D Monday, December 21, 2009 METRO Aid agency names worst humanitarian countriesBY ROSS McDONAGH Sharon Commins Pregnant? Court martial, soldier! A US Army general has defended his decision to add pregnancy to the list of reasons a soldier could face court martial. It is current policy to send pregnant soldiers home, but Maj Gen Anthony Cucolo has said he needs the deterrent of a court martial to halt the loss of people with critical skills. The new policy applies to both male and female soldiers, even if married, and is the first time the US Army has made pregnancy a punishable offence. Gen Cucolo said married soldiers in combat zones should either put their love lives on hold or take precautions. Glowing lava continues to cascade down the slopes of Mayon volcano in Legaspi city, about 500km south of Manila. The Philippines raised the alert level around the countrys most active volcano yesterday, warning of a possible eruption within days and extending a no-go zone up to 10km around the mountain Picture: Reuters Fire in the hole MDECINES Sans Frontires (MSF) has unveiled the top ten list of 2009s worst hu- manitarian crises. All but one of the entries on the annual list published by the international medical hu- manitarian organisation were repeat offend- ers, with Yemen the sole debutante. InYemen, civilians and hospitals were in- discriminately bombed in the Saada region in the north of the country as government forces fought rebels, the group claimed. The fighting forced tens of thousands of people from their homes, and forced MSF to close the only hospital serving an entire district after it was shelled. Sudan returned for a fifth appearance on the list, its war-torn Darfur region the site of beleaguered charity work by agencies such as Goal, and where Irish aid worker Sharon Commins was held in captivity for more than three months. Civilians attacked, bombed and cut off from aid in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Somalia also made the list. Meanwhile the Democratic Republic of Congo made its 11th appearance, having been on the list every year since 1999. Dr Simon Collins, chairman of MSF Ire- land, said: Its our responsibility to speak out about these crises, to raise awareness of these places that go unmentioned. Black-belt Putin puts on display RUSSIAN prime minister Vladimir Putin has offered to join the national judo team after showing off his martial arts skills to squad members. The black-belted leader, 57, made the proposal after a special coaching session aired on state television, adding to his carefully crafted macho image. Mr Putin (pictured) demonstrated his abilities, throwing squad members half his age and even tackling the chief trainer. index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html