26 Mar Weekday News Wrap: Monday, March 26, 2012
26.03.12
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- US President Barack Obama spoke in Seoul today, promising to pursue nuclear cuts, an issue he will push in a May meeting slated with incoming Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- Pakistan’s legislators are debating ties with the US, specifically with respect to re-opening NATO supply routes that have been closed since a US attack killed 24 soldiers in Pakistan last November.
- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadenijad stated today that the US and NATO can no longer dictate policy for the rest of the world and that NATO relations with Pakistan will continue to deteriorate.
- The families of the 17 Afghans killed in a massacre allegedly carried out by a US soldier now awaiting trial have received compensation from the US government.
- On the heels of the viral #Kony2012 campaign, the African Union announced that it will send 5,000 troops to assist American military advisors in the search for the LRA leader, Joseph Kony.
- Previously undisclosed files from the 1988 Lockerbie bombing in Scotland have been published (full report found here), despite data protection laws keeping them from the public eye.
- The US will appeal the WTO ruling on country-of-origin labels (COOL) on meat.
- Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina pushed for decriminalization of drugs, stating that the war on drugs has failed and there is a need for a new approach from Latin American countries to combat drug trafficking.
- Human Rights Watch reports that civilians are being used as human shields in Syria, and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warns that the plan put forth by Kofi Annan is the last hope of avoiding a full-scale civil war, before pledging Russia’s “full support at any level” to the UN.
- There has been much discussion about US President Obama’s pick for the World Bank presidency. Forbes’ take: here. Over the weekend, Jeffrey Sachs withdrew his nomination, leaving three to vie for the institution’s top spot.
- Following the military coup last week in Mali, relative calm has returned to the nation.
- Reuters reports that in Baghdad, al-Qaeda has been ruling the streets since the withdrawal of US troops from the country and residents still fear for their lives.
- The EU has named 17 Iranians against whom sanctions have been levied in response to alleged human rights violations. The list now comprises 78 Iranians subject to asset freezes and travel bans.
- The Russian-backed breakaway Georgian region of South Ossetia, has voted to elect its first president.
- China reportedly will end its program of organ donation from executed prisoners within three to five years.
- In ASIL news: many of our contributors and readers will be at this year’s event in Washington, D.C. If you’re unable to attend and are interested in following the events from a live blog, check the ASIL Cables here.
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