Bush admin. says waterboarding legal, may be used again; Malay destruction of Hindu temples sparks anger; UK bugs MP without warrant...

7 February :: Bush spokesman says "waterboarding" is legal, may be authorized for use at any time, "under certain circumstances"; critics express disbelief, as two recent laws, Supreme Court ruling clearly bar use of abusive interrogation techniques; according to the LA Times "The technique has been traced to the Spanish Inquisition and has been the subject of war-crimes trials dating back a century", and Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (AZ) recently said in a televised debate he found it inconceivable "anyone could believe that [waterboarding is] not torture. It's in violation of the Geneva Convention. It's in violation of existing law"; it is thought the declaration by a White House spokesperson is based in part on the Bush administration's long-running, highly controversial assertion that Congress cannot dictate such policies to the Executive... Destruction of Hindu temples by authorities in Malaysia sparks ethnic tensions, allegations of a racist state that ignores the ethnic Indian minority; some 20,000 ethnic Indians defied a gov't ban against organizing a march through Kuala Lumpur to protest ill treatment, marginalization, demolition of places of faith and worship... Outcry in Britain over apparently irregular bugging of a minister of parliament who visited a constituent facing extradition to the US; according to the Christian Science Monitor "The outcry involving Sadiq Khan, whose conversations with a man facing extradition to the United States on terrorism charges were secretly recorded, has generated alarm that individual rights are increasingly becoming subordinated to national security"; the UK has until now resisted using wiretap evidence in court, but CSM adds that "Bugging and telephone wiretaps can be set up without recourse to a judge – unlike the vast majority of European democracies and the US. The home secretary authorized more than 3,500 spy operations in 2005 and 2006"...

Bush presents record $3.1 trillion budget; France does not intervene to stop Chad rebels, despite UNSC approval; London creates low-emissions zone...

4 February :: US pres. George W. Bush has presented the nation's first federal budget exceeding $3 billion in spending; while giving generous expansions to defense spending, the budget seeks to cut $196 billion from healthcare spending, and projects near record budget deficits for at least two years; Bush claims that part of the 6% increase in spending is tied to the planned $145 billion economic stimulus package he's working with Congress to implement... Fmr. colonial power, ally France stands aside as rebels attack Chad gov't, though officially it says it supports the elected gov't, UNSC approves unilateral action by France to protect Déby gov't, condemns rebels; Sarkozy gov't says it plans to ensure joint EU "humantarian protection force" for Darfur refugees in eastern Chad (EU's largest ever common defense deployment) be implemented to protect aid routes... French pres. Sarkozy has lost support rapidly among electorate, his approval dropping 13 points in January alone, to 41%, as economic woes seem by many to go unattended; his wedding Saturday to singer Carla Bruni was unannounced, and did not even include the official presidential photographer... London establishes 610 sq mile low-emissions zone, within which violators who do not meet EU emissions standards for transport vehicles will be charged £200 per day to operate; Mayor Ken Livingstone is quoted as saying "In a modern world city, people should have the opportunity to live and work without fear of being poisoned by the air they breathe", though the plan is projected only to eliminate 16% of air pollution by 2012... Millions assemble in cities around world in "global rally" against FARC rebels in Colombia, demanding peace, end to bloodshed; Bloomberg reports "Millions of Colombians dressed in white marched throughout the country and in major cities worldwide today to express outrage at 40 years of violence and kidnapping by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia"; over 100,000 people were reported to have registered their participation in the rally on the social networking site Facebook...

Israel, Palestinians open peace talks; Kucinich calls for manual recount in New Hampshire; China says military buildup is no threat to US...

14 January :: Israel, Palestinians have opened most extensive peace negotiations in more than 7 years, after US pres. Bush toured region in effort to accelerate talks; Reuters reports: "Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said she would keep details of her talks with former Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie confidential, but later told parliament she was 'prepared to make significant territorial concessions' to further Israel's interests"... Presidential candidate Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) has called for a manual recount of all ballots cast in New Hampshire primaries for his party's nomination, due to what his campaign's press release said were "unexplained disparities between hand-counted ballots and machine-counted ballots"; Kucinich himself wrote "This is not about my candidacy or any other individual candidacy. It is about the integrity of the election process"; mechanized voting technologies have been brought into question in several elections over the last decade, as security flaws, alleged misuse have become apparent... China says its rapid military buildup is not intended as a threat to the United States, with the People's Liberation Army chief of staff even saying "We don't have the ability to make you afraid of us"; statements are perceived as attempt to cool tensions that flared when Beijing attempted to block a ceremonial visit by US ships to Taiwan in 2007... "More than 10 years after her death, Princess Diana's former butler has said he believes there was no royal plot to murder her, and also disputes the rumors that she was engaged to marry Dodi al-Fayed; Reuters reports: "Dodi's father, Harrods luxury storeowner Mohamed al-Fayed, alleges that he and Diana were killed by British security services on the orders of Prince Philip, Queen Elizabeth's husband and Diana's former father-in-law", further alleging "that Diana's body was embalmed to cover up evidence she was expecting a baby"; an ongoing inquest into the circumstances leading up to and surrounding her death recently revealed that Prince Philip had allegedly sent "extremely derogatory" and "cruel" letters to Diana, but that they did not contain threats, and her former security chief said he believed her private calls were being monitored by security services...

Kibaki offers opposition potential power-sharing role in gov't to ease tensions; Scotland Yard team arrives in Pakistan...

5 January :: WSJ reporting "After a week of political stalemate and bloodshed, Kenyan president Mwai Kibaki said Saturday that he was prepared to form a government of national unity with the opposition, easing tensions between the two side and potentially setting the stage for negotiations to end violence that has so far killed at least 300 people and displaced as many as 250,000"... A team of investigators from Britain's Scotland Yard police headquarters arrived yesterday in Pakistan to assist in the probe into the assassination of fmr PM Benazir Bhutto; Pakistan's pres. Pervez Musharraf said the team would assist in forensics but warned against "a wild goose chase" and said their role would not be permitted to interfere with Pakistan's internal politics... According to BBC report, China will see migration of 320 million people —more than the entire current population of the US— from rural areas to its urban centers in coming decades; the mass migration is said to be having environmental impact on "every atom in the Chinese soil", the general diet, the food supply, and potentially agricultural and commodities markets across the world... Le Monde reports indications gathering that US headed for recession in 2008, citing Pres. Bush's caution, pledges to work with Democrats in Congress to shore up economic weak spots, also noting that while only 18,000 jobs were created across the nation in December, unemployment is up to its highest in at least 2 years... French philosopher, writer and feminist Simone de Beauvoir was born 100 years ago, spurring a new round of publications and re-editions of her work, to celebrate her achievement and the significance of her ideas in 20th century society and culture...

GOP lawmaker says intel. comm. probe of CIA tapes' destruction, will continue; UK study says consumer product chemicals may be mixing dangerously...

17 December :: Michigan Republican Peter Hoekstra, ranking GOP member of the House intelligence committee, has said the committee will pursue its investigation of the CIA's destruction of tapes of alleged torture; Hoekstra told the press it was important that there be accountability in the intelligence community, adding "The CIA did not tell us about the existence of these tapes. They did not tell us that they were going to be destroyed"; he also said he expected to issue subpoenas and that only after testimony had begun would the committee explore the possibility of offering immunity... New Scientist reports "A report by the UK's Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) says chemicals from consumer products and drugs could be breaking down and recombining into a harmful brew in water supplies"... Russian pres. Vladimir Putin has said he will accept the request to serve as ally/appointee Medvedev's PM, if the now-confirmed United Russia candidate should win presidency in March vote, as observers consider likely; NY Times reports the announcement "raised the prospect that at some point in Mr. Medvedev’s term, Mr. Medvedev could step down, which would propel Mr. Putin, as prime minister, back to the presidency. A special presidential election would then be held, in which Mr. Putin could run", though PM has far less power than president in Russian system, Putin has said he does not intend to seek to change the powers of either... UK Conservative party leader David Cameron has made a bold offer to the Liberal Democratic party and the Green party, calling for a "progressive alliance" to counter Brown's Labour party and push for comprehensive "decentralization" of the British system of government and public services... British troops have officially turned over control of Basra province, in southern Iraq, to Iraqi security forces, amid mounting violence and intense fighting among sectarian militia; ABC News reports "'The British legacy in Basra is criminal gangs, a corrupt and infiltrated police force, and borders open to all,' says a senior Iraqi Army official in the province, who spoke on condition of anonymity"...

NJ Assembly passes death penalty ban; US accused of trying to derail Bali climate talks; US may be engaging Iran via Arab allies...

14 December :: New Jersey Assembly has passed death penalty ban, Gov. Corzine says he may sign within one week; 8 men currently awaiting execution will have sentences commuted to life in prison, observers comment some states may begin to follow suit, after DNA evidence has demonstrated high rate of erroneous convictions... The Bush admin. has been accused of trying to derail action on climate change at Bali conference, by proposing that all Kyoto-related regulations be voluntary, not binding; Guardian reports "The proposed text, tabled late last night and leaked at about midnight local time, would effectively allow any country to opt out of the next round of the Kyoto agreement. Observers said last night it could take climate change negotiations back more than a decade"... EU environment commissioner Stavros Dimas has said there's some progress toward a 'Bali roadmap', which could lead to more aggressive action after a US-led climate summit in January, though EU ministers say they will boycott the summit if the Bush admin. does not back hard numerical targets in Bali... US appears to be pushing diplomatic initiative to engage Iran, by way of close Arab allies like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, in hopes nuclear weapons program remains frozen, relations improve with Islamic Republic... Oil industry, utilities have won major legislative battle as Senate passes trimmed down energy policy reform bill; according to the NY Times, "The legislation still contains a landmark increase in fuel-economy standards for vehicles and a huge boost for alternative fuels. But a $13 billion tax increase on oil companies and a requirement that utilities nationwide produce 15 percent of their electricity from renewable sources were left on the floor to secure Republican votes for the package"... Fmr. Sen. Mitchell's report on steroid use in Major League Baseball names raft of top players, all-time legends, raising serious questions about MLB complicity and future Hall of Fame awards, record books, even recent World Series titles... UK gov't reportedly preparing for 'nationalization' of troubled Northern Rock bank, as feeling takes hold that only state ownership will prevent total collapse of lending institution, potential economic repercussions across Great Britain...

CIA director says 'Executive' approved waterboarding, Congress knew of tapes in '03; UK's Brown to sign Lisbon treaty, but alone, away from cameras...

12 December :: CIA director Hayden has said harsh interrogation techniques appearing on destroyed video tapes "reviewed and approved by the Department of Justice and by other elements of the Executive Branch"; he has briefed Senate intelligence committee, but said he was unable to answer all questions, because tapes were made under one predecessor and destroyed under another, that he would make the most knowledgeable witnesses available to Congress for questioning; Hayden also said the tapes were made known to Congress in 2003, as was the intention to destroy them; they had been ordered preserved by a federal judge before their destruction... UK PM Gordon Brown seems to have offended all parties by arriving late to sign Lisbon treaty; foreign minister will attend photo ops, Brown to sign late, by himself, has been criticized for lack of leadership on issue... 6 young people shot at close range after stepping off school bus in Las Vegas; police gang unit has been activated, investigators suspect shooting linked to fight at high school hours before shooting; at least two shooting suspects are at large, while three boys have been arrested for the school fight, allegedly over a girl; one man is in critical condition, one boy in serious condition, the other 4 have minor wounds... In early primary voting state, NH, Sen. Obama has "caught" Sen. Clinton in opinion polls, with 30% to her 31%, after support among women in NH dropped severely for Clinton...

Bank of England warns UK of economic slowdown; Pakistan detains another opposition leader, as student movement grows...

17 November :: Bank of England governor warns coming year will be hardest economically for Great Britain, with credit problems, banking tightness and housing slump contributing to general tightening of purse-strings, possible consumer slowedown as well; Bank gov. Mervyn King said it will be 2009 "before growth picks up and inflation is brought under control", according to the Guardian... IHT reporting from Lahore: "The opposition politician Imran Khan emerged from hiding Wednesday to the cheers of hundreds of students at a demonstration against General Pervez Musharraf at a university here, but he was quickly seized by hard-line students and turned over to the police, witnesses said"; Musharraf moves to contain virtually all aspects of opposition organization, leadership increasingly evident, US calls into question security rationale behind emergency rule... CSM, also reporting from Lahore: "What began last week as a protest against the arrests of academics at a university in Lahore has quickly spread across larger campuses, energizing new movements and inciting old student political groups from a near two-decade slumber. But when opposition leader Imran Khan, a perceived hero of the student movement, arrived Wednesday to address students in Lahore, members of a powerful and established Islamist student group quickly handed him over to police"... Google is offering $10 million in prize money for developers who produce the most effective software for its proposed open-platform mobile phone operating system; 'G-prize' for revolution in cellular software could herald new model of mass-market technology development... As Congress wrestles with question of telecom complicity in extralegal spying, Truthdig report revealing in terms of possible link between gov't backing of major telecom mergers, data-mining programs; report reveals that NSA in 2000, in efforts to gather new resources, maintain relevancy in post-Cold-War period, launched a "government-industry partnership for information technology infrastructure services"...

Musharraf plans to lift state of emergency within 30 days; San Francisco demands answers for fuel spill; Georgia parliament backs martial law...

10 November :: Pakistan gov't announces plans to lift state of emergency within one month, saying it was declared to fight radical fundamentalist militia allegedly spreading from country's northwest border provinces... NY Times reports "The Pakistani police allowed the opposition leader Benazir Bhutto to leave her house today, but blocked her from visiting the home of the ousted chief justice, who has been detained"... Officials from San Francisco, Bay area cities, California gov't, demand answers from US Coast Guard on why it waited so long to notify public of 58,000 gallon fuel spill; Coast Guard acknowledges it might have moved more quickly, but says no inappropriate actions were involved; SF may seek legal action... Reuters reporting "Georgia's parliament on Friday endorsed President Mikhail Saakashvili's state of emergency decree in defiance of local opponents and Western allies, and accused an opposition tycoon of plotting a coup"... 7 human rights groups, including Amnesty Int'l have called on Iranian authorities to release a woman sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison and flogging for peaceful demonstration in which she called for increased rights for women under Iran's Islamic law... British gov't plans to request new legislation to extend detention without charge in terrorist cases, possibly to as long as 56 days; current anti-terrorist legislation permits detaining suspects for up to 28 days without charge, leading many to accuse gov't of discarding cherished freedoms in exchange for prosecutorial assistance which may only erode the integrity of the judicial process, with no clear benefit for catching actual terrorists... European Central Bank pushing efforts to slow growth in value of Euro against dollar, concerned it may be hampering business opportunities for European businesses...