Friday, January 30, 2009

‘One-Child’ Expert Urges Investigation Before UNFPA Funding Resumes

An American expert on China’s “one-child” population control policy is urging President Obama to delay restoring funding to the U.N. Population Fund (UNFPA) pending an independent investigation into whether U.S. taxpayers’ money will support coerced abortions in China. Read

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Still No Word From Administration on Durban II

A major United Nations conference on racism is less than three months away, but amid continuing debate over whether the U.S. and other democracies should take part in an event already mired in controversy, the Obama administration has yet to announce its plans. Read

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

A Netanyahu Victory Could Lead to Rocky Ties with U.S.

As the fragile truce in Gaza faltered on Tuesday, the Israeli politician favored to return to the helm as prime minister next month delivered a stark warning likely to give pause to the Obama administration as its new special envoy undertakes his first regional mission. Read

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

Court Decision Boosts Party of Dutch Lawmaker Who Criticized Islam

Controversial Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders has seen his party’s popularity rise following a court ruling that he should stand trial for his statements about Islam. Read

With Mexico City Policy Gone, Australia Alone Restricts Abortion Aid

President Obama’s decision to rescind the “Mexico City Policy” – which denies aid funds to non-governmental organizations that promote or perform abortions – is providing new impetus for activists in Australia who want their government to remove similar regulations in place there. Read

Monday, January 26, 2009

Anger in Afghanistan, Pakistan Over Military Strikes

Angry reaction to the reported deaths of civilians in U.S. military strikes in Afghanistan and Pakistan is posing an early foreign policy challenge for the Obama administration, just days after the appointment of a special representative to the two South Asian neighbors. Read

Excitement, Skepticism Greets First Human Trial of Embryo-Derived Treatment

Approval of the first-ever human trial of an embryonic stem cell-based treatment is generating excitement, although some are wondering whether the development is particularly significant – or necessary. Read

Friday, January 02, 2009

Hamas Terror Chief Gets the ‘Martyrdom’ He Sought For Others

On October 2, 2001, two Palestinian gunmen infiltrated a Jewish community in the northern Gaza Strip and killed a 19-year-old Israeli soldier and her 20-year-old boyfriend. They wounded 15 other Israelis before eventually being shot by Israeli police snipers. Read

Arabs Divided, Egypt Under Fire Over Gaza

Israel’s ongoing offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip is exposing deep divisions in the Arab world and between Arab governments and Iran, Hamas’ chief sponsor. Read