• US: California considers smoking ban at all state parks
• Ethiopia wants to attract tourists from China, India
• South Africa's Zuma bids to end Zimbabwe crisis

• Mayors at El Salvador congress enjoy presentation on Maharishi's programmes to alleviate violence and rehabilitate criminal offenders
• Maharishi University of Management honoured by visit of former President of Mozambique
• Nepal: Maharishi Vedic Pandits give traditional blessings to government leaders

• Afghan children face world's worst conditions-UN
• Fear grips Mexican border families amid violence
• North Korea executes official for blunder

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Positive Trends
10 Short Summaries of Top Stories

US: California considers smoking ban at all state parks
18 March 2010 - California lawmakers on Thursday will consider what is believed to be the nation's most far-reaching smoking ban in state parks as a way to get unsightly cigarette butts off the beach, eliminate second-hand smoke, and reduce the threat of wildfires. Maine banned smoking at its state beaches last year, but groups that track such legislation say no state prohibits lighting up throughout its entire park system, as the California bill proposes. (more)

Ethiopia wants to attract tourists from China, India
17 March 2010 - Ethiopia hopes to develop growing business ties with China, India, and Turkey to attract middle class visitors from those countries and boost its largely untapped tourism sector. The country managed to protect its tourism earnings during the global downturn. Some 430,000 tourists visited Ethiopia in 2009 and the government aims at one million visitors in 10 years. (more)

South Africa's Zuma bids to end Zimbabwe crisis
17 March 2010 - South African leader Jacob Zuma met Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Wednesday in an attempt to resolve a decade-long political crisis that helped drag Zimbabwe into economic ruin. Mugabe and opposition leader Tsvangirai formed a unity government last year to end a stalemate over disputed elections, which has managed to stabilize the economy after 10 years of contraction. South Africa's Zuma is trying to resolve continued conflict within Zimbabwe's two-party government to speed up progress and further stabilize the country. (more)

US, India move to strengthen trade, investment ties
17 March 2010 - The United States and India signed an agreement on Wednesday to strengthen trade and investment ties, following through on a pledge leaders of the two countries made last year. 'There is almost limitless potential for growth in trade between our two countries and that can contribute to economic recovery and job creation in the United States and continued economic growth in India,' US Trade Representative Ron Kirk said. (more)

Russian official calls for night-time alcohol sales ban
15 March 2010 - Russia's top public health official called on Sunday for a ban on retail sales of alcohol after 9 pm as part of a Kremlin-led campaign to crack down on alcohol abuse, state-run news agency RIA reported. President Dmitry Medvedev last year ordered tough measures to curb alcohol abuse. (more)

US: Native Hawaiian government may become reality
15 March 2010 - Native Hawaiians are closer than they've ever been to reclaiming a piece of Hawaii. With a final vote pending in the US Senate and Hawaii-born President Barack Obama on their side, the nation's 400,000 Native Hawaiians could earn federal recognition as soon as this month -- and the land, money, and power that comes with it. (more)

India says open to new round of talks with Pakistan
14 March 2010 - India signalled on Friday it was open to a new round of talks with Pakistan, raising fresh hopes of a thaw in relations after last month's official dialogue between the nuclear-armed rivals produced no breakthrough. (more)

Nigeria approves $1 billion disbursal from oil savings
13 March 2010 - Nigeria's Acting President Goodluck Jonathan on Friday approved the disbursal of a further $1 billion from the country's windfall oil savings, leaving about $4.1 billion in the account, government officials said. Jonathan has said maintaining peace in the Niger Delta, improving Nigeria's power supply, and fighting corruption are among his top priorities. (more)

Canada recovering with growing optimism, Prime Minister says
12 March 2010 - Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper adopted a more upbeat tone than usual when discussing the economy on Thursday, saying the nation was recovering with a growing sense of optimism. Prime Minister Harper said Canada would emerge from the recession in the strongest position of any major developed economy. (more)

Meeting on deforestation boosts morale, budget
12 March 2010 - A Paris conference bringing together more than 60 nations Thursday added $1 billion to the fight against deforestation and boosted the morale of those hoping to save the world's forests -- a key defence against global warming. The 64 nations agreed to create a core structure of some 10 countries to work on the mechanics of equitably distributing funds and other issues. (more)

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Success of Maharishi's Programmes
10 Short Summaries of Top Stories

Mayors at El Salvador congress enjoy presentation on Maharishi's programmes to alleviate violence and rehabilitate criminal offenders
4 December 2009 - A large congress of mayors in San Salvador, El Salvador, 23-24 November, featured a presentation on Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's programmes to improve every area of society. The presentation was given by Dr Pedro Ojeda, representing the Latin American Institute of Science, Technology, and Public Policy, who had been invited to address the congress. Mayors expressed particular interest in programmes for alleviating violence and rehabilitating criminal offenders, problems that plague the nation. (more)

Maharishi University of Management honoured by visit of former President of Mozambique
10 November 2009 - Joaquim Alberto Chissano, who was President of Mozambique from 1986-2005, recently addressed a celebration honouring him at Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa, USA. President Chissano introduced the Transcendental Meditation Programme and Yogic Flying to the military in his country and ended the long-standing civil war. (more)

Nepal: Maharishi Vedic Pandits give traditional blessings to government leaders
8 November 2009 - A group of Maharishi Vedic Pandits, experts in the ancient Vedic Science brought to light and fully restored by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, presented traditional Vedic blessings recently to leading government officials in Nepal. Accompanying the Pandits was Dr Deepak Baskota, National Director of the Maharishi Vedic Foundation and the Global Country of World Peace for Nepal, who spoke about the goals and methodologies for bringing peace and prosperity to the nation. (more)

Honouring the parental role of Traditional Leaders: Traditional Leaders from the Amazon visit MERU, Holland
1 October 2009 - The Album of Events page of Global Good News is now featuring colourful photos of 'Honouring the parental role of Traditional Leaders: Traditional Leaders from the Amazon visit MERU, Holland'. During their visit, the leaders, in traditional dress, were welcomed in a beautiful celebration by leaders of the Global Country of World Peace. (more)

The beginning of indomitable progress for 'all the city halls and cities of Latin America': Dr Pedro Ojeda on mayors' summit
21 September 2009 - Dramatically increased receptivity to Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's programmes for ideal administration--especially apparent at the recent major summit of Latin American mayors in Argentina--is one expression of the 'indomitable growth of consciousness' across the continent, said Dr Pedro Ojeda, National Director of Paraguay for the Global Country of World Peace. Another indicator of rising invincibility, he said, is the founding of the Latin American Institute of Science, Technology, and Public Policy, to present these programmes. (more)

Now is the time to approach government leaders in all countries: Mayor Robert Wynne
20 September 2009 - In speeches to the major summit of Latin American mayors in Argentina earlier this month, Mayor Ed Malloy of Fairfield, Iowa, USA, and Mayor Robert Wynne of neighbouring Maharishi Vedic City presented Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's programmes for ideal governmental administration. Mayor Wynne emphasized creating invincibility for each country and the whole Latin American continent through groups of Yogic Flyers, the basis for success in every area of individual and social life: 'Do the one thing by which all others are accomplished.' (more)

Maharishi's principles of administration find warm welcome at summit of 2,000 mayors, 6,000 administrators
16 September 2009 - The recent founding of the Latin American Institute of Science, Technology, and Public Policy was a natural outcome of the Latin American Association of Mayors' summit from 2 to 4 September in Argentina. Association members and guests were deeply inspired by presentations and knowledge provided by leaders of the Global Country of World Peace. (more)

Latin American mayors' summit: 'The path to invincibility and enlightenment has been made clear'
15 September 2009 - The recent summit of several thousand members of the Latin American Association of Mayors, held in Argentina from 2 through 4 September 2009, was unprecedented--not only in opportunities extended to Global Country of World Peace leaders to present Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's programmes for ideal governmental administration. Those presentations also had a profound impact on attendees, generating a high level of enthusiasm. (more)

Latin American mayors' summit sparks unprecedented interest in Maharishi's programmes
13 September 2009 - At a major summit in Argentina from 2 to 4 September 2009, attended by several thousand members of the Latin American Association of Mayors, Global Country of World Peace leaders from North and South America presented the programmes of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi for ideal governmental administration, which were enthusiastically received. (more)

Designed to promote government in accord with Natural Law: Vedic Architecture parliament building proposed for Vedic Siam
11 September 2009 - An innovative design proposal for Thailand's new parliament building not only incorporates many up-to-date 'green' and 'smart' features, but is based on principles of Maharishi Vedic Architecture -- to attune individual life with cosmic intelligence and promote governmental administration in accord with Natural Law. (more)

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Flops
10 Short Summaries of Top Stories

Afghan children face world's worst conditions-UN
18 March 2010 - Afghanistan is the hardest place in the world to be a child, the South Asia regional director for UNICEF said, with high child mortality rates, poor levels of nutrition and rampant abuse. Three decades of war and a worsening insurgency have made it ever tougher for an Afghan child just to survive, she told Reuters during a visit aimed at highlighting what UNICEF calls the worst conditions for children on earth. More than a quarter of Afghan children -- 257 out of 1,000 -- will die before they reach their fifth birthday and 165 out of every 1,000 will die in the first year of their lives, more than any place in the world, according to UNICEF data from 2008. Afghanistan also has the second highest maternal mortality rate in the world after Sierra Leone, with 1,800 women per 100,000 live births dying during child birth. (more)

Fear grips Mexican border families amid violence
18 March 2010 - Parents in Ciudad Juarez, just across the border from El Paso, Texas, are afraid to venture into the streets amid a turf war between two powerful drug cartels that has left more than 4,500 people dead during the past two years. The violence has risen to such levels in Ciudad Juarez that everyone feels at risk in the city of 1.3 million, where innocent people have been increasingly caught in the crossfire. Hit men have gone to wrong addresses or shot indiscriminately into homes, mowing down not only the targeted people but anyone nearby. Families in Ciudad Juarez started taking precautions years ago. At night, some couples drive in separate cars so one spouse can call the other on a cell phone upon seeing something suspicious. Many restrict their children to socializing at the homes of neighbours and relatives instead of meeting up at cafes and discos. (more)

North Korea executes official for blunder
18 March 2010 - North Korea has executed a ruling party official blamed for a botched currency reform, in a desperate attempt to quell public unrest and stem negative impact on Pyongyang's power succession, a news report said on Thursday. But both North Korean officials and even many in the communist country's public do not believe the explanation that Pak was a conspiring anti-revolutionary, South Korea's Yonhap news agency quoted sources knowledgeable about the issue as saying. 'The mood is the leadership has made Pak Nam-ki a scapegoat,' one source was quoted as saying. Analysts stated that the event showed the North was under intense pressure to relieve problems that could upset the stability of the leadership. (more)

US bank auditors got big bonuses despite missing meltdown signposts
18 March 2010 - Banks weren't the only ones giving big bonuses in the boom years before the worst financial crisis in generations. The government also was handing out millions of dollars to bank regulators, rewarding 'superior' work even as an avalanche of risky mortgages helped create the meltdown. Just as bank executives got bonuses despite taking on dangerous amounts of risk, regulators got taxpayer-funded bonuses despite missing or ignoring signs that the system was on the verge of a meltdown. The bonuses were part of a reward programme little known outside the government. Some government regulators got tens of thousands of dollars in perks, boosting their salaries by almost 25 per cent. (more)

CO2 at new highs despite economic slowdown
17 March 2010 - Levels of the main greenhouse gas in the atmosphere have risen to new highs in 2010 despite an economic slowdown in many nations that braked industrial output, data showed on 15 March. Carbon dioxide, measured at Norway's Zeppelin station on the Arctic Svalbard archipelago, rose to a median 393.71 parts per million of the atmosphere in the first two weeks of March from 393.17 in the same period of 2009, extending years of gains. (more)

New Colombian party linked to right-wing gangs
17 March 2010 - A new party accused of ties to far-right criminal bands has emerged as a surprising force in Colombian politics, adding to worries that President Alvaro Uribe has failed to weaken drug-funded paramilitaries in the provinces. Voters made the Party of National Integration, or PIN, Colombia's fourth-strongest party in Sunday's election to replace a Congress already badly tarnished by lawmaker links to far-right militias. The party is comprised in large part by relatives and friends of lawmakers jailed or under investigation for alleged paramilitary links but denies any links with criminals. It won nearly a million votes in elections dominated by Uribe allies. The vote was a key indicator of Colombians' preferences heading into the 30 May presidential election, providing a measure of Uribe's performance against this Andean nation's twin demons: organized crime and drug corruption. Uribe remains highly popular in Colombia for weakening leftist guerrillas. (more)

Peru President fires Justice Minister amid scandal
17 March 2010 - President Alan Garcia fired Peru's Justice Minister Tuesday amid questions over the pardoning of a former media executive convicted of taking payoffs to provide favourable coverage for a previous government. Officials gave reporters a decree signed by Garcia that removed Aurelio Pastor from the post. Some media outlets and opposition politicians had called for Pastor's resignation for defending the release from prison of 77-year-old Jose Enrique Crousillat, the ex-majority owner of America Television's Channel 4. Before being removed as minister, Pastor accused the owners of the El Comercio media group of running a campaign to drive him from office. He said the campaign threatened Peru's democracy. Montesinos, who is serving a 15-year prison sentence, was the behind-the-scenes power broker during Fujimori's 10-year government, which fell in 2000 amid a corruption scandal. (more)

After China, Philippines may approve GMO rice
16 March 2010 - The Philippines may follow China as the next Asian country to approve widespread planting of genetically modified rice crops, possibly as early as 2011, an industry expert said on 16 March. The Philippines, the world's largest rice importer, is one of several countries currently in field tests for GMO rice crops, Robert Zeigler, Director General of the Philippines-based International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), said at the Reuters Food and Agriculture Summit. 'There's some possibility that it would be the Philippines that will get approval next, for Golden Rice. Probably late 2011 or early 2012,' Mr Zeigler said. 'Bangladesh will follow very shortly thereafter, and then India, probably a year or two later.' (more)

Russia corruption 'may force Western firms to quit'
15 March 2010 - Extortion by corrupt officials in Russia has got so bad that some Western multinationals are considering pulling out altogether, the head of a US anti-bribery group said in an interview. Alexandra Wrage, whose non-profit organization TRACE International advises firms on how to avoid bribery, told Reuters the 'rampant endemic' corruption in Russia was much worse than in other big emerging economies. Berlin-based NGO Transparency International rates Russia joint 146th out of 180 nations in its Corruption Perception Index, saying bribe-taking is worth about $300 billion a year. Corruption in emerging market economies typically involves payments to secure business but in Russia most bribes go to officials to stop them from abusing their office. (more)

Thai protesters vow to spill their own blood
15 March 2010 - Protest leaders vowed Monday to collect blood from tens of thousands of anti-government activists and splash it onto the Thai government headquarters in a symbolic sacrifice to press their demands for new elections. As many as 100,000 'Red Shirt' protesters converged Sunday on Bangkok to demand that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva agree to dissolve Parliament by midday Monday. Abhisit refused and blanketed the capital in security, but said his government was open to listening to what else the protesters have to say. Thailand has been in constant political turmoil since early 2006, when anti-Thaksin demonstrations began. In 2008, when Thaksin's political allies came back to power for a year, his opponents occupied the prime minister's office compound for three months and seized Bangkok's two airports for a week. (more)