Europa Newswire

Lula in Israel

Europa Newswire

Ricardo Stuckert / Presidência da República

President Lula and President of the State of Israel, Shimon Peres, during his official visit to that country

Source: Agencia Brasil

82nd Airborne Division and MINUSTAH

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Photo by Staff Sgt. John Laughter

Port-au-Prince, HT - Lt. Gen. P.K. Keen, commander, Joint Task Force Haiti, and Maj. Gen. Floriano Peizoto Viera Neto, MINUSTAH Force commander, carry on a conversation before a ceremony in honor of the Airborne Soldier held at the U.N. compound in Haiti. Keen and the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division attended the ceremony and following dinner at the invitation of Brazilians in order to celebrate the two Airborne units working together to assist the humanitarian aid and disaster relief mission in Haiti.

Source: 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division Public Affairs.

DVF Awards

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Diane von Furstenberg celebrated International Women’s Day with the first ever DVF Awards held at the United Nations. The DVF Awards were given to four women who demonstrated leadership, strength, and courage in their respective fields. The event took place during The Daily Beast’s Women in the World Conference, where influential women in the world of politics, media, film, philanthropy and design gathered to share ideas, stories and solutions for the many challenges affecting women worldwide .

DIANE von FURSTENBERG, one of the premier names in American fashion, was founded in 1972 by the designer. Renowned for its iconic wrap dress and signature prints, DVF has grown into the global luxury lifestyle brand known today.

Photo by: DVF Awards

Source: DVF Awards.

New president of Chile condemns terrorist groups

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Renata Giraldi Special dispatch for Agencia Brasil

Santiago, Chile – The new president of Chile, Sebastian Piñera, took office last week.
Speaking at his first press conference, Piñera strongly condemned groups such as ETA – the Basque separatist movement – and the armed guerrillas of Colombia, the Farc, saying: “I am absolutely opposed to terrorist groups who threaten the lives and safety of people. I will fight against terrorism and narco-traffic. I condemn what they do.” But he did not mention Hugo Chavez, the leftist, socialist president of Venezuela.  Chavez decided not to attend the inauguration after publicly lamenting Piñera’s election – as it was a defeat for the leftist ruling party in Chile and a victory for a right-wing conservative candidate..

Hillary Clinton Statement on the Murders in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

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Photo: Luiz Rampelotto

Washington, DC - March 14, 2010 - Today the men and women of the Department of State are mourning the murder of three people connected to the United States Consulate General in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. One American employee of the consulate was killed along with her husband, and the husband of a Mexican employee was also killed. I offer my deepest sympathies to the family, loved ones and colleagues of these victims. The safety and security of our personnel and their families in Mexico and at posts around the world is always our highest priority. I have spoken with our Ambassador in Mexico and we are working with the Government of Mexico to do everything necessary to protect our people and to ensure that the perpetrators of these horrendous acts are brought to justice.

These appalling assaults on members of our own State Department family are, sadly, part of a growing tragedy besetting many communities in Mexico. They underscore the imperative of our continued commitment to work closely with the Government of President Calderón to cripple the influence of trafficking organizations at work in Mexico. This is a responsibility we must shoulder together, particularly in border communities where strong bonds of history, culture, and common interest bind the Mexican and the American people closely together.

First International Conference on Human Rights Opens in Teheran (Historical Photo)

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UN Photo.

Teheran, Iran - 22 April 1968 - The International Conference on Human Rights, the first such world-wide meeting organized under UN auspices, opened this morning at the New Majlis Building in Teheran. 

In front of the new Majlis Building in Teheran - scene of the First International Conference on Human Rights - are (left to right): Her Imperial Majesty, the Empress Farah; His Imperial Majesty, Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlevi; UN Secretary-General U Thant; and Giorgio Pagnanelli, UN Human Rights Officer, Department of Economic and Social Affairs.

Source: UN Photos

Hilary Clinton, U.N. Reflect on Lack of Substantial Progress in Fostering General Equality

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March 13, 2010

By Amy Lieberman

UNITED NATIONS – While “some progress” in advancing gender equality has transpired over the last 15 years, much work remains to be done in eradicating violence and lack of opportunities for women and girls across the world, U.S. Secretary-of-State Hilary Clinton said on Friday, March 12.

Clinton spoke at the U.N. Secretariat, following a noisy standing ovation, on the last day of the two-week long 54^th Conference on the Status of Women, a series of conferences attended by nearly 8,000 women. The session also commemorated the 15^th review of the Beijing Platform for Action, which stipulates that all member nations reflect a gender-perspective in their policies and action, in order to increase the participation of women in social economics and political issues.

Lula: fighter jet purchase must include technology transfer

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Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Adrian T. White

Yara Aquina Reporter Agencia Brasil

Brasília - President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva declared that whoever  sells 36 fighter jets to Brazil will have to commit to technology transfer. "I can announce that the company chosen will have to make a commitment to unrestricted transfer of all technology,” he said. Three companies are competing to sell aircraft to Brazil: the French firm Dassault with its Rafale, the American Boeing that makes the F/A-18 Super Hornet,  and the Swedish Saab that makes the Gripen NG.

Biological Insecticide

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Photo by Pfc. Rhonda Roth-Cameron

Flavia Villela Reporter Agencia Brasil

Rio - After nearly three years of work, the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), one of Brazil’s preeminent laboratories, has created a biological insecticide that kills the larvae of the dengue mosquito in 24 hours. Elizabeth Sanches, who coordinates the research project, said the insecticide, in the form of a pill, is harmless to the environment and humans. It can be dissolved in up to 50 liters of water.
"Two hours after ingesting the insecticide, the larva is paralyzed and unable to feed. It will be dead within 24 hours. Moreover, the insecticide is efficient for up to 21 days.”

President Barack Obama

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Photo by Pete Souza

President Barack Obama meets with his national security team on Afghanistan and Pakistan in the Situation Room of the White House, March 12, 2010. From left, Adm. Michael Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Deputy Secretary of State Jack Lew, United States Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry and President Obama.

Source: White House Photo

Preparing for a Bioterrorism Attack

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Photo: Staff Sgt. David Overson

Team members of the 102nd Civil Support Team, Oregon National Guard, conduct a decontamination training and evaluation exercise at the old Silverton High School in Silverton, Oregon. Sgt. 1st Class Rowena Simshaw and Staff Sgt. April Henrickx of the Decon Team, 102nd Civil Support Team, aid in decontaminating other team members.

Source: 115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Neil Armstrong

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Photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Gina Wollman

Astronaut legend Neil Armstrong is presented with honorary Naval Astronaut Wings by Capt. Dee L. Mewbourne, commanding officer of the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower during a two-day visit as part of the Legends of Aerospace Tour sponsored by Morale Entertainment. Armstrong was joined by fellow astronauts Jim Lovell and Gene Cernan during the presentation aboard the ship. Dwight D. Eisenhower is on a six-month deployment as part of the on-going rotation of forward-deployed forces to support maritime security operations.

Source: Navy Visual News Service

Report of the Secretary-General concerning the credentials of the representative of China on the Security Council

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UN Photo/Evan Schneider

Pursuant to rule 15 of the provisional rules of procedure of the Security Council, the Secretary-General wishes to report that he has received credentials, signed on 19 January 2010 by the Minister for Foreign Affairs of China, stating that Mr. Li Baodong has been appointed representative of China on the Security Council.

In the opinion of the Secretary-General, these credentials are in order.

Source: UN Doc.

 

Gangsters Back in Jail

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Photo: Luiz Rampelotto

Twelve criminals were arrested in a joint operation between the United Nations Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) and the Haitian national police today (10 March) in Cite Soleil, one of the poorest neighborhoods in Port-au Prince.

The objective was to catch notorious gangsters who had escaped the National Penitentiary during the 12 January earthquake. Over 5,000 prisoners had escaped from this main prison alone. 

120 UNPOL and military from MINUSTAH assisted a 20 men-strong police unit from Cite Soleil police station.
 
The operation took place in the Boston neighborhood of Cite Soleil where street gangs are known to operate.
 
Special police from various countries, including Serbian, Indian and Brazilian UN Force Police Units patrolled alongside Spanish and American Special Weapon and Tactic units (SWAT) and Haitian National Police while Brazilian military peacekeepers stood guard.

Source: UNTV.

Michelle Obama

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Photo by Lawrence Jackson

First Lady Michelle Obama talks with Mrs. Elizabeth Preval, the First Lady of Haiti, in the Yellow Oval Room of the White House, March 10, 2010.

Source: White House.