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- Ban, Suu Kyi jointly call for Myanmar progress
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon spoke via telephone with Myanmar pro-democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi for the first time since the Nobel laureate's release from house arrest. Ban expressed public support for Suu Kyi's campaign for the release of all political prisoners in Myanmar. Suu Kyi expressed hope that Ban would soon dispatch Vijay Nambiar, the UN adviser on Myanmar, for another visit to the country. Google/Agence France-Presse (11/18)       - U.S. is blocking UN recognition of Palestinians
The United States has been impeding efforts by Palestinians who are trying to promote statehood, if only symbolically, at various UN agencies. Officials say that U.S. opposition to such unilateral steps is likely as long as peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians are ongoing. AlertNet.org/Reuters (11/19) - South Africa targets HIV/AIDS infection rates
South Africa's plans to decrease the rate of HIV/AIDS infections may cost as much as $102 billion over the next two decades, but could reduce the number of new infections by more than half the current levels, according to a report from UNAIDS. South Africa is home to the world's largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS. AlertNet.org/Reuters (11/19) - List identifies unique species at risk of dying out
British scientists have compiled a list of 100 of the world's most distinct animals, so-called "ugly ducklings" that are largely forgotten by conservationists, and on the verge of extinction. "These species are not only seriously threatened, they have the fewest living relatives and so represent an extraordinary amount of evolutionary diversity," says one researcher. The Guardian (London) (11/19) - China articulates terms for Cancun agreements
China will not agree to a deal at the upcoming Cancun climate summit that ties climate-change aid to international checks on greenhouse-gas emissions levels, Chinese officials say. Negotiations on an international treaty to battle climate change continue to be hamstrung by a lack of trust between developed and developing countries and differences over the inclusion of mandated emissions caps. AlertNet.org/Reuters (11/19) - Critical tweet lands Chinese woman in prison
Human rights groups say that China has sentenced a woman to one year in a labor camp for "disturbing social order" after she forwarded a Twitter message that poked fun at young nationalists participating in recent anti-Japan rallies. Twitter is blocked by the Chinese government, but can be used by those who break through the government's firewall. The New York Times (free registration) (11/18) - Iran is targeted by UN over human rights abuses
The human rights committee of the United Nations on Thursday called upon Iran to end discrimination and religious intolerance, citing incidences of torture, flogging, amputations and stoning, as well as widespread discrimination and violence against women. The committee also condemned the human rights records of Myanmar and North Korea. AlertNet.org/Reuters (11/18) - Afghan war to be top priority at NATO summit
NATO officials say they will be looking for "a light at the end of the tunnel" concerning the campaign in Afghanistan when the organization meets Saturday in Lisbon, Portugal. Relations with Russia, and the quagmire over the divided island of Cyprus, are also likely to be discussed. The Guardian (London) (11/18) - Images show renewed North Korea nuclear activity
New satellite images appear to confirm claims from Pyongyang that North Korea is building an experimental light water reactor at the Yongbyon nuclear complex, the U.S. Institute for Science and International Security says. While light water reactors are usually geared toward civilian electricity supply and not for weapons making, diplomats say such an effort constitutes a violation of international sanctions against any North Korean nuclear activity. The New York Times (free registration) (11/19) , AlertNet.org/Reuters (11/19) - A U.S. delay on START mystifies Russians
Russian leaders are wondering aloud about the reasons why the U.S. Senate might not ratify the new START nuclear arms treaty, especially since a delay would appear to damage U.S. interests. Among the risks are less cooperation over Iran and NATO, they say, and embarrassment on the world stage. The Washington Post (11/18)
- What do you think should be the top priority of UN Women?
| Education for young girls |  42.83% | | Empowering women to lead economically, through agriculture and small business |  23.96% | | Ensuring that women are represented in government and decision-making |  23.21% | | Advancing reproductive health |  10.00% | |
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| | | About UN WIRE | | UN Wire is a free service sponsored by the United Nations Foundation which is dedicated to supporting the United Nations' efforts to address the most pressing humanitarian, socioeconomic and environmental challenges facing the world today. | | | | | | | | Recent UN Wire Issues: - Thursday, November 18, 2010
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