SDGs fail to address interlinkages between goals and targets - Agriculture and Ecosystems Blog

SDGs fail to address interlinkages between goals and targets - Agriculture and Ecosystems Blog: "Care must be taken to simultaneously defeat hunger, increase agricultural productivity and avoid adverse impacts on the natural resource base. If we do not address key interlinkages among goals and targets, and reduce tradeoffs, several goals will remain out of reach of the poorest.

For example, an increase in agricultural land to help end hunger can lead to biodiversity loss, as well as overuse and/or pollution of water resources and downstream (likely negative) effects on marine resources, which in turn could exacerbate food security concerns."



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Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBT Persons

Special Envoy for the Human Rights of LGBT Persons: "At the same time, and often with our help, governments and other institutions, including those representing all religions, are taking steps to reaffirm the universal human rights of all persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. So while this fight is not yet won, this is no time to get discouraged. It’s time to stay active. It’s time to assert the equality and dignity of all persons, no matter their sexual orientation or gender identity. And with Randy helping to lead our efforts, I am confident that’s exactly what we can and will do."



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Most dangerous transport systems for women

Most dangerous transport systems for women: "The poll was conducted in 15 of the world's largest capitals and in New York, the most populous city in the United States.
Polling could not be conducted in five of the largest capitals - Cairo, Dhaka, Kinshasa, Tehran and Baghdad - due to conflict or
YouGov and its polling partners unable to guarantee the necessary online sample of women."



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Floods, storms and heat projected to cost SE Asia $34bln per year

Floods, storms and heat projected to cost SE Asia $34bln per year: "Falling crop yields, damage to infrastructure and heat-related illnesses brought on by climate change could cost the four Southeast Asian countries of the lower Mekong River basin $34 billion per year, researchers say.

Southeast Asia is one of the regions hardest hit by the impacts of climate change, such as floods, typhoons, droughts and saltwater intrusion - when seawater flows up rivers, threatening agriculture and infrastructure.

A report released on Monday found that climate change could cost Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam $16 billion per year in lost worker productivity, crop production and natural resource assets, plus $18 billion in infrastructure damage because of flooding, storms and extreme heat."



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Oregon’s Kate Brown will be the nation’s first openly bisexual governor.

Oregon’s Kate Brown will be the nation’s first openly bisexual governor.: "When Kate Brown, Oregon’s current secretary of state, becomes governor next Wednesday, she will be the nation’s first openly bisexual person—and second LGBT person after New Jersey’s Jim McGreevey, who came out as gay just before stepping down amid scandal in 2004—to hold that office. Brown will take the place of current Gov. John Kitzhaber, who announced on Friday that he is resigning over corruption allegations involving his fiancée, Cylvia Hayes. "



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'Shark Lady' Eugenie Clark, Famed Marine Biologist, Has Died

'Shark Lady' Eugenie Clark, Famed Marine Biologist, Has Died: "Clark pursued her dream to be an ocean explorer, earning a B.A. in zoology from Hunter College in 1942 and a master's and Ph.D. from New York University. She had hoped to attend Columbia University, her first choice for postdoctoral studies, but a scientist there told her, "If you do finish, you will probably get married, have a bunch of kids, and never do anything in science after we have invested our time and money in you.""



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Google Plans New Headquarters, and a City Fears Being Overrun - NYTimes.com

Google Plans New Headquarters, and a City Fears Being Overrun - NYTimes.com: "MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Apple is moving into Silicon Valley headquarters that look like a spaceship. Facebook is expanding its campus with a new building designed by Frank Gehry. Now it’s Google’s turn.

This week, Google, the search giant, is expected to propose new headquarters — a series of canopylike buildings from Heatherwick Studio, a London design firm known for works like the fiery caldron at the 2012 Olympics, and Bjarke Ingels, a Danish architect known for his innovative designs.

The project in Mountain View, which Google has not made public but has discussed with members of the City Council, is likely to aggravate an increasingly testy relationship between the company and community leaders who fear the company is overrunning their small city."



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Lawmaker asks if swallowed camera be used for female exam - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com

Lawmaker asks if swallowed camera be used for female exam - Spokane, North Idaho News & Weather KHQ.com: "BOISE, Idaho -
An Idaho lawmaker received a brief lesson on female anatomy after asking if a woman can swallow a small camera for doctors to conduct a remote gynecological exam.

The question Monday from Republican Rep. Vito Barbieri came as the House State Affairs Committee heard nearly three hours of testimony on a bill that would ban doctors from prescribing abortion-inducing medication through telemedicine.

Dr. Julie Madsen was testifying in opposition to the bill when Barbieri asked the question. Madsen replied that would be impossible because swallowed pills do not end up in the vagina.

Barbieri tells The Spokesman-Review that his question was rhetorical to prove a point.

The committee approved the bill 13-4 on a party-line vote. Barbieri, who sits on the board of a crisis pregnancy center in northern Idaho, voted in favor."



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A Nanotech Skylight That Looks Just Like the Sun Shining Overhead | WIRED

A Nanotech Skylight That Looks Just Like the Sun Shining Overhead | WIRED: "CoeLux fixtures use traditional LEDs, calibrated to the same wavelengths as the sun. However, accurately recreating sunlight also requires mimicking subtle variations caused by the atmosphere, which varies in thickness and composition depending upon where you are on earth. CoeLux uses a milimeters-thick layer of plastic, peppered with nanoparticles, that does essentially the same thing in your living room. CoeLux’s inventor, Professor Paolo Di Trapani hasn’t made any disclosures about how the nanotechnology works in practice, but an impressive list of peer-reviewed publications, industry awards, and testimonials from customers provide comfort that these devices actually work as advertised.

Despite the dynamic nature of the light, the fixtures feature no moving parts. Different qualities of light are created by manipulating the size and placement of the LED “hot spot”—the portion of the fixture meant to represent the sun—within the fixture’s two-foot wide and 5-foot long frame. The tropical unit has the largest hot spot, the Nordic unit the smallest. The thickness of the plastic sheet varies as well, thicker for the Nordic light than the equatorial light, to mirror the atmosphere. The light doesn’t emit any ultraviolet rays, so it won’t give you a tan or ease your seasonal affective disorder, but it will make the darkest basement, warehouse, or subterranean dwelling feel like a solarium."



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Betting on the poor

Professors Christopher Blattman and Paul Niehaus recently published an essay in Foreign Affairs magazine about their research on giving cash directly to poor people, as opposed to the traditional project model of aid delivery, under which the U.S. Agency for International Development pays a U.S.-based company or nonprofit to provide material and technical assistance to the intended beneficiary. After examining common perceptions that poor people will squander cash (for instance, by using it to buy alcohol or to avoid looking for work) the authors conclude that these fears are largely unsupported by the available evidence. By and large, they found recipients of cash transfers have used the money to buy the same types of things that aid projects would have provided — except that they spend it on what they need and value most, whether it is school fees, medication, business training or a better roof.  

Whatever amount is wasted is likely far less than it would have cost, in terms of salaries, management, travel, shipping and various overhead expenses, to provide goods and services through intermediaries. 

Now, there are many reasons why we could not and should not shift primarily to a system of cash transfers. Development assistance can generate public goods — such as a medical facility, a road or an improved governance process — that people would be unlikely or unable to purchase on their own, even if they pooled their funds. Many aid projects are designed to transfer knowledge, experience and skills rather than financial resources. And the American people are unlikely to support a system of cash payments to foreigners, particularly when most domestic poverty alleviation programs are tied to specific types of consumption and are continually targeted for cuts or outright elimination.

But what we can do, as Blattman and Niehaus propose, is to use cash transfers, or the anticipated effect of cash transfers, as the “placebo” or control study against which traditional aid projects are measured. Instead of judging the value of our aid against doing nothing, which is how projects are currently evaluated, shouldn’t we gauge their impact against what would have happened if we put cash directly into the hands of the poor? Cash transfers, of course, have their own administrative costs, although, as the authors note, the process is becoming much cheaper thanks to technology such as mobile money.

https://www.devex.com/news/betting-on-the-poor-85534?utm_source=moneymatters&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=received&mkt_tok=3RkMMJWWfF9wsRokvq%2FBdO%2FhmjTEU5z17%2BwlUaG2i4kz2EFye%2BLIHETpodcMTcRqNLvYDBceEJhqyQJxPr3DJNUN0ddxRhbkDQ%3D%3D

Experts brainstorm ways to fund cities to withstand disasters - Yahoo News

Experts brainstorm ways to fund cities to withstand disasters - Yahoo News: "Governments must persuade businesses to invest in protecting cities from natural disasters, and climate and development experts should heed the needs of poor communities hardest hit by climate catastrophes, experts said.

Some 80 percent of global wealth is generated in cities, so the private sector has an interest in protecting those assets, according to Peter King, who works for a USAID project that helps Asia-Pacific countries polish climate adaptation projects and access funding.

“Cities can actually make the case, ‘We want to make our cities resilient to protect your assets, and you can pay for it,’” King, adaptation project preparation and finance team leader for USAID Adapt Asia-Pacific, told a forum on urban resilience.

“I think the challenge is then for the cities to make the private sector realize that (spending to protect) these public goods, in terms of climate resilience, is good for them in terms of protecting their own assets.”

King spoke on a panel about financing urban resilience, at a three-day Resilient Cities Asia Pacific conference last week. It brought together city officials, development experts and researchers from 100 cities in 30 countries in Asia, North America and Europe.

Asian cities are often located in disaster-prone coastal areas, river deltas and floodplains.

The Asia-Pacific region is the one most affected by disasters. It had 714,000 deaths from natural disasters between 2004 and 2013, more than treble the previous decade, and economic losses topping $560 billion, according to the United Nations."



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Indonesia wants to stop women going abroad as maids after abuse-media - Yahoo News

Indonesia wants to stop women going abroad as maids after abuse-media - Yahoo News: " Indonesia wants to stop women going abroad as domestic workers to preserve the country's "dignity" after the high-profile case of an Indonesian maid abused and treated like a slave in Hong Kong, local media reported on Monday."



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FEATURE-Can Asia-Pacific region get rid of malaria by 2030? - TRFN | Reuters

FEATURE-Can Asia-Pacific region get rid of malaria by 2030? - TRFN | Reuters: "Moving from containing malaria to an elimination strategy has been a major shift in approach to the disease, said Patricia Moser, lead health specialist at the Asian Development Bank.

"We support the bold push towards elimination as it has become clear that containment of artemisinin resistance is a risky strategy - the region must push for elimination while these key drugs (artemisinin combination therapies) remain effective," she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in an email interview.

As part of a three-year initiative, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has allocated $100 million to Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam through its Regional Artemisinin Initiative (RAI). The biggest slice of the grant - $40 million - has been allocated to Myanmar, which has the highest malaria burden among the five countries."



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Stem cells offer promising key to new malaria drugs: U.S. research | Reuters

Stem cells offer promising key to new malaria drugs: U.S. research | Reuters: "Human stem cells engineered to produce renewable sources of mature, liver-like cells can be grown and infected with malaria to test potentially life-saving new drugs, according to researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

The advance comes at a time when the parasitic mosquito-borne disease, which kills nearly 600,000 people every year, is showing increased resistance to current treatment, especially in Southeast Asia, according to the World Health Organization.

The liver-like cells, or hepatocytes, in the MIT study were manufactured from stem cells derived from donated skin and blood samples.

The resulting cells provide a potentially replenishable platform for testing drugs that target the early stage of malaria, when parasites may linger and multiply in the liver for weeks before spreading into the bloodstream."



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Sunset on the African Growth and Opportunity Act? | Brookings Institution

Sunset on the African Growth and Opportunity Act? | Brookings Institution: "Uncertainty about when AGOA will be renewed similarly leads to uncertainty by U.S. companies about whether to invest in African companies. This is a detriment to development on the continent and threatens to undermine the goodwill that AGOA has created for the U.S. in Africa.

Importantly, Africa is not the only beneficiary of this key trade legislation. According to the United States Trade Representative, exports to Africa support more than 120,000 jobs in the United States. Without predictability in the U.S.-African commercial relationship it will be difficult to grow, let alone sustain, this number."



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How much "social inclusion" is enough?

How much "social inclusion" is enough?: "The first group of questions, basic yet critical, were on the definition of “social inclusion”. In their responses, the two experts referred to social inclusion as “growth for all” or “avoidance of social exclusion”—when every member can participate fully and enjoy all the benefits and opportunities society allows.

Both experts drew attention to an important point—that inclusive growth is a very broad term. Mr. Nguyen Anh said, “It starts with economic aspects because they reflect equal opportunities in development, resources, employment and income, but social dimensions are also very important.” He said economic inclusion may not guarantee social inclusion. Workers in an industrial zone may receive good incomes, but they may remain socially excluded in terms of their cultural and spiritual life.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) indicators for social inclusion take into account the level of people’s participation and their right to access basic social services such as information, education, health, employment and legal services. These indicators reflect a need to ensure an equal voice and contribution by all in society as well as an equal share in the benefits of growth."



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Africa close to wiping out wild polio after six months free of disease | Global development | The Guardian

Africa close to wiping out wild polio after six months free of disease | Global development | The Guardian: "Africa has gone six months without any new cases of wild polio for the first time, experts say, raising hopes that the disease could be wiped out on the continent sooner than expected.

Wednesday marked half a year since the last polio case in Somalia. Nigeria achieved the same landmark on 24 January, though it has suffered some cases of vaccine-derived polio, a rare mutation from the oral polio vaccine in areas of poor sanitation.

“This is incredible progress,” said the Global Health Strategies, a New York-based health consultancy. “This is the first time ever that Africa has gone a full six months without a single case of wild polio virus. Combined with the recent successes in Nigeria, today’s milestone is a strong sign that Africa may soon be polio-free.”

Polio, a highly contagious viral disease that causes lifelong paralysis or even death, has been the target of massive education and child vaccination campaigns in several countries. The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s annual letter for 2015 predicts: “We can get polio out of Africa this year and out of every country in the world in the next several years.”"



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West Virginia governor declares state of emergency after train derailment - LA Times

West Virginia governor declares state of emergency after train derailment - LA Times: "A train derailment Monday afternoon in West Virginia caused multiple explosions and a massive fire, and the CSX-owned train is leaking crude oil into the Kanawha River, officials said."



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After beheadings, Egypt bombs Islamic State | The Salt Lake Tribune

After beheadings, Egypt bombs Islamic State | The Salt Lake Tribune: "Cairo • Egypt bombed Islamic State militants in neighboring Libya on Monday and called on the United States and Europe to join an international military intervention in the chaotic North African state after the extremists beheaded a group of Egyptian Christians.

The airstrikes bring Egypt into Libya's turmoil, a reflection of Cairo's increasing alarm. Egypt now faces threats on two fronts — a growing stronghold of radicals on its western border and a militant insurgency of Islamic State allies on its eastern flank in the Sinai Peninsula.

Islamic State weapons caches and training camps were targeted "to avenge the bloodshed and to seek retribution from the killers," a military statement said. "Let those far and near know that Egyptians have a shield to protect and safeguard the security of the country and a sword that cuts off terrorism.""



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ADB Adopts Open Access for its Development Research | Asian Development Bank

ADB Adopts Open Access for its Development Research | Asian Development Bank: "The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has made all its economic and development research on Asia and the Pacific available under open access, a principle that promotes unrestricted online access to scholarly research so that it can be more widely distributed and used."



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The World's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies of 2015 in Not-For-Profit | Fast Company | Business + Innovation

The World's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies of 2015 in Not-For-Profit | Fast Company | Business + Innovation: "The World's Top 10 Most Innovative Companies of 2015 in Not-For-Profit
FROM THE SAVIORS OF DETROIT TO THE ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE, THE BEST IN NOT-FOR-PROFIT INNOVATION.

BY FAST COMPANY STAFF
[Photo: Jennifer Bruce, AFP, Getty Images]"



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Malaysia court upholds sodomy conviction against opposition leader - CNN.com

Malaysia court upholds sodomy conviction against opposition leader - CNN.com: "Malaysia's top court on Tuesday upheld the conviction of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on the charge of sodomizing a former political aide, prompting criticism from human rights activists.

The decision appeared likely to be the final chapter in a lengthy and politically contentious legal battle, taking Anwar out of contention for elections for the foreseeable future.

Anwar, 67, was acquitted of the sodomy charge in January 2012. But after the government appealed, a higher court overturned the decision in March 2014, sentencing him to five years in prison."



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Laos Faces Pressure to Stall Decision on Lower Mekong River Dam

Laos Faces Pressure to Stall Decision on Lower Mekong River Dam: "The planned $600-million project in the Siphandone (Khone Falls) area of southern Laos is less than two kilometers from the Cambodian border. It would create valuable electricity to fuel growth in the region, but environmentalists and neighboring countries worry it could damage an ecological system crucial for feeding millions of people in Southeast Asia.

The dam would be the second proposed for the Lower Mekong after the $3.8 billion Xayaburi Dam in northern Laos, itself a focus of public debate and controversy over its potential impact on the environment.

The Laos Government agreed to a six month period of regional consultations on the Don Sahong Dam. But these concluded in late January and Lao officials have indicated they are preparing to start construction soon, despite concerns from groups who say the dam should be studied further."



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East Timor president accepts prime minister's resignation - Yahoo News

East Timor president accepts prime minister's resignation - Yahoo News: "DILI, East Timor (AP) — East Timor's president on Monday accepted the resignation of independence hero Xanana Gusmao as prime minister ahead of an expected restructuring of the government that would make it more inclusive.

The former guerrilla leader spearheaded East Timor's drive for independence when Indonesian rule ended in 2002. He was the first president of the half-island nation until he became prime minister in 2007.

Gusmao, 68, submitted his resignation to President Taur Matan Ruak on Friday. It has already been accepted by the ruling three-party coalition."



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Tapping the Indian diaspora: The future of development finance? | Devex

Tapping the Indian diaspora: The future of development finance? | Devex: "The strategy has been to engage a new set of stakeholders — in this case the Indian diaspora.

The vehicle for investment will be the Calvert Foundation’s standard community investment note, though it will be branded and marketed toward the Indian diaspora community. The note has a 20-year track record of performance and is currently held by more than 5,000 investors.

Investors can purchase the note either through their investment adviser or through the Calvert Foundation’s online platform vested.org, where people can invest in a note for as little as $20.

The note will be used to buy debt from Indian financial institutions, which will then lend to social businesses in key sectors like health, food security, education and financial inclusion.

“How we approach our investing, broadly, is impact first and last,” said Jennifer Pryce, president and CEO of the Calvert Foundation.

That means any potential investment goes through a social screening even before the due diligence and financial screenings. Social impact is reported alongside financial basis on a regular basis.

In conjunction with the Calvert Foundation note, USAID’s Development Credit Authority will provide a credit guarantee for at least $50 million to support Indian financial institutions which provide funds to social businesses that target the base of the pyramid."



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Penang locals unperturbed despite murders of foreigners, AsiaOne Malaysia News

Penang locals unperturbed despite murders of foreigners, AsiaOne Malaysia News: "On idyllic Penang island, Mrs Penny Yap goes about her daily routine without worrying too much about crime.

But 20km away on the mainland, a series of grisly murders have shocked locals. Police have recovered dozens of corpses, limbs and even a severed head squeezed into a bag.

A turf war there has resulted in Penang recording 52 murder cases last year, of which 18 victims were Malaysians. Eighteen of them were from Myanmar and the rest were from other countries."



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Coping with Climate Change – The Roles of Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture

Coping with Climate Change – The Roles of Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture: "Genetic resources for food and agriculture play a crucial role in food security, nutrition and livelihoods and in the provision of environmental services. They are key components of sustainability, resilience and adaptability in production systems. They underpin the ability of crops, livestock, aquatic organisms and forest trees to withstand a range of harsh conditions. Climate change poses new challenges to the management of the world’s genetic resources for food and agriculture, but it also underlines their importance. At the request of the Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, FAO prepared thematic studies on the interactions between climate change and plant, animal, forest, aquatic, invertebrate and micro-organism genetic resources. This publication summarizes the results of these studies."



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In 24 Hours, Internet Helped Change Life Of Detroit Man Who Walks 21 Miles To Work

In 24 Hours, Internet Helped Change Life Of Detroit Man Who Walks 21 Miles To Work: "Sometimes a simple story can be life-changing.

That's what happened to James Robertson, a 56-year-old man from Detroit who walks 21 miles to and from work each day. The Detroit Free Press first covered the tale of Robertson's grueling commute, explaining that he leaves his home at 8 a.m. and does not return until around 4 a.m. Because Robertson can't afford to own and maintain a car in the Motor City on his $10.55-per-hour salary, he must rely on public transportation, rides from good samaritans and his own two feet to get him where he needs to go Monday through Friday.

Evan Leedy, a student at Detroit's Wayne State University, set up a GoFundMe account to help raise money to buy Robertson a car. It began with a simple goal of $5,000 and skyrocketed to over $200,000 from thousands of people after Robertson's story was picked up by media outlets around the world."



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The Woman Who Sold Her Baby For $435 To Buy Firewood : Goats and Soda : NPR

The Woman Who Sold Her Baby For $435 To Buy Firewood : Goats and Soda : NPR: "Last week in the northern Afghan province of Balkh, an impoverished mother chose the only option she felt was left to her, after her drug-addicted husband abandoned her. She had to care by herself for five young children and an elderly father. So she sold her 1-month-old infant for money — the equivalent of about $435 in American currency — to buy kindling wood to keep her four other children from freezing in the harsh winter weather."



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IRIN Global | The invisible lesson of Invisible Children | Uganda | Aid Policy

IRIN Global | The invisible lesson of Invisible Children | Uganda | Aid Policy: "No, the most important person in Invisible Children's narrative, driven by social media, was not Kony, and not even Invisible Children, but you, the reader. This is why Invisible Children couldn't fail. Not because it didn't fail – it failed in the most important sense, since we have clearly not captured Joseph Kony, and its resource base subsequently collapsed – but because it could never admit that it had failed. To admit to failure would be to destroy the narrative that you – yes, you, small-town teenager in the American Mid-West – are changing the world.

That narrative was more important than anything, which explains the spirited defence that Invisible Children's believers presented. Its critics weren't just attacking the campaign, they were attacking the campaigners themselves. You'd have to be spectacularly cruel to destroy the hopes of a generation, but reality is often both spectacular and cruel. In the end, it was the gap between the narrative and reality that led directly to Russell's tragic breakdown."



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Seven killed in Bangladesh after petrol bombs thrown at bus - Yahoo News

Seven killed in Bangladesh after petrol bombs thrown at bus - Yahoo News: "DHAKA (Reuters) - Opposition activists in Bangladesh trying to enforce a transport boycott threw petrol bombs at a bus early on Tuesday setting off a fire that engulfed the vehicle killing seven people, a fire department officer said.

The opposition rejected a general election just over a year ago and stepped up its protests last month in a bid to force Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to step down and hold a new election.

At least 51 people have been killed in political violence over the past month including the seven on the night-bus to Dhaka."



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Malaysia: From Developing Nation to Development Partner | East Asia & Pacific on the rise

Malaysia: From Developing Nation to Development Partner | East Asia & Pacific on the rise: "On Tuesday, 27 January, Malaysia and the World Bank signed agreements to establish a knowledge and research office in Kuala Lumpur to share its successful development experience with countries striving to make the same transition out of poverty and into shared prosperity.

Such a role suits a nation that can offer valuable lessons on development policies – many of them forged through a long and evolving partnership with the World Bank – that are highly relevant for poor and emerging countries in Asia, Africa and elsewhere.

What are some of the relevant lessons that have attracted international attention?"



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SMN Weekly – California Raises Legal Smoking Age to 21

SMN Weekly – California Raises Legal Smoking Age to 21: "Get ready Californians. You are becoming the first state to have the highest minimum smoking age if only a bill would be passed by the council. The bill to increase the legal age for smoking was proposed by state senator Ed. Hernandez (D.Azusa) on Thursday.

Making an announcement on Friday, Hernandez said, “Tobacco companies are aware that people tend to become addicted to smoking if they start it at young age. Senate Bill 151 proposes to increase the legitimate smoking age in California from 18 to 21 years in an offer to restrain tobacco smoking in children and teenagers.”"



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Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste freed by Egypt; 2 others still held - LA Times

Al Jazeera journalist Peter Greste freed by Egypt; 2 others still held - LA Times: "Facing sustained international criticism over its human rights record, Egypt on Sunday freed Peter Greste, an Australian correspondent for Al Jazeera, who was one of three journalists for the Qatar-based broadcaster jailed more than a year ago on terrorism-related charges.


Jailed journalist says Egypt to blame if hunger strike kills him
Greste was deported almost immediately, flying to Cyprus on Sunday evening and then onward to his homeland. The fate of his two colleagues was not immediately clear, but one of them, Mohamed Fahmy, holds Canadian citizenship and was reported by supporters to be hoping for deportation soon as well."



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