The Mediterranean Union: Sarkozy's 'Grand Design'.
WE are all of us informed by our backgrounds and influenced by our upbringing. Of no-one is this more true than Nicolas Sarkozy, the President of France. Erstwhile first generation immigrant, only one quarter French, even this salient factor about him is questioned. According to some he was born...

Women in the Maghreb: civil society's actors or political instruments?
It is impossible to discuss democratization, human development and human rights anywhere in the world without including the role of women. Before evaluating it in the Maghrebi countries, it is important to point out that female representation in public life (governments, parliaments, civil society, economic enterprises, etc.) is a...

Pro-Life News in Brief.
Council of Europe Urges Abortion "Right" in Member States The Council of Europe passed a resolution April 16 insisting that every one of its 47 member states should legalize abortion. Passed on a 10269 vote by the Parliamentary Assembly, the resolution calls on the countries to "decriminalise...

European lawmakers urge broader abortion rights.
Lawmakers from the 47 countries in the Council of Europe have said women should be guaranteed the right to "safe and legal abortion"--a resolution that faced heavy criticism from Roman Catholic groups. The council's parliamentary assembly, in an April 16 resolution, said that abortion should be avoided...

LETTERS IN THE EDITOR'S MAILBAG.
Byline: The Register-Guard Pop quiz on health care Here's a quiz for those who have seen the movie "Sicko" and for those who haven't. What two things do these countries have in common: France, Italy, San Marino, Andorra, Malta, Singapore, Spain, Oman, Austria,...

Diplomacy and Ambassadors: Are they relevant in a wide-wired world?
Byline: Ambassador JOSEPH D. BERNARDO (Response of His Excellency Joseph D. Bernardo, Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Spain and the Principality of Andorra at the conferment of the degree of Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, given by the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila last 29 November...

Style & Security Conscious Passports Will Be Wearing Radio-Frequency Shielding Jackets This Season.
New DataSafe(R) wallets are a security precaution for the State Department's new electronic passports ANAHEIM HILLS, Calif., Jan. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- California-based Kena Kai today announced their new line of DataSafe(R) passport wallets that protect the U.S. State Department's recently introduced ePassports from wireless identity-theft. These patent-pending...

First-Ever "Food Network Awards," February 23rd.
Honoring Achievements in the World of Food and Entertaining World-Renowned Chef Emeril Lagasse Will Serve as Master of Ceremonies Catherine Zeta-Jones and Aaron Eckhart, Stars of the Upcoming Feature Film "No Reservations," to Present Along with Food Network Stars Rachael Ray, Giada De Laurentiis, Bobby...

Tiny, rich nations = Longer lives.
NEW DELHI: Size does matter - inversely so it seems, in the case of countries. The list of 50 countries with high life expectancy is dominated by smaller countries, which not only show high life expectancy but also better human development indices than many of the large developed countries....

Comelec starts printing of ballots; Election materials for OFWs are printed first 504,110 voters will cast their ballots abroad.
Byline: E.T. SUAREZ The Commission on Elections (Comelec) has started printing the official ballots for 504,110 Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and dual citizens who have registered under the Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003. The Comelec, led by Chairman Benjamin S. Abalos Sr. and Commissioners...