Six In The Morning

Subsidies Aid Rebirth in U.S. Manufacturing

　

By LOUIS UCHITELLE
ROME, N.Y. — Walking through his high-ceilinged factory here, explaining the production of sheets of copper, M. Brian O’Shaughnessy comes across as a staunch advocate of manufacturing in America. But he invariably adds: “There is nothing made in the United States that has to be made here — that can’t be shipped in from some other country.” As chairman and principal owner of Revere Copper Products, Mr. O’Shaughnessy runs one of America’s oldest manufacturing companies, started by Paul Revere himself, a fact that exerts considerable pressure. As he put it: “What kind of a message are you sending to the people of the country if you abandon America?”

Relations Remain Icy Between Pakistan and the US
Washington and Islamabad have barely been on speaking terms since US forces killed Osama bin Laden last year. But with American and NATO troops set to leave neighboring Afghanistan soon, nuclear-armed Pakistan has little motivation to improve relations. Hatred of the US is growing in the country.

By Hasnain Kazim and Gerhard Spörl
Sheikh Rashid Ahmed leans back in his desk chair as he makes a continuous stream of phone calls in his dimly lit office. The TV set is switched on, yet muted and in front of him is a revolver in its holster. He reaches for it, smiles and then lets it sit there. He has carried a weapon since hired killers shot at him from a motorcycle two years ago. Ahmed, 61, is a veteran of Pakistani politics. He served in several cabinet posts under Pervez Musharraf, Pakistan's president from 2001 to 2008, most recently as the Federal Minister for Railways. When Musharraf was forced to resign four years ago, Ahmed went down with him. After that, he became religious and founded his own party, the "Awami Muslim League Pakistan," and formally declared jihad on America.

Greece edges closer to forming pro-bailout coalition
irishtimes.com - Last Updated: Friday, May 11, 2012, 07:04

ARTHUR BEESLEY, DAMIAN Mac CON ULADH and DEAGLÁN de BRÉADÚN
The prospect of an unexpected breakthrough to salvage the EU/IMF rescue deal for Greece is emerging after the smallest party in the country’s parliament signalled it was ready to join a pro-bailout coalition. The development came as the Government reiterated that it would not be postponing the fiscal treaty referendum and intensified its attacks on the No camp. The move to form a pro-bailout Greek government may avert a second election and provide a reprieve to the EU-IMF plan for the country. After days of political stalemate, the Democratic Left party indicated yesterday that it may enter a coalition led by the centre-right New Democracy party and backed by the Pasok socialist movement.

Secrecy Bill breakthrough as ANC agrees to major changes
The ANC has bowed to pressure on the Protection of State Information Bill, proposing much greater protection for journalists and whistle-blowers.

11 May 2012 08:25 - Glynnis Underhill
ANC members of the ad hoc committee deliberating the Protection of State Information Bill say the defence clause they have proposed will ensure journalists and whistle-blowers who disclose classified information revealing criminal activity or corruption will not have to go to court. While speculation was rife this week that ANC members would bow to public pressure to insert a public interest defence clause, they said they had done their own version because journalists or whistle-blowers would otherwise have to go to court to prove that disclosing classified information was in the public interest, according to ANC committee member Sam Mazosiwe.

US claim of Iran-al-Qaeda 'deal' discredited
Middle East

By Gareth Porter
WASHINGTON - The United States Treasury Department's claim of a "secret deal" between Iran and al-Qaeda, which had become a key argument by right-wing activists who support war against Iran, has been discredited by former intelligence officials in the wake of publication of documents from Osama bin Laden's files revealing a high level of antagonism between al-Qaeda and Tehran. Three former intelligence officials with experience on the Near East and South Asia told Inter Press Service (IPS) they regard Treasury's claim of a secret agreement between Iran and al-Qaeda as false and misleading.

Earliest Mayan calendar found in lost city


Friday 11 May 2012
Archaeologists have unearthed the earliest calendar of the ancient Maya civilisation of Central America. It was written on the walls of a building within a vast lost city buried in the jungles of Guatemala. Hundreds of inscriptions or “glyphs” etched or painted onto the building’s crumbling walls appear to represent the astronomical cycles of the Maya who assiduously followed the movements of the Sun, Moon and the visible planets such as Venus.