Zone 3- Euro-Americas Summary Week # 98

Week # 98- Dated 13th – 19th Dec. 09’

WESTERN EUROPE

The U.N. climate conference at Copenhagen, Denmark escaped absolute collapse as participants agreed last week to recognize a political accord brokered by President Barack Obama with China and other emerging powers.
Meanwhile France's immigration minister has said that he wants the wearing of Muslim veils that cover the face and body to be grounds for denying citizenship and long-term residence. While in Portugal the Socialist government has drawn up a proposal that would make the nation the sixth European country to allow gay marriage.
The Dutch government has denied allegations that it is allowing the United States to use Caribbean islands to prepare a possible military attack against Venezuela as Hugo Chavez contends. Meanwhile Spain's defense minister has announced plans to send 511 more soldiers to Afghanistan in response to President Obama's request for more allied help to fight the ‘War against Terror’.

SOUTH-EAST EUROPE

In Greece Prime Minister George Papandreou unveiled a four-year plan Monday (December 14th) to reduce the country's crushing budget deficit and bring its soaring debts under control. Meanwhile in Romania the Constitutional Court has declared Traian Basescu the winner of the disputed presidential election. The court ruled that Basescu had won a second term as president after days of uncertainty following a vote the opposition Diplomatic representatives in Albania including the OSCE head and the Dutch Ambassador have warned that the country is risking its EU integration process as a result of the opposition's parliamentary boycott. Meanwhile Kosovars hit the polls last week (December 13th) to cast their ballot in the country's second round of local elections. The municipalities voting this time around have more than one million registered voters. Also the Republic of Malawi has become the 64th state to recognize Kosovo.
High Representative and EU Special Representative to Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) Valentin Inzko said on Friday (December 11th) that the political situation in BiH could aggravate during 2010 due to the upcoming general elections. Meanwhile the European Union last week opened its borders unrestricted to more than ten million Serbs, Montenegrins and Macedonians after nearly 20 years, a major boost for the troubled region's hopes for closer ties with the 27-nation bloc.
In Serbia War crimes prosecutor Vladimir Vukcevic has said that authorities are searching intensively for the two remaining fugitives, Ratko Mladic and Goran Hadzic, stressing that there is a clear political will to complete the country's co-operation with The Hague tribunal.
While in Croatia the Parliament decided last week that the nation will not increase its presence in Afghanistan next year. The country will keep its current presence of 293 soldiers in the mission. The decision has come despite a US call on its allies to send more troops

US/CANADA

In the United States, continuing the closure of the controversial Guantanamo facility the government is to acquire an underutilized state prison in rural Illinois to be the new home for a limited number of terrorist suspects. Many in the region have welcomed the prospect as a potential economic engine.
Meanwhile the U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has announced that the United States is prepared to join other rich countries in raising $100 billion in yearly climate financing for poor countries by 2020. The announcement could give a boost to deadlocked climate talks which have faltered over disputes between rich and poor countries over emissions cuts and climate financing.

LATIN AMERICA

Cuba’s Fidel Castro has said that President Barack Obama's "friendly smile and African-American face" are hiding Washington's sinister intentions for Latin America —a statement depictive of a new cooling in U.S.-Cuba relations.
Supporters of former Haitian President Jean-Bertrand Aristide marched through Port-au-Prince last week calling for his return from exile and protesting his party's exclusion from upcoming elections.
Meanwhile Bolivia's leftist government has seized another big ranch from a top opposition figure. It says the 2,500-hectare (10-square-mile) spread will go to landless Indians. One opposition lawmaker called the seizure "vengeance" by Morales, who easily won the December 6th re-election.

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Business and Politics in the Muslim World (BPM)refers to the project entitled, "Globalized Business and Politics: A View from the Muslim World.' The blog development project has been undertaken and jointly developed by the Gilani Research Foundation and BPM as a free resource and social discussion tool.
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Zone 3- Euro-Americas Summary Week # 97

Week # 97 - Dated 6th -12th Dec. 09’

WESTERN EUROPE
The European Union has accused Israel of trying to divide the 27-nation bloc to stop it passing a resolution calling for Jerusalem to be the shared capital of Israel and a future Palestinian state.
In Briton Clive Stafford Smith, director of the London-based rights group Reprieve has said that the British government misled parliament about two terrorism suspects who were subjected to rendition. Meanwhile the head of the Anglican Church, Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has criticized the government saying it viewed religion as a problem practiced by freaks and foreigners.
The United States and Russia faced off over Kosovo at the United Nation's highest court last week, with the U.S. arguing the world should honor Kosovo's declaration of independence while Russia insisted it was still part of Serbia.
Germany's defense minister traveled last week to a northern Afghan region where a September air strike is believed to have killed many civilians, an attack that has caused political turbulence in Berlin. Meanwhile the German trade surplus, a pillar of the Euro zone economy, climbed to 13.6 billion euros (20 billion dollars) in October. Also unemployment in Switzerland soared to a five-year high of 4.2 percent in November.
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou warned on Wednesday (December 9th) that the nation’s financial woes pose a risk to national sovereignty for the first time since the reinstatement of democracy in 1974.

SOUTH-EAST EUROPE
The European Commission, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the Council of Europe Development Bank launched the Western Balkans Investment Framework (WBIF) on Dec. 9th, aiming to provide funding for priority projects in the region.
In Romanian presidential runoff incumbent Traian Basescu of the Liberal Democratic Party (PDL) won re-election with 50.33% of the vote. However Romania's Constitutional Court ordered a re-examination of voided ballots from the disputed presidential election, hence prolonging months of political uncertainty.
In connection with the 1991-95 Serb-Croat conflict charges have been brought against 10Croatian military officers including 4 generals with the former Yugoslav National Army (JNA).
US/CANADA
President Barack Obama called for a major new burst of federal spending, aiming to jolt the wobbly economy into a stronger recovery. A Bloomberg National Poll shows that almost half the people now feel less financially secure than when the President took office in January.

LATIN AMERICA
Honduras' interim government has authorized ousted President Manuel Zelaya to go to Mexico; however there was no indication Zelaya was preparing to leave his refuge in the Brazilian Embassy.
Bolivia and Brazil went on the record Friday (December 4th) saying Kosovo's unilateral declaration of independence contradicts international law. Venezuela has also voiced its opinions in favor of the Serbian position at the international court of Justice.
Cuba's Fidel Castro having initially applauded Obama's selection for the Nobel peace prize is now calling its acceptance a "cynical act," given that the president is sending 30,000 more U.S. troops to Afghanistan.
Opposition groups are threatening to disrupt Haiti's upcoming legislative contests over allegations that election officials are stacking the deck in favor of President Rene Preval's party in a bid to boost executive power.
Some 950 people from 26 nations gathered in Venezuela's capital and agreed to form the Bolivarian Continental Movement a regional leftist movement in Latin America expressing support for insurgent groups like the rebels in Colombia. As a reaction a diplomatic complaint was launched by the latter.
Argentine President Cristina Fernandez took over the rotating presidency of the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) last week, vowing to boost the bloc's ties with the European Union (EU).
Brazil is to delay an 11th round of bidding for oil-exploration licenses because of concerns that production in the area may harm the environment. Being the world’s largest producer and exporter of ethanol Brazilian government is now pushing for bio fuels at the climate change summit as the only real alternative for a world trying to wean itself away from fossil fuels. Meanwhile according to an Ibope poll Brazil's recovering economy has boosted President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's popularity but done little to improve the prospects of his chosen candidate in next year's election.
Mexican President Felipe Calderon said on Tuesday that the government will not cut back on its fight against organized crime, which, according to media reports, has caused 7,000 deaths this year.

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Business and Politics in the Muslim World (BPM)refers to the project entitled, "Globalized Business and Politics: A View from the Muslim World.' The blog development project has been undertaken and jointly developed by the Gilani Research Foundation and BPM as a free resource and social discussion tool.
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Zone 3- Euro-Americas Summary, Week # 96

Week # 96- Dated 29th Nov.- 5th Dec. 09’

WESTERN EUROPE
Top European Union officials attended a ceremony Tuesday to mark the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty, designed to ensure the bloc has a more influential say in world affairs. Meanwhile according to official data Europe crawled out of recession in the third quarter with the 16-nation Euro zone posting 0.4 percent growth.
Britain's High Court dealt a blow to the government last week by ruling that terror suspects cannot be denied bail on the basis of secret evidence. Meanwhile Italy is considering taking in other prisoners from Guantanamo to help close down the prison. Also European leaders and top diplomats hailed President Barack Obama's speech defining the new U.S. strategy in Afghanistan, but few countries were forthcoming with pledges of fresh troops.
The United Nations has called Switzerland's ban on new minarets "clearly discriminatory" and deeply divisive, and the Swiss foreign minister acknowledged last week that the government was very concerned about how the vote would affect the country's image.

SOUTH-EAST EUROPE
The EU Justice and Home Affairs Council decided on Nov. 30th to abolish the visa regime for Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia. Meanwhile Albania says it has agreed to accept more former Guantanamo detainees, but not members of China's ethnic Uighur Muslim minority, for fear of prejudicing Albania's relations with China.
Macedonian President Gjorgje Ivanov has promised to deploy an extra 80 soldiers in Afghanistan, raising the strength of its contingent 250. Meanwhile the hearings on the legality of Kosovo's declaration of independence began on Tuesday (December 1st) at The Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ).

US/CANADA
In the US, Despite expressing uneasiness about the details, lawmakers are poised to back Obama's plan to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan after being assured that forces will begin withdrawing in July 2011. Also the White House has authorized an expansion of the C.I.A.’s drone program in Pakistan’s tribal areas. Meanwhile the US ambassador to the United Nations has said the United States is not seeking a civilian coordinator for Afghanistan, a statement that apparently contradicts the State Department.
The United States on Monday recognized the results of a controversial election in Honduras but said the vote was only a partial step toward restoring democracy.
At the climate front- the announcement last week that Obama is pushing back his appearance at the Copenhagen summit to its final weekend, the critical negotiating period, signals a willingness to pour significant political capital into his climate agenda – and has raised expectations that the White House will reach agreements both internationally and at home.
In Canada opposition Liberal Party, softening its position on toppling the minority Conservative government, is to side with the Conservatives next week on a key financial vote and thus avert an election.

LATIN AMERICA
Honduras' Congress ended hopes of reversing a coup that has isolated the Latin American nation, voting against reinstating ousted President Manuel Zelaya despite intense international pressure to do so. The deposed leftist president said last week that democracy in the country was "dead" after lawmakers voted to block his return to power.
Meanwhile the Union of South American Nations, in which Brazil is the leading member, announced that it will not recognize Honduran presidential election organized by the de-facto regime. President Barack Obama's government suspended development aid and anti-narcotic cooperation with Honduras over the coup. But U.S. diplomats say Hondurans have the right to choose their next leader in regular elections that were scheduled well before President Manuel Zelaya's ouster.
In Nicaragua lawmakers are refusing to recognize a Supreme Court decision that would allow Ortega to run again in 2011 by overturning bans on consecutive re-election and serving more than two terms.
Meanwhile Cuba hit back last week at 60 prominent U.S. black leaders who challenged its race record, with a signed statement from island writers, artists and official journalists calling the criticism an attack on their country's national identity.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on has said his government may target more banks for state intervention, sparking investor jitters. Meanwhile Colombia accused Venezuelan troops of blowing up another makeshift bridge across their frontier. The holding of a Colombian soldier who crossed the border is also the latest incident to test fraying ties.
The U.S. ambassador to Mexico said last week that programs to provide more than $1.1 billion in equipment and training to help Mexico fight organized crime are on track.

AUSTRALASIA
Australia's plans for an emissions trading system to combat global warming were scuttled last week in Parliament, handing a defeat to a government that had hoped to set an example at international climate change talks next week.

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Business and Politics in the Muslim World (BPM)refers to the project entitled, "Globalized Business and Politics: A View from the Muslim World.' The blog development project has been undertaken and jointly developed by the Gilani Research Foundation and BPM as a free resource and social discussion tool.
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Zone 3- Euro-Americas Summary Week # 95

Week # 95 – Dated Nov 22nd-28th, 09’

WESTERN EUROPE

A former head of MI6 criticized British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's government over its funding for and handling of the Afghan mission. Also Foreign Office officials testified last week at an inquiry probing Britain's role in the war that Iran and Libya, not Saddam Hussein's Iraqi regime, were Britain's main security concerns before the invasion of Iraq.
European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso has announced the nominations for his new team, with conservatives to the fore and more women members than the outgoing EU executive.
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has urged Iran to endorse a plan that would strip it of most of its enriched uranium, saying Tehran could not defuse fears about its nuclear program with proposals that included keeping the material.

US/CANADA
President Obama is due to attend the opening of the Dec. 9th Copenhagen Climate Conference, where he reportedly plans to "put on the table" a U.S. commitment to cut carbon emissions by 17 percent over the next decade.
Meanwhile two former Canadian military commanders have denied accusations of having ignored warnings that Afghan authorities might torture and abuse detainees handed over to them.

LATIN AMERICA
Honduras' Supreme Court ruled last week that ousted President Manuel Zelaya cannot legally return to office, dimming the possibility of his reinstatement after a June coup.
Meanwhile at least a 1,000 people held a protest in Rio de Janeiro against Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, during his Brazilian visit. Venezuela was the final leg of the Iranian leader's three-country goodwill tour of Latin America, after stops in Brazil and Bolivia. Ahmadinejad's visit triggered small protests and was condemned by Chavez opponents as well as Venezuela's Jewish community. However Chavez's enthusiastic embrace of Iran has made Venezuela a gateway for the Iranian government to make diplomatic inroads in Latin America.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's personal approval ratings jumped from 76.8 percent in September to 78.9 percent in November, banking on a good economic performance during the international financial crisis and the nation’s positive image abroad.
Valuing truth over the right to privacy, Argentina's Congress has authorized the forced extraction of DNA from people who may have been born to political prisoners slain during the 1976-1983 dictatorship.
Meanwhile Argentina's unemployment rate rose to 9.1 percent in the third quarter from 7.8 percent a year earlier as a slowing economy pushed up joblessness.
Thousands of Mexicans rallied last week to show support for “shadow president” Manuel Lopez Obrador—who believes his country’s top job was stolen from him in 2006.
According to the Mexican Health Ministry the H1N1 flu virus, first detected in April in Mexico, has claimed 610 lives and infected more than 65,000 people in the country.
In the eastern Caribbean nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines nearly 56 percent of voters rejected a referendum that would have replaced the British monarch with a president chosen by Parliament.

AUSTRALASIA
Australia moved to tighten security at its main immigration centre last week after a riot by 150 asylum-seekers, reportedly wielding pool cues, broomsticks and tree branches, left 37 wounded.
The Church of Scientology in Australia, founded in 1953 by the late U.S. science fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard, is under scrutiny. A senate vote to launch an inquiry into possible criminal activity is due to be held this week.
Australia's opposition leader Tuesday pledged his party's support for contentious legislation proposed by the government aimed at curbing the country's greenhouse gas emissions. Australia is one of the world's worst carbon dioxide polluters per capita because of its heavy reliance on its abundant coal reserves.

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Business and Politics in the Muslim World (BPM)refers to the project entitled, "Globalized Business and Politics: A View from the Muslim World.' The blog development project has been undertaken and jointly developed by the Gilani Research Foundation and BPM as a free resource and social discussion tool.
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Zone 3- Euro-Americas Summary Week # 94

Week # 94- Dated, Nov. 15th-21st 09’

WESTERN EUROPE
EU leaders agreed on Nov.19th to appoint Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy as the first permanent European Council President. EU Trade Commissioner Catherine Ashton of the UK was named as EU foreign policy supremo. The two posts were created under the Lisbon Treaty, which aims to streamline decision-making within the EU.
Senior diplomats from the U.N. Security Council's five permanent members and German representatives took part in talks in Brussels considering measures against Iran for its refusal to halt nuclear enrichment activities. Meanwhile Germany is to extend its mission in Afghanistan for another year despite the growing unpopularity of the war at home.
Islamic nations are mounting a campaign for an international treaty to protect religious symbols and beliefs from mockery — essentially, a ban on blasphemy. The Associated Press reported that Algeria and Pakistan have taken the lead in lobbying to bring the matter to a vote in the U.N. General Assembly.
According to Officials Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to apologize for Britain sending thousands of children to former colonies, where they faced mistreatment and neglect.

SOUTH-EAST EUROPE
Voters in Kosovo headed to the polls on Nov.15th in the first elections since the country announced its independence from Serbia in February last year. Meanwhile the EU is optimistic about prospects for a compromise between Macedonia and Greece over their long-standing name dispute. Also the Macedonian Parliament voted on Nov.16th to remove the five-pointed red star from the country's coat of arms signifying the breaking of all ties with its communist past.
EU foreign ministers officially accepted on Nov.16th Albania's application for candidate status.

US/CANADA
Complying with a Supreme Court ruling last year, 15 federal judges in the U.S. are giving Guantanamo detainees their day in court after years behind bars. Meanwhile the Pentagon has announced that it will scour its procedures for identifying volatile soldiers hidden in the ranks following the Fort Hood shooting rampage.
Although producing no breakthroughs on key issues, Obama's first state visit to China is being heralded by both sides as a success. However, much of the U.S. media coverage was strongly negative, accusing Obama of failing to gain concessions on key issues such as Iran's nuclear program, climate change, and human rights.
The Canadian government last week dismissed calls for a public inquiry into allegations that senior officials had ignored evidence regarding Afghan authorities torturing detainees handed over by Canadian troops.

LATIN AMERICA
Street protests and strikes in Argentina depict deepening unrest where center leftist President Cristina Fernandez’s approval ratings are stuck at about 30 percent due to a slowing economy and disillusionment with her combative approach. Meanwhile hundreds of people gathered in the square opposite Argentina's congress in Buenos Aires for a protest march against Israel, scheduled to coincide with the visit of President Shimon Peres to the country.
Brazilian President Luis Inacio Lula da Silva and his Argentine counterpart Cristina Kirchner said last week that they would not recognize the results of the elections to be organized by the post-coup de facto government in Honduras. Also ousted Honduran President Manuel Zelaya insisted that he will not accept any deal to restore him to office if it means he must recognize elections later this month. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has rejected a Brazilian proposal for a joint border monitoring system with Colombia, saying he would not allow any "extra-national force" along the Venezuelan border zone with Colombia.
The president of Israel, Shimon Peres recently paid a historical official visit to Brazil while Palestinian National Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are expected to be the next Middle East visitors to Brazil.
After recent talks between their Defence ministers, China and Brazil are set to enhance cooperation on military industry and science and technology. Meanwhile Brazil has announced to offer a "voluntary" cut of between 36 and 39 percent in greenhouse gas emissions at the December 7-18 UN conference. Brazil is the fourth-biggest emitter of greenhouse gases in the world, largely because of carbon released through deforestation of its vast Amazon forest.
Mexico has decried Forbes magazine’s decision to name the country’s most-wanted drug lord, Joaquin Guzman, one of the “World’s Most Powerful People,’’ calling it an insult to the government’s struggle against drug cartels.

AUSTRALASIA
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd made an apology last week to half-a-million "Forgotten Australians", the disadvantaged children who were shipped to Australia to live in poorly monitored state and church institutions.

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Business and Politics in the Muslim World (BPM)refers to the project entitled, "Globalized Business and Politics: A View from the Muslim World.' The blog development project has been undertaken and jointly developed by the Gilani Research Foundation and BPM as a free resource and social discussion tool.
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Zone 3- Euro-Americas Summary Week # 93

Week # 93 – Dated, 8th -14th Nov. 09’

WESTERN EUROPE
European stock markets rose modestly last week as investor optimism was dented by a subdued performance in Asia. Official figures show that the 16-country euro area has joined the United States and Japan out of recession, despite falling short of predictions, after the bloc's economy grew by 0.4 percent in the third quarter.
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair will be publicly questioned about the Iraq war during a long-awaited inquiry. Meanwhile PM Gordon Brown says NATO nations may contribute 5,000 more troops to Afghanistan.
Denmark's premier sent invitations Thursday asking 191 world leaders to attend next month's U.N. climate conference in Copenhagen, saying their presence was "pivotal" to its success
French President Nicolas Sarkozy has reiterated that there is no place for full face and body veils’ in France, calling it a debasement of women. In a speech on national TV he said that all beliefs will be respected in France but "becoming French means adhering to a form of civilization, to values, to morals." France has a large Muslim community but only a small minority of French Muslim women wears such veils. A French parliamentary panel has been looking into the possibility of banning them in public.
A former French interior minister says former President Jacques Chirac and other senior figures were aware of secret arms trafficking to Angola in the 1990s in a case being dubbed "Angolagate" for which former Interior Minister Charles Pasqua was among those convicted last month.
Italy's top security official announced that authorities have smashed an international terror cell with the arrest in Italy and elsewhere in Europe of 17 Algerians. Meanwhile Italy's parliament is considering a controversial bill that would limit the length of trials, with critics saying it was drafted to help Premier Silvio Berlusconi with his legal problems.
A four-day symposium in the Vatican is being hosted by the European bishop's media commission and is designed to delve into questions about what Internet culture means for the church's mission and how the church communicates that mission to others.

SOUTH-EAST EUROPE
In Serbia, Belgrade's produce markets the price of garlic has shot up which believed to be a good luck charm is being sought as a solution to the swine flu pandemic.
Meanwhile in Slovenia the ruling coalition has joined appeals coming from the opposition to hold a referendum on the new arbitration agreement with Croatia to settle the bilateral border dispute. Also the EU is expected to allocate nearly 3.5 billion euros to Croatia in the first two years of the country's membership.
In Bosnia the opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) turned down yet another invitation last week from the president of the Bosniak Party of Democratic Action, Sulejman Tihic, for talks on constitutional changes, pending the reforms that would move BiH towards NATO and EU integration. Meanwhile Romanian President Traian Basescu has begun considering early general elections, should the second attempt to select a cabinet fail.
In Albania, ambassadors representing EU countries in Tirana are urging political leaders to find a way to entice opposition lawmakers back into parliament.
New Zealand has become the latest country to recognize Kosovo's independence, just three weeks before hearings begin at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the legality of its unilaterally-declared independence in February 2008.
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said last week that resolving the name dispute with Macedonia is a precondition for Skopje's accession to the EU.

US/CANADA
The Obama administration plans to put on trial the professed mastermind of the Sept. 11 terror attacks and four alleged accomplices in a move that is being termed as politically and legally risky. Meanwhile it is expected that President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, will be able to sign a replacement for the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty next month in Europe when Obama receives the Nobel Peace Prize on Dec. 10.
A radical American imam on Yemen's most wanted militant list who had contact with two 9/11 hijackers praised alleged Fort Hood shooter Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan as a hero on his personal Web site last week.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is planning to join a 24-hour fast to spotlight the plight of the one billion people suffering from hunger world wide.

LATIN AMERICA
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez lashed out at an agreement for American troops to use more Colombian military bases last week. Meanwhile Colombia brought what it called threats of war from neighboring Venezuela to the U.N. Security Council after the leader of the neighboring country, told his army to get ready to fight.
Venezuela and Russia are working on a series of agreements for Moscow to provide the South American country with technology for the development of industries ranging from robotics to biochemistry.
Meanwhile eight American scientists, including Nobel laureate in chemistry Peter Agre, are in Havana, Cuba to engage in "science diplomacy." The trip comes as Cuba and the U.S. are taking tentative steps towards improving 50 years of frigid relations.
Haiti's new prime minister was inaugurated last week. He promised to attract more investment and create jobs, while forging good relations with lawmakers who have ousted two heads of government in as many years.

AUSTRALASIA
Despite Australian government’s pledges to tackle their health problems, figures show that Aborigines die up to 11.5 years earlier than other Australians and are twice as likely to die as infants.
New opinion polls added pressure on Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd last week to take a tougher stand against asylum-seekers and end a standoff involving 78 boat-people picked up by an Australian ship off Indonesia.

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Business and Politics in the Muslim World (BPM)refers to the project entitled, "Globalized Business and Politics: A View from the Muslim World.' The blog development project has been undertaken and jointly developed by the Gilani Research Foundation and BPM as a free resource and social discussion tool.
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