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- Diplomats appeal to White House over UN bank accounts
Diplomats from many of the UN member nations have appealed to the U.S. government after several American banks, notably JPMorgan Chase, announced that they would be closing their accounts. Many diplomatic missions could be without long-standing banking facilities by the end of March amid tighter U.S. rules to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism. Google/The Associated Press (1/13) , Financial Times (tiered subscription model) (1/13)       - Early UN mission seen as "war-fighting machine" for peace
 Before the United Nations was created in 1945, it had been originally envisioned by U.S., British and Russian leaders as a war-fighting machine that would keep the peace after the end of World War II, according to a new book, "America, Hitler and the UN: How the Allies won World War II and Forged a Peace" by Dan Plesch. However, the early vision ran up against post-World War II realities as nations entered the Cold War. The Guardian (London) (1/13)  | - Rape victims are overlooked as casualty of war
Growing attention is being paid to rape arising from war in light of better reporting of a shocking numbers of sexual assaults, particularly in conflicts in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. For example, the UN estimates the number of rape victims from conflict in the Congo in 2009 ranged from 15,000 to 17,500. All the same, many women are either killed by their assailants or die of their injuries, whereas other survivors of rape do not report the incidents because of social stigma, according to The Economist. The Economist (1/13) - Brazil floods claim 500 lives; death toll is likely to rise
 At least 500 people have died in flooding in southeastern Brazil, while thousands more have been trapped in their homes, or made homeless, by massive mudslides triggered by heavy rains. Rescuers have been struggling to reach remote areas affected by the floods as the death toll was expected to rise in what has become the country's worst national disaster in decades. BBC (1/14) , AlertNet/Reuters (1/13) - Poaching of African rhinos again threatens species
The poaching of rhinos increased 173% last year in South Africa and reached a 15-year high across Africa, in apparent response to more demand for rhino horns in China and Vietnam. The surge in deaths, which were carried out primarily by criminal organizations that use sophisticated weaponry, helicopters and night-vision goggles, could reverse more than three decades of successful measures to bring back white and black rhinos from the brink of extinction. The Independent (London) (1/14) - Civil liberties in free fall in former Soviet space
More than any other part of the world, the former territories of the Soviet Union have experienced a steady decline in civil liberties over the past decade, according to a U.S.-based rights group Freedom House. With the exception of the Baltic states, the new countries have experienced substantial curbs on press freedom, the intimidation of civil society and greater government influence on the judiciary, the group says. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (1/13) - Protests rife in Tunisia despite leader's concessions
Protests were continuing today throughout Tunisia as more than 5,000 people gathered in the capital, outside the interior ministry, to call for the immediate resignation of President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali despite the long-standing leader's pledge Thursday not to seek a sixth term in 2014. Reports of the conspicuous wealth amassed by the leader and his extended family, detailed partly in a secret U.S. cable published by WikiLeaks, are fueling the demonstrations against corruption and unemployment. Reuters (1/14) , BBC (1/14) , The New York Times (free registration) (1/13) - Proposed tour of Iran nuclear sites is rejected by world powers
The proposal by Iran to permit a select group of world powers to tour its nuclear sites appears likely to fail after China and the European Union rejected the invitation, and Russia said such a trip could never serve as a substitute for official talks or regular inspections from the UN nuclear watchdog. Talks over the country's disputed nuclear program are slated to begin next week in Istanbul between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany. Reuters (1/13)
- This week marks the anniversary of the earthquake in Haiti. What issue in Haiti do you think still needs the most attention?
| Building infrastructure |  39.73% | | Protecting women and girls from violence |  22.60% | | Improving access to resources |  14.73% | | Rehabilitating the government |  14.73% | | Providing medical services |  8.22% | |
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