29 June 2009

Following in Bush’s footsteps
Obama administration preparing order for indefinite detentions

By Tom Eley, 29 June 2009

Several senior Obama aides have told the Washington Post that an administration task force is drafting an executive order that would allow for the indefinite detention, without charge or trial, of those the president claims are terrorists.

Honduran military ousts president in coup

By Joe Kishore, 29 June 2009

The military of Honduras ousted President Manuel Zelaya on Sunday morning, just before a planned national referendum.

Denials of US interference in Iran not credible

By Peter Symonds, 29 June 2009

The Obama administration has responded to Iranian allegations of manipulating opposition protests inside the country with flat denials. However, there is considerable evidence of extensive US operations against Iran, spanning a range of diplomatic, intelligence and military activities.

US House passes Obama administration’s carbon trading legislation

By Patrick O’Connor, 29 June 2009

On Friday, the US House of Representatives narrowly approved Democratic-sponsored legislation for a national “cap and trade” carbon emissions scheme.

Sri Lankan military maintains fishing restrictions in the north

By Subash Somachandran, 29 June 2009

As an election gimmick, the Colombo government declared it had removed restrictions on fishing in the north. Nevertheless, the navy commander has refused to lift the controls.

Sudan: Humanitarian crisis in south as Comprehensive Peace Agreement unravels

By Brian Smith, 29 June 2009

Southern Sudan faces a massive humanitarian crisis in what the United Nation’s humanitarian coordinator for Sudan, Lise Grande, described as a “perfect storm”.

Sweden: Luxury automaker Koenigsegg announces purchase of Saab

By Jordan Shilton, 29 June 2009

The struggling automaker Saab will be sold to Koenigsegg, a Swedish company that manufactures luxury sports cars.

US war games signal intensifying tension over Arctic

By Niall Green, 29 June 2009

Things are heating up in the Arctic. Several large military exercises undertaken by the United States and NATO are proof of growing tensions between the major powers.

Australia: Coroner attacks as a “disgrace” Aboriginal man’s death in prison van

By Joe Lopez, 29 June 2009

A coroner has described as a “disgrace” the treatment of a 46-year-old Aboriginal elder who died of heatstroke in the back of a prison van in sweltering heat with no functioning air conditioning.

New in French

La Banque mondiale révise à la baisse ses prévisions de croissance économique pour 2009

Par Tom Eley, 29 juin 2009

Un nouveau rapport de la Banque mondiale intitulé « Perspectives pour l’économie mondiale » réfute les récentes assertions selon lesquelles on serait au début d’une reprise économique.

Perspective

New Nixon White House tapes:
A revealing picture of the American presidency

29 June 2009

The latest batch of White House tape recordings from January and February 1973, released Tuesday by the Nixon Presidential Library, give a taste of the political atmosphere in which Richard M. Nixon conducted the office of the presidency.

Earlier Perspectives »

Arts Review

Away We GoAway We Go: Parent trap

By Joanne Laurier, 29 June 2009

Away We Go is British director Sam Mendes’s third attempt to deal with social reality in the United States—the film is no more successful than American Beauty and Revolutionary Road.

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