墨國經濟動盪 絕不走回頭路

郭篤為喧囂經年的競選活動終於告終,墨西哥六年一度大選將在四十八小時後開始投票,投資這個「新金磚」國家的外商和超過一千二百萬名偷渡入境美國的墨西哥非法移民如坐針氈,焦躁不安的等待大選分曉。

但是經濟活動不因大選而停頓;就在你讀著上一段的時候,平均每三分鐘有一貧困墨西哥人告別親友,拎著小包袱跨過兩國長達四千三百五十三公里邊界,尋找新希望。也在同時,美墨邊境公路貨卡滿載貨物雙向奔駛,飽享「北美自由貿易協定」每天十七億美元貿易額的甜美滋味。

北美貿協 使失業率直線攀升

「北美自由貿易協定」生效十二年以來,墨西哥擺脫因市場封閉,所帶來的高通貨膨脹惡夢,但卻相對犧牲了無法與美國和加拿大競爭補貼的農業。福克斯總統執政來,中國崛起,使墨西哥加工業大量外流,失業率直線攀升。

福克斯承諾每年創造一百萬個就業機會跳票後,約四百萬人離鄉背井偷渡美國。美國國會提案修築兩國邊境圍牆和派駐國民兵攔截非法移民,卻堵上了墨西哥宣洩社會動盪的壓力閥。墨西哥下任總統和美國的關係,不僅將影響墨西哥非法移民的前途,也將決定去年超過二百億美元的僑匯金額,這是僅次於石油的國家第二大收入。

大選的利空因素,使墨西哥股市在過去兩個月由破紀錄的二萬二千點跌至一萬八千出頭,雖然這對一億七百萬墨西哥人的絕大部分沒有任何意義。但墨西哥五年以來吸引外資一直高居拉丁美洲榜首,今年以來卻較去年同期狂跌三成,墨西哥比索和美元兌換率也由十‧五跌破十一。

廿八日傍晚選舉造勢截止,首都憲政廣場前擠滿了超過二十萬名羅貝茲的支持者,聆聽他煽動性的演說。這位清早六點上班的五十二歲前市長在競選階段以拒絕作為美國傀儡和廉價勞工的說法震撼華府,美國擔憂他一旦執政,墨西哥會加入拉丁美洲左派民粹和反美國家行列,使力挽左傾狂流的努力付諸流水。

大選利空 外資及股市均狂跌

羅貝茲在全國轉播的演說中保證,他一旦執政絕不會挑起經濟危機,將以負責的態度執政,並將維持宏觀調控,限制公共債務防止通貨膨脹。但是他保證為低收入勞工加薪二○﹪的政見,卻可能嚇走外國投資者,使失業惡化。「北美自由貿易協定」生效來財富分配極端不均,全國萬名財閥掌控接近四成財富,罷工示威此起彼落。

出身貧困的羅貝茲獲得全國過半數農民和原住民的廣泛支持,首都一千八百萬居民中的單親媽媽和老人更享受著他任內開始發給的每月約兩千台幣的津貼,他目前領先執政的「國家行動黨」候選人菲立佩‧卡德隆將近五個百分點;企圖東山再起的前執政「革命憲政黨」候選人馬德拉索更被遠拋在後。周日﹝七月二日﹞七千一百萬選民,尤其鄉間過半貧困農民的投票率,將是決勝關鍵。

在金融區內著名的百年老店「善朋Sanborne」咖啡廳內,我請教鄰座的老先生選情,他以極為簡單卻深具哲理的比喻道:「你看看這裡和街上吃傳統墨西哥鬆餅Taco的人還有多少,再看看美式餐點的盛行。民眾投下的是今後經濟的前景,這才是真正的民調。」

墨西哥式民主和經濟開放成果雖然可能受到大選的衝擊,但絕對不會再走回頭路。


國際斡旋 以色列暫停攻擊加薩北

在國際斡旋敦促釋放被巴勒斯坦武裝民兵綁架的以色列士兵同時,以色列暫停原定要攻擊加薩走廊北部的行動。據說是以色列總理「歐麥特」下令暫停攻擊,以回應埃及要求,與「哈瑪斯」進行談判。

以色列軍隊昨晚以戰機炮火猛烈攻擊加薩走廊南部民兵所在地,迫使巴勒斯坦武裝組織釋放被劫持的以色列士兵。以色列還拘禁了巴勒斯坦政府中8名內閣官員及20名議員,並認為這些人涉嫌恐怖暴行。巴勒斯坦則指稱以色列開啟戰端。

國際八大工業國家外長在莫斯科開會,已經同聲呼籲以色列發揮最大的自制。


大馬維持死刑制以捍衛
國家公眾利益

(中央社社記者陳毓平吉隆坡三十日專電)馬來西亞總理阿布杜拉表示,大馬政府為制裁罪惡淊天重犯,也為捍衛公眾權益起見,因此不考慮廢除死刑制度。

他在國會以書面答詢說,一般只有涉及危害國家及公眾安全的罪行犯才會被判死刑,包括觸犯刑事法典第三零二條謀殺罪行、牴觸一九五二年危險毒品法令第三十九(B)項條文。

他說,為了國家與公眾的利益,政府將維持死刑,但國家秉持公正法制,政府將確保不會濫用死刑。

他指出,政府所採取保障包括警方擁有高效率的調查隊伍,確保對涉及死刑罪案的調查工作得以更全面的進行,以及擁有更成熟的法制體系。

他說,檢察官在未審訊前,會進行詳細的調查和研究犯罪者的提控,確保不會誤判。


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Yahoo! News: Top Stories
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US, Iraq have draft to pull US troops out (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:47:48 GMT]

A U.S. Army soldier from Hammer Company, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment stands guard near two suspected terrorists in Nahr al-Imam, about 90 kilometers (60 miles) north of Baghdad  in Iraq's volatile Diyala province on Wednesday, July 30, 2008. Twenty men were detained in the pre-dawn sweep. Nearly 50,000 Iraqi police and soldiers were involved in a U.S.-backed operation against al-Qaida in Iraq in one of its last major strongholds near the capital, a senior provincial official said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Maya Alleruzzo)AP - Iraq and the U.S. have reached preliminary agreement to withdraw American forces from Iraqi cities by next June, six years into the increasingly unpopular war, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Thursday after meeting with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.


Suicide bombing at Pakistan arms complex kills 59 (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:07:54 GMT]

Pakistani lawyers chant slogan during a rally demanding to restore the deposed judges, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008 in Lahore, Pakistan. A key party in Pakistan's ruling coalition threatened to quit unless judges fired by former President Pervez Musharraf were quickly reinstated — dashing hopes his departure would end the nation's turmoil. (AP Photo/K.M.Chaudary)AP - Twin Taliban suicide bombings at Pakistan's largest weapons complex killed at least 59 people Thursday, heightening the turmoil following Pervez Musharraf's ouster as president.


Tropical Storm Fay forces more evacuations in Fla. (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:07:03 GMT]

National Guard troops and local law enforcement officers wade through water in the Lamplighter Village neighborhood as they help residents evacuate from the flooding caused by Tropical Storm Fay in Melbourne, Fla., Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008.(AP Photo/John Raoux)AP - Torrential rains from a slow-moving Tropical Storm Fay triggered a new round of flooding Thursday, submerging roads and forcing dozens of people to flee the rising water in their homes.


U.S. softball team denied 4th-straight gold, loses to Japan (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:59:21 GMT]

Japan's Yukiyo Mine, right, and  pitcher Yukiko Ueno celebrate after winning the gold medal against the USA in the gold medal softball game in the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)AP - Losing for the first time since 2000, the U.S. softball team was denied a chance for a fourth straight gold medal Thursday, beaten 3-1 by Japan in the sport's last appearance in the Olympics for at least eight years — and maybe for good.


Butterfingers drop US men, women out of 400 relays (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:22:45 GMT]

Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown, right, and United States' Allyson Felix compete in the women's 200-meter final during the athletics competitions in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008. Campbell-Brown won the gold medal. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)AP - Tyson Gay reached back to grab the baton "and there was nothing." He's not the only American track favorite who will leave Beijing empty-handed. The American men's and women's 400-meter relay teams both misconnected on the final handoffs in their preliminaries Thursday, a pair of stunning setbacks that made it that much easier for the Jamaicans to say the Bird's Nest is really their house.


16-year-old dies in Tennessee school shooting (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:32:57 GMT]

Keyana Callier, 16, sits outside Central High School in Knoxville, Tenn.,  on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2008 after a shooting in the school cafeteria. Authorities say a student, was fatally shot during a dispute and a fellow student taken into custody.  (AP Photo/ Knoxville News Sentinel, J.Miles Cary)AP - A student fatally shot a 16-year-old classmate during a dispute Thursday at a Knoxville high school, as other teenagers watched in horror as the victim clutched his chest and fell to the floor.


Leading economic indicators fell sharply in July (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:49:18 GMT]

AP - A private business group's measure of the economy's health showed the largest drop in one year as stocks fell, new building permits declined and unemployment rose.

Rejected by Hong Kong, Glitter arrives in Thailand (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:06:48 GMT]

In this March 3, 2006 file photo, former British rocker Gary Glitter smiles at journalists prior to his verdict and sentencing at Ba Ria-Vung, Vung Tau province People's Court in Vietnam. Authorities freed Glitter from prison in southern Vietnam on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2008, sending the convicted child molester into an uncertain future after nearly three years of confinement. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)AP - Thai police said disgraced rocker Gary Glitter agreed Thursday to leave Thailand for London, possibly ending a two-day odyssey that began when he was released from a Vietnamese prison after serving time for molesting children.


Now on the Hallmark aisle: Gay marriage cards (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:17:01 GMT]

This photo provided by Hallmark shows a same-sex wedding greeting card.  Hallmark added the cards after California joined Massachusetts as the only U.S. states with legal gay marriage. (AP Photo/Hallmark)AP - Most states don't recognize gay marriage — but now Hallmark does.


NFLPA head Gene Upshaw dies of cancer at age 63 (AP)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:20:38 GMT]

In this Thursday, Jan. 31, 2008 file photo, Gene Upshaw, executive director of the National Football League Players Association, is seen during a news conference, in Phoenix. The Hall of Fame football player and longtime NFL Players Association executive director died according to The NFL players' union. He was 63. The former offensive lineman had been fighting pancreatic cancer. He was 63. Upshaw played with the Oakland and Los Angeles Raiders from 1967 until 1981. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and an 11-time All-Pro.  (AP Photo/Morry Gash, FILE)AP - Gene Upshaw, the Hall of Fame guard who during a quarter century as union head helped get NFL players free agency and the riches that came with it, has died. He was 63.


Rice says Iraq troops deal close (Reuters)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:02:34 GMT]

Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki (R) meets visiting Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice in Baghdad August 21, 2008. (Handout/Iraqi Government/Reuters)Reuters - The United States and Iraq are close to a deal extending the presence of U.S. troops beyond 2008, but any timetable for their withdrawal must be "feasible," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Thursday.


U.S. demands Russia leave Georgia "now" (Reuters)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:37:51 GMT]

Elderly ethnic Georgians wait to be evacuated to Gori by Russia's Emergencies Ministry from the village of Kheiti, near the breakaway region's capital Tskhinvali, August 21, 2008. (Denis Sinyakov/Reuters)Reuters - Russia began pulling tanks and troops back over its frontier, pledging all forces would quit Georgia's heartland by Friday night, but the United States demanded it leave "now."


Analysts see tough quarter for U.S. investment banks (Reuters)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:31:16 GMT]

People walk past the world headquarters for Morgan Stanley  and  Co. Incorporated in New York May 19, 2008. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters)Reuters - Wall Street research analysts are projecting yet another tough quarter for U.S. investment banks marked by additional writedowns across a series of fixed-income assets amid an already weak operating environment.


Jamaica sweeps the sprint golds in Beijing (Reuters)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:33:40 GMT]

Veronica Campbell-Brown of Jamaica celebrates winning the women's 200m final of the athletics competition in the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games August 21, 2008. (Dylan Martinez/Reuters)Reuters - Jamaica made a clean sweep of Olympic sprint golds on Thursday with victory in the women's 200 meters humbling the United States, the traditional track and field superpower.


Suicide bombs kill 59 outside Pakistani arms plant (Reuters)
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:45:19 GMT]

Pakistani police and bomb disposal officials examine the site of a suicide bombing at a gate of Pakistan's ordinance factory in Wah, a garrison city about, 30 km (20 miles) northwest of Islamabad August 21, 2008. Two suicide bombers blew themselves up outside Pakistan's main defence industry complex on Thursday as workers were leaving at the end of their shift, killing nearly 40 people, police said.    REUTERS/Faisal Mahmood   (PAKISTAN)Reuters - Two Pakistani Taliban suicide bombers blew themselves up outside the country's main defense industry complex on Thursday, killing at least 59 people as workers were leaving at the end of their shift, officials said.


 
U.S. News
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Obama Winning Women Voters, but Margin Slimmest Among Baby Boomers
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:50:00 -0400]

New poll shows Obama with 12-point lead among all female respondents.

The 'New York Times' Votes Big for Obama Economics
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:17:00 -0400]

An 8,000 word story concludes that Obama is right on the economy and that McCain and Reagan are wrong.

5 Deadliest Hurricanes in U.S. History
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:55:00 -0400]

As Tropical Storm Fay claims lives in the Caribbean and threatens Florida, we look at past hurricanes.

One Blogger's Money-Making Secrets
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:52:00 -0400]

She earns $50,000 a year by blogging for others.

Data Points: Political Fundraising
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:48:00 -0400]

Republicans have raised more, but Democrats have significantly increased fundraising since 2006.

 
NYT > NYTimes.com Home
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Suicide Attack at Pakistan Arms Plant Kills 60 People
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:31:53 GMT]

The Pakistani Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack on Thursday outside the largest military ordnance plant in Pakistan.

Rice Travels to Iraq to Push for Deal on U.S. Forces
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:31:58 GMT]

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was meeting with Iraqi officials in an effort to finalize an agreement on the presence of American troops in Iraq.

Report Says Fire, Not Explosion, Felled 7 W.T.C.
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:48:22 GMT]

The report says evidence does not support the speculation that explosives or fuel fires were responsible for the building’s collapse on Sept. 11, 2001.

China Closes in on Diving Sweep With Gold in Women’s Platform
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:55:23 GMT]

On the final dive of the night, Chen Ruolin scored four 10s and three 9.5s, giving China its seventh gold medal in diving.

Madrid Plane Crash Inquiry Begins
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:18:21 GMT]

Investigators began their inquiry into the cause of Wednesday’s plane crash at Madrid Barajas International Airport that killed at least 153 , in Spain’s worst flight disaster in years.

 
BBC News | News Front Page | UK Edition
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Spain grieves for Madrid victims
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:59:09 GMT]

Spain mourns 153 people killed in a plane crash at Madrid airport, as investigators look into the causes of the tragedy.

Pakistan bombers hit arms factory
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:35:12 GMT]

Pakistan suffers its deadliest attack on a military installation, as suicide bombers kill at least 63 outside a munitions factory.

Teenager in death fall from flats
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:37:26 GMT]

A teenager may have been chased by a gang of masked youths before falling to his death from a block of flats, police say.

Two energy firms to raise prices
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:30:36 GMT]

Energy firms E.On and Scottish and Southern Energy are to raise gas and electricity prices by up to 29%, blaming wholesale costs.

Big jump in top GCSE exam grades
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 10:21:51 GMT]

There has been the biggest annual rise since 1990 in the proportion of GCSE exams awarded the best grades.

Gary Glitter 'will fly to London'
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:06:21 GMT]

Convicted paedophile and former pop star Gary Glitter has agreed to fly to London, Thai police have said.

Brown visits UK troops in Helmand
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 17:05:06 GMT]

Gordon Brown tells British troops they are "the heroes of our country", on a surprise trip to Afghanistan.

Russians halt Nato co-operation
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:56:40 GMT]

Russia tells Nato it is halting military co-operation over the continuing crisis in Georgia, the alliance says.

Ex-Kitten Katona is made bankrupt
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:43:48 GMT]

Former Atomic Kitten pop star Kerry Katona is declared bankrupt at the High Court after failing to meet a tax bill.

Swazis protest after royal wives charter plane for shopping trip
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:40:44 GMT]

Swazi women march in protest about an overseas shopping trip taken by nine of the king's wives.

 
MSNBC.com: World news
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Taliban bombs kill 59 at Pakistan arms site
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:27:35 GMT]

Security personnel gather around a victim's body following two suicide attacks at a military arms factory in Wah, Pakistan, on Thursday.Two suicide bombers blew themselves up at the gates of Pakistan's main weapons complex Thursday, killing 59 people and dashing hopes for an end to political turmoil.


Owner: Doomed jet experienced overheating
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 12:38:41 GMT]

Spanish politicians gathered outside Madrid's city hall on Thursday to observe five minutes of silence as the country mourned the 153 victims of the Spanair crash.The jetliner that crashed in Madrid experienced overheating in an air intake valve before a first attempt at takeoff, but it is not clear if that had anything to do with the disaster, its owner said Thursday.


Surrogate mom, 61, gives birth to own grandkid
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:38:02 GMT]

A 61-year-old Japanese woman gave birth to her own grandchild, using an egg donated by her daughter, a clinic said Thursday.

Russia blocks port city as deadline looms
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:45:04 GMT]

Russian forces prepare to secure a bridge leading to the port city of Poti, Georgia, on Wednesday.Russian forces blocked the only land entrance to Georgia's main port city on Thursday, a day before Russia promised to complete a troop pullout from its ex-Soviet neighbor.


Russia halts military cooperation with NATO
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:29:06 GMT]

NATO has received a note from Moscow saying Russia is halting military cooperation, in the latest sign of tension over the violence in Georgia, an official said Thursday.

 
Discovery News Top Stories : Discovery Channel
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Silk-Based Optical Lenses Green Enough to Eat
[Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:27:30 GMT]

Scientists create silk-based optical devices that you can literally eat harmlessly.

Sorry Goldilocks, Black Holes Come in Small and Large
[Wed, 20 Aug 2008 21:27:30 GMT]

There are few, if any, middleweight black holes.

Thawed Bigfoot 'Body' Just a Rubber Suit
[Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:20:30 GMT]

After the boldest Bigfoot hoax ever, a frozen "body" turns out to be a rubber costume.

Birds Thrown Off by Global Warming
[Wed, 20 Aug 2008 13:20:30 GMT]

As birds shift in response to warming, their food sources adjust at different rates.

Trace Arsenic in Water Linked to Diabetes
[Tue, 19 Aug 2008 21:10:30 GMT]

A new study is the first to link low-level arsenic exposure to Type 2 diabetes.

Stem Cells Could Boost Blood Transfusion Supplies
[Tue, 19 Aug 2008 19:10:30 GMT]

Making blood cells from stem cells could lead to a supply of "universal" blood.

Imperiled Baby Whale Returns to 'Mama' Yachts
[Tue, 19 Aug 2008 13:10:30 GMT]

A baby humpback whale that confused a yacht for its actual mother is unlikely to survive.

Hefty Dinosaurs Trampled Denmark
[Tue, 19 Aug 2008 14:27:30 GMT]

Sauropod dinosaur tracks are found on the Danish island of Bornholm.

Palm Vein ID Scan Makes U.S. Debut
[Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:35:30 GMT]

U.S. business school applicants will soon submit hand vein scans to verify their identities.

In Multi-Pet Homes, Cats Are Top Dogs
[Mon, 18 Aug 2008 16:00:30 GMT]

Cats and dogs can get along, so long as the cat has full run of the house first.

Bigfoot DNA Dubbed Scam, Believers Undaunted
[Fri, 15 Aug 2008 20:30:30 GMT]

Two Georgia men say they have found Bigfoot and have his DNA, as others cry hoax.

SLIDE SHOW: Ten Reasons Why Bigfoot Is Bogus
[Fri, 15 Aug 2008 23:30:30 GMT]

Discovery News consults the experts for a skeptic's guide to Sasquatch.

In Shark Vs. Polar Bear Smackdown, Shark Wins
[Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:00:30 GMT]

A polar bear jaw found in the stomach of a Greenland shark is raising eyebrows.

 
Discovery News - Animals
(
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Birds Thrown Off by Global Warming
[Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:30:00 EST]

As birds shift in response to warming, their food sources adjust at different rates.

Thawed Bigfoot 'Body' Just a Rubber Suit
[Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:00:30 EST]

After the boldest Bigfoot hoax ever, a frozen "body" turns out to be a rubber costume.

Imperiled Baby Whale Returns to 'Mama' Yachts
[Tue, 19 Aug 2008 09:30:00 EST]

A baby humpback whale that confused a yacht for its mother is unlikely to survive.

Lost Humpback Whale Calf Bonds With Yacht
[Mon, 18 Aug 2008 14:00:00 EST]

A confused humpback whale calf attempts to suckle the side of a yacht.

In Multi-Pet Homes, Cats Are Top Dogs
[Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:00:30 EST]

Cats and dogs can get along, so long as the cat has full run of the house first.

Bigfoot DNA Dubbed Scam, Believers Undaunted
[Fri, 15 Aug 2008 16:30:30 EST]

Two Georgia men say they have found Bigfoot and have his DNA, as others cry hoax.

 

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National Geographic Magazine
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Our Good Earth
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The future rests on soil. Can we protect it?

Haiti Soil
[]

Haiti has lost its soil and its means to feed itself.

Elephants of Samburu
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An African love story.

Desperate Measure
[]

The grim practice of culling elephants may resume.

Sailfish in the Whirl
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Sails raised, colors gleaming, they round up prey.

Bolivia's Wrestlers
[]

Women compete in petticoats, bowlers, and bling.

Lost Tribes of the Green Sahara
[]

Uncovering a mysterious Stone Age graveyard.

International Photo Contest
[]

National Geographic's international photo contest will be open for entries starting August 1.

Editor's Note
[]

Editor in Chief Chris Johns writes about elephants in Africa and their management.

Flashback
[]

A man measures the amount of erosion in rural New Mexico.

Your Shot
[]

Submit your photo, check out Your Shot jigsaw puzzles, and see reader photos that were recently published in National Geographic.

Desktop Wallpaper
[]

Decorate your desktop with beautiful images from this month's issue of the magazine.

 
National Geographic Magazine
(
unfoldmore

Our Good Earth
[]

The future rests on soil. Can we protect it?

Haiti Soil
[]

Haiti has lost its soil and its means to feed itself.

Elephants of Samburu
[]

An African love story.

Desperate Measure
[]

The grim practice of culling elephants may resume.

Sailfish in the Whirl
[]

Sails raised, colors gleaming, they round up prey.

Bolivia's Wrestlers
[]

Women compete in petticoats, bowlers, and bling.

Lost Tribes of the Green Sahara
[]

Uncovering a mysterious Stone Age graveyard.

International Photo Contest
[]

National Geographic's international photo contest will be open for entries starting August 1.

Editor's Note
[]

Editor in Chief Chris Johns writes about elephants in Africa and their management.

Flashback
[]

A man measures the amount of erosion in rural New Mexico.

Your Shot
[]

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USATODAY.com News - Top Stories
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Deputy: Teen dies after Tenn. school shooting
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:08:33 GMT]

A student fatally shot a 16-year-old classmate during a dispute Thursday at a Knoxville high school, and a suspect was taken ...

Afghan bomb kills 3 Canadian soldiers
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:14:37 GMT]

Canada's Department of National Defense says a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan has killed three Canadian soldiers.

NATO: Russia halts military cooperation
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:57:01 GMT]

Russia has halted all military cooperation with NATO, the Western alliance said Thursday, in the latest sign of East-West tension ...

Displaced Georgians look to U.S. for aid
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:55:11 GMT]

Some 240 displaced Georgians are crammed into a former office building and drinking water is scarce, but people are making do, ...

More funding urged for climate research
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:12:31 GMT]

Scientists on Wednesday recommended a huge increase in the USA's climate and weather research budget, citing the need for improved ...

Rice says U.S., Iraq agree to troop withdrawal timetable
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:41:05 GMT]

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Thursday the two countries have agreed that ...

McCain not sure how many houses he and wife own
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:38:52 GMT]

Days after he cracked that being rich in the U.S. meant earning at least $5 million a year, Republican presidential candidate ...

Bishop to feds: End mass immigration raids
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:34:34 GMT]

A Roman Catholic bishop is calling on U.S. authorities to halt mass immigration raids and says agents who refuse to participate ...

Report: Fire, not bombs, leveled WTC 7 building
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:20:41 GMT]

Government investigators have issued a report refuting conspiracy theories that a skyscraper next to the twin towers was brought ...

Obama tours GOP-leaning South
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:10:56 GMT]

Barack Obama used a big American flag and a custom-built race car as backdrops here Wednesday, signaling his intention to challenge ...

 
USATODAY.com World - Top Stories
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Rice says U.S., Iraq agree to troop withdrawal timetable
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:41:05 GMT]

Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said Thursday the two countries have agreed that ...

U.S. coalition: 30 militants die in battle in Afghanistan
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:34:39 GMT]

The U.S.-led coalition said Thursday it had killed more than 30 insurgents in a battle in eastern Afghanistan, fighters an Afghan ...

Afghan bomb kills 3 Canadian soldiers
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 16:14:37 GMT]

Canada's Department of National Defense says a roadside bomb in southern Afghanistan has killed three Canadian soldiers.

NATO: Russia halts military cooperation
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:57:01 GMT]

Russia has halted all military cooperation with NATO, the Western alliance said Thursday, in the latest sign of East-West tension ...

Displaced Georgians look to U.S. for aid
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:55:11 GMT]

Some 240 displaced Georgians are crammed into a former office building and drinking water is scarce, but people are making do, ...

Beijing police grab foreign and Chinese activists
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:42:29 GMT]

Police descended on a group of foreign pro-Tibet activists and some disgruntled business owners from Hong Kong on Thursday, taking ...

Pirates seize 3 ships off Somalia coast
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:16:46 GMT]

Armed pirates hijacked three ships off the coast of Somalia in a series of attacks Thursday, an international maritime body said, ...

25 bodies identified from plane crash in Spain
[Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:54:51 GMT]

The jetliner that crashed in Madrid abandoned a first takeoff attempt because of an air gauge that showed overheating, but experts ...