North America – Obama vows return to US science prominence (SpaceDaily)

Obama vows return to US science prominence (SpaceDaily)
by Staff Writers Washington (AFP) April 27, 2009 President Barack Obama pledged Monday to return the United States to a “high water mark” of scientific achievement, announcing a goal to commit three percent of GDP to research and development.

(AFX UK Focus) 2009-04-28 16:02 Bank of Canada to sell at least C$9 bln T-Bills (Interactive Investor)
TORONTO, April 28 (Reuters) – The Bank of Canada said on Tuesday it would sell at least C$9 billion ($7.38 billion) Government of Canada Treasury bills at its May 12 auction. The central bank said it would sell at least C$1.95 billion six-month and C$1.95 billion one-year bills at the auction. Final totals will be released on May 5. ($1=$1.22 Canadian)

EXCLUSIVE: Former President George H. W. Bush reflects on his presidency (11 News Houston)
George H. W. Bush is one of few men who have seen the view from the mountaintop and the valley. But these days, the 41st President of the United States is more driven by passion than politics.

Defection is cruel blow as party struggles
Since Mr Specter’s move puts President Barack Obama on the verge of commanding a critical 60 votes in the Senate, it represents a cruel blow for the Republican party, which was already scrabbling for a purchase on the Washington political agenda

Canada to open Arctic research centre in Norway: Sources (The Canadian Press via Yahoo! Canada News)
OTTAWA – Canada will open an international Arctic research centre in Oslo as part of a new diplomatic effort to defend the country’s interests in the far north, The Canadian Press has learned.

Short View: Obama’s first 100 days
As far as the market is concerned, Barack Obama’s first 100 days do not compare with Franklin D. Roosevelt’s in 1933, says John Authers

“Color immigrants” struggle for better life in Canada amid “systematic barriers” (People’s Daily)
Pedro Andrade finally has a stable income of 570 Canadian dollars (some 467 U.S. dollars) a month during the worst economy downturn in Canada. It is a welfare cheque that Andrade calls “social assistance.” Andrade came to Canada from Ecuador when he was 11 years old. Walking out of an alternative college, unable to find a job, wrongly accused of assault charges, at 34, he has been hovering …

Test shows No Child law has little impact (UPI)
WASHINGTON, April 28 (UPI) — Test results indicate the No Child Left Behind Act has had little success in narrowing the gap between white and minority students in the United States.

First swine flu death reported in US
Germany became the eighth country to confirm cases of swine flu as governments around the world stepped up preparations for a possible pandemic; meanwhile China dropped its resistance to Taiwan attending the World Health Organisation’s annual meeting

Canadian province of Ontario has 4 swine flu cases (AlertNet)
Source: Reuters VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 28 (Reuters) – The Canadian province of Ontario said on Tuesday it has confirmed four cases of swine flu, bringing Canada’s total of confirmed cases to 13. The …

One hundred days of platitude
Commentators are desperately trying to write something original about Obama’s first 100 days in office but most are sticking to tried and tested formulae, writes Christopher Buckley

Investors eye opportunity in Iraq
About 250 companies are expected to attend an ‘Invest Iraq’ conference the first in decades being held in London and organised by Baghdad’s National Investment Commission and the UK’s Department for International Development

US says fully backs Japan on NKorea kidnappings (AFP via Yahoo! News)
The United States has said it fully supported Japan’s efforts to account for civilians kidnapped by North Korea, an issue that has caused past rifts between the two allies.

WL Ross leads fund bid for bank assets
Wilbur Ross, the billionaire investor, and his firm’s parent company, Invesco, are leading a consortium bidding to manage some of the US government’s $1,000bn in Public-Private Investment Programme assets

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