| |  | |  Iran announces deal to ship nuclear material to Turkey in fuel swap In an eleventh-hour effort to stave off new UN Security Council sanctions, Iran has signed a nuclear fuel swap with Turkey. Under the deal, Iran would ship low-enriched uranium to Turkey, and would eventually be eligible to receive enriched nuclear material from France and Russia. The deal was brokered with the help of Brazil -- like Turkey, a nonpermanent UN Security Council member. Both countries had previously signaled their opposition to new sanctions for Iran. The news of the fuel-swap deal was met largely with skepticism by Western diplomats. BBC (5/17) , The New York Times (free registration) (5/17) , Los Angeles Times (5/17)
|  |  | There's a shocking amount of oil in the deep water, relative to what you see in the surface water." Dr. Mandy Joye, Department of Marine Science at the University of Georgia. Read the full story. |
|  | "Reuters is reporting that Ban Ki Moon will nominate veteran Costa Rican diplomat Christiana Figueres as executive director of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The outgoing chief, Yvo de Boer, announced his retirement a few months ago, setting off an international race to become the next top climate diplomat." UN Dispatch | |
- Ban chooses Costa Rican to lead UN climate efforts
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has reportedly selected Costa Rican diplomat Christiana Figueres as a replacement for departing climate secretariat chief Yvo de Boer and is expected to present his choice today in Bonn. Figueres beat out South African environment minister Marthinus van Schalkwyk. AlertNet.org/Reuters (5/17)      - UN, DR Congo differ on peacekeeper drawdown
Officials from the United Nations and Democratic Republic of Congo continue to disagree on the departure of peacekeeping troops as time winds down on the force's mandate. DR Congo officials have called for peacekeepers to leave by the end of 2011, but UN officials fear a security vacuum in the conflict ravaged country. Reuters (5/15) - WHO is still not sure about cell phone safety
 A 10-year study examining links between the use of cellular telephones and two types of brain cancer has produced inconclusive results, the World Health Organization says. Researchers cautioned the study's parameters left room for error and critics have questioned the findings over concerns mobile phone companies provided 25% of the study's funding. BBC (5/17) Top five news stories selected by UN Wire readers in the past week. - Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.
- Scientists are gloomy on Gulf spill
Estimates of the amount of oil released by the spill at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico have skyrocketed, with scientists predicting a much larger and more ecologically devastating oil spill than initially predicted. BP reported some success in extracting oil and gas from a tube to a ship nearly a mile above the mouth of the leak, but BP could not release figures on how much oil was being diverted in this way. U.S. researchers have described the initial estimate of the leak of 5,000 barrels per day as too low, with the real number more likely up to 80,000 barrels per day. The Independent (London) (5/17) - Thai army continues crackdown
Anti-government protesters said over the weekend they would participate in United Nations mediated talks to end two months of deadly street protests, but government officials declined any talks with preconditions from Red Shirts who have demanded the prime minister resign. The protester's call came amid days of street battles in Bangkok that left dozens dead as Thai security forces seek to push the Red Shirts out of the streets. The Washington Post (5/17) , The New York Times (free registration) (5/14) , Reuters (5/17) - Gen. McChrystal says fight against Taliban is grim
Commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan Gen. Stanley McChrystal has expressed a dismal opinion of the campaign against the Taliban in Afghanistan, a reversal from the sunnier outlook he held just three months ago. In a leaked memo, U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan Karl Eikenberry complained that Afghan President Hamid Karzai was not a reliable strategic partner for the U.S., casting doubt on the civil aspect of the conflict as well as doubts about the military campaign. The Independent (London) (5/16)
- What is the best way for young entrepreneurs to positively impact international development and global problems?
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