World News Blog
..for global affairs!
Worldblog.eu covers the latest world news - providing regional perspectives to current global affairs.
Bill Clinton arrives in Haiti as UN quake relief coordinator
The former United States president Bill Clinton flew into Haiti today in his expanded role as United Nations coordinator of international quake relief efforts, and immediately pledged to see the tasks through to its successful conclusion “long after the television crews have gone and emergency response teams have returned to their home countries.”
Dozens of additional UN Police start work in Haiti to help local officers
More than 100 additional United Nations police officers are already on the ground to help Haiti, which was devastated by a massive earthquake last month, following a call by the Security Council for extra forces to support the beleaguered Caribbean nation.
Ignorance is not bliss for Chris Bryant
The Swift agreement allows the US authorities to access EU citizensâ bank transactions under the name of anti-terrorism. But whilst the Government claims the agreement will protect us from the threat of terrorist attacks we are left wondering, who is protecting us, the citizens, against attacks on our civil liberties?
The Lisbon Treaty was sold with the promise that it would strengthen national parliaments’ ability to scrutinse EU legislation. This is a particular concern for matters concerning justice and home affairs where the UK can decide to ‘opt in’ to a proposal or not. Let us not forget, the negotiated ‘opt in’ was used by the Government to justify its decision to abandon the promised referendum on the Treaty.
PA report that Connarty, the Chairman of the European Scrutiny Committee, said he had been assured by ministers, including Prime Minister Gordon Brown, that opt-ins would be subject to proper scrutiny. Connarty said that the SWIFT agreement was the first test of the Lisbon Treaty assurance and this was a “very bad start to the new process.â
But it’s getting even worse.
In a public lecture at the LSE yesterday evening we asked Chris Bryant, the UK’s Europe Minister, to comment on the day’s debate in the Commons. And yet, to our surprise (and his), he wasn’t even aware that the Commons debate had happened, remarking:
“What on earth does this have to do with Sarah McCarthy-Fry, I don’t think this is right”. Then calling to an assistant, he asked “Did Sarah McCarthy-Fry answer a question today?”. He continued “I’m really perplexed about it because if anyone would be answering EU [questions] it should be me…I don’t know if I can say much more.”
With the Government so quick to ignore due Parliamentry process and the Minister for Europe totally unaware of what’s going on, itâs sure time to recognise that democracy has not been strengthened by the Lisbon Treaty.
Luckily enough we have the episode on the dictaphone, so click here for a listen. Chris does sound very confused…
Head of key regional group advocates closer ties with UN to tackle security threats
The head of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) today called for boosting the body’s partnership with the United Nations to tackle threats to peace and security.
Talk about what?
In a piece for the Telegrap we take a closer look at the “Obama snub”, arguing.
Until the EU comes up with something actually worth talking about, it’s not surprising that Obama thinks that it’s more important to travel to Asia, South Africa and to attend NATO summits. Appearing in the EU’s latest self-congratulation ritual is something that the leader of the world’s most powerful nation has done well to stay clear of.
DR Congo: UN sounds alarm over armed attacks against camps for displaced
The emergency relief wing of the United Nations voiced deep concern today over the dire humanitarian situation and safety of more than 1 million people forced to flee their homes in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as a result of violent conflict in the region.
Serbian nationalist leader faces fresh contempt of court charges at UN tribunal
The leader of the Serb Radical Party was today charged with contempt of court by the United Nations war crimes tribunal for the Balkans over allegedly revealing details about protected witnesses in his own trial.
Turkish girl ‘buried alive for talking to boys’
Turkish girl ‘buried alive for talking to boys’
By Haaretz Service and agencies
Teenager’s father and grandfather arrested over suspected ‘honor killing’ after police unearth shackled body.
Today on New Scientist: 5 February 2010
Today’s stories on newscientist.com at a glance, including: Earth’s billion-year struggle for oxygen, how smart dust could warn us about space storms, and how far you can trust an AI
Ban sends report to General Assembly on follow-up to inquiry into Gaza conflict
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has transmitted a report to the General Assembly on the follow-up to the report made by the United Nations fact-finding mission into the deadly conflict in the Gaza Strip at the start of last year.
Partner: