INTERPOL AND OTHER U.N. AGENCIES , Germany's Nuclear Power Abandonment

Germany to Accelerate Nuclear Power Abandonment

On May 30, 2011, German Chancellor Angela Merkel announced an ambitious plan to shut down country's 17 nuclear power plants by 2022. The acceleration of plant shutdown, scheduled to be around 2036 as per last December's plan, was made in the aftermath of March nuclear disaster of Fukushima nuclear power plant. Among European nations, Italy is the only one which had foresworn nuclear power. However, political resistance still exists in Europe, especially from France as it depends on nuclear power for 80% of its electricity. French PM Francois Fillon said that without nuclear power there was no way EU could achieve the greenhouse gas reduction.

U.N. AGENCIES (NOV 28, 2021 ONWARD)

INTERPOL

Controversial UAE Commander to Take Charge of Interpol

Interpol, already reeling under severe criticisms from human-rights groups for its so called "Red Notice" system that's targeted more against political dissidents than criminals, on November 25, 2021 added to its roster of high-decibel criticisms an additional two by electing a UAE general to lead the agency for the next four years and including a Chinese official into its executive committee. Major General Ahmed Naser al-Raisi, inspector general of UAE's interior department, was elected on November 25, 2021 for a one, four-year term to lead Interpol. Ahmed Naser al-Raisi is accused of persecution of internal political dissidence as well as torture of political opponents. Another controversial event stemming from the agency's general body meeting at Istanbul is the election of Hu Binchen, an official at the Chinese ministry of public security, as a member of Interpol's executive committee as a representative from Asia.