| |  | |  North Korea watchers eye change in leadership Observers expect that Kim Jong Il, the supreme leader of North Korea, on Tuesday will name his youngest son, Kim Jong Eun, as his successor. The designation is likely, observers say, at a secretive Workers' Party conference, the first in three decades. Even experts who spend their careers trying to monitor the secretive regime admit that they know very little about the machinations of the Pyongyang leadership. The Washington Post (9/27)
|  |  | We agree on the critical need for a democratic transition and national reconciliation, and for ensuring free, fair and inclusive elections. Failure to meet these expectations could undermine the credibility of the process -- which, in turn, could reflect on ASEAN's collective values and principles." UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, speaking on the upcoming elections in Myanmar. Click here for the full story. |
|  | "Members of the Africa Commission gathered at the UN on September 22nd to discuss how inclusive growth and employment can help accelerate the achievement of the MDGs in Africa." UN Dispatch | |
- Canada pushes for council seat
Canada is campaigning hard for a seat among the 10 nonpermanent members of the UN Security Council in the run-up to a vote slated for Oct. 12. Germany and Portugal are among the other countries vying for one of the available two-year slots on the council. The Toronto Star (9/25)      - Ban urges Myanmar's neighbors to get tough
Asian countries need to apply more pressure to Myanmar ahead of the country's Nov. 7 elections on human rights and development issues, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Ban urged Myanmar's neighbors to support a transition to civilian rule and expressed frustration with the ruling junta's actions ahead of the vote. Google/Agence France-Presse (9/26)  - China re-examines one-child policy
China is considering easing the country's unpopular one-child policy in some districts as a reward for provinces that have successfully controlled population growth, Chinese authorities said Sunday as the country marked the policy's 30th anniversary. Authorities say the policy has protected China from upheavals related to rapid population growth. Critics charge enforcement has led to abuses such as forced abortions and sterilizations, and left a widening gender gap that will hamper Chinese society in the decades to come. AlertNet.org/Reuters (9/26) - Malawian chief takes on battle against maternal mortality
The concentrated efforts of a Malawian chief to raise awareness and challenge societal traditions have helped slash the maternal mortality rates in the 89 villages under his control. Chief Kwataine's maternal-health campaign has directly disputed the local tradition of a woman's first child being born at home and banned traditional birth attendants to compel families to seek out hospital treatment. The chief hopes successes in his area will convince the government, which is struggling to find a comprehensive strategy to address maternal-mortality rates, to help fund other communities' efforts. Inter Press Service (9/24) 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.
- Sustainability is key to new UAE city
Residents have begun to move into Masdar, the world's first experimental "zero-carbon city," in the United Arab Emirates. Architects studied ancient Middle Eastern cities to understand how communities survived in the heat and then combined findings such as wind funnels with low-consumption modern technologies. The New York Times (free registration) (9/25) - Is the West hacking Iran?
Iranian officials are blaming Western governments for engaging in "electronic warfare" after more than 60% of the country's computers were stricken with a computer virus believed to be targeting the country's industrial complex. The Stuxnet worm did not penetrate the nuclear power plant in Bushehr, according to officials, but only the computers of some of its staff. The Independent (London)/Reuters (9/27) - Israel asks for continued talks as bulldozers roll in West Bank
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked Palestinian leaders not to abandon peace talks after bulldozers resumed work today, after a 10-month pause, in several Jewish settlements in the West Bank. The head of the Palestinian Authority, Mahmoud Abbas, said he would defer making a decision until a meeting scheduled for Oct. 4 with other Arab leaders in the region. BBC (9/27) , Bloomberg (9/27) - Serbia signals it is willing to resume dialogue with Kosovo
Serbian President Boris Tadic says he is "ready to talk" with leaders in Kosovo, but that the overture does not mean Serbia recognizes Kosovo's independence. Recently, talks between Serbia and Kosovo were encouraged in a resolution of the UN General Assembly. CNN (9/25)  | |  | | | | | | |  |  MSH SEEKS STAFF FOR HEALTH PROJECT IN BENIN | Management Sciences for Health | Multiple cities, Benin | | Executive Director, Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves | United Nations Foundations | Washington DC, DC | | Senior Associate, Development | United Nations Foundations | Washington DC, DC | | Director, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Rights Program | HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH | New York, NY | | New York Director - Crisis Action | Crisis Action | New York, NY | | | |  | |  | |
- What was the best take-away message from last week's UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Review Summit, the Clinton Global Initiative or the UN Week Digital Media Lounge?
 | Women and girls are the answer to global development | | The smallest solutions -- e.g., bednets, clean cookstoves and vaccines -- will make the largest difference | | We each have a role to play through our resources, skills and networks to achieve the MDGs | | More than ever, technology is a key player in achieving global problems | | Sustainable global development is essential to U.S. national security |
 | - Register now for the mHealth Summit in Washington, D.C.
The 2010 mHealth Summit brings together leaders in government, private sector/industry, academia and not-for-profit organizations to share information and experiences related to the intersection of mobile technology, health research and policy.Featured speakers include Bill Gates, Co-chair and Trustee of the Bill Melinda Gates Foundation; Aneesh Chopra, U.S. Chief Technology Officer; Dr. Julio Frenk Dean of Faculty, Harvard School of Public Health; and Ted Turner, Chairman, UN Foundation. The mHealth Summit takes place Nov. 8 to 10 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Click here for more information and to register. |
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