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Fearing the growing strength of Shia Islam and the influence of Iran and Syria, President Bush has “authorized the CIA to take covert action” against Hizbollah, The Telegraph reports. The move will support the government in Lebanon, and is backed by “mainstream” Sunni Arab nations, which in return have agreed to spur new Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Source:
“CIA gets the go-ahead to take on Hizbollah”
The Telegraph, January 10, 2007
Important but overlooked news from around the world. THIS WEEK:
Iran’s cell phone police are on patrol, Russia and the United States get some realpolitik in their arms-industry earnings, war-crime rapes remain largely unprosecuted, there’s a spot of good news amidst the gloom for migrant workers, San Francisco art students are censored … and Bush’s document declassification is too. QUOTED:
“Not renewing our license is like President Bush one day announcing that NBC is going off the air because it was involved in a conspiracy against the United States.” — Venezuelan RCTV General Manager Marcel Granier says his network was shut after President Hugo Chavez accused it of supporting a failed 2002 coup (see “Censorship,” below).
A third of America’s three-year-olds are overweight, largely among low-income families without easy access to fresh fruits and vegetables, the Boston Globe reports. But the problem is deepened by sedentary lifestyles, and poor examples offered by obese adults. Doctors say the fast-food habit may also be causing a surge in childhood kidney stones. The painful condition, usually only found in adults, is often caused by an excess of salt and lack of water, according to the Baltimore Sun. Sources:
“Obesity battle starts young for urban poor”
Boston Globe, December 29, 2006
“For children, a painful trend”
Batimore Sun, December 29, 2006
A year of “stormy protests” has caused Alcoa to scuttle a proposed $1.5 billion aluminum smelter in Trinidad, Reuters reports. New plans to build the plant further south have prompted equally fierce opposition by villagers afraid that pollution and emissions would devastate the local fishing economy. In Texas, a labor union is feeling the effects of an air pollution lawsuit that has forced Alcoa to decommission and upgrade a power plant there. Sources:
“Alcoa smelter gets cold shoulder in Trinidad”
Reuters, December 29, 2006
“Alcoa to shut down three units of power plant”
Temple Daily Telegram (TX), December 29, 2006
In Hong Kong, a longtime smoker insists his regular chess games in the park will remain tobacco-friendly, despite government promises to enforce a new ban on lighting up outdoors. Ohio bar owners had mixed reactions, from disdainful to supportive, to a shipment of empty matchboxes listing a suicide hotline phone number, and promoting a new smoking ban there. And in Pennsylvania, a pair of bar and cafe owners backed by R.J. Reynolds lost a lawsuit claiming a local smoking ban hurt their businesses, and violated a weaker state law. The judge suspended the ban until May, asking legislators to clarify the situation. Sources:
“Smoker ready to defy ban in parks”
The Standard (China), December 29, 2006
“Campaign: Smoking ban not matter of life, death”
Cleveland Plain Dealer, December 23, 2006
“Bar, restaurant patrons can smoke till May”
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, December 23, 2006
Dozens of migrant workers in Bahrain have been injured or killed after being hurled from the backs of open trucks in traffic accidents, Gulf News reported. An activist says a ban on such transport practices is routinely ignored. Source:
“‘Enforce ban on firms transporting workers in open vehicles'”
Gulf News (United Arab Emirates), December 30, 2006
Hundreds of thousands of the poorest Filipinos have been evicted or made homeless, according to Bulatlat magazine, as polluted, crowded shantytowns are privatized, occupied by troops and demolished. An activist group say the government allows “systematic” violation of housing rights across the country. Source:
“RP is 2006 housing rights violator”
Bulatlat (Philippines), December 31-January 6, 2007
As its editor stands trial on morality charges, Turkey’s only gay and lesbian lifestyle magazine said in a statement that the action negates freedom of speech of all homosexuals. The magazine, published by an NGO previously threatened with closure, ran a special edition in July on pornography, Adnki.com reports. Source:
“Turkey: Editor of gay magazine to stand trial”
ADNKronos International (Italy), December 27, 2006
A plea to turn the Roman Catholic cathedral in Cordoba, Spain, into an ecumenical temple open to all faiths has been rejected as confusing, the BBC reports. Originally a Moorish mosque, the cathedral is a U.N. World Heritage Site and a tourist attraction. Spain’s Islamic Board said security guards often prevent Muslims from praying there, and called for joint use to promote co-existence. Source:
“Spain cathedral shuns Muslim plea”
BBC (U.K.), December 28, 2006
Citing an “alarming lack of export oversight,” the U.S. accused the United Arab Emirates of giving Iran and Syria access to electronics it fears could be used by Shia militias in Iraq to make explosives. Dubai Customs denied the charge, saying that it has been cooperating with anti-terrorism efforts, Agence France-Presse reports. The customs agency also said the United States did not share any details about suspect shipments, and that the accused company did not violate any export controls or break UAE laws. Source:
“UAE rejects U.S. criticism on export of sensitive material”
Agence France-Presse, December 29, 2006