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| UN Wire |
| July 29, 2009 |
Iran looks to quell anger with prisoner releases
Iran has released 140 prisoners detained over post-election demonstrations as proliferating stories of vicious abuse in detention continue to stoke public outrage. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei intervened to close one detention center and has called on the government to guarantee fair treatment. The Toronto Star/The Associated Press (7/28) NYTimes.com (7/29)
Cacao farmer Kai Rosenberg. Read the full story.
Maybe I'm actually more than a little insane, but that's a job requirement for working in cacao."
Excerpts from UN Dispatch
UN Dispatch: On Sunday, India launched their first Indian-built nuclear-powered submarine, named Arihant. It's a 6000-ton vessel, capable of launching a range of missiles and currently armed with nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles. The Indian officials at the launch were particularly effuse in their thanks to Russia for providing technical support to the sub's development. . . . The sub, in fact, is only 60% Indian materials; the rest, in particular the mini-reactors, was supplied by Russia. UN Dispatch (1/21)
United Nations Radio
Fighting causes Somalis to risk their lives crossing Gulf of Aden: UNHCR UN Radio (12/14)
UN forces Iranian squatter on Facebook.ir to surrender
The UN World Intellectual Property Organization ruled a private user had registered the domain Facebook.ir in bad faith and forced him to surrender it to the proprietors of Facebook.com. Nevertheless, the social-networking site is blocked by the government in Iran. The Telegraph (London) (7/29)
Other News
New program tested for South Africa tuberculosis patients
Doctors Without Borders is running a pilot program to treat South African tuberculosis victims within their communities. South Africa has faced widespread criticism for its practice of forcing tuberculosis patients into isolated hospitals. NYTimes.com (7/28)
World Bank worries over recession-related risks to developing countries
Developing countries face dire economic and health consequences as a result of the global recession and need more help from wealthy countries to cope, said Marwan Muasher, World Bank senior vice president for external affairs. Developing countries, Muasher says, "don't have the fiscal space to deal with it because it comes hard on the heels of a severe food and energy crisis." AlertNet/Reuters (7/28)
Cacao plantations still sites of conflict
Conflict in cacao production has not declined since the elimination of slave labor as cacao farmers frequently find conflict with corrupt officials on one side and gangs armed with machine guns on the other -- which is to say nothing of the problems associated with blights, squatters and other perpetual troubles. Cacao yields have plunged, owing largely to the difficulty associated with doing business in Venezuela. NYTimes.com (7/28)
U.S., China look to forge common path on climate change
U.S. and Chinese officials signed a framework agreement to increase cooperation on climate change, energy and the environment. Action from the two, the world's largest emitters of greenhouse gases, is seen as central to forging a global agreement at climate talks in Copenhagen in December. The Globe and Mail (Toronto)/Reuters (7/28)
Other News
Dutch pro-choice campaigners curtail efforts
A Dutch organization running a controversial sailing clinic for unwanted pregnancies has suspended operations over fears changes in Dutch law could see patients brought up on charges. Women on Waves has been providing abortion pills and counseling to women from countries where abortion procedures are illegal. Der Spiegel (Germany) (English online version) (7/28)
Other News
Bombing in Spain attributed to ETA
Several dozen people were injured in a blast near a police barracks in Burgos, Spain, an attack being attributed to the Basque separatist group ETA. Though ETA declared a permanent ceasefire in 2006, the group quickly resorted to violence after talks with the Spanish government failed. The Guardian (London) (7/29)
Pakistani military rescues children from Taliban suicide camp
Pakistani officials rescued 20 boys from a camp used by the Taliban to indoctrinate hundreds of suicide bombers, some as young as age 9. The would-be conscripts told officials the Taliban might be training 1,000 children at the Swat Valley camp. Officials suspect other suicide bomber camps are in operation elsewhere in Swat. The Independent (London) (7/29)
Women take more tough police posts in Brazil
Women are making inroads into Brazil's male-dominated police force, accepting high ranks in the organization's hierarchy in record numbers and taking up dangerous posts in Rio de Janeiro -- the front lines in the nation's battle against drugs. Increasingly, women are taking jobs in business and government in greater numbers, though perhaps no sector is as dominated by men as security. The Guardian (London) (7/28)
Fear hampers Africa cooperation, labor migration
A pervasive lack of laws across Africa to foster the flow of skills and talent through labor migration hamstrings efforts to promote regional economic cooperation, African economists and the United Nations say. Source countries resist the practice over fears of severe brain drain, while some destination countries express concerns for effects on local job markets. AllAfrica Global Media/Business Day (7/28)
U.S. to unofficially ease sanctions against Syria
In the latest signs of easing relations between the U.S. and Syria, the Barack Obama administration said it would relieve U.S. sanctions against the once-rogue nation on a case-by-case basis. Though the shift does not change the law regarding the sanctions -- which prohibit the export of all American products to Syria except food and medicine -- it will expedite individual requests for exemptions under the law. NYTimes.com (7/28)
Nigeria looks to reassert control after attacks
Nigerian authorities have imposed tough measures in response to violence that left dozens dead in recent days, imposing curfews and sending security forces into the streets. The Toronto Star/The Associated Press (7/28)
Other News
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