Week of November 24th News

Vanderbilt Model UN Weekly Briefing

For 11/24/09-12/1/09

Written at on 11/30/09 at 1:53pm

• HIV/AIDS: The WHO and UNAids reports that the HIV death toll has been cut over 10% in the last five years due to greater access to anti-retroviral drugs
• Iran: The government is expanding its effort to discredit opposition.
• The government has put 6,000 Basij militia in elementary schools across Iran to promote the ideals of the Islamic Revolution.
• Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameni, has been using the phrase “soft war,” the idea that Western cultural subversion is the reason for domestic ills and must be combated with a vigorous response.
• Iran: Five British citizens have been detained by the Iranian navy while sailing a yacht from Bahrain to Dubai.
• Somalia: Pirates off the coast of Somalia captured a large tanker carrying oil from Saudi Arabia to the U.S. on Sunday, November 29^th.
• There are 28 crew members on board.
• Pirates are currently holding 11 vessels and 264 crew members in Somalia.
• United Arab Emirates: One of Dubai’s largest investment companies, Dubai World, has asked for a six-month delay on repaying its debts.
• This has raised fears among investors about the financial well-being of Dubai ventures.
• European and Middle Eastern shares have been hit.
• Philippines: The government has declared a state of emergency in two southern provinces after the death toll doubled on Tuesday after election violence intensified.
• Group of 50 lawyers, journalists, and relatives of local politicians who were abducted after Monday elections.
• Violence blamed on clan warfare with political motivations ahead of the 2010 provincial and national elections.
• Key suspect Andal Ampatuan Jnr, has surrendered to the authorities and President Gloria Arroyo has vowed to bring the killers to justice.
• Switzerland: The Swiss have approved by referendum a measure to ban the building of minarets within the country with 58% in support and 22 of 26 cantons.
• Seen as a reaction to perceived poor assimilation of the Swiss Muslim community or fears of possible poor assimilation.
• The government urged its citizens to vote against the ban, but now is put in the awkward position of explaining the vote to the Muslim world.
• There is fear that trade and banking relationships could be adversely affected.