THE Israeli parliament has passed a law banning any citizen who has visited an "enemy" country in the previous seven years from standing for election, triggering the anger of Israeli Arab MPs. Fifty-two members of the 120-seat parliament approved the law at a third and last reading today while 24 MPs voted against it, parliamentary sources said. The legislation states that anyone who has visited "an enemy country" over the past seven years cannot stand for parliament. It is aimed particularly at MPs from Arab-led parties, some of whom have travelled to Lebanon and Syria, neighbouring countries officially at war with Israel. "From now on, any Israeli who visits an enemy country without permission will not be elected to the Knesset for (a period of) seven years," said Zvulon Orlev, an MP from the far-right National Religious Party.
THE Israeli parliament has passed a law banning any citizen who has visited an "enemy" country in the previous seven years from standing for election, triggering the anger of Israeli Arab MPs.
Fifty-two members of the 120-seat parliament approved the law at a third and last reading today while 24 MPs voted against it, parliamentary sources said.
The legislation states that anyone who has visited "an enemy country" over the past seven years cannot stand for parliament.
It is aimed particularly at MPs from Arab-led parties, some of whom have travelled to Lebanon and Syria, neighbouring countries officially at war with Israel.
"From now on, any Israeli who visits an enemy country without permission will not be elected to the Knesset for (a period of) seven years," said Zvulon Orlev, an MP from the far-right National Religious Party.
WASHINGTON: Warning that rising food and oil prices pose a crisis for the world's poor, Robert Zoellick, the president of the World Bank, is calling on President George W. Bush and other leaders convening in Japan next week in an economic summit meeting to make new aid commitments to avert starvation and instability in dozens of countries. "What we are witnessing is not a natural disaster -- a silent tsunami or a perfect storm," Zoellick said in a letter sent Tuesday evening to the major leaders of the West. "It is a man-made catastrophe, and as such must be fixed by people." Zoellick's letter, obtained by The New York Times, came with a lengthy study of the impact of rising prices for food, fuel and commodities on the world's poor. He sent the letter as Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda prepares to host Bush and six other world leaders in the Group of 8 economic summit meeting on the northern island of Hokkaido. In recent weeks, the United States and some other countries have stepped up their pledges to get food to the poor in the 50 hardest-hit countries. But Zoellick said in his letter that the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Food Program had short-term needs of $10 billion.
WASHINGTON: Warning that rising food and oil prices pose a crisis for the world's poor, Robert Zoellick, the president of the World Bank, is calling on President George W. Bush and other leaders convening in Japan next week in an economic summit meeting to make new aid commitments to avert starvation and instability in dozens of countries.
"What we are witnessing is not a natural disaster -- a silent tsunami or a perfect storm," Zoellick said in a letter sent Tuesday evening to the major leaders of the West. "It is a man-made catastrophe, and as such must be fixed by people."
Zoellick's letter, obtained by The New York Times, came with a lengthy study of the impact of rising prices for food, fuel and commodities on the world's poor. He sent the letter as Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda prepares to host Bush and six other world leaders in the Group of 8 economic summit meeting on the northern island of Hokkaido.
In recent weeks, the United States and some other countries have stepped up their pledges to get food to the poor in the 50 hardest-hit countries. But Zoellick said in his letter that the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and the World Food Program had short-term needs of $10 billion.
DW-WORLD.DE spoke with Carsten Wieland, head of the Colombian branch of the Konrad Adenauer foundation about the dramatic rescue of Ingrid Betancourt and 14 other hostages from their FARC captors. DW-WORLD.DE: What is known about the state of Ingrid Betancourt's health? Carsten Wieland: Her health was the subject of much speculation over the past few weeks, and we don't know much more as of yet. Colombian journalists have been invited to the scene of the rescue by Defence Minister Santos, and I'm sure that we'll soon see images on screens everywhere. The last pictures of Ingrid Betancourt were very depressing; we heard from a fellow hostage that she was suffering from depression and various diseases, and she looked very thin. Was the rescue expected? Why did it happen now? I think the rescue was expected. As we know, in the last few weeks and months, FARC suffered a series of blows and has been broken down into different factions which weren't able to move about within the country. That's a huge hindrance if you have a large number of hostages. Aside from the 15 hostages that have been freed, there are 42 other political hostages and several hundred more Colombians being held by FARC -- that's a significant burden for a guerrilla force that is in crisis. It probably wasn't possible for FARC to move the hostages quickly or hide their tracks from the army. I think that's why the location of the hostages was known, and government agents were able to observe the hostages for a longer time.
DW-WORLD.DE: What is known about the state of Ingrid Betancourt's health?
Carsten Wieland: Her health was the subject of much speculation over the past few weeks, and we don't know much more as of yet. Colombian journalists have been invited to the scene of the rescue by Defence Minister Santos, and I'm sure that we'll soon see images on screens everywhere. The last pictures of Ingrid Betancourt were very depressing; we heard from a fellow hostage that she was suffering from depression and various diseases, and she looked very thin.
Was the rescue expected? Why did it happen now?
I think the rescue was expected. As we know, in the last few weeks and months, FARC suffered a series of blows and has been broken down into different factions which weren't able to move about within the country. That's a huge hindrance if you have a large number of hostages. Aside from the 15 hostages that have been freed, there are 42 other political hostages and several hundred more Colombians being held by FARC -- that's a significant burden for a guerrilla force that is in crisis. It probably wasn't possible for FARC to move the hostages quickly or hide their tracks from the army. I think that's why the location of the hostages was known, and government agents were able to observe the hostages for a longer time.
Denmark is the happiest country in the world, according to the latest World Values Survey published by the United States National Science Foundation. The annual study surveyed people in 97 countries to discover who is happiest. The survey asked people two simple questions about their happiness and their level of satisfaction with life. Puerto Rico and Colombia completed the top three happiest nations. Zimbabwe was found to be the least happy, with Russia and Iraq also in the bottom 10.
Denmark is the happiest country in the world, according to the latest World Values Survey published by the United States National Science Foundation.
The annual study surveyed people in 97 countries to discover who is happiest.
The survey asked people two simple questions about their happiness and their level of satisfaction with life.
Puerto Rico and Colombia completed the top three happiest nations. Zimbabwe was found to be the least happy, with Russia and Iraq also in the bottom 10.
BERLIN -- The U.S. has done the least among the world's eight largest economies to address global warming, a study released Thursday found. The G-8 Climate Scorecards 2008, released Thursday ahead of next week's gathering of the Group of Eight on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, also found that none of the eight countries are making improvements large enough to prevent temperature increases that scientists think would cause catastrophic climate changes. The gathering includes the heads of states of the U.S., Japan, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Russia. Regine Guenther, director of the World Wildlife Fund Climate Change Program in Germany, told reporters in the German capital that G-8 leaders should commit to reducing emissions in their countries 40 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.
BERLIN -- The U.S. has done the least among the world's eight largest economies to address global warming, a study released Thursday found.
The G-8 Climate Scorecards 2008, released Thursday ahead of next week's gathering of the Group of Eight on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, also found that none of the eight countries are making improvements large enough to prevent temperature increases that scientists think would cause catastrophic climate changes.
The gathering includes the heads of states of the U.S., Japan, Britain, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Russia.
Regine Guenther, director of the World Wildlife Fund Climate Change Program in Germany, told reporters in the German capital that G-8 leaders should commit to reducing emissions in their countries 40 percent by 2020 and 80 percent by 2050.
A new study published Thursday says none of the leading industrialized nations have come close to meeting their promises to slash greenhouse gas emissions, with the US, Canada and Russia trailing especially far behind. Compiled by environmental group WWF and international financial services provider Allianz and released four days prior to the G8 summit in Japan, the study called "G8 Climate Scorecards" found that all the leading industrialized countries had failed to make improvements large enough to prevent temperature increases that scientists think would cause catastrophic climate changes. "None of the eight leading industrial nations have taken sufficient measures needed to be considered in line with the target to limit a worldwide increase in temperatures to 2 degrees centigrade," Niklas Hoehne, author of the study said. At last year's G8 summit in Germany, leaders from the US, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Canada and Russia reached agreement on considering a goal to halve global emissions by 2050.
Compiled by environmental group WWF and international financial services provider Allianz and released four days prior to the G8 summit in Japan, the study called "G8 Climate Scorecards" found that all the leading industrialized countries had failed to make improvements large enough to prevent temperature increases that scientists think would cause catastrophic climate changes.
"None of the eight leading industrial nations have taken sufficient measures needed to be considered in line with the target to limit a worldwide increase in temperatures to 2 degrees centigrade," Niklas Hoehne, author of the study said.
At last year's G8 summit in Germany, leaders from the US, Japan, Germany, Britain, France, Italy, Canada and Russia reached agreement on considering a goal to halve global emissions by 2050.
Biofuels have forced global food prices up by 75% -- far more than previously estimated -- according to a confidential World Bank report obtained by the Guardian. The damning unpublished assessment is based on the most detailed analysis of the crisis so far, carried out by an internationally-respected economist at global financial body. The figure emphatically contradicts the US government's claims that plant-derived fuels contribute less than 3% to food-price rises. It will add to pressure on governments in Washington and across Europe, which have turned to plant-derived fuels to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and reduce their dependence on imported oil. Senior development sources believe the report, completed in April, has not been published to avoid embarrassing President George Bush. "It would put the World Bank in a political hot-spot with the White House," said one yesterday.The news comes at a critical point in the world's negotiations on biofuels policy. Leaders of the G8 industrialised countries meet next week in Hokkaido, Japan, where they will discuss the food crisis and come under intense lobbying from campaigners calling for a moratorium on the use of plant-derived fuels.
Biofuels have forced global food prices up by 75% -- far more than previously estimated -- according to a confidential World Bank report obtained by the Guardian. The damning unpublished assessment is based on the most detailed analysis of the crisis so far, carried out by an internationally-respected economist at global financial body.
The figure emphatically contradicts the US government's claims that plant-derived fuels contribute less than 3% to food-price rises. It will add to pressure on governments in Washington and across Europe, which have turned to plant-derived fuels to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases and reduce their dependence on imported oil.
Senior development sources believe the report, completed in April, has not been published to avoid embarrassing President George Bush. "It would put the World Bank in a political hot-spot with the White House," said one yesterday.
The news comes at a critical point in the world's negotiations on biofuels policy. Leaders of the G8 industrialised countries meet next week in Hokkaido, Japan, where they will discuss the food crisis and come under intense lobbying from campaigners calling for a moratorium on the use of plant-derived fuels.
Google is to be forced to release the records of every video watched on YouTube, including user names and web addresses, to entertainment company Viacom after a US federal court ruling.Viacom, which is pursuing a $1bn (£500m) copyright infringement lawsuit against Google, wants the information to determine the amount of copyright material on YouTube. The disclosure could increase Google's liability if Viacom wins the court case.Google had argued that turning over the YouTube data would invade users' privacy. However, US district judge Louis Stanton ordered the internet company to hand over video records and information including login names and internet protocol addresses. Viacom failed, however, in a bid to also secure access to the search engine giant's source code, on the grounds that doing so would threaten Google's business.
Google is to be forced to release the records of every video watched on YouTube, including user names and web addresses, to entertainment company Viacom after a US federal court ruling.
Viacom, which is pursuing a $1bn (£500m) copyright infringement lawsuit against Google, wants the information to determine the amount of copyright material on YouTube. The disclosure could increase Google's liability if Viacom wins the court case.
Google had argued that turning over the YouTube data would invade users' privacy. However, US district judge Louis Stanton ordered the internet company to hand over video records and information including login names and internet protocol addresses.
Viacom failed, however, in a bid to also secure access to the search engine giant's source code, on the grounds that doing so would threaten Google's business.
Or maybe time to stop using youtube? Or products from Viacom? When the capital development of a country becomes a by-product of the activities of a casino, the job is likely to be ill-done. — John M. Keynes
On the face of it, China might not seem the obvious place to invest at the moment. The local stock market has collapsed, property markets are weak and the interest rate on bank deposits is about half the rate of inflation. Yet that has not prevented a record flood of capital inflows even higher than China's huge accumulation of reserves in recent years. In the first quarter, foreign exchange reserves rose by $154bn (€98bn, £78bn). On top of that, according to usually reliable figures leaked to Reuters, reserves jumped by $75bn in April and $40bn in May to a total of $1,800bn.Given that the inflows far outstrip trade and direct foreign investment, China appears to be receiving vast amounts of speculative "hot money". Yet some economists believe the official numbers might actually understate the hot money inflows.Logan Wright at Stone & McCarthy analysts in Beijing estimates that hot money entering in the first five months could be as high as $150bn-$170bn. China's central bank has faced huge capital inflows for several years and has so far managed to limit the impact on the domestic economy by draining the excess liquidity in the financial system through bonds issues and obliging commercial banks to deposit more money in reserves. However, there are some signs that the system for sterilising inflows is reaching its limit. The higher reserve requirements are putting heavy pressure on some cash-poor, smaller banks.Moreover, the difference between Chinese and US interest rates means that the central bank is making a loss on its bond issues, which have been rare in recent months. If the system of sterilising inflows is becoming hard to operate, then the Chinese authorities could find themselves in a trap. Facing inflation at home, the obvious response is to appreciate the currency or raise interest rates. But both those options attract more hot money that will feed inflation.
Yet that has not prevented a record flood of capital inflows even higher than China's huge accumulation of reserves in recent years. In the first quarter, foreign exchange reserves rose by $154bn (€98bn, £78bn). On top of that, according to usually reliable figures leaked to Reuters, reserves jumped by $75bn in April and $40bn in May to a total of $1,800bn.
Given that the inflows far outstrip trade and direct foreign investment, China appears to be receiving vast amounts of speculative "hot money".
Yet some economists believe the official numbers might actually understate the hot money inflows.
Logan Wright at Stone & McCarthy analysts in Beijing estimates that hot money entering in the first five months could be as high as $150bn-$170bn.
China's central bank has faced huge capital inflows for several years and has so far managed to limit the impact on the domestic economy by draining the excess liquidity in the financial system through bonds issues and obliging commercial banks to deposit more money in reserves.
However, there are some signs that the system for sterilising inflows is reaching its limit. The higher reserve requirements are putting heavy pressure on some cash-poor, smaller banks.
Moreover, the difference between Chinese and US interest rates means that the central bank is making a loss on its bond issues, which have been rare in recent months.
If the system of sterilising inflows is becoming hard to operate, then the Chinese authorities could find themselves in a trap. Facing inflation at home, the obvious response is to appreciate the currency or raise interest rates. But both those options attract more hot money that will feed inflation.
WASHINGTON, July 1 (UPI) -- Officials say Nelson Mandela will be removed from U.S. terrorism watch lists under a new law waiving travel restrictions on the Nobel Peace Prize winner. The measure signed by President George Bush Tuesday authorizes the U.S. State Department to waive travel restrictions on Mandela and other members of the African National Congress who were listed for activities they carried out against South Africa's apartheid regime decades ago, said Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass.; Bob Corker, R-Tenn.; and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., in a news release. The senators sponsored legislation to remove the former South African president and others ANC leaders from the lists.
The measure signed by President George Bush Tuesday authorizes the U.S. State Department to waive travel restrictions on Mandela and other members of the African National Congress who were listed for activities they carried out against South Africa's apartheid regime decades ago, said Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass.; Bob Corker, R-Tenn.; and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., in a news release.
The senators sponsored legislation to remove the former South African president and others ANC leaders from the lists.
