| |  | |  Climate talks in Cancun begin Modest, consensus-driven measures are expected to emerge from the Cancun, Mexico, climate talks, kicking off today. Although some countries are pursuing individual and regional carbon-reduction plans, many see a UN framework as the only viable way to limit and remedy the effects of carbon emissions. The New York Times (free registration)/Reuters (11/28) , BBC (11/29) , Slate (11/29)
|  |  | Reporters, opinionators, and analysts are right to have limited hopes for Cancun but dangerously wrong if they think the meeting is unimportant. Michael Levi, a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, writing in Slate. Click here for the full story. |
|  | "So far, a cholera epidemic in Haiti has killed nearly 1500 people and sickened about 60,000 others. It is spreading fast." UN Dispatch | |
- Leaked U.S. cables reveal spying on UN leaders
The U.S. government has been amassing biometric, forensic and biographical information on key UN officials, including Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, as part of a campaign that observers say straddles the boundaries between diplomacy and spying. A 2009 directive revealed Sunday by WikiLeaks shows how U.S. diplomats are being assigned tasks traditionally handled by intelligence services. The Guardian (London) (11/28) , Foreign Policy (free registration) (11/28)      - UN agency looks to improve cargo safety
The International Civil Aviation Organization is advocating changes to increase inspections for international cargo in the wake of a deflected bomb attack using printer cartridges being ferried by cargo planes. ICAO officials say their recommendations will go out to 190 member governments in the coming weeks for comment. Yahoo!/The Associated Press (11/29) - The "under-banked" world and mobile money
In the developing world, where the mobile phone is among the most ubiquitous technologies, the use of mobile payments to pay workers, send remittances and make travel arrangements is on the rise. For example, France Têlêcom's wireless unit Orange has enrolled 1 million people in a mobile banking service across six African countries. In Afghanistan, police officers are paid via SMS to avoid skimming by corrupt elements. The New York Times (free registration) (11/28) - Displaced Pakistanis wary of return home
Residents displaced from South Waziristan by a Pakistani army offensive against militants in the area more than a year ago are concerned that efforts to send them home do not reflect concerns that the militants were not defeated, merely dispersed. Pakistani officials say 400,000 residents will begin returning home within weeks. Los Angeles Times (11/28) Top five news stories selected by UN Wire readers in the past week. - Results based on number of times each story was clicked by readers.
- Solar power is seeing a rise among the world's poor
Innovations are making solar power more affordable, which means the technology makes more and more sense in some of the sunniest, and poorest, parts of the world. Financial institutions and nonprofit organizations already are funding solar projects for some of the 1.5 billion people worldwide who lack electricity. The Wall Street Journal (11/28) - Environmentalists slam Indonesia's forest plans
Environmentalists charge that Indonesian authorities' plans for forest preservation are hobbled by long-term plans for plantation development, dealing a severe blow to UN-backed efforts to slow deforestation. Indonesia signed a $1 billion deal in 2010 to promote a moratorium on forest clearance for two years and reduce emissions by 2020, but the government plans to ramp up forest destruction by 2030 -- effectively negating the entire effort, according to Greenpeace. The New York Times (free registration) (11/28) - Migration to nearly double by 2050, report says
The number of economic migrants could reach 405 million by 2050, according to a report released today. The increase, from about 214 million in 2009, will likely reflect the flight of people from developing countries because of the effects of climate change and a paucity of jobs. AlertNet/Reuters (11/29) - UN prods Myanmar over election irregularities
Myanmar is being called upon by a UN envoy to address claims of vote-rigging in the recent elections that gave a wide majority in parliament to the party backed by the country's military government. Vijay Nambiar, who serves as chief of staff to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, said that a transparent investigation would help lay a foundation for democratic rule. The Washington Post/The Associated Press (11/28) - Nuclear scientists are attacked in Iran
Iranian nuclear scientists were attacked -- one fatally -- in two nearly simultaneous car bomb attacks outside a Tehran university over the weekend, the latest in a string of assassination attempts on prominent academics and scientists. Iranian authorities blame foreign agencies for the attacks, but some opposition figures believe the government to be responsible. The Washington Post (11/29) , Los Angeles Times (11/29) - Haiti election is plagued by controversy
Haiti's Provisional Electoral Council has ordered results of Sunday's national elections to stand after 12 presidential candidates urged results be invalidated over allegations of fraud. Street protests erupted when some voters were unable to access polling stations. Candidates plan to meet today to discuss what further action they might take to challenge the results. If no single candidate wins 50% of the vote, a runoff will take place on Jan. 16. The New York Times (free registration) (11/28) , The Washington Post (11/29)
- World AIDS Day is Dec. 1. Which HIV/AIDS-fighting campaign are you most familiar with?
 | UNAIDS | | The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria | | AIDS Healthcare Foundation | | (RED) | | World AIDS Campaign |
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