| |
- UNODC makes case for coordinated drug efforts
Governments need to do a better job of coordinating efforts against drug trafficking beginning with ratification of the United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime, warns Yuri Fedotov, executive director of the UN Office on Drug and Crime. Drug trafficking is the single most lucrative business line for organized criminal enterprises, Fedotov said, with cocaine and heroin alone earning traffickers about $280 million every day. Reuters (10/18)       - Israeli settlement question reaches UN
The resumption of Israeli settlement construction has prompted fierce criticism at the United Nations and warnings from Palestinians and their allies they may seek Security Council action if Israel does not reinstate a moratorium so that peace talks can continue. The Christian Science Monitor (10/18)  - At UN forum, time is now to halt species crisis
Governments pledged by 2010 to reduce the rate of loss in biodiversity worldwide, but most indicators of loss among animal species, habitats and natural resources have only gone up. The UN Convention on Biological Diversity is meeting in Japan trying to get governments to do what they promised to do in 2002, but the window is closing on efforts to alleviate the world's nature crisis. BBC (10/17) - UNHCR charts Iraq refugee, returnee worries
More than 60% of Iraqis who returned from exile to Baghdad now regret the decision, the UNHCR found in a survey of more than 2,300 returnees. The lack of jobs, limited access to health care and chronic insecurity were the top reasons cited by respondents. A separate survey of 3,500 Iraqi refugees living in Syria and Jordan found a majority still reluctant to return to Iraq. AlertNet.org/Reuters (10/19) - Journalism is a risky business in Iran
 Tehran remains hypersensitive to critical media coverage, consistently sending Iranian journalists and publishers to prison for their work on a variety of charges such as espionage, and forcing foreign journalists to leave the country. In many cases, such as that of Iranian-American Roxana Saberi, media personnel are released by Tehran in a manner calculated for political gain. Der Spiegel (Germany) (English online version) (10/18) - Time is running out for Mideast peace deal
The UN assistant secretary-general for political affairs has told the Security Council that there is a "brief and crucial window" to salvage the Mideast peace talks in light of the Israeli refusal to stop building settlements in the West Bank. "If the door to peace closes it will be very hard to reopen," said Oscar Fernandez Taranco. Google/Agence France-Presse (10/18) - NATO launches "final" phase of Kandahar offensive
NATO has begun the final stage of its offensive to take the Afghan province of Kandahar, the spiritual home of the Taliban, edging closer to crippling the militant resistance and leaving the country. An air assault Sunday was intended to flush militants from vineyards and orchards onto the main roads, where they would be more easily captured, and killed. The Independent (London) (10/18) - China's chosen successor is mum on reforms
The promotion of Xi Jinping to the post of vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission on Monday has convinced observers that Li is the likely successor to current President Hu Jintao when the latter steps down in two years. Xi's position on reform of the ruling Communist party and China's governance structure is unknown and few expect him to make public comments before a succession is assured. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (10/19) - Canada arrests suspect in Dubai Hamas hit
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates say that Canada has arrested a suspect in the assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a Hamas militant, in Dubai earlier this year. Canada has yet to reveal details about the case, however, the second arrest of a reported Israeli intelligence agent in the large-scale operation, much of which was captured on hotel and airport security cameras. AlertNet.org/Reuters (10/19) - Guinea falters in transition to civilian rule
The ongoing political deadlock in Guinea is threatening the country's transition to civilian rule, as well as increasing the risk of ethnic clashes and a reluctance among military leaders to cede power. In fact, the inability to fill seats on an electoral commission has cast an Oct. 24 vote in doubt. AlertNet.org/Reuters (10/19)
- A new poll from the Better World Campaign says that 59% of Americans support the United Nations and 63% support paying our UN dues. Surprised?
 | Yes -- those numbers seem high | | Yes -- those numbers seem low | | No -- that seems about right |
- 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. |
 | Key Sites
| | |
This SmartBrief was created for eleccion@yahoogroups.com
| | | About UN WIRE | | UN Wire is a free service sponsored by the United Nations Foundation which is dedicated to supporting the United Nations' efforts to address the most pressing humanitarian, socioeconomic and environmental challenges facing the world today. | | | | | | | | Recent UN Wire Issues: - Monday, October 18, 2010
- Friday, October 15, 2010
- Thursday, October 14, 2010
- Wednesday, October 13, 2010
- Tuesday, October 12, 2010
| | | Lead Editor: Adam Mazmanian
Contributing Editor: Juliette Terzieff
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005 | | | | | | © 1999-2010 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment