UN Wire September 10, 2013 -Syria agrees to plan to yield chemical weapons

News covering the UN and the world SIGN UP | FORWARD | ADVERTISE | DONATE

Top Story Syria agrees to plan to yield chemical weapons Syria is accepting Russia's proposal to hand over its chemical-weapons stocks to prevent a military airstrike by the U.S. "Let's see if we can come up with language that avoids a strike but accomplishes our key goals to make sure that these chemical weapons are not used," said U.S. President Barack Obama, while the U.S. Senate is preparing revised legislation. Reuters (9/10), USA Today (9/10), The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (9/10), Reuters (9/9), Reuters (9/10) Share: Above the Fold Security Council to consider resolution on Syria's chemical weapons G20 takes small steps on tax and transparency, but more needed Pervasive gender violence found in Asia-Pacific, UN study says Central African Republic remains in danger of failure UN Radio Quote of the Day @GirlUp: "Being a Teen Advisor meant a unique kind of sisterhood." @yingyingsmiles wrote a letter to new Teen Advisor class: trib.al/wHsvA9s Share: UN Dispatch "John Kerry suggested in an apparently off-the-cuff remark that the only way Assad could avoid US military strikes was to put all of his chemical weapons under international control in one week's time. Russia's foreign minister seized on this idea, and apparently secured Syrian approval for it. Ban Ki-moon endorsed the proposal at a press conference later in the day." UN Dispatch (9/10) Share: United Nations Security Council to consider resolution on Syria's chemical weapons The United Nations Security Council is expected today to consider a French resolution asking Syria to put its chemical weapons under international control. The French offer comes as Russia made a similar proposal. The Guardian (London) (9/10), Talk Radio News Service (9/9) Share: World Happiness Report suggests policy alignment with well-being The United Nations 2013 World Happiness Report argues that countries' policies should reflect what their populations deem as necessary for happiness. "There is now a rising worldwide demand that policy be more closely aligned with what really matters to people as they themselves characterize their well-being," says Jeffrey Sachs, director of Columbia University's Earth Institute and one of the report's authors. The Huffington Post (9/9), National Geographic News (9/9) Share: Humanitarian aid access is badly needed in Syria, UN's Amos writes The Guardian (London) (9/9) Share: Pillay calls on Bahrain to "fully comply" with human rights obligations ArabianBusiness.com (United Arab Emirates) (9/9) Share: UN agencies allowed to help Myanmar refugees Mizzima News (Myanmar) (9/10) Share: Pillay: Independent inquiry needed in alleged Egypt human rights violations Reuters (9/10) Share: Health & Development G20 takes small steps on tax and transparency, but more needed The Group of 20 has declared support for tax reforms and transparency, but developing countries are unlikely to see much change in tax dodging by multinationals, which costs poor countries $160 billion annually, argues Alex Prats. "This has devastating consequences for public services such as schools, hospitals and roads -- and the millions of people who need them," he writes. The Guardian (London) (9/6) Share: Breaking taboos about sanitation and open defecation The Guardian (London) (9/10) Share: Health authorities find polio virus in Jerusalem's sewage The New York Times (tiered subscription model) (9/9) Share: Chemical found in human's skin is natural mosquito repellent BBC (9/9) Share: Program helps Afghan grape farmers reach new markets The Washington Post (tiered subscription model) (9/9) Share: Women & Girls Pervasive gender violence found in Asia-Pacific, UN study says A United Nations study of gender violence in six Asia-Pacific countries finds that gender violence is widespread, with nearly 25% men having committed rape. "The acknowledged motivations for rape highlight its foundation in gender inequality: men reported that they raped because they wanted to and felt entitled to, felt it was entertaining or saw it as deserved punishment for women," the study says. Thomson Reuters Foundation (9/10), GlobalPost.com (9/10) Share: Peacekeeping and Security Central African Republic remains in danger of failure Fighting between supporters of ousted President Francois Bozize and the Seleka rebels who took power has killed 73 or more people, according to reports. Reuters (9/9) Share: What is next for N. Korea denuclearization efforts? Voice of America (9/10) Share: Position Title Company Name Location Program Manager Social Science Research Council Brooklyn, NY Associate Producer, Digital Media, Climate and Energy Initiatives United Nations Foundation Washington, DC Communications Associate, Women, Girls & Population United Nations Foundation Washington, DC Click here to view more job listings.