FPF: Week Ending Nov. 16

Bangladesh Cyclone Toll Nears 600 (Reuters)

A devastating cyclone delivering 155mph winds ravaged Bangladesh on Thursday, leaving more than 580 people deaths (as of the writing of this article) and thousands injured or missing. The cyclone triggered a fifteen-foot tidal wave that forced 3.2 million people to evacuate costal areas. Widespread power outages and crop damage have created a severe dearth of food and shelter for the displaced.

Decision Time for US over Iran Threat (The Guardian)
A highly anticipated International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report on Iran’s nuclear program stated that it has made strides towards clarifying historical nuclear activities. However, the report also stated that Iran has not halted its current uranium enrichment activities (or cleared up questions about it), thus failing to meet a key demand by the IAEA. Iran claims that the report clears the country of any wrong-doing and bolsters its right to nuclear technology, while Western powers are highlighting Iran’s expanding uranium enrichment activities.

Musharraf Gives No End Date for Emergency Rule (International Herald Tribune)

In the face of public outcry and international pressure, President Musharraf has declined to give an end date for his imposed State of Emergency, and suggested that it might continue through January parliamentary elections.

Breakthrough in Primate Cloning (BBC News)
Scientists have for the first time created cloned embryos from an adult monkey. Prior to this feat, the scientific community was beginning to worry that primate cloning (which leads to efficient human cloning) was too difficult. Ethical issues will be raised now that we are one step closer to cloning a human embryo, but medical opportunities include the ability to create tissue and treat diseases such as diabetes.

Clinton Fights Back Against Debate Rivals (CNN)

In the final Nevada debate before the January caucuses (held Thursday in Las Vegas), Democratic front-runner Sen. Hillary Clinton fought back against her opponents in the wake of her widely criticized performance in last week’s debate. “People are not attacking me because I’m a woman,” she said. “They’re attacking me because I’m ahead.” Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John Edwards both took the offensive against Sen. Clinton, accusing her of flip-flopping on issues like Social Security and driver’s licenses for immigrants. She struck back by focusing on the shortcomings of Sen. Obama’s and Sen. Edwards’ healthcare plans. The three-way argument overshadowed the other candidates and reflected the current climate of the Democratic race—Sen. Clinton continues to lead the polls, but recent surveys in Iowa suggest that Sen. Obama and Sen. Edwards have caught up.

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