News headlines in April 2013, page 23

UNITED NATIONS, Apr 01 (IPS) - When the United Nations set out to draft a politically-sensitive Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), ever since negotiations began in 2006, member states agreed to take the final decision by "consensus".

BEIRUT, Apr 01 (IPS) - The surprise resignation of Lebanon's Prime Minister Nijab Mikati eclipsed his last major manoeuvre, which was to refer to parliament a highly contentious wage scale hike for the public sector. Teachers and staff across the public sector started an open strike on Feb. 20 when then prime minister Nijab Mikati failed to send the wage scale policy - which had previously been agreed upon by the cabinet - to the parliament for vote.

WARSAW, Apr 01 (IPS) - Crossing the Belgian-German border in the heart of Europe should be a smooth experience, with no border controls, since the Schengen free movement area came into existence. Yet identity checks at this border and others inside Schengen are not uncommon, despite the contorted logic applied to prove their legality.

SANAA, Apr 01 (IPS) - Yemen has launched its six-month National Dialogue but creating a just law is proving a formidable task.