Africa : 05 july 2010 [Kenya: 'Yes' Win Will Be My Legacy, Says Kibaki] -

Daily Africa News

{jcomments on}OMAR, BXL, AGNEWS, le 05 juillet 2010 — President Kibaki Saturday said a new constitution would be a great achievement for his presidency.

BURUNDI :

Somalia’s Islamist Leader Threatens Ugandans, Burundians With Revenge
July 05, 2010/ BERNAMA

MOGADISHU, July 5 (Bernama) — The reclusive leader of the Islamist Al Shabaab movement in Somalia on Monday issued a threat of retaliation against the peoples of Uganda and Burundi whose troops are deployed as peacekeepers in the Somali capital Mogadishu, according to China’s Xinhua news agency.

In an audio tape broadcast on local radio stations, the Emir of the Islamist movement, Sheikh Muqtar Abdelrahman Abu Zubeyr accused the African Union (AU) peacekeeping forces in Mogadishu of committing “massacres’ against the people in Mogadishu.

He said that the peoples of Uganda and Burundi will face revenge for their troops’ role in Somalia where they are deployed as peacekeeping forces part of UN authorised AU-backed Mission known as AMISOM.

“You should know that the massacres against the children, women and the elderly of Mogadishu will be revenged against you. Keep in mind that the aggressions being committed by your leaders and soldiers is awaiting you.”

The Islamist group’s leader who has never been seen in public since assuming leadership of the movement in 2008 after the death of the former head, called for Mogadishu residents to wage what he termed an “all-out Jihad campaign.”

“We have to carry all-out Jihad campaign against the enemy and everyone should take part both young and old. That is the only way to end the massacres being carried out by the infidels in our country against the weak among us,” said the Al Shabaab Emir in the nine-and-half minute audio tape

Abu Zubeyr urged fighters to keep fighting the Somali government forces and the almost 5,000 African Union peacekeepers based in Mogadishu. The two sides have been engaging in fierce battles for the past several days in the north of the Somali capital Mogadishu.

Several people including two AU soldiers were killed and dozens were also injured in the clashes that started last week and have since been continuing intermittently in the north of Mogadishu where the few remaining families in the areas fled to the outskirts of the city.

— BERNAMA

RWANDA

Rwanda: Keep Up the Spirit of Liberation – Kagame
Edmund Kagire/The New Times/allafrica.com/5 July 2010

Kigali — President Paul Kagame, yesterday, said that Rwanda’s liberation struggle is ongoing and called upon the Rwandan people, who have been part and parcel of the struggle for the last 16 years, to maintain the liberation spirit, for the country to achieve the desired level of development.

Kagame, who was addressing tens of thousands of people who turned up at Amahoro National Stadium to mark the Liberation Day, said that while a lot has been achieved in the last 16 years, there is still more that Rwandans have to do to get where they want.

“The Liberation process has not ended. It is not going to end soon. I am sure that the people of our country understand that a lot has been done and a lot more remains to be done,” Kagame said.

The event was marked by conferring medals to foreigners, for their individual role in the liberation struggle and the fight against the Genocide.

Kagame noted that Rwandans played the biggest part in the struggle to liberate themselves and they will be the ones to carry it on and define their destiny.

Urging Rwandans to carry on the struggle, the President said that “the same dedication, the same commitment, the same spirit” should remain the norm and the driving force for them to fight for their rights and dignity, if they are going to take their rightful place in the world.

He added that, today, the country has done away with bad leadership that kept the people backward, and the next phase of the struggle will involve Rwandans changing their mindsets to propel themselves to higher standards of living.

Kagame, advised the Rwandan people to focus on how they can progress in terms of development and earn the respect and value they deserve as a people.

President Kagame said that the country will continue to recognise those individuals who invaluably contributed to the liberation struggle and spoke out against the Genocide, when the rest of the world had turned a blind eye on Rwanda.

Kagame said that while some have already been recognised for their heroic contribution to the struggle, others will be honoured in due course, including President Isaias Afewerki of Eritrea.

Last year, Rwanda awarded President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, Ethiopian Prime Minister, Meles Zenawi and the former President of Tanania, Late Mwalimu Julius Nyerere.

Kagame congratulated the 12 foreign personalities who were awarded medals for their role in the struggle and said that their heroic contribution is worthy recognition given that the rest of the international community did not do what they were supposed to.

“You only did what you were supposed to do in the first place, and that comes from the immense humility and modesty. We live in the world where it is supposed to be the norm that people do what they are supposed to do, but in the end it turns out to be the exception, many people don’t do what they are supposed to do,”

“That is why we have the genocide committed by the leaders of this country. Leaders are not supposed to kill their own people; they are supposed to protect their people. They are supposed to work for the interest of their people,”

Kagame thanked the individuals who were honoured at the colourful ceremony, for standing up against the oppression, sectarian politics and most of all, pointed to the world that genocide was unfolding in Rwanda.

“You are very much worthy of the honours bestowed upon you,” Kagame told the individuals who were conferred with medals.

Among the medals awarded were Uruti, Rwanda’s Liberation Medal and Umurinzi Rwanda’s Campaign against Genocide Medal.

Kenya: It is Shared Values That Entrench Common Markets
Ahmednasir Abdullahi/Daily Nation/allafrica.com/5 July 2010

Nairobi — The East African Community (EAC) entered a critical phase on July 1. A common market with an estimated combined population of 130 million heralds a new dawn for the five-member countries of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi.

The East African common market protocol is a milestone. It allows for free movement of persons, labour, services and the right to establish residence in any of the five countries.

Despite the optimistic garb clothed with this historic event, the EAC has a soft underbelly that will soon be exposed by a number of underlying factors. In the process, the shallow and sandy foundation the EAC was built on will, to the detriment of all, be exposed.

The East African Community is a community of what shared values? What are the common denominators these five countries share? What is the political, economic and social status of these countries?

The East African Community and the various milestones that define both its history and character have collectively been conceived principally driven by the executives of these countries. Whereas it is true that political leadership at the top is very important in driving unions of countries, the EAC’s situation is very peculiar. In other situations like the European Union, the citizenry, through referenda, have a say in the evolving process of the union.

In any democracy, sovereignty lies with the people and advanced democracies give their citizens a chance to reject the political theorisation of their leaders. For unions, whether economic or political, to be internalised by the people of a given region, the same must be driven by a democratic component. This is absent in the case of the EAC.The biggest drawback that faces the community is that the entire process is being driven by the collective political benevolence and temporal chemistry of the five presidents. That is the glue that holds the community together. The cause of the demise of the community in the late1970s seems to be completely forgotten.

Another drawback is the absence of a set of common values and governance that bind the five countries. These countries have their own diverse histories. In terms of democracy and governance, they are at different epochal stages of progression. The only meaningful common denominator is the periodic elections they hold every five years.

Kenya is the most stable democracy among the five. Despite the mayhem of 2008, Kenya is decades ahead of both Tanzania and Uganda in terms of liberal political system and democratic space and culture. Tanzania is labouring under a false sense of stability that usually comes with a de facto one party state. The electioneering process that we usually witness in Zanzibar and Pemba is a clear testimony of the suffocating grip the ruling party has over the country.

Uganda, despite the bravado of its strong man, resembles the opaque and despised Moi regime of Kenya. Rwanda and Burundi are under reconstruction after a calamitous period of instability.

An equally important factor that will undermine the union is the absence of common institutions and sets of laws. For a proper integration of a union, member states must share institutions that are underpinned by a set of common values and laws. These institutions will, in the process, have a regional jurisdiction and apply a common set of laws across the region. For instance, the Community needs to have a common court that has jurisdiction over certain subject matters like human rights or other governance issues of concern to member states.

The EAC fails to address the bottlenecks that will hamper a viable integration process. Apart from Rwanda, corruption and other institutional weakness are prevalent in the five countries. These countries don’t have strong internal mechanisms to redress these malaises. They also share an incompetent and corrupt judiciary. An inefficient and lethargic bureaucracy is also a defining feature of these countries. The absence of common foreign and even regional policies is another drawback.

Integration and a common market is more than five presidents meeting in Arusha and parting their backs on an illusionary integration.

The writer is a former LSK chairman

There is certainly no political crisis in Rwanda
By Arthur Asiimwe /www.monitor.co.ug/Monday, July 5 2010

For the past few months, Rwanda has received its fair share of negative publicity, partly due to some daring decisions taken by Kigali. I say daring because decisions like arresting one of the world’s notorious genocide deniers who at the same time, happens to be a lawyer from the world’s superpower is an audacious decision that very few African governments would dare take.

Arresting three senior military Generals, barely before the dust settles after another General’s defection, is also something that few governments would dare do. Worse still, the recent shooting of the fugitive Gen. Kayumba Nyamwasa in South Africa and the unfortunate killing of a Rwandan journalist have presented a great menu from which Rwanda’s critics would pick to pour scorn on Rwanda, even if Kigali had nothing to do with these unfortunate events.

Do all these events necessarily point to any political turmoil in Rwanda? Certainly not! For the past 16 years Rwanda has had an administration that is cherished and believes in the values of individual discipline and accountability for all. Rwanda had to adopt these values partly as an answer to the unfortunate historical mess inherited by the present leadership and also out of a desire to uplift the nation from the abyss of political hopelessness to a nation with a recognitive voice on the world stage.

This commitment to run an efficient system has pushed Kigali to make some decisions that an outsider would innocently consider irrational. In some of the world’s developing countries, it is normal for a General to pack his bags and fly to a World Cup match without necessarily seeking authorisation from his superiors. He can cheat his way to prosperity as if corruption is a God-given right.

This is what creates the difference with Rwanda. The ‘untouchable’ ulcer seen across the top leadership of some of our African brothers is a vice that Rwanda is trying to eliminate. This is precisely why throwing a General or a senior Minister or a historical party cadre behind the bars is an issue that Rwandans are now accustomed to. It’s the outsiders that will rush to describe this action of enforcing discipline as a political meltdown or a break-up within the ‘ruling elite.’

Certainly if Rwanda maintains the momentum of demanding that these values be upheld across the spectrum, many more will continue to fall off the cliff if they attempt to take an opposite direction. What Rwanda’s critics need to understand is that just like any other country going through an election period, it’s a natural phenomenon that some tensions do emerge but these do not necessarily point to a political crisis like some people have written.

What is true is that Rwanda is today going through a political transformation that will certainly shape the future of the country’s political landscape. Firstly, just like any revolutionary movement, the ruling RPF has suffered some defections which may have caused internal tremors. The ability of the RPF leadership to steer the party out of this quandary is unquestionable. The possible outcome of this is that RPF will strengthen its internal debates that could eventually lead to strengthening their internal democracy.

Secondly, the other political parties in the ruling coalition are beginning to take their legitimate position as opposition parties and will field presidential candidates. This will eventually create a more competitive political environment.

Bottom line, the hullabaloo about a crisis in Rwanda is a mere hoax. Rwanda remains as stable as it has always been. The only difference is that this is an election year that naturally comes along with its own excitements.
Mr Asiimwe is a Rwandan journalist
arthur.asiimwe@gmail.com

UGANDA

Uganda: Muslim Council Chairman Basajjabalaba Told to Apologise
Hajara Nalwadda/The New Vision/allafrica.com/5 July 2010

Kampala — The Uganda Muslim Supreme Council has asked the suspended council chairman, Hassan Basajjabalaba, to apologise to the Muslim community if he wants to retain his post.

Addressing Muslims during Juma prayers at Old Kampala mosque on Friday, the acting council chairman, Dr. Abdul Balonde, said doors were still open for Basajjabalaba if he admitted his mistakes.

“The issue is not dismissing officials for their wrongs, but to find lasting solutions to our problems,” he said.

Last week, the joint session resolved to suspend Basajjabalaba until the matter is resolved by the general assembly which will convene soon.

The joint session is the second organ of the council made up of the executive and colleges of sheikhs.

Speaking during the prayers, the Mufti, Sheikh Shaban Mubajje, urged Muslims to remain calm.

He said nobody will be imposed on the Muslims without going through the right channels.

TANZANIA:

CONGO RDC :

New Market Research Report: Congo, Dem. Rep. Mining Report Q3 2010
www.pr-inside.com/2010-07-05

– New Materials market report from Business Monitor International: “Congo, Dem. Rep. Mining Report Q3 2010”

Further blow for First Quantum

The long running dispute between the Congolese government and Canadian miner First Quantum Minerals worsened in May 2010, when the country’s Supreme Court annulled First Quantum’s rights to the Frontier and Lonshi copper mines and awarded them to state miner Sodimico. Sodimico had alleged that the permits to Frontier and Lonshi were ‘illegally’ awarded in 2000
and 2001.

First Quantum has attacked the decision, describing it as ‘retaliation’ for First Quantum’s ongoing arbitration concerning its US$550mn Kolwezi tailing project, which was cancelled by DR Congo during 2009. The company has also vowed to defend these latest mine right annulments. In 2009, Frontier was DR Congo’s biggest copper mine, producing some 94.000 tonnes.

This latest development is clearly a negative for the reputation of the DR Congo’s business environment and will be watched closely by other foreign investors as to how the situation develops over the coming months. With these latest annulments, DR Congo has seized mining assets worth over US$1bn to First Quantum, so clearly a swift resolution to this dispute would be welcome.

There appears to be better news surrounding the ongoing contract negotiations between DR Congo and Freeport McMoran over a planned expansion to the latter’s US$900mn Tenke Fungurume copper-cobalt mine. Speaking to Reuters in March 2010, Freeport CEO Richard Adkerson said that his company was close to agreement with the government, although no final agreement had been signed as this report went to press.

Copper and cobalt outlook appears bright

A leaked government forecast obtained by Reuters in April 2010 was upbeat on the outlook for copper and cobalt production in DR Congo over the coming two years, as higher production from Tenke Fungurume filters through into higher output levels for the country as a whole. The forecast calls for copper output to increase from an estimated 409,935 tonnes in 2010 to 851,608 tonnes in 2012. At the same time, cobalt output is forecast to increase from an estimated 39,327 tonnes in 2010 to 91.355 tonnes in 2012.

In light of this leaked memo, we have made some upwards revisions to our copper and cobalt production forecasts. However, we would stress that this bullish outcome will only be achieved if ongoing contract disputes within the copper and cobalt sector do not have a deleterious impact on Congolese mine output in the years to come.

New Data

For 2010, BMI has made significant changes to the way in which we forecast mining data. As well as using local statistics agencies and associations, we now also draw on the expertise of the UN’s Industrial Commodity Statistics Database, the US Geological Survey and the World Bureau of Metal Statistics for our historical export and production data. We then forecast this data using our own proprietary econometric model. Human intervention also plays a necessary and desirable role in our mining forecasting; experience, expertise and knowledge of industry trends and developments ensuring that we can spot likely future changes and anomalous data that a purely mechanical model would not.

Country Overview

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is home to vast reserves of a wide variety of natural resources such as cobalt, copper, gold and diamonds. DRC is believed to contain about 4% of the world’s copper reserves and one-third of its cobalt reserves.

All mineral deposits in the DRC are state-owned and the holder of mining rights also gains ownership of the mineral products for sale. Governed by the National Mining Code, the Ministry of Mines regulates the Mining Registry, Directorate of Mines and the Geological Directorate. The country is the world’s second largest diamond exporter by volume and the fifth-largest producer.

Industry Forecast

DR Congo is in the process of developing its rich mineral endowments of cobalt, diamonds, copper and gold. Although the DRC has great potential in mining-related activity, political instability needs to be tackled urgently to ensure that the growth opportunity is not lost.

BMI believes that the Congolese mining sector can reach an average annual growth rate of between 4.7% across our forecast period. Many new mining facilities are scheduled to start production in 2010-11, which should boost output levels. However, we would caution that our forecasts remain dependent on relative political stability within the African state.

For more information or to purchase this report, go to:
– www.fastmr.com/prod/71531_congo_dem_rep_mining_report_q3_2010.as ..

About Business Monitor International

Business Monitor International (BMI) offers a comprehensive range of products and services designed to help senior executives, analysts and researchers assess and better manage operating risks, and exploit business opportunities, across 175 markets. BMI offers three main areas of expertise: Country Risk BMI’s country risk and macroeconomic forecast portfolio includes weekly financial market reports, monthly regional Monitors, and in-depth quarterly Business Forecast Reports. Industry Analysis BMI covers a total of 17 industry verticals through a portfolio of services, including in-depth quarterly Country Forecast Reports. View more research from Business Monitor International at www.fastmr.com/catalog/publishers.aspx?pubid=1010

About Fast Market Research

Fast Market Research is an online aggregator and distributor of market research and business information. We represent the world’s top research publishers and analysts and provide quick and easy access to the best competitive intelligence available.

Nestle targets 750 new jobs in Equatorial Africa
Monday, 05 July 2010/thecitizen.co.tz /By Victor Karega

A Switzerland-based nutrition, health and wellness firm, Nestle, will create 750 new jobs in Equatorial Africa after investing about Sh255 billion in the region in the next three years.

The firm’s statement, made available to The Citizen in Dar es Salaam yesterday, noted that the money will be injected in expanding the company’s existing factories in Kenya and Zimbabwe.

It will also build new plants in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo as well as in Mozambique.

“Nestle is committed to unlock the business opportunities and promote growth in Equatorial Africa. With 400 million people and an emerging middle class and rising purchasing power, the region has major potential for Nestle,” the firm’s chief executive officer, Mr Paul Bulcke said in the statement.

He said opening new factories in the region brings the firm closer to its clients. The firm will also be able to make products that meet the clients’ taste and nutritional needs, he added.

The company, he said, will also increase its distribution capacity in the region by opening 13 new distribution facilities.

Tanzania is also expected to benefit from the investment for being in the firm’s Equatorial African Region [EAR]. Others are Kenya, Angola, Burundi, Comoros, DRC, Djibouti, Eri
trea and Ethiopia.

The list also include Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Malawi, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

In the two countries of Uganda and Tanzania, Nestle has partnered with the Uganda Coffee Development Authority [UCDA] and the Tanzania Coffee Research Institute [TACRI] to improve the coffee sectors.

The project aims at helping to develop coffee trees with improved productivity characteristics, higher disease resistance and higher quality, which in turn help increase farmers’ competitiveness and income.

In Kenya, the planned expansion of Nestle’s Nairobi factory will include constructing a new production line to support its newly launched food service division.

The factory will supply the produce to Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and Zambia.

In Mozambique, Nestle will build a new factory and distribution centre at Beira. The factory will support the increasing demand in Mozambique and neighbouring countries for Nestle products such as coffee, other beverages and culinary products.

The factory is targeting at creation of over 260 new jobs in the Equatorial Africa region by 2012.

A day of mourning in DRC
Jean-Jacques Cornish/www.eyewitnessnews.co.za/05072010

The Democratic Republic of Congo is officially in mourning for the 235 people burned to death when a fuel truck exploded in their village late on Friday.

Sixty children and 30 women were among the dead who were buried in mass graves on Sunday.

President Joseph Kabila has declared that flags in the DRC will fly at half mast on Monday and Tuesday.

The fuel truck overturned at the town of Sange near Bukavu in Kivu province.

People rushed to scavenge the leaking fuel that exploded setting alight many mud and straw homes.

More than 100 people are still hospitalised with burns. Hundreds who have received treatment cannot go home to their town of 50 000, that has been left shocked and traumatised.

KENYA :

Kenya: ‘Yes’ Team Soldiers On Without Raila
Peter Leftie/Daily Nation/allafrica.com/5 July 2010

Nairobi — The absence of Prime Minister Raila Odinga, a crowd puller, was evident on SAturady as President Kibaki led the ‘Yes’ team on a campaign for the proposed constitution in Central Province.

Among the team that accompanied the President were deputy prime ministers Musalia Mudavadi and Uhuru Kenyatta.

That Mr Odinga’s illness would slow down the campaign for the new constitution was evident just a day after his hospitalisation at Nairobi Hospital when Mr Mudavadi called a press conference at Parliament Buildings to declare that the party would soldier on despite his absence.

Flanked by ODM luminaries Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o, James Orengo, Chris Obure and Wycliffe Oparanya, Mr Mudavadi sought to reassure the country that the campaigns would proceed as planned.

Specialised treatment

Replaying Mr Odinga’s own words when he took over the Narc campaign in 2002 after the party’s then presidential candidate Mr Kibaki suffered a road accident and was flown out of the country for specialised treatment, Mr Mudavadi declared that the campaigns would proceed “even though our captain has been injured and has limped off the pitch.”

“Raila, being a firm believer in teamwork, wants the campaign to proceed,” Mudavadi stated.

On Saturday, Mr Mudavadi conceded that the ‘Yes’ campaign was the poorer for Mr Odinga’s absence though they had no choice but to continue with the rallies.

“Captain is a team player, he will not want us to slow down… so we must just soldier on,” he said.

Naivasha MP John Mututho said things were not the same without Mr Odinga.

“You know the energies he brings to this campaign. He has a biblical commitment to his cause; he spares no energies to push his cause, but he also ruffles feathers. There are those who are in ‘No’ (camp) simply because Raila is saying ‘Yes,'” Mr Mututho said.

Former Nyakach MP Peter Odoyo said the PM’s illness rekindles memories of the 2002 elections when Mr Odinga stepped in to successfully lead Mr Kibaki’s campaign after the then Narc presidential candidate was involved in an accident at the Machakos turn-off on the Nairobi-Mombasa road on December 2, 2002.

“History is repeating itself. In December 2002, Kibaki is injured, Raila takes over and declares that the captain is injured, but we will soldier on. In 2010, Raila is indisposed, Kibaki has taken over and the response in Sagana, Karatina and all the way to Nyeri is very good,” Mr Odoyo, who was in the President’s entourage, said on Saturday.

Mr Odinga was admitted to Nairobi Hospital on Monday after complaining of headache and general fatigue. He is expected to leave the hospital Sunday.

According to sources, the ‘Yes’ secretariat had initially toyed with the idea of calling off Saturday’s Nyeri rally after it became apparent that Mr Odinga would not attend it but decided to proceed with it after high level consultations.

The Sunday Nation learnt that the Wednesday press conference addressed by Mr Mudavadi was convened after consultations with the PM, who encouraged them to go on with the rallies.

Besides the Nyeri rally, Mr Odinga had been scheduled to lead the campaign for the ODM candidate in the July 12 by-election in Matuga, Hassan Mwanyoha.

Rather than call off the Matuga rally schedules for Sunday, Mr Odinga asked Mr Mudavadi to lead the ODM brigade to drum up support for Mr Mwanyoha.

Only last weekend, Mr Odinga and Mr Mudavadi had put down their feet and reinstated two ‘Yes’ campaign rallies in Western Province after the ‘Yes’ secretariat had cancelled them on the grounds that the President would be in Embu and would therefore not attend them. The PM attended the two rallies in Bungoma and Kakamega, attracting huge crowds at both.

Chepalungu MP Isaac Ruto, who is opposing the proposed Draft, also admitted that Mr Odinga’s absence on the campaign trail was being felt in both camps.

“We wish him well. We in the ‘No’ camp will continue to tell wananchi why they should reject this document. Since he was pushing a government project, we believe that the rest of the government will pick up from where he has left,” he told Sunday Nation.

Mr Odinga has been the subject of attacks from the ‘No’ camp who have accused him of using government resources to campaign for the proposed constitution.

He has also drawn criticism from his colleagues in the ‘Yes’ camp for allegedly using the referendum campaigns to position himself for the 2012 presidential elections.

When he was heckled at the first ‘Yes’ rally at Uhuru Park in Nairobi on May 14, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka accused Mr Odinga of being behind the incident, an accusation the PM denied.

Last weekend, the VP skipped the Bungoma and Kakamega rallies, even though the PNU wing of the ‘Yes’ campaign had said he would be there.

MPs allied to Mr Kenyatta have also accused Mr Odinga of attempting to undermine “their man” in Central Province.

Kenya: ‘Yes’ Win Will Be My Legacy, Says Kibaki
John Njagi and Oliver Musembi/Daily Nation/allafrica.com/5 July 2010

Nairobi — President Kibaki Saturday said a new constitution would be a great achievement for his presidency.

“Should the new constitution pass, it would be the single most thing that will make me happy for all the years of my life. So I ask you to pass it,” he said.

Speaking when he took the ‘Yes’ campaign to his Nyeri backyard, President Kibaki urged voters to turn out in large numbers for the August 4 referendum.

The President arrived in Nyeri for a rally after a whirlwind campaign along the Nairobi-Nyeri highway where he rallied support for the draft constitution at Kenol, Makutano, Sagana, and Karatina towns.

He said every vote was important to ensure Kenyans achieve a new constitution.

“Don’t just stay at home and assume the proposed constitution will pass because other people support it. You have to take it upon yourself to vote in the referendum,” he said.

Speaking at Kenol Township, the President said the new constitution would usher in a new dawn and better opportunities for Kenyans.

“You have a good chance now to make history by voting for the proposed constitution during the referendum on August 4 and ensure better governance and economic opportunities for future generations,” he said.

The President called for tolerance between the ‘Yes’ and ‘No’ campaigners, saying the country should remain united after the referendum.

The President was accompanied by deputy prime ministers Uhuru Kenyatta and Musalia Mudavadi, several Cabinet ministers and MPs. Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka later joined the team.

The leaders sent Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s apologies and assured the residents that he was committed to seeing the passage of the proposed constitution.

Also present were retired Anglican Archbishop David Gitari and Supkem secretary-general Aden Wachu.

The Rev Gitari sought to correct the perception that most church leaders were in the ‘No’ camp and asserted that the “silent majority” were in support of the proposed constitution.

Mr Musyoka lauded the provisions in the Bill of Rights, saying it was of international standard as it would make atrocities such as arbitrary arrests a thing of the past.

He said Kenyans would also be allowed to own property in all corners of the country.

The ‘Yes’ secretariat co-conveners Kiraitu Murungi and Prof Anyang Nyong’o said Kenyans had fought for reforms for many years, and it was time a new constitution was enacted.

“Even our forefathers fought for laws that would liberate them. Let us not let them down by ensuring that the country gets a new constitution,” said Prof Nyong’o.

Mr Murugi said Kenyans should support the new constitution as it guarantees free education, low cost health care and equitable distribution of resources.

The leaders urged Christians to support the inclusion of kadhis’ courts in the constitution, since their inclusion did not aggrieve them in any way.

Mr Kenyatta said clauses perceived as offensive by the ‘No’ side could be amended after the referendum.

Other leaders who accompanied the President were ministers Moses Wetang’ula (Foreign Affairs), Esther Murugi (Gender and Children Affairs), Najib Balala (Tourism), Amos Kirunya (Trade), James Orengo (Lands) and Beth Mugo (Public Health and Sanitation)

ANGOLA :

PRESS DIGEST – Angola – July 5
Mon Jul 5, 2010/Reuters

LUANDA July 5 (Reuters) – The following are some of the leading stories in Angola’s newspapers and online news websites on Monday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

JORNAL DE ANGOLA (www.jornaldeangola.com)

* Thousands of homes to be built in the province of Huambo as part of a government plan to provide cheap housing for ordinary Angolans.

* Around 240 Angolan refugees to return from neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

ANGOP – Angola News Agency

* The province of Huambo is losing its forests to charcoal producers who are indiscriminately cutting down trees.

ANGONOTICIAS (www.angonoticias.com)

* The hospital of Luanda, one of Angola’s biggest, is being evacuated on fears that the building may collapse just four years after being built.
(Writing by Henrique Almeida)

Angola: Road Traffic Police Pass Over 200 Fines in Seven Days
5 July 2010/Angola Press/allafrica.com

Lubango — The information was supplied to Angop in Huila’s capital city, Lubango, by the spokesman for the National Police, chief- Inspector, Eduardo Pintal.

The officer said that the action followed an operation intended to regulate road traffic in the region.

As a result of the operation, he added, 46 vehicles were seized, including 83 motorcycles, driving licences and other related documents, over several infringements.

Angola: Luanda Bank Robbers Arrested in Huila
5 July 2010/Angola Press/allafrica.com

Lubango — The three-men gang that stole Akz 3.8 million from a Luanda branch of the Savings and Credit Bank (BPC) on June 23 were arrested on Thursday by the National Police in the district of Quipungo, southern Huila province.

The information was released by the spokesman for the provincial command of the National Police.

According to the source, Domingos Pedro (32), Justino Kalenga (25) and António Xavier ( 32), were arrested in possession of some of the stolen money.

The officer said one of the members of the gang is still at large.

Meanwhile, the National Police recorded 79 crimes, that is eight more as compared with the previous period. 63 of the crimes have been clarified, representing 79 percent of performance.

Partnership between Angolan and Dutch companies invests in supporting Angola’s oil sector
[ 2010-07-05 ]/(macauhub)

Luanda, Angola, 5 Jul – Angola’s National Private Investment Agency (ANIP) signed last Friday in Luanda three contracts concerning private investment in the oil sector support industry, reports the Angolan news agency Angop.

The projects are: Heerema Porto Amboim, which envisages construction of a shipyard; Heerema Marine – Sociedade de Transportes Marítimo, for maritime transport; and HMC, which will produce metal products such as tubes used in the oil industry, in Porto Amboim municipality in Kwanza Sul province.

The Heerema Porto Amboim project is assessed at US$108.7 million, while Heerema Marine is budgeted at US$15.6 million and HMC at US$55.7 million.

Implementation of the three projects will create an average annual gross added value of around US$65 million for the Angolan economy and create 337 direct jobs, a number which may increase as production rises.

The projects result from a partnership between the Angolan company Cenbir and the Dutch company Heerema. In the shipyard project Cenbir holds 49 percent of the capital, while in the transport project it holds 51 percent of the shares, company director Bakci Soares said.

The projects will get under way this September and take from three to six years to implement, he added.

SOUTH AFRICA:

Paris: Police were ‘super nice‘
(UKPA) /The Press Association/050710

Paris Hilton insists “everything is completely fine” after she was question by police in South Africa.

The hotel heiress was escorted out of the Brazil v Netherlands Fifa World Cup match at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium over allegations relating to marijuana but a court has now dropped the case.

Paris reassured fans on Twitter: “I had nothing to do with it… there’s a lot of crazy rumours going around, just want you all to know the truth – everything is completely fine.

“I was not charged or arrested, cause I didn’t do anything. I was assisting the police with the investigation and answering their questions. Everyone was super nice and friendly to me. I love South Africa! Such an amazing place, especially during The World Cup! Hope that clears everything up.”

After the 29-year-old socialite was questioned by police, her representative told UsMagazine.com: “The case has been dropped against Paris and no charges will be made. The authorities have apologised for wrongfully accusing her since she had nothing to do with the incident.”

AFRICA / AU :

Farmers find opportunity in immigrant vegetables
(AP)/05072010

SOUTH DEERFIELD, Mass. — Maxixe (mah-SHEESH’) is relatively unknown in the U.S., but the Brazilian relative of the cucumber may one day be as common as cilantro as farmers and consumers embrace more so-called ethnic vegetables.

University of Massachusetts professor Frank Mangan says immigrants from Africa, Asia and Latin America and their children account for more than one-third of produce sales in supermarkets. And, sales of ethnic vegetables are expected to grow as other customers become familiar with them.

To take advantage of that market, agriculture experts at UMass and elsewhere are teaching farmers to grow non-native vegetables like maxixe.

Minnesota Food Association executive director Glen Hill notes cilantro was considered a specialty item 25 years ago, but “now it’s on everything.”

Absa, Aspen, Billiton, RGT, Sasol: South Africa Equity Preview
July 05, 2010/By Carli Lourens/Bloomberg

July 5 (Bloomberg) — The following is a list of companies whose shares may have unusual price changes in South Africa. Stock symbols are in parentheses after company names and prices are from the last close.

South Africa’s FTSE/JSE Africa All Share Index rose for the first time in four days, climbing 305.03, or 1.2 percent, to 26,314.56.

Absa Group Ltd. (ASA SJ): Namibia rejected Absa’s proposed acquisition of a majority stake in Capricorn Investment Holdings Ltd., saying it wanted the owner of the country’s third-biggest lender to remain domestically held. Absa, South Africa’s largest retail bank, gained 1.13 rand, or 0.9 percent, to 122.59 rand.

Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd. (APN SJ): Sigma Pharmaceuticals Ltd., the subject of a A$707 million ($594 million) takeover offer from Aspen, fell to the lowest in six weeks in Australian trading on speculation the deal won’t succeed. Aspen rose 57 cents, or 0.8 percent, to 75 rand.

BHP Billiton Ltd. (BIL SJ): Australian Treasury Secretary Ken Henry said the department had “revised up” its commodity- price forecasts. Henry made the comments to a Senate committee hearing in Canberra today. BHP, the world’s largest mining company, advanced 2.48 rand, or 1.2 percent, to 201.70 rand.

RGT Smart Market Intelligence Ltd. (RGT SJ): The provider of market analysis said shareholders no longer have to exercise caution when trading in its stock. The shares increased 2 cents, or 20 percent, to 12 cents.

Sasol Ltd. (SOL SJ): Crude oil rose for the first time in six days in New York as investors took the view its biggest weekly drop in eight makes the commodity attractive to buy. Sasol, the world’s biggest maker of motor fuel from coal, rose 5.25 rand, or 1.9 percent, to 276.75 rand.

The following shares begin trading without the rights to their latest dividends:

Cadiz Holdings Ltd. (CDZ SJ), Chemical Specialities (CSP SJ), DataTec Ltd. (DTC SJ), Foschini Ltd. (FOS SJ), Hosken Consolidated Investments Ltd. (HCI SJ), Invicta Holdings Ltd. (IVT SJ), Nampak Ltd. (NPK SJ), Tiger Brands Ltd. (TBS SJ)

Shares or American depositary receipts of the following South African companies closed as follows:

Anglo American Plc (AAUKY US) rose 0.2 percent to $17.34. AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. (AU US) increased 0.6 percent to $40.75. BHP Billiton Ltd. (BBL US) gained 1.1 percent to $52.15. DRDGold Ltd. (DROOY US) gained 0.7 percent to $4.29. Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI US) advanced 0.3 percent to $12.83. Harmony Gold Mining Co. (HMY US) added 1.2 percent to $10.31. Impala Platinum Holdings (IMPUY US) climbed 1.8 percent to $23.51. Sappi Ltd. (SPP US) increased 1.1 percent to $3.80. Sasol Ltd. (SSL US) rose 1 percent to $35.76.

–With assistance from Janice Kew in Johannesburg. Editors: Ana Monteiro, Digby Lidstone.

UN /ONU :

USA :

Paris Hilton Gets an Apology After World Cup Pot Arrest
Jul.5, 2010/ by Natalie Finn /au.eonline.com

UPDATE: Paris’ rep tells E! News that someone else in Hilton’s group was the one in possession of the marijuana. She was questioned but police have since apologized for and dropped the complaint against her.

“I can confirm that the incident was a complete misunderstanding,” her rep says. “The case has been dropped against Paris and no charges will be made. The authorities have apologized for wrongfully accusing her since she had nothing to do with the incident. Paris is having an incredible time at the World Cup.”

A source tells E! News that the person in question pleaded guilty and was ordered to pay a small fine.

“Everything is fine guys. I had nothing to do with it,” Hilton tweeted afterward.
________________________________

Perhaps Paris Hilton should have stuck to tooting her vuvuzela.

The globe-trotting socialite was arrested in the South African town of Port Elizabeth on Friday for allegedly being in possession of marijuana after watching the Netherlands upset Brazil in the World Cup.

Police, not identifying Hilton by name, said that a “high-profile” suspect would be appearing in court today and the heiress did indeed appear briefly at around midnight in a FIFA World Cup courtroom.

Per reports, Hilton was detained outside Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium after the match after police found an unspecified amount of pot on her. (It was also probably after she tweeted, “Had so much fun at the game today. What a match! I love South Africa!”)

No word yet on how she caught the authorities’ attention.

But, even if she was in the wrong place at the wrong time, with the wrong stuff in her purse, experts tell us it’s unlikely she’s going to be experiencing her own personal Midnight Express.

“It’s not like she’d be thrown in jail,” Harold Copus, a former member of the FBI’s Drug Enforcement Administration task force, tells E! News. “I don’t think she’ll be in some horrible prison in South Africa for several years or anything.”

Or spend any time in jail, for that matter, Copus said, adding that having cannabis in small quanities is often “overlooked” in South Africa.

Adds criminal defense attorney Alec Rose, Hilton will probably be allowed to post bail and then be released.

“If it’s a minor offense, she would likely be released and allowed to hire a local attorney,” says Rose. “They would also likely let her travel back to the U.S. provided she sign a document stating she would be responsible if ultimately found to have committed a crime.”

“In most Western countries,” he continues, “the penalty for having personal use marijuana are pretty small. It could be resolved with a class or a minor fine. She might be able to clear it up before she leaves the country.”

—Additional reporting by Whitney English and Claudia Rosenbaum

CANADA :

Coal Discount Narrows in China, May Cut Imports: Energy Markets
July 05, 2010/Bloomberg

July 5 (Bloomberg) — China, which became a net coal importer in 2009, may cut overseas purchases after the discount on shipments from South Africa compared with domestic supplies narrowed 47 percent in a year.

The world’s fastest-growing economy bought 126 million tons from overseas last year as demand from steelmakers and power producers soared, according to Chinese customs data. Now, power use is declining and the government has imposed price caps on local mines. China may require fewer shipments, threatening this year’s 33 percent jump in spot prices at the port of Qinhuangdao.

The discount on coal from South Africa’s Richards Bay, the world’s second-biggest exporting harbor, and Chinese supplies has narrowed to $19 a ton before shipping costs are taken into account, government data show. That compares with $36 a ton less than a year ago.

“China right now looks to be more bearish than bullish,” Richard Morse, who leads coal-market research at Stanford University at Stanford, California, said in an interview. “Lower domestic prices are bearish for imports.”

The spot price for coal at Qinhuangdao, China’s biggest port for the fuel, was $111.48 a ton as of June 28, compared with $83.79 a year earlier, according to the China Coal Transport and Distribution Association. Prices averaged $109.26 a ton in 2009. Coal at Richards Bay was $91.51 on June 25, compared with an average of $73.10 last year, according to an index compiled by IHS McCloskey.

Inventories carried by Chinese utilities rose to the equivalent of 18 days of consumption compared with seven days two months earlier, Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Ltd. said in an e-mailed note.

Shipping Rates

A slide in imports is likely to hurt producers in South Africa, Colombia, the U.S. and Canada, which boosted sales of thermal and steelmaking coal to Asia just as the global recession curbed demand elsewhere. The four countries accounted for 11 percent of China’s supplies in the five months through May, compared with 3.7 percent in 2009.

Benchmark European coal derivatives fell the most in more than a week on July 2, with prices for delivery to Amsterdam, Rotterdam or Antwerp with settlement next year falling 2.2 percent to $99 a ton. Prices at Australia’s Newcastle, the world’s largest export harbor for the fuel, dropped 3.1 percent to $97.31 in the week to June 25.

The slowdown in China’s imports may also deepen the slump in shipping rates. The Baltic Dry Index, a gauge of commodity- transport prices, fell for a 26th day on July 2, extending its longest slide since August 2005, data from the Baltic Exchange in London showed.

To help curb inflation, China’s National Development and Reform Commission ordered coal companies on June 25 to refrain from spot-price increases and forbade them from amending agreements on annual supply contracts with power producers. Consumer prices rose 3.1 percent in May from a year earlier, exceeding the government’s 3 percent target average for 2010.

‘Risk of Losses’

“The new controls appear designed to manage inflationary expectations and to discourage coalminers from exacting higher- than-contracted prices from power producers that stand at risk of incurring losses this year,” said Jing Ulrich, chairwoman for China equities and commodities at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in Hong Kong.

China’s efforts to keep the economy from overheating may be working. The U.S. Conference Board last week revised its leading economic index for China to show the smallest gain in five months in April. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. cut its 2010 growth forecast to 10.1 percent from 11.4 percent.

The economy expanded 10.7 percent in 2009. It will grow 9.25 percent this year, according to the median in a Bloomberg survey of 14 economists.

“The main impact on China’s import demand is still the macroeconomic outlook,” said David Fang, a director at the China Coal Transport and Distribution Association in Beijing. “Domestic coal prices may decline after September, after the summer peak season.”

Colombia and South Africa supplied a combined 3.8 million metric tons of coal to China in the first five months of the year, compared with zero a year earlier, according to Chinese customs data. The U.S. and Canada shipped 3.77 million tons in the period, up from 1.22 million tons.

“Lower prices paid in the annual contracts will have some impact on China’s imports,” Fang said.

–Dinakar Sethuraman in Singapore and Chua Baizhen in Beijing. Editors: Clyde Russell, Ang Bee Lin.

2.0! Canada: Billion dollar cops take on the Nerf army
By C. L. Cook/Online Journal Guest Writer/Jul 5, 2010

It’s Canada Day (July 1) and raining; fitting for funerals always look better that way. I’m neither naive nor a romantic; I’ve written too many obituaries for Canadian soldiers needlessly killed fighting the 21st Century version of the Great Game in Afghanistan to harbour still the myths of Canada’s good and peaceful intentions abroad.

I’ve witnessed enough too of the brutality and criminality now common among police forces across the nation to still believe they are a force designed to serve and protect the interests of any but Canada’s slim elite, themselves seconded to rule in the interests of trans-national corporations.

We recently saw what amounts to a kind of coronation for the court of the faceless Corpocracy at the G20 summit in Toronto. There the police went to ridiculous lengths to convince the powers behind the thrones Canadian democracy would not prove a hindrance to the global dominion of the few, as represented by turnstile bureaucrats and the courtiers assembled.

The protection of these worthies was merited an expenditure that would, in days past, been sufficient for a NASA shuttle launch, (perhaps an idea for the next planned meetings?).

The three-day confab price tag is said to be an amount that, as well as being the rough equivalent of the cost of running the state broadcast organ CBC for year, would also be sufficient to house, at market prices, the Greater Toronto Region’s estimated 80,000 under and unhoused citizens for a year.

The majority of that public lucre doled out to as yet unidentified beneficiaries is said to be for “security costs.” More than a billion dollars for a weekend’s worth of safe conduct for a social soiree that could likely have accomplished better its stated goals using Skype and a laptop.

State and stated goals

How can we know if this meetings of ministers of finance and financiers was a success? The rabble, so assiduously kept a long arm’s length of the law from the action, must read behind the lines to take any meaning away from this exercise. The highlight declarations emanating the G20 summit are a commitment of sorts for the world’s largest economies to eviscerate the public service, reducing their budget deficits by half, while raising taxes to make good the astronomical debt bubble created by unrestricted investment houses from New York and Toronto to Tokyo, Rome, Paris and London; an approach more than half the nations in attendance think is risky, given the precarious state of the global economy. And, as with other G20 moments where motherhood promises to fund are made, this time the rose-coloured promise is the mother of motherhood issues: Maternal health for the less rosy coloured untermenschen.

Though that’s a salve looking good on paper, as with past summit promises to eliminate poverty in Africa, and provide AIDS drugs to the poor, it’s likely to be quietly forgotten before the next circus convenes.

So, what can we paying for this take away?

In Toronto: Police brutality, torture, illegal arrest and detention; busted limbs and heads; a trashing of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms; and, the great divide between We the People and They the State Police made painfully obvious.

On the other side: Police used the time and money to stock their already bristling arsenals; and, for intensive bonding and training sessions, where they could share new ways and means to humiliate and subjugate those they ostensibly joined up to serve and protect.

Laying low the nerf army

While the corporate and state presses remained largely supportive of the gross excess of both the financial and social costs of the summit before and during the G20, they have been quick to enjoin criticism now, charging from their bunkers to snipe the wounded. None are more wounded than Toronto’s police chief, who the CBC exposed lying during a press conference about weapons seized from those attending demonstrations, both legal and less so.

Toronto PD called the press conference to reveal to the world why the billion dollars spent was necessary, displaying to the media a wide array of exotic weapons that would outfit nicely a Mad Max remake. There, police chief Bill Blair proudly displayed pistols, rifles, maces, mail armor, knives, gas masks, crossbows, and a chainsaw . . . Chainsaws!?

You may think you missed the television images of the black clad, masked horror wielding the whining chainsaw through the mass of horrified storm troopers; or been in the toilet when the chain-mail clad archer was firing crossbow bolts into fleeing crowds of terrified Torontonians during the “street riots.” You missed them not; the chainsaws and crossbows were not actually taken from anyone at or near the G20. They were props added to the contraband arsenal, presumably for effect.

No crossbows, no chainsaws: Check.

So, the billion dollar question is: How much of what the Toronto police chief has to say is true (for the media it seems: Who cares; let’s go on to the next story)? But, as my favourite policeman used to say: “Just one more thing . . .”

Brian Barrett hails from the shire of Whitby, near Toronto. The 25-year-old swain was on his way that cursed day to the city when all was commotion. He wasn’t going there to protest, but was armed and ready for battle.

Alas, poor Brian ran afoul of Sheriff Blair’s black guard whilst en route to his joust.

Verily, Brian belongs to one of those groups of gamer geeks who love nothing more than to live out their fantasy battles. Dressing up in Medieval costume, they meet in park settings to swing foam swords and axes at each other.

Rightly feeling a-feared for the safety and security of the land, the wise and clever guardians of good Fortress Toronto, on finding Brian furtively walking through Union Station, foam weapons in hand, clapped the rascal in irons, taking from him his vile instruments of destruction.

Poor Brian languished in the Big Smoke’s dungeon for hours before his release, but his weapons remained.

On returning home to the shire, what should Brian see on yon boob tube, but the wicked Sheriff of Hog Town, displaying his wares of war for the world to see, saying of them they disturb the peace of the city. Sayeth Brian to the scribes then, “He turns around and states that they are specifically dangerous terrorist items that were solely intended to hurt police. That’s unacceptable to me.”

Yes, good Brian, it is unacceptable to me too. And it is unacceptable Canadians allow liars, thieves, traitors, and blackamoors dismantle the law of the land, the ancient and good Common Law, the Great Charter many fought and died for over the centuries before we inheritors of the decent society arrived.

It is unacceptable we see Canada become a nation where the people are ruled not with justice but are lorded over as serfs, suffering the caprices of the high and mighty.

Chris Cook is the editor of Pacific Free Press.

AUSTRALIA :

Jupiter Says Temasek Interested in Manganese Mine
July 05, 2010/By Rebecca Keenan/Bloomberg

July 5 (Bloomberg) — Jupiter Mines Ltd., an Australian company developing manganese and iron ore mines, said Singapore’s state investment company Temasek Holdings Pte is interested in its Tshipi project. Shares surged.

Jupiter is also seeking to raise between A$70 million ($59 million) and A$100 million in a share sale, Jupiter Chairman Brian Gilbertson said on a call with reporters today. The Tshipi manganese mine in South Africa may cost $200 million and take 18 months to construct, according to Perth-based Jupiter.

Temasek has spent more than $1.2 billion on energy and resources assets in the six months to mid-May as it diversifies its portfolio. The Singapore-based company this year invested $150 million in Platmin Ltd., the South Africa-based platinum miner controlled by Gilbertson’s Pallinghurst Resources Ltd.

“They are fully briefed on this project and are interested in it,” Gilbertson said. “They are aware of the project and very interested in steelmaking raw materials.”

Jupiter jumped 25 percent to 25 Australian cents, giving it a market value of A$92 million at the 4:10 p.m. Sydney time close on the Australian stock exchange.

Jupiter agreed in March to acquire a 49 percent stake in Tshipi from a group of companies led by Pallinghurst. The deal will be voted on at a shareholder meeting that may be held next month, Gilbertson said today. In exchange, Jupiter agreed to issue shares to the group, including Investec Plc, which will then own 85 percent of the Australian company.

Posco, South Korea’s largest steelmaker, will hold 20 percent of Jupiter, Pallinghurst 17 percent and Investec will control 16 percent. American Metals and Coal International Inc. will also have a 15 percent stake.

Temasek’s investments in energy and resources accounted for 5 percent of its portfolio at the end of March last year, compared with 33 percent in financial services, according to its latest annual report. Temasek managed a portfolio of S$172 billion ($124 billion) as of July 31, 2009, according to its website.

Temasek spokesman Jeffrey Fang in Singapore declined to comment.

–With assistance from Netty Ismail in Singapore. Editors: Tan Hwee Ann, Andrew Hobbs.

Diplomatic row brews over John Howard’s rejection by ICC
By MIKE MAKOMO/www.zimtelegraph.com/July 5, 2010

ZIMBABWE – HARARE – Mr Howard said he was “disappointed” and “disturbed” that a group of Asian and African countries blocked his bid to lead the International Cricket Council (ICC) without giving him a reason.

He said that if the decision was based on political grounds it would set a dangerous precedent.

Mr Howard, who served as prime minister for 11 years before being dumped in 2007, was supported by Britain, Australia and New Zealand but voted down by India, Sri Lanka, the West Indies, Pakistan, Bangladesh and South Africa . Zimbabwe abstained from the vote.

Speaking from Singapore last night, Mr Howard, 70, said he was “furious, at the very least” over the snub.

“I’m personally disappointed because everyone in Australia knows how much I love cricket,” he said.

The row threatened to deepen into a diplomatic incident after Australian former ICC head Malcolm Speed said that the organisation has insulted Australia and New Zealand by blocking Mr Howard’s bid.

“I think it’s an insult to Australia and New Zealand, it shows great disrespect to those countries,” Mr Speed told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
“I think Mr Howard is entitled to feel angry.”

Mr Speed said the decision had been “very poorly handled”.
While the ICC has refused to go into details of the decision, it was suggested that Mr Howard’s tough stance against Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe while he was in office could have been a factor. His criticism of Sri Lankan Muttiah Muralitharan’s bowling style was also believed to have influenced the choice.
But Mr Howard, a self confessed “cricket tragic”, said he wore his criticisms of Mr Mugabe’s regime as a “badge of honour”.
“I have to wear that as a badge of honour because I thought it was a very bad regime,” he said.
“Although there have been improvements with the Coalition government, and we must try and make that work, the criticisms I made pre-dated those changes and they were totally justified.”

EUROPE :

18 Filipinos onboard ship hijacked by Somali pirates—EU
Agence France-Presse/ 07/05/2010

BRUSSELS – (UPDATE 2) At least 18 Filipino sailors were on board a Marshall-flagged chemical tanker hijacked by Somali pirates, the European Union (EU) anti-piracy mission reported Monday.

The MT Motivator reported coming under small arms fire from pirates early Sunday in the northern Bab-Al-Mandeb area, the strait between the Arabian peninsula and the Horn of Africa, the EU Naval Force Somalia (NAVFOR) mission said in a statement.

“After notification of this attack, attempts were made to make contact with the Motivator but to no avail. The hijack was confirmed early on 5 July,” the statement said.

The ship, with a deadweight of 13,065 tons, is a chemical products tanker loaded with lubricating oil.

Since 2008, an international flotilla of warships has been patrolling the Gulf of Aden, one of the globe’s busiest maritime trade routes, to stop Somali pirates from hijacking commercial vessels.

Heavily armed pirates using speedboats operate in the Gulf of Aden where they prey on ships, sometimes holding vessels for weeks before releasing them for large ransoms paid by governments or ship-owners.

Kenya: Moment is Nigh to Live the East African Dream
Gichinga Ndirangu/Daily Nation/allafrica.com/5 July 2010

Nairobi — The excitement that has greeted the launch of the East African Common Market Protocol is understandable. The break-up of the original East African Community in 1977 was a lost opportunity and denied the region a chance to consolidate trade. As key regional institutions were dismantled, the region was left all the poorer and we have paid dearly for the petty jealousies that drove that break-up.

In the intervening period and before EAC leaders began retracing their footsteps to recapture that original vision, other regions, most notably the European Community, bolted out and created a strong market that has since matured into the European Union with its own currency, aligned trade policies and an expanded membership of 25. It is nostalgic to think where East Africa would be had it remained as resolute as the European Community.

The icing on the cake, though, is that from the original three states, Burundi and Rwanda have since crashed into the party aggregating the EAC market to 126 million people. It is widely expected that should the forthcoming referendum in Sudan vote in favour of two states, Southern Sudan will join the EAC in earnest. It is the only logical choice.

We must salute the singular sense of duty and purpose that EAC leaders have exerted in realising this milestone. A common market will ease trade within the region by harmonising trade policy. It creates a predictable external tariff structure, meaning trade partners do not have to second-guess export tariffs. A more certain and predictable trade environment allows businesses to plan and project better. The common market comes at a time when EAC partner states are patching a new trade regime with the European Union (EU) under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPAs). The collective challenge that an EPA with the EU presents emphasises the need for greater regional co-operation to mitigate some of the expected losses. Kenya, for instance, is expected to lose between eight per cent and 12 per cent in government revenue, incur a 15 per cent loss in regional trade while an estimated 65 per cent of Kenya’s manufacturing could be vulnerable under an EPA with the EU. Kenya’s counterparts at the EAC are not expected to fare any better.

Importantly, the EAC Common Market provides an important building bloc in consolidating regional integration in Africa. With the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) similarly committed, Africa is moving towards accelerated economic integration. Though Africa’s leaders and thinkers have acknowledged integration would lessen the continent’s economic and political marginalisation, the handiwork to take this goal beyond the realm of conjecture and optimism has been largely lacking.

But as the African Union continues to look upon the various regional economic communities as essential building blocs in the quest for continental economic integration, those making tangible progress such as the EAC represent real hope of political commitment towards deepening integration and de-emphasising the sovereign interests of individual countries. Effective regional integration is expected to diminish the limitations created by national boundaries and edge Africa closer to the goal of economic integration at the pan-Africa level. East Africa has, therefore, laid one more building bloc towards the broader vision of consolidating the continental trade architecture.

The EAC must learn from the experiences of other regions that have been on this road before to avoid repeating any of their failures and instead consolidate this effort. There should be no question that a common market creates both winners and losers depending on the economic efficiencies and diversification of trade and commerce within individual countries.

That partly explains why the process towards the common market has been gradual and incremental to allow individual countries make necessary adjustments especially in the manufacturing and industrial sectors. To optimise on the benefits, EAC member states must now take a closer look at national policies to facilitate local manufacturers and traders to seize the opportunities presented by the common market.

It is time to seize the moment and now that the train has left the station, there must be no looking back. Sceptics of regional integration must realise that the whole is always greater than the parts. After a false start in the 1970s, the moment is nigh to live and relive the East African dream.

Gichinga Ndirangu is a lawyer and policy analyst.

CHINA :

INDIA :

India Ford Exports Figo to South Africa
By ANIRBAN CHOWDHURY/online.wsj.com /JULY 5, 2010

MUMBAI — The Indian unit of Ford Motor Co. said Monday it has started exporting small car Figo to South Africa, one of the large export markets for auto makers in the South Asian country.

Ford India said it will send 1,200 units of the hatchback in petrol and diesel variants to its South African unit that will then deliver the cars to dealers by mid-July.

By the end of this year, the company aims to export 5,000 Figo vehicles to South Africa, said Ford India Managing Director Michael Boneham.

The Figo was introduced in India in March and has booked more than 24,000 orders since then, the company said.

Ford India sales for June totaled 7,269 vehicles, up from 1,982 a year earlier. Ford also sells the Ikon, Fiesta, Endeavour and Fusion models in India.

India Day Ahead: Reliance Natural Merges With Reliance Power in Share Swap
By Hari Govind /www.bloomberg.com/ Jul 5, 2010

The following are some of the important stories that broke overnight, and newspaper summaries in India today: