| |  | |  North Korea's "Young General" takes his place North Korean leader Kim Jong-il elevated his youngest son, Kim Jong-un, and his sister, Kim Kyong-hui, to the rank of four-star general as part of a set of moves aimed at orchestrating a smooth transfer of power. Kim Jong-un has previously been largely unknown to the public, and today's appointment, observers say, is the clearest signal to date that he is the chosen successor to his father. BBC (9/28) , The New York Times (free registration) (9/28) , The Washington Post (9/27)
|  |  | The transition itself is academic. The real question will be whether they can hold it all together." North Korea expert Victor Cha. Click here for the full story. |
|  | "As usual, the sideshows like Ahmadenijad's 9-11 Trutherism sucked up much of the mainstream media attention around UN Week. But beyond the sideshows, last week brought some very real, substantive accomplishments that could potentially transform the lives of millions of people around the world." UN Dispatch | |
- Bachelet to emphasize security, equality and dignity
The incoming head of the new United Nations agency for women says she will primarily emphasize issues of domestic violence, abuse of women in areas of conflict zones and aspects of reproductive health (and related rights). Michelle Bachelet, the former president of Chile, says the problems encountered by women are universal, and that "the state cannot be neutral." The Nation (9/27)      - Pakistan is selected to head UN atomic-energy agency
The International Atomic Energy Agency on Monday chose Pakistan -- whose chief nuclear-weapons scientist once trafficked atomic-weapons technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea -- to lead its 35-member board of governors. The country last headed the board of the UN agency in 1998. Bloomberg (9/27) - Rwanda ends threat to depart peacekeeping mission
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke to Rwandan authorities Sunday and expressed satisfaction over their decision to continue participation in peacekeeping missions. Rwandan authorities threatened to pull the country's soldiers out of the joint UN-African mission in Darfur in response to a leaked UN report that accused Rwandan military forces of committing genocide in the Democratic Republic of Congo. BBC (9/27)  - Health experts: Time for coordinated international cancer campaign
Cancer now kills more people each year in low-income countries than malaria, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis combined, and health researchers warn that the increasing caseload will soon overwhelm poor countries. By 2020, more than 70% of new cancer cases will be in the developing world, yet only 5% of global cancer resources are spent there. Public-awareness campaigns focused on prevention and treatment, trained medical providers and better access to drugs should be the cornerstones of a coordinated response, health experts say. AlertNet.org/Reuters (9/27) - Water use in Angkor area raises concerns
Unregulated development and groundwater pumping around Cambodia's ancient Angkor temples are raising fears of damage to the UNESCO world-heritage-listed site. Authorities estimate there are 6,000 illegal wells in Siem Reap, a city three miles from the temples that has doubled in size over the past decade. The ancient temples sit on sand that relies on groundwater to maintain a firm base. The Guardian (London) (9/27) - China launches investigation into secret jail
Chinese authorities are investigating claims a private company colluded with local governments to kidnap and incarcerate people in clandestine "black jails" to prevent them from traveling to Beijing to complain about local concerns. Human rights advocates say China has hundreds of black jails and that abusive practices are common. BBC (9/27) - Ban: Israeli construction is disappointing, illegal
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on Monday said he was "disappointed" Israel had allowed construction to resume of settlements in the occupied territory of the West Bank, characterizing the work as illegal under international law. Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, said he would stop peace talks unless a moratorium on such construction is reinstated. Google/The Associated Press (9/27) , The Jerusalem Post (free registration) (9/28) - Security Council seeks more coordinated terrorism efforts
The United Nations Security Council called for a more integrated international effort to address the root causes of terrorism and for increased support for smaller countries battling extremism and militancy. Council members said development, respect for human rights and security are areas where governments can work to address some of the factors that drive people toward support of violence. Google/The Canadian Press (9/27) - Sudan pleads debt forgiveness for peace
Sudan on Monday appealed to members of the United Nations to forgive some $38 billion in external debt in order to bolster chances of a peaceful referendum on independence for the southern part of the country, Africa's largest, after a lengthy civil war that ended in 2005. Leaders in North Sudan are threatening to dismiss the results of the referendum. Reuters (9/28) , Al-Jazeera (9/28) - U.S. takes closer aim at Pakistan-based Taliban
The U.S. has stepped up its military campaign against Taliban-aligned forces operating out of Pakistan, launching manned helicopter strikes and increasing the frequency of unmanned drone attacks in a bid to diminish the Taliban's capability to launch cross-border attacks in Afghanistan. American officials have also called on Pakistani authorities to increase their efforts to dismantle militant networks operating in the border areas. The New York Times (free registration) (9/27)
- 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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