2008 Woodie Awards
World Briefs
Compiled by Leah Motz
Issue date: 2/20/07
Last Updated: 8/9/07
Iranian leader says oil reserves will run out
State television quoted Iran's leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying the country's oil and gas reserves will eventually dry up. Iran produces 4.2 million barrels of oil per day, the second largest exporter of crude oil among the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Khamenei said those who dispute Iran's need for nuclear technology are shallow-minded. Iranian officials previously argued the need for alternative energy sources. The city Tehran plans to produce 20,000 megawatts of electricity through nuclear power plants in the next years.
The United States and its European allies have disputed Iran's nuclear program. Tehran officials say its only for fuel-producing purposes, not nuclear bomb-making.
Portuguese abortion laws may be relaxed
Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates said legislation relaxing the conservative Roman Catholic country's strict abortion law could be approved by the end of March.
Traditionally, Portugal has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the European Union. Abortion is allowed in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy only if a woman's health is at risk. In rape cases, it is permitted until the 16th week. There is no time restriction if the procedure is the only way of ensuring the mother's survival.
Hunger and malnutrition kill children daily
James Morris, head of the U.N. food agency, said an estimated 18,000 children die daily due to hunger and malnutrition. Eight hundred fifty million sleep nightly with empty stomachs. Morris is an American businessman and former president of the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment.
Morris said the percentage of hungry and malnourished people has decreased from a fifth to a sixth of the world's population.
Yet, the number of hungry people has grown by about 5 million people a year due to rising population. According to Morris, the largest number of malnourished children live in India, which has over 100 million.
State television quoted Iran's leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, saying the country's oil and gas reserves will eventually dry up. Iran produces 4.2 million barrels of oil per day, the second largest exporter of crude oil among the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Khamenei said those who dispute Iran's need for nuclear technology are shallow-minded. Iranian officials previously argued the need for alternative energy sources. The city Tehran plans to produce 20,000 megawatts of electricity through nuclear power plants in the next years.
The United States and its European allies have disputed Iran's nuclear program. Tehran officials say its only for fuel-producing purposes, not nuclear bomb-making.
Portuguese abortion laws may be relaxed
Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates said legislation relaxing the conservative Roman Catholic country's strict abortion law could be approved by the end of March.
Traditionally, Portugal has one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the European Union. Abortion is allowed in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy only if a woman's health is at risk. In rape cases, it is permitted until the 16th week. There is no time restriction if the procedure is the only way of ensuring the mother's survival.
Hunger and malnutrition kill children daily
James Morris, head of the U.N. food agency, said an estimated 18,000 children die daily due to hunger and malnutrition. Eight hundred fifty million sleep nightly with empty stomachs. Morris is an American businessman and former president of the Indianapolis-based Lilly Endowment.
Morris said the percentage of hungry and malnourished people has decreased from a fifth to a sixth of the world's population.
Yet, the number of hungry people has grown by about 5 million people a year due to rising population. According to Morris, the largest number of malnourished children live in India, which has over 100 million.
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