PARIS a" The street protests here remind us of similar scenes in Manila not too long ago; But the planned strike early next week has certainly not affected the inflow of tourists and convention visitors: Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin is under considerable pressure from the business sector

on one side and labor unions and students on the other: The former would like him not to bow to the latter who for the past weeks have been demanding the withrawal of an employment law known as the First Employment contract. The law was designed to make it easier for industry to hire and fire young people under 26 years old who are hired under a two-year trial period. Protesters say the law erodes vital employment rights and could be turned into a charter to exploit young workers. De Villepin is considering a populist compromise since he is thinking of running for president in 2007 a" an amendment to the law like a one instead of a two-year trial period. Analysts say that the conflict is emblematic of the challenge facing much of Western Europe today as it tries to loosen rigid labor laws that have created costly entitlements. But if the law is to be implemented, it must apply to all, not just to a certain age-group, is one radical approach proposed by some sectors.

On the technology side, a new technical standard known as IPv6 is now enthusiastically welcomed in China. In fact, a summit on this new technology will be held there next month: Critics of this "next generation" Internet say it would allow greater traceability of Internet users, thereby endangering anonymous bloggers who are critical of government. There is anonymity for criminals on the Internet in China; according to the chair of Chinaas Internet Society who sees IPv6 as a potential solution to what is now seen as a threat to governments. The technology is expected to fight Internet crime by giving a unique identity to every computer or device on the Internet, thus enabling content to become more targetted.

At the UNESCO-IPDC Council meeting, a resource person from the International News Safety Institute noted that 90 percent of journalist killings have been done with impunity, meaning that the murderers get away with the crime. The Institute is now implementing a safety training program for some 10,000 journalists. Its concerns also include the promotion of an enabling environment that would reduce intimidation or arbitrary detention. Please e- mail at florbraid@yahoo.com