UN Wire August 27, 2013

August 27, 2013 FOLLOW THE UN FOUNDATION   News covering the UN and the world SIGN UP | FORWARD | ADVERTISE | DONATE Top Story UN chemical-weapons team gathers "valuable evidence" in Syria visit The United Nations chemical-weapons team on Monday collected samples and "interviewed witnesses, survivors and doctors" regarding the alleged chemical-weapons attack in Syria, says Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. A second visit is being delayed because of security issues, while a witness says the team was forced to depart before visiting certain important sites. France 24/Agence France-Presse (8/27), The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (8/27), The Guardian (London) (8/26) Above the Fold UN rights panel continues to seek access to North Korea Begin private-public partnerships with agreement on goals Arab women use social media, Internet to foster change U.S. is considering limited military strike on Syria UN Radio Quote of the Day @UNFoundation: No more "band-aid" solutions to issues of energy access: trib.al/yn30M37 Share: UN Dispatch "Secretary of State John Kerry's remarks to the media augur heavily that the US will participate in a military strike." UN Dispatch (8/27) Share: United Nations UN rights panel continues to seek access to North Korea The United Nations human rights panel asked North Korea again to grant it access for a fact-finding visit on allegations of human rights abuses in the country. "The best way for North Korea to respond is with evidence," says Michael Donald Kirby, head of the panel, which just completed hearings held in South Korea. The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (8/27), Yonhap News Agency (South Korea) (8/27) Share: Demonstrators seen as UN's Pillay visits Sri Lanka Reuters (8/27) Share: 4 UNAMID peacekeepers are missing after Sudan flash flood BBC (8/27) Share: UN staffer killed during clash between Israeli security forces and Palestinians Talk Radio News Service (8/26) Share: Health & Development Begin private-public partnerships with agreement on goals Creating successful partnerships between the private and public sectors depends on alignment of goals and the use of best practices, writes Heba Aly. "The humanitarian system and private sector do not know how to talk to each other," says John Holmes, co-chairman of the International Rescue Committee UK. IRINNews.org (8/26) Share: Can Africa's ag sector prosper using models from Brazil, China? Brazil and China are eager to aid Africa's agriculture sector, but any programs need to be tailored to suit the African experience, writes Mark Tran. "[T]he outcomes will depend on how African governments, farmers, entrepreneurs and civil society organisations absorb, shape and apply the models on offer," he argues. The Guardian (London) (8/27) Share: Food-aid bill advances in Indian parliament BBC (8/26) Share: Philippines government struggles to aid flood victims IRINNews.org (8/26) Share: Women & Girls Arab women use social media, Internet to foster change Arab women are using social media and Internet news sites to stay connected, raise awareness of issues pertinent to them and foster change, writes Barbara Crossette. "Among the issues women in the region wrestle with as the political ground shifts in certain countries is how to reconcile the teachings of Islam with contemporary laws and social norms affecting women," she writes. PassBlue (8/26) Share: Nigeria to implement Security Council decree on women, peace and security Modern Ghana (8/23) Share: Peacekeeping and Security U.S. is considering limited military strike on Syria U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says that use of chemical weapons in Syria is "undeniable," leading the Obama administration to consider a limited military strike against the country, write Karen DeYoung and Anne Gearan. Such a strike would be designed to punish Syria while keeping the U.S. out of a protracted engagement. Russia and Iran are warning against military action. The Washington Post (tiered subscription model) (8/26), The Guardian (London) (8/26), BBC (8/27), Reuters (8/26), The Huffington Post/The Associated Press (8/27) Share: Tunisian government sets terms for new constitution, elections Al Jazeera (8/26) Share: UN intervention force aids DR Congo troops in clashes with M23 rebels Reuters (8/26) Share: Altercation in West Bank cited as Palestinians scrap peace talks Al Jazeera (8/27) Share: Civilian workers killed by Taliban in Afghanistan BBC (8/27) Share: Position Title Company Name Location Program Manager Social Science Research Council Brooklyn, NY Budget Analyst, Business Services and Budgets (2 openings) United Nations Foundation Washington, DC Business Services and Contracts Officer United Nations Foundation Washington, DC Officer, Global Partnerships United Nations Foundation Washington, DC