| |
- AU is seeking Somali blockade, more troops
The African Union is seeking UN Security Council support for a sweeping air and naval blockade of Somalia in order to assist the country's government in battling insurgents linked to al-Qaida. An AU official is calling for an increase in international troops from about 8,000 to 20,000 in light of street fighting that has claimed the lives of about 350 civilians in recent weeks. BBC (10/22) , Los Angeles Times (10/22)       - UN has little confidence in fair Myanmar poll
Elections scheduled for Nov. 7 are unlikely to be conducted in an atmosphere conducive to fairness in light of increased restrictions on the freedoms of expression and assembly, says Tomas Ojea Quintana, the United Nations human rights envoy for Myanmar. Human rights advocates and Western governments have repeatedly blasted the ruling junta in the run-up to the country's first elections in 20 years, citing serious concerns over intimidation and increased repression. The New York Times (free registration) (10/21)  - UNICEF reaches out to DR Congo's children
Child soldiers and children orphaned by violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo are being given the opportunity to heal and learn in UNICEF-backed schools. United Nations officials estimate there are tens of thousands of children caught up in the country's conflict. CNN (10/21) - Thailand grapples with deadly flooding
Thai authorities say floods spreading across the country's northeast are the worst Thailand has experienced in decades, and have issued warning to Bangkok residents to prepare for rising waters. At least 17 people have already died as floodwaters have hit villages in 28 of Thailand's provinces. The New York Times (free registration) (10/21) - Urgency, yet no consensus, at biodiversity talks
Diplomats at the ongoing Convention on Biological Diversity say the future of the planet is at risk, yet they appear increasingly unlikely to hammer out a deal because rich countries do not want to pay poor countries for use of their marine and land resources. Targets for preserving the world's biodiversity are unlikely to be met until issues like access and payment are codified under international law. The Economist/Newsbook blog (10/21) - Researchers issue stark warning on Arctic warming
Temperatures have risen and sea ice has melted to record setting levels in the Arctic, and the region is unlikely to ever return to previous colder states, international atmospheric researchers warn. Researchers tied recent severe storms in the U.S. and Europe to the warming Arctic, and caution that sea level rise predictions and other climate-related projections will need to be scaled up as a result of the findings. TIME/The Associated Press (10/21) , AlertNet.org/Reuters (10/21) - Middle East looks closer at region's "netizens"
Across the Middle East, governments are taking an increasingly hard line on the online activities of their citizens as Internet usage soars in the region. Iran, Egypt, Morocco and Syria have all jailed "netizens" over their online presence, and many countries are considering legislation on permissible Internet usage. The Economist (10/21) - Web censorship hardens in Southeast Asia
The Chinese government's model of censorship of the Internet is being copied by governments across Southeast Asia as a means to monitor, and silence, dissent. In Thailand, even, website moderators may be imprisoned for decades over comments critical of the monarchy -- even if they did not write them. The Guardian (London) (10/21) - Mladic remains central to Serbia's EU hopes
Divisions over the future of Serbia's quest for European Union membership have emerged over the question of the arrest of longtime war crimes fugitive Ratko Mladic. Many European countries believe Serbia should be allowed to reopen EU membership talks as a result of progress on issues such as Kosovo and increased regional stability, but others believe negotiations should not resume until Serbia produces Mladic for trial. The New York Times (free registration) (10/21) - UN envoy assails Israeli building boom
The accelerated construction of Jewish settlements in the West Bank is "alarming" and "illegal under international law," Robert Serry, the UN's Mideast envoy, said Thursday. The accelerated construction of more than 500 new apartments undermines trust, he added, and threatens chances for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. The Washington Post/The Associated Press (10/21)
- 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?
| No -- that seems about right |  44.20% | | Yes -- those numbers seem high |  34.06% | | Yes -- those numbers seem low |  21.74% | - 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: - Thursday, October 21, 2010
- Wednesday, October 20, 2010
- Tuesday, October 19, 2010
- Monday, October 18, 2010
- Friday, October 15, 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