In the News: Jul-29

Senate Democrats call for EPA chief to resign - 29 Jul 2008 at 3:15pm - WASHINGTON -- A trio of Senate Democrats is pressing EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson to resign, saying he has repeatedly succumbed to political pressure on decisions vital to protecting health and the environment.

Amnesty blasts China for 'broken promises' on rights - 29 Jul 2008 at 2:53pm - Amnesty International is accusing China of failing to live up to the commitment it made to improve human rights seven years ago, when the International Olympic Committee awarded the 2008 Olympic Games to Beijing.

World trade talks collapse: delegates - 29 Jul 2008 at 2:12pm - GENEVA (AFP) - Deadlock between the United States and India derailed a bid for a new world trade pact here Tuesday, delegates said, as speculation flared over the future of their fraught market-opening efforts.

Israel defense chief: Military option still open - 29 Jul 2008 at 12:13pm - WASHINGTON -- Israel's defense minister says he has told top U.S. officials that Israel won't rule out a military strike against Iran.

Talk of an attack is premature, no?

IRAQ: Move to prevent children being exploited by militants - July 29, 2008 5:57:06 PM - BAGHDAD, 29 July 2008 (IRIN) - Iraqi government institutions, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and international bodies must focus more on devising programmes for juveniles to prevent them from being co-opted by militants for criminal acts, a government spokesman said on 28 July.

Audit reveals faults with security company's contracts - 28 Jul 2008 at 3:43pm - Blackwater obtained dozens of small business contracts worth more than $110 million even though the private security company may have exceeded size limits for a small business, according to a federal audit released today.

Thought for the day:
I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of their way and let them have it. -Dwight Eisenhower