ARREST YOURSELF AND YOUR BROTHER, STAT - Irony alert: President Obama warned the newly reelected President of Afghanistan to get tough on corruption. Massive voter fraud in Karzai's favor was universally acknowledged during the August presidential election. He was declared the winner after his opponent quit, citing a lack of security for the runoff vote. Last week, Karzai's brother was unmasked as an opium trafficking warlord on the CIA's payroll. Link

COURT: SUCK IT UP, TORTURE VICTIM - If Canadian software engineer Maher Arar had slipped and fallen at JFK International Airport in 2002, he might be able to sue for compensation. His actual fate was infinitely worse, but a U.S. court has ruled that he has no right to sue. While changing planes at JFK, Arar was falsely arrested for being a terrorist. U.S. authorities sent him to Syria where he was tortured for months and confined in a coffin-like cell. Arar was ultimately exonerated, and the U.S. government apologized to him. However, a New York court found that only an act of Congress can compensate him for his pain and suffering. Arar plans to take his case to the U.S. Supreme Court. Link

WORLD: STEP IT UP, YANKS - The UN and the European Union are joining forces to pressure the U.S. to commit to action on climate change. Just five days of pre-negotiation talks remain before the crucial Copenhagen summit where leaders hope to negotiate a successor to the Kyoto Treaty. "The expectation out there worldwide among populations and the young [is for] the US to deliver on one of the key challenges of our century. The Americans will have to come up [with an offer] one way or another," said Connie Hedegaard, the Danish environment minister who will host the upcoming summit. U.S. chief negotiator Jonathan Pershing stressed that the administration was doing its best to convince Congress to back a deal. Link

A BREATH OF FRESH AIR - Over 5 million children could be saved from lethal pneumonia between now and 2015 at the cost of less than $13 U.S. per child, according to the UN Childrens' Fund and the World Health Organization. The two agencies are seeking a total of $39 billion for the anti-pneumonia campaign. The campaign would focus on preventing pneumonia, preventing or treating other illnesses associated with pneumonia (e.g. measles and HIV), and providing antibiotics to poor children when prevention fails. Link

DON'T WASTE FOOD - Up to half of all crops go to waste in some of the world's hungriest countries, according to the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO). Between 15% and 50% of all food grown is lost to post-harvest waste. The FAO blames bad weather, bacteria, and premature harvesting for the losses. It says that better training for farmers could dramatically reduce waste. Link