| |  | |  Mousavi vows to fight on Iranian politician Mir Hossein Mousavi, who has not been seen in public in several days, told followers in a statement posted on his Web site that he would not cave in to pressure to back down in the face of increased violence and threats. Mousavi cautiously criticized Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying it was not in the country's interest for people to equate Iran's lead cleric with Iran's president. Many read Mousavi's calls for peaceful future protests as a direct challenge to Khamenei's role in the ongoing political crisis. Financial Times (free content) (6/25) , BBC (6/25)
|  |  | Do you want to speak with this tone? If that is your stance, then what is left to talk about?" Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, addressing U.S. President Barack Obama. Read the full story. |
|  | UN Dispatch: Ban Ki-moon is certainly not above criticism. In contrast to his predecessor, he is much more "secretary" than "general." No one looks to him as a "secular pope" as many looked to Kofi Annan for moral leadership. Rather, in his 2 1/2 years in office, it's become clear that Ban's diplomatic style is one that favors quiet, direct diplomacy over grandstanding. UN Dispatch | |
- UN reports drug production down worldwide
The UN reports opium, cocaine and marijuana production worldwide is holding steady or declining. Opium production in Afghanistan dropped by 19% last year, while cocaine production in Colombia fell by 28%. The report also found meth production in Southeast Asia has become a major industry. Google/The Associated Press (6/24)  - UN summit considers developing countries' economic concerns
Representatives of developing countries are arguing for more financial aid, debt relief and increased representation at the International Monetary Fund in response to the global recession at a United Nations summit this week. Sharp divisions remain among developed and developing countries over long-term changes to international financial institutions. AlertNet.org/Reuters (6/24) - Lack of agreement erodes whaling commission authority
The International Whaling Commission failed to achieve agreement between pro- and anti-whaling countries, opting to push back efforts to find a compromise by one year. The body instituted a moratorium on commercial whaling more than two decades ago, but individual countries continue to flout its authority. AlertNet.org/Reuters (6/24) - Economic interests color Peru town's cleanup battle
Economic and public health concerns in La Oraya, Peru, are at odds in a bid to clean up of one of the world's most polluted sites. While residents are dependent on the local smelter for their livelihoods, there is growing anger over the company's argument it can't afford a cleanup of the site -- considered one of the world's most polluted. The New York Times (6/24) - Sharks face dire threat of overfishing
Overfishing has pushed one-third of shark species worldwide to the brink of extinction, owing in part to the fact sharks take many years to mature and produce few young. Hammerheads, giant devil rays and porbeagle sharks are among the first species to be placed on the World Conservation Union's red list for oceanic sharks. The Guardian (London) (6/25) - Tanzania orphan program may set example for continent
Supporters believe an innovative program in Tanzania to care for infants of mothers who die in childbirth might hold the key to cutting infant mortality rates and caring for Africa's 50 million orphans. Infants are cared for during the first two to three years of life at the Berega Orphanage, where female members of their extended families also reside, before returning home to their villages. The New York Times (6/24) - Russian court overturns acquittals, reopening Politkovskaya murder trial
Russia's Supreme Court delivered a victory to human-rights activists and critics of Russian corruption by ordering a new trial for three men accused of aiding in the murder of Russian journalist and Vladimir Putin critic Anna Politkovskaya. Her colleagues at the news daily Novaya Gazeta have accused the government of tampering with and suppressing evidence and possibly aiding Politkovskaya's killer directly. Los Angeles Times (6/25) - Pillay: U.S. Guantanamo efforts not nearly finished
The U.S. must do more to investigate the role doctors and lawyers played in controversial interrogation sessions, and must be willing to accept Guantanamo Bay detainees for resettlement, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay says. "Guantanamo showed that torture and unlawful forms of detention can all too easily creep back into practice during times of stress, and there is still a long way to go before the moral high ground lost since 9/11 can be fully reclaimed," she said. AlertNet.org/Reuters (6/24) - U.S. to bolster Somali government with fresh weapons
The U.S. sent a shipment of weapons and ammunition to the government of Somalia in a bid to stave off Islamist rebels -- allegedly connected to al-Qaida -- who seek to take over the country. Somalia issued an urgent plea for support in the form of foreign troops as fighting between the government and various rebel groups has engulfed the capital and other regions, causing the deaths of hundreds and forcing legislators to flee. The Washington Post (6/25) - Mousavi urges Iranian government to engage with its people
Mir-Hossein Mousavi lashed out at Iranian leadership for not acting in the country's interest via his Web site as authorities rounded up 70 university professors who met with him. Mousavi urged an end to the crackdown on his supporters, arguing events of the past week signal an awakening of Iran's middle class that can "create positive energy which will be very helpful for the reconstruction of the country." Los Angeles Times (6/25) - Ahmadinejad warns Obama about interfering in election fallout
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad warned U.S. President Barack Obama not to interfere in the ongoing political upheaval in Iran, comparing the President's statements to the efforts of his predecessor, George W. Bush. Obama's message has evolved from first expressing a cautious respect for Iran's sovereignty to castigating the ruling council for its crackdown on political demonstrations. The Washington Post (6/25) , The New York Times (6/24) - Myanmar denies connection to tracked North Korean vessel
Authorities in Myanmar deny a North Korean ship being tracked by the U.S. Navy on suspicion of carrying weapons is headed in their direction. Myanmar and North Korea are believed to have extensive cooperation on security issues and weapons supply. BBC (6/25) - Kosovo leader arrested on war crimes warrant
Former Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku was arrested in Bulgaria on an Interpol warrant associated with war crimes charges. Serbia contends the rebel leader-turned-politician bears responsibility for the deaths of more than 685 people during the 1998-99 war in Kosovo. The New York Times (6/24)
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