A financial …plan!

The US Treasury has revealed its blueprint for the biggest overhaul of regulation of the financial sector since the 1930s.
Critics have said that the credit crunch and resultant market turmoil made a strong case for change. But Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson rejected claims that existing regulations have led to the turmoil. And he said the [...]

Waiting in Harare

Zimbabwe is standing on a “precipice” as official results from Saturday’s general election start to trickle in, the opposition has said.
Senior Movement for Democratic Change official Tendai Biti says party leader Morgan Tsvangirai has won 60% of the vote, against 30% for Robert Mugabe. Official results show both sides have 26 parliamentary seats so far. [...]

Turkish courts

Turkey’s constitutional court is expected to rule whether or not to hear a case aimed at closing down the country’s governing AK party.
The chief prosecutor has filed a petition calling for the party to be closed for “anti-secular activities”. He also wants dozens of its members, including the prime minister and president, to be banned [...]

The Ovi magazine today

Noam Chomsky on the Politics of the Essence of the Human Mind by Emanuel L. Paparella
Noam Chomsky is considered one of the pivotal linguists of our time. He follows a long heritage on the nature of language which begins with the ancient Greeks and continues with Giambattista Vico in the 18th century.
Whither Democracy in [...]

Free Betancourt NOW!

A French plane and medical team have been put on standby in case the high-profile hostage Ingrid Betancourt, held by Colombian rebels, is released.
The French president’s office said it was a “precautionary” move and there was no information to suggest Ms Betancourt was about to be freed. The former Colombian presidential candidate and French-Colombian citizen [...]

Monitors warn on Zimbabwe ‘delay’

Election observers in Zimbabwe have expressed concerns over “delays” in announcing official presidential poll results, amid fears of rigging.
 
The head of one monitors’ group said he had “no doubt” officials now know most results. None have yet been released. Officials blamed the fact that four separate polls were held on one day.
The government and election [...]

Queen cancels diamond party because of the economic gloom

The Queen has cancelled a party to mark her diamond wedding anniversary because she felt it would be “inappropriate” to hold a lavish celebration with the country on the brink of recession.
 
Guests at the party, which was due to be held at The Ritz this weekend, would have been served champagne from crystal-studded bottles and [...]

Obama Says Clinton Should Keep Running

Barack Obama refused Saturday to go along with other Democrats who are calling for Hillary Rodham Clinton to step away from the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. “My attitude is Senator Clinton can run as long as she wants,” Obama said.
Obama told reporters he did not agree with one of his supporters, Vermont Sen. [...]

Clinton rejects call to quit race

US presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton has rejected calls by supporters of her rival, Barack Obama, to abandon her campaign for the Democratic nomination.
 
Senator Patrick Leahy, an influential Democrat and Obama supporter, had said that by remaining in the race she was helping the Republican Party. Mrs. Clinton told supporters she had no intention of abandoning [...]

Vote count in Zimbabwe

Vote counting is under way in Zimbabwe, with the main opposition MDC claiming it is winning the battle to oust President Robert Mugabe.
 
The MDC said it was ahead in most constituencies but continues to fear the vote will be rigged. Results may not be finalized for some days and the government warned the MDC not [...]