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- UN's Ban urges fully electrified world by 2030
With 1 in 5 of the world's people deprived of electricity, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is calling for universal access to power by 2030. Anything less could impede global economic growth, Ban said as he also emphasized the need for a "clean-energy revolution" to double the use of renewable energy sources over the next 20 years. The Washington Post/The Associated Press (10/10)      - UN: Unstable food prices only to grow in volatility
Volatility in food prices has emerged as the major obstacle toward reaching the Millennium Development Goal of alleviating world hunger by half by 2015, according to UN food agencies. Investment in biofuels, coupled with land grabs in poor countries, also is contributing to food insecurity, the report says. Reuters (10/10), The Guardian (London) (10/10) - Relocation of Haitian refugees a blueprint for revival
Nearly two years after a devastating earthquake, the tents and tarps are being taken down at Place St. Pierre, a makeshift refugee camp in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, as part of a larger effort by President Michel Martelly to relocate 30,000 people from six camps into permanent homes. Foreign donors, who are funding the $98 million project, which includes rental subsidies, hope it will become a blueprint for rebuilding the country. The Miami Herald (free registration) (10/6) - Big pharma collaboration targets cheap malaria vaccine
Among the open-collaboration efforts by big biotechnology and pharmaceutical businesses, currently facing all-time highs in the costs of developing new drugs, is an initiative by GlaxoSmithKline to develop a malaria vaccine at a profit of 5% above the cost of production. "There is a wealth of expertise in the malaria field area beyond GSK, and by sharing data and working collaboratively with the scientific community, we are increasing the likelihood of developing lifesaving medicines," said company spokeswoman Janet Morgan. Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (10/10)  | - Adolescent girls and agriculture
Adolescent girls, often undervalued in their societies, are bearing much of the burden in keeping fed not only their families, but their communities, according to a report released Friday by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. The erratic spikes in food prices worldwide have refocused attention on agriculture, development of which the report says is increasingly dependent on women -- who are in need of better education, safety and health services. The Guardian (London) (10/7)  | - IAEA monitors decontamination in Japan
A dozen experts from the International Atomic Energy Agency on Sunday arrived in the radiation-stricken city of Fukushima, Japan, to observe the process of cleaning up lingering contamination after a nuclear plant there was severely damaged in March by an earthquake and tsunami. As part of a long-term study, health workers have begun examining more than 300,000 children in the region for thyroid irregularities potentially linked to radiation. USA TODAY/The Associated Press (10/9), BBC (10/10) - U.S. cites hopeful openings in Myanmar
Developments in Myanmar, including a "very consequential dialogue" between the new president and democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, may help open a new chapter in relations with Washington, says U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell. Campbell also cited more freedom of speech and openings for talks with rebels. "I think it would be fair to say that we will match their steps with comparable steps," he said. CBS News/The Associated Press (10/10) - UN report details detainee abuses by Afghan forces
A UN report finds a "compelling pattern and practice of systematic torture and ill-treatment" by Afghan intelligence and national police, a finding that has led NATO forces to refrain from handing over detainees in parts of the country. The abuses were documented despite extensive Western training of the agencies involved. "Use of interrogation methods, including suspension, beatings, electric shock, stress positions and threatened sexual assault is unacceptable by any standard of international human rights law," the report says. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (10/10) 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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Improvements in sanitation and hygiene are lagging compared to other Millennium Development Goals, writes Mark Tran. Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan has agreed to help endorse efforts to improve toilets, latrines, hand-washing and sanitation in India, but, worldwide, governments are expected to fall short. 
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