World Good News
Constitutional Debate Rages in Lead up to Afgan CouncilA day before Afghanistan convenes the Loya Jirga, or grand council, debate is still flaring over the consitution's basic elements. Many delegates favor a parliamentary system, but others, including several current authorities in the transitional government, are negotiating to develop a strong presidency in which one elected official serves as chief military commander. |
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Canada responds to food emergency in EthiopiaThe Honourable Susan Whelan, Minister for International Cooperation, today announced a contribution to the World Food Programme (WFP) of $14 million for emergency food aid initiatives in Ethiopia. Minister Whelan made the announcement as part of Canada's response to the 2004 Emergency Appeal for Ethiopia. The funds will be provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). |
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Russia ‘moving towards ratification of Kyoto’Russia is moving towards ratification of the Kyoto Protocol on reducing greenhouse emissions, the country's deputy economy minister said on Wednesday, contradicting comments by a top Russian presidential adviser the previous day. |
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Viet Nam: Relatives of Father Nguyen Van Ly to be freedAmnesty International welcomed the decision today by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Supreme Court to reduce the sentences of the nephews and niece of prisoner of conscience Father Nguyen Van Ly. Brothers Nguyen Vu Viet and Nguyen Truc Cuong both had their prison terms shortened to 32 months from five years and four years respectively. Their sister, Nguyen Thi Hoa, who was sentenced by a lower court to three years in jail, had her prison term reduced to four months and six days. "We understand that Nguyen Thi Hoa was allowed to go home and that her brothers will be free within days," the organization said today. |
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Russian donation boosts relief effortsEfforts to feed needy Angolans have received a boost with the arrival of 1,880 mt of maize donated by the Russian government, the World Food Programme (WFP) said on Wednesday. |
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Handshake seals shift in China Aids approachWen Jiabao became the first Chinese premier to shake the hand of an Aids patient yesterday, setting the seal on a fundamental shift in his government's approach to a disease that threatens to infect millions of people around the country over the next few years. |
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US Praises Unofficial Middle East Peace Plan; Adds It’s No Sub To Road MapThe United States has reacted favorably to the signing of an unofficial Middle East peace plan Monday in Geneva, but says there is no substitute to the international "road map" to peace. |
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Pakistan and India to restore transportation linksToday, for thousands of divided families like Rana's, hopes are beginning to rise, as India and Pakistan's weeklong cease-fire shows signs of holding. Artillery guns remain silent, and diplomats Monday in Delhi will begin talks on restoring air, bus, and rail links between the two South Asian rival nations. In a goodwill gesture, Pakistan Sunday lifted a ban on Indian flights over its airspace. |
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Activists Hail Nepal’s Landmark Move to Recruit Women in ArmyLast week's historic decision by The Royal Nepalese Army (RNA), to induct women in armed, non-technical positions including the military police, is a major victory for them, though they still face harsh discrimination in the civil and administrative services. |
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Cease-Fire Begins Between India, PakistanRelieved villagers on both sides of the India-Pakistan border made holiday visits to relatives Wednesday as guns fell silent between the two nuclear-armed neighbors for the first time in 14 years. |
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India and Pakistani armies agree ceasefireThe armies of India and Pakistan have agreed to observe a ceasefire in Kashmir from midnight local time, the foreign ministry says. |
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India offers positive response to cease-fireThe Indian government said Monday that it would "respond positively" to Pakistan's announcement of a unilateral cease-fire along the line dividing Kashmir between the two nuclear-armed countries. |
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Monrovia gets mains electricity for first time in 10 yearsChildren danced in the streets of the Liberian capital Monrovia on Friday night and cars flashed their blinker lights in celebration after mains electricity was restored to part of the city for the first time in 10 years. |
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PAKISTAN: ILO launches four-year programme to eliminate child labourThe International Labour Organisation (ILO) on Wednesday formally launched a four-year programme intended to support an ongoing programme being conducted by the government to help eliminate child labour in Pakistan. |
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Political news
- South Korea adopts greenhouse gas regulations
- California public to vote on GMO Label Act after 1 million signatures
- Peru is latest developing nation to adopt climate change initiative
- Mexico becomes 2nd country in the world to pass national climate-change law
- US to make profit from bailouts, Treasury says
- Toronto Becomes First City To Mandate Green Roofs
- more
Human rights news
- Obama says same-sex couples should be able to marry
- Obama announces sanctions for tech used in human rights abuses in Iran and Syria
- Burmese savour taste of democracy
- Maryland state senate passes gay marriage bill
- Support wanes in US Congress for anti-piracy bill
- Burma joy as freed prisoners head home
- more