CP World Report: Israel and Hamas, Fiscal Cliff, Indonesia Religious Persecution
The United Nations Security Council is calling for "maximum restraint" in the ongoing violence between Israel and Hamas. But, the violence is escalating and threatening to become a ground war
British Foreign Secretary William Hague has called on Gaza to stop attacking Israel. He also urged Israeli restraint and called for peaceful negotiations to resume….
American Lawmakers have until the first of the year to avoid going off the fiscal cliff. If they can't come up with a plan, most Americans will be hit with higher taxes and automatic spending cuts will go into effect. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says Democrats are ready to make a deal.
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European trade negotiators are in Ottawa this week to discuss trade. Work began on the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement in 2009, but the Harper government doesn't appear to be keen on the deal. Sources say that Ottawa is signaling it is prepared to give the Europeans at least part of what they are asking for. Drug patents is one part; a move that could cost Canadians up to $900 million a year but sources say Ottawa is not willing to go that far, but could settle for a more moderate version of the EU demands. Nothing is settled at this point. The EU trade negotiators' next stop: the U.S.
The United Nations has spoken out against the Indonesian government's continued persecution of religious minorities . At a press conference UN High Commissioner for Human Rights -- Navanethem Pillay-- requested that the Indonesian government amend existing laws which limit religious freedom. She went further to urge the government to adopt a U.N. officiated agent,specializing in religious freedom, to oversee addressing persecution in the country. Shiites and Christians have reportedly been under attacks from Sunnis
Uganda is set to enact a bill, criminalizing homosexuality by the end of this year. Activists encouraging the "anti-homosexuality bill" say public support of it will speed up the process. The bill originally included the death penalty for some homosexual acts, but that part of the bill has since been erased and replaced with strict prison sentences. Although homosexuality is already a crime in Uganda—where Shariah law is practiced---- if the bill is passed, it would impose stricter punishments and broaden the definition of homosexual acts. Some international organizations have vowed to cut off funding to Uganda should the bill become law, and U.S. President Barack Obama has openly condemned the legislation.
