Welcome to the Global Current, your window to the world. Today we have reports on child slavery in Ghana and the bold initiative of one New Jersey school with Heather Martino, and the concluding report of the Copanhagen Chronicles with Chris Sprague. But first, headlines.
Headline Anchors:
Caleb Barnhart
Vivian Moreno
Middle East
Deadly Suicide Attack in Iraq
An Al-Queda affiliated group claimed responsibility for a suicide attack in Baghdad on Tuesday that killed one hundred and twenty-seven people and wounded at least found hundred more. The attack happened just days before U.S defense secretary Robert Gates arrived for meetings with the Prime Minister. The attacks were on government run buildings in the capital and were believed to be in response to the upcoming elections in Iraq, now scheduled for March. These were the worst attacks in the capital since twin car bombs were set off in late October.
Sanctions Still Threatened on Iran
The U.N is getting very close to imposing new sanctions on Iran, French officials said this week. This comes after new reports of Iran selling arms and ammunition to Syria, which is against the current regulations. The country has been under enhanced U.N supervision since 2007, when a ban was set against Iran’s arms exports. The U.N monitoring council recently told the Security Council that there has been a pattern of sanction violations by the country over the past three months. Many countries, including the U.S and Russia, are hesitant against further sanctions against Iran and would prefer diplomatic action first. However, U.S ambassador Susan Rice has said that "Should Iran continue to fail to meet its obligations, the international community will have to consider further actions."
Palestinian Student Not Allowed to Study in West Bank
This week an Israel Supreme court decided that a Palestinian student who was deported while studying at a West Bank University will not be able to return to the West Bank. The Israelis maintain that Berlanty Azzim had a Gaza ID card and was in the West Bank illegally. Azzim was set to graduate next month. Several Human Rights groups and lawyers are outraged by the court’s decision. Azzim had a pass to be in the West Bank before and had tried many times in the past 4 years to get her address changed to become a resident. The court upholds that she was there illegally that is why she cannot return, even though she is not a security threat.
Africa
UN Warned Operation in the Congo Proceeds as Feared
After receiving warnings months ago by legal advisors, the UN continued with their decision to participate in combat with the Congolese Army. The United Nations Office of Legal Affairs wrote to the peacekeeping department in April saying that the plan was a bad decision since there was a risk that the Congolese Army could commit human rights violations. The Congolese Army has since committed human rights violations, including mass killings of civilians and rape. The initial decision is still being supported by the Peacekeeping department.
Gunmen Kill Five Peacekeepers in Darfur
Five Rwandan Soldiers were killed last Saturday by rebel gunmen in Darfur. The peacekeepers were from the United Nations- African Union forces and attacks were made against them Friday and Saturday by the rebel forces. This brings the total number of peacekeeper deaths since 2008 to twenty-two.
Potential Nomination Leaves Egypt’s ex- IAEA Chiefs Reputation at Hand
The Egyptian Nobel Peace prize laureate and ex- head of the IAEA, Mohamed ElBaradei, has always been seen as an asset to the country, according to Egyptian media reports. However, now that he is being considered a credible candidate for the 2011 Presidential Election, the press has changed its tactics. ElBaradei initially responded positively to the presidential suggestion, but is now under constant scrutiny from all sides, diminishing his once shining reputation.
Asia
North Korea Agrees to Cooperate With US
North Korea’s foreign minister said Pyongyang would work with the US to narrow remaining differences over the country’s nuclear program. North Korea also said it would cooperate with the US on ending its nuclear program. The statement came after three days of talks between North Korea and U.S Special Envoy, Stephen Bosworth. The discussions were the first US-North Korea talks since Obama took office. Mr. Bosworth is set to visit Japan, China, and Russia to update officials in the Six-Party talks before going back to the US.
Hostages in Philippines
Government officials are negotiating with gunmen who are holding 57 hostages in the southern Philippines. Although the Philippine military had said all the hostages were released, it was later discovered that many were still being held by the Manobo tribe in eastern Mindanao. The hostages are reported to be fine, although the gunmen are making demands of the government. The leader of the gunmen, Ondo Perez, has said that murder charges against his group must be dropped, or the hostages’ lives could be in danger. The gunmen are just one of many civilian groups in Mindanao that have been supplied with arms by the government to help fight insurgent groups.
Chinese Economy Continues to Recover Strongly
China’s industrial output is rapidly growing and its export slump is easing, illustrating that the country’s economy is recovering at a brisk pace. Consumer prices grew year-on-year in November for the first time in 10 months, and November’s year-on-year fall in exports of 1.2% was the slowest all year. Output was also greater than economists had projected. The National Bureau of Statistics said retail sales were up by 15.8% in November compared to a year ago. The Chinese government has said it will keep its current monetary and fiscal policies but keep an eye on new investments and credit.
Rally in Thailand for Thaksin sSupporters
A rally was help in Bangkok for supporters of the deposed Thai Prime Minster Thaksin Shinawatra. Thousands were in attendance to hear Shinawatra talked to his supporters via a video link, criticizing democracy in Thailand. His supporters want the Thai constitution from 1997 reintroduced, which was repealed after a military coup unseated Shinawatra three years ago. On Thursday up to 20,000 people wearing red shirts gathered at Bangkok’s Democracy Monument to celebrate Constitution Day. Mr. Shinawatra has said that if his political allies win elections due to take place in 2011, the current constitution, introduced by the military government in 2007, will be scrapped.
Europe
EU Makes 7 Billion Euro Climate Pledge
EU leaders agreed to pay seven billion euros over the next three years to assist developing nations with adapting to climate change. Swedish Prime Minister, Fredrick Reinfeldt, announced the deal, saying that all twenty-seven EU member nations would contribute to the pledge. The UK has pledged the highest amount, at £500m.
Somali Pirates Free Greek Ship
A Greek ship with a 24-strong Ukrainian crew was freed this week, after being held captive since May. President Viktor Yushchenko confirmed the crew’s release after the owners of the ship paid an undisclosed sum to the pirates. The pirates claim that they were given close to $3m in ransom. All crew members were in good health upon their release.
Pope Shares Irish Child Abuse Outrage
Pope Benedict shares the “outrage, betrayal and shame” of the Irish people over the child abuse that had been covered up. Pope Benedict XVI met with Irish Church leaders last Friday after it was discovered that church leaders have covered up child abuse in Dublin for decades. The Pope will write a pastoral letter to the Irish people explaining the Vatican’s response to this crisis.
Explosion Kills 19 Miners in Turkey
Nineteen miners were killed after a methane gas explosion at a coal mine in western Turkey. Only three survivors were pulled from the mine after the explosion on Thursday. The mine has been in operation since 1983.
Air France Jet Hit Trouble Near AF447 Crash Site
An Air France jet encountered problems when flying over nearly the same spot in the Atlantic where another jet mysteriously crashed in June. Air France flight 445 was flying from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Paris on Nov. 29th when it encountered problems. This is the same route taken by Air France flight 447 in June when it mysteriously crashed, killing all two hundred and twenty-eight people aboard. Flight 445 experienced severe turbulence about four hours into the flight, forcing pilots to descend. The French accident investigation agency, BEA, is currently investigating the situation.
The Americas
Swine Flu Death Toll Reaches 10,000 in United States
A US health official said Friday that since the H1N1 flu was first detected, in April earlier this year, an estimated 10,000 people have died from the disease. Included in the 10,000 deaths, are the deaths of more than 1,100 children. Whereas in a normal flu season, about 80 children die. The CDC has noted that while there have been some 200,000 hospitalizations for H1N1, there are now over 85 million vaccines available.
Deeper Relationship Revealed Between Blackwater and CIA
According to a New York Times report, between 2004 and 2006 Blackwater was hired by the CIA to conduct special operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, to the point where Blackwater was handling missions “nightly”. According to an unnamed CIA officer in the report, the relationship between Blackwater and the CIA grew to the point that Blackwater “became an extension of the [Central Intelligence] agency”. A spokesman from Blackwater denies such a relationship, while the CIA would not comment on the
“Pay Czar” Limits Compensation and Bonuses for “Bailed out” Companies
White House “Pay Czar” Kenneth Feinberg has capped the amount of compensation an employee can receive at $500,000. This comes amid concerns of taxpayer money being used to provide bonuses for executives of companies who received bailout funds. The ruling is expected to affect a majority of the top paid employees at AIG, Citigroup, GMAC and General Motors.
