UN-backed Cyprus talks set to move to Switzerland
United Nations-backed talks on a plan to reunify Cyprus before its entry into the European Union on 1 May are set to move to Switzerland after concluding on the island today.
Draft UN treaty to ease global electronic commerce moves forward
The chief United Nations body overseeing international trade law policies has taken a step closer to a treaty that would create a unified legal regime for worldwide electronic commerce, removing barriers and lowering costs for companies using the Internet to conduct business.
Anti-poverty goals at risk if reproductive health care not funded - UN official
The lack of donor support for reproductive health services is jeopardizing progress towards meeting global anti-poverty goals, the Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) warned today.
UN envoy in Kosovo vows to help displaced people return to their homes
The top United Nations envoy to Kosovo pledged today to make sure that the thousands of people who fled their homes in the province last week because of ethnic violence will be able to return.
Details on probe into Oil-for-Food programme expected this week - UN spokesman
Secretary-General Kofi Annan is expected to communicate to the Security Council this week the details of a panel that would look into allegations of corruption within the United Nations Oil-for-Food humanitarian operation for Iraq, his spokesman said today.
UN envoy urges Côte d'Ivoire parties to follow peace agreement
The United Nations envoy to Côte d'Ivoire today called on the post-conflict West African country to support new negotiations so that problems with key peace accords can be ironed out.
Security Council concerned by continued fighting in Burundi
Members of the United Nations Security Council today expressed concern about the continued fighting in Burundi and urged all parties to show restraint and finish peace negotiations.
World grows richer, but poor still face massive nutritional deficiencies - UN report
Despite some progress in improving nutrition among the world's poor, improvements have failed to keep pace with the overall climate of global economic growth, according to a new United Nations report.
Climate change: UN marks treaty's anniversary by hailing savings of going green
Fighting climate change makes economic sense in the long run because using energy more efficiently will ultimately produce enormous financial and green benefits, the head of the United Nations' environmental agency said in a message marking the 10th anniversary today of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, which came into force in March 1994.
Annan creates new Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan has used this year's observance of World Water Day to announce the establishment of an Advisory Board on Water and Sanitation, which aims to galvanize global action on these issues as part of international efforts to eradicate poverty and achieve sustainable development.