but when he was taken to court by Sascha Sippy, he was advised to take multimedia liability insurance. (India Times, India)
31 Killed in West Africa Mining Accident Aug 10, 2008
31 Killed in Burkina Faso Mining Accident ... OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso Heavy rains caused a mudslide at an illegal gold mine in Burkina Faso that killed at least 31 people, state-run radio said ... Miners dug through the mud to try to rescue survivors and pull out bodies in the mining village of Boussoukoula in southwest Burkina Faso, state radio said. (Fox News)
Superstition goes digital: Witchcraft via SMS? Aug 9, 2008
In his book TechnoGnosis: Myth, Magic and Mysticism in the Age of Information, cultural critic Erik Davis argues that technology -- no matter how dependent we are on it today -- has not squelched the irrational kind of thoughts we usually relate to myths, magic and mysticism ... In May this year, people in Sumatra were haunted by the so-called "SMS santet", a kind of evil sorcery sent via text messages on cell phones ... A rumor quickly spread across the country that a text message received from... (Jakarta Post, Indonesia -- Features)
3 charged in crash involving 2 vehicles Aug 5, 2008
Police said Matias was treated for chest and shoulder injuries, while Mikhail Ki ryanov, 19, of Hamilton, was treated for a head injury. Matias' three other passengers were taken via ambulance to Capital Health System at Fuld hospital in Trenton. (NJ.com -- Times)
ELECTION 2008: House seats in District 30 will have new faces Aug 2, 2008
I will apply those same skills and principles to work will all members of the Legislature to get things done for the people of Arizona ... Dalessandro said, While I must stay true to my core values of working to provide increased opportunity, freedom and security for the residents of Arizona, I also realize that the political process often requires compromise ... However, he added, I will be kind to folks, be honest with them, keep my word, listen, appreciate their point of view and understand... (Sierra Vista Herald, AZ)
UN to end peace mission to Horn of Africa Jul 31, 2008
The Security Council voted unanimously Wednesday to end its eight-year peacekeeping mission between Eritrea and Ethiopia, a failure that Secretary General Ban Ki Moon has warned could lead to war between the two neighbors in the Horn of Africa. Council members and other diplomats said the United Nations had little choice but to withdraw its 1,700-member force, which has been monitoring a buffer zone 25 kilometers, or 15 miles, wide and 1,000 kilometers long between the two nations. (International Herald Tribune)
Nigeria: Awaiting the Next Ade in Ibadan Politics Jul 27, 2008
University of Ibadan, NTA Ibadan, Liberty Stadium, the first tallest building in Nigeria (Cocoa House), among others were the first of their kinds to be established. No wonder the state's appellation is "ajise bi oyo ni aari, oyo ko ki i se bi baba eni ko oo kan" meaning "The Pacesetter" even before Nigeria got her independence ... The old Oyo Kingdom was where the likes of Alaafin Sango, Alaafin Abiodun, Alaafin Arole, Alaafin Atiba, Alaafin Adeyemi and many others ruled with so much terror,... (allAfrica.com)
How Sudan Was Brought to Court Jul 24, 2008
"My answer was: today the people of Darfur are being killed. Today they are being destroyed and have no hope," Moreno-Ocampo told me a few days before he announced his indictment ... It was, in his eyes, predictable that the Sudanese would withhold visas, deny access to crime scenes and establish bogus trials in an effort to obviate the need for the ICC. But what he found surprising and dispiriting was that high-ranking international diplomats ignored, and even seemed to discourage, his efforts... (Time.com)
Rescuing the blue helmets Jul 22, 2008
A French diplomat, Alain Le Roy, has been appointed by the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki Moon, as the world's chief peacekeeper ... However, UN member states have neglected making crucial investments in the support infrastructure for an expanding network of large peace operations with increasingly complex tasks, from protecting civilians to rebuilding defunct institutions in post-conflict states ... As a result, the UN apparatus is severely overstretched, exhibiting increasingly... (International Herald Tribune -- Ed/Op)
Phalke award for Tapan Sinha Jul 22, 2008
Mr. Sinha, who started his career as a sound engineer in Kolkata s New Theatre in 1946, has directed well-known films such as Kabuliwala, Khudito Pashaan, Atithi, Upahar, Haatey Bazarey, Sagina Mahato, Hansuli Baker Upakatha, Adalat O Ekti Meye, Ek Doctor Ki Maut, Bancharamer Bagan and Shatabdir Kanya, among others ... On his return to India, he shifted his focus to film-making and went on to make films in Bengali, Hindi and Oriya. (Hindu)
Al Gore, International Man of Madness Jul 20, 2008
But please tell me the difference between this kid and Al Gore ... John McCain, who for years told of his conversion following a sit-down with a kid in a penguin suit who had been heckling McCain in New Hampshire ... Hopefully the ensuing treaty will at least respect the Magic Kingdom s strict banking secrecy laws in return for our promise to whistle while we work. (Human Events Online)
Exercise May Prevent Brain Shrinkage In Early Alzheimer's Disease Jul 16, 2008
13, 2006) Omega-3 fatty acid supplements may slow cognitive decline in some patients with very mild Alzheimer's disease, according to new findings from Karolinska Institutet (KI) in Sweden ... Post this page to your favorite social bookmarking site. (Science Daily)
Ghanas Chieftaincy Debate (Part 3) Jul 15, 2008
The example of the September 11 attack in the US, where certain American political leaders and business people conspired to create the conditions for shedding blood in conjunction with ritual murder should be enough evidence (for the discerning) that the occurrence of what Africans would call ritual killings is not exclusive to traditional African chieftaincy ... Ritual killing and foul play is common to modern democratic politics ... One of them is training in human communications: the... (Ghana Web, Ghana)
Cocktail Therapy For Alzheimer's Disease? Works for Gerbils Jul 13, 2008
"It may be possible to use this treatment to partially restore brain function in people with diseases that decrease the number of brain neurons, including, for example, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, strokes and brain injuries. Of course, such speculations have to be tested in double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials," said Richard Wurtman, Cecil H. Green Distinguished Professor of Neuropharmacology and senior author of a paper on the new work. Such trials are now underway in Europe. (Science Daily)
Hana Biosciences Presents Alocrest and Menadione Data At the European Society for Medical Oncology Conference Jul 7, 2008
Alocrest(tm) Phase 1 Data Demonstrates Potential for Improved Safety and Efficacy Compared to Conventional Vinorelbine * Menadione Topical Lotion Restores Kinase Activity and Does Not Inhibit the Anti-Tumor Effect of Erlotinib (Tarceva(r)) in Preclinical Models ... July 7, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Hana Biosciences (NasdaqCM: - ), a biopharmaceutical company focused on strengthening the foundation of cancer care, presented data for two of the company's oncology product candidates, Alocrest(tm)... (Primezone Releases)
A Salman special for his girl Jul 5, 2008
Rumours were rife that something was rotten in this Khans relationship with his gal. But, now Salman is talking an off on July 16 and flying down to Ooty. For the uninitiated, it is because it is his girlfriend Katrina Kaifs birthday and he wants to be with her as she will be busy shooting for Rajkumar Santoshis Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani in the hill station ... Whats more interesting is that post these rumours Salman Khan has been making public appearances with Katrina and they both look as... (Daily News & Analysis)
The three-a-week-workout Jul 4, 2008
"Regular intercourse has an important role in preserving erectile function among elderly men," said Juha Koskim. ki, of Tampere University Hospital. (Globe and Mail -- Business)
Erectile Dysfunction Lower In Men Who Have Intercourse More Often Jul 3, 2008
Other factors that may affect the incidence of ED, such as age, chronic medical conditions (diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cerebrovascular disease and depression), body mass index and smoking were included in the analysis of the data ... Writing in the article, Juha Koskim ... ki, MD, PhD, Tampere University Hospital, Department of Urology, Tampere, Finland, states; "Regular intercourse has an important role in preserving erectile function among elderly men, whereas morning erection does... (Science Daily)
WIRELESS: Taking steps toward mobile cash Jul 3, 2008
Taking steps toward mobile cash - International Herald Tribune ... Taking steps toward mobile cash ... Rushed for time last month, Gerhard Romen jumped on a departing tram in Frankfurt and waved his Nokia cellphone across an electronic reader at the door. (International Herald Tribune)
Study finds UN personnel increasingly likely to be attacked Jul 2, 2008
The study was conducted by a 7-member panel that was organized after 17 UN workers were killed in a bombing in Algiers last December. On the Algerian bombing, the report said the organization's system as a whole and individuals in New York and Algiers were "found wanting." Threats against the United Nations in Algeria came as early as 2006, the report noted, and the organization's security chief in Algiers raised concerns, but he made little headway with the staff in New York and lacked a... (International Herald Tribune)
East Timor leader not taking UN job Jun 28, 2008
The president, in comments to reporters, also spoke as if he had been offered the job, although the secretary general of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon, emphasized Thursday he had not offered the job to anyone ... "By refusing this now, he has managed to put himself on the list for the future," said Edward Rees, a specialist on East Timor and a former UN consultant on security issues, speaking from Dili ... The rebels' leader, Alfredo Reinado, was killed in a coordinated ambush, and 12 of his... (International Herald Tribune -- Technology)
Kan Ran Colson (Pae) Jun 25, 2008
She leaves behind a loving family of three children, Haeng Cha (Nung Hwan) Choe, Ki Chun Chon and Hyang Suk (Anthony) Wadeck; nine grandchildren and 11 great-grand children ... She loved working in the garden and spent many hours growing great things to eat. (Sierra Vista Herald, AZ)
UN: Fair Zimbabwe poll impossible Jun 24, 2008
UNITED NATIONS - With Zimbabwe's opposition under siege and its leader taking refuge at the Dutch Embassy, the Security Council yesterday issued its first sweeping condemnation of the violence gripping the nation, saying it would be "impossible for a free and fair election to take place." ... Taking its first action on the crisis, the long-divided Security Council issued a statement calling on the government of Zimbabwe to allow opposition rallies, which had been routinely blocked or canceled,... (Boston Globe)
Zimbabwe: Former Allies Retract Their Support of Mugabe's Regime [analysis] Jun 21, 2008
In a news conference in Kigali, Kagame blamed the failure by African leaders to address the problems in Zimbabwe and added: "The whole thing is a joke. I am saying this because of what is obviously a serious problem in Zimbabwe." ... He said: "Of course, it scared most of these observers to the extent that they had to pose the question of why are we here then, and what are we doing?" Membe further said that President Jakaya Kikwete was not supporting some tactics used by the Zimbabwe government,... (allAfrica.com)
Oil consumers and producers to meet over the weekend in Saudi Arabia Jun 21, 2008
Saudi Arabia appears unlikely to orchestrate an increase in supplies from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, but the kingdom could make formal plans to raise its own output to the fastest rate in decades ... The price of oil has more than doubled in a year to nearly $140 a barrel, sparking protests from Brussels to Bangkok over record fuel costs that threaten the world's economy ... King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia told UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon last Sunday that the kingdom... (International Herald Tribune -- Business)
Molecular Imaging Sheds New Light On Progression Of Alzheimer's Disease Jun 20, 2008
14, 2006) Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's in their early stages can be difficult for physicians to spot, and many diagnoses are incorrect ... 7, 2008) A new blood test that can give an early diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease and distinguish between Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease could be launched this ... 13, 2006) Omega-3 fatty acid supplements may slow cognitive decline in some patients with very mild Alzheimer's disease, according to new findings from... (Science Daily)
Society's Attitudes Have Little Impact On Choice Of Sexual Partner Jun 17, 2008
17, 2008) A unique new study from the Swedish medical university Karolinska Institute (KI) suggests that the attitude of families and the public have little impact on if adults decide to have sex with persons of the same or the opposite sex ... Post this page to your favorite social bookmarking site. (Science Daily)
A potent, troubling nationalism Jun 17, 2008
But the mix of nationalism, anti-Americanism and sheer unwillingness to accept both the opinion of the World Health Organization and the global trading rules to which South Korea owes much of its prosperity was shocking ... For all their historical links with China, Koreans sometimes like to see themselves as kin, however distant, of the non-Han peoples of mainland Northeast Asia now under Chinese and Russian rule ... Its recent attempt to claim ethnic Korean landmarks - notably the semi-sacred... (International Herald Tribune)
Tensions as Kosovo inks Constitution Jun 17, 2008
"I think you are going to see the UN vehicles get a lot of parking tickets," said one local ... On the eve of the signing, Pristina was dealt a confusing blow by letters sent to the presidents of Serbia and Kosovo by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon ... "Ban Ki Moon recognizes the situation has changed with the Constitution, but he hasn't been able to find a way to withdraw [the UN mission]," says Austrian diplomat Albert Rohan. (Christian Science Monitor)
High gas prices boost interest in Segway scooters Jun 16, 2008
The Segway's $5,000 price tag and its geekiness _ they were among many targets of Weird Al Yankovic's parody "White & Nerdy" in 2006 _ are probably the biggest limits on its popularity, Feeney said ... maybe we could see production of a breakdancing tumbleweed game, like the new GH: tumbleweed featuring King of tumbleweed Nei ... Franchises I love and am happy to keep playing: Call of Duty ANYTHING from Blizzard Half-Life Street Fighter, Guilty Gear, Ki. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Technology)
Transfer Of Learning Traced To Areas Of The Brain Jun 14, 2008
The study involved a group of older (over 65 years) and younger (20-30 years old) subjects, who were asked to participate in a training program to update information in working memory ... During scanning, they performed a verbal updating task from the training program, a non-trained numerical task, which also required updating, and a non-trained task that did not require this skill ... The striatum is a critical region in the updating of the working memory, and age-related changes here can... (Science Daily)
Spread of tuberculosis seen slowing progress on AIDS Jun 11, 2008
Tuberculosis is also the No. 1 killer among HIV-infected people in Africa and a leading cause of their death elsewhere, the officials said. Jorge Sampaio, a former president of Portugal who serves as the United Nations' special envoy to stop tuberculosis, said he and Secretary General Ban Ki Moon had convened the meeting at the UN headquarters to gain political support for "a much-neglected problem." ... Video At least 19 albinos have been killed due to a growing criminal trade in albino body... (International Herald Tribune -- Health)
Afghan Gov't Seeks $15B in Aid Jun 11, 2008
Afghan officials are asking the international community for $50 billion in aid over the next five years ... Karzai, U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki moon and French President Nicolas Sarkozy will co host. (Time.com)
Rejected by junta, US aid ships sail from Burma Jun 9, 2008
For the first three weeks after the storm, the ruling generals stonewalled international efforts to deliver aid, yielding only after Ban Ki Moon, the UN chief, visited Senior General Than Shwe in person ... For the tsunami we had 300 expats in within the first month -- compare 300 to six, she said, referring to the 2004 disaster which killed 220,000 people around the Indian Ocean ... although west looking apppears to be quite neutral in global matters. (Yahoo News -- Myanmar)
Despite surging grain prices, Argentina fails to cash in Jun 9, 2008
"They are killing the goose that lays the golden eggs," said Claudio Loser, a former Latin America director at the International Monetary Fund ... To tap those gains, President Cristina Fernndez de Kirchner decreed a new sliding-scale tax on March 11, increasing rates on grain exports as prices rise ... The United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki Moon, criticized measures similar to Argentina's at a summit meeting last week in Rome, calling on world leaders to end export bans, tariffs and... (International Herald Tribune -- Business)
Short But Intense Exercise Just As Good As Longer Exercise Jun 8, 2008
As we age, the arteries become stiffer and tend to lose their ability to dilate, and these effects contribute to high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease,' said Maureen MacDonald of the department of kinesiology ... 8-magnitude earthquake was in Sichuan, striking 57 miles northwest of the provincial capital of Chengdu at 2:28 p.m. local time ... A powerful earthquake buried 900 students in central China on Monday and killed at least 107 people, as several schools and a water tower... (NEWSPost India)
Big smoke, no fuss for Mattner Jun 6, 2008
"They spoke about the opportunities they saw with me fitting into the team. But what they really showed was enthusiasm to have me here, and Roosy was very keen to have [Nick] Malceski and [Tadhg] Kennelly and myself playing through the halfback and wing spot So it was a culmination of everything, but I'm really happy I'm here. It's been a great decision.". The man who grew up on a farm in Ki Ki, 150 kilometres south-east of Adelaide, with a population of "about 10 or 11" had no problem moving to... (Sydney Morning Herald -- Sport)
Robert Mugabe accuses West of trying to starve him out Jun 6, 2008
The summit opened with a call from Ban Ki Moon, the UN Secretary-General, for world food production to rise by 50 per cent by 2030 to meet growing demand ... Mugabe should have been taken into custardy at the UN conference in Rome and charged with genocide against his own people including the killing and tortures against his political opponents in Zimbabwe ... They do not have the skills to produce very large crops. (Yahoo News -- Zimbabwe)
UN Security Council Tours Darfur Jun 6, 2008
(EL FASHER, Sudan) The U.N. Security Council got a firsthand look Thursday at the worsening conflict in Darfur, which has killed up to 300,000 people and forced 2 ... The commander of the peacekeeping force, known as UNAMID, said the agreement between U.N. chief Ban Ki moon and Sudanese President Omar al Bashir was crucial. (Time.com)
At food crisis talks, menu is rich with politics Jun 5, 2008
Kofi Annan, chair of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa speaking during a press conference at a United Nations crisis summit on rising food prices in Rome on Wednesday ... At the opening ceremony Tuesday, the United Nations secretary general, Ban Ki Moon, noted that there were nearly one billion people short of food and called upon countries gathered here to act with "a sense of purpose and mission." ... There has been much less talk about donors developing the new kind of aid program... (International Herald Tribune)
Burmese forced from relief camps Jun 5, 2008
"They're being returned to villages and townships that have been devastated, and their right to food, shelter, and medical help is being violated," says Benjamin Zawacki, the author of the report ... Sending people home also provides a labor force that can be corralled into working for little or no pay ... These controls have loosened slightly since UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon visited Burma two weeks ago, but relief agencies are still dogged by bureaucratic obstacles. (Christian Science Monitor)
AURORA LOOKS TO SAVE MONEY Jun 5, 2008
"We are working on two men and something had to be done. Many towns don't pick up the brush in the summer." ... "It really is a competent program. [Dresher ki] redesigned a template that is specific to our budget. Line by line we can look at the impact as we go through our budget. It would be good for us all.". (East Aurora Advertiser, NY)
Investing in farmers; A turning point for America; The use of 'jihad' Jun 5, 2008
United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon is correct to note the obvious: Food supplies in some countries aren't always adequate to meet the increasing food consumption we see today ... If Ban Ki Moon would busy himself with encouraging governments to get out of the way of food producers and transporters pursuing their own self-interests, and, more importantly, cease distracting us with unhelpful suggestions of yet more government programs, he might yet hasten the day when such shortages... (International Herald Tribune -- Ed/Op)
227 comments Jun 4, 2008
Those folks are walking around today and doing the best they can ... As if it weren t a large enough invitation for lawsuits, the law prohibits anyone who owns or runs a public accommodation from publishing, distributing, or displaying in any way, manner, or shape or by any means or method;any communication, paper, book, pamphlet;notice, or advertisement of any kind;that is intended or calculated to discriminate or actually discriminates ... It is not beyond the pale to imagine a radical... (Human Events Online)
Despite promises, Myanmar limits access for aid agencies Jun 3, 2008
"Look back at the 'saffron revolution,' when they made all kinds of promises about what they were going to do and nothing happened." ... On May 28 in Yangon, the UN secretary general, Ban Ki Moon, said the junta's leader, Senior General Than Shwe, had promised free access to foreign aid workers ... "Many of the villages remain inundated with water, making it difficult to rebuild," she said. (International Herald Tribune)
Events & Announcements Jun 3, 2008
Held on June 3-4 and November 18-19, the workshop will allow participants to expand their facilitation skills, learn effective communication approaches and get hands-on practice ... If you have any questions or if you would like to donate a prize, contact Laura Hawkins at laura@downtownhalifax ... Novaknowledge 15th Anniversary luncheon on June 5: On Thursday, June 5 in the Port Royal Rooms of the World Trade and Convention Centre, novaknowledge will launch the SPARK Awards, recognizing the... (Nova Scotia Business Journal)
Amid aid delays, locals in Burma (Myanmar) rebuild Jun 2, 2008
He says it took him almost a week after United Nations chief Ban Ki Moon's historic visit with Burma's leader, Senior Gen. Than Shwe, to finally get government permission to go beyond Rangoon, as local officials in the delta interpret the policy in their own ways ... "We were told it would take 48 hours advance notice for clearance. Now we're finding out it's taking 72," he adds. (Christian Science Monitor)
Bunk Beds Unsafe For Children: Study Jun 2, 2008
Monday 02nd of June 2008 They might be on every child's wish list, but bunk beds are not quite safe - especially for kids under six, according to a new study ... 8-magnitude earthquake was in Sichuan, striking 57 miles northwest of the provincial capital of Chengdu at 2:28 p.m. local time ... A powerful earthquake buried 900 students in central China on Monday and killed at least 107 people, as several schools and a water tower collapsed in the tremor, state media reported. (NEWSPost India)
South Korean Police Detain More Than 200 in Protest of U.S. Beef Imports Jun 1, 2008
said Kim Ho Ki, a sociology professor at Yonsei University in Seoul. The government needs to work on mending the rift, if it is to obtain any support from the public for remainder of its term. (Bloomberg -- Asia)
Irish farmers' leaders spurn Yes vote Jun 1, 2008
Seamus Kirk, the Fianna Fail party chairman, dismissed the suggestion, saying there is no further room for negotiation on the treaty ... There will be a lot of farmers and county chairmen on Tuesday looking for a No vote and there will be others that don t want to go there, he said ... UN chief Ban Ki Moon visits Burma's Irawaddy Delta. (Times Online)
Iraqi appeal on debt stirs little action among Arabs May 30, 2008
Iraq's plea for debt relief - made before nearly 500 delegates at a UN conference to assess Iraq's reconstruction - was echoed at the highest diplomatic levels including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. But Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki received no firm commitments, and two key neighbors - Saudi Arabia and Kuwait - sent only low-level envoys to the meeting outside Stockholm. (Boston Globe)
UN chief walked tightrope with junta May 30, 2008
Those were the issues UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon avoided in talks with Burma's junta leader ... "Different circumstances, different situations, require different skills or approaches. In the case of talking with a certain . . . country or people who have been isolated a long time, then you need special care and sensitivity.". (Boston Globe)
No debt relief for Iraq after U.N. talks May 30, 2008
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki, left,Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildtand U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, right, hold a press conference at the end of the U.N. conference on Iraq in Sweden Thursday ... Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had called on neighboring countries to forgive debt and compensation payments, saying they are hindering Iraq's road to recovery, despite a reduction in violence ... Al-Maliki: No 'negative impact'"Of course we would have wished to have senior... (MSNBC -- International)
Ingratitude from Myanmar, as UN reports progress May 30, 2008
The government says the cyclone killed 78,000 people and left 56,000 missing ... They allowed foreign aid workers in only after the UN secretary general, Ban Ki Moon, met with the junta leader, Senior General Than Shwe, last weekend ... "We're going to be working very hard to deliver these items to them.". (International Herald Tribune)
Burma authorities prolong Aung San Suu Kyi's house arrest and round up supporters May 28, 2008
Government thugs killed a number of her supporters and she was placed in detention "for her own protection" ... Last weekend, ministers and officials from 50 countries joined the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon in Rangoon at a conference to discuss aid for the 2 ... Tim C, Southern England, United Kingdom. (Yahoo News -- Myanmar)
Native leaders vow to fight mining law in Ont. May 28, 2008
Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (KI) Chief Donny Morris along with five other community members have already spent 68 day in jail for contempt of court, but will continue to fight for their right to say no to mining, KI lawyer Chris Reid said ... "Communities need to be able to have the right to say no to exploration and mining on their land or this kind of thing is going to happen again and again." ... With more than a half-million square kilometres of mineral claims currently staked across... (Canada.com)
Aid groups prepare to test Myanmar access May 27, 2008
Homeless Burmese lining up to receive candy and medicine from an overseas donator at a monastery serving as a temporary shelter for cyclone victims on the outskirts of Yangon, Myanmar, Monday ... But the UN secretary general, Ban Ki Moon, said Friday that the junta chief, Senior General Than Shwe, had agreed that international aid workers would be able "to freely reach the needy people." ... 4 million people affected by the storm had received some kind of emergency assistance. (International Herald Tribune)
Burma (Myanmar) opens door for aid, but remains wary May 27, 2008
Talking: Burmese Prime Minister Lt. Gen. Thein Sein (white jacket) listen to UN chief Ban Ki Moon (back to camera) at a meeting Sunday ... Correspondent Simon Montlake discusses the Burmese government asking for money to rebuild while relief agencies are still trying to help cyclone survivors ... In an apparent breakthrough, Burma's reclusive leader, Gen. Than Shwe, told visiting UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon on Friday that he would be more flexible on access, a stance echoed by other Burmese... (Christian Science Monitor)
Conditions ripe for disease in Burma's devastated delta May 27, 2008
Get breaking news in your inbox as it happens ... Burma's xenophobic government has worked hard to keep foreign aid agencies from visiting the delta since the May 2-3 storm belted the region, killing some 78,000 people and leaving 56,000 others missing ... The regime has said it is able to handle relief efforts on its own, but its ruling general assured visiting U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon last week that all international aid agencies would be allowed in to help. (USA Today)
Chinese parents ask why schools crumbled May 26, 2008
Xinjian Primary School in Dujiangyan was destroyed, while a kindergarten, at left, and a hotel were barely damaged ... A separate kindergarten less than six meters, away, or 20 feet, survived with barely a crack ... The government has enjoyed broad public support for its handling of the earthquake, and in Sichuan on Saturday, Secretary General Ban Ki Moon of the United Nations praised the government's response. (International Herald Tribune)
Ban visits China's earthquake zone May 25, 2008
Secretary General Ban Ki Moon of the United Nations visited one of the hardest-hit towns in China's earthquake zone Saturday as the guest of Prime Minister Wen Jiabao, who said the toll may climb to 80,000 or more ... Some 4,800 of the town's 18,000 people were killed and another 4,000 were still missing, the officer told Ban ... Wu said the radiation was not leaking. (International Herald Tribune)
Diagnosing Team Schizo May 24, 2008
The D-backs have scored a total of 10 runs during a six-game road skid, including just three runs in three games this week at Florida) ... It s not so shocking, at least to me, that the Braves would rebound from their slow start and be within 1-1/2 games of first place on May 22 ... We just have to figure out how to get this feeling when we re eating foreign food and sleeping in different beds, said Chipper Jones, who was talking about road games, not trips to Japan. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Sports)
China begins burying its unknown quake victims May 24, 2008
The posters looking for missing loved ones are posted at Jiuzhou Gymnasium in Mianyang City, Sichuan province, on Thursday ... So while both President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao have urged rescue workers to save lives "at any cost," the scale of the disaster has prompted the government to dispose of the dead with little ceremony, closing the door on any opportunity family members have of identifying their kin by sight and upsetting the traditional Chinese reverence for the deceased... (International Herald Tribune)
Many feared dead in air crash at Thai resort May 23, 2008
Eighty-seven people, including around 50 foreign tourists, were killed today when a Thai jet carrying 130 passengers and crew crashed on landing in heavy rain on the holiday island of Phuket ... Foreign tour operators were checking through passenger lists, trying to account for dead and missing ... It was making some noises and it was bad rain, John, who was travelling with a friend who also survived, told Thai television. (Yahoo News -- Thailand)
