Israeli-Palestinian peace prospects need a miracle
Palestinian negotiator Ahmed Qureia told reporters this month he does not think an Israeli-Palestinian agreement can be reached this year “unless there is a miracle.”
Court gives mixed decision on Cuban Five
In the complicated case of five Cuban men arrested on various charges of conspiracy almost 10 years ago, an appeals court upheld their convictions June 4, while rescinding some of their harsh sentences.
A story of greed vs. love
The movie “Before the Rains” could be used as an example to illustrate the main points of Frederick Engels’ “Origin of the Family, Private Property and the State.” Set in 1930s India during the uprising of Indian nationalists, the film shows the effects of capital on love and human relationships. The bottom line is that people who love money, particularly capital, cannot love people.
Unionists raise funds for earthquake victims
New York — In response to last month’s devastating earthquake in Sichuan, China, Local 23-25 of Unite Here, which represents a large number of Chinese immigrant garment workers here launched fundraising efforts for the victims on May 16 at a joint activity with the hotel workers from Unite Here, Local 6.
India decides on historic womens bill
The United Progressive Alliance, the ruling group of parties in India, finally reintroduced in Parliament last month a long delayed and eagerly awaited bill to advance women’s political representation.
Fourth Fleet threatens peace, democracy in Latin America
Latin American leaders have been critical of the Bush administration plan to reestablish the U.S. Fourth Fleet which will, according to a Department of Defense press release, operate “in the Caribbean, and Central and South America.” The Fourth Fleet, originally established in 1943 during World War II to patrol and protect maritime traffic from the Nazis, was disbanded in 1950. The new Fourth Fleet will become operational on July 1, 2008, with aircraft, aircraft carriers, war ships and submarines.
Dollars for Cuban anti-govt groups flow from Miami
Cuban news media are charging the top U.S. diplomat in Cuba with being a bagman for groups seeking to overthrow Cuba’s government.
Olympic creed: not the triumph but the struggle
Every four years the Olympic games bring together athletes from all corners of the world to compete in the planet’s biggest international multi-sports tournament. This year’s Summer Olympic games are scheduled to kick off in August in Beijing. The next Winter Olympics will be held in Vancouver, Canada, in 2010. Currently 203 countries participate in the Olympics, more than the 193 countries belonging to the United Nations.
Israel at 60 why celebrations are muted
Feelings about the state of Israel occupy a broad spectrum of world opinion, from adoring admiration in some quarters to hate veering into outright anti-Semitism from some others. As an expression of the 19th- and 20th-century Jewish national emancipation movement, Israel has achieved what its founders dreamed of — a country like any other, with all the attributes, positive and negative.
Responding to disasters
Cyclone hits Myanmar. Earthquake rocks China. In each case, thousands of lives have been snuffed out by nature’s wrath. Given the combination of global warming and extreme poverty, we’re likely to see more extreme natural and human calamities. Here in the United States, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 resulted in almost 2,000 deaths, and hundreds of thousands of people are still displaced.
