| |
- UN head assesses future of peacekeeping
Different UN agencies should work together to provide a more comprehensive and enduring approach to peacekeeping efforts throughout the world, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Thursday. He also stressed the importance of women to post-conflict recovery, adding that "conflicts leave states severely weakened and social structures decimated." United Press International (10/14)        - WHO is alarmed by skin-disease spread in Afghanistan
Tens of thousands of Afghans -- predominantly women and children -- have contracted the disfiguring skin disease cutaneous leishmaniasis and the number of cases is increasing, the World Health Organization says. The disease, transmitted by the bite of sand flies, threatens the health of 13 million Afghans. BBC (10/14) - World's envoys review biodoversity protections
An international agreement on methods to protect plant and animal species and a treaty on access to natural resources will be the main focus of a two-week meeting beginning in Japan on Monday. UN officials warn governments have failed to meet 2010 targets to halt biodiversity loss and new agreements must provide stronger protections. Reuters (10/15) - Controversial head of UN climate group to stay on
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change opted Thursday to keep its chairman, Rajendra Pachauri, despite criticism over errors in recent climate-change reports. The group said it would be more careful to ensure conclusions are supported by statistical analysis and would note when the conclusions are disputed by scientists. The Wall Street Journal (10/15) - DR Congo troops are accused of rape, murder
Soldiers from the Democratic Republic of Congo are committing "rapes, killings and lootings" in the same villages whose inhabitants already have been victimized by rebels, Margot Wallstrom, special representative for sexual violence in conflict, told the UN Security Council on Thursday. She called on the Congolese government to investigate the attacks and arrest the perpetrators. BBC (10/14) , Al-Jazeera (10/15) - China squeezes dissidents as meeting opens
Chinese authorities have detained or placed under house arrest several high-profile dissidents ahead of a major Communist Party Central Committee meeting that opened today. The move comes in the wake of a Nobel peace prize win for Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo and increased pressure on the party to initiate political reform. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (10/14) - Europe missile shield is on course
Officials are confident that NATO next month will vote to participate in a U.S. government project to erect a missile defense shield for much of Europe. The shield, which would ostensibly guard against attacks from Iran, has yet to garner the support of Turkey, a NATO member. The Washington Post (10/14) - Elders launch Mideast tour to bolster peace process
Former Irish President Mary Robinson will lead a delegation of The Elders, including former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, on a tour of the Middle East beginning Saturday to lobby for support of a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. The Elders delegation is expected to visit Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian territories. Reuters (10/14) - Dutch tolerance is questioned as new government takes power
The swearing in Thursday of a new Dutch coalition government has given cause for many citizens to wonder whether the ceremony also marks the end of an era of tolerance. Four months of negotiations have resulted in a tougher line on immigrants, Muslims, the European Union and foreign tourists. TIME (10/14)
- What do you think is the most important global role of the United Nations?
| Preventing and resolving deadly conflicts |  54.78% | | Taking the lead in efforts to address climate change |  11.26% | | Promoting gender equality, women's rights and the advancement of women and girls |  11.26% | | Delivering humanitarian aid to areas in crisis |  10.51% | | Establishing common standards of practice for international trade, business and international law |  10.32% | | Helping to reverse the spread of HIV, malaria and other major diseases |  1.88% |  | - 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 14, 2010
- Wednesday, October 13, 2010
- Tuesday, October 12, 2010
- Monday, October 11, 2010
- Friday, October 08, 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