| |  | |  Marine census records diversity and threats to aquatic life The world's first global marine census has pinpointed more than 250,000 species, but estimates that some 750,000 species have yet to be discovered -- to say nothing of the millions of microbe species believed to comprise some 90% of the biomass of oceans and seas. The report, which was published Monday and incorporates the work of 2,700 researchers from 80 countries, said diversity was increasingly being threatened by pollution, overfishing and acidification. The Wall Street Journal (10/5)
|  |  | We can't discuss other elements and not discuss emissions reductions. It's unavoidable." China's chief climate negotiator, Su Wei. Click here for the full story. |
|  | "The UN peacekeeping force in Congo, now known as MONUSCO, is in the process of shutting down. Last year, the Congolese government let it be known that it no longer wants UN peacekeepers in its country." UN Dispatch | |
- Security Council envoys to hold talks on Sudan vote
A delegation from the UN Security Council is scheduled to arrive Wednesday in Sudan in support of a referendum that would allow the southern part of the country to secede, and become its own country, ostensibly ending two decades of civil war. U.S. President Barack Obama last month told the United Nations that voting must be free, fair and safe because "the fate of millions of people hangs in the balance." Google/Agence France-Presse (10/4)      - UNHCR: World's refugee populations are growing
Protracted conflicts around the world have helped create 43 million refugees, with 2009 posting the lowest number of returnees ever recorded, UNHCR chief Antonio Guterres warned. Governments need to work together to provide increased protection for refugees, and assistance for countries hosting large displaced populations and advance efforts to resettle refugees in other countries are needed, Guterres said. AlertNet.org/Reuters (10/4)  - Haitian property owners look to clear tent camps
Property owners across Port-au-Prince are increasingly putting pressure on earthquake survivors to evacuate tent camps, with more than 144,000 people reporting eviction threats since March. Humanitarian organizations have appealed to the Haitian government to issue a moratorium on evictions to prevent conflict, but property owners say they are tired of waiting for the government to resettle people. The New York Times (free registration) (10/4) - China: Onus is on wealthy to cut carbon emissions
China today told delegates at an international climate conference in Tianjin that rich countries must dramatically cut carbon emissions. Earlier, Christiana Figueres, UN climate chief, called upon participants to seek progress is less contentious areas -- such as technology, forestry and finance -- in order to increase the likelihood of reaching agreement at talks later this year in Mexico. The Guardian (London) (10/5) , The Independent (London)/Reuters (10/5) - Japan taps urban mines for rare-earth minerals
Japan is looking to secure a stable supply of rare-earth minerals by recycling content from used electronics such as cell phones and computers. Supporters say the effort protects Japanese industry from trade spats with China -- now the world's largest exporter of rare-earth metals -- while creating jobs and economic growth possibilities for the country. The New York Times (free registration) (10/4) - Cuba readies more prisoner releases
Cuban authorities are preparing to release more prisoners from the country's jails, adding nine more names to a list of those already being considered for discharge, says Elizardo Sanchez, head of Cuba's Commission for Human Rights and National Reconciliation. Rights advocates gave a lukewarm response to the plan as the prisoners will all be required to agree to conditions such as living in exile before they can be released. CNN (10/5) , Google/The Associated Press (10/4) - Ties are restored between Japan, China
An impromptu conversation between the prime ministers of Japan and China appears to have defused, at least temporarily, a long-simmering territorial dispute over uninhabited islands in the East China Sea. The two countries agreed today to resume joint cooperation that ceased last month after a Chinese trawler collided with Japanese patrol boats in the disputed waters. Google/The Associated Press (10/5) - Germany downplays terror attack as own militants killed
Germany on Monday was soft-pedaling warnings over an imminent terrorist attack even as Pakistani intelligence officials reported that a U.S. missile strike had killed eights suspected German militants in North Waziristan. The U.S. and other governments on Oct. 3 warned travelers in Europe to be wary of attacks by Islamic militants similar to those who killed 166 people in Mumbai in 2008. The Wall Street Journal (10/4) , Bloomberg (10/5)
- The UN Foundation has launched a new campaign, Girl Up, to address the needs of some of the world's hardest-to-reach adolescent girls by channeling the energy and compassion of American girls. What problem facing girls in developing countries should we be most concerned about?
 | Child marriage | | Lack of access to education | | Lack of health services | | Violence against women | | Too little funding for programs for girls |
- 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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