---
title: "UN seeks to bridge Syria divide, and other stories &#8211; our morning round-up"
date: "2014-01-23T09:01:08+00:00"
modified: "2014-01-23T09:01:08+00:00"
url: "https://rationalists.org.uk/2014/01/23/un-seeks-to-bridge-syria-divide-and-other-stories-our-morning-round-up/"
post_id: 6120
categories: ["Uncategorised"]
---

# UN seeks to bridge Syria divide, and other stories – our morning round-up

[UN to hold talks with rival Syrian groups](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-25855027)

The UN mediator for Syrian peace talks is to hold separate talks with the rival delegations to assess their willingness to meet together, after the first day of the Geneva peace conference ended in bitter divisions. (BBC News)

[Anti-abortion film competition for students stokes debate in Spain](http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/22/anti-abortion-film-competition-students-stokes-debate-spain)

The ministry of education in the Spanish region of Aragon has sparked controversy by promoting an anti-abortion film competition for teenagers. The contest, for students aged 14 to 18, invites young filmmakers to “demonstrate the value of life, starting at conception, for every single human”. The controversy follows the recent proposal by the national government for legislation limiting women’s access to abortion. (Guardian)

[Pope John Paul’s personal notes to be published](http://www.independent.ie/world-news/pope-john-pauls-personal-notes-to-be-published-29942547.html)

A selection of the notes of Pope John Paul II are to be published in his native Poland, defying the wish of the late Pontiff for all his personal papers to be burnt. His former secretary Cardinal Stanislaw Dziwisz says he “did not have the courage” to burn all the notes, and was motivated by the “despair of historians” in publishing them. (Irish Independent)

[EU outlines 2030 climate goals](http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25841134)

The European Commission has outlined its plans for climate policy up to 2030, setting a target of a 40% reduction in carbon emissions from 1990 levels by the end of the next decade. Green groups have criticised the target, saying a 40% reduction would be “dangerously low”. (BBC News)

[‘Thou shalt not troll’: Church of England issues ‘nine Commandments of social media’](http://uk.news.yahoo.com/don-t-tweet-in-an-ungodly-way---church-of-england-issues--nine-commandments-of-social-media--110727276.html#g22NTBF)

The Church of England has produced a set of nine guidelines for staff using Twitter, urging them to not “tweet in an ungodly way”. Church employees are encouraged not to “rush in” to online discussions, and are urged to ask “Would God like my tweet?” (Yahoo News)