Michael's Afternoon 7 - 14 May

I. "America has no objective in Afghanistan"

Ten years ago, just a few days before the United States attacked Serbia, Doug Bondow testified before the US Congress, urging US officials to reconsider getting involved in this conflict. In the aftermath, some of his predictions, although they were largely ignored, turned out to be correct. Now continuing on with Barack Obama's foreign policy and his deploying 17,000 more troops into Afghanistan. A handful of Congressmen have written letters to Barack Obama, just like you did 10 years ago, urging him to halt military escalation in that region. What is your prognosis on Afghanistan and the situation there?

II. Four more countries face EU deficit punishment

The European Commission is to discipline Poland, Romania, Lithuania and Malta for letting their budget deficits rise too high. It has already taken steps against France, Spain, Greece, Ireland and Latvia. The Commission expects that the deficits of 21 of the EU’s 27 members will rise above the three percent of GDP limit as recession cuts government revenues and growth-boosting measures cost those countries more, but they are likely to be given generous deadlines to correct the fiscal shortfalls.

III. Italy cracks down on illegal immigrants, landlords

Italian lawmakers voted Wednesday to fine illegal immigrants up to euro10,000 ($13,670) and jail the people who house them, imposing stiff new penalties in an attempt to stem a flood of migrants on rickety boats from Africa. In Greece, illegal entry is a misdemeanor punishable by 6 months to 5 years in prison and a fine, though it is rarely enforced. People who employ illegal migrants face imprisonment of 3 months to 5 years. There is no law criminalizing illegal immigration in Spain, another frequent entry point for African migrants. The Dutch actually pay illegal migrants, offering small amounts of cash as inducement for migrants to leave immediately after their requests to stay have been rejected, rather than burdening the legal system with further appeals.

IV. Google street view photos draws tension in Greece and Japan

Google is running into legal problems with privacy advocates in both Greece and Japan over its Google Maps feature, Street View. The Japanese have complained that Google's Street View cameras were mounted so high, that they were shooting over private fences and straight into Japanese homes. In response, Google agreed to lower its cameras by 16 inches for its re-shoot and for all future Street View photographs in Japan. Over in Greece, Google is having more serious problems. Privacy officials have suspended Google's Street View project altogether.

V. Greek dolphins to disappear without urgent steps: groups

Common dolphins, once a frequent sight in the Mediterranean, may soon be extinct in Greece's Ionian Sea due to overfishing, environmentalists warned on Wednesday. numbers of dark-grey, white-bellied dolphins had decreased from 150 to 15 in 10 years in protected areas in the Ionian, between Greece and Italy. "It is called the common dolphin but the problem nowadays in the Mediterranean is that it's not common at all anymore. It is endangered. It is about to be extinct."

VI. Pork producers seek boost from federal purchases

Pork producers have asked the federal government to buy $50 million worth of pork to prop up prices that dropped as much as 25 percent after an outbreak of swine flu last month. The food, which would be in addition to $25 million purchased before the outbreak, would go to emergency pantries and low-income nutrition programs. The state association joined the National Pork Producers Council in a formal request for aid to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA purchased $25 million through the supplemental program in March in response to low prices, as well as $50 million in the summer of 2008, when hog producers were struggling with the high price of feed grains. Illinois is among the states where the outbreak has been most severe. The Illinois Department of Public Health on Tuesday reported there have been 554 confirmed cases statewide.

VII. Jordan: Sacred site falling victim to spiritual one-upmanship

This area, known as Bethany Beyond the Jordan was thought to be the site where John the Baptist baptised Jesus in the River Jordan. Stone steps lead down into the murky water near the ruins of a Byzantine church which still contains remnants of a beautiful mosaic floor. The golden domed Greek Orthodox church that stands near the entrance to the baptism site won't dominate the landscape much longer. Our guide (because the area is still a sensitive zone visitors are required to have a local guide with them) explains that several other Christian groups are now building churches here - hence the cranes and flurry of construction. There must be millions of dollars being spent as Christians of all kinds stake their claim on the site. In addition to the Greek Orthodox church, work is underway on a Russian pilgrimage house, a Roman Catholic church, a Roman Orthodox monastery and a Coptic church. A Baptist World Alliance baptism centre is already open and during his visit Pope Benedict XVI was also due to bless the cornerstones for a Latin Catholic church and Melkite Catholic church. How sad that this site, so long inaccessible through conflict, is now the scene of expensive spiritual one-upmanship.