Bill Clinton is to address the US Democratic Party convention - his speech closely watched for signs of his commitment to Barack Obama's campaign. The former president's wife, Hillary, lost to Mr Obama in her bid to become the Democrat's White House nominee, with discord lingering in the party. Mr Clinton will be followed by Joe Biden, Barack Obama's running-mate, who will deliver the keynote address. Mr Obama is due to arrive in Denver, where the convention is taking place.
Bill Clinton is to address the US Democratic Party convention - his speech closely watched for signs of his commitment to Barack Obama's campaign.
The former president's wife, Hillary, lost to Mr Obama in her bid to become the Democrat's White House nominee, with discord lingering in the party.
Mr Clinton will be followed by Joe Biden, Barack Obama's running-mate, who will deliver the keynote address.
Mr Obama is due to arrive in Denver, where the convention is taking place.
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Bill Clinton hails Barack Obama
Former President Bill Clinton has given unequivocal backing to US Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, saying he "is ready to lead America". He was the man to restore US leadership in the world, Mr Clinton told Democrats gathered at their convention in Denver.
Former President Bill Clinton has given unequivocal backing to US Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama, saying he "is ready to lead America".
He was the man to restore US leadership in the world, Mr Clinton told Democrats gathered at their convention in Denver.
But of course it's not entirely good news:
BBC NEWS | World | Americas | Washington diary: Anxious Democrats
Hillary Clinton has become Lady Marchmain in Brideshead Revisited, a living reminder of the perils of abandoning orthodoxy - the orthodoxy of a Clinton candidacy - and a permanent finger on the delicate bruise of guilt and self-doubt, that this may turn out to be a mistake. The Republicans are doing their best to press on the wound.
Hillary Clinton has become Lady Marchmain in Brideshead Revisited, a living reminder of the perils of abandoning orthodoxy - the orthodoxy of a Clinton candidacy - and a permanent finger on the delicate bruise of guilt and self-doubt, that this may turn out to be a mistake.
The Republicans are doing their best to press on the wound.
Brazil's Supreme Court has begun considering the future of one of the country's biggest indigenous reserves. The judges will decide whether the Raposa Serra do Sol reservation should remain a single unbroken territory. Indian leaders believe the case will set a crucial precedent regarding the protection of their rights and land. Non-indigenous farmers are demanding the right to remain in the area and say if they are evicted it will harm the region's economic development.
Brazil's Supreme Court has begun considering the future of one of the country's biggest indigenous reserves.
The judges will decide whether the Raposa Serra do Sol reservation should remain a single unbroken territory.
Indian leaders believe the case will set a crucial precedent regarding the protection of their rights and land.
Non-indigenous farmers are demanding the right to remain in the area and say if they are evicted it will harm the region's economic development.
Thai riot police have surrounded the prime minister's compound to try to evict anti-government protesters who took over the building on Tuesday. But demonstrators are vowing to stay camped in the grounds of the premises until PM Samak Sundaravej steps down. A court has issued arrest warrants for nine protest leaders on charges of trying to overthrow the government. The protesters say Mr Samak is a proxy for former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006.
Thai riot police have surrounded the prime minister's compound to try to evict anti-government protesters who took over the building on Tuesday.
But demonstrators are vowing to stay camped in the grounds of the premises until PM Samak Sundaravej steps down.
A court has issued arrest warrants for nine protest leaders on charges of trying to overthrow the government.
The protesters say Mr Samak is a proxy for former PM Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a military coup in 2006.
Egypt has urged Israel to stop making threats against Lebanon, its foreign minister said on a visit to Beirut. Ahmed Abul Gheit has been holding talks with Lebanese leaders about the rising tensions with Israel. Israel's prime minister warned last week that his country would hit all of Lebanon harder than in the 2006 war if Hezbollah guerrillas attacked again. The Lebanese Shia movement recently joined a national union government in Lebanon ending months of civil strife.
Egypt has urged Israel to stop making threats against Lebanon, its foreign minister said on a visit to Beirut.
Ahmed Abul Gheit has been holding talks with Lebanese leaders about the rising tensions with Israel.
Israel's prime minister warned last week that his country would hit all of Lebanon harder than in the 2006 war if Hezbollah guerrillas attacked again.
The Lebanese Shia movement recently joined a national union government in Lebanon ending months of civil strife.
Human rights organisations have condemned the execution of another juvenile offender in Iran on Tuesday. Behnam Zare was the second Iranian in a week to be put to death for a crime he committed when he was under 18 and the sixth such execution in 2008. Human rights groups say neither Zare's family nor his lawyer were notified prior to the execution. Iran is the only country known to have executed people this year for crimes committed while they were minors.
Human rights organisations have condemned the execution of another juvenile offender in Iran on Tuesday.
Behnam Zare was the second Iranian in a week to be put to death for a crime he committed when he was under 18 and the sixth such execution in 2008.
Human rights groups say neither Zare's family nor his lawyer were notified prior to the execution.
Iran is the only country known to have executed people this year for crimes committed while they were minors.
Moments ago, she moved for a two-thirds majority vote to suspend the rules and end the roll call vote, in order to nominate Obama by acclamation. "With eyes firmly fixed on the future, and in the spirit of unity with the goal of victory," Hillary said, "with faith in our party and our country, let's declare together with one voice right here, right now that Barack Obama is our candidate and he will be our president."
Moments ago, she moved for a two-thirds majority vote to suspend the rules and end the roll call vote, in order to nominate Obama by acclamation.
"With eyes firmly fixed on the future, and in the spirit of unity with the goal of victory," Hillary said, "with faith in our party and our country, let's declare together with one voice right here, right now that Barack Obama is our candidate and he will be our president."
DENVER: It seemed like a typical Democratic line, one that would play well with the partisan crowd that has packed the Pepsi Center this week. "Above all," it said, "we can't have a Statue of Liberty welcoming immigrants to our country as we build a wall on the Southern border. Instead, let us build bridges of friendship and cooperation with our Southern neighbors." But when Representative José Serrano of the New York submitted his three-minute speech as required to the high command of Senator Barack Obama's campaign, the remark was excised. In fact, there was no mention of immigration policy, an issue of great importance to Serrano and his constituents in New York. That was not all that was missing; the speech he delivered here on Monday bore little resemblance to the one he had written. The deletions appeared to reflect political sensitivities of a campaign seeking to attract moderate voters in the general election.
DENVER: It seemed like a typical Democratic line, one that would play well with the partisan crowd that has packed the Pepsi Center this week.
"Above all," it said, "we can't have a Statue of Liberty welcoming immigrants to our country as we build a wall on the Southern border. Instead, let us build bridges of friendship and cooperation with our Southern neighbors."
But when Representative José Serrano of the New York submitted his three-minute speech as required to the high command of Senator Barack Obama's campaign, the remark was excised. In fact, there was no mention of immigration policy, an issue of great importance to Serrano and his constituents in New York.
That was not all that was missing; the speech he delivered here on Monday bore little resemblance to the one he had written. The deletions appeared to reflect political sensitivities of a campaign seeking to attract moderate voters in the general election.
Currently in Denver to get some strategy lessons from the Democratic National Convention, a top official for Germany's Social Democrats told DW that he's also there to see what an Obama victory would mean for Germany. Hubertus Heil, 35, is general secretary of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) and a member of the German parliament. Deutsche Welle: Why did you come to Denver? Hubertus Heil: We are here to observe the Democratic National Convention, not so much to watch the show -- interesting as it is -- as to talk to people in order to find out what an administration led by Barack Obama would mean in terms of foreign, security, economic and environmental policy. Obviously it would have an effect on German politics, and that is why we are here. What conclusions have you reached so far? Obviously, a lot remains unclear. The candidate here to be nominated is very promising, to Europe and Germany, but his agenda is still unclear. Take the question of Afghanistan or the environment. These are issues we are discussing, and it is apparent that the Democratic Party, and especially the unions supporting the party, have a keen political interest in helping steer globalization -- for example by addressing labor standards around the world.
Hubertus Heil, 35, is general secretary of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) and a member of the German parliament.
Deutsche Welle: Why did you come to Denver?
Hubertus Heil: We are here to observe the Democratic National Convention, not so much to watch the show -- interesting as it is -- as to talk to people in order to find out what an administration led by Barack Obama would mean in terms of foreign, security, economic and environmental policy. Obviously it would have an effect on German politics, and that is why we are here.
What conclusions have you reached so far?
Obviously, a lot remains unclear. The candidate here to be nominated is very promising, to Europe and Germany, but his agenda is still unclear. Take the question of Afghanistan or the environment. These are issues we are discussing, and it is apparent that the Democratic Party, and especially the unions supporting the party, have a keen political interest in helping steer globalization -- for example by addressing labor standards around the world.
