| |  | |  Egyptian opposition rejects talks with Mubarak Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak has offered to discuss potential reforms with opposition groups, yet the disparate groups -- which have united behind a week of unprecedented protests seeking an end to the leader's 29-year rule -- said they would not negotiate as long as he remains in office. Pressure was mounting on Mubarak not only through protests, but the economy, which is near-paralyzed after a week during which foreign commerce, tourism and banking have all but stopped. The Wall Street Journal (2/1) , The New York Times (free registration) (1/31)
|  |  | I urge all governments, both in [North Africa] and elsewhere to reflect on the fact that, in the long term, genuine and lasting stability does not depend on a ruthless security apparatus or a ring of military steel, but on the development of human rights and democracy." Navi Pillay, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. Click here for the full story. |
|  | "Last week Republican legislators in the United States proposed cutting the budget of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) by approximately 84%. USAID head Rajiv Shah has been avidly defending his agency -- arguing USAID plays an important role promoting, among other things, global security." UN Dispatch | |
- UN gets tough with Syria over inspections
The UN's International Atomic Energy Agency has changed tactics after nearly three years trying to persuade Syria to allow inspectors to visit several sites the agency suspects are linked to nuclear-related activities. The agency has taken the tougher stance as it prepares to publish this month a potentially damning report on the country's compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which could result in sanctions by the UN Security Council. The Wall Street Journal (2/1)      - Study: Drugs prevents HIV spread to babies
Antiviral triple therapy, usually reserved for patients with highly progressed HIV/AIDS, can help stem the transmission of the virus from pregnant women to their babies, according to a study published in The Lancet. All of the women who participated in the study had HIV, but none had progressed to the point where triple therapy would normally be prescribed. Use of the more aggressive therapy resulted in a 43% drop in infection rates. The New York Times (free registration) (1/31) - Aquaculture boosts fish consumption
The global per capita consumption of fish reached an all-time high in 2008, rising to 17.1 kilograms from 16.9 kilograms per person in 2007, according to a report released Monday by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. The increase is due to the spread of aquaculture, and fish farms -- which now not only account for some 46% of the world's supply of consumed fish, but most of the commercial value. CBC.ca (Canada) (1/31) , The New York Times (free registration) (1/31) - Egypt blocks Internet access amid crisis
Egyptian authorities have shut down the Internet across the country in an attempt to prevent communications among protesters. Google announced a new service Monday that will allow people in Egypt to sidestep government controls on social media platform Twitter by calling a special telephone number and leaving a message that is translated into a tweet. Chinese Internet service providers have blocked keywords associated with Egypt in a bid to control the spread of information on anti-government protests. The Toronto Star/Reuters (1/31) , The New York Times (free registration) (1/31) - Egypt protesters say Mubarak as good as gone
Even larger crowds spilled into Cairo's Tahrir Square today, while similar demonstrations were staged nationwide, in response to calls for street protests exceeding a million people in an effort to usher out Egypt's deeply entrenched president, Hosni Mubarak. Protesters -- who were assured by the army that they would not be fired upon -- held hand-written signs saying "Game over" and "checkmate," and chanted, "Mubarak, wake up! Today is your last!" The Washington Post (2/1) - Egypt ambassador commends U.S., criticizes UN's Ban: The Egyptian ambassador to the United Nations, Maged Abdelaziz, praised the "cautious" response by the U.S. government to the mass street demonstrations in the North African country, but criticized UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for implying that authorities had used violence to disperse protesters. "[The Americans] are not pushing and they are not staying away. We think this is the right approach," he said. Bloomberg (1/31)
- Clinton launches major U.S. diplomatic meetings
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has convened a weeklong series of meetings of U.S. diplomats in the wake of WikiLeaks' release of diplomatic cables, unrest in the Arab world and funding challenges to U.S. foreign aid. Clinton called in more than 260 diplomats serving in 180 countries for the high-level meetings. The Independent (London) (2/1) - Jordan's king installs new government
In the face of a rising tide of protests at home and in nearby countries, Jordan's King Abdullah II sacked his government and installed a new prime minister and Cabinet. Former general Marouf Bakhit will lead the new government. The Washington Post (2/1) - Sudan separation moves forward
Southern Sudanese officials are turning their attention to building a new country after preliminary results from January's referendum showed overwhelming support for independence. Khartoum has called on the U.S. to lift sanctions now that the referendum has passed peacefully. AlertNet/Reuters (1/31) , NPR.org (2/1)  | |  | | | | | | Administrative Associate, Public Affairs | United Nations Foundations | Washington, DC | | Administrative Associate, Energy Access | United Nations Foundations | Washington, DC | | Associate, Executive Office | United Nations Foundations | Washington , DC | | Manager, UNA Education Programs | United Nations Foundations | New York City, NY | | Major Gifts Officer, Nothing But Nets and Global Partnerships | United Nations Foundations | Washington, DC | | Regional Manager for Europe | Center for Reproductive Rights | New York, NY | | Senior Officer, Medical Safety | The Pew Charitable Trusts | Washington, DC | | | |  | |  |
|
 | Key Sites
| | |
This SmartBrief was created for eleccion@yahoogroups.com
| Advertise With Us | Amy DiElsi
Director for UN Foundation Communications
United Nations Foundation
1800 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Suite 400
Washington, DC 20036
(D) 202-419-3230
(C) 202-492-3078
(F) 202-887-9021
www.unfoundation.org | | | | 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: - Monday, January 31, 2011
- Friday, January 28, 2011
- Thursday, January 27, 2011
- Wednesday, January 26, 2011
- Tuesday, January 25, 2011
| | | Lead Editor: Adam Mazmanian
Contributing Editor: Juliette Terzieff
Mailing Address:
SmartBrief, Inc.®, 1100 H ST NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20005 | | | | | | © 1999-2011 SmartBrief, Inc.® Legal Information | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment