Once again, America is threatening world peace in a myriad of ways. First, the Bush team is going after Dr. Mohammad Al Baradi, the respected head of the IAEA, trying to oust him as head of the UN Nuclear Inspection Program. Everyone in the world respects Dr. Al Baradi, his integrity, his forthright statements and his knowledge of the nuclear development field; everyone, that is, except for the Bush team. Of course, the Bush team disrespects anyone who questions them or disagrees with them. Dr. Al Baradi is a man of integrity, and he will not give an inch to political or financial pressure. This...

Nicholas Negroponte, chairman and founder of MIT’s Media Labs, says he is developing a laptop PC that will go on sale for less than $100 (£53). He told the BBC World Service programme Go Digital he hoped it would become an education tool in developing countries. He said one laptop per child could be ” very important to the development of not just that child but now the whole family, village and neighbourhood”. He said the child could use the laptop like a text book. He described the device as a stripped down laptop, which would run a Linux-based operating system, “We...

The nation’s top utility regulator has made it easier and cheaper for SBC Communications and other Internet phone service providers to get 10-digit phone numbers–another federal boost for the mushrooming broadband phone industry. In essence, the Federal Communications Commission gave SBC permission to get telephone numbers directly from their official source–a privately run, quasi-government agency known as the North American Numbering Plan Administration. It’s a much cheaper alternative. Before the FCC’s action, only those Net phone providers certified by states...

A British terror suspect held in Guantanamo Bay for 33 months plans to sue the government, it is reported. Martin Mubanga claimed in the Observer that an MI6 officer played a key role in consigning him to the US camp in Cuba, following his arrest in Zambia. Mr Mubanga, 32, from Wembley, London, said he was brutally interrogated and daubed with urine at the camp. The home secretary said he would not be launching an investigation and that the media reports were not “well informed”. Mr Mubanga, who has dual British and Zambian nationality, was one of four Britons who were released...

UP to seven British paratroopers are to be charged with murdering an Iraqi civilian, military sources revealed yesterday. Senior lawyers have given the go-ahead for them to be brought before a court martial. The move, to be officially announced soon, will be a huge blow for both the British Government and its army. It will increase the damage to the army’s reputation and morale caused by the shocking photographs of British soldiers allegedly abusing Iraqi looters. The danger of revenge attacks will also increase. The troops are said to have become involved in a car chase near the city of...

A French court on Friday ruled against Google in a trademark infringement case brought by Louis Vuitton Malletier, in the latest legal setback to the search giant overseas. The Paris District Court has sanctioned Google and its French subsidiary from selling search-related advertisements against trademarks owned by the luxury fashion designer, which sued the search giant in early 2004. The court charged Google with trademark counterfeiting, unfair competition and misleading advertising. Google was ordered to pay $257,430 (200,000 euros). The ruling comes on the heels of another French court...

By: Cecilie Surasky – The writer is the communications director for Jewish Voice for Peace and a New Voices fellow with the Academy of Educational Development. She contributed this article to The Jordan Times. Every time a Gazan father faints as he watches his family home demolished; every time a Jew, Muslim or Christian is violently attacked by armed Israelis because they are non-violently protesting the separation wall; every time a rain of Israeli army bullets flies into the body of a young child on her way to school; every time a young Palestinian man is made to play violin by Israeli...

A Swedish police officer has confessed he robbed a bank and later investigated the crime himself, telling reporters at the time police had no clues. A court in the central town of Bollnas Monday officially charged the 36-year-old for the armed robbery on Dec. 17, court documents said Tuesday, adding he had pleaded guilty. The amount of money stolen was not disclosed but was described as sizeable. An hour after the crime the police officer returned to the bank as a leading police investigator handling the case. Colleagues became suspicious when he bought a new car in mid-January, paying 219,000...