UN WIRE AUGUST 8, 2013

August 8, 2013 FOLLOW THE UN FOUNDATION   News covering the UN and the world SIGN UP | FORWARD | ADVERTISE | DONATE Top Story UN: Individuals "loosely linked" to al-Qaida are a growing threat A report by the United Nations panel monitoring sanctions against al-Qaida says local affiliated groups are becoming more sophisticated and are a growing terror threat. "While the threat posed by al-Qaida as a global terrorist organization has declined, the threat posed by its affiliates and its infectious ideas persists," the report says. The Washington Post (tiered subscription model)/The Associated Press (8/7), The Guardian (London) (8/7) Share: Above the Fold Climate change needs to be part of post-2015 goals, UNDP's Clark says Syrian government, rebels block medical aid shipments U.S., EU call on Egyptian government to end "stalemate" UN Radio Quote of the Day Quote of the day @UNFOUNDATION: Most of the world's youth are in developing countries. Those youth are insisting on a voice right now.-@emgoreun #NewFrontiers #socialgood Share: UN Dispatch "[A] burgeoning campaign to use the Sochi Olympics to shame Russia over regressive domestic policies may stand a chance of success. The actor George Takei, who is nowadays better known for his activism ... is waging a campaign to move the Olympics from Sochi. At issue are increasingly oppressive state policies against the LGBT community, including a new law that criminalizes speech that 'promotes' homosexuality." UN Dispatch (8/7) Share: United Nations Climate change needs to be part of post-2015 goals, UNDP's Clark says United Nations Development Programme Administrator Helen Clark says it's critical that post-2015 development goals tackle climate change. "Climate change is seen as one of the biggest challenges. Its impact affects the poorest people the most," Clark said. Sun Media (New Zealand)/SunLive (New Zealand) (8/8) Share: UN receives additional funding from Saudi Arabia for anti-terror center GlobalPost.com/Agence France-Presse (8/8) Share: UN human rights investigators request N. Korea access GlobalPost.com/Yonhap News Agency (8/7) Share: Health & Development Syrian government, rebels block medical aid shipments The Syrian government and rebel groups are preventing medical supplies from reaching civilians, say humanitarian groups. The World Health Organization says that it distributed 270,500 medical kits from April to June, compared to 914,000 from January to March. "We want all of the restrictions lifted, no matter what they are," says Laila Baker of the United Nations Population Fund. IRINNews.org (8/7) Share: NBA star Stephen Curry gives an assist to Nothing But Nets in Tanzania NBA player Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors visited Tanzania recently with Nothing But Nets to distribute nets at a refugee camp. "This has been totally eye-opening," Curry says, adding "I picked nets because it's a way people can make a huge difference right away. We can really save kids' lives." San Francisco Chronicle (subscription required) (8/8), ESPN.com (8/6) Share: U.S. will increase food, humanitarian aid to Syria Thomson Reuters Foundation/Reuters (8/7) Share: At least 400,000 affected by Namibian drought Al Jazeera (8/7) Share: Security is an issue for aid workers in Yemen Devex.com (free registration)/The Development Newswire blog (8/8) Share: Pakistan has seen 26 polio cases this year, doctor says The Express Tribune (Pakistan) (8/7) Share: Children in Sudan to receive pneumococcal vaccine from UN agencies Vaccine News Daily (8/7) Share: Insects may be better protein source than stem cell burgers The Guardian (London) (8/5) Share: Peacekeeping and Security U.S., EU call on Egyptian government to end "stalemate" U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and EU High Representative Catherine Ashton are calling on Egypt's interim government to end its "stalemate" with the Muslim Brotherhood and begin talks to resolve the country's turmoil. "Now is not the time to assess blame, but to take steps that can help initiate a dialogue and move the transition forward," Kerry and Ashton said in a joint statement. BBC (8/7), The Washington Post (tiered subscription model) (8/7), Reuters (8/8) Share: Syria's Assad appears uninjured after reported motorcade attack Syrian rebels claim to have fired artillery shells at the motorcade of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. A state television report showed Assad as unharmed, and the Syrian government has denied that the attack took place. BBC (8/8), Reuters (8/8) Share: Suicide bomber kills at least 28 at Pakistan policeman's funeral BBC (8/8) Share: Bomb kills 14 women and children picknicking at graveyard Reuters (8/8) Share: Position Title Company Name Location Community Manager, mHealth Alliance United Nations Foundation Washington, DC Director of Development The Trevor Project West Hollywood, CA