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Brown Presses Hard for Banking Crisis Agreement at EU Summit
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Britain's Prime Minister Gordon Brown hopeful 27-member group can unanimously
agree on banking-system rescue package based on British model
Speaking in Brussels at the start of a two-day summit of European leaders,
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown was hopeful the 27-member group could
unanimously agree on a banking-system rescue package based on the British model
of recapitalizing financial institutions to get money moving again. For VOA,
Tom Rivers in London reports.British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Winning the
argument against each country trying to take care of its own financial crisis
independently, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown's coordinated-action
approach appears to have won over his colleagues in Europe. Others around the
world are watching as well.His financial plan has been a guidepost for U.S.
officials implementing the $700-billion bank bailout. On Monday, German
Chancellor Angela Merkel announced a plan that closely resembles the British
model.Mr. Brown, who just a month ago was facing calls from within his own
ruling Labor party to step aside before the next general election, has risen to
the occasion in facing the global financial meltdown head on.His decade as
British Treasury Secretary appears to have prepared him for this moment. In
Brussels for the European summit to hammer out an agreement on a common plan,
Mr. Brown is leading the call to bring liquidity back into the system, to
recapitalize the banks to strengthen them for the future, and to get banks to
start lending money once again for things like mortgages and small business
operations."Today is an important moment for the European Union, all 27
countries meeting together," Mr. Brown said. "I hope we will find agreement
also from the whole of Europe on what needs to be done. That all countries
within the European Union will feel part of the program that is necessary to
stabilize the financial system and then to move the economy of Europe forward."
In addition to these initial goals, Mr. Brown says much stronger oversight is
required if these financial problems are not to be repeated. "Stage two is to
make sure that the problems that developed in the financial system, problems
that we know started from America, that these problems do not recur again and
we give people the confidence that we have taken the action that is necessary
to root out the irresponsibilities and excesses in the system, and to make sure
that the rules of the system are such that we have proper disclosure and proper
transparency, that we have supervision in areas where supervision was
previously not required, but we now know is necessary," Mr. Brown said. What
Brown calls an early warning system needs to be established to identify
financial problems before they get out of hand and he says better international
coordination in needed to handle crises that may arise in the future.Compared
to just a month ago, the prime minister today looks like a man brimming with
new found self-confidence. And while this will undoubtedly help him in the
polls, more pain in Britain's domestic economy in the form of rising
unemployment, increasing national debt, and a higher cost of living may temper
the political gains he has made in leading Britain and other nations through
these difficult economic times.
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US Candidates to Hold Final Televised Debate
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Face-off at Hofstra University in New York expected to focus on country's
economic crisis
Senators Barack Obama (l) and John McCain circle each other during 2nd
presidential debate, 7 Oct 08U.S. presidential candidates John McCain and
Barack Obama hold their final televised debate Wednesday night with less than
three weeks left in the race for the White House.The face-off at Hofstra
University in New York is expected to focus on the U.S. economic crisis, an
issue that has helped Obama pull ahead of his Republican rival nationally and
in key battleground states.A New York Times-CBS News poll has Senator Obama, a
Democrat, leading McCain 53 to 39 percent. A Reuters/C-Span/Zogby poll
Wednesday has Obama ahead of McCain by four percentage points nationally.McCain
and Obama are both expected to present themselves as the candidate best able to
pull the country out of its economic turmoil.Earlier this week, McCain and
Obama each announced proposals to help ease the financial crisis.On Tuesday,
McCain proposed a nearly $53 billion-plan that would eliminate taxes on
unemployment benefits and help retired workers keep their savings. He said the
plan would include tax cuts that could help create jobs.Obama's plan includes a
90-day freeze on home foreclosures, penalty-free withdrawals from retirement
funds and a temporary tax credit for companies that create U.S. jobs.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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New Talks Aim to Resolve Georgia, Russia Tensions
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Fighting erupted between two countries on August 7 over Georgian breakaway
region of South Ossetia
Talks aimed at resolving tensions between Georgia and Russia after this
summer's brief war get underway in Geneva Wednesday. The one-day meeting is
being held under the auspices of the United Nations, the European Union and the
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Lisa Schlein reports for
VOA from the UN conference site in Geneva. These were supposed to have been
high-level talks. But, they have now been downgraded to the so-called expert
level of vice-minister. Daniel Warner is the Director for the Center of
International Governance at the Graduate Institute of International Development
Studies in Geneva. He says people are skeptical about what can be accomplished
given the hostile relationship between Russia and Georgia. Nevertheless, he
tells VOA it is important to have a meeting, which allows the Russians and
Georgians to sit at the same table and talk."Having said that, I do not think
that there will be a resolution in the sense of returning to the status quo
before August 7. The best thing that can happen is to guarantee that there
will be no more fighting," Warner said. "To guarantee that there will be
peacekeepers on the territory and to begin to see how they can begin
negotiations that somehow can reach some kind of resolution between two parties
which have very different points of view about the situation." Russian troops
take position at entrance of Gori, 14 Aug 2008Fighting between Russia and
Georgia erupted on August 7 over the Georgian breakaway region of South
Ossetia. The five-day war displaced tens of thousands of people in Georgia
proper, as well as in South Ossetia and Georgia's other breakaway region,
Abkhazia.Russia subsequently moved into Georgia, but says it has since
withdrawn its tanks and troops from the country. During the talks, the
United States and other Western countries are expected to look into Russia's
compliance with its withdrawal commitment under the French-brokered ceasefire
agreement. UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon says the complex issues on the
table defy quick solutions. "We should not be too much impatient or hurried to
have so-called technical resolution of this issue. This may take time. So, we
need to have some patience," he said. "In the short term, we need to try our
best efforts among the parties concerned to restore confidence so that we can
establish a conflict resolution process in the end." Russia and Georgia are at
loggerheads over who should sit at the negotiating table. Russia, which
recognizes South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states, wants them to
participate in the talks. Georgia is opposed to this.Warner says a compromise
appears to have been worked out."The compromise as I understand today is there
will be a plenary session only with the Georgians, Russians and government
officials," he said. "Then there will be a second meeting between experts
where people from Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia will be represented. But, the
name tags will only say that they are individuals. They will give their
names. They will not be representing a formal government. That is the
compromise for the moment." The United States says it still has serious
concerns over the Russian troops' location and their overall numbers in the
breakaway regions. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Dan Fried will attend
the talks and see that this issue will be, as a State Department Spokesman
says, front and center during the discussions.
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US: Senior Al-Qaida in Iraq Militant Killed
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US military says Abu Qaswarah, also know as Abu Sara, led AQI in northern Iraq
until he was killed during an operation in Mosul October 5
The U.S. military in Baghdad says a man killed by coalition forces earlier this
month has been identified as the second in command of al-Qaida in Iraq.The
military said Wednesday Abu Qaswarah, also know as Abu Sara, led AQI in
northern Iraq until he was killed during an operation in Mosul October
5.Officials say the Moroccan-born militant had "historic ties" to the group's
founder, the late Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. They said he trained with al-Qaida in
Afghanistan and directed the movement of "foreign terrorists" into northern
Iraq.The U.S. military said Abu Qaswarah's death will cause a "major
disruption" to the AQI network.U.S.-led coalition and Iraqi forces have managed
to bring the levels of violence down throughout much of Iraq, but some northern
regions remain volatile.
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18 Taliban Killed in Attack on Afghan Provincial Capital
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Officials say militants launched attack late Tuesday on Lashkar Gah in Helmand
province
Afghan officials say at least 18 Taliban militants were killed in the second
attack this week on a key southern provincial capital.Afghans check debris of
house destroyed during attack by Taliban militants in Lashkar Gah, Helmand
province, 15 Oct 2008They say the militants launched the attack late Tuesday on
Lashkar Gah in Helmand province. Gunmen also killed six police officers at a
checkpoint north of the city.Earlier Tuesday, the United Nations' top envoy in
Afghanistan said the Taliban insurgency has spread beyond the country's south
and east, leading to more attacks on civilians and aid workers.Kai Eide told
the U.N. Security Council Afghanistan saw the highest number of attacks in July
and August of this year, since 2002. But the U.N. envoy also cautioned against
pessimistic statements, saying there have been some positive developments in
Afghanistan. Eide cited changes in the Afghan government and improving
relations with neighboring Pakistan.Also on Tuesday, Afghanistan's Defense
Minister, Abdul Rahim Wardak, said violence is high, in part because security
gains in Iraq are prompting foreign militants to head to Afghanistan.Meanwhile,
the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Zalmay Khalilzad told the U.N.
Security Council the United States deeply regrets the accidental loss of Afghan
civilian lives, and that the U.S. does not take the issue lightly.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
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Zimbabwe Power-Sharing Talks Resume
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Former South African President Thabo Mbeki is again mediating the talks between
President Robert Mugabe and main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai
Zimbabwe's political leaders are holding a second day of talks in an effort to
rescue last month's power-sharing agreement. Thabo Mbeki (C) is welcomed by
Zimbabwe's minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Mumbengegwi (2nd L)on his arrival
in Harare, 14 Oct 2008 Former South African President Thabo Mbeki is again
mediating the talks between President Robert Mugabe and main opposition leader
Morgan Tsvangirai in the capital, Harare. The participants have said little
about what has been discussed. But Zimbabwe's state-run newspaper The Herald
today quotes President Mugabe as saying that progress has been made.Tsvangirai
threatened to pull out of the power-sharing deal on Sunday after Mr. Mugabe
unilaterally assigned control of key ministries - including defense, home
affairs and foreign affairs - to his own ZANU-PF party. The original
power-sharing agreement was signed one month ago today. U.S. State Department
spokesman Sean McCormack said Tuesday that President Mugabe overstepped the
bounds of the agreement by claiming key ministries. He urged both sides to
implement the original agreement. Mr. Mbeki helped to broker the original deal,
meant to end the crisis after Zimbabwe's disputed presidential elections.The
power-sharing deal calls for ZANU-PF to control 15 ministries, with the two
factions of the MDC getting 16. Mr. Mugabe would remain as president, with MDC
leader Morgan Tsvangirai becoming prime minister.Zimbabwe has been without an
official government since first-round presidential elections in March.
Tsvangirai won the most votes in that poll, but pulled out of the June run-off
to protest alleged state-sponsored violence against his supporters.The sides
are under pressure to reach a deal so Zimbabwe can start to recover from its
economic crisis. The country's official inflation rate stands at 231 million
percent.Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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US Seeks Cooperation with China in Africa
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Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Jendayi Frazer says
coordinating US and Chinese aid would prevent overlapping projects, lead to
more efficient use of resources
A U.S. official says Washington wants to cooperate with China to help Africa
develop. China has been criticized for its dealings with abusive African
governments, but has also won applause for encouraging dialogue between Sudan
and the international community. Daniel Schearf reports from Beijing. Jendayi
FrazerThe U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs says there may
be opportunities for the United States and China to cooperate in building
Africa's infrastructure and its agriculture and health sectors.Jendayi Frazer
says that coordinating U.S. and Chinese aid would prevent overlapping projects
and lead to more efficient use of resources.But she says China needs to be more
transparent with how it gives debt relief and loans to African nations.
"We certainly are concerned about China's lending practices potentially
undermining our efforts to insure that Africa doesn't reaccumulate
unsustainable debt," said Frazer. "We don't want to on the one hand cancel that
debt and then on the other hand, China's giving more debt."Frazer spoke
Wednesday at China's prestigious Peking University and is in Beijing for
meetings with Chinese officials.China buys increasing amounts of raw materials
and energy from Africa to feed its growing economy. Beijing has come under
criticism for its willingness to trade with and sell weapons to African
governments shunned by Western leaders because of human rights abuses.Frazer
says as China becomes more involved in Africa, Beijing is likely to change its
policy of not interfering in a country's internal affairs. "I suspect that
China's going to come closer to our position," she said. "And, I think that's
true because China, as it invests more and has more contracts, for instance in
the Congo and in other places, they're going to want the rule of law."Beijing
has won praise for using its influence with Sudan to urge Khartoum to cooperate
on peace talks for its war-torn Darfur region.She offered no specific
U.S.-China cooperation plan for Africa, but said the U.S. encourages China to
endorse the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative for Africa. The
agreement encourages financial transparency for companies extracting resources
from Africa, anti-corruption efforts, and the efficient use of the resources.
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Rice: 'No Stone Unturned' in Effort for Mideast Peace
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US Secretary of State says Israelis, Palestinians must redouble efforts for
peace
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice says she will explore every
possibility in her quest for a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians
before the end of this year.Secretary Rice made the remarks before a conference
on Palestinian business investment Tuesday in Washington. VOA correspondent
Meredith Buel has details. President Bush and Secretary Rice launched the
latest effort to boost peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians nearly a
year ago at a conference in Annapolis, Maryland.Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice, October 14, 2008On Tuesday, Secretary Rice told a U.S. conference on
investment in the Palestinian Territories that since then, the parties have
engaged in sustained, substantive negotiations to achieve a two-state solution
to their conflict. She said, "We must do everything that we can with the
negotiating partners to get to the Annapolis solution and that would be to find
an agreement between these parties by the end of the year. It is very
difficult. There is a hard road ahead. But if we do not try, we certainly
will not succeed."The gathering of U.S. business leaders, sponsored by the
Chamber of Commerce, was a follow-up to a conference held in May in Bethlehem
where investors pledged to pump more than $1 billion into the Palestinian
economy.Rice noted in her speech that she and President Bush leave office in
January and vowed to continue her efforts to make progress toward peace.
"Until that moment when I leave office, I will leave no stone unturned to see
if we can finally resolve this conflict between peoples."Secretary Rice has
made numerous trips to the Middle East, but negotiators have made little public
progress. Israeli and Palestinian leaders have expressed doubt they can
achieve an agreement by the end of the year.Rice said the Palestinians and
Israelis need to redouble their efforts for peace. "The Palestinian Authority
has to continue to dismantle the infrastructure of terrorism and to promote an
atmosphere of tolerance. Israel must also halt settlement activity, which can
be seen as prejudging the outcome of negotiations and undermining its
negotiating partner."Rice also urged the Israelis to make more progress in
reducing roadblocks and other impediments to Palestinian movement to allow
businessmen and workers to operate in an environment in which Palestinian
people and their economy can thrive.Major issues in the conflict continue to be
the borders of a future Palestinian state, the fate of Palestinian refugees and
the status of Jerusalem.
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Canadian Conservatives Remain in Power
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Prime Minister Stephen Harper's party wins parliamentary election but will
still remain as minority government after failing to get majority in House of
Commons
Canadians have re-elected the Conservative government of Prime Minister Stephen
Harper. As Craig McCulloch reports, despite the win, Mr. Harper still has a
minority government in Canada's House of Commons.Stephen Harper and relative
celebrate Conservative Party minority victory in the Canadian federal election,
14 Oct 2008Stephen Harper's Conservatives have retained power, with 143 Members
of parliament leading or having been elected.Liberal Leader Stephane Dion will
remain the official opposition leader, as his party appears to have won 76
seats.Canada follows the British parliamentary system, which means voters cast
ballots for local members of parliament, not party leaders. The ruling party
chooses the prime minister.Because Mr, Harper won less than the 155 needed for
a majority in Canada's 308 seat House of Commons, he has another minority
government. The Conservatives gained 15 members since the last election -
mostly at the expense of the Liberals.The Bloc Quebecois, which only runs
candidates in the mostly French-speaking Province of Quebec, will have 50
seats. The Socialist-minded New Democratic Party has 37 seats. There are two
independents.The campaign started in September, with no real issues grabbing
the spotlight. That all changed with the financial meltdown on Wall Street
that brought economic issues to the fore, the last two weeks of the campaign.
Making his victory speech in his hometown, Calgary, Prime Minister Harper said
Canada will come out ahead, despite the economic turmoil."Canadians are worried
right now and I understand those worries," he said. "I want to assure Canadians
that, working together, we will weather this storm and we will position our
economy to emerge stronger than ever before."Conceding in his hometown,
Montreal, Liberal leader Stephane Dion says, at least for now, he will continue
as opposition leader."We Liberals will do our part, responsibly; to make sure
that this parliament works," Dion said. "It is clear that our economy, indeed
the global economic crisis, is the most important issue facing our country at
this time. As the official opposition, we will work with the government to
make sure that Canadians are protected from the economic storm."The biggest
question now for Dion is whether he can continue as leader of the Liberal
Party. Many veteran political watchers are anticipating his exit from the job,
in the coming weeks.
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New Report Finds Hunger Rampant in India
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International Food Policy Research Institute says across India's 17 major
states, situation ranges from 'serious to extremely alarming'
India has the largest number of hungry people in the world, despite the strong
economic growth witnessed in recent years. From New Delhi, Anjana Pasricha
says a new report shows that India's economic boom has brought new prosperity
to its middle class and pulled many out of poverty, but that millions of people
n the vast country still struggle on low incomes. A report by the
International Food Policy Research Institute says hunger, across India's 17
major states, ranges from "serious to extremely alarming." Street urchins eat
bread distributed at a temple in Allahabad, India (File)The report - released
as part of the 2008 Global Hunger Index - presents a dismal picture for India.
It says, despite years of robust economic growth, India scores worse than 25
sub-Saharan countries on the index. It says more than 200 million Indians
suffer from hunger.The report identifies high levels of child malnutrition as
one of the main factors resulting from hunger in India. The report says that
poorer states have substantially higher levels of malnutrition, compared to
their more prosperous counterparts. It found the most severe levels of hunger
in the country's largest and least developed states, such as Madhya Pradesh and
Bihar.However, Purnima Menon - lead author of the report - says poverty is not
the only factor responsible for hunger. She says some poor states with better
health programs or higher levels of literacy have managed to lower levels of
malnutrition and child mortality. "Poverty is one of the underlying reasons,
but there are a number of states that actually are performing either much
better or much worse than one world expect," said Menon. "And, that could
relate to specific investments that those states have made in social protection
programs, in health and nutrition programs, in really scaling up those things
that would make a difference for childhood underweight, childhood mortality and
things like that which are captured in our index."Thus one of India's poorest
states, Orissa, and one of the country's most literate states, Kerala, fare
better on the hunger index than some of the country's wealthier regions.But,
overall, the situation is bleak. Even the country's best-performing state,
Punjab, ranks below countries like Vietnam.The International Food Policy
Research Institute suggests that increasing investments in agriculture and
poverty-reduction programs could help India combat hunger.Experts say the high
level of hunger in the country highlights the widening gap between the rich and
the poor. Five years of high economic growth has brought new affluence to
millions of people who shop for luxury goods in glitzy new shopping malls.
But, for poor people living in teeming urban slums or the countryside, food has
become more unaffordable, because of the increase in global food prices.At
least half the country's billion-plus people live on less than one dollar a
day. The government says it is striving to put in place programs that will
ensure more inclusive growth.
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