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- UN: West African drug trafficking soars
Drug trafficking in West Africa is becoming increasingly sophisticated, threatening to corrupt states, spread instability and stunt regional economies, according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime. More than a third of the region's $800 million drug trade, largely cocaine and heroin, is now being consumed in West Africa, which the report says has seen a jump in drug use. Reuters (6/20), Bloomberg (6/20)       - UN cites toll of noncommunicable disease
Deaths from noncommunicable diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and heart and lung ailments are increasing rapidly throughout the world, costing the global economy trillions of dollars, according to a new UN report. In 2008 some 63% of all deaths, or 36 million people, were from noncommunicable diseases -- the source of 80% of all deaths in the developing world. MSNBC/The Associated Press (6/20) - WHO seeks better access for gays to HIV/AIDS treatment
Governments should move to remove legislation that criminalizes sexual activity between men as a means to lift barriers gay men face to accessing HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment and improve efforts to decrease transmission rates, the World Health Organization says. Men who have sex with men face significant challenges to accessing services particularly in the approximately 76 countries where gay relationships are illegal. Google/The Associated Press (6/21) - India looks to back women candidates
Indian authorities are reportedly considering funding female candidates during elections to promote transparency and encourage more women to run for office. Law Minister Veerappa Moily has proposed women and candidates from other marginalized groups like lower castes receive government funds for both federal and state election campaigns. AlertNet/TrustLaw (6/20) - IAEA seeks greater nuclear safety powers
The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, still reeling from criticism over its handling of Japan's ongoing nuclear crisis, has proposed a surprisingly far-reaching plan to expand the organization's role in the enforcement of safety measures. Yukiya Amano, who wants the agency to be empowered to carry out random inspections of nuclear power plants, called upon countries with nuclear reactors to perform risk assessments of their plants within the next year and a half. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model) (6/21), BBC (6/20) - World's oceans face severe, rapid degeneration
 The speed and rate of degeneration of the world's oceans is far more severe than previously predicted and is comparable to five mass extinctions on geological record, according to a new report. The report cites the cumulative effects of climate change, seawater acidification, presence of pollutants and overfishing as driving the change, and warns the early stages of significant global extinction may already be under way. The Independent (London) (6/21) - Financing health tech
Research and technology remain at the forefront of efforts to improve the global delivery of health care, yet access to financial services must be in place to pay for it, according to health officials at a two-day meeting, New African Connections, in Norway. The event, which is co-sponsored by the United Nations Foundation, is designed to generate public-private partnerships. Devex.com (6/20) - Protests continue after Assad's speech
Widespread anti-government protests resumed Monday in Syria despite a nationally televised speech by President Bashar Assad pledging political reform and a potential end to one-party Baathist rule. The public address, the third by Assad since popular unrest boiled over last March, came as Western diplomats conceded they could not overcome Russian and Chinese opposition to a resolution condemning the regime's violent crackdown on mostly peaceful demonstrators. The Independent (London) (6/21), Los Angeles Times (6/21) - Abyei accord signed, but violence persists in South Sudan
Rival governments in northern and southern Sudan on Monday signed an accord demilitarizing the disputed border region of Abyei, paving the way for deployment of an Ethiopian peacekeeping force. However, the UN said the security situation was deteriorating in another border region, South Korodfan, after Sudanese aircraft bombed southern-aligned forces near an airstrip in the north's only oil-producing state. Google/Agence France-Presse (6/20), Bloomberg (6/20) - Controversy surrounds Khmer Rouge trials
A United Nations-backed court in Cambodia is facing controversy as it prepares to try four senior members of the Khmer Rouge for atrocities committed during the regime's 1975-79 rule, Reuters explains in this informational piece. Several senior staff members have resigned from the court in recent weeks following a decision by investigative judges to refrain from issuing indictments for a third case despite prosecutors' assertions of possessing strong evidence against other individuals. Reuters (6/21) - UN Foundation board points to innovation and partnership as keys to solving global problems
Twelve of the world's leading voices for global progress and change are gathering this week for the United Nations Foundation Board of Directors meeting in Norway. The semi-annual meeting, presided over by UN Foundation Founder and Chairman Ted Turner, is taking place June 19-25 in Oslo and the northernmost regions of the country. The Board is meeting with government, corporate and nonprofit leaders to build support for UN efforts to improve global health, catalyze innovations in international development and call for global action on climate change. The Board's discussions focus on ways to help new partners connect with the lifesaving work of the United Nations.
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