Cholera outbreak ravaging Africa

AFRICA: An outbreak of cholera has killed at least 2,400 people and infected 85,000 more in west and central Africa this year alone, Al Jazeera reports. The United Nations issued a statement saying the disease has caused an “unacceptably high” rate of deaths and pressed for government action. Chad has seen the largest cholera outbreak it has ever recorded, and Chad, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana and Nigeria account for 90 per cent of deaths. Aid agencies have reported that fewer than one per cent of cholera patients die with proper treatment. The infection results in severe diarrhea and vomiting, usually caused by contaminated food and water.

Australia to introduce carbon emission tax

AUSTRALIA: Australia has introduced controversial legislation to create a new tax on carbon pollution. The legislation is designed to combat climate change, but Al Jazeera reports it has angered voters and could endanger the prime minster’s reign, for she promised in her election campaign her government would not introduce carbon taxes. Critics say the tax will cause job cuts and raise business costs of coal exporters, but supporters stand by the tax’s goal of cutting emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. The tax will charge $23 per ton of carbon pollution for its first three years. Senate is expected to pass the bill next month.

Amnesty International tells Ottawa to arrest Bush

CANADA: Amnesty International has called on Canada to arrest former U.S. president George Bush when he visits British Columbia for an economic conference this week. The group said Canadian and international laws require the federal government to arrest Bush and investigate him for torture and war crimes, as Bush allegedly admitted in his memoir that he authorized torture against terrorism suspects. Amnesty International acknowledged the tension that the arrest would likely cause with the United States but said that tension is justified for “taking a principled step.” Justice Minister Rob Nicholson did not respond to The Globe and Mail’s request for comment.

U.S. accuses Iran of planning Saudi ambassador’s murder

UNITED STATES: The United States have accused Iranian officials of plotting to kill the Saudi Arabian ambassador to the U.S., the New York Times reported. The plan involved an Iranian-American who thought he had hired Mexican drug cartel assassins. It also included plans to bomb the Israeli Embassy in Washington and the Saudi and Israeli Embassies in Argentina. The U.S. government alleges the plan was “directed and approved by elements of the Iranian government,” with “high-up officials ... responsible for this plot.” The Iranian ambassador to the United Nations said his country is outraged over the “fabricated and baseless allegations.” The plans were never carried out, however, because the suspects were unaware they had been dealing with a U.S. government informant.

BP and contractors face $45M in safety fines

GULF OF MEXICO: BP and other companies will face fines of up to $45 million following a series of safety violations issued before the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster occurred. The United States government has claimed BP and contractors Transocean and Halliburton broke 15 offshore drilling rules. This marks the first occasion the U.S. has gone after contractors in addition to oil companies. The three companies will testify before Congress, and the government claims cost-cutting measures by the companies contributed to the disaster. BP also faces up to $21 billion in environmental violations for the 4.9 million barrels of oil that spilled into the Gulf of Mexico.

Published in Volume 66, Number 8 of The Uniter (October 19, 2011)