ANC National General Council – an important turning point
3000 delegates, including delegations from the SACP and COSATU, gathered together for the ANC’s second NGC between 29 June and 3 July 2005 in Tshwane. For the delegates, and indeed for the commentators in the public media, there was no doubt that this marked a very decisive moment in the ongoing South African transition.
Costa Rica’s Continued Fall from Grace
On June 1, Costa Rican President Abel Pacheco agreed to a parliamentary inquiry into the funding of his 2002 presidential campaign, his travel records and his business contacts. Now the fourth president in a row to be implicated in a string of government corruption scandals, Pacheco hitherto has been a strong advocate for the official investigation of dishonest practices.
Will the G8 debt write off help Africa?
On 12 June Gordon Brown announced that he had persuaded the G8 leaders to cancel £32 billion of debt for twenty seven of the world’s poorest nations. BUT what does it say in the small print?
G8 Summit: Free trade no panacea
IT IS vital, in the run-up to the G8 summit, that anti-poverty campaigners are able to tread a path between wide-eyed idealism and abject cynicism.
New Framework for the US-India Defense Relationship Criticized
The Communist Party of India expresses its serious concern and disapproves the new framework for the US-India Defense Relationship which was signed by our Defense minister in Washington yesterday.
Japan-U.S. Security Treaty Hinders Peace in Asia and World
Forty-five years have passed since the Japan-U.S. Security Treaty was revised. Pushing aside strong public opposition, the Kishi Cabinet and the Liberal Democratic Party in the House of Representatives on May 20, 1960 single-handedly approved the revision.
Shanghai drivers strike over pay, fines
About 100 contract delivery drivers held a 10-hour strike yesterday, over unreasonable fining policies, poor payment and intense workload.
PA Book Round Up #5: Notes and Previews on New Works
Here is another of our occasional book round ups consisting of short notices of works we have not been able to fully review. These are essentially meta-reviews (reviews of book reviews). If any of our readers are inspired to read one of these books and wish to write a full review, please contact pabooks@politicalaffairs.net.
Vietnamese Workers Strike for Rights
Workers of a Taiwanese factory in central Vietnam during a strike in protest against alleged mistreatment, long hours, and low pay. Many factory workers in Vietnam still suffer from long hours, low pay and poor working conditions, but workers are realizing that going on strike may be their best recourse to get what they want – better rights.
Health: Cubans Make Breakthrough on Treatment of Diabetic Ulcers
Citoprot-P, a new product designed in Cuba to treat diabetic ulcers, will be introduced into treatment regimens in hospital centers throughout the country.
