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Like a chilly breeze from another era, news of a “catastrophic” NATO security leak came with the arrest of Herman Simm (right), a high-ranking Estonian official whom the E.U. says was recruited by the KGB in the ’80s, but was only caught passing secrets to Russia this summer.Photo: Handout
A former Estonian defense official has been arrested for allegedly selling NATO and European Union secrets to Russia, reports Der Spiegel. Herman Simm, the accused official, has been under surveillance for months and was arrested in September, although news of the arrest is only just becoming public knowledge. Upon Estonia’s acceptance into the EU in 2004, Simm was responsible for setting up and running a system to handle the country’s classified information, including top-secret documents from NATO allies, information about Russia’s war in Georgia, and the controversial U.S. missile defense program. State officials believe the KGB recruited Simm in the 80s, before the collapse of the Soviet Union. NATO and EU officials are investigating the extent of the alleged betrayal.
Nonprofit organizations across the United States are being hit hard by the economic crisis, as contributions from foundations, corporations and private donors diminish. Even as demand for social services increases, nonprofits are being forced to cut staff and reduce operations, according to Crain’s New York Business. Professor Paul Light of New York University projects that at least “100,000 nonprofits nationwide will be forced to close their doors in the next two years” due to the economic downturn, and called for foundations to increase their annual giving. As charitable donations decline, nonprofit groups may be forced to help each other survive through strategies like back-office consolidation, strategic alliances and health- care-plan mergers. Clara Miller, chief executive of the Nonprofit Finance Fund, which provides loans and financial services, said that a boost from foundations might not be enough given cuts in government spending.
Jamaica’s parliament voted this week to keep the death penalty, turning aside an attempt to ban capital punishment in the island nation. Although capital punishment — hanging, specifically — is currently legal in Jamaica, no executions have occurred for almost 20 years. The Jamaica Gleaner said members have been debating the issue for several weeks. Opponents such as Minister of State Andrew Gallimore say there is no proof the death penalty is an effective crime deterrent. “The fact of the matter is that hanging people five, six or eight years from now is not going to stop murder from happening again,” he said.
A committee of Jamaica’s Parliament is hearing both protest and advocacy around abortion. Although an advisory panel convened by former Health Minister John Junor called for legalization to lower the rate of maternal deaths, one doctor denounced the move as creating a “license to kill.” Currently, Jamaicans who aid or abet an abortion can receive a life sentence in prison; a reformist measure would provide medical training and facilities, as well as abortion counseling and education. The World Health Organization estimates that non-professionals perform 35 illegal abortions per 1,000 Jamaican women annually. In May, The Ministry of Health and Environment launched a campaign to reduce the maternal mortality rate by 75 percent births by 2015 — however, critics said there was no such data to warrant the group’s suggestions.
A Spanish judge who pledged to investigate the deaths of thousands during the Spain Civil War and the Franco regime conceded mass grave exhumation to regional courts after pressure from Spanish conservatives. The Times of London reports that Judge Baltasar Garzon ordered the exhumation of 25 mass graves across Spain thought to hold over 114,000 people who disappeared throughout General Franco’s 36-year dictatorship. In addition to the remains of Spain’s most famous poet, Garzon hoped to identify the bodies of union members and Franco’s left-leaning opponents at the behest of family members. Garzon alleged that tens of thousands of people were killed on orders from 44 high-ranking regime leaders and Franco himself, accusing them of crimes against humanity
Opposition to Garzon’s move came from members of the conservative Popular Party, the Catholic Church, and the public prosecutor’s office, which said a federal investigation would violate a 1977 national amnesty agreement. Other objectors stated the prosecution of 70-year-old crimes was a needless reopening of past scars.
China’s Ministry of Culture says it’s going to crack down on lip-syncers that “cheat” the public, but this didn’t stop Lin Miaoke (right) from “miming” China’s national anthem at the Beijing Olympics. The song was actually performed by Yang Peiyi (left), whom officials found less photogenic.Photo: Handout
China’s Ministry of Culture announced it may punish individuals, groups and organizers who lip-sync or pretend to play an instrument in live commercial performances. The ministry’s website noted that those who attempt to “cheat the public” would be punished, though specific penalties were not listed. According to Agence France-Presse, the “semi-official” China News Service suggested that first-time offenders would be publicly exposed. The Guardian reports that professional performers could have their business licenses revoked for multiple offenses in a two-year period. A ministry representative said officials plan to consult the public before settling on final details.
An anti-binge-drinking ad campaign directed toward Australian youth begins this month, part of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd’s national strategy to reduce reckless inebriation. The Sydney Morning Herald reports the multi-million-dollar campaign will utilize scare tactics to show excessive drinking can lead to “pub brawls, brain damage, mental illness, serious injuries in car accidents and even death.” Media experts say the timing of the ads will be crucial; evening or late morning ads could catch the demographic before going out, or after waking up with hangovers. The campaign will focus on underage drinkers and 18 to 25-year-olds. One content advisor for the campaign said scare tactics are not enough, recommending additional alcohol-advertising restrictions, the promotion of less potent drinks, and a new taxation system.