 UN and United States critical partners on a range of global issues – Ban Ki-moon
(UN News, 29 February 2008)
In finding solutions for the Darfur conflict, global warming, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and a host of other issues, the United Nations and the United States were essential partners, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told former president George Bush and other US officials on his first visit to the state of Texas today. Bosnian court jails two former guards after referral from UN war crimes tribunal
(UN News, 29 February 2008) Two Bosnian Serb guards who persecuted non-Serbs at a prison camp during the Balkan wars of the 1990s have been convicted and sentenced to jail by a national court in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the case was transferred from the jurisdiction of a United Nations war crimes tribunal. Afghanistan: UN rushes aid as livestock sector hit hard by extreme cold
(UN News, 29 February 2008) The harshest winter weather conditions in nearly three decades has devastated Afghanistan's livestock – with over 300,000 animals dying since last December – and the United Nations is providing support by sending some 80 tons of feed to the hardest-hit farmers. UN says refugees fleeing new attacks in Darfur, many to dangerous area of Chad
(UN News, 29 February 2008) As West Darfur continues to be scourged by a new wave of air and ground attacks, the United Nations refugee agency estimated today that more than 13,000 Sudanese have fled to a remote area of Chad that is beset by its own inter-ethnic strife. Secretary-General Ban welcomes accord ‘breakthrough’ in Kenya
(UN News, 28 February 2008) Urging further measures to end the deadly tensions that erupted after disputed presidential elections in Kenya, Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon warmly welcomed the agreement on principles for a coalition Government announced in Nairobi today.
UN refugee agency seeks nearly $19 million to aid Sri Lanka’s displaced
(UN News, 28 February 2008) The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is appealing for $18.6 million to assist an estimated 500,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sri Lanka who have been uprooted by decades of armed conflict.
Assembly President hails Cuban signature of key UN human rights texts
(UN News, 28 February 2008) General Assembly President Srgjan Kerim today welcomed Cuba’s signing of two key United Nations human rights documents: the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICPPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).
Zimbabwe: UNICEF helps launch campaign against surging child rape rates
(UN News, 28 February 2008) With the number of reported cases of children raped in Zimbabwe surging more than 40 per cent in the last three years, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has joined with the Government and religious groups in an awareness campaign to fight the scourge.
Bosnian Serb soldier convicted by UN tribunal to serve jail term in Belgium
(UN News, 27 February 2008) A former Bosnian Serb soldier and military policeman convicted by a United Nations war crimes tribunal of torturing and raping Muslim women and girls during the Balkan wars of the 1990s will serve the remainder of his 15-year jail term in Belgium. Commending India’s control of bird flu outbreak, UN says vigilance still needed
(UN News, 27 February 2008) The recent, worst-ever outbreak of the highly pathogenic avian influenza in the Indian state of West Bengal seems to have been brought under control by the swift and comprehensive measures taken by the country’s authorities, though continued vigilance was crucial, the United Nations agricultural agency said today. Madagascar: UN food agency begins providing aid to cyclone victims
(UN News, 27 February 2008)
The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has started distributing emergency food assistance to tens of thousands of people in Madagascar, where at least 73 people have died and almost 150,000 others have been left homeless after Cyclone Ivan battered the island nation last week. Surging food prices could lead to nutritional crisis for Central Americans – UN
(UN News, 26 February 2008) The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is warning of a potential nutritional crisis in Central America, where the prices of wheat and corn have nearly doubled in the past year, bad weather has pushed the price of beans to unprecedented levels. Half of global population will live in cities by end of this year, predicts UN
(UN News, 26 February 2008) By the end of this year, half of the world’s 6.7 billion people will live in urban areas, according to a report unveiled by the United Nations today, which also predicts that future growth of the world’s urban population will be concentrated in Asia and Africa Eritrea blocking passage of UN peacekeepers as regrouping efforts continue
(UN News, 26 February 2008) Eritrean soldiers have blocked the passage of eight United Nations vehicles in the past 24 hours as the world body’s peacekeeping mission in the region continued to regroup staff and assets in the capital, Asmara, ahead of its planned temporary relocation across the border to Ethiopia. Middle East peace process needs changes on the ground to succeed – UN envoy
(UN News, 26 February 2008) The Annapolis peace process deserves continued support but it will only be sustained if there are real changes on the ground, particularly in the West Bank and in the Gaza Strip, the senior United Nations envoy on the Middle East told the Security Council today. Uganda and rebels take another major step forward towards peace deal – UN
(UN News, 25 February 2008) The Ugandan Government and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have taken another major step forward in their peace process by signing a permanent ceasefire accord at the weekend, the United Nations envoy to the process reported today. Green investment requires predictable carbon price, ministers agree at UN meeting
(UN News, 25 February 2008) Predictable carbon pricing is needed to direct world investment flows toward an economy that could minimize climate change, close to 140 governments agreed today as they concluded a major meeting on the subject in Monaco, the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) says. Over 6 million Afghan children to start new school year with UN support
(UN News, 25 February 2008) As more than 6 million children in Afghanistan prepare to start a new school year in a few weeks, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is working to ensure that both boys and girls in the strife-torn nation have access to quality education in a safe environment. Western Darfur: following attacks, UN officials voice concern for civilians' safety
(UN News, 24 February 2008) The head of the United Nations-African Union (AU) hybrid peacekeeping force, known as UNAMID, and the world body's Humanitarian Coordinator in Sudan today said that they are “gravely concerned” for the safety of thousands of civilians in the Jebel Muun area of Western Darfur, which was reportedly the scene of aerial bombings. Gates Foundation and UN join forces to mechanize women’s work in West Africa
(UN News, 22 February 2008) The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) said today it had joined forces with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in an effort to empower rural West African women with diesel engines, and, in doing so, boost their incomes. Outstanding issues remain for Iran, despite progress – UN atomic watchdog chief
(UN News, 22 February 2008) The head of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today that it has made “quite good progress” in clarifying unresolved issues over Iran's past nuclear programme, but several hurdles remain. Climate change leading to shrinking fish stocks, UN says
(UN News, 22 February 2008) The supply of fish stocks will plummet as the world heats up, impacting millions of people in developing nations who depend on fishing for their livelihoods, according to a new report released today by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Thousands fall victim to sexual violence in Central African Republic – UN
(UN News, 22 February 2008) Over 15 per cent of women and girls in the violence-ridden north of the Central African Republic (CAR) are victims of rape and other forms of sexual violence, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said today. Destruction in West Darfur town shocking, reports UN refugee agency
(UN News, 22 February 2008) United Nations refugee agency staff participating in a joint assessment of the West Darfur town of Sirba, which came under air and ground attack from the Sudanese Government and allied militia groups earlier this month, say they were shocked at the level of destruction they witnessed. Rwandan ex-minister pleads not guilty to 11 charges before UN genocide tribunal
(UN News, 21 February 2008) A former Rwandan government minister has pleaded not guilty to 11 charges during his first appearance before the United Nations war crimes tribunal set up to deal with the 1994 genocide in the small country. 13 nations, cities and companies pledge to slash emissions in new UN scheme
(UN News, 21 February 2008) Four countries, four cities and five corporations have become the first to sign on to a new United Nations Internet-based scheme in a bid to hasten climate neutrality. UN flag to wave again in outer space
(UN News, 21 February 2008) A United Nations flag will make a historic round trip to the international space station this coming April, the Organization’s Office for Outer Space Affairs (OOSA) announced today. Ban Ki-moon welcomes ‘breakthrough’ Ugandan agreement with northern rebels
(UN News, 20 February 2008) Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today welcomed the signing of an agreement by the Ugandan Government and the rebel Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) to set up accountability and reconciliation measures to help end the conflict that has ravaged the north of the country for two decades. Security Council extends African Union mission in Somalia by six months
(UN News, 20 February 2008) The Security Council today extended for another six months the African Union-led mission in Somalia, which has been helping the war-wracked country that has not had a functioning government since 1991 to achieve national reconciliation and facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid. Climate change resulting in shift to ‘green’ economies, says UN agency
(UN News, 20 February 2008) More and more companies are embracing environmentally-friendly policies and investors are pumping hundreds of billions of dollars into cleaner and renewable energies, according to a new publication released today by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Former Bosnian Croat leaders granted temporary leave by UN war crimes tribunal
(UN News, 20 February 2008) Five former senior Bosnian Croat figures facing trial over their actions during the Balkan wars of the 1990s have been granted temporary release by the United Nations war crimes tribunal set up to deal with the worst crimes of that era. |
