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- Saleh responds to UN on Yemen's political future
Embattled Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh issued a public response welcoming a United Nations resolution calling on him to resign and back transitional leadership in advance of presidential and parliamentary elections. Saleh had rejected the plan, drafted by leaders of neighboring Gulf States, three times already despite months of protests by the country's popular pro-reform movement. AlertNet/Reuters (10/24)      - UNESCO, U.S. grapple with Palestinian recognition request
UNESCO and U.S. officials are working to avoid a cut-off of funding for the United Nations organization in response to Palestinians' request for full membership. Existing U.S. legislation calls for the suspension of funding if the Palestinian bid succeeds and UNESCO depends on the U.S. for more than one-fifth of its annual budget. United Nations Foundation Vice President for Public Policy Peter Yeo said, "What's maddening is that this is not your grandfather's UNESCO -- it is better managed, more efficient and U.S. leadership in UNESCO has made it a better organization." The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (10/23)  | - Wirth: Why the U.S. needs UNESCO
 Palestinians' bid for full membership in UNESCO could lead to a resignation of the U.S. from the world body due to current U.S. legislation and trigger a domino effect that would leave the U.S. absent from the a key corner of the international stage, warns United Nations Foundation President Timothy E. Wirth. American officials must find a diplomatic solution to avoid resignations every time Palestinians succeed in seeking membership in a UN agency as participation in the UN remains a vital security interest for the U.S. Los Angeles Times (10/24)  | - Final push to eradicate polio is needed
The number of polio cases globally has dropped 99% worldwide, with fewer than 1,500 cases last year, putting the world on the cusp of eradicating the disease. Looking ahead, leaders meeting at the Commonwealth Heads of Government summit in Australia -- including representatives from India, Nigeria and Pakistan -- should press the case for a final push against this crippling affliction, writes former Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin. The Globe and Mail (Toronto) (10/24) - UNICEF urges action after confirmed Madagascar polio cases
Tests have confirmed three cases of polio without symptoms among children in Madagascar, raising fears of a broader resurgence after the country's 2009 political crisis disrupted vaccination efforts, UNICEF reports. UNICEF officials say immunization programs must reach 80% to 90% of the population to effectively minimize the risk of an epidemic. BBC (10/22) - Public expresses interest in geo-engineering
The U.S., U.K. and Canadian public all strongly support further research in to geo-engineering technologies, according to the results of a survey published in the journal Environmental Research Letters. Geo-engineering offers the possibility of managing the Earth's temperature and climate change through solar management techniques and carbon removal. The Guardian (London) (10/24), BBC (10/24) - Afghanistan tempers Karzai remarks on solidarity with Pakistan
Afghanistan's presidential palace says that President Hamid Karzai's pledge to stand with Pakistan in the event of war with the U.S. was misinterpreted. "If a war ever breaks [out] between Pakistan and America, we will side [with] Pakistan," Karzai said in response to a question from a Pakistani journalist. The palace now says that Karzai meant only to express a general solidarity with Islamabad. Los Angeles Times/World Now blog (10/24) 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.
- Americans support the UN on UN Day
Today is United Nations Day, a celebration of the 66th anniversary of the founding of the UN, and across the country Americans from all walks of life are working with the United Nations Foundation and its campaigns, showing their support for the UN, and reaffirming that the UN is "In Everyone's Interest." More than 120 events hosted by local chapters of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) are bringing together thousands of people around the country this week (see interactive map for details). Hundreds of thousands more are joining in foundation campaigns and initiatives to help solve pressing global problems. UN Foundation (10/24)  | - UNA-USA Chapters Commemorate UN Day
Thousands will gather this week at United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) events across the country honoring the 66th anniversary of the ratification of the UN Charter. More than 80 UNA-USA chapters in 34 states will host over 125 events (see interactive map for details). The UN is in everyone's interest, and this year's UNA-USA chapter events are built around that theme.
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