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- UN launches massive Humanitarian Appeal
The United Nations launched its largest annual Humanitarian Appeal, calling for $7.1 billion in funding from rich countries to provide humanitarian assistance to 48 million people in 25 countries. Funds will be shared by 380 relief organizations working to help vulnerable communities overcome the effects of natural disasters and armed conflict. AlertNet.org/Reuters (11/30)   - Niland: Rape a significant problem in Afghanistan
UN Afghanistan human-rights representative Norah Niland said rape remains a significant problem in Afghanistan, affecting all communities across all aspects of society. Though the situation for women has improved dramatically since the overthrow of the Taliban, rape remains a real threat to women, particularly in rural areas -- while justice is available almost nowhere in the nation. The New York Times/Reuters (11/30) - WHO takes new position on HIV drugs for breastfeeding mothers
The World Health Organization is reversing its position on the administration of anti-retroviral therapy drugs used to treat HIV, advising they be given sooner to breastfeeding mothers in hopes of preventing transmission of the disease -- a position that will call for more treatments for many more people. Though falling prices have widened the number of people receiving anti-retroviral treatments, particularly within poor countries, fewer than half of those who require treatment currently receive it. BBC (11/30) Top five news stories selected by UN Wire readers in the past week. - Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.
- Australia aims to develop greener sheep
Australian scientists are working to identify a genetic link that causes burping in the hopes of breeding sheep that burp less as part of the country's efforts to battle climate change. Agriculture accounts for 16% of Australia's greenhouse-gas emissions, and 66% of agricultural emissions are methane from farm animals. BBC (11/29) - Controversy surrounds Indonesian forest-protection plan
Environmental groups are challenging plans of a giant paper and pulp company to protect the peat swamp forests of Indonesia's Kampar Peninsula under a United Nations-backed scheme regarding concerns the company's operations have contributed to environmental degradation for years. The UN backs a proposal to pay countries for protecting forests and rehabilitating degraded ones. The New York Times (11/29) - India seeks more drastic emissions cuts
Indian officials say emissions-cuts offers announced by rich countries ahead of the Copenhagen summit are insufficient to meet even the most conservative projections of cuts necessary to effectively battle climate change. India is inclined to resist legally binding emissions caps and will seek to protect its economic interests at the summit but plans to keep its emissions rate lower than developed countries. Bloomberg (11/30) - Swiss minaret ban prompts criticism
An endorsement by Swiss voters of a ban on constructing minarets atop Muslim places of worship is drawing criticism from human-rights groups and some European governments. Opponents charge the ban constitutes religious oppression but conceded Europeans' fears of radical Islam need to be better addressed. Bloomberg (11/30) , The Times (London) (11/30) - Iran approves funds to fight U.S., U.K. rights abuses
Iranian lawmakers have backed a proposal to set aside $20 million to highlight and fight human-rights abuses committed by the United States and the United Kingdom. Iran's Foreign Ministry is tasked with producing annual reports on the rights' situation in the countries, while the bulk of the money will go to help "progressive movements" report on rights abuses. Reuters (11/29) - Iran to expand nuclear program
Defying the UN just days after receiving a rebuke from the International Atomic Energy Agency, Iran pledged to add 10 more plants and greatly increase its production of reactor-grade uranium, a dramatic expansion of its current sanctioned nuclear program. Authorities from France, Russia, Germany and other nations condemned the plan, promising to consider new sanctions, while Iranian authorities said the expansion came in response to pressure brought by the UN Security Council members plus Germany. Experts say Iran lacks the economic capacity and technical expertise to expand its program quickly. Los Angeles Times (11/30) , BBC (11/30) - Western Hemisphere slow to greet new Honduran president
Though Honduran presidential candidate Porfirio Lobo clinched the election after his main rival conceded, many Western Hemisphere countries have refused to recognize the election -- one that prompted ousted President Manuel Zelaya to call for a boycott. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said Brazil will not recognize the election because it does not want to encourage coups in other Latin nations. Though the U.S. said it will recognize a free vote, it has not commented on the outcome of the election. Google/The Associated Press (11/30) - Pakistani leader transfers nuclear powers
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari ceded control over the country's nuclear arsenal to the prime minister as part of a gamble to remain in office. The unpopular leader faces the prospect of corruption and criminal charges, and immense domestic pressure to resign or relinquish many official powers. The New York Times (11/28)
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