News headlines in 2009, page 66

Human rights advocates and legal scholars are voicing sharp criticism of President Barack Obama's revisions to the George W. Bush administration's Military Commissions Act of 2006, characterising them as unnecessary and saying the new law will lead to further delays and create a system of 'second-class justice'.

On Sep. 14, the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly adopted a resolution that opened the door for the creation of a new U.N. agency specifically for women.

With the possible participation of three high-profile women candidates in Brazil's 2010 presidential elections, the irruption of gender issues in the campaign in Latin America's largest democracy seems inevitable.

Designer rag dolls, the concept couldn’t sound more frivolous. But dolls made by top fashion designers such as Armani and Prada are helping to fund a vaccination programme in war-torn Darfur.

Brushing off accusations that its investment is denuding Africa of precious natural resources, China has pledged 'going all-out' to help African countries overcome poverty and fight new threats like climate change.

Given the billions of dollars and euros that the U.S. and EU spend on trade-distorting support measures and the intractable lobby groups demanding these subsidies, these rich states’ promises to reduce such amounts will come to nought. It makes no sense for poor African states to allow these goods to flood their markets.

The Ugandan government will put to death gay citizens repeatedly caught having sex and throw into jail those who touch each other in a 'gay' way, if a new proposed Bill becomes law.

Regardless of success at the upcoming climate talks at Copenhagen this December, there will still be a 2.5 degree rise in temperatures.

At 14, Ann is too young to be worrying about getting pregnant or acquiring AIDS. That is why she uses a condom whenever she has a customer.

'Make sure your father gets this,' the municipal inspector tells a ten-year-old boy at the gate of the concrete house in an alleyway in the Al-Bustan quarter of Silwan, a Palestinian neighbourhood right under the shadow of the walled Old City.