RCI Cyberjournal

Opel-Canada?

Dollar soars

Border tensions

BERLIN: OPEL SOLD TO CANADIAN-LED CONSORTIUM

Opel, the European wing of General Motors, could soon be under new management, once all the details of a tentative deal are settled. The deal will see Opel purchased by Magna International. The Canadian auto parts manufacturer and two Russian partners have pledged to inject more than 700 million dollars into the company, for a majority stake. Germany will back loans of more than two billion dollars. The deal is intended to protect GM's European operation, if, as expected, the US parent company files for bankruptcy protection on Monday. Frank Stronach, the 76-year-old chairman of Magna, who began his automotive career in 1957 by supplying a metal bracket for sun visors on GM cars, says he wants to build Opel cars in Canada. Canadian Auto Workers union president Ken Lewenza says he's optimistic the deal could eventually mean more manufacturing jobs in Canada, but he points out the North American market is struggling with overcapacity as it is.

TOR0NTO: LOONIE TAKES FLIGHT

The Canadian dollar is returning to heights it hasn't seen in almost eight months. It closed the week's trading Friday at 91.60 cents US, having gained almost seven cents in relation to the US currency in just over two weeks. The loonie's rise during the month of May marked the sharpest monthly increase in its value since 1950. One prominent Canadian economist is predicting the Canadian currency will be at par with its US counterpart by the end of the year. That's good news for importers, and for Canadians who travel abroad, but not for Canadian exporters who see their goods rising in price.

CALGARY: TRADE WARNING

A senior Canadian official says Prime Minister Stephen Harper's Conservative government is pressuring the United States to live up to its international trade obligations. In a speech to the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, International Trade Minister Stockwell Day said, although President Barack Obama has pledged to abide by international rules, his good intentions have been derailed at the state and local levels. He says that under provisions of the new Buy America Act, things are being done that are closing the door to Canadians. But, Mr. Day warns against retaliating, saying that will only make matters worse.

OTTAWA: FLU UP

The number of Canadians with confirmed cases of H1N1 flu rose dramatically this past week. Health Canada says, as of Friday there were 1,336 cases in nine provinces and two territories - 218 more than on Wednesday. The biggest increases were in the two largest provinces, Ontario and Quebec. This influenza virus is blamed for two deaths in Canada. The World Health Organization reports that, globally, there are over 15-thousand cases in 53 nations, with 99 deaths recorded.

MONTREAL: LAWYERS GAIN RECIPROCITY

The Canadian province of Quebec, which is predominantly French-speaking, has reached an agreement with France to allow the practice of law in either jurisdiction. Any lawyer admitted to the bar in either Quebec or France is eligible, once they pass a common qualifying exam. Similar arrangements already exist for accountants, engineers and architects. In announcing the agreement for the lawyers, the Premier of Quebec, Jean Charest, expressed the hope that eventually some one hundred professions and trades will enjoy the same reciprocity.

MONTREAL: QUEBEC TO CONSULT ON CANCER-TESTING DOUBTS

The minister of health in the Canadian province of Quebec, Yves Bolduc, says the government is working as quickly as possible to get factual information out to the public regarding cancer tests that may have been compromised. A study published this week revealed faults in the province's breast cancer testing, a situation similar to that which occurred earlier in another province, Newfoundland and Labrador, where at least 386 patients received the wrong test results. Mr. Bolduc is scheduled to meet with oncologists and pathologists on Sunday to decide how to address the issue. Premier Jean Charest, speaking Saturday in Montreal, pleaded for patience, and said the health authorities were working as fast as they can to get answers.

AKWASASNE: MOHAWKS DECRY ARMED BORDER

Tensions are mounting in the Mohawk First Nation reserve of Akwasasne, a native territory which straddles the provinces of Quebec and Ontario. More to the point, it also borders the United States. Beginning on Monday, Canadian border guards situated there and elsewhere will start carrying weapons for the first time. But the leaders of the Mohawk community insist Canada has no right to place armed guards on their territory, and that Canadian officials have rebuffed several attempts to find a compromise, including a requested delay in the arming of the guards. In a letter sent last year to Canadian officials, Grand Chief Tim Thompson described the presence of armed border guards as a direct assault on Akwasasne's sovereignty, tantamount to an act of war.

SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO: SUIT DENIED

The widow of a Canadian businessman who was murdered in Puerto Rico in 2005 has failed in a bid for compensation. The judge dismissed her lawsuit, ruling that that Aurea Vazquez Rijos repeatedly failed to comply with court orders, and delayed her deposition too many times. Ms Rijos was seeking $1-million in damages and half of her husband's estate. Adam Anhang, a Winnipeg native who moved to Puerto Rico a year before the attack, was beaten and stabbed to death in 2005, as he walked with his wife along the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan. American officials have accused his widow of arranging the murder.

NORTH KOREA

South Korean officials say there's evidence North Korea may be preparing to transport another long-range missile to a test launch site in the northeast. Seoul says spy satellites have spotted signs of the move. The report comes as the US Defence Secretary Robert Gates issued his harshest warning to the North since its recent nuclear test last month. He told an Asian conference of defence ministers in Singapore that Washington will not stand idly by while North Korea builds the capability to wreak destruction on targets in Asia or America. However, he said he did not consider North Korea to be a direct military threat to the US, at this point.

PAKISTAN

Pakistan's military says it's regained control of the largest city in the Swat valley from the Taliban. A senior official says Mingora is under full military control. Fighting intensified a week ago as the army strengthened its presence in the town, conducting house-to-house searches for Taliban militants. Pakistan launched its offensive against the Taliban after a peace deal broke down earlier this month. More than 2 million people have fled the region, and an unknown number of militants and civilians have died. Journalists have been banned from the area.

IRAN

Iran has executed three men in connection with the bombing a Shia mosque just two days ago. The bombing killed 25 people during evening prayers in the south-east mainly Sunni-Muslim city of Zahedan. The trio had been arrested before Thursday's bombing, but, according to Iranian officials, had confessed that they had provided the explosives for it. Authorities claim they were tried and had legal representation.

IRAQ

Iraq's former trade minister has been detained in connection with a corruption scandal. Reports say Abdul Falah al-Sudany got advance word on an arrest warrant against him. He went to the Baghdad airport and boarded a flight to Dubai early Saturday. But the passenger plane turned around after half an hour and returned to Baghdad, where al-Sudany was arrested by plainclothes security officers. He's suspected of fraudulent activity in connection with Iraq's public food ration program, which is one of the world's largest. Millions of dollars meant to buy food imports were embezzled, or taken in kickbacks, by officials at the Trade Ministry and the Grain Board.

SOUTH AFRICA

Despite their best efforts, marine scientists and volunteers in South Africa could not steer all 55 beached pilot whales back into the water. So they were to euthanize as many as 35 of them. Another 10 died of stress. The whales were stranded Saturday on a beach near Cape Town. Rescuers had battled to keep the beached adults and calves wet, and also used earth-moving equipment to try to save them, but many of the animals swam or were pushed back ashore by the high waves. The marine mammals weigh between four and five tonnes and measure up to 5.5 metres (18 feet).

TENNIS

For the first time in 17 years, the fourth round of the French Open women's draw will have some Canadian flavour. Aleksandra Wozniak continued her magical French Open run Saturday, earning a hard-fought 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Lourdes Dominguez Lino of Spain in third-round action. The 21-year-old from Blainville, Quebec, is the first Canadian woman to survive into the second week at the French Open since Patricia Hy-Boulais in 1992. Wozniak is also the first Canadian to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam event since Maureen Drake qualified for the round of 16 at the 1999 Australian Open. Wozniak's opponent in the round of 16 will be second-seeded Serena Williams, who rallied for a 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Spain's Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez.

DIVING

Canadian champion Mandy Moran of Calgary came within four points of earning her first career Grand Prix diving medal on Saturday placing fourth on women's three-metre springboard at the FINA Grand Prix in Madrid. Qulin Zheng of China won the gold medal with 317.20 points, Olivia Wright of Australia was second at 297.40 and Lin Qu of China third at 293.05. Moran finished the competition with a strong reverse dive but just missed reaching the podium earning 289.55 points. She was also fourth earlier this season at the Grand Prix event in Germany. Hailey Casper of Calgary advanced to the semifinals and placed eighth overall. In the men's 10-metre preliminaries, Kevin Geyson of Winnipeg was ninth. Competition ends Sunday with the semis and final on men's tower and the women's three-metre synchro.

RUGBY

Canada-Wales rugby union international match (Toronto): Canada 23 Wales 32

SOCCER

A second-half goal from Simeon Jackson gave Canada a 1-0 away win over Cyprus in an international friendly on Saturday. Jackson scored in the 53rd minute when he picked up a pass at the top of the box from a quickly-taken free kick that seemed to catch the Cypriot defence off-guard. The pass put Jackson alone against Cypriot goalkeeper Antonis Georgallides and the Canadian forward made no mistake slotting the ball past a diving Georgallides. The goal sparked a slow Cypriot offence to life, but Canada did well to defend its goal and neutralize Cypriot attacks. Canada's 2008 player of the year Julian de Guzman was a standout in midfield, controlling the centre for Canada with strong play with sharp passing.

SUNDAY, MAY 31ST, 2009

Vancouver: Sunny. 22. Edmonton: Showers. 17. Calgary: Showers. 19. Saskatoon and Regina: Sunny. 20. Winnipeg: Showers. 19. Toronto: Sunny. 13. Ottawa and Montreal: Showers. 10. Fredericton. Showers. 21. Halifax: Clearing. 19. Charlottetown: Sunny. 19. St. John's: Rain. 17. Whitehorse: Sunny. 19. Yellowknife: Sunny. 13. Iqaluit: Rain or wet snow. 3.

RCI Cyberjournal

Federal government in deficit.

Canadian astronaut arrives at international space station.

University to make medical isotopes.

OTTAWA: FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IN DEFICIT

Canada's government confirmed on Friday that after years of enjoying a budget surplus, its finances fell into a deficit in March. The Finance Department put the deficit in the last month of the fiscal year at CDN$3.6 billion. The overall deficit for the fiscal year was CDN$2.2 billion. In the previous fiscal year, there was a surplus of CDN$11.4 billion. In March, the government saw a drop in corporate taxes of almost 49 per cent.

MOSCOW: CANADIAN ARRIVES AT INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION

A Russian spacecraft carrying a Canadian astronaut, Robert Thirsk, and two colleagues from Russia and Belgium has docked at the International Space Station. The arrival of the three astronauts doubles the size of the space station crew to six---it's largest number ever. The three new arrivals left Earth two days ago from the Baikonur space agency in Kazakhstan. They'll undertake experiments at the space station for several months.

HAMILTON: UNIVERSITY TO MAKE MEDICAL ISOTOPES

McMaster University plans to improve its nuclear facility to make medical isotopes, filling a gap left by the temporary closing of the Canadian nuclear reactor in Chalk River that produces almost half of the world's medical isotope production. The university in Hamilton, Ontario, will finance the improvements with part of the CDN$22 million that it is receiving from the federal and Ontario governments. The McMaster reactor is the only Canadian one outside of Chalk River capable of producing the isotopes. The Chalk River reactor is shut for three months for repairs.

EDMONTON: ALBERTA SEEKS TO COMPENSATE CHINESE WORKERS

Alberta says that years of searching will be needed to locate 132 Chinese workers who were paid only a small fraction of their wages earned at an oilsands project near Fort McMurray. The workers who have since returned to China are owed more than CDN$3 million. The government says it's determined to find the workers to ensure they are paid what they are owed under provincial law. They were employed in 2007 by a Chinese contractor. It's alleged that part of the workers' salaries was taken by the contractor's company, an affiliate of China's state-owned energy giant, Sinopec.

NORTH KOREA

North Korea has again warned that it will respond to any new United Nations sanctions imposed as a result of North Korea's underground nuclear test earlier this week. The test shocked the international community. North Korea warned that it would take self-defensive measures. On Friday, North Korea test-fired another short-range missile, the sixth this week.

CHINA

China suspects that the H1N1 virus, also known as swine flu, has been transmitted within the country for the first time. The Chinese Health Ministry says the case involves a 24-year-old woman in the southern city of Guangzhou. She tested positive on Thursday after developing a fever. Before the latest incident, there had been 13 confirmed cases of swine flu in mainland China. All of them caught the virus overseas. The flu is said to have originated from Mexico. There have been an estimated 100 deaths worldwide. Most occurred in Mexico. Canada has registered two flu-related deaths.

INDIA

India's economy increased more than expected in the latest quarter, leading some economists to predict that India has seen the worst of the global downturn. Growth reached almost six per cent, nearly a full percentage point higher than forecast. But one economist said that the growth was due almost entirely to government spending. India's economy largely coped with the global downturn better than many other countries.

AFGHANISTAN

Afghan and U.S.-led coalition troops say that they killed at least 35 militants on Thursday in clashes and air strikes in Zabul province. Fighting in Afghanistan has increased in recent weeks as Taliban insurgents have stepped up bomb attacks. Canada is part of the NATO-led military operation Afghanistan.

KENYA

Africa's environment ministers have agreed on a plan to deal with global climate changes that could affect millions of Africans. At its meeting on Thursday in Nairobi, the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment called on Western industrialized nations to cut carbon emissions further and to transfer their environment technology to developing countries. Conference delegates also urged Canada and other Group of Eight countries to fulfill the G8's intention to build a climate change centre in Africa. Africa produces little of the emissions that harm the environment, but the United Nations predicts that global climate change over the next ten years will lead to a severe water shortage for millions of Africans.

UNITED STATES

U.S. President Barack Obama has called on Israel to stop the expansion of its West Bank settlements as part of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. He says that Palestinians must help the peace process by providing security in the West Bank and reducing anti-Israeli sentiment in schools and mosques. Mr Obama made the comments during a meeting with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Washington on Thursday. Israel has previously rejected a request to stop building in settlements in West Bank. Palestinians contend that Jewish settlement building is aimed at denying them a state.

FINANCIAL MARKETS

On the Toronto Stock Exchange on Friday, the Composite Index closed down 22 points to 10,370. The Canadian dollar closed at 91.60 U.S. cents, up 1.90 of a cent. The euro was worth CDN$1.5438, down 1.05 of a cent. The price of a barrel of oil on the New York Mercantile Exchange rose US$1.23 to US$66.31.

TORONTO: BIGGEST BANK POSTS LOSS

Canada's largest bank is reporting a loss of CDN$50-million for the past three months. Royal Bank attributes the loss to a downturn in the U.S. economy and to the market value of banks in the country. It's the first time since 1993 that Royal Bank has reported a loss. Earnings are down four per cent from a year ago, and 17 per cent compared with the first three months of this year.

VANCOUVER: COMPANY CLOSES THREE SAWMILLS

Canfor Corporation is closing three sawmills in British Columbia indefinitely, a move that will put nearly 600 people out of work. The quick rise of the Canadian dollar---about 14 per cent since the first quarter---is making it more difficult to export lumber in a depressed market. B.C. forestry companies must also contend with addition of 15 per cent tax as a result of the Canada-U.S. softwood lumber deal. The closure of the three mills represents about 11 per cent of the company's lumber capacity.

CALGARY: TRAVEL AGENTS ASSOCIATION TARGETS WESTJET

The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies is expressing dissatisfaction with
the Canadian air company, WestJet Airlines, for planning to cut booking commissions paid to travel agents. Starting July 1, WestJet will cut commissions to four per cent from nine per cent.

HOCKEY

The Canadian entrepeneur Jim Balsillie has unveiled his vision for Copps Coliseum in Hamilton, Ontario, where he hopes to bring a third NHL team to Ontario. Balsillie plans to install luxury boxes, lounges and restaurants and a video scoreboard. The enlarged arena would seat as many as eighteen thousand spectators. But his bid to buy an NHL team still faces opposition from NHL management.

GOLF

Matt Hill, a Canadian who is attending a U.S. university, won the NCAA Division One men's golf title in Toledo, Ohio, on Thursday.

Weather

Here is Canada's weather on Saturday. British Columbia will be sunny. The high temperature in Vancouver will be 21 degrees Celsius. The Yukon: mainly sunny. Whitehorse, 14. Northwest Territories: rain. Yellowknife, seven. Nunavut: light rain. Iqaluit, one. Alberta: variable cloudiness. Edmonton, 18. Saskatchewan: mainly sunny. Regina, 27. Manitoba: sunny. Winnipeg, 15. Ontario: variable cloudiness. Toronto, 18. Ottawa, 17. Quebec: cloudy periods. Montreal, 15. New Brunswick: rain showers. Fredericton, 17. Nova Scotia: overcast. Halifax, 17. Prince Edward Island: overcast. Charlottetown, 17. Newfoundland: rain. St. John's, 14.

Climate-refugee problem attracts global attention; Dalai Lama says Tibet needs autonomy

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	May 29, 2009 | News covering the UN and the world Sign up  |  E-Mail this News report pegs civilian death toll in Sri Lanka at 20,000 The Times of London has published a report with photographic evidence that suggests the civilian death toll in the final days of Sri Lanka's offensive against the rebel Tamil Tigers was 20,000 -- three times the figure released by the government. Authorities denied the report. Aid agencies lack access to the area in question, hampering efforts to confirm the death toll. The Times (London) (5/29) , BBC (5/29) Egyptian's Unesco campaign falters  Drug-resistant malaria on the rise  Climate-refugee problem attracts global attention  Gaza residents' desperation continues  North Korea fires again, issues warning  Career Center  Skip to a section:  United Nations | Development Health and Poverty | Development Energy and Environment | Human Rights | Peace and Security Death to potatoes." Anti-Mahmoud Ahmadinejad rally chant. Get the full story. UN Dispatch: Come September, we may see Nicolas Sarkozy throw some fries on his sammy and Angela Merkel crack open an Iron City Light. The White House announced today that Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania will host the next G-20 Summit. UN Dispatch Egyptian's Unesco campaign falters An apology for a series of anti-Israeli remarks, including one last year suggesting that Israeli books in Egyptian libraries be burned, may not be enough to salvage the candidacy of Egyptian Culture Minister Farouk Hosny to be the next Unesco head, according to this article. Austria, Bulgaria and Ecuador are among the other countries proposing candidates. The New York Times (5/28) Other News Vietnam seen as likely to ratify UN charter on corruption AlertNet.org/Reuters (5/29) Drug-resistant malaria on the rise Scientists say that malarial parasites in Cambodia are showing early signs of resistance against the artemesinin family of anti-malarial drugs. Scientists are scrambling to contain a global outbreak of drug-resistant malaria strains, which they say they have confirmed in two separate clinical trials. The World Health Organization warned of early signals to decreased effectiveness in Southeast Asia in 2006. BBC (5/29) Egyptian pig farmers struggle in cull's wake Tens of thousands of Coptic Christians, who raised pigs to sell them to non-Muslim butchers, lost their incomes when Egypt culled the country's swine population. Many of them do not know how they will recover their incomes. Los Angeles Times (5/29) Cyclone after-effects plague India, Bangladesh Millions of people across India and Bangladesh remain stranded and in increasingly desperate need of aid four days after Cyclone Aila tore through the area. Authorities are particularly concerned about potential outbreaks of waterborne diseases. AlertNet.org/Reuters (5/29) Climate-refugee problem attracts global attention Growing concerns over the fate of as many as 200 million climate refugees in the coming decades are raising the issue's profile among international policymakers and diplomats, with the United Nations General Assembly prepared to vote on a resolution linking climate change to global security. Stark differences of opinion among countries remain on what, if any, action should be taken. The New York Times (5/28) Other News Norway's stance on carbon capture, storage raises hopes and concerns AlertNet.org/Reuters (5/28) Gaza residents' desperation continues Hardscrabble existence is the norm for residents of the Gaza Strip, trapped between the twin pressures of Israeli and Egyptian border closures and the dictates of Hamas. Domestic violence, drug use and unemployment are all reportedly on the rise, while access to education and medical care is in decline. The New York Times (5/28) Dalai Lama backs autonomy for Tibet Chinese rule is "something like a death sentence," robbing Tibet of its cultural and social legacy, and autonomy is the best answer, the Dalai Lama said this week. Giving regional Tibetan authorities policy-making power on education, religion and use of natural resources, while keeping foreign affairs and security concerns under Beijing's leadership, would protect Tibet's unique characteristics, he believes. The New York Times (5/28) Other News Recession hits global sex trade TIME (5/28) North Korea fires again, issues warning North Korea launched another missile today with a warning to the United Nations Security Council that it is prepared to act if provoked. American officials are continuing efforts to press China to adopt a tougher stance as the world community struggles to understand Pyongyang's intentions with its new round of diplomatic brinkmanship. The New York Times (5/28) , The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (5/29) , Google/The Associated Press (5/29) Obama, Israeli officials in public spat over settlement issue U.S. President Barack Obama and Israeli officials appear to be digging in their heels on the controversial issue of expanding settlements and outposts in the West Bank. After meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Obama affirmed that he wants Israel to stop building settlements and outposts in Palestinian territory. Los Angeles Times (5/29) , The Washington Post (5/29) In Somalia, violence is everyday Somalia, considered by many to be at the verge of complete collapse, suffers problems that rarely garner news coverage but affect the lives of its people in horrifying ways. The Guardian (London) (5/29) South Koreans take to the streets to mourn former President Roh The streets of Seoul were filled with tens of thousands of supporters of former President Roh Moo-hyun, who jumped off a cliff after allegations of corruption arose surrounding his administration. Some 15,000 riot police were deployed as officials feared that protesters might use the event for a political demonstration. BBC (5/29) In Iran, retail politics has a distinct flavor Political opponents of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad are crying foul at the recent government handout of 400,000 tons of potatoes, saying it is an attempt to buy votes. Without a 50% showing in the vote, Ahmadinejad would face a one-on-one runoff. The Times (London) (5/29) Other News Pentagon creates new command to head cyberwarfare The New York Times (5/28) Interpol sets sights on Somali pirate threat The New York Times (5/29) Africa Regional Vice Presidents World Vision International Africa Deputy Director - Asia Division Human Rights Watch NY, DC, London, or Asia Associate General Counsel Human Rights Watch New York Deputy Director, Sustainable Food and Agriculture Systems International Relief and Development (IRD) Arlington, VA   Get more involved: Sign up for e-mail updates from: UN Foundation / Better World Campaign   Key Sites United Nations Secretary-General UN News Centre Key UN Bodies, Agencies, Funds and Programs UN Foundation UN Dispatch UN Radio News Service UN Secretary-General condemns attacks against Somalia's government UN Radio News Service   This SmartBrief was created for elninochina@yahoo.com.cn Subscriber Tools       Update account information | Change e-mail address | Unsubscribe | Print friendly format | Web version | Search past news | Archive | Privacy policy Job Board:  Lee Vanderwerff (202) 737-5500 x 248   About UN WIRE UN Wire is a free service sponsored by the United Nations Foundation which is dedicated to supporting the United Nations' efforts to address the most pressing humanitarian, socioeconomic and environmental challenges facing the world today.       Recent UN Wire Issues: Thursday, May 28, 2009 Wednesday, May 27, 2009 Tuesday, May 26, 2009 Friday, May 22, 2009 Thursday, May 21, 2009     Lead Editor:  Adam Mazmanian Contributing Editor:  Juliette Terzieff | Kriston Dean Capps     Mailing Address: SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005     © 1999-2009 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information