Headlines for Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Senate passes jobs bill
The US Senate has passed a jobs bill that will give companies an incentive for hiring unemployed workers.  Those that do will be eligible for a payroll tax holiday and tax credits.  The $17 billion bill passed 68-29 with full Democratic and 11 Republican votes.  This is a much smaller bill than originally pushed by Democrats, but Senator Charles Schumer defended its modesty, saying it will show the American people…

“That Congress is focused on what they what us to focus on.  And that we will continue to work on our jobs agenda till jobs start growing, till people are being paid decent wages, till the economy roars back on a long and stable trajectory, which can only be done if employment goes up and unemployment goes down.”

Democrats are trying to push through several jobs bills.  The legislation also includes $20 billion dollars for highway and transit infrastructure improvements.  The legislation now goes to the president, who says he will sign it into law.

Reported sexual assault in US Military on the rise
Reported incidents of sexual assault in the US military rose 11% in 2009, according to new figures released by the Defense Department.  There were more than 3200 cases in all, averaging 2 cases per thousand service members.  Reported cases in the Army were much higher than in the other branches.  The Pentagon said the 11% increase in cases is partly due to recent efforts to increase reporting.  Its efforts include a confidential option called “restricted reporting,” which doesn’t lead to an investigation.  About 1/3 of those reporting opted to use the confidential option.  Approximately 80% of the non-confidential reports involved men sexually assaulting women.

Sectarian violence erupts again in north-central Nigeria
More than ten people have been killed during another attack on a Christian settlement in Northern Nigeria.  This, despite an increased police presence in the region after an attack last week left nearly 500 people dead.  Sam Olukoya reports from Lagos.

Like the previous attack, the latest took place at dawn in a settlement just outside Jos.  The attackers, who are suspected to be Muslims disguised as soldiers, used knives to brutally murder residents of a mostly-Christian village.

Nigeria has come under international pressure to stop the killings in the area.  The government has deployed troops and policemen and imposed a curfew.  Many see the continuation of the attacks in spite of these measures as a sign of the government’s inability to control the situation.

The north-central region of Nigeria has seen serious conflicts between Christians and Muslims escalate over the past few years.  The groups are in competition for economic and political power.  Some human rights organizations have referred to the situation as ethnic cleansing.  Sam Olukoya, FSRN, Lagos.

Election tampering claims emerge in Iraq
As the vote count from Iraq’s parliamentary elections near completion, the ruling political block is going on the offensive – today making claims of vote tampering.  Yesterday, the election’s commission released the latest counts, now at 80%, showing the ruling coalition government had fallen out of the lead.  The two leading blocks – one led by Prime Minister Nuri al-Malaki and the other by former-Prime Minister Ayad Allawi – are separated by less than 10,000 votes.  According to Al-Jazeera, Malaki’s spokesperson said today that the ballots had been manipulated at the polling stations, before being submitted for counting.

Afghanistan establishes government unit to combat violence against women
The Attorney General’s office of Afghanistan today inaugurated a department dedicated to protecting women’s rights.  The new Violence against Women Unit is being considered a step forward in protecting women.  Asma Nemati reports from Kabul.

Already, the Violence Against Women Unit has received 21 cases from four provinces, including Kabul.  Reported crimes include beatings, domestic violence, rape, and trafficking.  The Unit will work with victim service organizations and advocates, and coordinate case referrals with health, educational, and other governmental entities.

Abdul Wakil Amini is a Deputy Administrator with the Attorney General’s Office.

“We will do our utmost to investigate these cases in a quick and efficient manner.”

Amini says women have suffered from illogical traditions in Afghanistan, and even though other organizations offer help to victims of violence, the police often turn women away – especially outside of Kabul.

The Violence Against Women Unit is funded by the Italian government and supervised by the International Development Law Organization.  Asma Nemati, FSRN, Kabul.

Turkey threatens to expel 100,000 undocumented Armenian immigrants
Turkey is threatening to deport nearly 100-thousand undocumented Armenians in reaction to international pressure on it to acknowledge the post-World War I killing of Armenians was genocide.  The US and Sweden have both voted in some capacity to call the murders genocide.  The US House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a resolution early this month, but it’s not expected to go any further in Washington.