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- UN issues bleak warning on Yemen crisis
Yemen's government must put an end to violent attacks on pro-reform demonstrators and increase efforts towards political reconciliation, says Navi Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Yemen may slip into a civil war if a political solution cannot be found to end months of protests and clashes, the UN Human Rights Council warned in a report. BBC (9/13), Reuters (9/13)      - Report links Hammarskjold crash to pilot fatigue
In 1961, UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold was killed in a plane crash on a mission to Congo. At the time, many observers suspected that the plane could have been downed intentionally. However, a new report suggests that pilot fatigue was responsible. "By using modern fatigue models, we can show that the schedule that this crew flew on the day of the accident would have made them tired to a point of impairment when the accident occurred," said William Voss, head of the Flight Safety Foundation. San Francisco Chronicle/The Associated Press (9/14)  - U.S. lawmaker defends bill to slash UN funding
U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen defended her UN funding bill at a news conference Tuesday, saying that slashing U.S. funding for organizations with less than 80% funding through voluntary contributions -- as well as ending support for agencies that would recognize Palestine as a state -- is not tantamount to UN-bashing, but meaningful reform. Better World Campaign Executive Director Peter Yeo disagreed, saying, "We strongly oppose this legislation introduced by Rep. Ros-Lehtinen that would severely erode America's leadership role at the United Nations and undermine our nation's security." The Washington Post/The Associated Press (9/13), The Hill/Floor Action Blog (9/13), Ha'aretz (Tel Aviv, Israel)/Focus USA blog (9/14)  | - WHO tracks global response to chronic diseases
Countries around the world are struggling to cope with managing and preventing deaths from chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes and lung disease, the World Health Organization says in a report that compares countries' abilities to cope. WHO classified about 9 million deaths per year as "premature" because they occurred in people under 60, most of them in poor countries where access to medical facilities, drugs and qualified personnel is limited. CBS News/The Associated Press (9/13) - Aid groups work to help traumatized Yemeni children
Nightmares, bed-wetting and other symptoms of emotional trauma plague children displaced by conflict in Yemen, and aid groups are increasingly placing focus on meeting the needs of this vulnerable population segments. Children account for an estimated 60% of the 100,000 people displaced in south Yemen. IRINNews.org (9/13) - Report links speculators to spike in global food prices
The rise in global food prices, and the corresponding rise in hunger, are being fueled by financial speculators who dominate the commodities markets, according to a report from the World Development Movement, an anti-poverty group. The agricultural futures and options markets -- in which speculators now account for more than 60%, up from just 12% some 15 years ago -- no longer respond to underlying fundamentals of supply and demand because those with direct commercial interests in food production now hold less than 40%. The Guardian (London) (9/13) - UNICEF: Gender disparities emerge early
Boys and girls the world over are treated pretty much the same until they reach early adulthood, when girls become more likely to encounter domestic violence, HIV/AIDS infection and child marriage, according to a UNICEF report. Compounding the threats faced by an estimated 10 million girls who get married before they turn 18, primarily in Africa and South Asia, are poverty and poor health care, the report says. TrustLaw (9/14) - Survey: Global business is acting on climate change
The percentage of the world's largest 500 companies taking action to address climate change as part of their overall business strategy has increased to 68% in 2011, up from 48% last year, according to a survey from the Carbon Disclosure Project. Companies are taking a variety of steps to reduce their carbon footprint such as installing lower-carbon power sources and reducing corporate travel. The Guardian (London)/Press Association (9/14) - Poor countries lacking energy capacity are unready for renewables
 UNESCO is emphasizing the need to build local energy capacity in developing countries as a framework upon which to later introduce renewable energies. "The main goal is to help to improve the access of electricity for all in order to reduce the energy poverty. If we get there by large-scale installations or by rural off-grid systems is a second question," Osman Benchikh, head of the agency's alternative and renewable energy program, said in an interview. Solar Novus Today (9/12) - Sex-abuse victims take case to ICC
A complaint filed Tuesday with the International Criminal Court at The Hague accuses Pope Benedict XVI, who formerly oversaw abuse cases, and three top cardinals of possible crimes against humanity for allegedly sheltering priests who sexually abused children. The Vatican had no immediate comment on the complaint, which was filed by the Center for Constitutional Rights, a New York-based nonprofit legal group, on behalf of the Survivors Network of those abused by Roman Catholic priests. The Wall Street Journal (tiered subscription model)/The Associated Press (9/13)
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