The World This Week
Welcome to the new addition to the Encompass Trust website: The World This Week – a weekly roundup of all the major news making the headlines in the UK, US, Israel, Palestine and Indonesia.
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Israel and Palestine – UN urges inquiry into Israel convoy raid
The UN Security Council has called for a ‘prompt, impartial, credible and transparent’ inquiry into the events that led to Israeli commandos storming a Turkish vessel the Mavi Marmara which was leading a flotilla of aid ships bound for Gaza At least 10 civilians died and many more wounded during the raid that took place in international water on the 30th May. The incident has attracted widespread condemnation from around the world.
Israel defended the actions of their soldiers claiming they came under attack from activists wielding “knives, clubs and other weapons” including firearms stolen the Israeli commandos. Israel argued the flotilla was attempting to breach a naval blockade and feared the flotilla may have been carrying weapons, cash and materials that may have been used to make rocket launchers.
The flotilla is now docked at the Israeli port of Ashdod with the remaining activists of around 680 people being processed by Israeli authorities at a detention centre.
US – BP Has New Plan to Contain Oil Spill
The oil company BP plans to carry out a new tactic in its attempt to halt the massive oil spill off the Gulf of Mexico. The company intends to use underwater robots to saw off the top of the broken pipe before placing a cap on the pipe. Its previous “top kill” tactic was declared a failure over the weekend. BP has so far made six attempts to contain the oil spill, all of which have failed.
The oil spill is already the worst environmental disaster to have taken place in the US. The US government estimates around 70-150 million litres of oil has spilt into the sea to date.
Indonesia – Indonesia to build hospital in Gaza
Indonesia’s President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, announced plans to build a US$2 million hospital in Gaza. His announcement took place on the 29th May 2010 during a joint press conference with the Palestinian leader, President Mahmoud Abbas, who was in Indonesia on an official visit. Mr Yudhoyono stated, ‘We will build a hospital in Gaza…in the hope it will increases public health facilities in Gaza’.
Mr Abbas thanked the Indonesian President and expressed his hope that a Palestinian state could be realized through a peace process backed by the international community.
UK – Paid more than the PM: 170 highest-earning civil servants revealed
The British government released a list containing the names of civil servants who earn more money than the Prime Minister. 170 civil servants receive a wage of more than GBP 150,000 – more than the Prime Minister David Cameron. Interestingly only 28 women made the list. The move was part of the government’s promise be more open and accountable by “pulling back the curtains to let light into the corridors of power”.
The government plans to make more data available to the public over the next coming weeks. The list has attracted concerns over privacy issues and 11 civil servants refused to have their names published.
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Posted Wednesday June 2, 2010
