Haaretz
MK tells Gaza rally: Time for civil disobedience
By Nir Hasson and Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondents
National Union MK Aryeh Eldad called on thousands of anti-disengagement activists rallying in the Gaza Strip settlement bloc of Gush Katif on Wednesday to commit acts of non-violent civil disobedience to protest the pullout.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/569352.html
Eitam tells Gaza rally that pullout can still be halted
By Nir Hasson and Amos Harel, Haaretz Correspondents
MK Effi Eitam told thousands of anti-disengagement protesters rallying in the Gaza Strip settlement bloc of Gush Katif on Wednesday that the pullout plan can still be stopped if many people gather at the Kissufim junction east of Gaza on the day the evacuation is slated to take place.
"If they close the roads to us, we'll walk on dirt roads, in fields, in groves," Eitam said. "If a million and a half people get up and go, it will be impossible to carry out this plan. It's impossible to evacuate a nation."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/569352.html
White House balks at Putin's offer to host Mideast summit
By Aluf Benn, Yossi Melman, and Lily Galili, Haaretz Correspondents, and Agencies
The White House balked on Wednesday at a proposal by Russian President Vladimir Putin for an international conference this fall to seek a settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying the timing was not right.
"We believe there will be an appropriate time for an international conference, but we are not at that stage now and I don't expect that we will be there by the fall," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.
"We need to continue to focus our efforts on the disengagement plan," McClellan added. "We all need to do what we can to support the Palestinian leaders as they move forward to put the institutions in place for a viable democracy to emerge."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/569353.html
Ahead of Israel visit, Putin calls for Mideast conference in Moscow
By Aluf Benn, Yossi Melman, and Lily Galili, Haaretz Correspondents, and Agencies
Russian President Vladimir Putin called Wednesday for a Middle East peace conference in Moscow in the autumn, and said he would discuss the proposal with Prime Minister Ariel Sharon during his visit to Israel, set to begin later in the day.
Putin's arrival in Israel on Wednesday night will launch an unprecedented state visit by a Russian - or Soviet - head of state. Government sources say the visit is important by virtue of it taking place, and is part of a broader swing through the region indicating Russian interest in taking a higher profile in the region.
"I am suggesting that we should convene a conference for all these countries concerned [with the peace process] and the Quartet, next autumn," Putin said in Russian during a joint press conference with Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak. The so-called Quartet includes Russia, the United States, the European Union and the United Nations, and is behind the formulation of the road map peace plan.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/569353.html
Two Palestinian youths carrying explosives arrested at Jenin roadblock
By Haaretz Service and The Associated Press
Israel Defense Forces soldiers arrested two Palestinian teenagers at the Jalameh roadblock in the West Bank city of Jenin on Wednesday morning, after they were found to be in possession of explosives and weapons, Israel Radio reported.
According to the report, the two - aged 15 and 16 years - told interrogators that they had been acting as couriers for terrorists.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/569675.html
Heir of Nazi arms supplier pays into fund for former slave laborers
By The Associated Press
BERLIN - The billionaire heir of a Nazi-era arms supplier has paid $6.5 million into a fund for Nazi-era forced laborers, a move that a senior German Jewish official said Tuesday was long overdue.
Friedrich Christian Flick had maintained that, as an individual, he was not obligated to pay into the fund set up by the government and industry - a stance that prompted intense criticism from Jewish groups and others. The $6.6 billion fund started payments in 2001.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/569648.html
Five policemen wounded in clashes with ultra-Orthodox protesters
By Jonathan Lis and Roni Singer, Haaretz Correspondents and Haaretz Service
Five police officers were wounded Tuesday night in clashes with hundreds of ultra-Orthodox protesters in Jerusalem. One of them was in moderate condition, and the rest sustained light injuries. Nine of the rioters were arrested during the incident.
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/569349.html
Buenos Aires Herald
Bridging the Taiwan Strait
The eight-day trip by Lien Chan was aimed at easing tensions between Taiwan and China, which has threatened to attack if the self-ruled island pursues formal independence. It includes a meeting on Friday with Chinese President Hu Jintao.
‘‘Taipei and Nanjing are not too distant, but it still took 60 years...
http://www.buenosairesherald.com/the_world/note.jsp?idContent=158481&hideIntro=true
Debt ruling due today
Argentina was due on April 1 to issue US$35.3 billion in bonds in exchange for US$62.3 billion in old defaulted bonds in a swap aimed at turning the page on its 2002 sovereign default.
But it delayed issuing new bonds until the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York...
http://www.buenosairesherald.com/business/note.jsp?idContent=158476&hideIntro=true
HE'S TURNING the country into Texas. Pretty soon we'll be having our backyards full of steer droppings. Buffalos on tennis courts will be a small clean up compared to what Bush wants to do to USA air quality. He gets 'hyped' by a Saudi Prince and wants to become one himself. What a moron !!
The Chicago Tribune
Hinrich maneuver
Guard gets career-high 34 in victory
BULLS 113, WIZARDS 103: BULLS LEAD SERIES 2-0
By K.C. Johnson
Tribune staff reporter
Published April 28, 2005
If some budding entrepreneur were smart, he or she would start printing Bulls jerseys with names like Jannero Hinrich, Othella Piatkowski and Adrian Nocioni.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-0504280284apr28,1,5343770.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Front-page bike photo didn't show Lombardo
By John Bebow and Jon Yates
Tribune staff reporters
Published April 28, 2005
The photo that ran on the front page of Wednesday's Chicago Tribune was, in fact, of a dapper old man.
But he wasn't Joseph "The Clown" Lombardo.
He was Stanley Swieton, 69, a soft-spoken Chicagoan who never figured he'd make the front page of the newspaper.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0504280265apr28,1,15828.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Bush Wants Refineries at Ex-Defense Bases
By H. JOSEF HEBERT
Associated Press Writer
Published April 27, 2005, 10:18 AM CDT
WASHINGTON -- President Bush, trying to blunt growing unrest over high energy prices, is laying out proposals to speed construction of nuclear power plants and oil refineries and boost sales of energy-efficient vehicles.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-bush-energy,1,4253363.story?coll=chi-news-hed
Dad comes home, finds 2 children fatally stabbed
Published April 28, 2005
HOFFMAN ESTATES -- Two children were fatally stabbed Wednesday night in Hoffman Estates, police said.
At 9:20 p.m., the children's father arrived at their home in the 1100 block of John Drive and called 911 to report that his 3-year-old daughter and 9-year-old son were stabbed, said Hoffman Estates Police Officer Paul McCaffrey. Police arrived within three minutes and found the children dead. The names of the children were not released.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0504280252apr28,1,6377417.story?coll=chi-news-hed
The Independent
Open door for women to qualify, says Royal and Ancient
By James Corrigan
27 April 2005
Goodness knows what Old Tom Morris would have made of it, but the Royal and Ancient's revelation that from next year women will be allowed to try to qualify for the Open Championship sent a shudder through the sport that must have been felt by its first superstar.
http://sport.independent.co.uk/golf/story.jsp?story=633340
Staff blamed for death of prison inmate
By Ian Herbert, North of England Correspondent
27 April 2005
A women's prison where six inmates died within a year has come under renewed criticism after an inquest jury concluded that its staff were to blame for one of the deaths.
The jury said that the failure of a nurse to secure a medication trolley containing anti-depressants contributed to the death of Julie Walsh, 39, at Styal prison in Cheshire.
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/crime/story.jsp?story=633358
Climate change poses threat to food supply, scientists say
By Michael McCarthy, Environment Editor
27 April 2005
Worldwide production of essential crops such as wheat, rice, maize and soya beans is likely to be hit much harder by global warming than previously predicted, an international conference in London has heard.
The benefits of higher levels of the main greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, will in fact be outweighed by the downsides of climate change, a Royal Society discussion meeting was told yesterday. It had been thought that the gas might act as a fertiliser to increase plant growth. Rising atmospheric temperatures, longer droughts and side-effects of both, such as higher levels of ground-level ozone gas, are likely to bring about a substantial reduction in crop yields in the coming decades, large-scale experiments have shown.
http://news.independent.co.uk/world/environment/story.jsp?story=633349
Outrage in Italy as US clears troops who killed agent escorting freed hostage
By Peter Popham in Rome and Andrew Buncombe in Washington
27 April 2005
Italians have reacted with outrage to news that an inquiry in the United States into the shooting of an Italian secret service agent in Iraq has cleared the American troops who killed him.
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=633336
The People Daily
KMT leader kicks off historic mainland visit after 56-year span
Chairman Lien Chan of Kuomintang (KMT), or the Chinese nationalist party, arrived Tuesday afternoon in east China's Nanjing City, on the first visit to the mainland by the top leader of the party since it lost a civil war and fled to Taiwan in 1949.
"This visit has been too late, but we finally took the first historic step," said the 68-year-old Lien upon his arrival.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200504/27/eng20050427_182847.html
Treating Sino-Japanese economic cooperation rationally
During his recent meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Chinese President Hu Jintao put forward a five-point proposal concerning Sino-Japanese relations. At present, a correct understanding and treatment of Sino-Japanese economic and trading cooperation is both the objective requirement for further developing the economies of the two countries and the topic sense on further promoting Sino-Japanese ties onto a sound and stable track.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200504/27/eng20050427_182918.html
China amends Securities Law to boost slumping stock market
The draft amendment of China's Securities Law was submitted Tuesday to China's top legislature for first deliberation. The drafters of the amendment said it would boost investors' confidence and therefore rejuvenate the slumping stock market.
Although April 25 saw China's stock market falling to a record low for the past six years, Xu Jian, director of the Security Law amendment task force under the Financial and Economic Committee of the NPC Standing Committee, was optimistic about it's future, saying that the amendment fixes flaws in the stock market supervision system and adds new items for protecting the interests of investors.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200504/27/eng20050427_182831.html
China's economy to grow by 8.3 percent this year: World Bank
China's economy is expected to grow by 8.3 percent this year, while its inflation rate will be 3.5 percent, well within the range set by the central government, the World Bank said Wednesday in a quarterly report.
According to its quarterly report on the Chinese economy, the bank said it expects further easing of domestic demand growth, notably investment, on the back of limited credit growth and sliding profits.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200504/27/eng20050427_182922.html
Macao's GDP growth rate to slow down this year: official
With new casino business running on track of a steady growth, the growth of the gross domestic product (GDP) in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) may slow down its fast speed recorded last year, said a senior official on Tuesday.
Francis Tam Pak Yuen, secretary for economic and finance, said that bolstered by the ideal increase in the number of visitor arrivals, Macao's gaming revenue is expected to sustain a steady growth this year, although the speed of growth may slow down, compared to that in the second half of last year, said Tam.
http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200504/12/eng20050412_180629.html
Michael Moore Today Revisited
Poll: Springtime Politics
Doubts About GOP Leadership Include Bush, Judges, and DeLay
By Gary Langer / ABC News
Apr. 25, 2005 - In a triple hit to the Republicans in Washington, Americans express growing discontent with some of George W. Bush's policies, weak support for Tom DeLay as House majority leader and broad opposition to a change in Senate rules on judicial nominations.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/index.php?id=2384
Another Ex-Colleague Criticizes Bolton
By Liz Sidoti / Associated Press
WASHINGTON - In the latest complaint against John R. Bolton, a former colleague says the undersecretary of state doesn't have what it takes to be the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/index.php?id=2391
The Arab News
Russia is economic competition and a free agent. They are not members of OPEC.
Editorial: Dealing With Russia
26 April 2005
RUSSIA’S President Vladimir Putin pulled few punches in his state of the nation address to Parliament yesterday. He said the collapse of the old Soviet Union was the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the last century. He strongly defended his political changes which have refocused power in the Kremlin and warned outsiders bluntly that Russia would advance to democracy at its own pace and would take no lessons from abroad.
In Washington this may very well be seen as a deliberate snub to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice whose Moscow visit last week emphasized the need for Russia to do more to promote democracy. Putin left few of his listeners in much doubt that Russia was taking no advice from any other country — whether it was over his assault on powerful private companies such as Yukos, the muzzling of the press and media, the continuing bloody anti-separatist campaign in Chechnya or the changes to the way once powerful and independent provincial governors are chosen.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=7§ion=0&article=62765&d=26&m=4&y=2005
Premier-Designate Finalizes Iraqi Cabinet Proposal
Naseer Al-Nahr, Arab News
BAGHDAD, 27 April 2005 — Iraq’s prime minister-designate yesterday proposed appointing a 36-member Cabinet — including three deputy premiers from Iraq’s main Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish factions — in an attempt to end a stalemate that has dragged on for too long.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=62833&d=27&m=4&y=2005&pix=world.jpg&category=World
Bush-Abdullah Meeting Focused on Oil Prices
Barbara Ferguson, Arab News
Crown Prince Abdullah shares a laugh with President George W. Bush in Crawford, Texas, on Monday after he presented the US president with a gift. (SPA)
WASHINGTON, 27 April 2005 — President Bush’s meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah at his ranch in Crawford, Texas on Monday focused on soaring global oil prices as well as political reform in Saudi Arabia, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and the so-called “war on terror.”
But it was the price of oil that topped the agenda. Crude oil prices hit record highs in April, briefly topping $58 dollars a barrel. Nationwide retail gas prices have climbed to over $2.28 a gallon.
The Saudis reiterated their recent pledge that the oil-rich nation will soon increase its output, currently running at 9.5 million barrels per day.
But Adel Al Jubeir, Prince Abdullah’s foreign affairs adviser, told reporters in Crawford that Saudi leaders had little to offer Bush beyond that, saying the high prices are the result of a lack of adequate refining capacity in the United States and elsewhere.
“Saudi Arabia is producing all the oil that our customers are requesting,” he said.
James Paul, executive director of the New York based-Global Policy Forum, and author of the report “Oil in Iraq: The Heart of the Crisis” (www.globalpolicy.org), warned that world production is reaching its peak.
“The Bush administration would have the US public believe that there’s an unlimited supply of oil and that the nasty environmentalists and greedy sheiks are keeping oil from reaching consumers. It’s a catastrophic lie. There is growing consensus that worldwide oil production is reaching its peak. The Saudis are now pumping very near full capacity and all of OPEC is operating at full tilt. OPEC has been trying to lower oil prices to keep the markets stable but without success. Worldwide demand is going up and supply can’t rise to meet it.
“The US is thirsty for more, the markets in China and India are growing rapidly, so market forces are driving prices higher and higher. The administration’s plans for controlling Iraqi oil, and putting US and UK companies in charge, have thus far been a failure. Exxon’s profits are setting new records, but the world’s energy future is in chaos for which the oil giants are largely responsible,” Paul said.
“What’s happening is that world production is hitting its peak now, and the Energy Information Administration in the US projects that world production of petroleum will rise up to 125 million bpd by 2025, and that’s way off the charts. Oil is not running out, but it is reaching its peak,” said Paul.
Paul voiced misgivings over the US invasion of Iraq. “Many believe the war was about gaining control over Iraq’s oil reserves for the US and UK, but this was a desperate gamble because Iraq has huge super-giant fields, such as Majnun, and there are expectations they will find some new fields in the western desert. The problem is that oil companies new technical capacities for finding oil is the way up, but the results are way down, and as a result we’re experiencing a worldwide crunch.”
Tyson Slocum, research director for Public Citizen’s Critical Mass Energy and Environment Program, said Americans should examine what’s happening within the US oil industry. “Since Bush took office, the largest five oil companies operating in the US have after-tax profits of $205 billion. We need to examine the relationship between US oil company profits and the higher prices for consumers and American industry. For example, in 2004, ExxonMobil — the product of the 1999 merger between Exxon and Mobil — chalked up the world’s biggest-ever profit for a single company: $25.3 billion. Is it possible that ExxonMobil and other US oil companies are making part of their profits off price gouging?
“It is possible that, just like Enron constricted supply in California by ordering power plants offline in order to create supply shortages to jack prices up, US oil companies are keeping supplies offline and waiting to release those supplies until prices rise enough to make it worth their while? The potential is there.”
Pasted from <http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=62839&d=27&m=4&y=2005>
Abdullah and Bush Reaffirm Historic Ties
Khaled Almaeena
Crown Prince Abdullah shops for snacks at the Coffee Station restaurant and store alongside store owner Nick Spanos, left, in Crawford, Texas on Monday. (Reuters)
DALLAS, Texas, 27 April 2005 — Monday’s historic meeting between Crown Prince Abdullah and US President George W. Bush was successful in bringing back warmth to Saudi-US relations, Foreign Minister Prince Saud Al-Faisal said.
Speaking yesterday morning with editors of Saudi newspapers along with radio and television journalists, Prince Saud said the six-decade-long relationship between Saudi Arabia and the US was based on mutual respect and mutual interests.
Asked whether the Crawford discussions had touched on Saudi Arabia’s domestic issues and reforms, he said the Kingdom’s internal issues weren’t covered. However, he noted that Riyadh would go ahead with its political and economic reforms.
He also expressed hope the current reforms in the Kingdom would help attract American investments not only in the gas sector but to all economic sectors.
“The objective was to revive investment channels as they were before — with the same enthusiasm and dynamism,” he added.
Prince Saud said there was no Saudi commitment to increase oil production from 12.5 million bpd to 15 million bpd.
Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Ali Al-Naimi has spoken about Saudi Aramco plans to expand its production capacity.
Prince Saud said the Kingdom was keen on serving the interests of both oil consumers and producers, adding that Bush had expressed appreciation for the Saudi oil policy.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=62831&d=27&m=4&y=2005&pix=world.jpg&category=World
Sudan Govt Allows Freer Aid Access to Entire Country
Agencies
KHARTOUM, 27 April 2005 — Sudan yesterday announced new procedures to simplify aid access to the country to facilitate a huge expected humanitarian operation following a peace deal ending more than two decades of war in the south.
Sudan signed a peace deal with the former rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Army in January which will usher in a new unity government, and share power and wealth in Africa’s largest country. Donors pledged $4.5 billion earlier this month to assist the reconstruction of the war-torn country.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=62801&d=27&m=4&y=2005&pix=world.jpg&category=World
G-4 to Introduce Resolution in UN Assembly
Nilofar Suhrawardy, Arab News
NEW DELHI, 27 April 2005 — On a day when UN Secretary General Kofi Annan was in New Delhi, Japan yesterday said the “G-Four’ group — comprising Japan, India, Germany and Brazil — was formulating a draft resolution to be introduced in the UN General Assembly in September, staking the claims of the four countries for permanent seats in the Security Council.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=62828&d=27&m=4&y=2005&pix=world.jpg&category=World
Vajpayee Seeks Lalu’s Resignation
Syed Asdar Ali, Arab News
NEW DELHI, 27 April 2005 — Former prime minister and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stalwart Atal Behari Vajpayee yesterday demanded the resignation of Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav accusing him of making “false allegations” against the BJP and RSS over the alleged attack on him in Gujarat.
Vajpayee told reporters after BJP parliamentary meeting that Home Minister Shivraj Patil did not make a statement in Parliament on Monday on the issue as there was “no ground or basis” for it and “there was no evidence” to support the charges against the Sangh Parivar.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=4§ion=0&article=62829&d=27&m=4&y=2005&pix=world.jpg&category=World
continued LATER TODAY...
