| |  | |  North Korea denies torpedo attack on South Korean warship The diplomatic crisis between North Korea and South Korea, which has concluded that North Korea is responsible for the attack that sank its warship, could wind up before the UN Security Council. The U.S. plans to back South Korea's call to bring North Korea before the UN to answer overwhelming evidence suggesting that a North Korean torpedo sank South Korea's Cheonan battleship. Analysts say that South Korea has few realistic options but to press for increased international isolation for North Korea, which has denied all involvement with the attack. The New York Times (free registration) (5/19) , The Washington Post (5/20)
|  |  | We're examining any implications, especially for civil rights, because in the United States of America, no law-abiding person, be they an American citizen, a legal immigrant, or a visitor or tourist from Mexico, should ever be subject to suspicion simply because of what they look like." U.S. President Barack Obama. Read the full story. |
|  | "Ban Ki-moon at UN headquarters described the recent Brazil/Turkey fuel exchange deal as a potentially 'positive step in building confidence if followed by broader engagement with the IAEA and international community.' " UN Dispatch | |
- No more texting for UN drivers
Drivers of United Nations vehicles around the world are no longer permitted to text while driving, under a new directive from Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in support of a global push to counter "distracted driving." In the U.S. alone, more than 6,000 people died in 2008 as a result of crashes involving the use of hand-held devices. AlertNet.org/Reuters (5/19)      - DR Congo mission will be veteran UN official's last operation
Alan Doss will retire from the United Nations system once the Security Council approves a new mandate for peacekeeping operations on the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the Briton is currently heading the UN's efforts. The current mission's mandate expires May 31. Doss has spent 44 years with the UN working on development and peacekeeping operations. Google/Agence France-Presse (5/19) - Haiti's mango industry looks to build
Haiti's mango growers are scrambling to harvest and ship their crops amid the aftermath of January's earthquake, hoping their industry can help rebuild the island country's economy. The industry is calling for outside help to update harvesting procedures, fight off a fruit fly invasion and overcome infrastructure deficiencies. The Miami Herald (free registration) (5/18) - A deep freeze threatens nomadic herders
An unusually harsh winter delivered staggering losses to Mongolia's nomadic herders, with the UN reporting that 17% of the countries livestock perished. About a third of the country's population makes a living from animal husbandry, but recent events have some questioning whether Mongolia's pastoral traditions are sustainable. The New York Times (free registration) (5/19) - Peru's land disputes escalate
Battles between authorities and indigenous groups over the planned use of Peruvian Amazon lands have turned into a war between Latin America's political left and right. Some politicians, such as Bolivia's Evo Morales, have called plans a genocide against indigenous people, while Peruvian President Alan Garcia touts the use of land as a vital development and economic tool. Foreign Policy (free registration) (5/19) - Scientists fear effects of hurricane season on Gulf spill
Scientists fear that the upcoming hurricane season could have unpredictable side effects in the Gulf of Mexico, including the possibility that the storm could draw oil from the spill and deposit it on land. Scientists predict that this year's season may bring a high degree of activity -- as many as 15 tropical storms -- which threatens to dilute the spill but spread it over a larger area. Scientists have accused the Obama administration of not doing enough to investigate the spill, citing the fact that the government has yet to make public the results of tests on deep water affected by the spill. USA TODAY (5/20) , The New York Times (free registration) (5/19) - WikiLeaks is an open secret
WikiLeaks has grown as a clearing house for secrets -- an anonymous website where tipsters post leaked memos, corporate documents, surveillance video and intelligence resources. Though the site's production is veiled in mystery, it receives some 30 different leaked documents per day. WikiLeaks gained notoriety last month for military video footage from Iraq that portrayed a callous disregard for life, and the site is preparing to release a video depicting civilian casualties in Afghanistan. The Washington Post (5/19)  | - Thaksin warns Thailand's political crisis not over
The Thai military's crackdown on anti-government demonstrations that left six dead and wounded dozens may spark a guerrilla war, ousted former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra warns. Two months of protests by Thaksin's supporters sparked this week's bloody confrontations. Government officials believe Thaksin funded the campaign and is steering the Red Shirts' political strategy. Reuters (5/19) - Succession will bring new problems to South Sudan
Southern Sudan will hold a referendum in January on secession from the northern, Islamic half of the country. While the vote is expected to go through, it will leave the south, impoverished, with failing infrastructure, and with a tribal legacy that some fear could leave it vulnerable to more bloody fighting. Los Angeles Times (5/16) - Strike against austerity plan paralyzes Greece
Trade union strikers have shut down train stations, halted ferries and brought transit to a halt in response to Greece's deficit-slashing efforts, including spending reductions, tax increases and higher ages for collecting pensions. Protesters, who hope to be 100,000 strong, will likely cause banks, schools and government offices to be closed. BBC (5/20)
- What is the best way for young entrepreneurs to positively impact international development and global problems?
 | Provide financing for development projects | | Activate clients and customers to take action on global issues | | Mandate corporate social responsibility policies |
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