A West Coast federal appeals court upheld the freeze on President Trump’s travel ban, declaring that Trump had exceeded his lawful authority in suspending the issuance of visas to residents of six Muslim majority countries and suspending the U.S. refugee program. A three-judge panel with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit ruled against the administration unanimously. Their ruling is another blow to Trump — though the fate of his travel ban already had been destined to be decided by the Supreme Court. (WaPo http://wapo.st/2sURQwH)
Stat of the day: The global obesity problem now affects 1 in 10 people in the world, it is rising in countries rich and poor, and in many countries it is increasing faster in children than adults, according to a new study. (AP http://apne.ws/2sfyFzM)
Top Stories
Global health leaders gathered at the Rotary Convention in Atlanta to reaffirm their commitment to eradicating polio and pledge US$ 1.2 billion to finance efforts to end the disease. (UNICEF http://bit.ly/2rSKw6h)
An often fiery government critic, Egyptian journalist Khaled al-Balshi has been arrested, had his operations monitored, and staff harassed by police for years. Yet his website Al-Bedaiah, a rare dissident voice in Egypt, had never been touched. (Reuters http://bit.ly/2rSYCo7)
U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is working behind the scenes to help resolve the dispute between Qatar and its Arab neighbors. (WaPo http://wapo.st/2sV5eRv)
So far North Korea has rejected South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s offers of unconditional humanitarian aid and cooperation. (VOA http://bit.ly/2rSXQrd)
Bangladesh has begun training thousands of school girls to protect them from being blackmailed or harassed online following an alarming rise in cybercrimes. (VOA http://bit.ly/2rnt7Pi)
Mexico’s National Indigenous Congress – a broad coalition of native ethnic groups – and the Zapatista National Liberation Army nominated María de Jesús Patricio Martínez a 53-year-old mother of three who is renowned for preserving traditional indigenous medicine to run for president. (Guardian http://bit.ly/2raSk0e)
As refugees fleeing violence and communal tensions in the Democratic Republic of the Congo continue to arrive in neighboring Angola, the United Nations refugee agency has appealed for more resources to cope with the influx and to provide those coming with the support they urgently need. (UN News Center http://bit.ly/2sV4age)
The International Labor Organization reports children caught in conflict and natural disasters are most at risk of child labor and of falling prey to trafficking, sexual exploitation and abuse. (VOA http://bit.ly/2rSOImn)
The Start Network, funded by the British, Dutch and Irish governments, is putting together a new financing facility to enable a faster and more coordinated response to droughts, and plans to test its model in Pakistan and Zimbabwe. (AlertNet http://bit.ly/2rSKI5v)
Opinion/Blogs
Nigeria’s food crisis. By the time famine is declared it will be too late. (Guardian http://bit.ly/2sVpuT5)
Trump’s Climate Retreat Is About Fear, Not Just Greed (Bloomberg View https://bloom.bg/2tdmm4d)
Is Zika Dangerous For Kids? Probably Depends On The Age (NPR Goats and Soda http://n.pr/2raRIb8)
African politics is a man’s world – but we women are still blazing a trail (Guardian http://bit.ly/2rb9OcQ)
When Women Have Land Rights, the Tide Begins to Turn (IPS http://bit.ly/2rb2qhJ)
With an African running the WHO, it’s time for the continent to get hands on (The Conversation http://bit.ly/2sfWx68)
Child “marriage” is child labor (IRIN http://bit.ly/2rSODz5)
Poor Countries Can’t Live on Rice Alone (Bloomberg View https://bloom.bg/2sfotXW)
