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Political Apathy Contributes to Six Million Child Deaths Each Year

World Vision
Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:44 EST

Nearly nine million under-fives die each year in developing countries

A failure of political will worldwide is contributing to the unnecessary deaths of more than six million children a year, according to a new report by World Vision.

Nearly nine million children die each year before their fifth birthday in the developing world; the overwhelming majority from preventable conditions such as pneumonia, diarrhea and neonatal complications.

At least two-thirds of these children could be saved, if governments make child health a priority and refocus health spending on prevention in the community and not just cures at the clinic, says World Vision.

Janice Tibbetts
Canwest
Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:22 EST

A lesbian soldier, who says she deserted the U.S. military because she was constantly harassed and threatened with death, won a reprieve from deportation Friday in a Federal Court ruling that ordered the Immigration and Refugee Board to reconsider her failed asylum claim.

Pte. Bethany Smith, who adopted the name Skyler James upon fleeing to Canada two years ago, contends she was denied a discharge from the army because her superiors wanted to send her to Afghanistan.

She took her case to Federal Court after being rejected as a refugee by the Immigration and Refugee Board.

Daniel Tencer
Raw Story
Fri, 20 Nov 2009 13:03 EST

The Pakistani arm of the Taliban has denied responsibility for a recent series of terrorist attacks in Pakistan, instead pointing the finger at Xe Services, the security contractor formerly known as Blackwater, as well as the country's own security services.

"The Tehreek-e-Taliban are not responsible for the bombings, but Blackwater and Pakistan's spy agency are behind them," said Pakistani Taliban spokesman Azam Tariq, according to a translation from Al-Jazeera English.

''The dirty Pakistani intelligence agencies, for the sake of creating mistrust and hatred among people against the Taliban, are carrying out blasts at places like the Islamic university, Islamabad, and the Khyber bazaar, Peshawar,'' the Associated Press quoted Tariq as saying.

Reuters
Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:52 EST

At least four people were shot dead and six South Korean visitors wounded when a gunman fired into a crowd of tourists on the resort island of Saipan, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said on Friday.

The gunman appeared to have taken his own life after the shooting spree, a ministry official said, adding that there were no further details immediately available.

Press TV
Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:34 EST

A US unmanned drone aircraft has fired several missiles into a Pakistani tribal area bordering Afghanistan, killing at least ten people and injuring several others.

The strike took place in the restive North Waziristan tribal district on Friday.

The death toll is expected to rise as some of the injured were said to be in critical condition. The attack took place in an area where people do not have access to urgent medical assistance.

The US alleges the air strikes, which are common in Pakistan, target pro-Taliban militants in the tribal belt.

BBC
Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:28 EST

The European Commission has signed a $1bn (£602m) development pact with Nigeria, aimed at tackling corruption and promoting peace.

A substantial amount of the funding will be spent on resolving conflict in the oil-rich and crime-plagued Niger Delta, the EU's development chief said.

The money will also target electoral reform and improving human rights.

But correspondents say many Nigerians will doubt the money will get to its intended targets.

Guardian.co.uk
Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:14 EST

Thirteen killed and 30 wounded including children after suicide bomber detonated explosives in crowded square in city of Farah

A suicide bomber riding a motorcycle killed 13 people, including a police officer, and wounded 30 others today in a busy city square in western Afghanistan.

Several children were among those wounded in the morning explosion, said a doctor at the hospital in the city of Farah, Shir Agh Asas.

Afghan police shouted "Stop! Stop!" at the motorcyclist before he detonated the explosives, provincial police chief General Mohammad Faqir Askar said.

The provincial governor, Rohul Amin, said the deadly blast occurred about 50 metres from his compound in a crowded square in Farah.

"These days Taliban are causing high casualties because the foreign forces and Afghan forces have been conducting operations against the insurgency in the region," Askar said.

Rory Carroll
Guardian.co.uk
Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:57 EST

© National Police Of Peru/EPA
The remains of victims that were allegedly kidnapped and killed by a criminal gang in the jungle of Peru for human fat trafficking.

Peruvian police arrest suspects who allegedly drained their victims and sold liquid as an anti-wrinkle treatment

Peruvian police have arrested a gang which allegedly killed scores of peasants, drained their bodies of fat and sold the liquid abroad as an anti-wrinkle cosmetic.

Three suspects have confessed to killing five people for their fat, said Colonel Jorge Mejia, chief of Peru's anti-kidnapping police, but the number of victims was believed to be much higher and to date back decades.

Two of the suspects were arrested at a bus station in the capital, Lima, carrying bottles of liquid fat which they claimed were worth up to £36,000 a gallon.

At a news conference police displayed two bottles of fat, which laboratory tests confirmed were human. "The fat was extracted from the thorax and thighs," said Eusebio Felix Murga, chief of police of Dirincri district. Police also showed a photo of the rotting head of a 27-year-old male victim discovered last month in a coca-growing valley.

Rory Carroll
Guardian.co.uk
Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:48 EST

Tensions raised between two countries as troops dynamite rural walkways Venezuela claims are used by smugglers and militia

Venezuela has blown up two pedestrian bridges on its border with Colombia in the latest sign of deteriorating relations between the Andean neighbours.

Soldiers destroyed the walkways because they were being used by illegal militia and drug traffickers, said Eusebio Aguero, an army general based in the border state of Táchira.

"They are two foot bridges that paramilitary fighters used, where gasoline and drug precursors were smuggled, subversive groups entered. They are not considered in any international treaty."

However Colombia denounced the action as a violation of international law that would worsen the diplomatic crisis between the two countries.

Deadly shootout in south Thailand

Al Jazeera
Wed, 18 Nov 2009 04:51 EST

Thai security forces say they have killed six suspected separatist fighters in a gun battle in southern Thailand.

The shooting broke out after police and soldiers surrounded a house in Pattani province occupied by a suspect.

Two police officers were injured in the gunfight on Tuesday.

Government forces numbering about 200 surrounded the house and told those inside to surrender but received no response, they said.

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