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Although the cash position of the United Nations is stronger than last year, and projections to the end of 2005 are more positive than in 2004, the world body is suffering from "continuing fragility" with a deficit of more than $2 billion alone for peacekeeping operations, the organization's controller reported today.

The United Nations food agency has provided urgently needed food to thousands of hard-hit hurricane victims in Guatemala and El Salvador, including tons of energy biscuits airlifted to remote areas.

The United Nations is doing more with less in the area of communications by harnessing new technologies to deliver its message to the media, governments and individuals, the senior public information official has said.

The United Nations is continuing to provide emergency assistance to victims of the recent devastating earthquake in Pakistan, but hunger and disease continue to loom and more aid is urgently needed, officials said today.

United Nations General Assembly President Jan Eliasson today commended African countries for achieving progress in ending conflicts, fighting disease and tackling debt while urging further efforts to prompt other nations to lend support to their efforts.

Following a two-to-one decision, the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY) has chosen to allow former Kosovo Prime Minister and war crimes suspect Ramush Haradinaj to engage in politics and travel throughout Kosovo during his provisional release.

In a bid to help reduce the number of hungry people in the West Bank and Gaza, the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) today announced plans to provide the Palestinian Authority with updated information on poor households and groups and the causes of their food insecurity.

With the African Union (AU) asking for this month's elections in Côte d'Ivoire to be delayed for a year, the United Nations peacekeeping mission chief today said the way to sustainable peace and security in the divided country is being impeded by such major challenges as "gruesome" human rights violations, obstruction of the work of the UN force and intimidation of political opponents.

The General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) meeting in Paris today reappointed Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura to another four years as leader of the agency.

Angelina Jolie, the acclaimed actress and Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), has been honoured for her devotion to the cause by the UN Association of the United States (UNA-USA).