Latest News

Access to gold, diamonds is driving force in DR of Congo war: UN report

16 April 2001
The conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has become mainly about access by foreign armies to the country's rich mineral resources, according to a United Nations report released today in New York.

Annan recommends extending UN Office in Angola to help peace efforts

16 April 2001
With fighting continuing in many parts of Angola, Secretary-General Kofi Annan has recommended that the United Nations office in the country be extended through mid-October to help support efforts to bring peace to the country.

UNICEF set to aid children trapped aboard alleged slave ship off Africa coast

16 April 2001
UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, has set up a centre in Benin to assist the children who are aboard an alleged slave ship that has not been seen in four days since it was turned away by authorities in Gabon and Cameroon, a UN spokesman said today in New York.

UN committee on security in Central Africa opens meeting in Bujumbura

16 April 2001
A United Nations committee which aims to foster security and development in Central Africa opened a week-long session in Bujumbura, Burundi, today.

Srebrenica massacre suspect transferred to UN tribunal at The Hague

16 April 2001
The International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) today welcomed the recent detention of an alleged leader of the 1995 massacre against Bosnian Muslims in the town of Srebrenica.

Energy issues to dominate agenda of Earth Summit commission

16 April 2001
Ways to meet the world's increasing energy needs while protecting the global environment will be among the issues topping the agenda of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, which opened today its two-week session in New York.
Returnees arriving in East Timor

East Timor: UN team visits Indonesia's West Timor to encourage repatriation

16 April 2001
A team from the United Nations mission in East Timor has held "very successful" meetings with thousands of refugees in camps in West Timor, Indonesia, to inform the East Timorese of the situation in their home territory and encourage their repatriation, the UN peacekeeping operation said today in Dili.

Afghanistan: warring sides agree to ceasefire for UN polio immunization effort

16 April 2001
The warring factions in Afghanistan have agreed to respect a ceasefire for three days starting tomorrow to allow a United Nations polio immunization effort to go forward, according to the Islamabad-based UN Coordinator for the country.

UN Asia-Pacific forum to tackle poverty, AIDS as human security threats

16 April 2001
Poverty, urbanization, AIDS and other threats to human security will feature high on the agenda as representatives from throughout the Asia-Pacific region gather at the United Nations centre in Bangkok this week, the UN announced today.

Steps needed to stem accidental deaths of dolphins in North Sea -- UN agency

16 April 2001
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has backed a call for limits on the number of dolphins and porpoises accidentally killed by fishing nets in the North Sea.