The World

10 ESSENTIAL STORIES

By Harriet Barovick, Alexandra Silver, Claire Suddath, Frances Romero, Kristi Oloffson, Kayla Webley and Nate Rawlings Monday, July 05, 2010

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    Millions of carats of diamonds have been discovered in eastern Zimbabwe's government-controlled Marange fields. While the find could make the nation one of the world's top diamond producers, the legitimacy of the $1 billion to $1.7 billion haul is unclear. On June 21, the Kimberley Process--the seven-year-old international effort designed to combat the illicit "blood diamond" trade--met to discuss reports of violence that occurred when President Robert Mugabe's troops forcibly seized the fields in 2008.

    Share of world diamond revenues

    26% BOTSWANA

    OTHERS

    8%--13% ZIMBABWE

    10% ANGOLA

    20% RUSSIA

    18% CANADA

    10% SOUTH AFRICA

    SOURCE: KIMBERLEY PROCESS

    6 | Kyrgyzstan

    REFUGEE CRISIS CONTINUES

    Some 400,000 ethnic Uzbeks remained displaced on both sides of the Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan border following a series of early June attacks that killed at least 251 and possibly as many as 2,000. In the latest spurt of violence in the south between the majority Kyrgyz and minority Uzbek populations, two people were killed and more than 20 wounded during a raid on an Uzbek village. While human rights groups claim the involvement of Kyrgyz soldiers, the government denies participation.

    7 | Iran

    More Sanctions Coming

    U.S. lawmakers reached an agreement on June 21 over legislation that would penalize American banks and corporations for commerce with certain Iranian companies. The measure adds additional unilateral sanctions to a June 9 U.N. resolution targeting 40 companies and banks associated with Iran's nuclear program. Iran responded by barring two nuclear inspectors from entering the country.

    8 | Afghanistan

    U.S. Contracts Fund Warlords

    A six-month congressional probe has concluded that money from security contracts that arrange protection for U.S. food, fuel and ammunition convoys routinely ends up in the pockets of Afghan warlords. The report said a $2.16 billion contract called Host Nation Trucking, which provides for 6,000 to 8,000 truck missions per month, "fuels warlordism, extortion and corruption, and it may be a significant source of funding for insurgents." The investigation also found that, unlike in the war in Iraq--which relies primarily on third-country nationals to provide security--95% of the private armed guards hired as part of the Afghan conflict are from local towns and villages.

    9 | Jamaica

    Suspected Drug Lord in Custody

    Alleged Shower Posse gang leader Christopher Coke--wanted in the U.S. on drug and gun charges--was arrested on June 22 outside Kingston. More than 70 people were killed in late May during fighting between Coke's supporters and security forces hunting for him in the capital's Tivoli Gardens slum.

    10 | Colombia

    A New President

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