Other news of the day

China faces 'severe' trade situation: minister

"BEIJING — China's commerce minister said in comments published Monday that the country faces a "severe" trade situation this year, as the Asian powerhouse continues to feel the pinch of global economic woes.

"Foreign trade still faces quite a severe situation going forward," Chen Deming said in a brief statement carried by the official Xinhua news agency and posted on the central government's website."

AFP article

90 percent of Chicago teachers authorize strike

"Teachers in the nation's third-largest school district voted overwhelmingly to authorize the first strike in 25 years if their union and the city cannot reach a deal on a contract this summer — signaling just how badly the relationship between teachers and Chicago school officials has deteriorated, union officials said Monday.

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis announced the result of last week's balloting — nearly 90 percent of its 26,502 members voted to authorize a strike —and called it "an indictment of the state of the relationship between the management of CPS and its largest labor force members." State law requires 75 percent approval."

AP article

Airline industry profits to plummet in 2012: IATA

"Airline industry group IATA warned on Monday global profits would more than halve this year owing to surging oil prices and the eurozone crisis, with European carriers suffering losses of $1.1 billion.

Tony Tyler, head of the International Air Transport Association, also hit out at a controversial carbon tax scheme put in place by the European Union, lashing it as a "polarising obstacle to real progress".

AFP article

Guantanamo Bay detainees rebuked by Supreme Court

"The US Supreme Court has refused to hear arguments made on behalf of seven inmates being held at the Guantanamo Bay, Cuba military prison, in turn authorizing the government to further detain captives without charge.



America’s top justices offered no comment on Monday when it was confirmed that they would not review the cases of select Gitmo prisoners.

Not only have none of the seven inmates been formally charged with a crime, but many remain unjustly detained even following a 2008 Supreme Court decision that ruled that all Gitmo detainees may have their detentions reviewed in federal court.

The Court’s refusal on Monday came but one-day shy of the four-year anniversary of Boumediene v. Bush."

RT News article