| Zimbabwe: Mbeki's Mediation Should Be Beyond Reproach
Democratic forces in Zimbabwe have an onerous task ahead. The confirmation by President Mugabe that the elections will be held next year is one. That he will be the ruling party's candidate is another especially daunting one given a divided opposition party. As things stand, Zanu PF, beyond enjoying the advantage of incumbency, also has at it disposal the state machinery to push through its agenda. It is against this background that we would urge all democratic forces to put the national interest ahead of personal ambitions. .
Lecture to deal with inner peace
A humanitarian who graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology in Bombay will lecture Tuesday on achieving inner peace in the modern world. Swami Pragyapad, a trustee with the Art of Living Foundation, will speak from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the All Faiths Chapel at Texas A&M University. Pragyapad has lectured on renewable energy, humanitarian efforts, social development, yoga, mediation and stress relief at conferences and seminars around the world. His speech, part of the Leading into the Light tour, is sponsored by the Art of Living at Texas A&M. .
JetAway, county mediation continues
Representatives from the county and the aviation business, which is seeking to become a second fixed-base operator for Montrose Regional Airport, participated in mediation with the Federal Aviation Administration."That's where we are — still trying to work out an agreement. But we are trying, all of us," Montrose County Commission Chairman Allan Belt said.He could not comment specifically about the ongoing mediation, but said once an agreement is reached, it has to be approved by all sides and the commission would vote publicly on it. .
Qualcomm seeks arbitration in patent case with Nokia
NEW YORK: Qualcomm Inc. has sought arbitration into its legal battle with mobile phone maker Nokia over the use of patents Thursday even as a major licensing agreement between the two companies is set to expire 9 April.
The company asked the American Arbitration Association to intervene and give a ruling that the continued use of its patents by Nokia beyond the expiry date would amount to the latter extending the existing agreement on the same royalty rate.
Nokia, which has been seeking a reduction in the royalty fee, took a preemptive step earlier paying Qualcomm $20 million for using the patents in the second quarter. Qualcomm, however, said the payment amounts to only fraction of what is due to it.
The patent in question pertains to WCDMA, a technology for mobile phones to set up high-speed internet connections.
Control board eyes arbitration
SPRINGFIELD - Members of the Springfield Finance Control Board said yesterday that unless there is progress in the next bargaining session with police supervisors, they favor having an outside agency intervene in the contract dispute. The proposal for intervention by the Joint Labor-Management Committee occurred after members of the Springfield Police Supervisors Association demonstrated with signs at the control board's meeting at City Hall, protesting their long-stalled contract. The supervisors are the last city union without a settlement and have not had a raise since January 2003. Either side can petition for the state committee to arbitrate the dispute, but a union lawyer said such a move is premature and could be contested. There have been approximately a dozen negotiation sessions with the supervisors union since October 2005, and the next one is scheduled for Wednesday with assistance from a mediator, control board Executive Director Philip Puccia said.
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