VOA News: Africa: An Insight into New Senegalese President’s Domestic Policies

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

An Insight into New Senegalese President's Domestic Policies Mar 27th 2012, 02:17 Many Senegalese said they voted for newly elected President Macky Sall because of his promise to lower the cost of living. Political analyst Aly Ndiaye said one of Sall's key policy promises as a candidate was to lower the costs of essential products such as rice and oil by slashing the taxes on these products. "He has said he will do it by cutting some waste from the Senegal's presidential expenses, travel expenses, because the budget of Senegalese presidency has moved from 4 billion in 200o to 95 billion CFA," said Ndiaye who was one of Sall's supporters in the election's second round. Ndiaye added that Sall's foreign policy will closely resemble outgoing President Abdoulaye Wade's, especially since Sall served as Wade's prime minister from 2004 to 2007 and played a key role in the implementation of those policies. "He has always said that anything that the outgoing regime has done in foreign policy that has worked, he's going to implement it," said Ndiaye, though he stressed Sall will differ from Wade when it comes to unilateralism, as Wade sometimes broke with regional bodies such as the Economic Community of West African States on international issues. Sall, a former Minister of Mining, has also promised to conduct a thorough audit of the government's energy sector. Ndiaye said though Sall has not specifically singled out the mining industry, the growth of gold mining under Wade warrants a closer look by Sall's government. "Macky has said the very first thing he will do will be auditing all the major sectors where there is a lot of money," Ndiaye said, "making sure that we know what has been done, how much money has been spent. Only after that, responsibility and accountability will be held." Sall will be Senegal's fourth president since independence. He was one of 13 opposition candidates in the first round of the presidential election, which Mr. Wade won with 35 percent of the vote. But the losing opposition candidates turned their support to Mr. Sall, and hours after the polls closed on Sunday, Wade conceded defeat. Media files: afp_senegal_sall_election_480_eng_25mar12.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.1 MB) senegal_sall_n'dour_230_01march2012.jpg SHRYOCK-03-27-2012-DBA-SENEGAL-NEW PRESIDENT-SHRYOCK-NDIAYE.Mp3 (audio/mpeg)

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VOA News: Asia: Report: Death Penalty Applied in Large Numbers in a Few Countries

VOA News: Asia Asia Voice of America

Report: Death Penalty Applied in Large Numbers in a Few Countries Mar 27th 2012, 00:39 Amnesty International says the number of death penalty-related executions in a small number of countries is alarming, and runs counter to the global trend against carrying out executions. The rights group is calling for a worldwide moratorium on the punishment and eventually the end of what it says is a cruel and inhumane practice. Amnesty says at least 676 people were executed worldwide last year.  But this figure does not include the number of executions in China, where the statistics are deemed a state secret. Its numbers are believed to be in the thousands. Iran ranked second, with more than 360 executions. Amnesty warns that number also could be much higher, because it has credible information that "substantial numbers" of executions are not officially acknowledged. Amnesty International's U.N. director José Luis Díaz told reporters that last year only 18 of the 193 U.N. member states carried out executions. "A small, we believe, increasingly isolated number of countries are carrying out the bulk of the executions," said Diaz. "The states that year-on-year are consistently among the highest executioners include China, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, the U.S. and Yemen." The United States was ranked fifth on Amnesty's list, having carried out 43 executions last year.  Díaz said it was the only country in the Americas and the only member of the Group of Eight (G8) leading economies to put prisoners to death in 2011. Belarus was the only country in Europe or the former Soviet Union that carried out the death penalty last year. In the Asia-Pacific region, seven countries carried out executions and more than 800 new death sentences were imposed in 18 countries in that part of the world. In sub-Saharan Africa, Amnesty said executions are rare and limited to a small number of countries - last year it was Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. In the Middle East, executions were up almost 50 percent over last year for Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, which accounted for 99 percent of all recorded regional executions. Amnesty's Díaz said the death penalty is frequently applied during judicial proceedings that fail to meet international standards, and often for non-violent crimes. "Adultery and sodomy in Iran, for example; blasphemy in Pakistan; sorcery in Saudi Arabia; the trafficking of human bones in the Republic of Congo; and drug offenses in over 10 countries - a number of these in Southeast Asia," he said. "We believe the death penalty should not be applied in any case, but even under international law, should be applied to the most serious cases, and I would challenge anyone to really justify these as being among the most serious cases for applying the death penalty." At the end of 2011, nearly 19,000 people were under a death sentence worldwide.  Amnesty says it wants to see a moratorium on the death penalty, with a view to abolishing it completely. In the meantime, the organization would like to see countries reduce the number of crimes for which the penalty is applied. Media files: Amnesty_map_executions_eng_26mar12.jpg

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VOA News: Middle East: Report: Death Penalty Applied in Large Numbers in a Few Countries

VOA News: Middle East Middle East Voice of America

Report: Death Penalty Applied in Large Numbers in a Few Countries Mar 27th 2012, 00:39 Amnesty International says the number of death penalty-related executions in a small number of countries is alarming, and runs counter to the global trend against carrying out executions. The rights group is calling for a worldwide moratorium on the punishment and eventually the end of what it says is a cruel and inhumane practice. Amnesty says at least 676 people were executed worldwide last year.  But this figure does not include the number of executions in China, where the statistics are deemed a state secret. Its numbers are believed to be in the thousands. Iran ranked second, with more than 360 executions. Amnesty warns that number also could be much higher, because it has credible information that "substantial numbers" of executions are not officially acknowledged. Amnesty International's U.N. director José Luis Díaz told reporters that last year only 18 of the 193 U.N. member states carried out executions. "A small, we believe, increasingly isolated number of countries are carrying out the bulk of the executions," said Diaz. "The states that year-on-year are consistently among the highest executioners include China, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, the U.S. and Yemen." The United States was ranked fifth on Amnesty's list, having carried out 43 executions last year.  Díaz said it was the only country in the Americas and the only member of the Group of Eight (G8) leading economies to put prisoners to death in 2011. Belarus was the only country in Europe or the former Soviet Union that carried out the death penalty last year. In the Asia-Pacific region, seven countries carried out executions and more than 800 new death sentences were imposed in 18 countries in that part of the world. In sub-Saharan Africa, Amnesty said executions are rare and limited to a small number of countries - last year it was Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. In the Middle East, executions were up almost 50 percent over last year for Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, which accounted for 99 percent of all recorded regional executions. Amnesty's Díaz said the death penalty is frequently applied during judicial proceedings that fail to meet international standards, and often for non-violent crimes. "Adultery and sodomy in Iran, for example; blasphemy in Pakistan; sorcery in Saudi Arabia; the trafficking of human bones in the Republic of Congo; and drug offenses in over 10 countries - a number of these in Southeast Asia," he said. "We believe the death penalty should not be applied in any case, but even under international law, should be applied to the most serious cases, and I would challenge anyone to really justify these as being among the most serious cases for applying the death penalty." At the end of 2011, nearly 19,000 people were under a death sentence worldwide.  Amnesty says it wants to see a moratorium on the death penalty, with a view to abolishing it completely. In the meantime, the organization would like to see countries reduce the number of crimes for which the penalty is applied. Media files: Amnesty_map_executions_eng_26mar12.jpg

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VOA News: Africa: Report: Death Penalty Applied in Large Numbers in a Few Countries

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

Report: Death Penalty Applied in Large Numbers in a Few Countries Mar 27th 2012, 00:39 Amnesty International says the number of death penalty-related executions in a small number of countries is alarming, and runs counter to the global trend against carrying out executions. The rights group is calling for a worldwide moratorium on the punishment and eventually the end of what it says is a cruel and inhumane practice. Amnesty says at least 676 people were executed worldwide last year.  But this figure does not include the number of executions in China, where the statistics are deemed a state secret. Its numbers are believed to be in the thousands. Iran ranked second, with more than 360 executions. Amnesty warns that number also could be much higher, because it has credible information that "substantial numbers" of executions are not officially acknowledged. Amnesty International's U.N. director José Luis Díaz told reporters that last year only 18 of the 193 U.N. member states carried out executions. "A small, we believe, increasingly isolated number of countries are carrying out the bulk of the executions," said Diaz. "The states that year-on-year are consistently among the highest executioners include China, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, the U.S. and Yemen." The United States was ranked fifth on Amnesty's list, having carried out 43 executions last year.  Díaz said it was the only country in the Americas and the only member of the Group of Eight (G8) leading economies to put prisoners to death in 2011. Belarus was the only country in Europe or the former Soviet Union that carried out the death penalty last year. In the Asia-Pacific region, seven countries carried out executions and more than 800 new death sentences were imposed in 18 countries in that part of the world. In sub-Saharan Africa, Amnesty said executions are rare and limited to a small number of countries - last year it was Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. In the Middle East, executions were up almost 50 percent over last year for Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, which accounted for 99 percent of all recorded regional executions. Amnesty's Díaz said the death penalty is frequently applied during judicial proceedings that fail to meet international standards, and often for non-violent crimes. "Adultery and sodomy in Iran, for example; blasphemy in Pakistan; sorcery in Saudi Arabia; the trafficking of human bones in the Republic of Congo; and drug offenses in over 10 countries - a number of these in Southeast Asia," he said. "We believe the death penalty should not be applied in any case, but even under international law, should be applied to the most serious cases, and I would challenge anyone to really justify these as being among the most serious cases for applying the death penalty." At the end of 2011, nearly 19,000 people were under a death sentence worldwide.  Amnesty says it wants to see a moratorium on the death penalty, with a view to abolishing it completely. In the meantime, the organization would like to see countries reduce the number of crimes for which the penalty is applied. Media files: Amnesty_map_executions_eng_26mar12.jpg

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VOA News: Africa: Regional Leaders Meet To Discuss Mali Crisis

VOA News: Africa Africa Voice of America

Regional Leaders Meet To Discuss Mali Crisis Mar 27th 2012, 00:34 A top official of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) said heads of state and government in the region will meet in an extraordinary summit in Ivory Coast's commercial capital, Abidjan, Tuesday. Toga Gayewea McIntosh, vice president of the ECOWAS commission, said the conference will focus on finding solutions to resolve Mali's political crisis, after mutinous soldiers toppled President Amadou Toumani Toure. "It's an extraordinary meeting to see how quickly we, as ECOWAS, can bring to some logical conclusion, or some basic understanding, of the development that is currently going on in Mali," said McIntosh.  "It's in accordance with our protocol and a decision of heads of state, so that, whenever there is a conflict, we could prevent whatever could erupt that will not be in the interest of our people." McIntosh said the summit follows consultations ECOWAS leaders had after the ouster of the Malian government. The West African sub-regional bloc said it will not tolerate any "military adventurism" after mutinous soldiers toppled Toure March 22nd. ECOWAS, the African Union (AU) and the international community have condemned last week's coup.  The UN Security Council echoed similar sentiments. In a statement released Monday, the world body called on "mutinous troops" to cease all violence and return to their barracks.  The Security Council demanded constitutional order be restored and elections be held in late April, as previously planned. McIntosh said Tuesday's summit forms part of ECOWAS's protocol which, he said, is to ensure peace and stability as well as entrench democracy in the sub-region. "The preoccupation of this meeting is basically to see how we can engage the players on the ground and see if we can get back on track for the democratic process to take its course," said McIntosh. ECOWAS said it will continue with efforts to entrench democracy in West Africa. McIntosh said expectations about the heads of state and government meeting about Mali are high. "The continent itself, and the United Nations as a whole, are also looking forward to see what will come out [Tuesday]," said McIntosh.  "There is now an understanding that the regional organizations play the leadership role in matters like this.  So, this conversation that is going to take place is also going to get input from coming out of the AU, our observation team, as well as the United Nations." McIntosh said ECOWAS is working closely with its international partners to resolve the crisis Mali faces. "The people of Mali deserve all that we can do to make sure that stability comes as quickly as possible and that we do not derail the development process that is taking place in the country currently," said McIntosh. Mali was originally scheduled to hold presidential elections in late April to replace Toure. Media files: IMG_6121.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.1 MB) AP_Mali_Sanogo_230_23march12.JPG clottey-ivory-coast-ecowas-summit-mcintosh-27march2012.mp3 (audio/mpeg)

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VOA News: USA: Report: Death Penalty Applied in Large Numbers in a Few Countries

VOA News: USA USA Voice of America

Report: Death Penalty Applied in Large Numbers in a Few Countries Mar 27th 2012, 00:39 Amnesty International says the number of death penalty-related executions in a small number of countries is alarming, and runs counter to the global trend against carrying out executions. The rights group is calling for a worldwide moratorium on the punishment and eventually the end of what it says is a cruel and inhumane practice. Amnesty says at least 676 people were executed worldwide last year.  But this figure does not include the number of executions in China, where the statistics are deemed a state secret. Its numbers are believed to be in the thousands. Iran ranked second, with more than 360 executions. Amnesty warns that number also could be much higher, because it has credible information that "substantial numbers" of executions are not officially acknowledged. Amnesty International's U.N. director José Luis Díaz told reporters that last year only 18 of the 193 U.N. member states carried out executions. "A small, we believe, increasingly isolated number of countries are carrying out the bulk of the executions," said Diaz. "The states that year-on-year are consistently among the highest executioners include China, Iraq, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, the U.S. and Yemen." The United States was ranked fifth on Amnesty's list, having carried out 43 executions last year.  Díaz said it was the only country in the Americas and the only member of the Group of Eight (G8) leading economies to put prisoners to death in 2011. Belarus was the only country in Europe or the former Soviet Union that carried out the death penalty last year. In the Asia-Pacific region, seven countries carried out executions and more than 800 new death sentences were imposed in 18 countries in that part of the world. In sub-Saharan Africa, Amnesty said executions are rare and limited to a small number of countries - last year it was Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan. In the Middle East, executions were up almost 50 percent over last year for Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, which accounted for 99 percent of all recorded regional executions. Amnesty's Díaz said the death penalty is frequently applied during judicial proceedings that fail to meet international standards, and often for non-violent crimes. "Adultery and sodomy in Iran, for example; blasphemy in Pakistan; sorcery in Saudi Arabia; the trafficking of human bones in the Republic of Congo; and drug offenses in over 10 countries - a number of these in Southeast Asia," he said. "We believe the death penalty should not be applied in any case, but even under international law, should be applied to the most serious cases, and I would challenge anyone to really justify these as being among the most serious cases for applying the death penalty." At the end of 2011, nearly 19,000 people were under a death sentence worldwide.  Amnesty says it wants to see a moratorium on the death penalty, with a view to abolishing it completely. In the meantime, the organization would like to see countries reduce the number of crimes for which the penalty is applied. Media files: Amnesty_map_executions_eng_26mar12.jpg

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VOA News: Middle East: Dispute Over Supplies Leaves Gaza Short on Electricity

VOA News: Middle East Middle East Voice of America

Dispute Over Supplies Leaves Gaza Short on Electricity Mar 27th 2012, 00:17 A dispute over fuel supplies between Egypt and Hamas has triggered shortages of fuel and electricity in the Gaza Strip that are causing massive power outages. Life is increasingly difficult for the 1.7 million people who must contend with crippled water, sanitation and health care services. <!--AV--> Evening in Gaza. Because of a shortage of fuel, many neighborhoods get only six hours of electricity per day. Few cars pass along usually congested streets. Long lines form when a station has fuel. And the price for fuel and cooking gas has tripled, when they can be found at all. Ayman Ghabain is a tailor. He says he, like most businessmen, hardly works because there is no electricity and no fuel for generators. "Today the only thing working is construction. This is where most of the people are working in Gaza. The rest of the industrial sectors, you could say 90 percent, maybe more, are totally stopped," he said. Abu Mohammed repairs and sells used generators. He says any other business is impossible. "We cannot sell chicken. We cannot open a garage because there's no electricity. We cannot buy hay for the animals because there is no water. One day they cut the water. [The next day] they cut the electricity," he said. Analysts say the crisis is due in part to a political standoff with Egypt, which supplies Gaza's fuel. Hamas controls Gaza and wants the fuel to come directly from Egypt instead of through a cargo crossing with Israel. Egypt reportedly refuses to allow the fuel to pass because it wants Israel, which has an economic blockade on Hamas, to continue to be seen as responsible for Gaza's problems. Israel views Hamas as a terrorist group. Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwan blames the crisis on the Israeli government. "The problem is not us. We are trying our best to ease the pressure on the Palestinian people. The problem is because of the siege, the oppressive, immoral and inhuman siege," he said. Regardless of who is to blame, Gazans are growing increasingly angry over the crisis and are demanding a solution be found. On Friday, March 23, Israel and Hamas allowed nine fuel tankers to cross from the Jewish state. But the delivery of around 450,000 liters of industrial diesel will only power a plant for one day. More deliveries are being negotiated. Media files: ap_gaza_fuel_480_eng_26mar12.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.1 MB) ap_gaza_fuel_230_eng_26mar12.jpg Gaza_Energy_Crisis_WEB_VERSION16x9-standardQT-fixed-x264-Platform_YTHDFull__528342.mp4 (video/mp4)

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VOA News: Middle East: Syrians in US To Get Extended Stay

VOA News: Middle East Middle East Voice of America

Syrians in US To Get Extended Stay Mar 26th 2012, 22:50 The United States says it will designate a special protection status for Syrian nationals in the U.S., which will allow them to remain in the country until it becomes safer for them to return home to Syria. The Department of Homeland Security, in an online statement released on Friday, said it will issue a Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for Syrians already in the country. The move will allow Syrian nationals visiting the U.S. - on tourist, business, student and other such visas - to remain beyond the designated period of their visas. In announcing the move, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said conditions in Syria have worsened to the point where Syrian nationals already in the United States would face "serious threats to their personal safety" if they were to return to their home country. Earlier in March, six Democratic senators sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to quickly designate Syrian nationals for the Temporary Protection Status. The letter on March 1 said forcing Syrians to return to their country in the midst of ongoing violence would "undermine U.S. leadership" and be inconsistent with what the senators said is America's "traditional role as a safe haven for those fleeing repression." Humanitarian Crisis Grows The effort to issue the status to Syrian nationals was spearheaded in part by a coalition of advocacy groups in the U.S. concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Attorney Abed Ayoub is Legal Director of one of those groups, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the largest Arab-American civil rights organization in the U.S. He helped lead the coalition to petition the Department of Homeland Security in January for the Temporary Protection Status. Earlier this month, he said the humanitarian situation in Syria was so dire that requiring anybody to return would be "inhumane." "We can't put these individual's lives in jeopardy," he said. "If the U.S. State Department feels the embassy over there is not safe enough for their employees, then, for sure, the country's not safe enough to force nationals to return." The Department of Homeland Security's immigration registry shows there are roughly 3,000 Syrian nationals in the U.S. who would be eligible for the status, although Arab-American activists like Ayoub say the number is much higher. Syrians Talk of Fears Nassib Nwelati is among those worried about the possibility of having to go back to Syria when his visa expires.  He is in the U.S. on an academic scholarship to study business.  His student visa expires in four months and, until the announcement Friday, he felt unsure of where else to turn. "Many Syrians I know are scared to go back," said Nassib. "They have been so worried because not only you need to worry about what's going on in Syria and watch the news and cry for these people, but also you need to worry about your status because the time is ticking, the clock is ticking."    The Department of Homeland Security is expected to announce details Thursday on how Syrians already visiting the U.S. may apply for the Temporary Protection Status.   All applicants will have to undergo full background checks. The U.S. government has issued similar "blanket" protections to foreign nationals in the past, including to Haitians following the earthquake of 2010 and most recently in 2011 to nationals of South Sudan. Media files: Syria_Protection_Status_WEB_VERSION_4x3-fixed-x264-Platform_YTHQFull_640x480_2213053112.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.2 MB) Syria_Protection_Status_sq.jpg

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VOA News: USA: Syrians in US To Get Extended Stay

VOA News: USA USA Voice of America

Syrians in US To Get Extended Stay Mar 26th 2012, 22:50 The United States says it will designate a special protection status for Syrian nationals in the U.S., which will allow them to remain in the country until it becomes safer for them to return home to Syria. The Department of Homeland Security, in an online statement released on Friday, said it will issue a Temporary Protected Status, or TPS, for Syrians already in the country. The move will allow Syrian nationals visiting the U.S. - on tourist, business, student and other such visas - to remain beyond the designated period of their visas. In announcing the move, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said conditions in Syria have worsened to the point where Syrian nationals already in the United States would face "serious threats to their personal safety" if they were to return to their home country. Earlier in March, six Democratic senators sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to quickly designate Syrian nationals for the Temporary Protection Status. The letter on March 1 said forcing Syrians to return to their country in the midst of ongoing violence would "undermine U.S. leadership" and be inconsistent with what the senators said is America's "traditional role as a safe haven for those fleeing repression." Humanitarian Crisis Grows The effort to issue the status to Syrian nationals was spearheaded in part by a coalition of advocacy groups in the U.S. concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Syria. Attorney Abed Ayoub is Legal Director of one of those groups, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), the largest Arab-American civil rights organization in the U.S. He helped lead the coalition to petition the Department of Homeland Security in January for the Temporary Protection Status. Earlier this month, he said the humanitarian situation in Syria was so dire that requiring anybody to return would be "inhumane." "We can't put these individual's lives in jeopardy," he said. "If the U.S. State Department feels the embassy over there is not safe enough for their employees, then, for sure, the country's not safe enough to force nationals to return." The Department of Homeland Security's immigration registry shows there are roughly 3,000 Syrian nationals in the U.S. who would be eligible for the status, although Arab-American activists like Ayoub say the number is much higher. Syrians Talk of Fears Nassib Nwelati is among those worried about the possibility of having to go back to Syria when his visa expires.  He is in the U.S. on an academic scholarship to study business.  His student visa expires in four months and, until the announcement Friday, he felt unsure of where else to turn. "Many Syrians I know are scared to go back," said Nassib. "They have been so worried because not only you need to worry about what's going on in Syria and watch the news and cry for these people, but also you need to worry about your status because the time is ticking, the clock is ticking."    The Department of Homeland Security is expected to announce details Thursday on how Syrians already visiting the U.S. may apply for the Temporary Protection Status.   All applicants will have to undergo full background checks. The U.S. government has issued similar "blanket" protections to foreign nationals in the past, including to Haitians following the earthquake of 2010 and most recently in 2011 to nationals of South Sudan. Media files: Syria_Protection_Status_WEB_VERSION_4x3-fixed-x264-Platform_YTHQFull_640x480_2213053112.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.2 MB) Syria_Protection_Status_sq.jpg

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VOA News: Asia: USAID Boosts Female Entrepreneurs in Pakistan

VOA News: Asia Asia Voice of America

USAID Boosts Female Entrepreneurs in Pakistan Mar 26th 2012, 21:23 Despite tensions between Washington and Islamabad, Pakistan remains a major recipient of U.S. foreign aid, including efforts to boost the earning power of women. One such program is helping thousands of embroiderers market their garments and manage their businesses. A mother of seven has quadrupled her monthly income since taking part in the U.S. Agency for International Development's Entrepreneurs Project. An accomplished embroiderer with no formal education, Jamila struggled for years to augment her husband's income by doing stitching and beadwork in a poor Karachi district. Thanks to USAID-funded business training, she now manages a team of embroiderers, spearheading a thriving enterprise. <!--AV--> "My life has been transformed. I am proof that a woman can earn and do something productive for herself and her children," said Jamila. She also said the instruction she received from USAID is invaluable. "The training showed us how to run a successful business. We were taught marketing and improved our skills. We learned to take orders and the importance of on-time deliveries for growing the business," said Jamila. Helping female entrepreneurs like Jamila is a cornerstone of USAID's global anti-poverty efforts. "If you can effectively engage women in development solutions, you get better results, more sustainability, more kids in school, reduced malnutrition," said Agency administrator Rajiv Shah. The strategy has the backing of some American lawmakers who decide USAID funding levels. "Empowering women is one of the most critical tools in our toolbox to fight poverty and injustice," said Democratic Senator Ben Cardin. At a time of runaway U.S. debt, many lawmakers want assurances that foreign aid money is wisely spent and generates real results. "Our national debt has grown to more than $15 trillion. This scenario brings great pressure to our government's financial obligations, and places our entire economy at some risk. In this context, the dollars available for global development will necessarily be limited," said Republican Senator Richard Lugar. In Pakistan, training provided by USAID helps to build a lifetime of higher incomes for women like Jamila. "I am now earning up to 2,000 rupees [$22] a month, up from 450 rupees [$5], and 40 other women are working with me. I hope even more will come forward after seeing how my life has been changed," said Jamila. VOA correspondents Ayaz Gul and Maqsood Mehdi in Pakistan contributed to this report. Media files: usaid_pakistan_embroiders_480_26march2012.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.1 MB) usaid_pakistan_embroiders_230_26march2012.jpg USAID_Pakistan_FOR_WEB_SD-fixed-x264-Platform_YTHQFull__367336.mp4 (video/mp4)

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VOA News: Asia: Top US Commander Examines Leadership Issues in Afghan Killings

VOA News: Asia Asia Voice of America

Top US Commander Examines Leadership Issues in Afghan Killings Mar 26th 2012, 21:21 The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Marine Corps General John Allen, said Monday he is looking into possible leadership failures that might have led to the killing of 17 Afghan villagers, allegedly by a U.S. soldier this month. U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder. Officials say the investigation around the deaths continues - including a review of the command climate in Bales's unit to see what factors might have contributed to the killings in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province. Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, General Allen suggested a major probe is under way in the wake of high-profile incidents, including the recent inadvertent Quran burnings by U.S. service members and a video that earlier circulated showing Marines urinating on Afghan corpses. "Each one of those was a result of a leadership failure in some form or another," he said. Allen is wrapping up a visit to Washington, where he has faced tough questions from lawmakers and others on the effectiveness of the decade-long U.S. military effort in Afghanistan. He also has faced questions of whether multiple deployments and combat stress in the conflict have been a source of the problems. In his remarks Monday, the general said most officers in the force are highly trained. "Repeated tours in Afghanistan and prior to that in Iraq don't inherently reduce the effectiveness of the force," said Allen. Bales was on his fourth military deployment after three earlier ones in Iraq, where reports say he suffered a brain injury. Allen did not specifically address some of the reports that have been circulating about Bales - including those that say he might have been drinking before leaving his base to allegedly attack the villagers while they slept.   Allen said he will be looking closely at what he says is a very thorough investigation. U.S. forces have paid compensation to the families of the dead and to those wounded in the attack. Bales is being held at a U.S. military prison the midwestern state of Kansas. Media files: AP_Allen_eng_26mar12.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.1 MB) AP_Allen_sq_eng_26mar12.jpg

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VOA News: Economy: USAID Boosts Female Entrepreneurs in Pakistan

VOA News: Economy Economy Voice of America

USAID Boosts Female Entrepreneurs in Pakistan Mar 26th 2012, 22:00 Despite tensions between Washington and Islamabad, Pakistan remains a major recipient of U.S. foreign aid, including efforts to boost the earning power of women. One such program is helping thousands of embroiderers market their garments and manage their businesses. A mother of seven has quadrupled her monthly income since taking part in the U.S. Agency for International Development's Entrepreneurs Project. An accomplished embroiderer with no formal education, Jamila struggled for years to augment her husband's income by doing stitching and beadwork in a poor Karachi district. Thanks to USAID-funded business training, she now manages a team of embroiderers, spearheading a thriving enterprise. <!--AV--> "My life has been transformed. I am proof that a woman can earn and do something productive for herself and her children," said Jamila. She also said the instruction she received from USAID is invaluable. "The training showed us how to run a successful business. We were taught marketing and improved our skills. We learned to take orders and the importance of on-time deliveries for growing the business," said Jamila. Helping female entrepreneurs like Jamila is a cornerstone of USAID's global anti-poverty efforts. "If you can effectively engage women in development solutions, you get better results, more sustainability, more kids in school, reduced malnutrition," said Agency administrator Rajiv Shah. The strategy has the backing of some American lawmakers who decide USAID funding levels. "Empowering women is one of the most critical tools in our toolbox to fight poverty and injustice," said Democratic Senator Ben Cardin. At a time of runaway U.S. debt, many lawmakers want assurances that foreign aid money is wisely spent and generates real results. "Our national debt has grown to more than $15 trillion. This scenario brings great pressure to our government's financial obligations, and places our entire economy at some risk. In this context, the dollars available for global development will necessarily be limited," said Republican Senator Richard Lugar. In Pakistan, training provided by USAID helps to build a lifetime of higher incomes for women like Jamila. "I am now earning up to 2,000 rupees [$22] a month, up from 450 rupees [$5], and 40 other women are working with me. I hope even more will come forward after seeing how my life has been changed," said Jamila. VOA correspondents Ayaz Gul and Maqsood Mehdi in Pakistan contributed to this report. Media files: usaid_pakistan_embroiders_480_26march2012.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.1 MB) usaid_pakistan_embroiders_230_26march2012.jpg USAID_Pakistan_FOR_WEB_SD-fixed-x264-Platform_YTHQFull__367336.mp4 (video/mp4)

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VOA News: USA: Top US Commander Examines Leadership Issues in Afghan Killings

VOA News: USA USA Voice of America

Top US Commander Examines Leadership Issues in Afghan Killings Mar 26th 2012, 21:21 The top U.S. commander in Afghanistan, Marine Corps General John Allen, said Monday he is looking into possible leadership failures that might have led to the killing of 17 Afghan villagers, allegedly by a U.S. soldier this month. U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Robert Bales has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder. Officials say the investigation around the deaths continues - including a review of the command climate in Bales's unit to see what factors might have contributed to the killings in southern Afghanistan's Kandahar province. Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, General Allen suggested a major probe is under way in the wake of high-profile incidents, including the recent inadvertent Quran burnings by U.S. service members and a video that earlier circulated showing Marines urinating on Afghan corpses. "Each one of those was a result of a leadership failure in some form or another," he said. Allen is wrapping up a visit to Washington, where he has faced tough questions from lawmakers and others on the effectiveness of the decade-long U.S. military effort in Afghanistan. He also has faced questions of whether multiple deployments and combat stress in the conflict have been a source of the problems. In his remarks Monday, the general said most officers in the force are highly trained. "Repeated tours in Afghanistan and prior to that in Iraq don't inherently reduce the effectiveness of the force," said Allen. Bales was on his fourth military deployment after three earlier ones in Iraq, where reports say he suffered a brain injury. Allen did not specifically address some of the reports that have been circulating about Bales - including those that say he might have been drinking before leaving his base to allegedly attack the villagers while they slept.   Allen said he will be looking closely at what he says is a very thorough investigation. U.S. forces have paid compensation to the families of the dead and to those wounded in the attack. Bales is being held at a U.S. military prison the midwestern state of Kansas. Media files: AP_Allen_eng_26mar12.jpg (image/jpeg, 0.1 MB) AP_Allen_sq_eng_26mar12.jpg

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VOA News: USA: Maryland Couple Makes Beautiful Objects From Recycled Circuit Board

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Maryland Couple Makes Beautiful Objects From Recycled Circuit Board Mar 26th 2012, 21:29 It's said that one person's trash is another's treasure.  That is certainly true for Debby and Joel Arem.  Twenty years ago, the couple started creating jewelry and office products from recycled computer circuit boards. Today, they have a full line of "green" products. There is no shortage of recycled material for Debby Arem's creations. She uses everything, from pieces of scrap metal and electronic components, to computer circuit boards and chips. "In 1992, my husband had a company that made computers. And I saw a circuit board for the very first time in my life and I went out of my mind.  I said that is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen with all the intricate circuitry and the colors. And the first thing that came to my mind was you could make jewelry out of that," Arem said. Arem has a degree in fine arts - so that's what she did.  She and her husband Joel founded a company called Three Ring Circuits and introduced their jewelry and other products at a local craft show. "The first night we sold out of our clipboards, completely sold out. People would come by the booth and do a double take and they would say, that is a circuit board from a computer? Oh, what a clever idea," Arem said.   Their line of products has grown. The Arems use discarded prototype circuit boards as the base for most of their products. Then they add vintage beads, small pieces of metal, and anything else they find interesting. "If I hadn't rescued them or if we hadn't rescued the circuit boards from these companies, they would have ended up potentially in a landfill or had been burned," Arem said.   Circuit boards recovered from cell phones are popular.  "I come up with ideas many times but I can't quite figure out how to engineer it.  And Joel is a master at taking an idea that I come up with and figuring out how to actually put it together," Arem said. They say working together for 20 years has strengthened their marriage. "You get to know a person a lot better when you spend that much time and overcoming not only the challenges of the relationship but the stress of business really puts the strain on a relationship.  If you can get through it, it [marriage] gets stronger," Joel Arem said.   "We have a lot of fun, we really do.  I don't consider this work. That's the best part of it," said Debby Arem. These days, instead of traveling to craft fairs, the Arems sell online. That way they can spend more time in their home studio, meeting the increasing demand from around the world for their creations. Media files: GEEKERY_HANDCRAFTS-sq.jpg GEEKERY_HANDCRAFTS-WEB-fixed-x264-Platform_YTHQFull__847210.mp4 (video/mp4)

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