Iran ready to swap enriched uranium abroad: FM spokesman

by Staff Writers  |  Tehran (AFP) Dec 29, 2009

Iran is ready to swap abroad its low-enriched uranium for nuclear fuel, the foreign ministry's spokesman said on Tuesday, insisting that the exchange should happen in several stages.

Iran is ready for "fuel swap in several stages and has said that this can be an opportunity for the two sides" to build confidence, Ramin Mehmanparast told reporters.

Iraq's Rising Output Poses OPEC With A Problem

OPEC was expected to leave production output quotas unchanged at Monday's ministerial meeting in Luanda, but the planned increased in output from Iraq will pose the cartel with a problem.

US health bill passes key hurdle

After months of compromise and often bitter debate in the US congress a multi-billion dollar healthcare reform bill has passed its first key vote in the Senate. Barack Obama, the US president, hailed the vote as a victory in the battle to push through a far-reaching overhaul of the American healthcare system. 

UN To Launch Yemen's Food Security Plan January.

SANA'A, Dec 21 09   |  Bernama

-- United Nations (UN) is to launch next January Yemen's plan for humanitarian responding to offer the early aid programme to around 1.4 million people suffering from lacking of food security in Yemen, Yemeni news agency (Saba) has reported.

The plan would include the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) due to the rebellion in Sa'ada governorate, nearly 200,000 according to UN estimates, and over 162,000 refugees, most of them are from the Horn of Africa region.

LG Display Develops World's Thinnest LCD TV Panel

SEOUL, Dec 21  09   |  Bernama

-- LG Display Co. announced on Monday that it has developed the world's thinnest LCD panel "Extreme Slim, " that measures only 2.6 mm, China's Xinhua news agency reported, citing a local media as saying.

The breakthrough panel was developed through the application of an ultra-slim, edge-lit light emitting diode (LED) backlight system and propriety optical film technology developed by LG Display, it was announced in a statement.

Besides Aircraft Engines, Other Equipment Also Missing

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22  09  |  Bernama

-- Besides the two Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) F-5E fighter jet engines reported missing, other related equipment is also missing, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said Tuesday.

He said the ministry will take action against senior officers responsible when the case happened.

Copenhagen is over, but we're not done yet

World leaders have failed us. They have walked away from the global summit in Copenhagen without a treaty to save the climate.   They still have a chance to get it right and we will not let them fail. The future of 6.5 billion people is at stake... You are one of them. 

They are not done yet, and neither are we. 

Together with other environmental and social justice groups, we are building the biggest movement civil society has ever witnessed to demand our leaders take action against climate change.

Climate deal meets furious reception

 Shaun Tandon  |  AFP

Fury erupted Saturday at a gruelling climate summit as poor nations ripped into a deal agreed by a core group of world leaders which even its supporters admitted would not stem global warming. 

US President Barack Obama said he reached an "unprecedented breakthrough" in meetings with about two dozen presidents and prime ministers gathered in Copenhagen in the finale of a long-anticipated, 12-day summit.

Climate conference is ‘about money, not climate’

MOSCOW, Dec 19 – The on-going United Nations conference on climate change in Copenhagen is revolving not so much about climate as about money, the chairman of the State Duma (Parliament)’s international affairs committee, Konstantin Kosachyov, said about the ongoing debate over the global warming problem, according to a report by Russian news agency, Itar-Tass.

The living is grim in a place they call Utopia

 DEBRA JOPSON    |  November 16, 2009

UTOPIA: In her eight years as the head of Amnesty International and a native of Bangladesh, Irene Khan has seen some of the worst living conditions the world has to offer, but yesterday, in a part of Australia ironically named Utopia, it was the sight of people and animals living in the same environment that rocked her.

''I saw today a dog and a man eating from the same plate. That's shocking enough, but it's shocking that it should happen in the heart of Australia,'' she said.

ILO to impress UN to create 'green jobs'

By Quintus Perera - Asian Tribune   |  Colombo, 18 December, 09

In a dispatch from the International Labour Organization (ILO) Colombo Office, it was indicated that ILO participates in the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen to draw attention to the value of “green jobs” for reaping the development benefits and meeting the employment challenge associated with the goal of cutting CO2 emissions.

It said that ILO in close cooperation with other UN agencies, could contribute among others to facilitating economic and social transition for key sectors; promoting green jobs which contribute to growth while reducing emissions; and greening the workplace by mobilizing employers and workers.

Amnesty International 2010 conference for human rights

How can you make a valuable contribution to human rights in only three days? 


By attending the 2010 Annual General Meeting (AGM) in April 9-11, 2010 in New Orleans! Educate yourself and others by attending panels of speakers consisting of prominent human rights activists, including Howard Zinn, Gloria Steinem, Bernice Reagon and Alice Walker, and meet other amnesty members and human rights activists from around the country. Every year, the AIUSA community comes together to discuss the most pressing issues in the fight for international human rights at the Annual General Meeting, with this year's focus being the Demand Dignity Campaign.

UN Climate Chief Says "Not Enough" Progress in Talks

The U.N.'s top climate official Yvo De Boer says environmental ministers meeting in Copenhagen for climate change talks have made significant progress in a number of areas, but he says it is "not enough." Meanwhile China is accusing developed nations of backing away from promises to help poor nations combat climate change. VOA's Robert Raffaele has more.

Pakistan court removes Zardari amnesty.

The corruption charges which earned Asif Ali Zardari, the Pakistani president, the nickname "Mr Ten Percent" are coming back to haunt him.

The country's top court has struck down an amnesty that allowed Zardari to return to Pakistan and protected him. 

As president, he still has immunity from prosecution, but his opponents say the ruling makes him ineligible for the presidency. It could also reopen cases against thousands of other officials, including cabinet ministers loyal to Zardari.

Imran Khan reports from Islamabad, the capital.

JobsMalaysia Service Is Free

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 15 09  |  Bernama  

-- The online job registration and job matching system provided by the Human Resource Ministry through www.jobsmalaysia.gov.my is free as no service charge is imposed on users.

Manpower Department director-general Datuk Ismail Abdul Rahim said it was an offence for any officer to ask for payment from the service users for the application process to be expedited.

Malaysia's Participation At Copenhagen

By Syed Azwan Ali   | KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 13  |  Bernama 


-- Malaysia's participation at the coming Copenhagen Climate Change Summit is not merely a diplomatic commitment but a mission to determine the survival of the world in the next century.

Although the country is not in danger of sinking as a result of sea-level rise due to global warming, like the Maldives, it will nevertheless, feel the repercussions from greenhouse gas emissions.

According to a report from the drainage and irrigation department, the country's coastal line has been narrowed by about 40 metres due to erosion at 33 locations.

China a bright spot on climate with energy-saving bulbs

As the world's top producer of energy-efficient light bulbs and a potentially massive market for them, China is seen as pivotal to greater worldwide acceptance of environmentally-friendly lighting.

While also the largest producer of less-efficient incandescent bulbs, China is moving with the times as the classic light bulb, which produces more heat than light, is slowly being switched off.

Najib Proud Of Petronas' Success In Securing Iraq Contracts

PEKAN, Dec 12 | Bernama

-- Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has expressed satisfaction over Petronas' success in securing two contracts in Iraq, including to develop the giant Majnoon oilfield.

He said the achievement showed that Petronas had gained international trust in oil exploration.

Poser Over Number Of Chairman Posts Held By Former Senior Government Officers

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 10  09  |  Bernama  -- 

A former chief secretary to the government and a former secretary-general of a ministry are holding chairman posts of between 30 to 40 government companies, the Dewan Negara was told Thursday.

US government agrees to settle Native Americans lawsuit .

The US government has agreed to pay more than $3bn to settle a long-standing lawsuit over the management of native American land.

If cleared by congress and a federal judge, it would be the largest such claim ever approved, creating an important step for reconciliation.

Malaysia's Superbrands Award to 100Plus and Sony

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 8  -- Malaysia has to seriously think of the country's brand to promote exports, attract investments, talents, tourists and global goodwill in the world, said Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah.

He said a strong and positive country brand had the ability to create a national competitive advantage and economic value.

Afghan Women Among Worst Off In World - Rights Group

By Golnar Motevalli | KABUL, Dec 7 (Reuters)

-- Afghan women (picture) are among the worst off in the world, violence against them is "endemic" and Afghanistan's government fails to protect them from crimes such as rape and murder, a rights group said on Monday.

Human Rights Watch said in a report the situation for women in Afghanistan is "dismal in every area".

Some 39 Trafficked Myanmar Women Rescued From Thailand

YANGON, Dec 9 -- Some 39 trafficked Myanmar women have been rescued and repatriated from neighbouring Thailand to Myanmar, according to the Myanmar Social Welfare Department on Wednesday.

UN Climate Conference Opens in Copenhagen.

The U.N. Climate Change conference opened in Copenhagen, Denmark Monday with thousands of delegates and observers attending what is being billed as the last best chance for an agreement to combat global warming. VOA's Sonja Pace is there and has this report.

Malaysian Bar Opposes Judges' Obsession For Speedy Case Disposal

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 12 09 | Bernama

-- The Malaysian Bar on Saturday opposed the over emphasis on measuring the numerical cases rate disposal through the use of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) which it said was a recent trend in the judiciary.

Its president K.Ragunath said fairness and overall quality of justice had been sacrified due to the obssesion for speedy disposal of cases and reliance on KPIs.