In a live address at West Point, President Obama outlined his plan for U.S. troops in Afghanistan, adding 30,000 troops and looking to pull all from the country by the end of 2011. He also seeks to pull all combat brigades from Iraq next year. President Obama’s full remarks can be found here.
Today, December 1st, is World Aids Day. In honor, South Africa has pledged to treat all babies under the age of one who are HIV-positive. In the country, 59,000 babies are born infected every year, but the government has in the past avoided treating them because drugs are too costly, BBC News.
The CEO of General Motors, Frederick “Fritz” Henderson, stepped down today from his post after eight months on the job. The company plans to start an international search for the open presidential and CEO positions, NPR.
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay has condemned Switzerland for banning minarets, the tall spires with conical crowns commonly found on Islamic mosques. 57.5 percent of the Swiss population approved the ban on constructing new minarets, but Pillay is worried the ban will cause deep division in the country, Voice of America.