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- Militants attack UN base in DR Congo
Peacekeepers on Saturday fended off an attack by several dozen armed assailants on a UN base in an eastern province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. UN troops killed eight, and injured two, of the attackers, believed to be members of the tribal Mai-Mai militia. Google/Agence France-Presse (10/25)        - Haiti's cholera woes continue
The number of deaths resulting from a cholera outbreak in Haiti is dropping, but local and international health officials warn a countrywide outbreak affecting tens of thousands remains a substantive threat. Haiti has been scrambling to contain the outbreak, which has seen more than 3,300 confirmed cases and at least 259 deaths. Reuters (10/25) - Delegates inch toward biodiversity pact
Ongoing talks in Japan are inching closer to securing $4 billion to help developing countries preserve their biodiversity even as rich countries increase trade in their genetic resources. The funds, part of a plan for new targets for the protection of plant and animal species by 2020, would go primarily toward the preservation of tropical forests. AlertNet.org/Reuters (10/26) - Discovery and destruction vie in Amazon
Over the past decade, more than 1,200 new species of animals have been discovered in the rain forests of the Amazon at the same time their very existence is under serious threat from human activities such as logging, ranching and farming. Some 17% of the rain forest has been lost over the past several decades, according to the World Wildlife Fund. The Guardian (London) (10/26) - China pushes against Myanmar war crimes probe
U.S. efforts to spur an international investigation of possible war crimes in Myanmar are reportedly being thwarted by China, which for two months has been lobbying against the plan with top UN officials, as well as Asian and European governments. U.S. officials are calling for a probe, in part, to leverage the military junta into staging free elections and releasing political prisoners. The Washington Post (10/25) , Reuters (10/26) - Trafficking of Haitian children rises in earthquake aftermath
Thousands of young survivors of Haiti's devastating January earthquake have fallen prey to human smugglers, trafficked to neighboring Dominican Republic where they are put to work as beggars, peddlers and prostitutes. Traffickers are able to use lax border enforcement and corruption to their advantage, and Haitian Prime Minister Jean-Max Bellerive readily admits there exists little political will to tighten border security. The Miami Herald (free registration) (10/23) - Russia, Somalia fare poorly on corruption
Countries devastated by war again top the list of the most corrupt places in the world, while Russia, a global power, was ranked as the most corrupt by far of G-20 countries. Somalia, Myanmar, Afghanistan and Iraq ranked at the top of the Corruption Perceptions Index, released today by Transparency International. The Washington Post (10/26) , BBC (10/26) - Iran's nuclear power plans progress
Iranian officials said today that the first of 163 fuel rods for the country's first nuclear reactor have been loaded into the core and the Bushehr facility will be operational next year. Authorities predict the plant's output will begin feeding into the country's power grids in three months. The New York Times (free registration) (10/26) - Mubarak reconsiders strategy as elections loom
Egypt's aging president, Hosni Mubarak, may seek another term in elections scheduled for next year as his chosen successor, his son Gamal, may not be positioned to fight off electoral challenges from opposition parties. Gamal has won support for his promotion of democratic reforms, but many Egyptians question his commitment and favoritism toward the country's wealthy elite. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (10/26)
- This week, the United Nations celebrates its 65th birthday. What has been the UN's greatest accomplishment?
 | Negotiating more than 172 peace settlements, preventing war | | Helping more than 30 million refugees fleeing war, persecution or famine | | Helping eliminate smallpox and enriching the lives of the world's children through immunization programs | | Promoting international cooperation on monetary issues and encouraging stable exchange rates among nations | | Something else |
 | - 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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