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- Martelly finds support at UN
Haitian President Michel Martelly gained support from the United Nations Security Council in the form of a statement backing the security and development efforts of his administration and agreement on a reduction of the UN's peacekeeping force. The UN will withdraw about 3,000 troops over the next year, bringing the force close to its pre-2010 earthquake level. The Miami Herald (free registration) (10/14), BBC (10/14)      - Flooding threatens Bangkok
Unusually intense seasonal rains have caused flooding that has led to more than 300 deaths in Thailand, and rising waters are threatening Bangkok. Kamal Kishore of the United Nations Development Programme and Simmons College professor Catharin Dalpino discuss relief efforts, the environmental factors that may have exacerbated the flooding and how the flooding is affecting the tenuous political situation in Thailand.  PBS/NewsHour (10/14) - UN: Population to hit 7 billion by end October
The global population will hit 7 billion on Oct. 31 and hit 8 billion by 2025, the United Nations Population Fund says. The increasing population is driving spikes in energy and food prices, and highlights the need for family-planning services for more than 200 million women worldwide. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (10/17) - Bangladesh struggles to improve sanitation
Public campaigns that promote the use of toilets as a component of a modern lifestyle and highlight the health benefits of proper hygiene are needed to help improve sanitation in Bangladesh, according to water and sanitation experts. Nearly half of the Bangladeshi population still lives in areas without proper sanitation. IRINNews.org (10/14) - Researchers outline steps to combat future food shortages
Shifts made in consumption and agricultural practices now can help the world manage food supply concerns for the coming decades without causing significant environmental damage, researchers say in a study published in the journal Nature. Researchers call for an end to farming in areas with high ecological value and focus on increasing yields on existing agricultural land in Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. The Christian Science Monitor (10/14) - Elders work to confront child marriage
Working to bring an end to child marriages is a key focus area for Nelson Mandela, Mary Robinson and The Elders. The group of senior diplomats is endorsing community-level education efforts and engaging males in conversations on ending a practice that affects 10 million young girls every year. The Huffington Post (10/14) - UN Foundation's Van Leeuwen talks sustainable energy
 In an interview, Richenda Van Leeuwen, who oversees the energy-access efforts of the United Nations Foundation, discusses the new global initiative Sustainable Energy for All. One report says 30% of global electricity needs must come from grid extension, while the remaining 70% could from a combination of mini-grid and off-grid solutions. EarthTechling.com (10/14) - Research finds that trees improve crop yields in Africa
Research finds that crop yields in Africa could be increased by planting trees that improve the quality of soil, as well as "climate proof" agricultural land by acting as conduits to bring water to surface root systems, like those of crops. BBC (10/15) - Tensions rise over alleged Iran plot
Saudi officials have asked United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to officially inform the Security Council of an alleged plot by Iran to assassinate the Saudi ambassador to the U.S. Iranian officials have called the plot a fabrication and warned any action taken by the U.S. to isolate Iran at the UN or elsewhere will prompt an immediate response from Tehran. Reuters (10/16), The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (10/16) - "Land grabs" spur calls for new international guidelines
The meeting this week in Rome of the world food security committee of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization is expected to yield voluntary guidelines for large-scale international land investments in poor countries -- some of which are criticized as "land grabs" resulting in human rights abuses. A paper by the UN Environmental Program says that the current rush for land in Africa is being driven, in part, by a lack of water in countries such as Saudi Arabia and China. The Guardian (London) (10/14) 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.
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