What follows is my "PDB" from my
blog, which is similar to what George Bush gets every day, except mine is all from public sources and is a bit longer than one double-spaced page.
I believe that the best electorate is an informed electorate, and that must include a knowledge of what's going on around the world. It is for this reason that I post the PDB on DailyKos.
I read approximately 50 newspapers every morning and report what I find there, with an emphasis on foreign or international events. You will however not find information about Iraq or the Israeli/Palestinian situation, the first because it is amply reported elsewhere and the latter because it is too contentious.
Events that I feel are well-covered elsewhere are not included for brevity.
In the non-English sections, I'm going to translate the headline of the linked article. All mistakes and errors are therefore mine alone.
In English
Scene from downtown Riga, Latvia ahead of Bush's visit tomorrow
The United States has sent its military to Somalia albeit briefly:
US Marines landed on Somalia's coast in one of their most visible hunts for militants in the country since they set up a Horn of Africa counter terrorism force in 2002, Somali officials said yesterday.
Two boats brought about 20 lightly armed Marines to the fishing village of Maydh in the northwestern enclave of Somaliland on Tuesday, where they showed pictures of suspected "terrorists" to locals before leaving, residents said.
"They met some of the fishermen and the people and they showed some pictures they were carrying, saying that these people are terrorists that they are trying to capture," Assistant District Commissioner Ali Abdi told Reuters.
Just when you thought Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak was moving towards democracy, having earlier allowed more than 1 candidate to run for president for the first time ever, now I see his NDP party has made legislative changes to thwart anyone else having a chance of running. In a related incident, an embattled opposition leader, Ayman Nour (whose earlier detention received worldwide criticism) had his convoy attacked by Mubarak supporters in NE Cairo.
In other news, the Egyptian government continues to hold imprisoned hundreds of people who protested Mubarak and demanded political reform. You know things are bad in Egypt when the Muslim Brotherhood is advocating for a more democratic government than the secular leadership!
While the government of Bulgaria has approved the plan to withdraw troops from Iraq, Italian PM Berlusconi has stated that his country will not follow suit. By the way, I see that it also looks like Japan might be withdrawing its non-combat troops from Iraq as well.
Unable to do anything military, it looks like the Bush Administration is trying to buy a revolution in Iran:
The Bush administration has put the democratisation of Iran out to tender--offering money to groups and individuals inside the Islamic republic--in what officials describe as the start of a long-term effort to pay for opposition to the ruling clerics.
A tender notice posted on the US State Department website is soliciting bids for grants totalling $3m (2.3m, £1.57m). It notes that the Iranian government may not apply because current US sanctions prohibit funding for official purposes, but these may be waived for non-governmental organisations.
As the country of Cote D'Ivoire trembles on the border of all-out civil war, UN and other relief agencies are scaling back aid because of the intractable political situation. Aid, especially food aid, has also been cut back in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea as donors have been giving less and less.
The once admirable country of Kenya is rapidly heading towards the abyss as the government has imposed new crackdowns on the already heavily censored media and three leading politicans are warning of street violence after parliament added new members to the important Committee on Constitutional Review.
More bad news out of extremely impoverished Niger as the government has arrested 6 leading anti-slavery activists. You read that right. It is 2005 and slavery still exists and the Niger government doesn't want anyone to know about it. Sigh...
Some fairly good news for once out of DR Congo as the UN is reporting it has successfully disarmed 12,000 militiamen. Or I should say militia children, since thousands of the soldiers are actually children.
Meanwhile an Antonov 26 plane has crashed near Lubutu, owned by the private company "Kisangani Airlines List". More on this here. YR this one's for you.
Worrisome news out of Nigeria as a journalist was charged with "criminal libel" after accusing the president's wife, Stella Obasanjo, of corruption.
Meanwhile her husband, President Olusegun Obasanjo met with George Bush yesterday in the White House to discuss a number of issues, including the price of oil.
Good news out of Rwanda as the government is using the income generated by working 80,000 prisoners of genocide charges to establish microcredit funds which are boosting the national economy.
Bad news out of the Phillipines as yet another journalist had been murdered after criticizing corrupt government officials. There have been 4 journalists murdered in the country this year and 13 last year, making it the most dangerous country for reporters.
In other news, I see that The Moustache was in Manila to spew a few unnecessary words about terrorism in the country, something with the Arroyo government is more than well aware of.
The country of Armenia nearly had an economic meltdown yesterday as its currency tumbled on the market and the Central Bank had to step in.
The American government has outlined Bush's itinerary for his upcoming visit to the Republic of Georgia:
"On Monday [May 9] afternoon, the President and Mrs. Bush will depart [Moscow] for Tbilisi, Georgia. Upon arrival, they will visit Old Town Tbilisi. On Tuesday, May 10, the President and Mrs. Bush will participate in an official arrival ceremony. Later that morning, President Bush will meet with President Saakashvili, followed by a joint press availability. After the press availability, the President will meet with Georgian civil society leaders and then meet with Speaker of Parliament Burjanadze. President Bush will then offer remarks to the Georgian people in Freedom Square at the site of the Peaceful Rose Revolution. Tuesday evening, the President and Mrs. Bush will depart Tbilisi for Washington, D.C," Stephen Hadley said.
The fun loving government of Uzbekistan has officially withdrawn from the GUUAM organization (Georgia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Moldova). The GUUAM is dead, long live the GUAM!
Peering through the foreign media, I found this tidbit for the record:
The United States provided over $100 million in assistance to Azerbaijan over the last two years for the development of the private sector, conduct of democratic reforms, as well as for education and other fields.
I see that George Bush has declared Syria to be an "continuing, unusual and extraordinary threat" to the United States. Really?? And how many Americans have ever been killed by Syrians throughout history?
Many news outlets are reporting that Colombia has handed over 2 American soldiers arrested for arms trafficking in Colombia, but few will tell you that all American soldiers in that nation are completely immune from prosecution and in fact have "diplomatic immunity", something not lost on the Colombian people.
Here's another tale of FBI incompetence, just to highlight how utterly worthless that organization is. A 73 year old British man was on vacation in South Africa when (American) FBI agents surrounded him and pointed a gun at him. He was then held in prison for 3 weeks until they realized they had the wrong man. Now the FBI is refusing to pay him for this. Bravo boys, bravo!
I see that the top judge in Iran has bluntly warned police not to use torture or violence to extract confessions, so they won't be like "Americans in Abu Ghraib".
Ahead of the big May 9 commemoration of the end of WW2 in Moscow, I see Russian President Vladimir Putin says there is "no need" to apologize for the Soviet occupation of the three Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. BTW you can see the official May 9 website (in English!) here.
Who is hungry for a little whale meat? Apparently Japan is because its going to resume commercial whaling after 20 years.
Good news as Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said he is considering lifting martial law against the troubled southern provinces.
The head of the Greek Orthodox Church in Jerusalem has effectively been removed from his post after secretly selling church land in Arab E. Jerusalem to Jewish investors.
The government of Yemen continues to crack down on the Za'idi Shi'ite community, many of whose members have been involved in the on-and-off civil war over the past year.
Even the parliament in Pakistan is nuts as it has decided to withdraw any investigation into the police attacks against journalists on International Press Freedom Day earlier this week.
Two girls were killed and 17 injured in Kashmir after a bomb exploded in the midst of a wedding.
Russia is reporting its security forces found a cache of "cyanides" and other unnamed "toxic" substances that were going to be used by Chechen and Ingush "rebels". In related news, FSB agents stopped a truck outside of Grozny which allegedly had more than a ton of explosives.
It looks like Kazakhstan is going to build a second port on the Caspian Sea to handle increase volumes of output of oil.
Did you know that being shot to death is the number one cause of death in Brazil?
And last but certainly not least, yesterday Romanian FM Mihai Razvan Ungureanu was in Washington to meet with Condoleezza Rice.
Spanish - En castellano
Néstor Kirchner viajará el lunes a Brasilia para participar de la cumbre de países de Sudamérica y la Comunidad de Naciones Arabes, convocada por Lula con el propósito de acercar intereses comerciales entre ambos bloques y propender a un mayor intercambio bilateral. On Monday, [Argentinian President] Nestor Kirchner will go to Brasilia to participate in the summit between South American Countries and the Arab Community, convocated by [Brazilian President] Lula with the idea of improving commercial ties between both blocs and increasing bilateral exchanges
El Congreso de Bolivia aprobó la nueva "Ley de hidrocarburos", después de aprobar los cambios introducidos por el Senado. Bolivia's lower house of Parliament passed the new "hydrocarbon law" after approving the changes made by the Senate:
La legislación aprobada impone un nuevo impuesto del 32% sobre la producción que se sumará a la regalía del 18% ya en vigor.
La legislación deberá ser ahora enviada al presidente Carlos Mesa para su promulgación o rechazo y tendrá diez días para tomar una decisión al respecto.
Dos soldados del ejército de Estados Unidos acusados de tráfico de armas en Colombia fueron entregados a su país por parte de las autoridades colombianas, según informó el Pentágono. The Pentagon has reported that two American soldiers accused of arms trafficking in Colombia have been handed over by the Colombian authorities
Uno de cada cinco niños en Colombia, de entre los 5 y los 17 años, trabaja o busca un empleo, según datos revelados por el vicepresidente colombiano, Francisco Santos, en la presentación de un informe sobre los avances del plan nacional para erradicar las perores formas de trabajo infantil. 1 in every 5 children in Colombia, from ages 5 to 17, is either employed or looking for work according to statistics given by the Colombian Vice President during a speech about a report concerning advances in the national plan to erradicate the worst forms of child labor
El nuevo secretario general de la Organización de Estados Americanos, José Miguel Insulza, rechazó las críticas de Cuba hacia su llamado a la democracia y los derechos humanos en toda la región. The new Secretary General of the OAS, Jose Miguel Insulza, rejected Cuba's criticism of his call for democracy and human rights throughout the region:
El pasado miércoles, el presidente cubano, Fidel Castro, calificó a Insulza de "bobito" y lo trató de insolente e intervencionista por "ceder" a presiones estadounidenses.
Este jueves, el presidente chileno Ricardo Lagos, intervino en la contienda y manifestó que "no es Insulza quien debe reintegrar a Cuba al organismo, sino que es responsabilidad de los 34 países que integran a la OEA".
Las autoridades judiciales venezolanas destituyeron esta semana a 53 jueces de la capital y de los estados Lara, Falcón y Táchira por atrasar procesos y por presuntas vinculaciones con hechos de corrupción y el narcotráfico, dijo ayer el inspector general de tribunales, Luis Antonio Ortiz Hernández. This week, Venezuelan judicial authorities fired judges from the capital and Lara, Falcon and Tachira states for delaying trials and on charges of corruption and working with narcotraffickers, said the Inspector General of Courts, Luis Antonio Ortiz Hernandez, yesterday
El ex presidente Alberto Fujimori confirmó el miércoles que en 1995, cuando se desarrollaba un conflicto bélico peruano-ecuatoriano, ''un organismo militar chileno'' concretó un suministro de armas a Ecuador, pero dijo que la estrategia que su gobierno eligió en ese momento fue manejar el caso con cautela y reserva. On Wednesday, the former [Peruvian] President Alberto Fujimori said that in 1995, during the war between Peru and Ecuador, a "Chilean military unit" delivered some weapons to Ecuador, but he said that his government responded to this by handling it with caution and discretion
La Procuración General de la Nación de Argentina declaró el jueves inconstitucionales dos leyes de perdón que favorecían a los jefes militares de la última dictadura en Argentina y ratificó que los crímenes de lesa humanidad son "imprescriptibles". On Thursday, the Attorney General declared that two pardoning laws which favored the military heads of the former dictatorship in Argentina were illegal and said that crimes against humanity were "unpardonable"
Las fuertes protestas estudiantiles contra la privatización de la enseñanza, que desde hace tres semanas sacuden Chile, continúan hoy con toma de planteles, manifestaciones callejeras y hasta una huelga de hambre. The student protests against the privatization of schooling, that for the past 3 weeks have rocked Chile, will continue today with pickets planned, street marches and even hunger strikes
Italian - In italiano
Silvio Berlusconi ha detto che "Differenze tra noi e gli Usa ma l'amicizia resta intatta" Silvio Berlusconi said, "There are differences between us and the United States but our friendship remains intact"
"Non abbiamo alcuna intenzione di stabilire una relazione" tra il caso Calipari e la presenza delle truppe italiane in Iraq" spiega Berlusconi. Il premier rivolgendosi così alle richieste di "parte delle opposizioni", fuga ogni dubbio circa il nesso tra i fatti di Bagdad e la missione italiana e, quindi, la richiesta di ritiro delle truppe. Nessun ritiro delle truppe, dunque, da parte dell'Italia e questo perchè sottolinea il premier "tutti a casa risulterebbe tanto irresponsabile quanto incomprensibile".
Il presidente della Repubblica, Carlo Ciampi ha detto che Nessun "avanzamento" è stato compiuto dai Paesi che hanno adottato l'euro verso un "incisivo coordinamento" delle singole politiche economiche. President Carlo Ciampi said that there has been no "advancement" for the countries which have adopted the Euro money in contrast with a "decisive coordination" in politics and the economy
Il famoso robot Asimo (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility), l'umanoide progettato e realizzato dalla giapponese Honda Motor, ha fatto il suo debutto in Italia. The famous Asimo robot (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility), the humanoid creation of Japanese Honda Motors, has made its debut in Italy
I quadri e i delegati del pubblico riuniti con i comitati esecutivi di Cgil, Cisl e Uil hanno approvato all'unanimità la mobilitazione, se entro dieci giorni non sarà chiuso il rinnovo del contratto con il Governo. The delegates and chiefs of the executive committees of the [labor unions] Cgil, Cisl and Uil have unanimously approved a strike which will take place in 10 days if a new contract with the government is not achieved
Romanian - În limba româna
You won't believe this but just today I realized that Mediafax now has an up-to-date English section. Hahaha gosh sometimes I feel so ignorant.
Presedintele Uzbekistanului Islam Karimov a expediat o scrisoare catre Presedintele Republicii Moldova Vladimir Voronin, care detine presedintia GUUAM, prin care l-a anuntat oficial ca tara sa se retrage din organizatie. The President of Uzbekistan, Islam Karimov, sent a letter to the president of the Republic of Moldova, Vladimir Voronin, who is currently the head of GUUAM, to officially announce his country (Uzbekistan)'s withdrawal from the organization
Pentru prima data de la infiintare, cel mai mare operator in domeniul petrolier din Romania, Petrom, raporteaza pierderi. For the first time since its creation, the biggest oil company in Romania, Petrom, has posted losses for the year
Guvernul Romaniei trebuie sa cheltuiasca, in patru ani, nu mai putin de 165 de milioane euro pentru dotarea Ministerului Administratiei si Internelor cu aproximativ 100 de elicoptere. Over the next 4 years, the Romanian government will spend no less than 165 million Euros to equip the Interior Ministry with approximately 100 helicopters
Romania e o tara cu multe nevoi. Conform Ministerului Administratiei si Internelor (MAI), una dintre stringentele trebuinte ale tarii este "asigurarea mobilitatii aeriene". Data fiind aceasta "necesitate" si in contextul transparentei decizionale pe care o trambiteaza Cabinetul Tariceanu, MAI a postat pe site-ul propriu, in vederea dezbaterii publice, nota de fundamentare si proiectul unei hotarari de guvern privind achizitia unor elicoptere.
O "Pasare in vazduh" a lui Brancusi a fost vanduta pentru fabuloasa suma de 27,45 milioane de dolari la Casa Christie's, devenind cea mai scumpa sculptura achizitionata vreodata la o licitatie. [Romanian sculptor Constantin] Brancusi's "Bird In the Air" was sold for the fabulous sum of 27.45 million dollars at Christie's, becoming the most expensive sculpture ever sold at the auction house
Senatorii au reusit, ieri, dupa trei ani de certuri, sa adopte proiectul de lege privind interzicerea organizatiilor si simbolurilor cu caracter fascist, rasist sau xenofob. Yesterday the Senate, after 3 years of bickering, passed a law that will ban organizations and symbols of a fascist, racist or xenophobic nature
Pax