The International Olympic Committee (IOC), foreign leaders and overseas companies engaging with China could appear complicit if they failed to speak out about the rights violations, the London-based watchdog said on Wednesday as the volume of criticism of China grows around the world. Beijing signed up for the Games hoping they would showcase the country's progress and national unity, but the Olympics year so far has seen pressure mount, chiefly over China's policy towards Sudan and Myanmar and its human rights record, most recently in Tibet.

In and around Beijing, Chinese authorities have silenced and imprisoned human rights activists in a pre-Olympics "clean up", Amnesty said. "These actions cast doubt on whether the Chinese authorities are really serious about their commitment to improve human rights in the run up to the Olympics," Irene Khan, Secretary General of Amnesty International, said in a statement. "The Olympic Games have so far failed to act as a catalyst for reform. Unless urgent steps are taken to redress the situation, a positive human rights legacy for the Beijing Olympics looks increasingly beyond reach."

Days of monk-led marches in Tibet's capital Lhasa devolved into a citywide riot on March 14 that saw Chinese shops trashed and burned and cars overturned. The government says the violence killed 18 civilians and at least one police officer. The Tibet government-in-exile says around 140 people died.

Britain's biggest opposition party, the Conservatives, were hoping the Liberal Democrats would abstain from the vote on the proposal to hold a popular poll on the EU treaty, just as they did in the House of Commons. But the abstention would have a different implication in the upper house, as the ruling Labour Party does not hold a majority there. In abstaining, the Liberal Democrats would boost the chances of the referendum.

Both the Conservatives and the UK Independence Party have criticised the move. Leading Conservative MP William Hague said that the Lib Dem position on Europe was "now in total chaos. They now have a three-way split between rebel MPs who want a referendum, Lords officially voting against a referendum and a leadership lamely abstaining," he said, according to the BBC.

But when setting out the Lib Dem position, Lord McNally said: "Our general election commitment to a referendum was on a constitutional treaty. That commitment died with the constitution which was rejected by the French and the Dutch." The EU's Lisbon treaty was adopted in December 2007. It includes parts of the European Constitution, which was agreed in 2004 but failed to achieve the popular support in France and the Netherlands needed for its ratification. The new treaty is due to be adopted in national parliaments, apart from Ireland where a referendum - required by a national constitution - is scheduled for June.

The ruling by the European Court of Justice, announced on Tuesday, comes in response to a case triggered by a German citizen, Tadao Maruko, in 2005. After Mr Maruko's partner died, a German pension fund refused to pay him any survivor's benefits, claiming that only married couples have a right to a widower's pension.

But the Luxembourg-based court found that this violated EU law, outlining a general framework for equal treatment in employment and occupation. In practice, a person should after the death of their life partner receive a survivor's benefit equivalent to that granted to a surviving spouse, but only if national law treats same-sex partnerships in a comparable way to marriages as far as the survivor's benefit is concerned.

Some conservative politicians in Europe have criticised the fact that the Charter of Fundamental Rights, the citizens' rights document, is to become legally binding under the EU's new treaty. They claim it could serve as a back door to allowing gay marriages as well as abortions and euthanasia, depending on how the European Court of Justice interprets its articles. Only Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands recognise full same-sex marriages, while Denmark, Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Sweden, the Czech Republic and the UK allow for legal partnerships. France and Luxembourg have established civil contracts.

He remains "in principle opposed to referendums, as they are incompatible with representative parliamentary government, the true hallmark of the British constitutional system. It is simply not true to say that referendums have become an unavoidable part of our constitution."

She warned: "If the Treaty of Lisbon is ratified and implemented, and devolution to Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland continues apace, in fifteen to twenty years time, THIS HOUSE OF COMMONS WILL HAVE ONLY TWO FUNCTIONS - ONE WILL BE TO RAISE TAXES, AND THE OTHER WILL BE TO AUTHORISE WAR."

She also warned that "If the EU Health Directive as it stands goes through in ten years time we won't be able to run the NHS." She criticised the fact that "THINGS HAPPEN BY STEALTH" so often in the European Union, saying: "MY FUNDAMENTAL MISGIVING OF THE LISBON TREATY IS THAT IN TERMS OF CHECKS AND BALANCES, it has completed the tool box, with the exception of defence and taxation, so that if the EU wishes to do something in any member state, it can use one tool or another, whether it's legislation, or whether it's court cases, you name it - it can now do it. Because it is either shared competence, or it is by co-decision, it can always do it now." SHE SAID: "WE ARE MAKING FEWER AND FEWER DECISIONS THAT MATTER... I CAN'T TELL MY CONSTITUENTS WHERE THE BUCK STOPS."

We have three objectives: TO DEVELOP A BIGGER EUROPEAN CAPACITY FOR DEPLOYMENT AND PLANNING; SECONDLY, TO ACCELERATE EFFORTS TOWARDS STANDARDISATION OF MILITARY EQUIPMENT; THIRDLY, TO STRENGTHEN THE INTERNAL MARKET IN ARMS AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS. At the end, we will have to take on the budget problem. There cannot be solidarity in security policy without an examination of budgetary solidarity."

On the role of EU President, he says, "We need a character who has an awareness of European solidarity, who has sufficient authority to shed light on the work of the European Council but who knows when to take a back seat if necessary so that consensus can be found in the Council. Jacques Delors was very good at doing that. We need to find someone who fits this profile by December. The majority of our partners do not want a representative of a country which has the most exemptions. Tony Blair has a lot of charisma, but there doesn't seem to be a consensus emerging in his favour."

Asked whether he is in favour of Javier Solana for EU Foreign Minister, he says: "It has not been ruled out. But on all these appointments, we mustn't underestimate the expectations of our citizens. With the Lisbon Treaty, they figure we are entering a new era and that it must be embodied by new personalities. IT WOULD BE DANGEROUS IF IN EUROPE WE UNDERESTIMATE THIS ASPIRATION FOR RENEWAL."

The program, in the form of a puppet show, was circulated by MEMRI (Middle East Media Research Institute). THE SHOW FEATURES A CHILD WHO HAS BROKEN INTO THE WHITE HOUSE AND THREATENS TO KILL THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT. When the latter calls for his guards, the child tells him, "There are no guards, and your people have surrendered." The boy, weeping sadly, tells the Bush puppet that he has come to kill him to avenge the death of his parents and siblings: "You killed daddy in the Iraq war... As for my mom ? you and the criminal Zionists killed her in Lebanon. You and the criminal Zionists also killed my younger and older brothers in the Gaza holocaust. I'm an orphan, you criminal!... You made me an orphan! You took everything from me, Bush! I must take revenge on you, with this sword of Islam, the Prophet's Al-Battar sword!"

The child also tells Bush that he has not come alone: "I have brought thousands of thousands of children from Palestine, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Afghanistan. You have denied all these children their fathers and mothers. That's why I have come to take revenge on you and on all the criminal traitors who collaborated with you." Bush himself then begins crying, begging for mercy and offering the child toys, food and a visit to the White House. The boy then says, "You are impure, Bush, so you are not allowed inside the White House... because it has been turned into a great mosque for the nation of Islam."

The boy also explains his desire to kill Bush "just like Mu'az killed Abu Lahab" - a reference to the death of an opponent of Mohammed that is recounted at length in the Koran. The child then stabs the Bush puppet repeatedly, and the show ends with the boy saying with satisfaction, "Ahhh, I killed him." THE SHOW PROVIDES FURTHER CONFIRMATION OF THE PREMISE OF THE MOVIE FITNA, WHICH ATTEMPTS TO SHOW HOW THE KORAN ENCOURAGES MOSLEMS TO KILL INFIDELS AND TAKE OVER THE WORLD.

THE INTERNET IS ROUTINELY CENSORED IN CHINA but Beijing is committed by its "host city contract" to giving the estimated 30,000 media expected for the Olympics the freedom to report as they have at previous Games. "There was some criticism that the Internet closed down during events relating to Tibet in previous weeks.

"Our concern is that the press is able to operate as it has at previous Games during Games time," added Gosper, speaking on the sidelines of the inspection of preparations for the August 8-24 Games. "I'm satisfied that the Chinese understand the need for this and that they will do it."

The Australian, also chairman of the IOC's press commission, said BLOCKING THE INTERNET DURING THE GAMES "WOULD REFLECT VERY POORLY" ON THE HOST COUNTRY but was confident the Chinese would fulfill the obligations of their agreement. "They've given us a huge commitment and CHANGED THEIR LEGISLATION EXTENSIVELY to enable the international press to report on the Games," he said. NEW LAWS LOOSENING THE RESTRICTIONS ON FOREIGN MEDIA IN CHINA WENT INTO OPERATION ON JANUARY 1 LAST YEAR BUT ARE DUE TO EXPIRE IN OCTOBER.

CHINA USED THE VISIT AS A TEST. If the communist regime could allow in a dozen or so capitalist sportsmen and manage to avoid total collapse, then perhaps it could afford to open up a little more. A year after their visit, US President Richard Nixon came to Beijing.

And China's course was set. The Starbucks, the McDonalds, Mercedes and BMWs you can see everywhere in China can be traced right back to the fact that Tim Boggan and his team-mates came here 37 years ago with their ping-pong bats. "WHEN YOU HEAR THAT SPORT AND POLITICS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER, WHAT DO YOU THINK?" I ASK. "I THINK IT IS CRAZY, YOU KNOW THAT THEY CERTAINLY DO," HE SAYS.

Liang Geliang was chosen to play the Americans in 1971. "We were all happy to see the American team come to China," he says. "We felt there was an urgent need for communications between us." After the ice broke, people like Liang Geliang began to enjoy opportunities they had never had before. Instead of demonising the West, China eventually allowed its people to live there - so Liang Geliang and his family moved to Germany for a while. "Playing ping-pong is an art, but the sport itself goes beyond this. Of course we want to win championships but there is more to it than that. WE MUST PUT POLITICS FIRST." After years spent hating money, China allowed its citizens to make it instead.

There is perhaps a certain symmetry here. China's first important sporting event - the ping-pong of 1971 - brought China, the US and the West together. Now, its second big event - the Olympics of 2008 - will test the strength of the ties made through sport.

It is a proverb world leaders might do well to bear in mind as their impoverished populations struggle with food costs driven ever higher by RECORD OIL PRICES, WEATHER AND SPECULATORS TRADING IN LOCAL MARKET PLACES AND ON GLOBAL FUTURES EXCHANGES. Anger over high food and fuel costs has spawned a rash of violent unrest across the globe in the past six months.

From the deserts of Mauritania to steamy Mozambique on Africa's Indian Ocean coast, people have taken to the streets. There have been "tortilla riots" in Mexico, villagers have clashed with police in eastern India and hundreds of Muslims have marched for lower food prices in Indonesia.

Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly vulnerable: most people survive on less than $2 a day in countries prone to droughts and floods where agricultural processes are still often rudimentary. FOR AFRICAN HOUSEHOLDS, EVEN A SMALL RISE IN THE PRICE OF FOOD CAN BE DEVASTATING WHEN MEALS ARE A FAMILY'S MAIN EXPENSE.

While an official statement on EU support and presence at the Beijing Olympic games was not issued, disagreement amongst EU leaders was underlined at the meeting this weekend by French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner who said "The German position and the British position are not the same," with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier not attending the opening ceremonies.

Lord Lamont told the paper: "We will effectively turn the Salisbury Convention on its head. The convention is clear that the House of Lords cannot overturn a manifesto commitment. This will be the House of Lords attempting to enforce a manifesto commitment." Challenged on whether he thought ministers had lied over the need for a referendum, he said: "I HESITATE TO ACCUSE PEOPLE OF BEING DISHONEST. BUT I WOULD COME CLOSE TO IT ON THIS ISSUE."

The article notes that much will depend on what orders Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, issues to his peers. Lord Falkland, one of 78 Lib Dem peers, told the paper: "I will be voting for a referendum and, if I am brave enough to withstand the glares of my colleagues, I will speak in the debate. When you give an undertaking, as we clearly did in our last manifesto, you cannot have it both ways. A MANIFESTO COMMITMENT HAS TO BE SACROSANCT."

The figures, revealed in the recent budget, also show that Britain will make even larger net payments to the EU in the coming years. In 2008-09, the net payment will be £6.1 billion and in 2009-10, £6.4 billion. Gordon Brown had declared in last year's budget that the UK's overall contribution to the EU this year would be £3.3bn. The rises are the result of a 2005 agreement by Tony Blair - with Gordon Brown's backing - to a staged series of cuts in the UK rebate.

Paul Stephenson of Open Europe was quoted in the Express: "THESE FIGURES JUST HIGHLIGHT THE SHEER LEVEL OF BLAIR'S SELL-OUT TO BRUSSELS IN 2005. It's hardly surprising that he's now the frontrunner to become the next president of the EU. LAST YEAR THE EU'S ACCOUNTANTS WERE UNABLE TO SIGN OFF OVER £43BN WORTH OF SPENDING. UNTIL THE EU GETS ITS HOUSE IN ORDER, GORDON BROWN SHOULD REFUSE TO SEND ANY MORE CHEQUES TO BRUSSELS."

CORN PRICES HAVE SKYROCKETED IN RECENT YEARS, HELPED BY THE BURGEONING ETHANOL INDUSTRY, WHICH TURNS THE CROP INTO FUEL, AND RISING WORLDWIDE DEMAND FOR FOOD. The higher prices have hurt poultry, beef and pork companies, who use corn to feed their animals. Farmers are expected to plant 86 million acres of corn this year, the Department of Agriculture predicted Monday, down 8 percent from 2007, when the amount of corn planted was the highest since World War II. The decreased supply could drive corn prices even higher - a cost for food producers that could be passed on to consumers.

According to the Agriculture Department, corn planting is expected to remain at historically high levels but could be down this year BECAUSE OF THE HIGH EXPENSE OF GROWING CORN and favorable prices for other crops, such as soybeans. As many farmers have made that switch, soybean planting is expected to be up 18 percent this year, at almost 75 million acres.

Though the ethanol industry is heavily subsidized and has contributed to the rise in prices, a decrease in corn production could hurt that business, too. Higher prices for the crop could be passed on to those filling their cars up with the renewable fuel. THE NUMBER OF ETHANOL PLANTS HAS INCREASED FROM 50 IN 1999 TO 134 NOW WITH MORE BEING BUILT, ACCORDING TO THE RENEWABLE FUELS ASSOCIATION. AN AVERAGE, 100 MILLION GALLON-PER-YEAR ETHANOL PLANT CONSUMES ABOUT 33 MILLION BUSHELS OF CORN.

Around the globe, people are protesting and governments are responding with often counterproductive controls on prices and exports - A NEW POLITICS OF SCARCITY IN WHICH ENSURING FOOD SUPPLIES IS BECOMING A MAJOR CHALLENGE FOR THE 21ST CENTURY. Plundered by severe weather in producing countries and by a boom in demand from fast-developing nations, the world's wheat stocks are at 30-year lows. Grain prices have been on the rise for five years, ending decades of cheap food.

Drought, a declining dollar, a shift of investment money into commodities and use of farm land to grow fuel have all contributed to food woes. But population growth and the growing wealth of China and other emerging countries are likely to be more enduring factors.

After long opposition, MEXICO'S GOVERNMENT IS CONSIDERING LIFTING A BAN ON GENETICALLY MODIFIED CROPS, TO ALLOW ITS FARMERS TO COMPETE WITH THE UNITED STATES, where high-yield, genetically modified corn is the norm. The European Union and parts of Africa have similar bans that could also be reconsidered. A NUMBER OF GOVERNMENTS, including Egypt, Argentina, Kazakhstan, and China, HAVE IMPOSED RESTRICTIONS TO LIMIT GRAIN EXPORTS AND KEEP MORE OF THEIR FOOD AT HOME.