The government of Afghanistan has banned live media coverage of attacks by both domestic and international news media organizations, according to Al Jazeera. Government representatives argue that such press coverage benefits the enemies of, and is detrimental to, the state. US envoy Richard Holbrooke, Afghani journalists and media members were severely critical of such a ban. Afghanistan Rights Monitor member Laila Noori said, “The government should not hide their inabilities by barring media from covering incidents. People want to know all the facts on the ground whenever security incidents take place. Further details can be found here.

03/04/2010

According to a recent Economist article, the vast majority of India’s 160 million Muslims live in harsh conditions, and as a whole are almost at the levels of former Hindu untouchables. To confront this issue, it has been recommended to implement job quotas for religious minorities, or in other words to ‘reserve’ employment opportunities. The figures suggest reserving 10% of employment opportunities for Muslims and 5% for Christians. Muslims represent 20% of the electorate in roughly 100 of India’s 543 constituencies and are a significant vote-bank, as well as generally supportive of the current party in power, the Congress Party. However, tailored assistance to Muslims is usually thwarted by the Hindu nationalist party and chief party rival, the BJP. Further details can be found at The Economist: The call to poll.

03/04/2010

Iraq will be provided with a $3.6bn loan by the International Monetary Fund, the largest to loan provided to date. The two year deal will aid in rebuilding Iraqi infrastructure and development. The loan was in response to and to protect against growing deficits and declining government revenues due to lower oil prices. Further details can be found at: IMF Provides $3.6 Billion Loan to Iraq.

Several prominent humanitarian organizations have demanded foreign military troops in Afghanistan cease the practice of using aid as a bartering tool with local citizens for information. The approach has been seen as a short term goal which in the long run is deemed counterproductive and harmful. “The militarization of aid is putting ordinary people on the frontlines of the conflict” - ActionAid, Care, Christian Aid, Oxfam, and the Norwegian Refugee Council.” Further details can be found on IslamOnline http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/Satellite?c=Article_C&cid=1264249814604&pagename=Zone-English-News/NWELayout title= “Stop Militarized Afghan Aid: NGOs">IslamOnline.

As the US sees Iran’s missile capabilities as a growing threat, they will expand their own defense systems within the Gulf region. The US will deploy increased land and sea based missile defense systems in Kuwait, Qatar, UAE, Bahrain as well as Navy Ships within and near the Mediterranean. Further details can be found at Reuters http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60U18R20100201?type=politicsNews title= “U.S. expanding missile defenses in Gulf">Reuters.

Gaza residents joined the relief effort for Haiti by offering donations and financial support.

Palestinian residents in Gaza offered donations for the Haiti earthquake victims which included blankets and covers, as well as food and milk for children. Donors sympathized with the destruction and suffering of Haiti given their experience with the Israeli strike a year earlier. The Israeli blockade, however, makes the transferring of donation goods nearly impossible so financial donations have been substituted.  Further details can be found in the Ma’an News Agency article Gazans raise money for Haiti .

The Exxon-Mobil and Shell consortium have accepted Iraqi contract amendments to develop an oilfield.

The Iraqi government amendment changes for an oilfield contract have been accepted by a consortium led by Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell. The deal to develop the 8.7 billion barrel West Qurna Phase One oilfield is expected to be finalized by Jan. 25. The Exxon-Shell team beat out the Russian led team Lukoil-Conoco Phillips and another led by China National Petroleum Corp. Further details can be found in the Wall Street Journal article Exxon Consortium OKs Iraq Contract Changes .

Parliamentary leaders in France have submitted plans to ban
the use of burqas in a public setting.

A draft law arguing for the ban of burqas has been submitted by parliamentary leaders in France. Their argument for the ban includes security interests, maintaining France’s secular identity, as well as protecting women’s civil liberties. Although there have been accusations of religious and free expression censorship, there has also been support for the ban from prominent French Muslims. Further details can be found in The Economist article The war of French dressing .

The controversial private security firm Blackwater, which is now called Xe Services, is in contention to train the Afghani police force in a contract potentially worth $1 billion dollars. After having members of the firm acquitted from the killings of Iraqi civilians, the firm is now shifting to training, aviation and logistics work. Even with all the legal trouble the firm is involved in, the company stills plays a key contender in Obama’s stabilization plans for Afghanistan. Further details can be found in the Guardian article Xe Services aiming for Afghan police training deal.