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- UN concerned as Sudan displays military might
Sudanese forces' actions against civilians in the violence-plagued border state of South Kordofan, including reports of human rights abuses, targeting individuals along ethnic lines and threatening aid workers, is "reprehensible," says Valerie Amos, head of the United Nations office for humanitarian affairs. Observers see the recent military actions as a bid by Khartoum to lay claim to territories along the disputed north-south border before South Sudan splits to become a separate country in July. UN News Centre (6/22), Reuters (6/22)        - Michelle Obama: African youth can push change
U.S. first lady Michelle Obama is using a visit to Africa to encourage young Africans to push for greater respect of women's rights and an end to stigma associated with HIV/AIDS. At a speech in South Africa, Obama told the young crowd that the current generation has to power to fight violence against women, help ensure education for girls and end the spread of HIV/AIDS. Reuters (6/22) - Polygamy alive, well and illegal in Kazakhstan
Polygamy is illegal in Kazakhstan, but that has not stopped the practice of men taking multiple wives from mushrooming since the former Soviet republic's independence. Kazakh politicians – reportedly including President Nursultan Nazabayev – commonly maintain older wives and children in the former capital, Almaty, while keeping younger wives and children in the new capital, Astana. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (6/21) - Free game app features Pakistan flood relief
A new game application, or app, is targeting Facebook and smartphone users to raise awareness of the lingering crisis in Pakistan arising from last year's devastating floods, characterized as one of the worst humanitarian crises in recent times. The designers of Relief Copter -- in which players must navigate a helicopter and drop crates of aid -- include slide shows and facts about the floods at completion of each level. AlertNet (6/21) - UN calls for greater access to Syria conflict areas
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon reiterated his concerns over human rights abuses in Syria in response to pro-reform protests and called on Syrian authorities to allow fact-finding and humanitarian missions into the country. International Committee of the Red Cross officials say Syrian authorities have agreed to open up more access to civilians caught in areas of conflict. BBC (6/22), AlertNet/Reuters (6/21) - Obama ready to reduce U.S. troops in Afghanistan
U.S. President Barack Obama will announce Wednesday the departure of up to 10,000 American military personnel from Afghanistan before the end of the year, according to administration officials. Obama is expected to cite achievements in disrupting al-Qaida's offensive capabilities as paving the way for the first wave of what U.S. officials see as a large reduction in forces by 2013. Los Angeles Times (6/21) - Head of Arab League reconsiders Libya intervention
Amr Moussa, the outgoing head of the Arab League, now has reservations over his earlier push for UN approval of military intervention in Libya to protect civilians. He is calling for a ceasefire and political solution in light of growing Arab opposition to the NATO-led air campaign. The Guardian (London) (6/21) - Longstanding issues cloud Sudan future
Issues lingering since the peace deal between northern and southern Sudan will not stop the south from officially gaining independence on July 9 but likely will continue to contribute to the violence toward civilians, against which UN and African Union peacekeeping forces have been no match. Children in the south are more likely to die by the age of five than complete a basic education, according to a new UN report. AlertNet (6/21)
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