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Haitian cholera victims threaten United Nations with lawsuit

Sun, 12 May 2013 19:17:33 GMT

United Nations

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Sunday, May 12, 2013

Lawyers representing Haitian cholera victims warned the United Nations (UN) on May 7, if they do not admit liability for the spread of cholera in 2010, they'll be sued. Lawyers demand the UN apologize to and compensate the victims and improve sanitation efforts.

Lawyers claim the UN is breaking international law by failing to apologize or provide remuneration to the victims. They're seeking a minimum of USD$100,000 each for families of the deceased and $50,000 for each survivor. So far, over 8,000 people have died and thousands more have been infected with the disease.

UN peacekeepers, whom arrived in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake, are being blamed for the spread of the disease which started near the troop's encampment. According to the lawsuit, waste from the UN camp was not properly sanitized, causing bacteria to enter the tributary of the Artibonite River, one of Haiti's largest. Prior to the arrival of troops, Haiti had not encountered problems related to the disease since the 1800s. The Haitian Institute for Justice and Democracy has referenced independent studies that suggest the Nepalese UN peacekeeping battalion unknowingly brought the disease to Haiti. Danielle Lantagne, a UN expert on the disease, stated the outbreak was likely caused by the peacekeepers.

Scientists from Pacific Bio-sciences of California Inc. analyzed the bacteria in Haiti and concluded its genome is an almost identical match to samples recovered in South Asia, but different to those found in Latin America.

The UN continues to deny any responsibility for the cholera outbreak and claims it is immune from further legal proceedings. Nearly 8,000 people have vowed to join the lawsuit.

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Sources [edit]

"Haiti cholera victims threaten to sue UN" — Aljazeera English, May 8, 2013
Peter James Speilmann. "Lawyers: Haiti cholera lawsuit threatened at UN" — The Huffington Post, May 8, 2013
"Haiti cholera victims threaten to sue UN" — BBC News, May 8, 2013

External links [edit]

Eric E. Schadt. The Coming Revolution: Microbes and Multiscale Biology. Microbe, 2013; 8(2): 70-73.

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Wikinews interviews Amir Abbas Fakhravar about Iranian nuclear intentions

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 19:26:53 GMT

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Iran

Sources [edit]

This exclusive interview features first-hand journalism by a Wikinews reporter. See the collaboration page for more details.

Mitra Mobasherat, Holly Yan. "Iran marks 'National Nuclear Day' with a new uranium-processing site" — CNN, April 9, 2013

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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: close Guantanamo Bay

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 19:07:26 GMT

Sunday, April 7, 2013

United Nations

United Nations on Wikinews

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Navi Pillay in 2009
Image: Antônio Cruz (Agência Brasil).

Navi Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, told the United States Friday to close its prison camp at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. She argued the continuing indefinite detention without trial violates international law.

"We must be clear about this: the United States is in clear breach not just of its own commitments but also of international laws and standards that it is obliged to uphold", Pillay stated.

Pillay said those held in Guantanamo Bay should face a civilian trial rather than a military tribunal, as the latter "do not meet international fair trial standards". The US has only criminally charged or convicted nine current detainees.

Detainees arriving at Camp X-Ray, the forerunner to the current detainment regime, in January 2002.
Image: Shane T. McCoy, U.S. Navy.

The Guantanamo Bay camp was opened in January 2002 by former US President George W. Bush and currently holds 166 detainees. As of last month, 31 of the detainees were on hunger strike and eleven were being force fed, according to a US Department of Defense (DoD) spokesperson. Of the hunger strikers, Pillay said: "given the uncertainty and anxieties surrounding their prolonged and apparently indefinite detention in Guantanamo, it is scarcely surprising that people's frustrations boil over and they resort to such desperate measures".

President Barack Obama pledged to close Guantanamo Bay but has thus far failed to do so. The US has cleared transfer of around half of the remaining Guantanamo Bay detainees to their home country or to a third country. Pillay urged those transfers to be acted on: "As a first step, those who have been cleared for release must be released."

Responding to the statement by Pillay, Lieutenant Colonel Todd Breasseale, a DoD spokesman, defended the camp in a statement to Reuters: "We continue to hold detainees under the internationally recognized Law of War and in keeping with the best of our core values, safeguarding and humanely treating all who are in our care and custody, there. Assertions that present some alternate narrative simply do not withstand intellectual rigor".

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Sources [edit]

Stephanie Nebehay (Reuters). "U.N. rights chief calls for closure of Guantanamo prison" — Yahoo! News, April 5, 2013
"Guantanamo Bay prison 'must close' - UN rights chief" — BBC News Online, April 5, 2013
AP. "UN Rights Chief Presses US to Shut Guantanamo" — ABC News, April 5, 2013

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North Korea's rising tensions: Wikinews interviews Scott Snyder and Dr Robert Kelly

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 22:26:51 GMT

Thursday, April 4, 2013

North Korea

Sources [edit]

This exclusive interview features first-hand journalism by a Wikinews reporter. See the collaboration page for more details.

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South Korean president responds to North Korea's nuclear constitution change

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 13:53:41 GMT

North Korea

Sources [edit]

"South Korea pledges strong response against North" — BBC News Online, April 1, 2013
"NKorea parliament to meet for closely watched session amid festering nuclear tension" — Associated Press, April 1, 2013
Jung Ha-Won. "S. Korea leader vows 'strong' retaliation to North" — AFP, April 1, 2013
"N.Korea Pushes for Nuclear Development" — Chosun Ilbo, April 1, 2013

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UN adds to criticism of Australian offshore centers

Tue, 05 Feb 2013 19:56:11 GMT

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Australia

Sources [edit]

This article includes material from UN Criticizes Australian Offshore Asylum Camp by VOA News, which is in the public domain.

David Crowe. "Unions look for O'Connor to fight foreign workers" — The Australian, February 5, 2013
Phil Mercer. "UN Criticizes Australian Offshore Asylum Camp" — VOA, February 4, 2013
Paul Maley. "UN labels Manus a legal affront" — The Australian, February 4, 2013
John Masanauskas. "Locals losing out on jobs because of high immigration" — Herald Sun, February 4, 2013
Milanda Rout. "Picture opportunity caps tumultuous week for Labor" — The Australian, February 4, 2013
Michael Gordon. "O'Connor takes on a boatload of problems" — The Canberra Times, February 3, 2013
"Our campaign for refugees and asylum seekers" — Amnesty International Australia, January 30, 2013
AAP. "Gillard assures PNG, Nauru on length of detention of asylum-seekers" — news.com.au, August 29, 2012

External Links [edit]

UNHCR Mission to Manus Island, Papua New Guinea, 15-17 January 2013 (Embargoed until Monday, February 4, 2013) — Retrieved Tuesday, February 5, 2013 (9:54 a.m. EST)
UNHCR Mission to the Republic of Nauru, 3-5 December 2012, Report — Retrieved Tuesday, February 5, 2013 (9:40 a.m. EST)

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Philippines seeks United Nations arbitration on South China Sea claims

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 16:03:34 GMT

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Philippines

Sister links [edit]

Territorial disputes in the South China Sea

Sources [edit]

"Philippines 'to take South China Sea row to court'" — BBC News Online, January 22, 2013
Michaela Del Callar. "PHL takes territorial spat with China to int'l arbitration" — GMA News, January 22, 2013
"PH to take China dispute to UN tribunal" — Rappler, January 22, 2013
AFP. "New ASEAN chair Brunei to seek South China Sea code of conduct" — GMA News, January 14, 2013

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Israel sets 36 hour ultimatum for Hamas

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 15:40:23 GMT

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Israel

Sources [edit]

"Israel gives Hamas 36-hours ultimatum before starting major offensive" — RT News, November 19, 2012
Gil Ronen. "Israel Sends Hamas 36-Hour Ultimatum" — Israel National News, November 19, 2012
"Stop attack in 36 hours or face military action: Israel to Hamas" — Daily Bhaskar, November 19, 2012
Edmund Sanders. "Israel, Hamas keep up attacks as talks continue in Egypt" — Los Angeles Times, November 19, 2012

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UN's Convention on Domestic Workers expected to take effect in 2013

Sun, 09 Sep 2012 09:07:54 GMT

Sunday, September 9, 2012

Emblem of the United Nations
Image: Spiff.

Uruguay

Sources [edit]

"International treaty on domestic workers’ rights to come into force next year – UN" — United Nations, September 5, 2012
"Landmark treaty for domestic workers to take effect next year" — Philippine Daily Inquirer, September 6, 2012
"Phl maids overseas now protected by ILO convention" — Philippine Star, September 6, 2012
"PHL submits to ILO crucial document on protection of domestic workers" — GMA News, September 6, 2012

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UN convoy targeted in Syrian province of Idlib

Tue, 15 May 2012 21:05:00 GMT

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Syria

Sources [edit]

This article features first-hand journalism by Wikinews members. See the collaboration page for more details.

"Three vehicles carrying UN observers damaged in bomb blast in Syria" — UN News Centre, May 15, 2012
Associated Press. "Roadside bomb hits UN vehicle; activists say Syrian forces fire on funeral" — The Washington Post, May 15, 2012
"U.N. observer convoy bombed in Syria as 20 people are killed at funeral procession" — Al Arabiya News, May 15, 2012
mahned1000. "خان شيخون مقطع خطيرة لمجزرة (Khan section Sheikhoun serious massacre)" — YouTube, May 15, 2012
Sara Firth. "@SaraFirth_RT" — Twitter, May 15, 2012
Miriam Karouny (Reuters). "U.N. observers held by rebels 'for protection'" — Yahoo News, May 15, 2012
"Syria: UN monitors attacked - live updates" — The Guardian, May 15, 2012
"@NMSyria" — Twitter, May 15, 2012

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Cyprus leader says no to second term

Mon, 14 May 2012 18:25:58 GMT

Monday, May 14, 2012

Greek Cyprus President Demetris Christofias started his first term in 2008.

Cypriot President Demetris Christofias announced today he will not run for a second term to represent the Republic of Cyprus, which is the Greek portion of the island.

The president cited the lack of progress in talks with the Turks over the Turkish-Greek Cypriot conflict as his main reason for stepping aside. In a televised national address, Christofias said, "A realistic analysis of the facts leads to the conclusion that there are no real hopes for either resolving the Cyprus issue or achieving substantial progress in the remaining months of my presidency."

The United Nations had recently pulled out of hosting talks between the two parties because of the lack of progress.

Christofias said, "Taking as a fact that the Cyprus problem has not been solved and there does not appear to be definitive progress in the next few months ... I will not seek re-election as president of the Republic of Cyprus."

Christofias is making good on a campaign promise that if he was not able to make progress on resolving the conflict that he would step aside. The issue on UN reunification talks with the Turks divided Christofias and former president Tassos Papadopoulos in the 2008 election.

Every president of the Republic since independence in 1960 has sought a second term of office.

The island of Cyprus has been divided into two sectors since a coup by Greek unionists in 1974 was followed in response by a Turkish military invasion.

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Sources [edit]

Menelaos Hadjicostis. "Cyprus President Says He Won't Run for 2nd Term" — ABC News, May 14, 2012
"Cyprus president says will not seek re-election" — Reuters, May 14, 2012

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Mexico and world react to murdered journalists

Wed, 09 May 2012 12:48:52 GMT

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Human rights

Sister links [edit]

Mexican Drug War on Wikipedia.

Sources [edit]

"Mexican journalists demand end to killings" — Latin American Herald Tribune, May 6, 2012
"Director-General alarmed by wave of journalist assassinations in Mexico and calls for urgent investigation" — UNESCO Media Services, May 5, 2012
Tom Watkins. "Veracruz governor vows to protect journalists" — CNN, May 4, 2012
Mark Stevenson and E. Eduardo Castillo (Associated Press). "Fear spreads as Mexican journalists mourned" — Kansas City Star, May 4, 2012
Reporters Without Borders. "Two photographers slain in Veracruz state, five days after magazine reporter’s murder" — RSF.org, May 4, 2012
Karla Zabludovsky. "Three photographers found dead in Mexico" — New York Times, May 3, 2012
Tim Johnson (McClatchy Newspapers). "More Mexican journalists found slain in Veracruz" — Miami Herald, May 3, 2012
Dudley Althaus. "More journalists murdered in Mexico" — Houston Chronicle, May 3, 2012
"Azerbaijani journalist honored On World Press Freedom Day" — Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, May 3, 2012
Committee to Protect Journalists. "Miguel Ángel López Velasco" — CPJ.org, June 20, 2011
Committee to Protect Journalists. "Misael López Solana" — CPJ.org, June 20, 2011

External Links [edit]

Committee to Protect Journalists. "CPJ condemns murder of Mexican photographers" — CPJ.org, May 3, 2012
Reporters Without Borders. "Senate approves making attacks on journalists a federal crime" — RSF.org, March 14, 2012
Committee to Protect Journalists. "Yolanda Ordaz de la Cruz" — CPJ.org, July 2011
Committee to Protect Journalists. "Miguel Ángel López Velasco" — CPJ.org, June 20, 2011
Committee to Protect Journalists. "Misael López Solana" — CPJ.org, June 20, 2011
Committee to Protect Journalists. "Noel López Olguín" — CPJ.org, March 2011

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China, UN rebuke North Korea for rocket launch

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:19:27 GMT

Thursday, April 19, 2012

North Korea

Sources [edit]

"China urges denuclearisation of Korean peninsula" — Channelnewsasia.com, April 18, 2012

This article includes material from China Joins World Powers in Strong Warning to North Korea by VOA News, which is in the public domain.

"China Joins World Powers in Strong Warning to North Korea" — Voice of America, April 17, 2012
"New NKorean leader speaks publicly for first time" — Fox News, April 14, 2012
David Chance and Christine Kim. "In North Korea, third Kim's bloodline all that matters" — Reuters, April 14, 2012
Associated Press. "Failed launch is setback for NKorea's new leader" — CBS News, April 13, 2012

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Supreme Court of Pakistan criticizes authorities over Bhutto murder

Tue, 17 Apr 2012 17:14:04 GMT

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Pakistan

Sources [edit]

Azam Khan. "Benazir murder case: For fair probe, Malik should step down, says SC" — The Express Tribune, April 17, 2012
"Govt's failure to probe its leader’s killing unfortunate: CJ" — The News International, April 17, 2012
Hasnaat Malik. "Benazir Bhutto murder case - Malik should dissociate from official duties for fair probe: SC" — Daily Times (Pakistan), April 17, 2012

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Report indicates continued severe weather problems still looming

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 16:02:51 GMT

Friday, March 30, 2012

Environment

26 March 2013: Kiribati acquires international funding for solar power
8 March 2013: Wikinews interviews British scientist Dr Paul Dolman about proposal to cull deer population
19 January 2013: US Navy ship damages Tubbataha Reef National Park
13 January 2013: Fires burn across eastern Australia amid summer heatwave
30 November 2012: Locally designed, low emissions car launched in Qatar

To write, edit, start or view other Environment-related articles, see the Environment Portal

A 586-page report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released Wednesday indicated governments should prepare for continued weather-related catastrophes. The report noted highly populated and very poor areas are at highest risk, and stressed no country or continent is safe from these ongoing threats. The panel consists of Nobel Prize-winners, whose work in climatology indicates more intense tropical cyclones.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was created by the United Nations in 1988.
Image: Wilfried Huss / Anonymous.

The report placed blame regarding recent disasters on a combination of climate change caused by humans, population changes and poverty. The panel was founded in 1988 by the United Nations.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimates recent severe weather conditions are costing upwards of US$80 billion per year. The report focused heavily on issues pertaining to coastal areas of the United States, specifically noting damage in those areas could increase 20 percent by 2030.

The authors of the report stated some portions of India may become uninhabitable for floods and other problems.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change pointed out other cities at lesser risk, such as: Miami, Shanghai, Bangkok, China's Guangzhou, Vietnam's Ho Chi Minh City, Myanmar's Yangon (formerly known as Rangoon), and India's Kolkata (formerly known as Calcutta). Inhabitants of small island nations may have to leave their homes because of elevated sea levels and major storms. A total of 220 authors worked on the report.

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Sources [edit]

"'Climate change behind extreme weathers'" — ianslive.in, March 29, 2012
Seth Borenstein. "Mumbai, Miami on list for big weather disasters" — MSNBC.com, March 28, 2012

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	How can a sub-inspector have enough courage to probe someone at the helm of affairs?
—Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry

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Haitian cholera victims threaten United Nations with lawsuit

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Wikinews interviews Amir Abbas Fakhravar about Iranian nuclear intentions

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UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: close Guantanamo Bay

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Israel sets 36 hour ultimatum for Hamas

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China, UN rebuke North Korea for rocket launch

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