ABBA NETWORK

When successfully accomplished without the deadline set by President Obama to dismantle Guantanamo, a commission led by the Justice Department has formalized its recommendations on what to do with the 196 detainees who remain in jail makeshift court by the Bush Administration. For fifty of them, provided for indefinite detention without trial while continuing the so-called war on terror launched after 11-S.

This is the first time Washington has clarified the exact number of Guantanamo prisoners considered too dangerous to be released at the same time without the possibility of being judged. Limbo procedure justified by the need not to jeopardize the work of intelligence or because the available evidence have been obtained through coercion.

Along with the controversial option of indefinite detention-complicated by the refusal of the federal Congress to recreate a U.S. Guantanamo within-the committee headed by the Justice Department has also recommended that a total of 110 prisoners be released immediately or in the future. Delays attributed to the chaotic situation in Yemen, a country of origin of a good part of this whole prison population. The rest, 35, be prosecuted on charges of terrorism or war crimesEither in civilian courts or by special military courts

With decades of struggle for human rights under his belt and a newcomer to Madrid to speak at a conference organized by the General Council of Lawyers, Shirin Ebadi spoke to ABC this upheaval in Iran.

“Your country is engaged in riots against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. How is the situation?
“The protests are growing and have gotten as small cities. In addition to that every day there is more activism and more strikes in the factories, people no longer afraid. They know that if they go out could end up in jail, yet they still do. And the government loses popular support by the day. Even among the fundamentalists there are differences …

- What solution is there?
“The only is that another election be held with UN observers. That election must be completely free and involve release of political prisoners.
“You and your family are suffering repression firsthand. Do you feel more persecuted than ever?
“I have no political office, not belong to any party and I do not name the Prime Minister. But being a human rights activist can not remain indifferent. And I give to other organizations reporting on the human rights situation in my country, that the wrath of the Government of Iran. Months before the election ended the human rights NGO founded and assaulted my law practice.

“The regime has acted against his sister and her husband.
“What we are doing is harassment for them which in turn will convince me that I stop what I’m doing. My husband has been detained in jail and my sister as a hostage, when neither are activists. My husband is an engineer and my sister dentist.
“No favors economic sanctions or military intervention in Iran. Maybe because he thinks the solution must come from within?
“That kind of measures can only worsen the situation and giving ammunition to the Government to radical. Any change must come from within Iranian society. All that we ask the international community not to support the government in the crackdown, and the important thing is that the world knows what is happening in Iran.

“Barack Obama shares with you the status of Nobel Peace Prize. Can there be accredited deserve in less than a year as president?
“No doubt the performance of President Obama is much better than Bush. A president can not be able to change all that must change in a year, but has made some important first steps. Do not forget that the first day in office ordered the closure of Guantanamo. Or who has declared that military intervention in Iraq was a mistake. Just for that I am worthy of the Nobel Peace Prize.

- Islam and democracy?
“Islam can be interpreted consistently with human rights, and reject those who use religion as an excuse for violating them.
- What do you think the Alliance of Civilizations promoted by José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero?
“It’s a good project for psychology tells us that when we do not know the other what we fear and hate him. The solution lies in dialogue, but the important thing is that this exchange is given in all areas: among journalists, athletes, clergymen and writers.

- Do you see the commitment of adequate some in the West to banish the veil?
“I do not wear veils. In Islamic countries like Iran require women to wear the scarf, and women do not want. And in countries like France and Germany forced the woman to take it off, and she does not want. Do not understand why not let women do what they please. Rejection decisions taken with bigotry or prejudice.

The “23 de Enero”, emblematic date the fall of Marcos Perez Jimenez, the last dictatorship in Venezuela defeated 52 years ago, was celebrated today by some against President Hugo Chávez and others for in Caracas. Each side vied to show higher turnout among their ranks, but television cameras showed the mass rallies paths, both Chavez and the opposition, the final decision rests with the protesters.

The best way to measure participation in each gear is engaged, no matter the ideological color to which it belongs, and see the differences on each side. In Caracas is not as difficult to reach a conclusion for the reader. The opposition in attendance outnumbered the ruling-three to one, if you compare the two performances on the street.
If opponents said it took between 350,000 to 500,000 protesters as the panoramic views of the ruling say they outscored the opposition with a vengeance. However, the official television cameras showed footage always closed and never along the avenues of its travel.

The Venezuelan capital was divided into two extremes with very marked. On one side, west of the city was a territory of the officer, whose departure from the Flag and New Granada came to the central Plaza OLeary of Silence, about 3 to 5 miles.
The opposition, however, ordered his journey from Las Mercedes and Plaza Venezuela to lead on Avenida Francisco de Miranda, Chacao, Altamira, Parque del Este, La California, Los Ruices and end up in the vial (round) of Petare. That adds a distance of 17 kilometers.

Opponents took several slogans, including the main “Chavez Ponchao tas” in the language game of baseball means “you’re defeated.” The second, conceived by filmmaker Thaelman Urguelles says the blame of the child “showing the president in diapers and getting rid of the responsibility of the energy crisis.
The opposition was large and well nourished. The eleven games that bring together the officers of the unit also called the march of the student movement and the civil sector. They had every reason to protest: currency devaluation, bank intervention, expropriation of supermarkets and shops, rationing of electricity and water, and insecurity.

Instead Chavez participants are public servants who were forced to attend the official launch with the “blackmail of not paying the salary if they were not going to fly”. Hundreds of officers took buses to the demonstration activists Chavez.
Vice President Jose Vicente Rangel in his uniform from red cap said “the engine of 23 January was the PCV and the oligarchy took over democracy. We can not allow the same thing happen again. ”
Minister of Public Works and Housing, Diosdado Cabello, said “We are on the street saying Chavez, our commander that this is the power of the people. In the parliamentary elections of September 26 and win “.

An hour and a half before finishing the walk, as at 12 noon sectors The California and Los Ruices Avenue Francisco de Miranda, 300 meters from the roundabout Petare, already crowded with opposition demonstrators.
The metropolitan mayor of Caracas, Antonio Ledezma, “the opposition unity is above all. United we will move forward. We see a positive change in spite of government benefits.

The former governor of Miranda, Enrique Mendoza, predicted that the next 26 d September, the date of parliamentary elections “we will succeed.”

At Plaza Altamira opposition demonstrator said, “nothing in this country works. Let’s throw out the votes Chavez. This government has failed at everything. ”

Enrique Mora said he was going to mark the death of Spanish Maritza Ron, who was gunned down in the Plaza Altamira for demonstrating against Chavez last 5 years.

Before closing the walk in the rotunda of Petare, Carlos Ocariz, mayor of Sucre, the former stronghold until Chavez in 2008 snatched the opposition said the opposition demonstration was spontaneous. “There were no buses or blackmail to come as Chavismo.

Following the first year of Barack Obama in power, the U.S. black population has gained pride and self esteem as well as in the preceding 25 years. That is clear at least from a survey of the prestigious Pew Research Center, under which African Americans no longer see themselves or are viewed by others as the most discriminated ethnic group in North America.

That “honor” is now Hispanics.
Some 23 percent of 2884 adults (including 812 blacks) surveyed by the Pew Research Center, between 28 October and 30 November 2009, believe that Hispanics are the most discriminated group in America. A 18 percent that are still considered black. A curious fact is that 45 percent of all Americans surveyed, and 55 percent of blacks believe that no race or ethnicity is as discriminated as homosexuals.

Positive developments in the vision of black people and their situation are mostly among the black population itself, with which the present economic crisis has been primed. Even in these circumstances are becoming more blacks who think they can fend for themselves in the U.S. and tend to look blurred the barriers with other races.

Not that everything is no longer black and white to turn pink. Forty years after the great wave of struggle against racial segregation and civil rights, 8 in 10 blacks are generally less satisfied with their lives than whites and believe that further changes are needed to achieve full or least reasonably equal. But 39 percent believe that their life is better than five years ago, only 20 percent believed that in 2007 - and 53 percent believe their lives will be even better in the future, compared with 10 percent who believe that will be worse. In 2007 only 44 percent expected future improvements for blacks, while 21 percent expected that any further deterioration.

Some 54 percent of blacks, compared with 32 percent of whites believe race relations have improved with Obama. These figures are very positive but not as satisfactory as those were the day after the election when they said that 74 percent of blacks and 48 percent of whites.

Values similar
But perhaps the most telling indicator is that more and more blacks tend to see a convergence of their values and way of life with those of whites. That’s the opinion of today 6 of every 10 blacks. This represents an increase of almost 20 points since 2007.

With the fall of racial barriers come doubts about identity. What is being targeted and what is being black in today’s society, so mixed that the president himself is a mestizo? About 55 percent of blacks surveyed believe Obama black, whereas 34 percent is of mixed race. Among whites the proportion is reversed: 53 percent considered of mixed race and 24 percent black.

The U.S. president, Barack Obama, accused the Supreme Court to give “a blow to democracy ‘to the ring last Thursday, the contribution limit that is allowed to contribute to the companies during an election campaign, to protect, according to opinion, the right of corporations to freedom of expression.

This decision comes just two days after Obama threw down the gauntlet to U.S. banks, announcing, with great fanfare, a reform to limit by law the size of large financial institutions and restrict their activities at risk.
“I see record profits for some firms then say they can not lend more money to small businesses, lower fees credit card or return the ransom money they received from the taxpayer, “said the president, has warned that while”If they want to fight, will’.

For Bush, the Supreme Court ruling “opens the floodgates for the entry of an unlimited amount of money from special interests in our democracy,” he said. Thus, Obama said, he “gives lobbyists more reasons to spend millions of dollars in advertising, so that elected representatives vote in favor or to punish those who do not.

“This ruling is a blow to democracy itself,” the president said in his weekly address.

U.S. election campaigns in 2008, with the presidential head, spent about 6. 000 million dollars. Of these, more than 1. 000 million came from lobbyists and other private organizations.

The Supreme Court decision “will make it harder to pass the legislation guided by common sense because even foreign entities will be allowed to interfere in elections,” he said.

In reply, Obama announced the preparation of measures in collaboration with Congress to get a response “and bipartisan forced” to the sentence. “We started working on it, and will be a priority to repair the damage,” he said.

Development Minister, Jose Blanco said Saturday that Galicia will have the first Committee of Air Routes of Spain, which will aim to “harmonize” the operation of the three airports of the community and improve their “efficiency”, making “compete with their immediate environment “instead of” each other. ”

The constitution of this committee is formalized in an agreement signed by the holder of Promoting Regional Minister of the Environment, Territory and Infrastructures, Agustin Hernandez, the mayors of Santiago, Vigo and A Coruña, the president of the Confederation of Employers of Galicia ( CEG), Antonio Fontenla, and representatives of chambers of commerce of those cities.

“We can not stand at a time unless we act, others we can take advantage,” declared the minister Lugo after heading the paper, convinced that “the amount of effort” between the government and civil society this new body will “establish and consolidate” new air “according the needs and potential” of Galicia.

This new model of “institutional strengthening cooperation,” according to advanced, is completed by a Royal Decree that the central government approved “before summer” to implement in all the autonomous airport committees. In Galicia, as White moved will be given “priority”, so that could be in place “before the end of the year.”

AIRPORT COMMITTEE

More associated with the operation of airports, these committees will be the forum where debate - communities and the state represented equally - matters “of interest” in the field of management such as directors and strategic plans and coordination of urban policy and territorial affect air bases.

As explained by the Minister of Development, the purpose of these bodies is to try to airports as “economic hubs” to Galicia, as they are elements “energizing” for tourism and trade, among others.

DRIVERS

In line with this, the state leader opted to go “the way of efficiency and rationality.” At this point, he realized that it is necessary to “better use” of resources.

This will create a corporation that manages the airport area, which helps ensure its state character “economic efficiency” and “general interest” linked to “strategic value” of airports for Galicia and Spain.

Roots in the “rationalization” of costs at airports and air navigation, as detailed Blanco, the forthcoming adoption of “structural reform” of the navigation service. “Bringing the cost of control to the European environment and implement a new management system, airport traffic,” he said.

4.5 MILLION FOR LOW COST

For its part, the Regional Minister of Environment, Territory and Infrastructures celebrated “understanding, cooperation and understanding” between the Galician Administration and state and the business sector for the implementation of the new committee.

In addition, Jose Blanco coincided with the need to manage three airports Gallegos “in coordination” with the aim of improving their “accessibility” above “localism sterile. “The millions of pilgrims who arrive in Galicia should be able to return from any of the three terminals of the community,” understood.

At higher, used to highlight the increase in aid by the Xunta up to 4.5 million euros to support low-cost airlines. “Tourism will improve with the new services,” he said, convinced that this economic injection will be particularly important during the Holy Year.

“One can only progress when you think big, you can only move when you look away,” proclaimed the paraphrase Regional Minister Jose Ortega y Gasset, to conclude by noting that the firm with the Ministry of Development is “the beginning of a journey” by “improvement” of Galicia.

Connects to Facebook stealing: E ‘pay dearly passion for Facebook to Roman thief was arrested after being linked to popular social network from the computer of a house during a robbery. The man, aged 26, has been introduced in an apartment in Lazio Albano, near the capital, and while he was dealing a blow has found a PC on and decided to also profit to check his profile. The 26 year old was trapped by its own data.

Was unable to resist the temptation and distraction virtual cost him dear. To access your profile, the thief has in fact entered your data, leaving an indelible mark on the computer of the host. Track him down was a breeze for the investigators, who have found all the information about him served on a silver platter.

By mail found on the pc then the police have managed to climb all’indentità the thief and after a search of his home was also found the stolen goods returned to the rightful owner.

DON White Jose, like any other politician of hogaño, is a slogan machine gun that, there where it goes, waters meninges of its audience with a broadside. The other day, interviewed person in my presence by Nacho Villa, I verified how Don Jose was helped of a papelico in which a handful of these slogans had written him; and, as it spoke, it was putting with fórceps slogans of the papelico, as the forgetful comedians put blood sausages in their parliaments.

This politician of hogaño has become: in one cháchara mazorral and inept salpimentada of slogans; and, by force of machine-gunning meninges to us, our politicians obtain that we internalise such slogans, so that we got to repeat them as if they were own occurrences, we are and them laying eggs everywhere, like carps of a fish farm ahítas of ideological fodder and encantadísimas of the life.
But Don White Jose is not only one slogan machine gun, like any other politician of hogaño; in honor to the truth, to Don White Jose the machine gun jams to him from time to time and then it says truths that appear to him of the soul, truths like fists aureole that it of a enternecedora humanity. It finishes happening to him in one of those colloquies that are organized so that the politicians provide to the idiotizada mass of their daily ration of slogans, where without rebozo some - like a girl who teaches to us a sine hardly púber- has confessed:

- When I stop being minister, eternally I will be thanked for the president. One is not minister by own merits nor by academic curriculum; one is minister because the president of the Government decides therefore it. There are thousands and thousands of citizens as well who could make it better than I, or as I, and who did not have that opportunity.
And before size of proud show of, stirring, close sincerity, one cannot but loosen lagrimilla. Don Jose, lowering of the pedestal of the false vanities, recognizes to us that in its election as minister are half-full no own virtues, nor articles intellects of which can brag of. Don Jose recognizes to us that it has been chosen, instead of the thousands and thousands of people who could it have done better than he, because a gentleman who recognizes as well that “anyone can be president of the Government” has decided therefore it.

He is not charming? One listens to these truths as fists of Don Jose and feels something as well as a cabrilleo of optimism and euphoria climbing to him up the spinal marrow; it is as if, in half of a trip in bus, the conductor would confess to you, between self-assured and attractive, who has left the twenty glasses dioptrías in house and that in addition has hormiguillo in the feet that it prevents him to step on the brake. How delicious sincerity!

One of the most evident plus signs of the corruption of the democracy is the subversion of the human hierarchies. Santo Tomás established that the government tasks had to be entrusted to most virtuous and intelligent; and also that to encumbrar what is of nature inferior is a monstruosidad. But today this order of subordination has been subverted; and to which he is monstrous we called “the greatness of the democracy”, that reason why is seen consists of letting itself govern by those who recognize without tapujos, in a show of proud, stirring, close sincerity that lacks merits. But everything is not lost: Don Jose, that is not minister by own merits, is religious man at least; then, to be “eternally thanked for” Zapatero it is necessary to think that an eternal life exists. And only one eternal life could, indeed, lodge the infinite gratitude that Don Jose must to Zapatero; I only hope that, by then, the weeping and crujir of teeth do not obstruct too much their idolatrous cult to the leader.

An accumulation of factors and circumstances separated yesterday to Madrid of the Olympic dream in favor of Rio de Janeiro. The rotation of continents, the little European support, the magic of Lula… Many have been the reasons for which the Madrilenian hunch, in the end, has remained only in that. The readings that can become of this “sweet” defeat can be several and very complex. The HAMMOCK is thus. Nobody knows what thinks. Nobody can predict its conclusions. But there are some gestures that have caused that the dream of Madrid must continue waiting for other four years.

1. The rotation of continents
The first and great stumbling block. Only once in history there was no jump between two continents. Of London 1948 one went to Helsinki 1952. The rest of the history of the Games serves to contrast that rotation prevails. The next edition will be celebrated in London in 2012 and Madrid aspired to the 2016.

2. Europe supported to River
The great strategic play and hides that Rio de Janeiro has never exposed of public form. The Brazilian candidacy counted on a fort endorsement in a great number of European countries. And that was translated in safe votes from the first round. Why? Enough cities of the old continent want to organize the Games of 2020. The mayors of Paris and Rome already have shown their interest for being he soothes. And in the firing chamber, there are other capitals with name. Speech of Paris, the Prague, of Moscow, of Berlin…
And for all these projects, the worse thing than could happen to them is that the election of Madrid in 2016. This would have annulled its project immediately. If the concession of the Games is already difficult, since it has been verified, without there is continental rotation, would not have no option in 2020 with Madrid having organized those of 2016. In the Spanish delegation there was yesterday much disappointment with the president of the HAMMOCK, Jacques Rogge, because it had said to them that the rotation was not a key factor.

3. Africa also gave the back

The African continent has followed very close by the voting. It had a special interest in her. Its objective one was that Brazil was raised with the victory thus to play in the future the trick of which they are the unique continent that has still not organized Games. Its message was clear: now it must touch to him to Rio de Janeiro because later we will go. It is why no member of African committees supported its to the Madrilenian candidacy in the three votings. In addition, the few supports that we could have started of the black continent took Barack Obama by their Nigerian origins. The president of the United States, and the candidacy of Chicago, has realised a tremendous effort in these last months to gain votes there. River gained the game to them because it weighs plus the interest of Africa in already organizing Games in his continent.

4. Damn repesca
Madrid returned to lose force in the second and third voting. In first we were chosen, with a total of 28 votes, by the 26 of River. From there, the Brazilians took the rest of votes of Chicago and Tokyo. The final voting was closed with 66 supports for Brazil and 32 for Madrid. That is to say, from Rio de Janeiro had successfully obtained 40 new votes, by 4 of ours.

5. The “lobby” did not work
Although the day of Thursday was eternal for the Spanish delegation, in the end was not used for anything because it was obtained very little. The experts say who the members of the HAMMOCK have for a long time determined to whom they will vote in first occasion, but which they do not know what will do later. The “lobby” serves to successfully obtain those supports that can be orphaned in the following votings. The Spanish delegation “punctured there”. In spite of the fifty meetings that the Kings, Zapatero, Gallardón and company approached, the members of the HAMMOCK returned to give the back us. Madrid 2016 did not know to successfully obtain the votes that had been without owner after the eliminations of Chicago and Tokyo. And that the Madrilenian delegation was used thorough the previous day. This experience must be used for the future, since to the capital of Spain already him two Olympic Games by not knowing how have escaped to scratch this type of votes. to solve it, the success possibilities are enormous.

6. The doping
The black legend that has flown over on the Spanish sport has passed invoice somehow. During long time, Spain it has had vitola to be a small paradise because there was no law that penalized the consumption and traffic of dopantes substances. Jaime Lissaveztsky impelled and created the present law, that punishes to the inducer with jail pains. The Government had to modify the law fifteen days before landing in Copenhagen.

7. Lula and Suramérica
The president of Brazil has known to catch the adhesions in America, Europe and Africa. He used a weighty argument: there have never been Games in Suramérica.

8. A HAMMOCK of less
Question of numbers and, by elevation, specific weight. In the Assembly of the Olympic Committee the International (HAMMOCK) were two Brazilians (Joao Havelange and Carlos Nuzman), two Americans (Anita Defrantz and James Easton), Japanese (Chiharu Igaya, Sun-Ichiro two Okano) and only a Spanish (Juan Antonio Samaranch junior).

9. Samaranch, less weight
President of honor of the Olympic Committee Internacional, Juan Antonio Samaranch, was his top leader during 21 years. And its influence is undeniable in the organization, but according to they count in the spheres of the olimpismo, the weight is moderate by the presence and the activity. Samaranch appealed to its own age (89 years) “in the end of my days” to successfully obtain supports for Madrid. But there was no success.

10. They lacked greatest
Madrid presented/displayed to Raul like standardbearing of its proposal. And it hit upon completely because the captain of Madrid was one of the great names of these three days in Copenhagen. The Danish police let of side its tasks at some time to request an autograph to the goleador. Palmarés sport of Raul is outside all suspicion. But, and it arrives here but, the candidacy of Madrid 2016 had dreamed about the possibility that some of great stars of the Spanish sport had been able to go to the appointment. Zapatero telephoned to the Lakers to request an extra permission of Pau Gasol. And Lissaveztsky was in permanent reporting line with Nadal until the last moment. Neither it could be present in Denmark. Pívot, because the preseason with the champion of the NBA has begun, and the tennis player, because it returns to the competition in China. Nadal sent a message of support to all the Spanish delegation the same day of the voting. Unfortunately, as little it served.
He was not in Denmark Fernando Alonso either, just fichado by Ferrari in a nonOlympic sport, of east race weekend in Japan. Alberto Accountant is of vacations and missing of the map. One lay down in lack to some great one, without undervaluing to Raul.

At least 467 people were killed and 421 seriously injured by the earthquake of 7.6 magnitude on the Richter scale that hit last night west of the island, said the Ministry of Social Affairs.

The chief of staff health crisis, Rustam Pakaya, warned that “thousands of people are trapped under the rubble” of many buildings that fell like a house of cards.

The quake, measuring 7.6 degrees on the Richter scale according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), occurred at 1715 local time (11.15 Spanish time) and affected mainly the city of Padang (West Island) of about 900,000. The USGS determined that the quake’s epicenter was located about 85 kilometers deep.

The earthquake was felt in places as far away as Kuala Lumpur, capital of neighboring Malaysia. In fact, some skyscrapers in Singapore, 440 miles away, were evacuated. The Warning Center Pacific Tsunami warning canceled declared.

Fear of a tsunami
A resident of Padang told Reuters that “hundreds of houses” were affected along the road. “There are some fires, bridges are damaged and there is an extreme panic,” said the witness, who added that some pipes burst and caused flooding. Another witness called Adi explained that all around homes were partially or totally destroyed, and people feared the arrival of a tsunami. The outage and communication seriously complicated rescue efforts.

Padang, capital of West Sumatra province, is situated at the boundary between the Indo-Australian tectonic plate and Eurasian, one of the most seismically active areas on the planet. For this reason, many geologists have predicted that the city could be destroyed by an earthquake.

The earthquake that triggered the devastating tsunami of 26 December 2004 caused about 600 kilometers offshore from the northern coast of Sumatra. About 230,000 people were killed in that disaster in several Indian Ocean countries, some 170,000 in Indonesia.

“Ketsana in Vietnam
At the same time, the typhoon “Ketsana” yesterday followed his path of destruction across Southeast Asia. In Cambodia and Vietnam, the cyclone of time has caused about fifty deaths. Despite preventive evacuations, is leaving a trail of destruction similar to the last weekend in the northern Philippines, where the official toll was 246 dead.

The Vietnamese authorities reported 41 deaths yesterday in coastal and inland, offering a panorama of trees down, roofs blown up and flooded streets and houses in villages without electricity or telephone. “Ketsana” weakened and came to Laos without gusts of 183 kilometers per hour on Tuesday, touching Vietnam.