UN RIGHTS CHIEF: MORE SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO PROTECT NIGERIANS - The UN human rights chief expressed her horror and dismay at the recent massacre of 500 villagers in northern Nigeria. The victims were killed in clashes between Christians and Muslims. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay believes that more should have been done to protect the villagers. Last weekend's killings around the city of Jos are just the latest in string of sectarian bloodbaths in Nigeria. “After the January killings, the villages should have been properly protected," Pillay said in a press release. Link

A QUOTA FOR FEMALE LEGISLATORS IN INDIA? - The upper house of the Indian parliament passed a bill that would reserve one third of the seats in India's national and state legislatures for women lawmakers. The bill's passage is an early step in a long process to amend the constitution of the world's most populous democracy. The plan is facing stiff opposition from various religious and caste-based parties whose leaders are openly objecting to the change on the grounds that it would reduce their influence. It's a delicate situation because these factions are supporters of the ruling Congress Party, which is governing with a slim majority. If the dissenters withdraw their support, that could threaten the Congress Party's ability to govern. Link

WHEN THE RUBBERS HIT THE ROAD - South Africa has received a shipment of 42 million condoms ahead of the World Cup. One in five South African adults has HIV/AIDS. Forty-thousand prostitutes are expected to travel to Cape Town to take advantage of the tourist influx. The condoms were supplied by the UK at South Africa's request. Link

BRAZIL SANCTIONS U.S. OVER COTTON SUBSIDIES - Brazil slapped World Trade Organization (WTO)-approved sanctions on the United States. According to WTO, the U.S. is illegally subsidizing its cotton farmers and thereby giving their product an unfair edge in the world market. Brazil released a list of 100 U.S. goods that will be subject to import tariffs within a month, if the two sides can't reach an agreement. Link

BIDEN VISITS ISRAEL - U.S. Vice President Joe Biden kicked off the highest-level visit by an Obama administration official to Israel. Biden wasted little time in declaring the unbreakable bond between the two nations. He is in Israel for indirect talks in an attempt to break a 14-month deadlock in the Israeli/Palestinian peace negotiations. Link