Landmark UN treaty on disabilities opens for signature tomorrow
More than 70 countries are expected to sign a new treaty that would protect the world’s 650 million persons with disabilities when it opens for signature tomorrow at the United Nations.
Darfur: UN, Sudan and regional groups commit to hybrid peacekeeping force
The United Nations, the Sudanese Government, the African Union (AU) and the League of Arab States (LAS) have agreed to re-double their efforts to resolve the conflict engulfing Darfur and to press ahead quickly with plans to deploy a hybrid UN-AU peacekeeping force to the war-torn region to stop the bloodshed and protect civilians.
Security Council calls for ‘early resolution’ of Iran’s detention of British sailors
The Security Council today called for an early resolution of the row over Iran’s detention of 15 British marines and sailors, voicing grave concern at the situation and calling for their release, while Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon discussed the issue with Iran’s Foreign Minister.
Resignation of Guinea-Bissau’s Prime Minister sparks Security Council concern
The Security Council voiced alarm today about the political and social tensions in the small, impoverished West African nation of Guinea-Bissau after the resignation of the country’s Prime Minister, and called on Government and legislative leaders to resolve their differences through dialogue.
Concerned at food shortfall in DPR Korea, UN agency seeks to increase aid
Facing a huge shortfall in the $102 million it has already sought to feed up to 1.9 million especially vulnerable people in the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) today appealed for an immediate increase in funding from donor nations just to avert a further deterioration of the situation.
Male circumcision is important additional step in cutting HIV infection – UN
Male circumcision should be recognized as an additional important step in curbing heterosexually acquired HIV in men after trials showed that the procedure cut the risk of infection by up to 60 per cent, the United Nations health agency said today.
Provincial Haitian hospital to have year-round clean water thanks to UN project
A provincial hospital in Haiti near the country’s border with the Dominican Republic will now enjoy a continual supply of clean water thanks to the United Nations peacekeeping mission, just one of the 300 so-called Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) it has financed in the past three years to improve life in the impoverished Caribbean country.
Indonesia, UN reach accord on bird flu virus samples and vaccine access
Indonesia will immediately resume supplying the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) with viruses from its bird flu outbreak, a vital tool in tracking possible mutations into a deadly human pandemic and producing vaccines, while the agency will seek to ensure access for developing countries to any such commercially developed vaccines.
Myanmar: UN human rights expert calls for release of prize-winning journalist and poet
The United Nations independent expert on the situation of human rights in Myanmar appealed to the Government to release the distinguished poet and journalist U Win Tin who is the country’s longest serving political prisoner, having been jailed for nearly 18 years and all other political prisoners.
UN agency issues new locust warning for northeast Africa
In a new offensive against locusts, the United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) today called on countries in northeast Africa to intensify surveys and control operations against the crop-devouring insects, particularly on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea and Sudan and in northwest Somalia.