Latest News

More than 60,000 people in earthquake-devastated Haiti have been vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and other diseases, but additional teams are urgently needed to wrap up this immunization campaign, the United Nations World Health Organization (WHO) reported today.

While praising the significant progress made in strengthening regional cooperation and in pursuing greater economic and social integration among Latin American and Caribbean countries, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told a United Nations-backed meeting that now is the time to mobilize further action.

Timor-Leste has made “remarkable progress” since the violence that disrupted it in 2006, but the long-term goals of recovery and development may prove even more challenging, the top United Nations envoy to the small South-East Asian country said today.

An independent United Nations human rights expert today voiced concern over Albanian society’s widespread acceptance of settling personal scores through deadly violence and prevalence of violence in the home.

Prices for information and communication technology (ICT) services are falling worldwide, and services continue to grow, propelled by mobile cellular use, but broadband Internet remains outside the reach of many in poor countries, the United Nations telecoms agency said today.

The head of the United Nations agency leading the global effort against HIV and AIDS has commended the Nigerian Government for its progressive policies, while calling for greater efforts to tackle the epidemic and set an example for the rest of Africa.

Many challenges remain with just under 50 days left until the historic national polls in Sudan, but a United Nations official today expressed hope that the process will continue to be peaceful and reflect the will of the people of the vast African nation.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will travel to the United States city of Los Angeles next week to meet with the creative community and look into how the United Nations and the entertainment industry can collaborate to spotlight and mobilize the public on global issues, it was announced today.

Given the potential impact of continued droughts in Iraq, some national officials and experts have asked for United Nations assistance in planning for and in mitigating the dangers of prolonged dry spells.

The outgoing United Nations envoy to Afghanistan today warned that – on its own – the massive United States-led military push in Taliban strongholds in southern Helmand province will not bring peace and stability to the country.